Caught up in the maelstrom following the death of an obscure rabbi in the Roman backwater of first-century Palestine, Leah finds herself also engulfed in her own turmoil--facing the prospect of an arranged marriage to a Roman soldier, Alban, who seems to care for nothing but his own ambitions. Head of the garrison near Gallilee, he has been assigned by Palestine's governor to ferret out the truth behind rumors of a political execution gone awry. Leah's mistress, the governor's wife, secretly commissions also to discover what really has become of this man whose death--and missing body--is causing such furor.
Grandmother of the evangelical Christian fiction boom, Oke teams with Bunn, another established author brand, in this biblical fiction embroidered around a minor character in the gospels, one Roman soldier whose young servant was miraculously healed by Jesus. The centurion Alban seeks advancement in the Roman government of occupied Judaea. His plan to advance will win him an unwilling bride, Leah, a young woman whose family’s economic disgrace has forced her into servitude in the household of Roman governor Pilate, who has recently condemned to death a controversial Jewish spiritual leader by the name of Jesus. This nicely plotted series kickoff provides interesting back stories for the central characters that cry out for further development. A few supporting characters hold interest, including Alban's fellow soldier Linux and Pilate's wife Procula, another intriguing bit player in the gospel of Christ’s passion. Unfortunately, the characters who follow Jesus have but a single dimension: piety. Fans of these popular authors will love their joint effort imagining and animating the context of Christianity's birth. (Jan.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
8 of 21 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Kate Hill (Harleysville, PA), August 21, 2009
What a great read. If you like history and Christian books, this is a great combination of the two.
1.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Paige (Wellington, Fl), May 30, 2009
Janette is a great writer. I haven't had much experience with Davis Bunn, but he seems like a good writer. The message was good but way too boring for my tastes.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Nancy Domaz (Tinley Park, IL), May 28, 2009
My book group is reading this this month and so far we find it very enjoyable and have learned some things we did not know before. It certainly puts the biblical writings in a different light, a bit better to understand the political climate and the peoples involved and how they felt about events.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christine Howard (Ridgecrest, CA 93555), April 02, 2009
Beautifully written, but historically off; beginning with the title - Roman Centurions could never marry. (: The story lines were entertaining and the multiple themes kept my interest.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christine Bowers (San Jose, CA), April 01, 2009
An absolutely amazing read! If you liked the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers then you'll like this book.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Deb (David City, NE), March 25, 2009
This was a great book to read during Lent! It gave me a real feel for what life was like right after the resurrection. It really allowed me to "step back in time" and imagine what it was like for Jesus' followers following his death and resurrection. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out! Does anyone know when that might be?
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jennifer @ Quiverfullfamily.com (Canada), March 24, 2009
Leah and Alban walk parallel paths through the multi-layered political structures of Jerusalem in search for the answers to their question. Their steps soon intertwine as they discover the truth is not to be found within the courts of established rulers, but rather amongst the humble disciples of Jesus. Drawn inexorably by love, patience, and prayer, the pair find themselves moving towards a definitive decision that will forever change them both. While these two journeys of spiritual exploration mirror each other they are largely independent, though sources and information is freely shared.
As Alban comes to see Leah as a real woman and more than a stepping-stone in his career, his feelings quickly develop into a potent blend of chivalry, honour, and self-sacrificial love. His desires to serve, protect, and provide for her reflect the deep love Christ has for His church; few women can resist a love like this.
Though taking place over a remarkably short period of time for biblical fiction – the period between Jesus’ death until slightly after Pentecost – the story is rather slow-moving. The betrothed couple’s unwitting entanglement in the delicate balance of power exhibited between Pilate, Herod, and Caiaphas enriches the reader’s understanding of occupied Jerusalem’s political arena. Unfortunately these interchanges slow the pace and at times result in a lack of engagement.
With a minor, nameless character from the Bible fulfilling the necessary components of biblical fiction, Bunn and Oke had a vast horizon of storylines to choose from. However, they turned pens to a purpose and examined the events surrounding Jesus resurrection. This apologetic for the Christian faith set in fiction is gentle, personal, and blends seamlessly with the story.
The Centurion’s Wife dependably serves up anticipated outcomes. Predictability in no way mars the tale however. Everything concludes as it should, and happy tears sprinkled the pages of my copy.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by myra (japan), March 23, 2009
this was a good read. i enjoyed learning more about roman times- the customs, what life was like, etc. interesting.
View all 21 Reviews
Write a review of The Centurion's Wife, Acts of Faith Series #1
Catalog Shopping
Membership
