A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna White ~ WOW!

If you’re looking for a novel that waters down the stark realities of sin and its wages, don’t read A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna White. Set in decadent first century Jerusalem and Rome, strong, multi-layered characters, rich spiritual insights, well-depicted historical events, and moving romance are powerfully combined in an edgy yet tastefully crafted and fast-paced classic.

Stunningly beautiful Abigail is an atypical Hebrew slave gently raised and educated as a daughter in the prosperous Visibullis household during the time of Jesus. But her
tranquil life shatters when handsome but selfish Jason Visibullis, a Roman centurion, returns home with a sinful mindset and lifestyle he adopted in Rome. He soon claims Abigail as his personal possession and lover, and having no choice, she must submit. But she struggles with growing turmoil resulting from a sense of betrayal, resentment, guilt, and her rising desires for Jason. He, in turn, is so enamored with her, he chooses her over his career, lifestyle, and friends to marry her and set her free. But her trials just begin at that point. Many more tests and heartaches await Abigail before she can find true happiness.

The crucifixion of Jesus from a centurion’s point of view is a stirring depiction along with the Lord’s fleeting encounter with main characters who change dramatically because of His life-giving words and shed blood. Although the author delves into the temptations of the flesh and the consequences of sin, she beautifullly intersperses victory over them through trusting and obeying the Word of God.

I applaud Ms. White’s skillful handling of sensitive scenes with touching finesse. Her clever plot twists grabbed me continually, and her ability to illustrate familiar biblical events in a fresh way made me consider them with new eyes. Contrasting the characters’ interests in Greek and Roman philosophy and mythology with devotion to Hebrew Law and the teachings of Jesus added a dimension that enhanced the already rich tale.

A Stray Drop of Blood is a must for the permanent personal library. Reminiscent of Francine Rivers’s Mark of the Lion trilogy and Ruth Axtell Morren’s earlier books of her Regency series, it’s a novel that the reader can enjoy again and again and again.

To learn more about the book and its characters, go to http://www.roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/