Anna is the only prophetess mentioned in the Gospels. She is famous for recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, the one who will bring salvation to Israel. Anna the Prophetess fictionalizes her life as a young woman who falls in love with a devastated widower to an old woman who serves her remaining days in the temple awaiting the birth of the Messiah. This novel tells the story of Anna’s unwavering faith and her devotion to God.

I was familiar with Anna as the old woman who recognizes the infant Jesus as our Saviour. However, I found it refreshing that the novel shows Anna as a young teenager who is on the verge of womanhood. She dreams of a loving husband and happy children. Instead, she experiences a life of hardships. She becomes a barren woman, and her husband dies in battle seven years after their marriage. Despite her tragedies, she still believes in God and remains loyal to him. Because of her devotion to God, Anna is blessed to see and recognize the Messiah. She realizes that her difficulties are trials to her faith, and through her actions, she receives many blessings. Her faith inspires her great-niece Julia, who learns through Anna’s story. Julia uses Anna’s tale as a lesson and applies them to her own faith. Thus, Julia is able to receive her own blessings from God.

Overall, this novel is about faith, love, trust, and hope. I love the characters in this novel. I love how she meets Elizabeth and John. My favorite part of the novel was when she recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. H. B. Moore does an excellent job in making ancient Israel come alive. I felt as if I was there walking alongside the characters. There were a few things that I did not like about this book. I thought the romance between Anna and Josiah was a bit underdeveloped. The author never really showed their traits that made them fall in love with each other. Also, I would have liked to know more about Anna’s life, but the author focused more on her great-niece’s blossoming romance. Still, Anna the Prophetess is an inspiring novel about two resilient women who must overcome life’s greatest hardships and find solace in God’s love.

I really loved this book. Read it pretty quickly because I loved it so much. I really liked the character of Anna. And how the author brought Julia in and working it out so Anna can tell her story about her and Josiah. I loved all the characters really and the story surrounding the biblical happening of Simeon living to be able to see The Messiah, Jesus. It was a great story. I thank #NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read #Annatheprophetess

I didn't enjoy this book. Couldn't put my finger on why. The characters were fine with traditional beliefs. Yet I never connected with any of them really. Would try another of her stories to see if it were different

It is always interesting to me to read stories people make up about people who play a small role in a scripture story. I thought this tale was beautifully done. Using Anna and her backstory to help mentor her young grand niece, Julia, fleshed out the character well.

I read this the first week of November so we are heading into the Christmas season. I thought this was a great book to read at this particular time as we prepare for the Advent season. The waiting for the special day. I loved getting a perspective of what some of the faithful were feeling as they waited and watched for the day the Messiah would be born. In this case they had faith that the Christ child had been born and they were waiting for their chance to get to see him when His parents would bring him to the Temple in Jerusalem for the purification.

Lovely story, with great themes of family, faith, service and love.

Fabulous Historical novel about Hannah “Anna the prophetess”. I’ve read several biblical historical novels about women in the Bible and I found this to be among the best .The story opens: “She is a testament to modern women that it’s possible to live a life of joy even when struck with a severe trial. She carried an eternal perspective in her heart, and it’s no small matter that she is heralded as a prophetess—one who draws close to the Lord and gains His utmost trust.“ I enjoyed the emotional details that Ms Moore rendered most of all. The culture of the day and relationships among family and villagers rang true from my study of the time period. Anna became alive under Ms Moore’s deft hand. Humble, wise with a loving servants heart. I so long to meet Anna in heaven! I would also like to that Convenant Communications and net Galley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked thinking about the life of those who were there at the time of the Savior's birth. It helps make those events more realistic. The romance in the middle was a nice touch, and it was fun to read about the customs of the time as well. The characters were a mix between one and three dimensional, with Anna being nearly perfect. But, I didn't mind. It fit this type of story where the emphasis was on the power of God and what life might have been like living during Biblical times rather than on the character.

Opening line:
"Dry wind tugged at Anna's embroidered robe as she moved to the side of the road to allow a cart to pass."

I loved the opening of this story and the story of Anna and Julia. Scriptural and historical detail are woven throughout the story without taking away from the storytelling. Moore's ability to tell a good, sweet, intriguing story kept me reading long after I should have been in bed.

The story of Anna, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus come to life through this ability to write a story that flows and envelopes. I got teary-eyed as I read of Simeon and Anna's reactions. What a wonderful event to see the babe!

I hope Moore keeps writing Biblical stories, especially ones about the women in the Bible. She has a grasp of the culture, history and people from those eras and knows how to use them to build her stories on their backgrounds.

Another winning Biblical fiction by H. B. Moore. We don't know much about Anna except what's written in Luke 2:36-38, and that she was a woman of great faith, and held the rare distinction of being called a Prophetess.

The book starts off in the present, but when Anna's great-niece, Julia, comes to stay with her it switches to the past as Anna relates to Julia how she met Josiah, her deceased husband and the early years of their marriage until his death in battle. Part of the flashback is from Josiah's point of view as he relates moving to a new village as a young widower, trying to fit in his new home, meeting Anna and finally asking her to marry him. Julia learns so much from her Anna about having faith, serving in the temple and seeking the Lord's will in her life.

The author weaves many biblical stories into Anna's story--the new star in sky, Simeon who was promised he would not die until he saw the Savior, and the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias, the parents of the child who would become John, the Baptist.

I love these Biblical fiction books by Heather Moore because she does so much research it's as if I'm there watching the scenes take place like a movie. I learn about the culture and customs the people had to follow. Once I start one of these books it's hard for me to put it down. I can't wait to read the next book.

I loved the way I felt completely immersed in the Biblical setting of Anna's story! The historical details are subtly woven into the narrative and built a world very different from ours, but familiar from reading the Bible. I was glad that Julia was a main character and that the story was told from her point of view as well as Anna's. She is a stranger to Anna when they first meet, but the family bond and respect allow the women to quickly grow closer together. Julia appreciates Anna's wisdom and unconventional perspective, based on inspiration from the Lord instead of village customs. Anna's role as mentor to Julia allowed me to share that relationship as well and I felt like I was learning from a spiritual giant. I loved the story of Anna's youth and how she met her husband, it was so gentle and sweet how they grew to care for each other. Anna's devotion to her father and brother painted a picture of her contented daily life filled with loving family, observing customs, and serving neighbors. There is some action and conflict that brought variety to the plot, and I felt like it was well balanced. Julia and Anna rely on the Lord's guidance as Julia seeks answers to her decisions about her future with Phillip, the man who she would like to marry but is not in the good graces of the small village because of a past family scandal. I loved the way her experiences with Anna shifted her perspective and gave her compassion for her family, and her tender feelings for Phillip brought more sweet romance to the story. The signs of the Messiah's birth excite and astound those who recognize them and seem to soften the hearts of all, bringing gratitude that the ancient prophecies have been fulfilled. I loved the way Anna and Julia are able to interact with other Biblical persons, such as Simeon, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph. The beloved Bible story came to life in my mind and heart as I read this book, and my heart felt full of love and gratitude as I finished it. Highly recommend!!!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)