On This Foundation by Lynn Austin

From the publisher:
When news that the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire, Nehemiah, Jewish cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Persia, seeks God's guidance. After fasting and prayer, he's given leave to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild the city wall, not anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.

The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and halt the work. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving. 

Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is a powerful exploration of faith in the midst of oppression, and hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.
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This is the third and final book in the Restoration Chronicoles which document the minor prophets of Zechariah, Ezra, and Nehemiah.  

I thought it was very interesting the prologue to this book and how Lynn Austin created an additional drive for Nehemiah to be protective and makes sure others are protected.

There are three main characters in this book and their stories work together to portray all different aspects of what was going on during that time.  It was heart breaking to read about families selling children to be bond servants.  But it also opened your eyes to different view points of those at that time. 

Lynn Austin does amazing research into the time and people.  Readers of Biblical historical fiction will want to read this and really take themselves into the world of Nehemiah and the Jews during this time period.

I received this book free in exchange for my honest review.