By The Book

If you can only read one book during the Easter season, then let it be On Living Stone by Heather Kaufman. I found this Biblical fiction focusing on Salome, the mother of Jesus’s disciples James and John moving and extremely relatable. It spoke to me in profound ways. Find out more below.

Every stone sings as it finds its purpose. This is the lesson restless Salome learns from her father as she grows up by the Sea of Galilee. Known as the wild girl with the quick tongue, Salome is determined to silence the critics who claim she has no future. An unexpected romance and the gift of two sons, James and John, leave her hopeful and resolved to prove herself as a mother.

Salome’s dreams are challenged, however, when her sons answer the call to follow Jesus of Nazareth. As James and John are drawn deeper into Jesus’ ministry, opposition to his message intensifies, leaving Salome with a choice. Can her family continue down the path of discipleship when it might cost them everything? With threats abounding, Salome must confront her fears, even as she discovers her own worth in this most unexpected rabbi.

Heather Kaufman lives in the Midwest with her husband and three children. She holds a BA from McKendree University and an MA from the University of Missouri—St. Louis. When not reading or writing, she can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee and exploring new parks with her family.

My Impressions:

On Living Stone, the third book in Heather Kaufman‘s Women of The Way, was my choice to read in the weeks leading up to Easter. The first two books, also read during the previous two Lenten seasons, touched my heart and made me think about my own relationship with Jesus. I have recommended them to so many people. But this book . . . wow! This book is exceptional. I identified with Salome, the focus of the book, in so many ways — feeling like I don’t fit in, having doubts about my life’s purpose, and the role I play in my children’s lives. There is a short number of verses in Scripture that feature Salome, the most notable when she asks Jesus if her two sons can sit on Jesus’s right and left in His kingdom. We know she was present during the crucifixion and was one of the first at the empty tomb. Kaufman fills in around these events in convincing ways. Yes, this is fiction, but all of it rings true — what it must have been like to be a woman in the first century AD, what it looked like to actually know Jesus, what it meant to give your adult sons to God. I could not put this book down as I traveled in Salome’s shoes. She probably witnessed so many of Jesus’ miracles, His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and His excruciating death. Salome experiences profound emotions — joy, despair, and deep love. I laughed and cried during the reading of this book, but mostly I felt a deep awe for what Jesus has done and is doing for me. Of the themes explored in On Living Stone, two stood out to me. One is the cost of following Jesus. Over and over, the characters decided that the cost was great, but Jesus was greater. The second, is that Jesus really sees me. Salome felt unseen for most of her life, but when Jesus looked at her he saw who she really was. It’s a bit terrifying to be viewed in that way. No hiding allowed. But as Salome discovered there is great freedom in being known. I am grateful that Jesus sees us all — who we are and who we can be in Him.

All the books in this series are powerful depictions of not just those around Jesus, but of Jesus Himself. I love that even if fiction is not real, it certainly can be true. You will find truth in On Living Stone. This book is great at any time of the year, but I found it especially good as I focus about Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinion expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: Biblical fiction, Heather Kaufman

I am leading a short Bible study/book club focusing on the women who were present at Jesus’s tomb on Resurrection Sunday. It has been a fun and meaningful look at little known women who followed and supported Jesus and His ministry. We chose the Biblical novel, Before The King by Heather Kaufman as a compliment. This book cements Kaufman as a must-read author. Find out more below.

Joanna’s wealthy family aspires to Herod’s inner circle, but when her father’s esteemed position in the Sepphoris Sanhedrin is threatened, her family harbors a dark secret. Entangled in the complexities of aristocratic life and an impending arranged marriage, Joanna is caught between her own desires and maintaining appearances. When tragedy strikes, Joanna grapples with a new future that challenges her sense of duty and hope for love.

Years later, Joanna is forever changed when a rabbi comes preaching a new kingdom and healing the sick. As she contributes to his ministry, Joanna treads a perilous path between a court that mocks Jesus of Nazareth, disciples who view her with suspicion, and a husband who guards his own secrets. With pressure increasing on all sides, Joanna must decide where her allegiances lie and protect her relationship to the Christ, whose message is as compelling as it is dangerous.

Heather Kaufman lives in the Midwest with her husband and three children. She holds a BA from McKendree University and an MA from the University of Missouri—St. Louis. When not reading or writing, she can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee and exploring new parks with her family.

My Impressions:

I think Biblical fiction must be a tricky genre to write. An author has to balance the truth of the scripture with conjecture of every day life events not mentioned in the Bible. I have found the novels by Heather Kaufman, author of two books in the Women of The Way series, to be excellent examples of the way it should be done. Kaufman presents a very convincing what-if in her latest book, Before The King. Set primarily in and around Herod’s court during the ministry of Jesus, this book is well-researched from the standpoint of the culture of the time and the Biblical record as found in the gospels. While little is really known about Joanna, the wife of an advisor of Herod, Kaufman has done a creditable job of fleshing out her story. Yes, the early life of Joanna is fictional, but the way it is portrayed in the novel reads as real and, above all, relatable to a modern reader. And when Joanna meets Jesus . . . Kaufman captures how someone must have felt — awe, wonder, reverence, devotion, and the reality of finally being seen. I loved the fictional storyline that Kaufman weaves of a woman looking for connection, but it is the spiritual truths that underpin the narrative that makes this book special. I saw Herod’s court and Jesus’s disciples in a new light, one that prompted me to open my Bible to find out the real story. I think that is the best thing Biblical fiction can do — point its reader to the Word of God, and Before The King certainly does that!

I look forward to discussing this book with the members of my Bible study/book club group. I can recommend Before The King to those who love historical fiction that makes the reader think and long to find out the rest of the story.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: Biblical fiction, Heather Kaufman