People sometimes think Judaism and Christianity are anti-women rights. Aggie Villanueva has written a compelling novel that shows this is not the case.I enjoyed this story based on a few Old Testament verses in which sisters who had no male relatives were allowed to inherit the land due their father. We know that the Israelites had a male-oriented society, but this event shows that God cares about His female children as well as His male children and has from the beginning.From the short account in Numbers describing the daughters of Zelophehad standing up for their rights, Aggie has created well-defined, believable characters and an entertaining story that makes the reader feel they are experiencing early Biblical times.Readers who like Biblical fiction, those who are interested in women’s rights, and lovers of romance will all enjoy Rightfully Mine.I enjoyed doing an interview with the author Aggie Villanueva on my blog. ( )

Rightfully Mine – Reviewed by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat

Zelophehad’s eyes fluttered. “Bring my daughters and my half brothers. I want all my family here – to bless them.” His eyes succeeded in opening and as Rizpah looked into them, she admitted at last he was truly near death. Moses, Joshua and Caleb, Israel’s ennobled leaders, rose tactfully to leave but Zelophehad reached a trembling arm toward them. “Please stay. I said I want all my family present.” Moses’ eyes softened and the three men turned back to face the old man’s bed.

“Moses – you are like a brother to me,” Zelophehad wheezed. Moses came closer. “We are the last, aren’t we, my friend?” “NO,” Zelophehad inhaled sharply. “Do not pity me. We both know the mercy of Elohim Hayyim, the living God, do we not? So we must accept also His judgments. He is the object of all our human striving and the end of all seeking. I look gladly to the end.” He coughed weakly, but his voice gained volume. “What will you do when this plague is over?”

Noah, who was nicknamed Rizpah by her father, is the second born daughter to Zelophehad. She’s strong willed and minded, and often speaks her mind before thinking. With the death of her father Zelophehad, Rizpah and her sisters are left with no man in their household. As the rulings were, no land would be inherited by a woman, leaving Rizpah and her sisters at a loss when Israel is finally allowed to cross the Jordan. But Rizpah will not let the injustice go without a fight. She will speak her mind to Moses asking that her father’s land be inherited by she and her sisters.

This book came at a good time for me. I had just bought a new Bible and had decided to start reading from page one through. When I picked up this book to start reading I found that I had just finished reading the story of Moses and sure enough, when I went back to check I found Noah as being a real person. The story that Aggie Villanueva has scripted made the story I had just finished in the Bible so real.

Sometimes when reading a Bible story we unconsciously see it as just that… a story. Aggie Villanueva gave the characters of Rightfully Mine passion which made them more human and believable. It also helped pass along the lessons to be learned from their mistakes. I feel that Rightfully Mine would make a great book for Bible study classes and discussions, especially among young adults.

2009
Lulu
174 Pages
ISBN #978-0-557-08654-2

Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat ( )

Rightfully Mine(God’s Equal Rights amendment) by Aggie Villanueva ISBN 978-0-557-08654-2
Review by Chris Phillips
Villaneuva has written some interesting Bible-based historical fiction. At the time of the crossing into the Promised Land, the Jews were dealing with several issues confronting a wandering, nomadic people settling down to become more agrarian. The Bible account deals with the general activities of the people as a whole, while this book deals with some specific people and events not detailed in the Old Testament. The main character is Rizpah. The second daughter of a Hebrew leader of the tribe of Manasseh she is the responsible one in her family directly under her father.
Villaneuva fills in the details for daily living of the Israelites before they crossed Jordan. There is romance, love, duty, honor and, yes, justice in light of a patriarchal society. The key issue is what happens when only daughters are left to inherit from a father’s passing. The plot follows consistently and maintains the historical context very well. Only a couple anachronisms sneak in but they are easily forgotten with this tale of a struggle against immense odds for justice and a place to be.
There is a romantic triangle between Rizpah, Caleb (Joshua’s second in command) and Hanniel, a warrior from the tribe of Manasseh. The tensions are fed by the difference in age between Rizpah and Caleb, the infatuation of Hanniel with Rizpah and the struggle in Rizpah’s own heart for love of a man that does not love her.
There is thoughtful integration of Old Testament passages without interfering with the narrative flow and without professing any particular doctrinal interpretations. It is a refreshing account of those events in Bible history. Villaneuva is a good writer. She handles dialog and thought very well and integrates all the elements of good story-telling into her art.
This book is recommended for Bible based historical fiction readers and is an overall a pleasant read.
5 stars
Published by lulu. (www.lulu.com) ($12.97 USD SRP/Amazon $12.97 USD) Reviewer received book from author. For BookPleasures, (www.bookpleasures.com) ( )