Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! So honored to have Ifueko here today to chat about her debut novel!
A DIVINE ROMANCE by Ifueko Ogbomo
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance / Biblical Era
PUBLISHER: InspiroLogos Publishing
RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2023
PAGES: 400
Hers is the flawless face no man has seen—except her father.
His is the foreign face everyone reveres—save his family.
The royal decree that couples this unlikely pair will make or break the history of an ancient empire.
Considered a gift from the sun god due to her arresting eyes, Asenath was veiled in childhood and destined to marry Egyptian royalty. The 17-year-old is resigned to a loveless future in the royal harem, when Pharaoh’s shocking declaration forces her to marry the new vizier of Egypt—a mystical foreigner with powers of divination.
Known as Zaphnath-Paaneah, her husband turns out to be handsome, charming, and possibly insane since he worships an invisible god and expects her—the daughter of a high priest—to do the same. Facing a fate seemingly worse than that she grew up dreading, she desperately searches for a way out of the arranged marriage. The secrets she uncovers usher her into a world of intrigue and treachery that questions all her beliefs about men, gods, and love. Will theirs be the most monumental mismatch made in Egyptian history, or will her daring demand for a sign from his god make all her childhood fantasies come true?
Combining original poetry with well-researched history, A Divine Romance is an Own Voices retelling of a beloved Biblical tale that takes readers on a riveting journey through Ancient Egypt and introduces them to a fresh, poetic voice in Christian fiction.
“In a writing style reminiscent of Tessa Afshar, Ifueko Ogbomo spins a breathtaking tale readers won’t be able to put down!”
~ Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning author of The Orchard House and Hope Beyond the Waves
“A Divine Romance that will resonate in our hearts well past the last page.”
~ Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author of In Search of a Prince
“Gifted storytelling brings an intricate cast of characters to life and portrays the greatest kind of love there is . . .”
~ Jenna Van Mourik, author of Jerusalem’s Daughter
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Hi Ifueko! Welcome to the blog!
Ifueko: Summer all the way! I was born and raised in a tropical climate and I can’t stand cold weather!
Carrie: I’m the opposite haha 🙂
Ifueko: Netflix because it offers way more variety!
Carrie: something for everyone!
Ifueko: Music ‘cos I love to sing and dance!
Carrie: me too! Though I’m terrible at both haha
Ifueko: Love print books but I buy more ebooks! Perks include lower costs, instant delivery after purchase, adjustable font sizes for enhanced legibility, and never having to leave my books behind when I travel or move!
Carrie: yes! I’m with you 🙂
Q: Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?
Ifueko: Painting pictures on the canvases of minds using the metaphorical brush of well-chosen words.
Carrie: ooo i love that!
Q: Other than the Bible, what are five of your most cherished books?
Ifueko:
- Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
- Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar.
- Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker
- In Search of A Prince by Toni Shiloh.
- And a childhood fave: Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Carrie: Land of Silence is a forever fave for me & so is In Search of a Prince!!
Q: Characters often find themselves in situations they aren’t sure they can get themselves out of. When was the last time you found yourself in a situation that was hard to get out of and what did you do?
Ifueko: Being born with sickle cell anemia—a genetic blood disorder—my entire life has felt like a difficult situation that’s hard to get out of, but what I do, is pray every day, more so on the traumatic days, that the Lord’s grace would be sufficient, and I am grateful that He hasn’t failed me thus far.
Carrie: He is so faithful ♥
Q: Which of your main characters in A Divine Romance is most like you?
Ifueko: Asenath. I gave her some of my physical characteristics like being tall and slender, with a sun-kissed complexion, and quite a few of my personality traits, like being introspective, intellectual, witty, a lover of languages and stories.
Carrie: I can’t wait to meet her 🙂
Q: If Hollywood wanted to produce A Divine Romance as a movie, who would you want to be cast as the lead roles?
Ifueko: Henry Cavill and either Zendaya or Gugu Mbatha-Raw (either of whom would need amber contacts to portray Asenath’s usual eye-color!)
Carrie: You had me at Henry Cavill 😉 #swoon
Q: What do you most want readers to take away from A Divine Romance?
Ifueko: I want readers to walk away with two truths:
- God’s love is unconditional, undeserved, undying, and absolutely life-changing. And He freely gives it to all people because he SO loves humanity. John 3:16.
- True forgiveness is not just divine, it is utterly liberating. But it is very much a choice we must make. Although, if we want to enjoy God’s forgiveness, He says, we must also forgive others. Selah!
Carrie: amen ♥
Thank you so much for taking time to talk with me! 🙂 Before we say goodbye for today, tell us what‘s coming up next for you.
Ifueko: A Divine Romance is the first in a trilogy spotlighting the love stories of three sun-kissed biblical beauties, so books 2 and 3 are coming up next. As well as my first children’s book.
Thank you for having me on your blog!
Ifueko Fex Ogbomo is a prize-winning Nigerian poet, storyteller, voice artist, and sickle cell activist whose life’s motto is ‘to inspire with words.’ Under her alias ‘Lady InspiroLogos,’ she is best known for her custom spoken word and song performances, which have graced global stages. For her internationally-acclaimed work in the performing arts, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services classified her as an Alien of Extraordinary Ability in the Arts and awarded her permanent US residency (2017).
A member of the American Christian Fiction Writer’s association, Ifueko is passionate about using spoken word artistry and storytelling to share the gospel, and to raise awareness on both autism and sickle cell anemia. Her first book, Yellow Eyes Gone White!, is a faith-inspiring memoir that details her personal struggles with the genetic blood disorder. Ifueko’s poem, My Utmost Delight, is the opening chapter of Revell’s 2022 publication, Voices of Lament, a collection of essays, poems, liturgies, and prayers by 29 BIPOC Christian women contributors exploring issues of injustice, heartache, and deep suffering.
A classically-trained vocalist, Ifueko graduated summa cum laude, with a B.A. Honors (Music with a minor in Computer Science) from Texas Lutheran University. The last of three children born to a military father and a fashion designer mother, Ifueko has visited four of the seven continents and known many “homes,” but she currently resides in Orlando, Florida. Proudly neurodivergent, and INFJ on the Myers-Briggs scale, she enjoys creative expression, African fashion, gluten-free dining, and exotic destinations. But nothing beats a quiet day at home, flying through the pages of a Christian romance while snacking on plantain chips!
Connect with Ifueko by visiting ifuekoogbomo.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
(1) winner will receive a signed copy of A Divine Romance and Voices of Lament!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 7, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 14, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
This giveaway is hosted by JustRead Tours, not RimSP
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
What about you? What makes you want to read A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo?
Captivating and memorable.
I enjoyed the interview with the author and learning more about her writing. Love how she phrased her choice of superpower!
Sounds so interesting.