The Shepherd's Wife
by Angela Hunt
Pub Date 06 Oct 2020
Bethany House |Bethany House Publishers
Christian



Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of The Shepherd's wife to review:


Yeshua of Nazareth has two sisters: Damaris, married to a wealthy merchant's son, and Pheodora, married to a shepherd in Bethlehem. When Pheodora's husband suffers an unexpected reversal of fortune and is thrown into debtor's prison, she returns to Nazareth, where she pins her hopes on two she-goats who should give birth to spotless white kids that would be perfect for the upcoming Yom Kippur sacrifice. As Pheodora's husband suffers an unexpected reversal of fortune and ends up in debtor's prison, she returns to Nazareth, where she pins her hopes on two she-goats who are expected to give birth to spotless white kids. 




Pheodora must use all her wits, family, and faith to provide for her daughters during the eighteen-month period between the birth of her children and the opportunity to sell them and redeem her husband from prison. How can a shepherd's wife trust that God will hear her prayer and help her when every prayer and ritual she knows is about God's care for Israel? 


I give The Shepherd’s wife five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Once again Hunt proves why she is a favorite in the Biblical Fiction world. Her stories are so beautifully written, faith themes are on point, and she just has this uncanny way of bringing history to life.

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

There are a few reasons I rarely read New Testament-inspired Biblical Fiction. From their lousy theology to adopting modern-day Jewish practices, it can be incredibly difficult to ignore the errors and focus on the plot. When I first saw The Shepherd’s Wife on NetGalley, I thought it would be an exciting read; unfortunately, this might be my first and last Angela Hunt novel.

The second book in the Jerusalem Road series, The Shepherd’s Wife follows the lives of Yeshua’s two sisters, Pheodora and Damaris. Married to a shepherd from Bethlehem, Pheodora is content with her life. However, when her husband is thrown into debtors’ prison, she and her daughters return to her hometown, where they must rely on the kindness of her brothers and put their faith in the two pregnant she-goats her husband meticulously bred for the Yom Kippur sacrifice.

Absorbed in her luxurious lifestyle after marrying a wealthy merchant’s son, Damaris has never understood her sister’s willingness to marry a lowly shepherd. Nevertheless, as she watches her sister work to feed her family and earn money to pay her husband’s debt, Damaris learns that love is more than possessions and rank.

While it was interesting to imagine how Yeshua’s siblings might’ve responded to His ministry and sacrifice on the cross, there were too many inaccuracies to turn a blind eye. From insulting God’s name by regularly using the Jewish term HaShem (the name) to including modern Jewish practices that would not have been observed in Yeshua’s time (women lighting the Shabbat candles, celebrating ‘Rosh Hashanah’ instead of Yom Teruah, only the Pharisees wearing blue on their tzitzits, and more), The Shepherd’s Wife is a great example of why believers need to learn the Hebraic roots of their faith and stop using Christianity and Judaism as the rod to guide them through the Bible.

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with this pre-release copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

Angela Hunt is one of my favorite Biblical fiction novelists! I love how she has made all her characters come alive as if the reader is right there with them! This is intricate story of a young woman’s will to follow Jesus Christ! It was a very complex journey of faith, hope, and love! Thus, this was a very poignant and heart-wrenching read!

I love Angela Hunt's work. Her ability to draw you back into Biblical times and open your eyes to see what might have been is simply a gift. When I've completed a book by Angela Hunt I always feel like I've invested my reading time wisely and I've gained something - be it perspective, knowledge, or an emotion I hadn't related to that particular Bible story before.


The Shepherd's Wife is book two in the Jerusalem Road series. Daughter of Cana is book one (another book I read and really enjoyed based on the miracle of Jesus turning the water to wine). The Shepherd's Wife is about Jesus' sisters and what their lives may have looked like. What would they have felt being related to Jesus? How would it have impacted their social standing that that of the men they married? How would it have affected their marriage prospects? This was a very interesting read. Of course, the Bible doesn't really mention much about Jesus' sisters, only that he had some. Therefore, this book is a lot of speculation, but woven into the story are many historically accurate facts about sacrifices and Jewish holidays and traditions.



I really enjoyed this novel and felt enriched by it. I would certainly recommend Angela Hunt to anyone looking for a strong Biblical fiction.

I have been enjoying Angela Hunt's books about people connected with Jesus. Awhile back, I read Daughter of Cana, which told the story of Jesus's ministry through the eyes of Thomas's sister. The Shepherd's Wife tells the story from the point of view of Jesus's sister Pheodora. I found this a very believable story, and accurate from what we read in the Bible.
Pheodora and her sister Damaris led very different lives. Pheodora married a poor shepherd from Bethlehem. He was often away from home, out on the hills with his sheep. Though he played an important role in Jewish religious life, by providing sheep for sacrifices, he could rarely ever go to the Temple or synagogue because he was ritually unclean. Damaris's husband, on the other hand, was wealthy and ultra religious—he even became a Pharisee during the time of this story! Damaris never had to work.
Pheodora, on the other hand.... She and her husband and their little girls were surviving, but then he was forced to borrow money from a moneylender and then found himself in prison because he couldn't pay the exhorbitant amount demanded. What could they do? He asked Pheodora to raise two perfect goat kids to sell for the Day of Atonement sacrifice in order to pay his debt. She worked hard for a year and a half to keep her children alive and raise the goats. Would it work? Could she free her husband and reunite her family?
This author has done a great job of making me feel like I was in 1st century Galilee and Judea along with Jesus's sister. I had never really realized how snobbish the Pharisees were, or how the shepherds were looked down on. The way Jesus's family thought about him rings true. One detail that stood out to me, about the goats sacrificed on the Day of Atonement, shows the author's depth of research. I had never heard of that incident before, but a couple of weeks after reading the book, I happened to read an article about archaeology in the Bible, in which it was described exactly the way the author wrote about it. I appreciated the author's historical notes at the end of the book. Another thing I liked about this book was that it was not a romance. I recommend this book to people who enjoy Biblical fiction and historical fiction—it's a good one!
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

When I saw that this book was based on a fictional account of Jesus' sister, I almost did not request this. I am so glad I did. The story is amazing and realistic. I really love the characters Angela created. I loved the themes of forgiveness and sacrifice explored in this book. If you love Christian fiction, try reading this book.

I love Angela Elwell Hunt's books and the second installment from her series, Jerusalem Road, does not disappoint. I am giving The Shepherd's Wife five stars.

This is a beautiful story. Of course it’s fiction and only speculation but the saving power of Jesus isn’t fiction, that is very real and it is in this story.

I can’t imagine Jesus being my brother and raised in the same house and then you find out he is the Savior of the world. Crazy.

Pheodora and Damaris’s story is a wonderful picture of forgiveness in the human plain. If you like Biblical fiction I am sure you will enjoy this book..

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I’m pretty sure I begin every review of Biblical fiction with this phrase: Biblical fiction is hard to write. If you stray too far from what’s known of the biblical story, readers will shout at you. If you contain yourself to only the biblical story then there’s nothing original about what you’re doing. The best biblical fiction blends a firm grasp of the history and culture of the biblical setting to provide a likely, yet still fictionalized, context for biblical narrative that lies tangential to the actual biblical story. And that is what Angela Hunt does unfailingly.

The Shepherd’s Wife is the second of the Jerusalem’s Road series and follows the fictional story of the sisters of Jesus. We know that Jesus had siblings and we know that he had more than one sister. We know little else, and that leaves Hunt space to work up a story that is tangential to Scripture, touching it, overlapping with it, sharing space with it.

One sister, Damaris, is married to a wealthy Pharisee intent on moving up the social ladder. The other, Pheodora, is married to Chiram, a shepherd from Bethlehem—one with a familial connection to some other shepherds from Bethlehem, although that part of the story is never fully told. When Chiram is thrown into debtor’s prison, Pheodora must make her way through a very patriarchal world, hinging all her hopes on care and eventual sale of their two goats and their foals.

Hunt weaves through the complicated layers of the first-century ancient Near East social system with a depth that creates a good story but enough “modern” elements that the reader still feels an air of familiarity. The heart of the conflict stems around the relationship of Pheodora and Damaris. Pheodora had hoped that Damaris’s husband would be able to pay the debt, but Damaris’s husband feels that he can’t because it will cause relational issues with the debt collector, who is an important figure to his social status. Hunt captures the complexity of the patron/client relationship well without forcing readers into a lesson in history or sociology.

The Shepherd’s Wife runs adjacent to the storyline of Jesus. He’s their crazy brother, out there preaching and teaching and the sisters aren’t quite sure what to make of it. Damaris is more cautious and reserved. Her relationship to Jesus might make things difficult for her Pharisee husband. Pheodora is often just too busy to think of her brother or make much of his ministry. There are overlaps and connections and let’s just say that it builds to a pretty important and impactful payoff.

The Shepherd’s Wife is thoughtful, well-written, and respectful to both Scripture and its culture. Hunt writes with the mind of a scholar and the grace of an artist, drawing readers into a familiar-yet-unfamiliar world. The result is educational, entertaining, and will leave you wanting more. (And if the third volume is going where I think…I can’t wait for what’s in store.)

The world of Biblical fiction is a world I can never get tired of.

This story was so captivating and wonderfully written. I finished it in one sitting. An amazing story of love, redemption and second chances. I enjoyed the characters how they brought the story to life. The myriad of emotions I felt as I read it was exhilaratingand exciting. The story was very touching and alive to me.

This is not one to miss at all!

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

This series by Angela Hunt is amazing. The depth of her research adds layers to her stories, and she is careful to never stray from Biblical truth. I got a better understanding into the background of what life was like for the people who followed Jesus during His time here on earth. It’s interesting getting a look at what Jesus’ relationship might have been with His own family members, and seeing their reactions to the events surrounding Him.

As I read this book, I almost felt as if I had walked the miles and experienced these events with them. I appreciated the storylines of Pheodora and Damaris, but it’s the scenes with Jesus that have touched my heart the most. The author did a great job of helping me see His love and compassion; His understanding of our human condition; and even the glimpses of His humor. I’m very much looking forward to the next book from this author.

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

What was the debt I owed. I saw my anger, my jealousy, my petty sibling rivalry. I saw every unholy attitude, every moment of irritation, every time I believed God did not care, did not see me, did not answer my prayers...Who had been indifferent? Not God but me. I had never bothered to reach behind the ritual prayers; I never savored the Scriptures or probed the treasures contained with those inspired words. I had been a spoiled child, overstuffed with knowledge of God and yet refusing to practice a single iota of the principles I had been privileged to receive.

I have enjoyed The Jerusalem Road series tremendously. A series based on the siblings of Jesus. Can you imagine being a sister or brother of the one who was appointed to save the world without sin? How we believe the worst in others instead of the best. This account is the sisters of Christ. The bible indicates that Jesus had sisters though the number was not specified. Not much is mentioned about the sisters of Jesus so my favorite author of Historical biblical fiction was able to take some liberties that were conclusive of that time in Israel.

Pheodora is the wife of a shepherd. Her life is simple with four daughters. Damaris is married to an upcoming Pharisee. She and her husband have great ambition. She worries about what others think and feels the path that she and her husband are taking will secure their daughters future.

Pheodora's family is hit with tragedy when her husband is imprison The prose goes into fascinating detail about the taxation, borrowing money, and the use of slavery. Jesus uses these very details to share the good news of the gospel. However, faith and reality is never what we can fully understand until we understand who Jesus is. Pheodora goes to sister for help only to be refused.

There is so much to learn about faith between the two sisters. You will see yourself in each one if you are honest. Don't let the culture of the times blind you to your own need. We are not much different and seeing Jesus for who he is will settle what troubles our heart! Highly recommend.

A Special thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I will start it out simple: I absolutely loved this book! I loved so many things about it including the characters, the perspective, the plot twists, the calling of our hearts towards God.

Throughout the story, Hunt does not have us learning much about Yeshua, nor even Mary and Joseph, but rather his siblings he grew up with. It was delightful to get caught up in what Jesus’s home life may have been like. Of course, no one really knows, but when we take the time to imagine, it makes it seem so much more realistic instead of just a story.

Hunt does an amazing job in this book, and I will definitely be looking forward to the next!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, and was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I love Angela's Hunt's style because I never know what to expect. Though this one is not a romance the way Daughter of Cana was, it's more mature since the two main characters are already married. It switches back and forth between Jesus' two sisters, unnamed in the in the Bible, but here called Damaris and Pheodora. Damaris is married to a devout religious man trying to impress the highest of Pharisees which adds in interesting twist since the Pharisees were very against Jesus' teachings, very skeptical that is. Pheodora shows the opposite spectrum as she's married to a shepherd who gets imprisoned due to a ridiculous tax debt. Everything is believable in this novel to me. I also appreciated Pheodora's simple quest to acquire and raise goats to free her husband. The brother sister relationships all are written very well, and show you how diverse siblings can be. I highly recommend this novel, especially if you read Daughter of Cana, but if you haven't I don't think it will affect much. This novel can stand alone.

The Shepherd's Wife by Angela Hunt is a biblical fiction novel about two women who could have been Jesus'/Yeshua's sisters.

Pheodora, Yeshua's sister, married a poor shepherd, but she doesn't regret it as Damaris, her older, wealthier sister, thinks she should. But when her husband lands in prison for a debt he can't pay, it is up to Pheodora to raise the funds to pay off his debt as well as keep herself and her daughters clothed. And it doesn't help that Damaris won't assist and her oldest brother is gallivanting around the country preaching.

I truly enjoyed the Shepherd's Wife. The first book in the series, Daughter of Cana, focuses on two characters as they hear story after story about Jesus/Yeshua, His teachings, and His miracles. This book was very different. Yeshua's sister Pheodora is the main character with their sister Damaris as a second POV character. And while they hear stories of Yeshua and have to contemplate whether or not to believe, the novel is mainly about their daily life as Pheodora desperately tries to pay back her husband's loan and Damaris begins learning what is truly right when faced with the laws of the Pharisees.

The parts that talked about the Pharisees was very interesting to me. Apparently they were an organized group, where you have to swear loyalty, pass a bunch of tests, wear certain clothes, only purchase from specific vendors, and more. Who knew? The Bible speaks a lot about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (which was definitely mentioned here), but it doesn't go into their hierarchy and rules. I found it fascinating.

I really enjoyed getting to know the two women, learning more about their time period and culture, and watching them struggle and learn to know God more. Of course, we don't actually know how many sisters Jesus had or what their names or their lives were like; we only know that He had sisters, plural. But I enjoyed it, as I have enjoyed all of Angela Hunt's novels so far, and I recommend this book to fans of biblical fiction.

I received a complementary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are entirely my own, and I was not required to give a positive review.

Oh my stars, this book! Y'all!

First of all, Angela Hunt is a massively talented author. Everything she puts her hand to is superb. In The Shepherd's Wife, the author tackles the brief mentions that we have in the Bible of Jesus' sisters. She gives them names, families, personalities and lives and does such a wonderful job at it, that I have written their names in the margins of my Bible; even though we have no way of knowing their true names, Angela Hunt gave them faces for me, gave them likes and fears and joys and insecurities. The novel itself is gold and impossibly difficult to put down. But the characters themselves are what will pull you in and keep you there. A massive, huge recommend!

Angela Hunt has written several of my favorite books, so I was glad to be chosen to read a complimentary preview copy of this book through NetGalley.. This is the second book in the Jerusalem Road series. I have not read the first book, but I didn't sense that I had missed something as I read this one. The title character is Pheodora, who is married to a poor shepherd, but really, that is not the main relationship developed in the story. It is also a story of sisters, of neighbors, and most of all, a story of how Pheodora and her brothers became believers and followers of their oldest brother, Yeshua of Nazareth after his crucifixion and resurrection.

I enjoyed learning about life and customs for Jewish people in the first century. The main plot was interesting, but seemed to stray in places. I think the thing that keeps this from being a wonderful book for me is that it didn't relate to my life in a particular way, and it didn't have that "can't put it down" feel to me. I will plan to go back and read the previous book and the one that will follow.

Yeshua of Nazareth has two sisters: Damaris, married to a wealthy merchant's son, and Pheodora, married to a simple shepherd from Bethlehem. When Pheodora's husband is unexpectedly thrown into debtor's prison, she returns to Nazareth, where she pins her hopes and family's future on two she-goats who should give birth to spotless white kids for a Yom Kippur sacrifice. The next 18 months prove challenging, though, as Pheodora raises her daughters, returns to her childhood home, struggles to relate to her sister, and questions God's love for her, a lowly shepherd's wife.
The story flowed fairly well, and the writing is descriptive. I liked the information about shepherds and the detailed look at daily life in Nazareth and the surrounding areas. The information about feasts was also enlightening. These aspects of the book kept me reading. I never connected with Pheodora emotionally, though, and felt like she was quite whiny. I probably wouldn't read more books in this series.

I have never read a book by Angela Hunt that I did not savor, and The Sheperd’s Wife is no exception. The second installment of the Jerusalem Road series, this book provides insights into the daily life of people during the time of Jesus’ life. A fictional account of Jesus’ sisters, Pheodora, the main point of view character, and her sister Damaris who have married into two very different circumstances. Pheodora is a humble Shepard’s wife who finds herself in a position of trying to pay his way out of debtor’s prison. An inside look at the way of life for goat farmers is offered. All the descriptions are well researched and provide tremendous insights. Forgiveness is ultimately the theme being explored, but you will experience the full gamut of emotions while reading this book. I thoroughly enjoy the insights into everyday life for these historical characters and loved being transported to their day in and day out activities. I highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.