Hunt has a way of writing biblical fiction novels that just make me want to read, grab my bible for reference, and leave the rest of the world behind. The way she makes biblical time period come to life is so fascinating. You can see all the time she spent in researching to stay true to the time period, as well as bible references. The fact that she picks someone we don't know a tremendous amount about - Judah's wife, just amazes me. I love Hunt's novels, and Judah's Wife is another to add to my favorites list.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an intriguing story, historical fiction, a time period between the Old and New Testaments.
I enjoyed reading Leah's story, of how she became Judah Maccabees' wife.
The details of those days, the setting, the Jewish laws, the turmoil, all of it makes for an interesting read.
It brought it to life for me.
Leah's life prior to her marriage was a difficult one, mostly due to the fact that her father was a difficult man. All she knew was living in fear of her father.
Her husband Judah proved to be a kind, attentive husband, and she was grateful to him for giving her a new life.
The characters were realistic, and I really enjoyed reading this book.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

This is the first novel I have ever read on the Maccabean Revolt time period. It was such a joy to see this novel on one of the deuterocanonical books from an author who isn't Catholic. I really enjoyed the realism that Hunt's story brought to the biblical texts.

Judah’s Wife is a retelling of the Maccabean revolt. The story is focused on the romance of Judah Maccabeus and his wife Leah. Leah is the abused daughter of a merchant. She sells cheese in the market stalls. When she is attacked by a group of young men in the market, a young man named Judah Maccabeus comes to her defence. She soon catches Judah’s eye and marries him. Leah believes that now she can live a peaceful life. However, her happy marriage is short-lived when the Syrian king forces all Jews to abandon their faith and convert to the Syrian religion. Judah, his father, and brothers defy the king’s laws and start a revolt in order to practice their religion without persecution. Leah struggles with her husband’s decision. She begins to learn to put trust not only in her husband but also God.

Leah is a complex but realistic character. Because Leah was abused by her father, it is hard for her to trust her husband completely. She is afraid that the war may turn her husband into a violent man. Throughout her marriage, Leah slowly realizes that Judah is not her father. Once she learns this fact, she is devoted to Judah and to God. She accepts God’s calling and plays the role that God has destined her to fulfill. Thus, I could sympathize with Leah. She is traumatized by her past. She must learn to let go of her past in order to embrace her present and future.

Judah is an admirable character. He loves Leah unconditionally and faithfully. He is gentle with her. When he becomes the leader of the Maccabean revolt, he knows that he will create a barrier between him and Leah. Judah is unwilling to lead the rebellion, but he listens to God’s will. He fights for the freedom to worship his God without persecution. He only wants peace and freedom. His determination and humility inspires thousands to join his army. He is also very gentle to Leah and is patient with her. He waits for Leah to love for him for who he is. Thus, Judah is both a great leader and husband.

Overall, this book is about love, freedom, and sacrifice. The novel was hard for me to put down. The characters seemed genuine. The struggles they had in ancient Israel is reminiscent of today’s times. The historical setting of ancient Israel was also very authentic. This is one of the first books that have focused on the Silent Years. The author did an excellent job in showing that God was still present during those years. The Years of Silence is a challenging subject to master, and Mrs. Hunt did an outstanding job in presenting us with Judah’s Wife. Only in Mrs. Hunt’s capable hands can she portray the Maccabean Revolt with such vivid detail and understanding. Judah’s Wife is a thought-provoking novel that shows the strength and courage of human resilience and God’s love for us.

Judah's Wife by Angela Hunt is the second novel in her Silent Years series. This series occurs between the last Israelite prophet and the birth of Jesus when God was silent with His people, and the series is about different women during different areas/time periods that were critical to the Jewish. These books can be read in any order as a result. This novel is about the Maccabees and their revolt against the terrible cruelty of Antiochus IV. The plot is well written and jumps smoothly between Leah and Judah's perspectives. The storyline spans over a decade and details the hardships that the Maccabees faced as they faced fight after fight and were reliant on the strength and power of God to see them through. The characters were well developed with realistic strengths and weaknesses. As the story progresses, it was interesting to see how Leah changed and began to love and to trust both her husband and God. The end of the novel was incredibly sad, no less so because it was based on historical recordings. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading the next Silent Years book.

I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book, Judah's Wife, is the second addition to Angela Hunt's The Silent Years series.  This series is based on stories that occurred in the four hundred year period between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  During this era, it was believed that God refused to speak to the Hebrews and the book that contains the story that inspired this book is called Maccabees.  I'll admit that I have never heard of this book, nor was I familiar with the story of Judah Maccabee.  So for me, this was an unique opportunity to embark on a journey through a new biblical story.

The story is captivating and I found that despite my lack of time to read, I was squeezing it into every spare second of my days.  As someone who grew up in a less than perfect home environment, I felt a kinship for young Leah as she suffers from witnessing her father's constant abuse of her mother.  As her relationship with Judah grows and develops, I found myself wanting to reach between the pages and shake her for not recognizing that Judah is everything her father was not.  The interesting aspect of this book is that the reader gets to see both Judah and Leah's perspectives.  This style choice allows the reader to remain more objective as Leah and Judah have moments of disagreement.

This is the kind of story that broke my heart.  Several of the story elements left my poor empathetic heart breaking as Leah endures unimaginable moments of loss.  Which is laughable, as the author admits that Leah is a fictional character.  In fact, the story of Judah and his family fails to shed light on any of the women who would have shared their lives with these men.  Knowing this, I applaud the author's attempt to create a story of love and trust, while telling of a great triumph that the Jewish people encountered during these silent years.

I've never been fond of biblical fiction, but Angela Hunt's style and willingness to explore different perspectives has enticed me.  I will continue to read her work and perhaps, I may even explore similar works from other authors... maybe.

I would highly recommend this book to fellow readers who are interested in history or enjoy Biblical fiction.

This review is being written from an emotional perspective. It’s the only way I can find to write this review.

This book, while anchored in excellent historical research, is quite an emotional experience. I’ ve studied this period of history, but I don’t think I’d ever really considered what it was like for these families during this time. Leah and Judah’s story bring this time period alive and gave me a new perspective and respect for these courageous people and their families. This is not a sweet, heartwarming story. It’s filled with heartbreak, war, torture, murder, and loss. (All of this is dealt with appropriately and with appropriate language.) But it’s also a story of bedrock faith and trust in God during the worst of times. There is much to be learned from this excellent book by Angela Hunt.

It’s rare for me to be quite so moved by a book. Leah and Judah’s love story is one I won’t forget.

I would not recommend this book for any reader under senior high age. The reader needs to be more mature to properly understand this story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book follows Leah, the daughter of a merchant in Jerusalem, in her marriage to Judah Maccabaeus, the son of Mattathias. Hunt's writing style is clear, precise, and very interesting and it is clear that she does her research.

I really enjoyed this story about the Maccabees. I did not know much about the historical aspect of the Maccabees, so this read intrigued me. As I read, I found myself digging through other resources to read more about how God worked in and through..... I had not read this author before but am excited to read her other titles.

This is the first time I have ever come across a book about the Maccabees. I have read their story in the Apocrypha, a collection of books that some people consider to be part of the Bible and others do not; our family has read through them a couple of times, more as history than as Scripture. There are some fascinating stories in the Apocrypha, and the story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers is one of them. I was quite interested to read Judah's Wife when I came across it, and was not disappointed. Angela Hunt has done a masterful job of bringing to life a little-known part of Jewish history. If you have ever wondered where the feast of Hannukah originated, you may be interested in reading this story.
Leah had never known anything of love from her father. Her mother shielded her from her father's violence, taking the blows on herself, and Leah looked down on her for being so weak as to not stand up to him. Then, one day as she walked through Jerusalem with a friend, some ruffians attacked Leah. Several young men came to her rescue; one of them was Judas Maccabeus—and soon, he asked Leah's father for her hand. The next thing Leah knew, she was married to him and on her way out of Jerusalem with his family to live in a village far from the corrupt Hellenes, Jews who adopted Greek ways of life.
The Maccabeus family, though they moved away from Jerusalem, could not ignore the destruction of the Jewish way of life. Devout Levites, they knew they had to restore true worship to Israel. For many years, they fought to drive the Greeks out of their holy city and purify and rebuild the temple. This book recounts their struggles and battles. The author has pretty much taken the account from the books of Maccabees, in the Apocrypha, and fleshed them out to make a readable story. The wives of the five Maccabeus brothers are not mentioned in the old account, so she has invented them for the story, but the main events are true.
The main theme of this story, other than the historical aspect, which was what I enjoyed most, was Leah's attitude towards men. Having grown up with an abusive father, she believed that men were all that way, that a woman could not trust a man. Would she ever learn to trust and really love Judah? And would she ever stop trying to change him from what God had called him to be? I found myself frustrated with her a number of times.
This is a well-written book, and I really enjoyed it. I am glad that someone has made the story of the Maccabees accessible to the modern reader. If I had the book in print, so that I could censor a few paragraphs which talk about marital intimacy, I would allow my children to read this book for its historical value.

For a long time, I've been fascinated by those 400 years between the Old Testament and New Testament. I haven't read much about this time period, so when I saw Angela Hunt's new book on the Maccabees, I was eager to review it. I've read a couple of her other historical fiction novels. This one was really good. It puts readers right in the midst of that day and time. Excellent.

Judah’s Wife, by Angela Hunt, holds a powerful message. The spiritual vein throughout the story is moving. I never really knew about the ancient Israelites lives. At the end of the book, the author writes about why she entwined fiction with the written word, and I highly recommend reading what she has to say. It gives insight about the telling of this story.

Leah is one of many characters in this book, but the story’s point of view shifts between her and her husband, Judah. I enjoyed the inside look into each character’s frame of mind and emotions.

Their relationship is strained at times, and Leah has a lot of trust issues. Judah, a hulk of a man, has the nickname of hammerhead, but he is very tender with her. Leah’s difficulty at accepting Judah’s love was frustrating because he constantly showed his loyalty. However, it was Leah’s unhappy past which made her this way. Eventually, she discovers more about herself, in turn, settles into a peaceful life with Judah.

Then their lives are thrown into peril, and Judah takes over as head of the army when his father dies. The battles Judah lead are described in detail, and the many sacrifices are heart wrenching. Though Leah initially abhors the role of a warrior’s wife, she find’s purpose by becoming the storyteller about the battles fought and won. Over the years, she grows into a very strong woman, as well as a supportive wife.

Not only did I learn about Judah’s wife, I gained a lot of insight about the Maccabees during the silent years. I empathized with all the passion and heartbreak during battles fought to worship as they wished. It is an awe-inspiring story well worth the read.

It's been a very long time since I read a book by Hunt. The cover drew me in and I knew I had to read this book. The research alone had to have taken years because this book is so in-depth and rich that it takes on a life of its own. The story of Judah's wife and the Maccabees is fascinating. It's gripping, vivid and riveting. It made me want to learn more, and I'm thankful I read this book. I feel like I have been enriched by it.

My copy is via Bethany House Bloggers. My review is my own, left of my own volition.

I’m going to be honest. I don’t even know how to start this review. With everything that has happened in my personal life over the last month I heeded Kristin’s advice when she suggested that I put off reading this book. She didn’t say why but just encouraged me that now wasn’t the time so to speak. I appreciated that advice as I read this book more than she will ever know. I probably really could have waited a bit longer but then publishers do want timely reviews. The first book in this series didn’t do much for me so I wasn’t certain what I would discover in book two. With characters so deeply woven and a story line that tugs at your emotions this book is not for the weak but it is most definitely worthy of being book 30 for the year for me. This is a story that I will carry with me for a while. And honestly, will end up in the re-read pile. There are layers there that I feel like deserve another chance to be shown.

One word that comes to me when I think about this book is desperation. Leah was desperate to escape her abusive father. Judah’s family was desperate to escape the defilement that was happening in Jerusalem. The Jews were desperate to escape the oppression of the Gentiles. Leah escapes her father, Judah’s family leaves the city and then eventually lead the battles that will help to ease the oppression. Judah was a peaceful man unless he was up against a bully. The Gentiles were bullies. Judah’s father chose him to lead the army, not the oldest son, but the peaceful son. Not the smartest son, but the gentle son. The son who would turn to HaShem for help. The son who earned the trust of those that chose to join them. The son who lost his wife’s trust in taking the mantle of commander. The wife so filled with fear of violence that she went out of her way to attempt to convince her husband to leave the fighting to others. The wife who learned to trust HaShem because of her husband and his steadfastness to serve as called by HaShem. A wife who finds her calling because of her husband.

This is not a butterflies and rainbows kind of book. This is a story of grit and depth and amazing people doing ordinary things. This is a story of desperation and hope. A story of love and redemption. A story of faith and doubt. This is the story of one man’s willingness to serve as he is called and ultimately one man’s mistake to believe he needed a backup plan. While not a part of the canonized Inspired Bible the books of the Maccabees are based on historical truth and lay the ground to the birth of Christ. One man on that journey inspired this book. One woman of the author’s imagination brought that story to life. Love does not come with ultimatums. Desperation does not come without hope. Faith does not require a backup plan.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

This is a tough review for me to write. Mostly because I’m an author at heart, and I don’t enjoy putting it out there to the world that I don’t like an author’s work. I’m feeling incredibly torn.
You see, Judah’s Wife is incredibly well-written; well-researched, with engaging, believable characters. If you like biblical-era historical fiction, this might just be for you. That said, if you are judging by the title and publisher and hoping for a Christian romance, I’d have to point you somewhere else.
Hunt created a lively world based on the deuterocanonical book of Maccabees, but I would argue that she did not create a romance novel. Yes, there’s a husband and wife, and yes, they have obstacles to overcome and all that jazz. But really, there’s very little depth to that aspect of the novel. It becomes, rather quickly, more of a battle log than anything. A very well researched and well-written battle log; but a battle log all the same.
If you’re into that, this book is for you! If you’re looking for depth in a romance, character interaction, and the warm-fuzzies this beautiful cover invoke, I’d look elsewhere.
All that said, I think Judah’s Wife is a worthwhile read, as long as you know what you’re getting. I also suggest you brush up on your biblical history a bit, because I know I googled several times. But hey, the best ones make us learn something!

I love Biblical fiction. Not only does it inspire and entertain me, but it also gives me a strong sense of the customs and practices of those living during ancient times.

Judah’s Wife, by Angela Hunt, is the second book in The Silent Years series. It has such a spiritual feel, and a powerful message. I like the shifting points of view between Leah and Judah, giving me an inside look at each of their hearts and happenings. I sympathized and empathized with them both, but especially bonded with Leah. She endured much and had many of the same fears and doubts I imagine I would’ve had in similar situations.

I enjoyed the relationship between Judah and Leah—I just wish it went a little deeper. I wish there was more internal passion. The relationship was sweet and respectful, but didn’t have as much depth as I’d hoped. With that said, this is still a fascinating story and I look forward to reading more stories in this series.

I learned a lot about the silent years, the Maccabees, and ancient Israelite customs and difficulties. I love a book that makes me see the world or humanity differently.

4 Stars

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 384
Series: The Silent Years
Publisher: Bethany House
First Line: In those days Mattathias…had five sons, Johanan surnamed Gaddi, Simon called Thassi, Judas called Maccabaeus, Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing (and NetGalley) and was under no obligation to post a review.

This series on the Silent years is quite unique. This one in particular, I would say, is about a time period you rarely read of. It referred several times to the Maccabees, and quoted from it. While I loved many things about this book, I found it heart-wrenching as well. This is not really a book with romance in it, but more a book of the life of the wife of a warrior that loved his wife, but rarely saw her. It may have been my mood, but it was really hard to read about death after death.
However, the author really weaves a tale where you picture yourself there. I felt as though I was experiencing the battles, the pain the wife felt in seeing her husband leave and with every chapter, I learned something. If you love history of that time period, pick this one up. It will fascinate you.

Angela Hunt has such a way of drawing you in with her story telling. Her characters are intriguing and realistic. Her writing is elegant and her phenomenal research shows in every page. I will be eagerly awaiting her next novel!

This novel is a great stand alone (I never knew there was a 1st book until I started writing this review!) Angela weaves this story with history, romance, family and Jewish traditions with tremendous skill. There is intrigue, humor, 2nd-century BC daily living as well as war tactics. She also gives great insight into how Antiochus Epiphenes terrorized the people of Judah.

Just plain great writing. If you like historical accuracy blended into family saga well, then this series is for you.

After having researched and written about the Maccabees, I was most interested in reading Judah's Wife, which tells the history of Judah Maccabee and his family as they risked everything to reclaim the Temple and their whole belief system back from Antiochus Epiphanes IV.

While the title suggests the story is about Judah's wife, (it was for the first little bit), but then it was primarily taken up by Judah and his many battles. Hunt is an excellent writer though, and she brings the story back around again to Leah, Judah's Wife, making the point that everyone has a purpose, no matter how small the task may be.

While I did find the beginning romance between Judah and Leah somewhat endearing (he did fight for her after all) and it encouraged me to read more, but the love quickly gave way to battle scenes and violence that, while well-written, had me soon losing interest. I will say this though - Hunt got the meaning of giving God the glory during the battle scenes. I dare you not to hear their voices!

If you are looking for biblical fiction based on a true story, Judah's Wife is an excellent start!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.