The Hidden Flame

November 1, 2009
Popular Christian authors Bunn and Oke unite in the second installment in the Acts of Faith series (after The Centurions Wife, 2009) to tell the story of Abigail, who, in spite of being injured in a terrible accident, finds herself the object of desire for two vastly different, powerful men: Ezra, a wealthy merchant, and Linux, an officer in the Roman army. Neither of these nonbelievers pleases Peter, the leader of Abigails new religion, so he betroths her instead to the saintly Stephen, another follower of the Way. However, many influential men want to see the Christians annihilated, along with their iconoclastic beliefs, making life as one of the faithful increasingly dangerous. Oke and Bunn have re-created Judea in the time immediately following the crucifixion of Christ. Richly textured and filled with familiar New Testament figures, their novel also meticulously describes the political climate of the time, including the conflicts between the Romans, Zealots, and Hasmodeans. More than a simple love story, given miracles, martyrdom, and men on a mission, this is the perfect tale for readers who enjoy such biblical epics as Henryk Sienkiewiczs Quo Vadis, Lew Wallaces Ben Hur, and Lloyd C. Douglas The Robe.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)