Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another great insight into the life of the believers of The Way and their struggle against Jewish disbelief that Jesus was the Messiah. This is a well-told story of Jew and Gentile both coming to understand their oneness in Christ and their equal standing in the eyes of God. The main characters of Priscilla and Aquila are given realistic backgrounds by Afshar and she once again draws you in to what ‘might-have-been’ their story. Her research, as always, cannot be faulted as she transports you back to 1st century Rome.

What I loved most about this book was the deep understanding of God’s mercy, grace, love and forgiveness. These aspects are beautifully written, opening up hope to every reader who carries the burden of shame. And let’s be honest, we are all ashamed of something in our lives at one point or another. This story replaces guilt with forgiveness through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. Amazing love.

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fascinating look at the possible life of Rahab. Beautifully written and true to the parts we know from scripture. Tessa Afshar takes you deeper into life in Jericho and the challenges that Rahab may have faced. Then, after God saves her life and those of her family, we see her face a new set of challenges when she comes to live in the Israel camp. The way the author writes the compassion, grace and mercy of God through this story is beautiful.

Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoyed this telling of Hezekiah’s reign. The bones of the story is based on scripture and is fleshed out in a convincing way – reading between the lines and understanding the culture allows Lynn Austin to add a little bit of imagination and create a compelling read.