Every book is a unique journey. Some books rush form destination to destination, giving us action and drama. Others meander slowly, exploring the depths of the human spirit. Then there are a precious few that do all of these, and they shine like diamonds. "Daughter of Rome" by Tessa Afshar is one of those books.
"Daughter of Rome" brings to life the story of Priscilla, wife of Aquila and co-laborer of Paul. We see Priscilla deal with a difficult past and poor choices. We experience what draws her to Christ and her love story with Aquila. We rejoice as she breaks free of her chains amidst great trials.
The novel deals with the topics of rejection, abortion, miscarriage, infertility, and adoption. Great sensitivity is used, but this does not sugar coat the issues. The characters wrestle with God and their circumstances while holding on to faith.
My favorite quotation is a prayer by Priscilla. "I am here because you will use this pain to forge me and shape me and complete me. I am here because you have begun a good work in me, and you are determined to complete it. This is not about the trouble I have known through the years, but about the God who is with me in the trouble. Yeshua, I am yours. Do with me what you will." Such beautiful, gut-wrenching honesty is a staple of this marvelous book.
Tessa Afshar is an award-winning author of biblical and historical fiction. Her books have won the Christy and INSPY Awards and been voted by the Library Journal as one of top five Christian fiction titles of the year. Her first Bible Study and DVD, The Way Home, based on the book of Ruth, will be released from Moody Publishers in June 2020. Born in the Middle East, Tessa moved to England in her teens where she attended boarding school for girls before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds a Master of Divinity from Yale University, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship for one year. She worked in women and prayer ministries for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer and speaker.
I received a NetGalley digital copy of the book to facilitate this review. The views and opinions expressed here are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, part 255 Guidelines, concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonals in advertising.
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