igniting a war that will cost him his life. But before dying, he commands Judah to pick up his sword and continue the fight--or bear responsibility for the obliteration of Israel. Leah, who wants nothing but peace, struggles with her husband's decision--what kind of God would destroy the peace she has sought for so long? The miraculous story of the courageous Maccabees is told through the eyes of Judah's wife, who learns that love requires courage . . . and sacrifice.
 Reviewer: Laura J. Davis After having researched and written about the Maccabees, I was most interested in reading Judah's Wife, which tells the history of Judah Maccabee and his family as they risked everything to reclaim the Temple and their whole belief system back from Antiochus Epiphanes IV. While the title suggests the story is about Judah's wife, (it was for the first little bit), but then it was primarily taken up by Judah and his many battles. Hunt is an excellent writer though, and she brings the story back around again to Leah, Judah's Wife, making the point that everyone has a purpose, no matter how small the task may be. While I did find the beginning romance between Judah and Leah somewhat endearing (he did fight for her after all) and it encouraged me to read more, but the love quickly gave way to battle scenes and violence that, while well-written, had me soon losing interest. I will say this though - Hunt got the meaning of giving God the glory during the battle scenes. I dare you not to hear their voices! If you are looking for biblical fiction based on a true story, Judah's Wife is an excellent start! Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Reviewer: Eva Joy Schnohaar I didn't know much about the Maccabees before I read Judah's Wife, but I knew that I'd learn more about them through Hunt's writing, as she does great research. I wasn't disappointed in that regard (in fact, I kind of want to read First and Second Maccabees now). As always, Hunt's writing style is clear, precise, and very interesting - something that I've found to be a rarity in most Christian fiction. I'm never bored while reading one of her books and that certainly held true for Judah's Wife. Despite the title of the book, I felt that there was more focus on Judah than on his wife, Leah. The accounts of Judah's battles, struggles, and victories took up a large part of the book and were fascinating (and awe-inspiring; God was so very present). Judah was an amazing man and a character I would have gladly spent even more time with. His courage and bravery, as well as his tenderness and care for Leah was wonderful. Leah did annoy me at times (girl, there's a clear difference between domestic abuse and fulfilling God's will by striking down the enemies of His people) but she matured and grew throughout the book and by the end, I really liked her. I also liked Judah's brothers (lots of brothers = cool family dynamic). And Philander + his son. The only things I didn't like about Judah's Wife were that at times the characters didn't feel super fleshed out, it was a 'kissing book' and sometimes a little uncomfortable in that regard, and some of the violence/torture was...*shudders*. That being said, I truly did enjoy this book. It just made me cry a lot right at the end. But, hey, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Reviewer: Kandace Perry Judah's Wife by Angela Hunt is captivating as she draws you into Judah and Leah's lives. Your ears echo with the thundering of horses hooves. Your feet vibrate with the pounding of elephants as they charge in terror, flinging limp bodies over their shoulders with their trunks. Your skin is dry and scorched from the dust and heat of the day. Your body aches from hiding under a bush as you wait for battle. Your senses are on high alert as you contemplate every move and scenario as you anticipate the approaching enemy army. You plan a surprise attack. You've spent countless hours training, strategizing, praying and then slaughtering the men waging war against your God but you do it all with confidence and courage knowing full well that God is battling each war with you. Our God reigns Victorious! The cover illustration shows a woman of warmth, gentleness and romance. Leah depicted each of those qualities but underneath those layers was a tremendous strength and courage. Through a great deal of self-discovery and God searching, Leah became a woman of devotion. Devotion to her husband her (husband's) family, to her purpose in life and most importantly to her God. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Reviewer: Mary Hosmar
Although the title of this work is Judah’s Wife, the story is as much about Judah Maccabaeus as about his wife. Based on historical facts, Ms. Hunt has woven an interesting and believable story. Judah, his father Mattathias, and Judah’s four brothers are all historical figures as are the Greek Seleucid conquerors. The women of the family, including Judah’s wife, Leah, are fictitious. Together the characters form an interesting, historical narrative. Ms. Hunt brings to life one segment of the ‘silent years’ of Israel’s history. When Mattathias with his dying breath names Judah as the one to carry on the fight for independence against the cruel Seleucids under Antiochus Epiphanes, Judah must decide whether to carry out his father’s wishes or his wife’s wish for him to stay home and become a farmer. When Judah and his brothers feel they must follow God’s command and free the country of the blasphemous conquerors, Leah must choose to either stay and support her husband or leave. Judah’s wife brings a lot of little known history of God’s people to light. It also highlights the struggles one faces when following what one believes God has commanded. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters come to life as the story progresses. As I am not very familiar with this time period, I must rely on Ms. Hunt’s research and accept the historical facts as accurately portrayed. I highly recommend this novel to all who love history and Judaism. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. |
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