I enjoyed this look into history and what the story of Lydia could be. I work for a University and our History Professor led a workshop that explored the differences between a Roman widow who owned slaves and then came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. The Woman from Lydia echoed this experience (and I wish I had read it first!) I loved the tidbits of historical cultural that I had not previously known. A great read for Bible and History lovers!

Another great book by Angela Hunt. The pace is fast. The historical and Biblical accuracy are well attended to.
This is a fresh take on Lydia. A great look at practicing the the Christian life in difficult and counter-cultural ways.
I enjoyed every page!

The Woman From Lydia by Angela Hunt is a moving reminder of the lengths God will go to find a lost sheep.

If you are unfamiliar with Lydia's story, you can read about it in Acts 16:13-15. I loved how the author took Lydia (named Euodia in her book) and placed her in the city of Philippi using the Scriptures as her guide. Yes, she is from Thyatira, but the Scriptures suggest she lived in Philippi when she met Paul. And they also suggest she was present when the slave girl, possessed by an evil spirit, started harassing Paul. And it is here that the story has its focus. What happened to the slave girl after Paul cast the demon out of her? In The Woman From Lydia, we glimpse "what might have happened."

I always enjoy a novel by Angela Hunt, and I'm never disappointed. I loved how she showed the process for making the purple colour. It was so interesting! And I loved how Euodia listened to God every step of the way as she sought to rescue Sabina.

While I feel the book should have been called The Woman From Thyatira (as Lydia was her name), I still enjoyed this book. You won't want to pass this one up if you like Biblical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest review.

When Sabina a twelve year old with a spirit of divination is delivered by Paul her master Hector decides to leave Philippi in order to find someone who could restore her gift. But Eudia also known as the Lydian woman decides
to pursue Hector with two former slaves who still work with her Ariston and Phebe.

With God's guidance and protection Eudia will be able to fulfill her mission The story reminds us of God's relentless love. He will pursue us until he finds us and lead us closer to him. Even if the story was sometimes a bit
sad it's a good book.

I received a copy of this book and this is an honest review.

"The Woman from Lydia" tells the tale of Euodia (aka Lydia in the book of Acts) and her life post-conversion after the visit of Paulos (Paul) to Philippi. The novel begins with a contract for a purple cloak but becomes an adevnture story as Euodia encounters the slave girl, Sabina, that Paulos set free from demons. Sabina's owner, Hector, a former Roman soldier, is determined to get her fortune-telling "gift" restored and sets off across Macedonia to find a witch that will restore the girl to her previous state. Euodia is determined to set Sabina free and embarks on her own perilious journey with two of her now freed slaves in tow. Will Euodia succeed?

This novel is unique in the Biblical Fiction world for providing a story after the story. The story of the start of the Philippian church has been well covered in a number of excellent novels. However, offering a sequel to the characters along with weaving in possible backstories as well as retelling the events of the early church is a extraordinary angle for approaching the story. The book excels in world building and transporting the reader into the lives of ordinary people trying to live out an extraordinary message.

Other reviewers have noted that there were several plot threads that were left hanging at the end of the book. As this is but a first novel in what intends to be a series, I will suspend judgment on these issues. Such cliffhangers leave us wanting more in the next book.

Overall, the book shines through world building and characterization. It is a superb addition to the world of Biblical Fiction. I received an advanced reader copy as part of the Revell Reads blogger team in exchange for my honest opinion.

Angela Hunt grabs the hearts of the reader once again with another outstanding read! The Woman from Lydia is a heart-pounding read that takes you on a winding journey of God's grace and goodness. I love how this fictional story is woven with so much truth and biblical teaching. There are so many moments when tears were forthcoming but yet moments when I had to shout praises to God. I felt the Holy Spirit so much in the pages of this book! This heart-gripping tale takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride, even after the book was finished I found myself thinking about the story days later. I enjoyed the Authors' Note at the end of the book. The questions and answers along with the scripture to back it up. I love spending time looking these scriptures up and adding it to my morning Bible study.
Was give a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars for this first book in a new Biblical fiction series from Angela Hunt. This book has the unfortunate issue of being very different from Tessa Afshar's take on this Biblical character, and since I read Afshar's novel first, I struggled with parts of this one. I appreciated the author's take that Lydia wasn't necessarily the woman's name, but rather where she was from since she would have been an outsider in Philippi. Hunt has instead named her Euodia, whom Paul actually mentions by name in his letter to the Philippian church. I enjoyed the author's notes in the back of the book that explained why she went that route and it's definitely worth pondering. But I struggled simply because I heard the story another way first. I appreciated that Hunt not only added in names from the Philippian letter, but also referenced several occurrences from Acts as well. The girl from Acts 16 who foretold the future until Paul cast a spirit from her was a main character in this one as well. And even Luke, the physician who wrote the books of Luke and Acts, made a guest appearance to my delight. There's also a character that I believe was mentioned in Romans. I'll be anxious to see what role she plays in future books in this series.

This story was not only a telling of the woman from Lydia's tale, but also a parable for how far God is willing to go to bring the lost back to Him. There was also a theme of God's power and Divine will. There was some intense action, a small bit of romance, and a lot of history included in this story. There was great character development and a bit of a soapbox about slavery, which was prevalent to the times. I enjoyed learning more about Roman culture and "seeing" some of the locations of Paul's missionary journey (though Paul was not an actual character in this book, he is referenced quite a bit). It is Paul and the other missionaries who are mentioned as the Emissaries. All in all, this was an enjoyable work of Biblical historical fiction and I look forward to reading more in this series.

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

The Woman from Lydia by Angela Hunt

Euodia, a seller and artisan of purple dye, became a follower of Yeshua because of Paulos’ ministry in Philippi, seeks to rescue the little slave girl that Paulos had set free from demons. The Biblical story is recounted in the book of Acts.

The author uses her sanctified imagination and meticulous research to create the details of this story. She includes the method of procuring the dye from the snails. She gives Euodia a household of freed slaves, including Ariston, an honorable believer. She also gives Euodia a passion to rescue Sabina from her abusive master. She provides a fascinating background on the life and treatment of slaves.

The book reaches a climax and then surprisingly ends. Fans of Biblical fiction and Angela Hunt will enjoy this novel and find themselves caught up in the culture that the apostle Paul lived in. I appreciate receiving a complimentary copy of this arc from the publisher, in exchange for this, my honest review.

Angela Hunt’s books are always captivating, riveting and inspiring.

I found it hard to drop this one when I had something else to do. It is based on Lydia, the seller of purple in the Bible. Not much is said about her in Scriptures but this book throws a lot of light into the story. The book gripped my heart in a lot of ways both the most profound was Lydia’s pursuit of Sabine. That kind of love and sacrifice reminds me of what God does for His children daily. His relentless pursuit of us. I won’t forget this book in a while. If I were to introduce someone to the Bible or to Christ using fiction, I definitely would use this book.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

I loved this book! Thank you for the ARC I received. I was totally fascinated by the history of the fullers as well as the dyeing pricess. I didn't know any of that. Gotta love history!
The story is poignant and real. The romance developes slowly and realistically as well. My heart went out to Sabina. I really didn't like Hector. Cruel, selfish man.
When Lydia / Euodia says that they have been faithful so God will be faithful, I would have liked to have seen that statement countered with the fact that God is faithful regardless, because He cannot be unfaithful.
There seems to be a crucial bit of information missing: 1. when they return to Phillipi with the child but Hector does not, how will they explain that to the magistrate who returned the child to Hector? This was a peculiar thread to leave dangling, hence the 4 stars. And 2.: What about the belongings of her ladies maid that are still at home? How did they plan to resolve that?
Overal: well worth reading. Definitely recommend!

Angela Hunt does it again with this inspiring novel based on scripture. Anytime I see a book with this author’s name on it, I know it will be a winner!
Lydia is a widow, mentioned in the Bible as one of Paul’s first converts to Christianity. She works with clothing and dye and employs others as a business woman and leadership figure in her city. As Jesus and his teachings grab ahold of her heart, she accepts the Way as truth.
Sabina is a slave girl with an unclean spirit, controlled by a harsh master. As the two lives intersect, Lydia uncovers her assignments from the Lord, to free Sabina and adopt her as her child. It is a picture of what Christ offers us as children of God.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader. It is suitable for teenage readers as well. I was given a copy in exchange for this review.

Angela Hunt has once again written a beautiful historical in her newest release, The Woman from Lydia. I am giving it five stars.

The Woman from Lydia by extremely talented storyteller Angela Hunt is a beautiful Biblical fiction novel. It is book one in the Emissaries series, and is absolutely captivating. I love not able to put it down once I began reading it.

Set in Philippi, 50 AD, and moving to other places, it is the story of Euodia, the woman from Lydia. (Her story is told in Acts 16 where she is referred to simply as Lydia.) In addition to Lydia, expect to see Paulos (Paul), Silas, Syntyche, Sabina the young girl with a spirit of divination, Ariston, and even more amazing characters. I loved that author Hunt was careful to stay true to scripture and only added her thoughts on what might also have happened. It was a great interpretation and helped bring the Bible story to life. I have a new appreciation for Lydia.

This is an edifying, inspiring, and encouraging novel. It is evident from the details that much research was done before penning this well-planned, well-written book. I was invested in the characters and story immediately. The writing was poetic and characters well defined. After reading a bit, I felt like I knew each one and was back in time to a place that I had never been.

I highly recommend this phenomenal novel. It was filled with adventure, mystery, and information on early Christians. This would make a fabulous choice for a small group or reading club. It is extraordinary. I gleaned so much from reading it. It earns a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

One thing I like so much about biblical fiction is how you can learn about actual bible times while enjoying a nice relaxing read. Loved reading about the dyeing process and the author’s notes about various aspects mentioned in the story.

Enjoyed catching glimpses of Paul and his missionary journey and how his work affected the characters in this book.

Overall, this was a good read for me though I found the ending a bit over the top. The romance was a nice surprise though rather underdeveloped.

Wow! What a beautiful story!
I absolutely love this author's research into ancient times.
I think I most appreciated the kindness and determination of Euodia to help someone else in need. This impressed me more than anything, I think.
There were other characters that I liked as well.
Ariston’s voice rumbled in the quiet. He lifted his head and smiled. “Let Phebe tend to Sabina. I would like to sleep next to my wife.” My cheeks burned as I met his gaze. “You have proven yourself a man of character, strength, and courage, and you deserve a good night’s rest. We would not have Sabina with us if you had not been around to rescue her.”
Isn't he a dear? Such a good hearted soul if ever there was one. Not too many men like that.
Hunt has described these people and places so well that I felt like I was there myself.
Yes, I believe that even then that there were lost souls as there are today.
Everyone is the same as yesterday today and in the future. We all need God. Not just the righteous. Everyone!
Hunt has done an amazing job of showing us this.
I especially loved how she included Paulous ( Paul) and his messages.
Some beautiful inspiring messages throughout the book.
5 stars for a wonderful adventure in Biblical fiction and for keeping my attention since the beginning.
I do want to say that my heart went out to Sabina. She didn't ask to be put in this situation. Poor baby. I'm glad that the Lord sent angels her way
We all need those!
I'm sure you can guess who the most disliked and greedy character is. I won't say anymore, for I don't want to give it away!
I loved every minute of it! I highly recommend it!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting read. I found the writing to be very easy to follow and well-worded. Some of the content was pretty graphic but the information in the back explains how historically accurate most of it is! I felt like the analogy of 'slave' was a bit overdone and repetitive and I would have liked to know if the governor's cloak was finished at the end!

Overall, an interesting take on a few verses of scripture expounded to an 'adventure' story. I didn't really care for the enchantress interactions towards the end (seemed really far-fetched and fantastical) especially after the harsh realistic tone of the rest of the book but overall a solid 3.5 stars!

"Everything in life depended on whom you chose to serve . . ."

This book includes two women mentioned in the bible—Lydia the seller of purple cloth and a fortune-telling servant girl (name Sabina) who are mentioned in the book of Acts. The Woman from Lydia by Angela Hunt is a fictionalization of the events that followed these two women's encounters with the Apostle Paul. While the book opens in Phillipi, readers will visit a number of cities in the Roman Empire before the end.

Strengths:
1. Euodia is a woman of strong moral character with abundant compassion and concern for lost souls. Euodia not only frees the slaves she purchases but also gives them a purpose—teaching them to create the highly coveted purple dye. In turn, her workers are devoted to her.2. One particular servant, Ariston, won my esteem for his bravery and devotion to his Domina. It's no wonder Euodia's admiration morphs into something more.
3. She goes to incredible lengths to rescue Sabina—whose former owner takes her on a journey in search of a necromancer who will restore her powers of divination for his own gain.
4. For a historical fiction novel, there is a lot of action. This keeps the reader engaged and the pace of the story moving briskly.
5. The author has clearly put a lot of research into the rituals of the pagans, slavery in the Roman empire, and the process of acquiring snails for the purpose of creating purple cloth.
6. The author highlights the work of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of unbelievers. Salvation and Christian obedience are also emphasized.

However, the book is not without its flaws. One issue is that the author leaves some questions unanswered. For example, it is unclear whether Syntyche had a change of heart, and the resolution of a large order Euodia was commissioned to do is left hanging.

Overall, The Woman from Lydia is a well-crafted historical fiction novel that is both entertaining and informative. The book's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a must-read for anyone interested in biblical history, early Christianity, or historical fiction. The author's research, character development, and attention to detail make this book a worthy contribution to the genre. 

Quoteables:
“You have given me a new life, HaShem, and I thank you for your goodness. You have provided for my needs, and I praise you for your kindness. You have sent me faithful servants, and I can never repay your mercy. But, Abba, my heart still clings to memories that will not fade. If you will not remove them from my mind, you must dull my feelings so that I am not distracted from the work you have given me to do."

“Paulos told me that the rituals of sacrifice to atone for sin or win favor no longer meant anything because HaShem had sent His own son to be a blood sacrifice for us. By believing in Yeshua, we can turn away from our wrongdoing and turn to God, trusting Him to guide us through life and welcome us into the afterlife.” Sabina looked away again. “I do not know who I am, but I am not a Jew. Why would I worship their God?” “Because HaShem created you. Because He extends mercy to all who call on His name, whether a Jew, a Macedonian, Gaul, or Roman.”

My heart squeezed in anguish as I realized that my words about Yeshua had had no effect. When Paulos shared the Gospel of Yeshua with me, I accepted it immediately, but the Spirit had prepared me to receive that glorious news. Sabina was not ready, yet I would continue to pray while the Spirit worked on her heart.

“His Father’s Temple is in Jerusalem, but His temple”—I patted my breastbone—“is here.”

Angela Hunt is one of the best novelists today writing fiction set in ancient times. If you are a fan of Elodie Harper's latest novels, I would definitely check out Angela Hunt. This was an unputdownable tale featuring the famous Lydia of the Bible, and of men and women whose stories intertwine with her own. Angela Hunt does a fabulous job of bringing the ancient world to life, and this was a satisfying read that included everything I love in novel: Love, historical accuracy, excellent plot, and brilliant dialogue that flows nicely. I could hardly put it down as I wanted to know what would happen to all these characters whom I came to care for! An excellent novel that I highly recommend!

As always, author Angela Hunt is a true crafter of the written word.
She beautifully translates and captures everything that is good, right, and true, and weaves a lyrical journey of women, faith, hope, and resilience.
This is a new series from Hunt, and I look forward to handselling this.

THE WOMAN FROM LYDIA by ANGELA HUNT is biblical fiction at its best, with solid bible truth showing God’s mercy and redemptive power, together with His protection and deliverance from evil. The characters are beautifully portrayed and I love the way the author has rounded out their stories and has made them seem more real, without in any way interfering with the truth of God’s word.
It is the first novel in the Emissaries series and starts our in Philippi in AD 50. We come across well known characters such as Paulos (Paul), Silas, Euodia (known as the woman of Lydia), Syntyche and the young gitl wtho had a spirit of divination. We see how Euodia and her household, and the body of believers, treated slaves as their brothers and sisters, and how Euodia and her two helpers followed Sabina when she was abducted by Hector, one of her former owners. Ariston, Euodia’s freed steward, is a great addition to the book……
I like the way the author shows us how alike people of AD 50 were to people today and how the ungodly still need deliverance and a relationship with the Lord. I like to see the zeal and courage of the early believers who truly believe, as we should too, that they are slaves to Christ, and are willing to face death to bring people into His kingdom.
The Woman from Lydia is a wonderfully inspirational read, with plenty of excitement and suspense.
I cannot recommend this lovely book highly enough and am looking forward to more novels in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are compleely my own.