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Joshua D Jones
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The Girl and the Guardian: Esther and Mordecai in a Biblical fiction fantasy (The Oliver Anderson Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Joshua David Jones (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
He’s cautious. She’s reckless. When an evil conspiracy rises, they’ll need to rely on each other’s strengths to survive.

Persia, 480 B.C. Mordecai struggles to balance hiding his Hebrew heritage with the responsibility of raising his beautiful cousin, Esther. So even though it’s his job to find her a suitable husband, the meek government official is reluctant to let the headstrong young woman leave the protection of his household. But his caution creates heartbreak when the gorgeous girl is kidnapped and dragged off to the royal harem.

Fearful she’ll be killed if her Jewish identity is discovered, the cagey bureaucrat begins pulling strings behind the scenes in an attempt to reclaim his lost charge. But after Esther becomes queen, Mordecai discovers he needs her influence over the king to thwart a sinister plan for genocide.

Can the embattled Israelite save his ward… and their people?

The Girl and the Guardian is the gritty first book in The Oliver Anderson Trilogy of Biblical fiction. If you like imperfect heroes, shrewd humor, and fast-paced thrills, then you’ll love Joshua David Jones’s dark fantasy.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Oliver Anderson Trilogy
  2. Print length
    285 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 24, 2020
  5. File size
    571 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 3 books in this series.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Swathes of biblical fiction out there are written by women. This one was written by a bloke and it shows. Enjoyed it!" -Otero, UK
"All I can say is WOW! I wish there was a sixth star.'"-Zack Hawkins, Hawkins Film Company
"I couldn't put it down, a page-turner with a deep punch. Fits of hysterics were had." -Simcha Natan, Israeli author, Dare to Ask

From the Inside Flap

Blood ran down the stone-paved streets and around the mauled hunks of humanity that had decorated the ancient lanes and passages since dawn. Every building surrounding the Jewish quarter belched out violence.Enemies assailed from all directions. The war cries of thousands, the screams of horses, and the clashing of metal all blended in an apocalyptic symphony.For the ones trapped inside those narrow walkways, it sounded like the end of the world. Only louder.But the children of Zion stood against the darkness. In Susa, and throughout the Persian Empire, they fought to protect their neighbors and children from an evil determined to butcher and pillage. Even from the palace, the Queen could hear the clash and clatter of weapons climbing up out of the city. Her right hand tightened its grasp on the dagger sheathed by her side. Usually, she would never think to carry a weapon. But today was the dreaded thirteenth day of Adar. Today, even a bodyguard could slice her throat and not be legally culpable.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08LTCDK2L
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 24, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 571 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 285 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Oliver Anderson Trilogy
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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Joshua D Jones

Joshua D Jones

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Joshua pastors Bethel Community Church in Milford, Nebraska. Previous to this, he lead two churches just north of London, England as a missionary-pastor. He has written non-fiction books on friendships and prayer and is launching a Biblical Fiction series starting with 'The Girl and the Guardian' which is based on the Biblical epic of Mordecai and Esther. His wife, Irdi, is from the Faroe Islands. They have four children.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Book of Ester like never before.......
    Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Whether you are new to the story of Ester or she has been your BFF for years, The Girl and the Guardian will allow you to know her and her story even better. It is rich in description and history....told in a contemporary way, without compromising the original. We are also introduced to William, the Scottish story telling Grandfather and his adult Grandson Oliver. William, using quick wit and a wry sense of humor, along with wisdom, helps Oliver to understand the Book of Ester and to also answer questions pertinent to our present day life. A fast paced, don't want to put down read! Loved it!!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Danielle D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful retelling
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed reading this book with the obvious research done by the author into Persian, Jewish culture of that time. I also really enjoyed the contrasts with today’s society as well as the revelation and comparison of Esther to Jesus.
    The ‘Beautiful Ugly’ is so perfect for our time as it is for every timeline in history.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely retelling
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Joshua Jones uses a frame story to recount the events in the Biblical book of Esther. He brings them to life in a way that makes the story relevant and refreshing. I enjoyed reading about Mordecai and Esther as much as I enjoyed meeting Oliver and his grandfather. Recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer sue b
    4.0 out of 5 stars Captivatingly and cleverly written story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    So much more than just a remake, or repeat of a Biblical story. The relationship between the characters telling the story tugs the heartstrings with its honesty and relevance in real time. This book has a bit of something for everyone. I enjoyed the pace and humor, as well as the lessons to ponder.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Rita-Kay
    5.0 out of 5 stars A new look at a very old story!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I found reading this interpretation of the book of Esther very unique! It brought a story from thousands of years ago into today's world. Though I already loved the story of Esther, I am sure that this book will open this story up to a whole new generation.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • SDL
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This well-written book was so captivating! Even though I’ve known the story of Esther for years, I kept wanting to finish another chapter to see what would happen next. Loved it! I look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Micah Parillo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    No matter what your relationship with God is, this is an amazing book.
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  • Caleb
    4.0 out of 5 stars A solid retelling of the biblical story of Esther!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2021
    This easy to read novel tells the story of Esther with drama and intrigue. Jones does a fantastic job making these well known characters seem like real, complex, relatable people! This has a similar format to the movie Princess Bride with a grandfather telling the story to his grandson. I am impressed with how well Jones deals with complex and controversial topics like gender and sex from a biblical perspective! I'm looking forward to the next installment in this trilogy.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good easy weekend read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Picked this one on Kindle, I really enjoyed it. A I read this in 2 days a very easy read. Stays true to the Bible story, yes embellished, but catches the true essence of the story. The interspersed conversations between the modern grandfather and grand son add some real modern reflections on the story. Looking forward to more....
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