The Thief - The Living Water Series 2 - by Stephanie Landsem

About the book:

A Roman centurion longing for peace and a Jewish woman hiding a deadly secret witness a miracle that transforms their lives and leads them to the foot of the cross.

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure. Desperate to escape the accursed Judean province, he accepts a wager. If he can catch the thieves harassing the marketplace before Passover, he'll earn a transfer away from the troublemaking Jews.

Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Only with the help of Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, can she keep her blind brother, Cedron, fed and a roof over their heads.

When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Longinus longs to learn more about the mysterious healer. Instead, his journey leads him to Nissa, whose secret will determine the course of both their futures.

Unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus, they wonder who this teacher is who heals others but does nothing to save himself. Is the mercy he offers in his teachings real, or just another false promise? Can Nissa and Longinus overcome their pasts to find a future free of their shackles?

The Thief is an evocative story of two people trapped in their circumstances and the life-changing power of forgiveness and love.

My review: I loved this well-written book!  It was fascinating to experience this time period from both a woman's and a Roman centurion's perspective.  I loved the character of Nissa!  I really admired her courage and determination to survive and take care of her brother.  The love story was wonderful.  It had that enemies falling in love story line, with misunderstandings thrown in.  As they got to know each other, they saw who the other really was.   It was fascinating to see how Longinus moved toward faith in Jesus from a pagan perspective while Nissa did from a Jewish perspective, especially since she had turned her back on her faith because of her circumstances.  This works great as a stand-alone, but I definitely want to read the first one and can't wait for the next.  I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/tB6wJ

About the Author: 

Stephanie Landsem loves adventure in far-off times and places. In real life, she's explored ancient ruins, medieval castles, and majestic cathedrals around the world. Stephanie is equally happy at home in Minnesota with her husband, four children, and three fat cats. When she's not writing, she's feeding the ravenous horde, avoiding housework, and dreaming about her next adventure---whether it be in person or on the page.

Learn more about Stephanie at: http://www.stephanielandsem.com

Don't miss Stephanie Landsem's outstanding sophomore effort, The Thief.

Best-selling author Tosca Lee had this to say of the book: Filled with memorable characters, The Thief is a tale of hopelessness turned to hope, of high stakes made higher, and ultimate love. What happens when a character at the lowest rung of society crosses paths with the most well-known figure in history? The story of The Thief. I couldn't stop reading.

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