Saturday, July 20, 2013

Daughter of Jerusalem by Joan Wolf

"The sun was just right, warm on our heads and shoulders but not too hot. The hillsides of Gallilee were covered with wildflowers, and the stretching fields of barley and wheat glittered like splashes of sunshine under the blue arch of the sky."--Daughter of Jerusalem by Joan Wolf

Joan Wolf takes one of the most mysterious women of the Bible, Mary Magdelene and tells her story. Beautifully.

Prepare to be transported to a time of courtyards and almond blossoms, ritual, religion, greed, lust, and redemption.

Throughout the lush, descriptive prose there is an underlying foreboding. The time of Roman occupation affects everyone within the far flung tentacles of the Empire that ruled the world. If ever a Messiah was needed it was then.

The arc between religious rule and the heavy hand of the government crushing humanity and souls in it's wake makes women and children especially vulnerable. Mary is caught in the crosshairs of jealousy and greed. With no man, not even her father looking out for her, the current carries her to the doorstep of Roman society, blurring the lines of everything she held out as true. She finds acceptance in the company of pagan friends, but her choices lead to guilt and heartache.

Somehow God's glory manages to shine through like rays of hope illuminating lifelines to the Messiah.

If you are looking for something wonderful to read this summer please consider Daughter of Jerusalem.

Worthy Publishing has provided more information below!

New York Times Best-Selling Author Joan Wolf Sheds Light on Scripture’s Most Mysterious Woman
“Why would Jesus seek out Mary Magdalene as the first person He appeared to after His resurrection?”
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—One of Scripture’s most mysterious and often misunderstood women, Mary Magdalene, tells her story in her own words in the latest novel from prolific author Joan Wolf. In her new release, Daughter of Jerusalem, Wolf gives readers a fictionalized account of this complex, yet remarkable woman—and one of Jesus’ most faithful followers. Readers will love this first-person account of all that took Mary from her traumatic early life to eyewitness of the glory of the resurrection.
Mary Magdalene is famous for being a sinful woman. In Wolf’s account we see those sins as well as her triumph as Jesus’ beloved disciple. Cheated of an early love by her guardian, she is forced into marriage with a rich old man. Captivated by a Roman senator’s son, she turns away from her heritage and is almost permanently lost to the morality of the Jewish law. Then she meets Jesus
of Nazareth. Is it true that he is the Messiah she has heard so much about? Can he really change her life? Is she good enough to be his disciple? Can he really be her Savior?
In Daughter of Jerusalem, New York Times best-selling Wolf skimps on no detail as she gives life to this fascinating yet mysterious woman. Readers will love seeing a living, breathing picture of the often misunderstood Mary—a woman who, though damaged, became Jesus’ friend while He walked the earth. Daughter of Jerusalem is told in three parts, each covering a different portion of Mary’s life. Readers will quickly identify with Mary, a flawed woman of deep faith who, in the end, used her wealth and influence to serve Jesus. Perfect for individual reading or book club discussion, Daughter of Jerusalem is a story not to be missed.
Joan Wolf has lived most of her adult life with her husband in Milford, Conn., where she raised two children and an assortment of horses, dogs, and cats. Along the way she also managed to write forty-six published novels, the writing of which profoundly enriched her life. Learn more about her online at www.joanwolf.com.
Worthy Publishing, a division of Worthy Media, Inc., is a privately held company whose mission is helping people experience the heart of God. Worthy is an independent voice in Christian publishing, managing editorial, marketing, publicity, sales, and distribution from its home offices in Brentwood, Tenn. Worthy focuses on a boutique list of new books each year, crossing a broad spectrum of genres, including fiction, Bible study, current events, devotionals, biography, leadership, and specialized Bibles, as well as spiritual and personal growth. See more at www.worthypublishing.com.

4 comments:

Dana said...

I enjoy these kinds of books. Thanks!

Have a wonderful Sunday. ☺

Karen Lange said...

This sounds interesting. Thanks for the info!

Hope your summer is going well. :) Enjoy your week!

Blessings,
Karen

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Such an intense time in history. This book sounds like an epic adventure. Thanks for sharing the info.

Blessings, Cheryl.
xoRobyn

Cheryl Klarich said...

Hi Dana! Daughter of Jerusalem was like taking a time machine to the time of Jesus--but in a real and vibrant way. Love it.

Karen, so lovely to have you visit!
You would love this book. Sometimes a book both entertains and ministers. A refreshing breeze for my soul.

Robyn!! You are so right! It's hard for me to adequately explain how profoundly Joan Wolf creates characters and setting to make the Bible come alive! I definitely want more of that!!!

God bless you all and have a beautiful day!