So wonderful to have a new title by Janette Oke. Even though the time period it takes place in isn't my favorite, I still enjoyed the book and found it very interesting. Very thankful to read it and review.

Mary, a young Jewish woman, runs into the Pharisee Enos in the marketplace and he determines she will be his wife. He changes her name, directs her training in being the wife of a Pharisee in the upper classes, and demands her submission. As Mary learns more about Jesus, she is frightened what her new beliefs will bring when her husband becomes one of the Pharisees trying to discredit Jesus. Janette Oke provides readers another excellent novel.

THE PHARISEE’S WIFE by JANETTE OKE is beautifully written biblical fiction in which Jesus’ life, death an resurrectiom form the foundation of the story. From the beginning of the book where Mary, together with her parents, Amos and Huldah, is searching for the miracle-working Prophet,to touch and heal her beloved father, through Mary’s uhappy marriage to the angry and prideful Pharisee Enos, whose ambition is to destroy Jesus, and then to His crucifiction and resurrection. His miracles are well portrayed throughout.
Mary, whose name Enos has changed to Simona, is a gentle, hardworking village girl, who has much to learn to make her “worthy” of marriage to a Pharisee……
The struggles of the believers in Jesus become more and more dire after the resurrection, and we see those who are willing to die for Christ. We also see the love they have for one another.
The author has given us a good picture of life at the time, right up to the destruction of the Temple by the Romans.
I cannot recommend this lovely and inspiring read highly enough.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinios in this review are cometely my own.

After seeing Mary in the market, Pharisee Enos is determined to have her as his bride. He negotiates with her father and she is given to him. Before becoming his wife, she undergoes training on etiquette, social norms, and customs of the upper classes. When she is brought before Enos, she is frightened and barely speaks a word. Enos quickly loses interest in her as his money dwindles. Outside of their small circle, rumors begin about Jesus, an alleged prophet with the ability to heal. Enos is sent on a mission to discredit Jesus leaving his wife behind for long periods of time.

While this was an interesting story, I felt that it became way too preachy at the end. I don’t mind reading Christian fiction, particularly when it is presented as a historical novel. However, I like to draw my own conclusions and do not like it when the story becomes too pushy about pushing an agenda. While I’m sure many will enjoy this novel, ultimately it was not for me.

A wonderful book that shows the reality of living as an early Christian believer. It's heartbreaking and sombre but also very real. Enjoyed reading.

This was a great read. As a Christian, it really was thought provoking and insightful. I loved the constant theme of the need for repentance and the all too persistent blindness both in the times of old and now. I also loved that the story didn’t take the turn I would have naturally expected and ended in bouts of reality. I did feel at some point the story was getting a little bit rushed as time lines consistently passed, but all in all, it was a good story once you focus on the main themes.