Book Review: “The Thief” By Stephanie Landsem

February 28, 2014 at 11:01 pm | Posted in Books | Leave a comment
Tags: Book Review, Christian Fiction

Stephanie Landsem in her new book, “The Thief” Book Two in The Living Water series published by Howard Books gives us a story about a woman bound by lies.  A soldier haunted by fear.  A sacrifice that sets them free.

From the back cover:  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Abandoned by the God she once loved, her only recourse is to depend upon Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, to keep her blind brother, Cedron, fed and the landlord satisfied.

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure and is desperate to escape the accursed Judean province. Accepting a wager that will get him away from the aggravating Jews and their threats of revolt, he sets out to catch the thieves harassing the marketplace.

When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Nissa hopes for freedom from her life of lies. But the supposed miracle brings only more misfortune, and Longinus, seeking to learn more about the mysterious healer, finds himself drawn instead to Nissa, whose secret will determine the course of both their futures.

Cedron, Longinus, and Nissa are unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. As danger closes in on them from every side, they must decide if the love and redemption Jesus offers is true or just another false promise. How can the so-called Messiah save them from their shackles, when he cannot even save himself?

Biblical fiction at its finest.  Jesus is the center of this story that involves many Biblical characters that Ms. Landsem gives names to.  Both thieves on the other crosses not only have names but they each have been given a history and a story.  The Roman Centurion Longinus is pursuing them and encounters Nissa and her brother Cedron.  All of them encounter Jesus and are transformed one way or the other.  “The Thief” is a story about who we are before we meet Jesus and who we become after we meet Jesus.  There is a lot going on in this story and Ms. Landsem knows how to take us through each event by letting us in on the lives of the participants.  Ms. Landsem has given us plenty of wonderful characters to fall in love with and lots of adventure and romance.

You can find “The Thief” at a discount at  http://www.deepershopping.com/item/landsem-stephanie/thief/5981516.html

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group.  I was not required to write a positive review.   The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”