“The Pharisee’s Wife” by Janette Oke … and a GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to Friday Reads!

 

 

Giveaway for a print copy of The Pharisee’s Wife by Janette Oke, courtesy of the publisher. (US ONLY!) Enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the bottom of the post. (Contest ends March 21, 2025) If you’re the chosen winner, I’ll contact you for your information to pass along to the publisher.

 

About the book…

Like most young women in ancient Israel, Mary has little control over her own destiny. When Enos, a rising Pharisee, sees her one day in the market—the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on—and  determines to make her his wife, Mary’s fate is quickly sealed. His  exorbitant bride price is the only hope her parents have of escaping abject poverty, but surely the fact that such a devout and esteemed man has chosen a girl of her station must be a sign of blessing.

When Mary enters training to become the proper Pharisee’s wife, it is as though she has been abandoned in a foreign land, where one misstep could cost her greatly. That feeling only deepens when she discovers Enos is all she feared he might be, treating her merely as a prize he has won—and worse. Then rumors of a miracle-working, traveling Prophet change everything, and Mary and Enos are swept up in events that will challenge all they hold dear and forever alter both their futures.

 

Amazon purchase link

 

Sample…

 

CHAPTER ONE
The Market

The sun had not yet risen above the horizon and already the day felt stuffy from the heat. The market stalls were in full voice, sellers calling out their wares with loud and irritatingly harsh shouts that they hoped would outdo their competition. Bodies, already oily with sweat, pressed against one another as they forced their way past, sharing the same limited space, breathing the same limited air. Smells from the area where the camels and donkeys were tethered were heavy with familiar but offensive odors on the stifling, breezeless air. The young woman wending her way cautiously in and out among the harried and hurried crowd of shoppers lifted a corner of her shawl to her nose.

The nearest vendor did not miss her approach. It was obvious that this girl was not familiar with her surroundings. Perhaps she was not even familiar with markets in general. She looked lost and confused. The vendor felt not only a curiosity but also an interest. She had never seen the young woman before. Was she new to the area—or new to her circumstances? She certainly did not look like someone’s servant out to purchase kitchen supplies for the day. The shawl she was wearing looked to be of finer material than any servant girl would wear. Yet she wore it casually, or carelessly, not draped carefully over her head and shoulders as a woman of means would wear it.

But this girl could not be classed as one of the wealthy either. Her clothes were not elegant, her manner not haughty. And she walked with an even full stride—not with carefully placed mincing steps.

It made the elderly stall owner curious enough to pause, still holding the fish she had been about to place in the cooler air beneath her table.  Suddenly remembering the fish, she leaned over and tucked it in a shaded spot. She hoped for a buyer soon or the fish would be past its freshness.

When she straightened, the young woman was still standing there, her hand lifted to shade her eyes as she scanned the market before her. She was obviously looking for something. It brought the vendor back to her purpose. She straightened to full height and began to call, “Fish! Fresh fish from the Jordan! Fresh fish! Only one left! Get it now! Fish!”

She watched the girl turn and look toward her. “Fresh fish!” she cried again.

The girl changed direction and was now moving closer. The elderly woman reached under the counter platform and drew out the same lone fish so she could display it before her. Perhaps the sale had come in time.

As the girl drew closer, she still wore a frown of confusion. As soon as she got near enough, the woman spoke again. “Fresh fish!” she reminded the girl. “Caught with last night’s catch. Ready for the—”

But the girl was shaking her head. “No,” she timidly interrupted. Then she caught herself. “No . . .” and she scanned the market around her again. “I do not . . . I did not come for fish.” She looked even more confused.

For some reason impossible to explain, the vendor had a strange wish to help—to protect the girl. For the moment, she forgot about the fish she still held in her hand. “What did you come for?” she asked, but her voice was much lower, softer than the voice she normally used to sell her wares.

“Mother sent me for olive oil. Fresh. She said to be sure it is fresh. And spice. And—and any vegetable that I can find. As long as it is fresh.”

The woman felt disappointment—surprisingly not because the young woman would not be buying her last fish. No, her disappointment came because she would not be able to help the potential customer.

She studied her more closely. She was young. Perhaps no more than fifteen. Her skin was soft and, though tanned from the summer sun, still pleasing. It was obvious that she was not a kitchen servant or a field worker. And she was pretty. More than pretty. Her eyes were big and sharing. If one had the time and the patience, the woman was sure those dark, almost violet, eyes could tell many stories. As she watched, the shawl carelessly slipped away, exposing the full face.

She was not pretty. She was beautiful!

The woman looked around quickly to see if others had noticed the delinquent shawl. To her left stood two men, their gazes passing over the entire market crowd. Pharisees! Why were they here? They certainly never shopped at the market.

Then she noticed that the younger one, likely an apprentice, turned his gaze their way. He was looking directly at the young woman, whose face was totally exposed. What would he think of the young woman’s carelessness?

 

About Janette…

 

 

Janette Oke (pronounced ‘oak’) pioneered inspirational fiction and is the leading author in the category today. Love Comes Softly, her first novel, has sold over one million copies. Janette is now the bestselling author of over 70 books, 32 of which have been translated into fourteen languages. Her books have sold over 22 million copies.

Janette receives fan mail from all over the world and answers each letter personally. She received the 1992 President’s Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for her significant contribution to Christian fiction, the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award and has been awarded the Gold Medallion Award for fiction. Janette and her husband, Edward, have four grown children and enjoy their many grandchildren. They make their home in Canada.

 

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Rules for the giveaway can be found here.