Apostle's Sister

The Apostle’s Sister is one of the best Biblical fiction novels that I’ve read in a long time. Both thoughtful and deep, it kept me immersed in Sha’ul and Aya’s lives right through to the very last page! I loved being able to delve into the lives of the apostle Paul and his sister and follow their journeys from legalistic Jews to believers in Christ. What a fascinating time and culture! I cannot say enough just how thoroughly I enjoyed this unique story!
I did not read the first three books in the Jerusalem Road series before reading this one, as they seemed to be totally unrelated and I did not deem it necessary. And this story did indeed stand on its own two feet, without giving me the feeling that I was missing anything.
This was my first Angela Hunt novel, but it certainly will not be my last! This author has captivated me with the depth of her research, the strength of her storytelling and the boldness of her faith that shines throughout her writing. I will be on the lookout for more of her books to enjoy in my future reading endeavors!

(p.s. Be sure to read the Q and A at the end for some fascinating reasoning and explanations related to the story!)

If you enjoy historical or biblical fiction, you will love this newest release from Angela Hunt. If you haven’t read biblical fiction, this is a great book to start with. Angela Hunt expertly incorporates such wonderful historical content. Her attention to detail helps immerse the reader into the culture of the characters, helping us understand the world through their point of view.

I love the main character, Aya, because she is relatable as someone who desires to use her God-given gifts, yet feels the constraints of her culture and customs which seem to hold her back. She struggles to reconcile her desire to honor her heritage, while trying to fulfill the desire to express the musical talents she believes God placed in her for a purpose.

While Aya longs to hold onto to what she has been raised to believe all of her life, she is shocked to discover her brother has become a believer in the Messiah. This newly widowed young woman must now find a way to provide for her son and resents being deserted by her brother who has left to preach the gospel. Traveling this road with Aya, we can see her journey and growth in her faith as she comes to terms with her brother’s extreme conversion as a follower of the Messiah and discovers her own faith in the process.

One of the things I liked best about this book is the clearer understanding of the depth of the Jewish faith and traditions and why it was so difficult for the religious community to accept Jesus as the Promised Messiah. Angela Hunt did a spectacular job of opening up my understanding and even made me think I might have been a lot more like Aya if I were in her shoes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

“He saw my past and present, good and bad, and yet in his eyes I saw forgiveness and patience and longing…..”

Aya is a young girl that is not much different than most young girls. She has hopes and dreams and wonders if any of them could possibly come true. Her brother, Sha’ul (Paul) is very smart and has been a Torah student since he was ten years old. With all his knowledge, he would never make the wrong choice, would he? Will marriage bring their separate hopes and dreams to life?

The Nazarene, Yeshua, seems to be gaining a great deal of support - how can those who are true to the law and the prophets stop this sect from getting bigger? Gaining support from the Great Sanhedrin, some are sent out to do just that. Would they succeed in stopping this fire from growing?

This fourth book in the Jerusalem Road was received through Bethany House and Bake Publishing Group. These thoughts and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.