This is the second book in the Jerusalem Road series by Angela Hunt. I have enjoyed every book she has written and this is no exception BUT, I was a bit disappointed in this one. It was a very slow start for me and I almost gave up. I'm glad I didn't as it turned out to be a good book. It was written from the viewpoint of Jesus' 2 sisters. The narrative switched back and forth between them but not in equal shares.

The book, of course, is a Christian book and the main theme was forgiveness. The shepherd's wife is one of the sisters and the book is mostly from her view. The rest of the family is involved, but only as supporting characters.

The plot didn't seem to be as important and the theme and I guess that was one of the things I didn't care for.

Overall, I did enjoy the book once I got past the first chapter or so. It is not my favorite, but I did enjoy it. I think anyone that enjoys Biblical fiction will enjoy this book also. I give it a 3 out of 5 star rating.

As usual, Angela Hunt does an amazing job. Getting to know Jesus's sisters, or one imagining of them, anyway, was fascinating. They could have been anyone's sisters, which is kind of the point. The characters were very real, the story well told, well researched. The weaving of humor and heartache made for an enjoyable read.

There was one spot, not too far in, where I actually got so mad I put the book down for a week. I've never done that before. But here's the thing. I was angry at human pride, ego, and the preserving of one's position no matter the cost. I was actually expecting what happened to happen, and when it did, it made me feel sick. Because I see similar situations in real life far too often. Maybe not exactly, but the sentiment, for sure.

I will treasure this book, because of the beauty of the story, the changed hearts, and the lessons on forgiveness. And yes, I'll read it again.

I received an advance copy of this book from @NetGalley, and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

#The Shepherd's Wife# by Angela Hunt is a Biblical fiction book. Angela Hunt is a Christy award winner. She has over five million of her books sold . This book is a beautiful example of what life was like during the time of Jesus. It is the second book in the Jerusalem Road series. The book is a strong comparison of life with two sisters of Yeshua. One sister is married to a Pharisee who is rich. The other sister is married to a shepherd. The shepherd's wife is very caring and kind. She goes the extra mile for her family to show she cares. The book gives insights into the life of Yeshua. He dealt with so many opinions of others. Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read and review this book. I hope it is very successful.

This book really pulled at my heart strings. I was rooting for Pheodora and her husband the whole time. I'm really enjoy this fictional look at what life might have been like for Jesus' family, and what life would have been like for ordinary people in the New Testament times. Angela Hunt is a go to author for me for quality, well written biblical fiction. Her books are well researched and her characters are so realistic. This book stands well on its own or you can start with the first book in the series, Daughter of Cana.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.

The Shepherd's Wife
by Angela Hunt
Back of the Book: “Yeshua of Nazareth has two sisters: Damaris, married to a wealthy merchant's son, and Pheodora, married to a simple shepherd from Bethlehem. When Pheodora's husband suffers an unexpected reversal of fortune and is thrown into debtor's prison, she returns to Nazareth, where she pins her hopes on two she-goats who should give birth to spotless white kids that would be perfect for the upcoming Yom Kippur sacrifice.
In the eighteen months between the kids' birth and the opportunity to sell them and redeem her husband from prison, Pheodora must call on her wits, her family, and her God in order to provide for her daughters and survive. But when every prayer and ritual she knows is about God's care for Israel, how can she trust that God will hear and help a lowly shepherd's wife?”
Impressions: What a captivating book! Angela Hunt is an amazingly skilled writer.
Liked: I loved this snapshot of what life might have looked like for Jesus’ sister during His ministry and crucifixion. The details were so real and emotional.
Learned: You are going to have to read the book to understand these things…
I really need to be on the lookout for my “Bethel”.
The “Legend of Azazel, the Scapegoat,” from Yom Kippur was fascinating! – He has risen!
Quotes: “I would feel like a failure if I had to ask for help. None of the other shepherds’ wives seem to grow weary of lonely.” – Why is asking for help so hard sometimes!
“So, my sons, whether you use a hammer or a chisel, when you create something, you are using a gift from HaShem. He is maker of things, and so are we.” – Something to think about next time I start creating something.
“I may not be able to feed and shelter and clothe HaShem, whom I love, but I can do those things for you.”
“’Worry is worry.’ Jude Shrugged. ‘Worry is taking a burden upon yourself when you are meant to trust HaShem.’”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

The Shepard's Wife by Angela Hunt
This is the second book by Angela Hunt in The Jerusalem Road series. The author is a wonderful story teller.

Synopsis - Yeshua of Nazareth has two sister's. One sister Damaris was married to a merchants son and Pheodora was married to a very simple man. Damaris could never understand why her little sister would settle for a simple life. The Lord had plans for both sister's.

My Thoughts -You can never go wrong with one of Angela Hunt books. She is so good at letting you be a part of the book. You feel life your being transform to a different time period in history. This is a great story and a page turner.

I would recommend this book to other.

I give this book a 5 out of 5

I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I was asked to write a honest review. All thought and opinions are mine.

The tale of two sisters took me on a path I found unexpected, especially when I discovered that they were sisters to Jesus. This series has opened up the life during those times in a outstanding way, and will cause you to dig into scripture as well as seek to see what the life of Jesus would have been like through the eyes of family.. I would say that there is the death of animals discussed in a very tasteful and touching way, but it is in this book. I would highly recommend you not let that stop you from seeking out a copy for yourself. The author does a superb job of creating a story setting you do not want to leave.

The Shepherd's Wife by Angela Hunt is the second book in the Jerusalem Road series. I feel like I got a peek behind the curtain into Jesus' family.

The main character in this book is Jesus' sister Pheodora. Married to a shepherd named Chiram and living in Bethlehem, her world is upended when Chiram is thrown into prison for being unable to pay a toll tax. Her only hope to get him out of prison is to ask her rich sister Damaris and her husband Shimon for money. But Shimon is about to be elevated in status as a member of the Pharisees. Helping his brother-in-law is not as simple as it may appear.

So Pheodora pins her hopes on a pair of white goats that Chiram bred and would sell for Yom Kippur. But she needs the help of her brothers, so she travels home to Nazareth, and while there, she learns about Jesus and his followers. She doesn't know what to think about her older brother, but she fears for his life as he becomes bolder in denouncing the Pharisees.

I learned a great many things in this book. From how to care for goats to the ridiculous rules of the Pharisees, which they believed made them holy. Hunt has done her research, and I feel I have a better understanding now of why Jesus called out the Pharisees so much.

While I do enjoy good research, all the details about the goats made the story drag somewhat. At times, I had to force myself to continue reading. I am glad I did because the ending made me cry and helped me to imagine what it was like for Jesus' family when they finally realized his identity.

This is a story that will move you to tears and have you asking the question - what debt do I owe to Christ? I highly recommend it.

This book was so interesting and I feel like it held true to the Bible well. It helped me to see the Book in different light and I love that. It helped me to "see" and understand it a whole lot better.

In the Bible, Jesus is said to have at least two sisters, neither of which are named. In The Shepherd’s Wife, author Angela Hunt gives these women names, families, and lives. Pheodora lives in Bethlehem with her shepherd husband, and Damaris is married to a wealthy merchant’s son in Nazareth. While Damaris’s husband takes steps toward becoming a well-respected Pharisee, Pheodora’s husband, Chiram, is thrown in debtor’s prison. It is up to Pheodora to follow through on Chiram’s plan to breed and raise two pure white goat kids for the Yom Kippur sacrifice, which is their only hope to pay Chiram’s debt.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but absolutely loved this one. By the last third or so, I had a hard time putting it down. All of the brothers and sisters of Jesus (called by his Hebrew name Yeshua in the story) are involved, and I appreciated seeing the family dynamics as they interacted with each other, worked together, and even talked about what their eldest brother was up to. Pheodora, whom the plot revolves around, was determined, loyal, and hard-working, but also had plenty of flaws. The book is probably more character-driven than plot-driven, which is really my cup of tea.

The book is written from the sisters’ alternating perspectives, with Pheodora’s being the one shown most often. I wasn’t sure what the point of showing Damaris’s POV was at first, but it really did add to the story. Especially at a point somewhere in the middle when the suspense ramped up because of something we only knew happened due to seeing Damaris’s home life.

It started to get really difficult to read as the injustice against Chiram was more fully revealed, and though I assumed all would be made right by the end of the book, it was all just too real. And in real life, things usually aren’t made right, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel by the end. However, the last quarter of the book brought such surprises, emotions, and lessons learned, that I was not thinking about whether or not the incredible injustice was made right.

I have a difficult time giving books 5 stars unless I can see it being a book I’ll re-read at least once in the future. This is a book I definitely will read again someday, at least once. I highly recommend it to fans of Biblical fiction, and I’m really excited about what the author has planned for the next book in this series!

This is the first book by Angela Hunt I've read and it definitely won't be the last!
The characters were done so well and the setting too. I felt as if I were there.

The Shepherd's wife is the second book of the serie Jerusalem Road.
I read the first book Daughter of Cana about the first miracle Jesus did and his
brother Jude and Tasmin...

This one is about Jesus's sisters Pheodora and Damaris.
Pheodora married a sheperd named Chiram but he found himself in prison when he is unable
to pay a debt to a tax collector.
Damaris married a rich merchant Shimon who is about to become a Pharisee.

Pheodora is struggling to find a way to pay her husband debts and provide to her Daughters needs.

Pheodora and Damaris lives are taking differents paths and they sometimes struggles to understand
each other. It's only when their eyes open to understand that the Messiah Israel have been waiting
lived among them, was their own brother that a glimmer of hope appears in their situations bringing restoration and forgiveness.

Though the story is interesting I prefered the first book it captivated me more than this one.

Did you ever consider the personal lives of Jesus' earthly siblings? Angela Hunt does just that in her book, "The Shepherd's Wife" where she tells of Jesus' sisters Damaris and Pheodora (we do not know their real names but these serve the purpose nicely). Pheodora faces struggles that are quite similar to those we would expect of others who are not the sister of Messiah. It even shows that she has to grow her faith as she comes to understand that God is just as concerned about her individual needs as He is about the entirety of the Jewish people. This book helps the reader to recognize that, if Jesus' earthly sister can experience growth through struggle, then we as His spiritual brothers and sisters should not be surprised when we experience trials in this life.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

The Shepherd's Wife
by Angela Hunt
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 06 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 31 Oct 2020

Angela Hunt does a great job on her books and actually allows you to feel the emotions of the characters.
Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this book.

4 star

The first book in the Jerusalem Road series was about Jesus’ brother Jude and the twin sister of Jesus’ disciple Thomas. Both want their brothers to return home so they set out together to persuade them. This book concerns Jesus’ two sisters, Damaris who lives in Nazareth with her husband who is the son of a wealthy merchant and aspires to become a Pharisee. Pheodora is married to a lowly Shepherd and lives in Bethlehem but comes to Nazareth to stay with her brothers when her husband is thrown in prison by an unscrupulous tax collector. This story runs concurrent with the first story and tells the story of Jesus’ family during this time. Rumor is that the next story may be about Mary, the mother of Jesus, but we will have to wait and see. There are 3 other brothers as well.

I love all of Angela Hunt’s stories but this series is so wonderful because it gives you a feel of what was going on during Jesus’ ministry and before and after the crucifixion. She does a lot of research and really fleshes out the Bible account and helps give a feel for the way of life at that time, Jewish traditions, cultural mores and the lay of the land.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Angela Hunt is a wonderful author, so I was very excited to have the chance to review her newest book, The Shepherd's Wife! This book tells the fictional story of Jesus' earthly family, and mostly focuses on his sister, Pheodora. Pheodora is married to a poor shepherd, but is happy with him and her daughters. One day, he is imprisoned for owing a debt, and Pheodora has to fight to pay this debt and bring him back home. She is forced to try to raise goats and chickens, with only her brothers and neighbor to guide her. Meanwhile, her sister Damaris is married to a wealthy man who is working to become one of the elite Pharisees, and is unable to help her because of her husband's ambitions. Through all of her struggles, Pheodora and Damaris come to truly know the only One who can bring peace and reconciliation to their family.

Another great biblical historical novel by Angela Hunt. This is book 2 in the Jerusalem Road series, but can be read as a stand-alone. These first 2 novels actually take place along the same timeline - that of the ministry of Christ. While book 1 was from the perspectives of Jude (Jesus's brother) and Tasmin (Thomas's sister), this one was from the perspective of Jesus's 2 sisters. While His sisters are not named in Scripture, there is mention of "sisters", so we know He had at least 2. Ms. Hunt has taken this in hand and named His 2 sisters Damaris and Pheodora. Though they were raised in the same household, these 2 sisters are very different from one another. Pheodora (the younger) has married a shepherd and lives in Bethlehem. Damaris has married a wealthy merchant who aspires to becoming a Pharisee. Because of their husbands' professions and stations in life, the 2 sisters live very different lifestyles. When Pheodora's husband is sent to a debtor's prison, and Damaris's husband refuses to bail him out, the fireworks start.

As one who prefers plot-driven novels (even in biblical fiction, I look for the Bible stories to play out), this one moved a bit slower for me as it is clearly more character driven. Having read the first book and being familiar with the Scriptures, it was interesting to see the same timeline from the point of views in Nazareth. I enjoyed learning more about the culture of the time and place and speculating a bit about Jesus's earthly family. I appreciated the moment that Pheodora came to believe and how things worked out for her after that point. And the theme of forgiveness was strong throughout. Learning more about how the Pharisees functioned also made me better understand Jesus's teachings against them. Anything that helps me better understand the Scriptures is a worthwhile read! Though I would have enjoyed a bit more "action", this was an overall very enjoyable read. I would recommend to fans of Biblical historical fiction, especially those who yearn to know more about the time of Christ.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Pheodora is one of the sisters of Yeshua. He is preaching to the people about the coming messiah. Meanwhile her husband has been arrested and thrown in prison. He has told her of his plan to raise two white unblemished baby goats. That hopefully they will bring enough money in to pay for his release from prison. Pheodora has a lot to learn and she is extremely busy. She has four children of her own.. with her husband in prison the responsibility of raising the children falls on her and now there isn't any money coming in. She is blessed with a family that will help with her and her children's basic needs, but she still has to earn money somehow to be able to pay for her husband's release.
A story of faith, preserverance and courage.

THE SHEPHERD'S WIFE is the second novel in the Jerusalem Road series by ANGELA HUNT. This is a really beautiful series, giving us such insight into life in Bible days and a wonderful background to the simple, normal family life of our Saviour and King. Although the novel is a work of fiction this fact does not detract at all from the basic truths of the Word of God, which come through very strongly.
This is the story of Pheodora, who is portrayed as Yeshua's youngest sister. She is married to Chiram, a lowly shepherd, and lives happily with him and her four daughters in Bethlehem until her husband ends up in debtor's prison. Her sister Damaris is beautiful. She is married to a very rich man, Shimon, whose ambition to become a Pharisee and refusal to help Chiram is a stumbling block in her relationship with her sister.
It is interesting to see the arrogance of the Pharisees and the complexity of their laws and rituals as opposed to the simplicity of Yeshua's teaching.
The author is very knowledgeable about biblical history, but it is her obvious faith in Christ and love of the Word of God that comes through strongly in her writing that really appeals to me.
I am not going to tell you any more of the story for fear of spoiling the read for you. All I can say is - do not miss this lovely and truly inspirational book!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.