Rescued Heart by Angela Hunt

Rescued Heart by Angela Hunt
Series: Book 1 The Matriarchs
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (October 7, 2025)

Review by Mae Clair

I was originally attracted to this novel because—despite the amount of Biblical fiction I’ve read—I’d not encountered a story about Abraham, father of the Hebrew nation. Written mostly from the POV of Abraham’s wife, Sarah, the story starts before their marriage and ends shortly after Abraham takes Isaac to sacrifice to God. A lot of territory and a lot of characters are covered in between.

The author does an excellent job relaying the events of Abraham’s journey as he leaves Ur of the Chaldeans, travels to Haran then finally Canaan. We see his separation from his nephew Lot, his misguided attempt to pass Sarah (then Sarai) off as his sister rather than his wife to Pharaoh of Egypt, his meeting with the king/priest Melchizedek, the birth of Ishmael through Hagar, even the forming of the Covenant God makes with Abraham, followed by the circumcision.

It’s a lot of territory to cover. In the author’s note at the end of the novel, Hunt explains she relied not only on scripture and several historical references, but also the Book of Jasher, a rabbinical work that is mentioned in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18. Her meticulous research brings the ancient world to life in vivid prose and compelling characters.

In addition to the main characters of Sarah and Abraham, many secondary players are given prominent attention. As an example, in Hunt’s account, Hagar is the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh. She is gifted to Abraham and his wife to act as a slave/maidservant to Sarah. At the time Hagar enters Sarah’s service she is only ten years old. Watching their relationship shift as she grows from child to woman and becomes the mother of Ishmael made me ache for both. I also thought including Hagar at the end of the story—showing yet another shift between the two women—created a beautiful moment. And when Sarah realizes she has been seen and loved by God all along, her realization broke my heart.

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Tears spilled freely as I bowed my head. ADONAI had been faithful when my faith was fragile.
He had been steadfast when I faltered. He was all I had ever needed.
Rescued Heart, by Angela Hunt

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If I have one minor complaint it’s the amount of time devoted to Sarah’s continual turmoil over not being able to conceive. If you know anything about Sarah and Abraham, you know she didn’t have Isaac until she was 90 and Abraham 100—even though God had promised to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. All those years of waiting, doubting, seeing women all around her with children, then reaching an age when childbearing should have been impossible would naturally take a toll. Especially in a society when a woman’s primary role in life was to bear children.

Hunt spends a lot of time sharing Sarah’s inner struggle and thoughts. A little too much time. After a while, I just wanted the story to move forward. That quibble aside, this is an engrossing tale rich in history, Biblical events, and faith. Rescued Heart is the first book in a new series by Angela Hunt focused on the matriarchs of the Old Testament. Rebekah (and Isaac’s) story is next, coming in the fall of 2026.

I give Rescued Heart four lovely fish

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I purchased the Kindle version of Rescued Heart.