"'The way is narrow.' His words were soft but steady in the way his gaze was. Fixed and solid."
"Nikolas . . . from Patara" and "Demitria, daughter of Anatolios" met under most unusual circumstances; tired and traumatized after rescuing her brother from a near fatal diving accident, Demi happens upon a stranger struggling to reach shore, his boat with highly valuable contents having sunk to the bottom of the sea.
Making a cautious introduction, Demi allows Nikolas to aid in carrying her brother to safety, wondering with every step if aligning herself with a total stranger was a wise decision. As it turned out, she had just met the new pastor of their underground Christian community, a group barely surviving under the cruel edicts of Emperor Diocletian. Finding food and shelter had become increasingly difficult and the constant fear of discovery hung undeniably heavy over their hearts.
With brush strokes as beautiful as the corals Demitria harvests from the sea floor, this remarkable narrative paints a picture that is both terrifying and awe-inspiring, drawing the ancient history of the early church back to life through characters and circumstances that readers will find nearly impossible to believe. . . or to forget. While there is breath, there is purpose. Where grace abounds, forgiveness remains. And courage? It's found deep within the heart of every believer who utters this simple prayer . . .
. . . "Here I am. I'm ready."
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.
BackCover Blurb:
Once she denied everything she believed in. Now she’d give anything to
choose differently. But in the shadow of the Roman Empire’s persecution
and the shame of her past, she fears that what she wants most will be
forever out of reach.
Eastern Roman Empire, AD 310. In the shadow
of Emperor Diocletian’s anti-Christian edicts, Demitria makes a meager
living harvesting coral and pearls for a merchant who turns a blind eye
to her faith. By night, Demi goes upriver with her brother, Theseus, to
obtain provisions for fellow believers in the port city of Myra. While
willing to risk her own life to ensure others are safe and fed, Demi
lives with a desperate fear for those she loves and carries secret shame
over her greatest failure. When Theseus is injured in a diving
accident, all seems lost, until a stranger named Nikolas appears on the
beach and offers help.
Arriving in a sinking boat, Nikolas is
burdened by guilt over his older brother’s tragic death. Though the
wealth he inherited from a prosperous shipping business now rests at the
bottom of the sea, as the new pastor in Myra, he is determined to
recover it and use it for good. As the violence against Christians
increases, Demi helps Nikolas retrieve his lost fortune and distribute
it to those in dire need.
Despite wondering if she can ever be
worthy, Demi is drawn to Nikolas and longs to trust in his belief that
freedom can be found in forgiveness. Then one terrifying night,
everything changes as the Roman Empire’s fury rains down. Demi has no
other choice but to decide if she has the courage to do what she once
failed to . . . and if the faith she calls her own is sure enough to
carry her.
-Stand-alone Christian historical romance novel set in ancient times
-For fans of historical fiction by Francine Rivers and Tessa Afshar
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Sounds very intriguing.
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