This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Born in Romania, Sylvia Bambola lived her early years in Germany. At seven she relocated with her adopted family and saw the Statue of Liberty and America for the first time. But the memory of those years in post World War Germany inspired her to write Refiner’s Fire, which won a Silver Angel Award, and was a Christy Finalist.
Her frequent moves as an “army brat” gave her an opportunity to see America and fall in love with her new country.
Sylvia Bambola is the award winning author of eight novels, including Tears in a Bottle and Rebekah's Treasure. A resident of Florida, she teaches women’s Bible studies and is currently learning the guitar. She has two grown children.
Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite
The Salt Covenants by Sylvia Bambola is a historical fiction that takes place in Spain, starting in the year 1493. We meet Isabel who has broken her mother's heart by converting from Judaism to Christianity. Despite this, however, when she is noticed by Friar Alonso at La Casa Santa, the Holy House, she must flee or be submitted to the Inquisition. She marries a man she does not love and catches a boat to the New World as Christopher Columbus heads on his second voyage. Things take a turn and Isabel finds that she must make her way in this dangerous New World alone; will she be able to do it?
The first thing you should know about this book is that it is not a light and fluffy historical fiction; it is deep and heavy and has many layers to it. That said, it is a great read and it is that 'meat' which makes it so good. The first two chapters seem a little bit slow, but they set up a lot of details that you need for the book. Once you get past those first two chapters, however, the story seems to fly by and you will not want to put it down. I found Isabel an amazing woman for making her own choices in life in a period where a woman generally had little choice in what she did. She answered first to her family and then was married off. But this woman makes her own choices and, while she must face many hardships, she keeps moving on in the face of them. I wish I could be more like Isabel! You can tell that author Sylvia Bambola has put a lot of work into this book. Isabel shines through as a very realistic character and the backdrops of the story stand out vividly. Any historical fan is going to enjoy this book and I highly recommend it.
