Gets you into the events in a fresh way

What made the experience of listening to The Centurion’s Wife the most enjoyable?

I actually really enjoyed this book. I know, I know Jeanette Oake. But she really did a good job of writing a story that is pretty accurate to the facts of what happened surrounding Jesus death, resurrection and Pentecost. She sets up the tension well and has a believable take on what could’ve happened to Pontius Pilate after Jesus. Also, getting at the events from fresh angles helps to remind you of the biblical narrative.
The book suffers from a lowchurch understanding in terms of baptism and communion. Also, it has some theological misunderstandings of the Jew, Gentile question, but these were small and easily laid aside.
I did find myself rooting for the main characters. I would have liked to see what became of Jacob-- maybe he becomes the apostle James or something.

What does Susan Lyons bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Really good voice. Susan, you are one of my favorites

Who was the most memorable character of The Centurion’s Wife and why?

Alben

8 people found this helpful

The excellent first book in an outstanding three book series that I have listened to five times in just two months.

I’ve been listening to audiobooks for seven years now and have compiled a substantial library. There are many excellent books, a smaller set of excellent readers and an even smaller set of excellent readers matched with the perfect book. This three book series beginning with the Centurion’s Wife is absolutely outstanding. The book is excellent. Solid, engrossing plot, beautiful and moving character development and to top it off a moving, historically accurate and yet fully imagined biblical setting. The narrator does an outstanding job with all the different voices so the story flows smoothly. This is one of my all time favorite audible books and series.

5 people found this helpful

More people should listen to this Excellent book.

What made the experience of listening to The Centurion’s Wife the most enjoyable?

The story first and foremost. The authors wrote a great series. The narrator was great. Audible needs to record the other two books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both Leah and the Centurion. We can only assume from what little is said about this centurion in Matthew 8:5-10 and Luke 7:6-10 that he was a good man of great faith who had more to do with Christ than we are told in those short verses. I think he is a wonderful character on which to base a story about early Christianity and that this is a wonderful story.

What about Susan Lyons’s performance did you like?

Everything. I don't nitpick the narrator when I listen to a story. I'm sure there are other listeners who could critique the narrator better than I, but to me, she did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many. I was especially moved when I first realized that the centurion in this story was the very one mentioned in Matthew and Luke.

Any additional comments?

People, you need to hear this book. With only 69 ratings, even though they are very good ratings, it is no wonder that Audible has not recorded the other two books in this series. Repent so I can listen to those other two books!

11 people found this helpful

Interesting

This was the first Christian fiction book I read and I found it thought provoking and interesting.

8 people found this helpful

Enjoyable read!

Great storyline with a glimpse into 1st century life in Jerusalem following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Very well written and researched. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Narrator is effective.

8 people found this helpful

A Good Read

This book brought the Biblical account of the impact on the lives of ordinary people after the death of Christ Jesus in a more personal way.
The characters help the reader perceive the distress and conflicts real people faced in light of the fact Jesus had conquered death.

I really appreciated the writer acquaintance with the periods politics and religious dynamics. The reader's interpretive skills also added to.my listening pleasure.

3 people found this helpful

Great book

Janette Oke has always been one of my favorite writers! They did a wonderful job with this book! I can hardly wait to start book two. It took effort to stop listening and finish my duties or go to bed. It ended in a lovely way! I’m excited to get to book two because I started that one first and then realized I was missing some of the story and that when I went searching for book one! Guy or gal will appreciate ‘‘tis book!👍🏽

2 people found this helpful

Wonderful! Even better than I'd hoped!

It seemed to start a little slow, but it wasn't long before I was totally intrigued. I'm enjoying it so much I was a bit caught off guard when it ended and I'm hoping for a sequel.

2 people found this helpful

Exciting

What made the experience of listening to The Centurion’s Wife the most enjoyable?

Historic for those times and kept you interested in the story line. Good narration.

What other book might you compare The Centurion’s Wife to and why?

"Mark of the Lion" Series by Francine Rivers

What does Susan Lyons bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Expression

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"When a Rabbi's missing body sends both Leah and Alban in a search"

Any additional comments?

LOVED IT! I will read more of her books in this series.

5 people found this helpful

Not what I expected

Would you try another book from Janette Oke and Davis Bunn and/or Susan Lyons?

No way.

What was most disappointing about Janette Oke and Davis Bunn ’s story?

I find it SO ironic that this book is titled The Centurion's Wife — the heroine doesn't actually become the centurion's wife until the very end. She isn't even considered his bride until well into the book. Mostly, she's a slave with very lofty beginnings.

But the title is even more misleading than that. You'd think from the title that this is some kind of historical romance set in ancient Roman times — you know, the polytheistic era with all the cool Roman togas and sandals. I imagined dark wavy hair, dark eyes, and Roman noses, a sexy, sultry romance set in the Mediterranean. Not so! In fact, this is more about the Jews in Biblical times, during the birth of Christianity. It was like a complete 180 degrees for me — not the Romans but the people that the Romans subjugated?

The problem was that even though the beginning showed promise, it never got there. Generally a good book starts out good and then builds up. You can usually tell right away. This seemed like it would build up, it just didn't.

This was basically a re-telling of the aftermath of Jesus's crucifixion. I know the story from the bible and had no problem with the liberties the authors took, because it's a Historical Fiction novel. I found nothing offensive as some reviewers seemed to, but it was boring. The rising from the dead of a messiah should not come across as boring, whether you are reading it as fiction or fact. It should be exciting stuff! This was not.

My biggest problem with the writing, and I'm not sure which author is to blame, was that they described in words how the characters were feeling or speaking. Every time. What I mean, is that instead of showing me a character was in awe, by describing tone, volume of speech, facial expression, action, etc. the authors chose to say "So and so was awed." This story begs for descriptive detail, It's a story I would like to have felt. Instead, it read like a list of facts, or the authors take on the facts.

What three words best describe Susan Lyons’s voice?

I did not care about her voice because the story itself had too many flows

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Centurion’s Wife?

Describing the tea as a main refreshment for Romans and Jews instead of wine and water. Tea came to that area only in 5th century. Use of English farthing: the British farthing (derived from the Anglo-Saxon feorthing, a fourthling or fourth part) was a coin of the Kingdom of Great Britain, a new sovereign state created in 1707 by merging the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, and later a coin of the United Kingdom, worth one quarter of a penny, 1⁄960 of a pound sterling, a continuation of the English farthing first minted in silver in the 13th century.

Too many bloopers to describe.

Any additional comments?

I read historical fiction for excitement to help me understand better what has happened in the past. This portrayed a very exciting, world changing event in the blandest of voices. I will not be continuing the series.

9 people found this helpful