Claudia Wife of Pontius Pilate Book Review

SUMMARY: In a time of turmoil, one woman will search for love and peace - and find it where she never expected.
     Tugged this way and that by fate's indifferent hand, Claudia's life is adrift - until she meets Lucius Pontius Pilate and becomes his wife.  When they move to the troublesome territory of Judea, she does what she has always done: makes the best of it.  But unrest is brewing and Claudia will soon find herself and her beloved husband embroiled in controversy and rebellion.  Might she find hope in the mysterious Jewish Rabbi everyone seems to be talking about?
     Let this epic story whisk you through marbled palaces, dusty marketplaces, and idyllic Italian villas as you follow the unlikely path of a woman who warrants only a passing mention in one of the Gospel accounts, but whose story, as told by Diana Wallis Taylor, is one worthy of legend.

REVIEW:  This is an awesome book!  Let me be quick to point out that this book is a work of fiction.  Not much is written about Claudia but the author did a fantastic job making this story seem like everything was true to life.  There are so many things I love about this book.  The author does not drag you down with details about every year the story covered but gave you the necessary details and moved on. She also weaves in minor characters mentioned in the bible, such as Joanna, where they become important in the movement of this story.  One of my favorite parts of the book is how Pilate feels about the trial (or lack thereof) of Jesus and how he tries to handle it.  The author shows how he really wanted to release Jesus and tried numerous times but, in the end, was forced to hand him over to the Jewish leaders.  The way Diana wrote it fits in neatly with the gospel story of Jesus and Pilate.   Another is how Claudia moves from worshiping the many gods of Rome to worshiping the One True God.  Even though she could be put to death for her beliefs, she stays strong and helps others when she can.
     This is a great book and I highly recommend it to any and everyone!

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Diana Wallis Taylor is the author of the novels Journey to the Well, Martha, and Mary Magdalene and lives in California  Find out more at www.dianawallistaylor.com.

Mary Magdalene Book Review

SUMMARY:  One woman desperate for hope.  One Savior with the power to heal.
     A beautiful girl blossoming into womanhood, Mary has high hopes for a life filled with learning, family, and young love.  In one dreadful night, all of that changes.  The nightmares come first, then the waking visions of unspeakable terror, until Mary hardly remembers her dreams for the future.

     Can the Most High deliver her from this torment?  How long must she wait for healing?

     This vivid portrait of the enigmatic Mary of Magdala comes to live in the hands of an imaginative master storyteller.  Diana Wallis Taylor introduces you to a Mary who is both utterly original and respectful of the biblical account, opening your eyes to a redemption that knows no bounds.

REVIEW:  Mary Magdalene is a fascinating but mysterious character in the New Testament.  The authors of the gospels do not give much information about her past other than where she was from and that she was healed of demon possession.  Diana Wallis Taylor does a great job filling in the blanks in this fictional account of Mary's past.  The internal torture Mary goes through with headaches, seizures, having to be locked up so she wouldn't hurt herself or anyone else, being ostracized in the community and called "Mad Mary" makes your heart hurt.  Her husband, family and close family friends stay by her side through very difficult times and make the choice to stick by Mary even though it looks like there will be no end to her torment.  The healing she receives from Jesus gave me a better understanding of why she was so devoted to Jesus.  The book also gives you an idea of how she might have come to be one of Jesus' followers and the first one to see Jesus alive after his death and resurrection.  I like how this book is written and would highly recommend it.

 This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Available June 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Diana Wallis Taylor is the author of the novels Journey to the Well and Martha and lives in California.  Find out more at www.dianawallistaylor.com.