About the Book
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.”
Excerpt
Since Aquila spoke Hebrew fluently, his attention wandered when the translation began. His eyes roamed about the hall, studying the faces of those who worshipped. In the row occupied by the God fearers, his gaze settled on a young woman. Her hair, a bright auburn, stood out in the assembly of dark-haired people. She was no Hebrew, but she did not look Roman either. Her skin was fair, her eyes a startling shade of blue, hard to miss even from this distance. High cheekboned and angular, her face had an arresting quality. He had certainly seen more beautiful women. But few had managed to hold his attention as this one seemed to.
There was a stillness in her face, a depth of reverence as she listened to the words of the Law that he found compelling. The interpreter had reached the Prophets now and was translating the verses from Isaiah:Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.With a touch of wonder he saw her eyes fill with tears. She drank in the Word like it was life.
Not many people entered worship with this consuming intensity. Esther never had. Aquila was intrigued to find a foreigner thus enthralled with Scripture.
He had to force his mind to return to the worship service as one of the men in the congregation rose up to give the message for the day. But even as Aquila listened, he found his thoughts returning to the Gentile woman.
She was unmarried—he could tell from the absence of the palla, leaving waves of auburn hair flowing around her shoulders and back. He wondered what had drawn her to this Hebrew congregation. Growing impatient with the turn of his wandering focus, he exhaled a slow, annoyed breath.
He had not come to Rome to ogle foreigners. He was here to start a new life. Here to grow in his faith and spread a truth that burned like fire in his belly. Foreign women with red hair had no part in his plan.Taken from Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar, Copyright © 2020
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved
Review
One of my favourite things about biblical fiction is the way it can take characters of whom little is known beyond their names and give them flesh, blood, and historical context. Daughter of Rome does all that and more for Priscilla and Aquila, the husband and wife who are mentioned several times in the New Testament as Paul’s co-workers in Christ Jesus.
When they first meet, both Priscilla and Aquila know what it is to feel unwanted and to feel the weight of shame, albeit for different reasons. Their romance unfolds alongside their growing understanding of what the work of Christ on the cross means for both Jew and Gentile, and although the story isn’t able to cover this topic to its fullest extent, it was good to be reminded what a period of confusion and adjustment this would have been, particularly for Jews who believed that Yeshua was the prophesied Messiah.
Priscilla and Aquila’s personal experiences with grace, forgiveness, and compassion stand them in good stead as they are eventually forced to leave Rome and start over, constantly needing to set aside their own wills and desires and submit to God’s will for their present circumstances—which involves sheltering both runaways and enemies in the course of their ministry in Corinth. I was particularly taken by the plight of the young boy, Marcus, who comes into their care, and another broken young woman who I won’t name for spoiler purposes.
Priscilla and Aquila’s story is one that will resonate with a powerful reminder of what God can work both in and through us when we yield our lives to His mercy and grace.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
About the Author
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.
Giveaway
Tessa’s publisher is graciously giving away a paperback copy of Daughter of Rome to one lucky commenter! Comment below and let us know what you love most about biblical fiction. Or you can just say hi and tell us how much you love us! 🙂
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on 19 February 2020 (EST). For full terms and conditions, see Disclaimers & Privacy Policy.
sounds good
I didn’t read Biblical fiction for many years. It wasn’t a conscious decision; the genre just kind of slipped through the cracks for me. But last year I rediscovered it and found so many authors doing a truly incredible job bringing the Bible to life. I now consider myself a huge fan!
Good Biblical fiction brings the time period and culture to life in a way that modern readers can relate to. It also gives a fresh perspective to familiar stories. That’s what I love about it and why Tessa is my favorite biblical fiction author.
I love the way Biblical fiction dives deep into what the characters may have been feeling, thinking, or dealing with. It totally breathes life and emotion into an oftentimes just factual representation of the event.
Biblical fiction conveys spiritual truths in a captivating manner.
I enjoy the message the most.
The exploration of faith, love, and the human experience in your biblical fiction book is both moving and enlightening. It underscores the enduring relevance of these ancient stories.