Book Review: "The Thief" by Stephanie Landsem

Photo credit: NetGalley

I decided to read The Thief (Howard Books), by Stephanie Landsem, simply because it looked interesting enough.  I never was one that loved speculative historical fiction.  I dabbled in it a bit last year, so I decided to give it a go.  The Thief follows a young Jewish spinster (Nissa), who becomes the best thief in Jerusalem in order to pay the rent and keep her blind brother (Cedron) fed.  She crosses paths with a Roman centurion (Longinus) who coincidently is hunting "the thief."  Her blind brother is healed by a certain teacher you may have heard of (Jesus), but instead of their lives becoming easier, they become a lot more complicated.  Cedron and Longinus become drawn to this teacher, and Longinus and Nissa to each other.  Nissa's web of lies becomes even more complicated, and her heart torn.  They end up in the middle of Jesus's arrest, trial, and crucifixion and  must decide for themselves what the Truth really is.

I DEVOURED this story.  I'm falling in love with stories that teach you to read scripture differently.  Not to just read the same words you've always read but to look at the story from every single angle.  I think then you are able to more fully understand.  It tears your heart up a little more, and that's okay.  There's something about imagining what it would have been like to be there, to see Jesus's eyes, to witness such true love and compassion.  It wrecks me.

I would definitely recommend this book, and I would actually read it again (which is rare for me, there are just too many new books to read!)

Published: February 25, 2014

This book was provided for review by NetGalley

Update: Enter to win your very own copy here! http://www.stephanielandsem.com/2014/02/giveaway/

"An Absence So Great" by Jane Kirkpatrick

Summary
While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

About the Author
Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

What I Have to Say...
An Absence so Great by Jane Kirkpatrick caught my attention because it is about a young female photographer living in an early 1900 Midwest. Her journey particularly takes her to southeastern Wisconsin. A really interesting tidbit about this book is that it was inspired by actual photographs taken by the author’s grandmother. As you read through the book you will also see actual photos and get to read the story behind them. Jessie Gaebele’s continuing passion of photography keeps her connected to her past, mainly to the mistakes she’s made. She distances herself from those mistakes with time and distance but as long as she photographs she stays connected. She later on discovers that her photography is not the only thing tying her to her mistake, but the mistake itself. This mistake eventually caused everything she thought to be true in her life to be a lie. This mistake stole from Jessie what she thought to be the very definition of herself. Jessie runs from this mistake again, this time tying all loose ends, and her photography pulls her through. Kirkpatrick does a great job at delving into the most passionate emotions of humankind. This novel is a must read.


*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

Follow link to purchase this book
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816
available in Trade Paperback, unabridged audiobook download, and eBook

"Yesterday's Promise" by Linda Lee Chaikin

Summary
He fought to seek his fortune.
Would he lose a greater treasure: the love he left behind?

As the son of the squire of Grimston Way, aristocrat Rogan Chantry has fought hard to win his independence from Sir Julien Bley and the British South Africa Company. Now, his pursuit of a mysterious deposit of gold, marked on a map willed to him by his murdered uncle, Henry Chantry, is challenged by a new complication: the impending British colonization of South Africa. Can Sir Rogan find the gold in the midst of escalating tensions among the native tribesmen, the missionaries sent to win them, and the new colonists?

Meanwhile, Evy Varley, the woman Rogan loves back in England, is headed for a brave yet dangerous confrontation with Henry’s killer–but at what price? With so much against Rogan and Evy, a reunion seems improbable, if not impossible. Can yesterday’s promise hold them faithful to the hope of future freedom and a victorious love?

About the Author
has written numerous best-selling and award-winning books and series, including the Silk series (Heart of India Trilogy), A Day to Remember series, The Empire Builders, Royal Pavilion Trilogy, Arabian Winds Trilogy, The Buccaneers Trilogy, and For Whom the Stars Shine, a finalist for the Christy Award. She and her husband make their home in Northern California.

What I have to say...
For me the novel Yesterday’s Promise, by Linda Lee Chaikin, was a little bit hard to get into. I figure this is due to the fact that it is the second book of Chaikin’s “East of the Sun Series,” and the first book of the series I’ve read. However, being that I hadn’t read the first book of the series I don’t feel that took anything away from the story. If I would have read the first book this one would have been richer for me of course, but I still really enjoyed it. The only historical novels I would call myself a fan of are those of world war two era, which this one is not. It takes place in the late 1800s, with both historical and fictional characters, in England and South Africa. This novel was full of adventure, murder, mystery, aristocratic politics and faith. Chaikin focused separately on characters Evy and Rogan. When I was reading about one, I was wondering what was happening with the other. I enjoyed the end of the book the most and am anxious to find out what happens to Evy and Rogan in the third installment of the series.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

You can purchase this great book here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307458759

Available in Trade Paperback and eBook.