Publisher Description:
A woman with a devastating secret. A man bent on proving his worth. A chance encounter that catapults them into the heart of history.
When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God’s plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they’re banished from their home by a capricious emperor, they must join forces with an unusual rabbi named Paul and fight to turn treachery into redemption.
With impeccable research and vivid detail, Daughter of Rome is both an emotive love story and an immersive journey through first-century Rome and Corinth, reminding readers once again why Debbie Macomber has said that “no one brings the Bible to life like Tessa Afshar.”
My Review:
Tessa Afshar’s writing has a way of making me feel more connected to the events of Biblical times. As I read this particular book, I understood a little bit more what daily life might have been like for the believers in Rome. I enjoyed reading about their sharing Christ’s love and caring for each other in tangible ways. I also appreciate the research this author puts into her books. This is not quite the backstory that I would have initially imagined for Priscilla. However, the themes of Christ’s love for us and His grace and forgiveness came through beautifully in Priscilla’s story.
I enjoyed reading about the romance between Aquila and Priscilla. In the Biblical account, there seems to be a strong partnership between them, and Tessa Afshar did a great job of including that in this book. The only small caution that I would have for some readers is that the author gives us a couple of glimpses of private married intimacy between them. It’s appropriately handled, and fits in well with the theme of God’s grace and forgiveness in Priscilla’s life. I just wanted to make the reader of this review aware that it is there.
I enjoyed this book and its strong emphasis on loving others as Jesus loves them. Even though this story is set in Biblical days, there are principles that can apply to us today.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
About Tessa Afshar
TESSA AFSHAR is the award-winning author of many biblical and inspirational historical fiction books, including Harvest of Gold which won a Christy Award and In the Field of Grace, a biblical fiction on the life of Ruth. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. She holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she was co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship. She served in women and prayer ministry for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer and speaker.