Bread of Angels

I really enjoyed this book. It did not retract from the biblical narrative, but gave a great back story to a woman we know little about.

Tessa Afshar's work is masterful! I see the scriptures anew with each novel. A true page-turner. I couldn't put it down.May God continue to bless the work of her hands.

My, my ... her writing just grips from beginning to end as usual. She brings the scriptures to life and gives a more relatable feel to the people of Bible.The story follows Lydia who is the famous seller of Purple in Philippi. It begins with her at the age of 10 in her home town with her father and ends with her meeting Paul in Philippi. I just loved her so much ! She was amazing strong with a heart of gold. She dealt with betrayal, hardships and lies. Throughout everything she managed to pull through. She did allow her anger and fear to control at times, but she also overcame them.Rebekah was amazing. Chloris was adorable. The General was fantastic. All those who came in contact with Lydia were helpful to her growth as a woman of faith. I loved the friendships and associates she built.Paul was amazing! I loved seeing him come to life in this book alongside Luke, Silas and Timothy. They were so full of wisdom and aimed to free people by sharing the Good News. Paul didn't let anything stop him. He faced things head on and kept strong on his faith. I loved him in this story and all that he brought to it.Jason and Antiochus were both amazing douche-bags. Jason was like the scum of the earth to me for how he played Lydia. Antiochus was just a spoiled, twisted child who needed to truthfully grow up. Maybe a spanking would have sufficed in his childhood days.Marcus was amazing to me! He was kind, sweet, a man of great faith and had such a peace about him. He seemed to have so much knowledge and wisdom behind him. Considering his past, he overcame so much. I loved his bits of flirtation as well.The romance was so interestingly done. With Jason and Lydia you could see so many red-flags going off, but Lydia being young and in love paid no mind to them. I didn't care for the two of them together. However, Marcus was an amazing guy for Lydia! He was sweet, kind, supported her work, always sought to protect and help her. Marcus edified her spirit man and was a man of faith. The two of them together just flowed. I loved it, especially that ending !!!The faith and biblical aspects are amazing as usual with Tessa's writing. The first two chapters gripped me with how much I was able to relate to certain parts. Tessa was able to take fear, put it in a well-known person from the Bible and weave it into a beautifully written story that tests faith and love.On top of that, Tessa's explanation of the title in the story was well done. She always has some type of explanation of her titles woven into her stories so this was just as beautifully done as the others.Highly recommend this story!

To most people, purple is a color. To Lydia of Thyatira, it's her lifeblood. Lydia has spent her life learning her father's secrets in the world of dyeing and trading purple cloth, a luxury for all but the wealthiest in the Roman Empire. But when an encounter with an unscrupulous suitor who only looks like a tall drink of water shatters her life, Lydia's plans to take over the family's workshop shatter as well. Soon she's on a path she never could have imagined, with friends and adversaries she never expected.As with Land of Silence, Tessa Afshar beautifully captures the setting of Biblical Thyatira and Phillipi, making them seem as real as any of our modern cities. Additionally and more importantly, in Lydia, Tessa brings to life an obscure Biblical character who gets exactly one paragraph in Acts 16. In Bread of Angels, Lydia is a brilliant businesswoman with a generous heart and unwavering ability to "pay it forward." Over and over again, even before she embraces Christ, her kindness and generosity lets her reap what she sows. A glorious harvest results, most notably in lifelong friends like Rebekah, Aemellia, and yes, Paul himself.Tessa's other characters come to life as well in a deftly crafted plot. I loved the idea of Grecian Lydia and Jewish Rebekah partnering to run their own purple goods shop, as female-run businesses were unheard of in their era. Add in minor characters like Chloris the servant, and you get a rare dose of Biblical "girl power" worth rooting for, especially with an adversary like Antiochus threatening to ruin Lydia at every turn. However, feminine strength is not the only great part of the Bread of Angels plot. There's also Lydia's relationship with Paul and some early Christians, as well as her position as founder of the region's first Christian church. Through her eyes, we get to see such events as Paul and Silas' miraculous escape from prison and their interactions with a fortune-telling slave girl. Familiar Bible stories get an added dose of insight and complexity that make familiar characters seem more like real people.It's worth noting that I laughed out loud a few times. Most people wouldn't put "funny" and "Biblical fiction" in the same sentence, but Lydia possesses a dry sense of humor that provides comic relief here and there. In addition, Paul and Silas' optimistic reactions to persecution get an appreciative chuckle occasionally. I have no doubt these two men spoke and acted in real life as they did in this novel.Bread of Angels does have a few flaws. Some events seem glossed over, and chapters sometimes end too soon. Some important characters like Marcus have strong backstories, but so much time is spent on those that the people themselves remain underdeveloped. Lydia herself, as well as some other characters, could have used more shading. For instance, we know Lydia struggles with anxiety--but we mostly know that because we're told. What if we had seen her have a panic attack? What if she'd had a mannerism that gave away her anxiousness? Anyway, those are minor issues overall. I still recommend this book for a glimpse into the full life of Lydia, and a taste of literary manna.

Started slow but the story grew deep and rich and I loved it. Helped me understand biblical context more and imagine the world of the first Christians.

Making the words of Paul coming alive are a talent of Tessa Afshar. Could not put the book down. Thank you for a very enjoyeble book.

This book is a most excellent story of Lydia who lived in the times of St Paul. Tessa Afshar the author made the story come to life as do her other biblical books,Thank you Tessa.

As always, Tessa Afshar did not fail...my only regret was that the story wasn't long enough. I was shocked and disappointed when I got to the end. But all in all a great story!!!Most importantly, Tessa's quote of Isaiah 54:17, helped me to understand that scripture in a new light. And she brought to remembrance the story of the tree. Thank you.If you love history and a well-researched book, Bread of Angels is highly recommended.

Tessa Afshar is a brilliant writer. Every book of hers has been a joy to read and at times challenging.

Anyone who prefers clean pure stories will enjoy this book and it made my heart glad that I'm in the Lord.Thank you so much

What insights into life in the early first century and challenging concepts about living as a follower of Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for authors like this.