Biblical Fiction has become my favorite sub-genre of Christian Fiction, and I’m always happy when I find a new BibFic author to love. When I saw that one of my favorite Bookstagrammers, Jenna Van Mourik, had a book coming out, I eagerly added it to my TBR. While I knew nothing about Jenna’s writing abilities, I felt confident that this book would be a good one–and I’m happy to report that my instinct was correct!
Having grown up in the impoverished Lower City of Jerusalem, Shamira is no stranger to injustice at the hands of the Pharisees. Her family is shunned by many in the Jewish community who believe that their misfortune in life is the result of a secret sin. Rumors are spreading of a nearby healer with incredible abilities; if the stories are true, then the Messiah may be near, and Shamira will stop at nothing in the pursuit of a miracle.
Asa spends every day at the temple under the tutelage of his strict father, an elite Levite priest who enforces the laws without mercy. Between the growing demands of the Roman government and the threats of the Zealots, tensions are high. When Shamira, the girl who stole his heart years ago, asks him to help her find the healer called Jesus, he must choose to either follow in his father’s footsteps or forge his own path.
Shamira knows that both her life and the lives of her loved ones could be changed forever, but only if she can find a way to speak to the man called Jesus of Nazareth before it’s too late.
I read this book while in quarantine, and it was the perfect feel-good, uplifting read. It kept me company in my long days of isolation, and I found myself eagerly returning to its pages every day. Shamira is a sweet and relatable character. She doesn’t quite feel like she fits into the mold that society says she must be in, and it often gets her into trouble. But you can see that these things that make her different are meant to be assets for her, things that God can use in order for her to be a blessing to her family and to His kingdom. I enjoyed seeing her growth over the course of the story, and I loved seeing how God saw her innermost fears and desires and made a way where there seemed to be no way for everything to fall together. It reminded me just how much God cares about us, and how He is always working everything together for our good, even when we can’t see it. It may seem like our circumstances just keep getting worse, but what we don’t know is that it is all working together towards a beautiful end!
The romance between Asa and Shamira was SO sweet! Their love, built upon a childhood friendship and slowly growing through the years, felt so real and natural and just makes you feel warm and happy inside. It makes it even better since Asa is such a kind, gentle, and all-around amazing man of honor. His willingness to serve Shamira and her family in any way possible speaks volumes of him. **sigh** You can’t help but love him!
Overall, Jenna’s debut novel is an impressive and beautiful story that you do not want to miss if you’re a fan of Biblical Fiction–or even if you have never read a book like this before. It is well-paced, entertaining and heartfelt, populated by a wide cast of loveable and relatable characters, and woven throughout with the timeless message of Jesus’ saving and healing power! Jerusalem’s Daughter is well-worth all 5/5 Stars!
**I received a copy of this book for review from the author, but was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
