Fabulous historical fiction: "The Mark of the King" by Jocelyn Green


Cover Art


about the book....


Life in This New World Requires More Strength Than She Ever Imagined

After the death of her client, midwife Julianne Chevalier is imprisoned and branded, marking her as a criminal beyond redemption. Hoping to reunite with her brother, a soldier, she trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling French colony of Louisiana. The price of her transport, however, is a forced marriage to a fellow convict. 

New Orleans is nothing like Julianne expects. The settlement is steeped in mud and mosquitoes, and there is no news of her brother, Benjamin. When tragedy strikes, she turns to military officer Marc-Paul Girard for help, but does he know more about her brother than he will admit? 

With her dreams shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous land, where only grace--and love--can overcome the stigma of the king's mark upon her shoulder.


my review....


I knew I was going to encounter a good read when my wife stole this book from me before I could crack the cover, and then proceeded to read into the wee hours of the morning, proclaiming "this book is so good!"
After having devoured this book myself, I can fully agree that this book is fabulous in every way.

"The Mark of the King" is the first book by Jocelyn Green that I have read, and I greatly enjoyed her gift with words, how she transported me back in time to the setting of this novel in New Orleans when it was first being established. Sometimes I can find historical novels to drag a bit, but such is not the case here. Rather, the plot unfolds at a breakneck pace, with drama and action and unexpected moments throughout the book. The characters are filled with life, and you will soon find yourself rooting for Julianne as she encounters injustice of an unbelievable kind, and somehow manages to rise above her circumstances by God's grace. Readers who enjoy romance will appreciate the complex relationships that Jocelyn encounters; while this book is not of the romance genre per se, Julianne finds a love she wasn't expecting but that is all the sweeter for the tragedy it unfolds in the midst of.  Themes of faith and forgiveness add a depth to this story that I wasn't even expecting, and a result I closed this book feeling like my own faith had been bolstered as a result of spending time with these characters.

 I cannot recommend this book highly enough not only for readers who typically enjoy historical fiction, but also for those who usually steer clear. "The Mark of the King" is a powerful novel, and I award this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.



 about the author....



Jocelyn Green
Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of ten books to date, including Wedded to War, a Christy Award finalist in 2013; Widow of GettysburgYankee in Atlanta; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. A former military wife herself, her passion for military families informs all of her writing as well as her numerous speaking opportunities. Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University with a BA in English and now lives with her husband and two children in Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.



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