The Woman from Lydia

Back Cover

Widowed Euodia, known to her neighbors as "the Lydian woman," seeks to make a fresh start by moving to the foreign city of Philippi. She finds new purpose after meeting Paulos, apostle to the Gentiles, who opens her eyes to helping those in need, particularly women and those who have been enslaved.

Retired Roman soldier Hector has settled in Philippi with dreams of a future filled with wealth and status, pooling his army earnings with Lucius, his fellow comrade-in-arms turned business partner. His hopes are dashed, however, when Paulos robs their youngest enslaved girl of her lucrative ability to foretell the future, rendering her worthless to Hector's ambition.

Determined to find someone to restore the girl's valuable "gift," Hector is willing to travel to the ends of the earth to do so. Following close behind him, Euodia and her servants embark on a journey to rescue Sabina and set her free forever.

Review

This was an engrossing piece of historical fiction that explores a "what if" question of the Lydian woman referenced in the Biblical book of Acts. I thoroughly enjoyed the rich historical details  - there were so many interesting facts about the customs, culture, and even wardrobe peppered throughout the pages. And the story itself - my goodness, what an adventure! The best part of it all was how the Gospel is steeped in every written line. It was a beautiful story to read where the love of Christ and the transforming power of His grace is exemplified through Euodia and her fellow believers. Not much is said in the Bible about the "seller of purple", but I love Angela Hunt's spin on Euodia's tale. The Woman from Lydia will greatly appeal to fans of historical fiction, and I highly recommend it.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.