Saturday, March 8, 2014

Book Review - The Thief by Stephanie Landsem

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure. Desperate to escape the accursed Judean province, he accepts a wager. If he can catch the thieves harassing the marketplace before Passover, he'll earn a transfer away from the troublemaking Jews.

Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Only with the help of Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, can she keep her blind brother, Cedron, fed and a roof over their heads.
When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Longinus longs to learn more about the mysterious healer. Instead, his journey leads him to Nissa, whose secret will determine the course of both their futures.

Unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus, they wonder who this teacher is who heals others but does nothing to save himself. Is the mercy he offers in his teachings real, or just another false promise? Can Nissa and Longinus overcome their pasts to find a future free of their shackles?

The Thief is an evocative story of two people trapped in their circumstances and the life-changing power of forgiveness and love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephanie Landsem loves adventure in far-off times and places. In real life, she's explored ancient ruins, medieval castles, and majestic cathedrals around the world. Stephanie is equally happy at home in Minnesota with her husband, four children, and three fat cats. When she's not writing, she's feeding the ravenous horde, avoiding housework, and dreaming about her next adventure---whether it be in person or on the page.

Learn more about Stephanie at: http://www.stephanielandsem.com

MY REVIEW:
This is a book that you must read! This book is so powerful and draws you in so deeply, you'll feel as though you're actually living with these characters in this time period! This is a book you'll want to savor and you'll never be the same after reading this book.

Nissa is a young woman who feels worthless. She is told this by her parents but she does have a blind brother, Cedron, who loves her deeply and who makes her feel cared for. Her father is a gambler and her mother a drunk, so when the money is gone, which it is often, it falls on Nissa's shoulders to find a way to feed her family.  She knows she will never marry because her parents have told her she is so worthless so she feels alone, yet responsible for Cedron. In all of this, she becomes known as "the thief". 

There is a certain centurion hunting "the thief" and when their paths cross, Nissa's lies and deceit become very complicated. Then Cedron hears of a wonderful healer/teacher by the name of Jesus and he asks Nissa to take him to Jesus. Cedron is healed by Jesus, but their lives become even more complicated and more difficult after they give this wonderful Jesus credit. 

I love the story of redemption and how God can take the lowest people, the most broken people, and make them whole again. I also love how the author pulls the stories in the Bible into this book to make it so wonderful and so understandable. You will recognize many of the characters as those you've read about in the Bible so many times. 

I just can't praise this book enough. You're going to love it as much as I do, I just know it. It will be a book that will have you crying because you'll see the love of Jesus for you through this story. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars (it actually deserves 100 stars!) and I highly, highly recommend it!!

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group 


Blessings - Julie

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