Egypt's Sister (The Silent Years #1) by Angela Hunt

Title: Egypt’s Sister (The Silent Years #1)

Author: Angela Hunt

Pages: 384

Year: 2017

Genre: Biblical-Era Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

About the book:

     Five decades before the birth of Christ, Chava, daughter of the royal tutor, grows up with Urbi, a princess in Alexandria’s royal palace. When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what-but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery.

     Torn from her family, her community, and her elevated place in Alexandrian society, Chava finds herself cast off and alone in Rome. Forced to learn difficult lessons, she struggles to trust a promise HaShem has given her. After experiencing the best and worst of Roman society, Chava must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God’s will for her life.

My review:

     This is an absolutely incredible biblical-era fiction story!

     This book is set during the years between the Old and New Testament. Therefore it isn’t officially a biblical novel but I can’t think of any other genre that it fits better.

     I love Chava! She faces so much heartache and danger in her life, but it all helps her to grow and become an incredibly strong woman. I have never studied the history from this period though much of it is well known. I found all of the details that are given about how the different levels of people were treated to be very eye opening. I was also fascinated by the differences between Rome and Alexandria.

     I thoroughly enjoyed reading the author’s note at the end of the book. It made a number of things clearer for me as to what is actually known about Cleopatra.

Jerusalem's Queen: A Novel of Salome Alexandra (The Silent Years #3) by Angela Hunt

 

Title: Jerusalem’s Queen: A Novel of Salome Alexandra (The Silent Years #3)

Author: Angela Hunt

Pages: 384

Year: 2018

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     Born in the small village of Modern, a town made famous by the warrior Maccabees, Salome Alexandra knows better than to harbor grand dreams for her future. She pales in comparison to her beautiful older sister, and though she learns to read at an early age, girls are not valued for their intellectual ability. But when her father and sister are killed, John Hyrcanus, a distant relative, invites Salome and her mother to live with his family in Jerusalem, where her thirst for knowledge is noticed and indulged.

     When her guardian betroths her to a pagan prince, she questions HaShem’s plan. When Hyrcanus finally marries her to a boy half her age, she questions her guardian’s sanity. But though Salome spends much of her life as a pawn ordered about by powerful men, she learns that a woman committed to HaShem can change the world.

My review:

     This is a wonderful Biblical novel!

     Before I started reading this series of books I didn’t really know anything about the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. I love the fact that the author has researched this period extensively so that she was able to write accurate and informative stories based on historical facts. I found it fascinating after finishing the story to read her note at the back of the book and learn where she found out her information and which aspects of the book were factual.

     I absolutely loved both Salome Alexandra and Kissa. They both started off with very difficult situations that they were trying to figure out how their lives were going to progress. The way they were able to forge a deep friendship and help each other out along the way was incredible.

     I am giving this fantastic book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Sit. Stay. Forever. by Angela Hunt

Title: Sit. Stay. Forever

Author: Angela Hunt

Pages: 36

Year: 2020

Genre: Remembrance Book

Publisher: Hunthaven Press

Format: eBook (also available in hardback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     From the author:

     Dogs do speak. But only to those who know how to listen.

     This little book came to me in a flash while I was vacuuming. When I began to weep, I shut off the vacuum and hurried to my computer, where I typed out a draft of the work that became Sit. Stay. Forever. I posted a copy to my Facebook page, and when the reaction of readers equalled my own, I knew I had to publish those verses as a book.

     Sometimes small books can have the biggest emotional impact, because the emotion isn’t in the words, it’s in the heart of the reader. The words and illustrations on the page remind us of the precious relationships in our lives and bring us back to an awareness of and appreciation for those beloved friends.

     Sit. Stay. Forever is the perfect book for anyone who loves dogs. The hardback comes with a dust jacket and makes a wonderful fit for dog lovers. There’s even a page for the recipient to paste a picture of their beloved canine.

     A little book with a powerful impact . . . just like the big little lives that leave their paw prints on our hearts.

My review:

     A very sweet remembrance book for dog owners.

     This is a very short book. The pictures are what really make it stand out in my mind. I read this as an eBook. It is absolutely going to be better in print. It starts with a page to put a picture of your own special fur baby and this can’t be accomplished in an eBook. I like the fact that it has a page covering each stage of a dog’s life. By the end of it I was in tears.

     I’m giving this wonderful book 5 stars. I believe that all dog lovers would love it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Daughter of Cana (Jerusalem Road #1) by Angela Hunt

 

Title: Daughter of Cana (Jerusalem Road #1)

Author: Angela Hunt

Pages: 384

Year: 2020

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     Thomas and Tasmin, twin siblings hired to oversee a wedding feast in Cana, worry when the host runs out of wine . . . until a guest tells Tasmin to have the servants fill the pitchers by the gate with water from the cistern. Reluctantly, she obeys and is amazed when rainwater turns into the finest wine ever tastes in Cana.

     When Thomas impulsively decides to follow the teacher from Nazareth, he and Tasmin argue—since the twins have been together since the womb, Tasmin can’t accept losing her brother to some magician-prophet. Aided by Jude, younger brother to Jesus of Nazareth, she decides to follow the Nazarene’s group and do whatever she must to mend the fractured relationship and bring her brother home.

My review:

     This is an incredible biblical novel!

     When I read a biblical novel I don’t look for the story to follow the bible perfectly. Instead I look for a well crafted story that could very easily be the way things happened. We are not given complete details in the bible, and if we were why would anyone write biblical fiction.

     This author has done a marvelous job of studying scripture and the culture from during the period that Jesus ministered on earth. She has then taken all of the information that she learned and crafted this story to fit the information that is included in the bible.

     I love the way that she developed Tasmin, Thomas (her twin brother), and Jude (the brother of Yeshua. I was easily able to understand the doubts and the questions that they were all dealing with as the story progressed.

     I am really looking forward to seeing what takes place in the next book in this series. This is one author that I trust to have done an excellent job of preparation before she begins writing.

     This fantastic book is getting a rating of 5 stars from me. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Judah's Wife: A Novel of the Maccabees (The Silent Years #2) by Angela Hunt

Title: Judah’s Wife: A Novel of the Maccabees (The Silent Years #2)

Author: Angela Hunt

Pages: 384

Release Date: January 2, 2018

Genre: Biblical Fiction - The Silent Years

Publisher: Bethany House Publisher

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     Seeking peace and safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries Judah, a strong and gentle man, and for the first time in her life Leah believes she can rest easily. But the land is ruled by Antiochus IV, descended from one of Alexander the Great’s generals, and when he issues a decree that all Jews are to conform to Syrian laws upon pain of death, devout Jews risk everything to follow the law of Moses.

     Judah’s father resists the decree, igniting a war that will cost him his life. But before dying, he commands his son to pick up his sword and continue the fight—or bear responsibility for the obliteration of the land of Judah. Leah, who wants nothing but peace, struggles with her husband’s decision—what kind of God would destroy the peace she has sought for so long?

     The miraculous story of the courageous Maccabees is told through the eyes of Judah’s wife, who learns that love requires courage . . . and sacrifice.

My review:

     This is a captivating biblical fiction story!

     The idea of a book set during the silent years between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible fascinated me. I knew nothing about this 400 year period. I knew that there were some books in the Catholic Bible called the Apocrypha and that some of them take place in this period. I have never read them so there is all my knowledge.

     The main male characters in this wonderful book are actual historical figures from this period. Their story is contained in the First and Second books of the Maccabees. 

     Angela has done a marvelous job of researching this historical period. She then developed wives and other characters to fill in the information that isn’t known. I loved all of her main characters and feel that she has presented a completely plausible account of what could have happened.

     One of my favorite characters was Rosana. She was gentle and caring to her family and any others that came into their lives. She shared her wisdom and encouragement in a sweet manner. She truly lived in a way that was guiding the younger women in how they should love and honor their husbands.

     After reading this marvelous book I am seriously considering reading all of the books of the Apocrypha.

     I find myself having to give this great book a rating of 5-stars. I am highly recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*