I liked this, but it seemed to drag endlessly at times.
The story is set just after Jesus was crucified and rose again. It involves Leah, a relative of Pilate's, whose family has fallen into disgrace, so she works for Pilate's wife, Procula. Leah's grandmother was Jewish, but Leah was raised as a Roman and only remembers some of the stories her grandmother told her of her faith and way of life. Alban, a centurion of Pilate's, wants to marry Leah so he can rise in Pilate's estimation because he knows that she is a relative of Pilate's. Meanwhile, Procula has been having awful headaches and just knows it has something to do with what happened to Jesus. Pilate is eager to discover what happened to Jesus - and he tasks Alban with this discovery. There are many people who want to convince Alban that the disciples stole Jesus' body - and some of the disciples are included in the action of the story. So are some of the women mentioned in the Bible - Mary Magdalene, in particular. Alban wants to uncover the truth. Leah meets Mary and is given an introduction to the heritage she shares with her grandmother. It was a good story that included a lot of internal struggle for both main characters, but the scenes written for Alban dragged and dragged. Also, his sudden desire to be a good husband to Leah (after it was made clear in the beginning that this marriage was only a career move) was never really explained. It happened before he really dealt with much internal struggle over what he believed, so it didn't really make sense.
I'm glad I finished it - it had a satisfying ending - but it was a clunky read at times - too many times, thus the 3 star rating. ( )

Excellent read over Easter. Looking at the importance of Faith and Hope. ( )

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Another great book by Bunn and Oke. Leah is a young woman who came from a home of wealth and power. Her father lost his wealth and honor so he married off two of his three daughters and sent Leah, his youngest, to live with her uncle, Pontius Pilate. After living as a servant to Pilates wife, Procula, for three years, Pilate gives her hand in marriage to Alban, a Centurion who is on a mission for Pilate to find the missing body of Jesus and to find if the disciples are planning a revolt against Rome.

Leah is afraid she will end up in a marriage in which she will be a slave and abused as her sisters were. Leah is sent on a mission by Procula to find the same information that Alban has been sent to find. Along the way Alban and Leah have a change of heart. Toward each other and the Judean God.
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