Beauty Unveiled, the first book of the SISTERS OF LAZARUS series, introduces Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, who couldn't have been more different. Martha, the elder, is plain and self-conscious; Mary, the younger, is beautiful and vain. One saw her value only in serving, while the other believed her outward appearance was her only asset. Their worlds were turned upside down when Lazarus offered hospitality to an intriguing new teacher named Jesus.
GLORY REVEALED: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two picks up immediately where Beauty Unveiled ended, and carries the story of Christ to its glorious conclusion as seen through the eyes of those who witnessed firsthand the greatest story ever told.
Paula K. Parker's evocative writing draws readers in, allowing them to feel like a fellow guest sharing the sisters' wonder at meeting Jesus and his transforming power.
My Take:
When Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha invite the Teacher Jesus ben Joseph to visit one night a week before Passover, they know that they are inviting more than just a rabbi into their home. After all, raising Lazarus from the dead is only one of many miracles this prophet has performed.
But when Mary breaks open an alabaster vessel of spikenard that night and anoints Jesus' head and feet with it, the scandalous and wasteful act contributes to the untimely death of their friend. But, WAS it untimely? As WAS the act wasteful, or a pure act of worship to one who is far more than he seems?
Content:
Drug Content:
G - While wine is used in this novel, it's squeaky clean. The Roman soldiers are accused of being drunk, but even THEY weren't having any excess..
Violence:
PG-13 - You cannot talk about or in any way describe the flogging by a Roman soldier, the abusive games by them, or the horrors of crucifixion, without getting rather gory. While this novel did a reasonable job describing the events of the crucifixion, the descriptions are not wantonly graphic, and fall far short of the Mel Gibson movie, Passion of the Christ. In one place the flogging, as it's going on, is dispassionately described as the torture it is, by one of the Roman characters.
Language:
G - While there is some swearing in this book it contains none of the common curse words in English, and involves oaths more than cursing. The language in this book is squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
PG - There are quite a few conversations about marriage and the consummation of a wedding, but no details at all. A significant part of this book revolves around one of the characters and her fielding hopefuls for her hand in marriage, and the alignment of houses. In some ways the interactions could make the book more of a romance, but again, it's squeaky clean..
Christian content:
This is a retelling of the last week leading up to the Passover and crucifixion of Jesus. Christian content is heavily laced throughout. It covers the social and spiritual interactions leading up to that critical historical event from the juxtaposed perspectives of characters that are either aligned FOR, or AGAINST, the savior.
Final analysis:
This is a masterfully written, immersive vignette into the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the impact crater of Jesus Christ on their lives, both socially, and spiritually. The world-building is phenomenal. The plot is incredibly gripping, no matter how often you've read the biblical account. The character arcs are fully three-dimensional, and you get a better feel for the conflicts in such pivotal characters as Judas Iscariot, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Nicodemus. I couldn't put this book down, it made me late coming home from work, I had to finish it! Five Stars!
About the Author:
A stint in the public schools, along with seventeen years of home schooling her five children, resulted in not only a quick wit and a unique sense of humor, but also the ability to effectively communicate ideas on a broad range of subjects to a wide age of readers.
Since 1995, Paula has been a professional freelance writer, with more than 1000 articles, sketches, plays, scripts, corporate copy-writing, nonfiction books and novels to her credit. She has written for such national publications as Christian Single, Christian Health, Clarity, Family Fun (Disney), Citizen (Focus on the Family), HomeLife, Living with Teenagers, the National Drama Service, ParentLife, Release Ink, PB&J, Profile and Bible Express magazines. She contributed to The Young Believer's Case Files with Stephen Arterburn (Tyndale), Thomas Nelson's award-winning Thomas Nelson Bible-zine, Becoming and their American Women's Bible. Online she has written for Crosswalk.com and was a contributing writer for the entertainment page at LifeWay.com for over twelve years. She is the Senior Editor for the online entertainment magazine, BuddyHollywood.com. Since 2013, she has written curriculum for the WinShape summer camp program.
Paula is an accomplished playwright, having written numerous produced full-length plays—which have been performed internationally—short sketches, and One-Acts. She is best known for her sparkling stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility and Jane Austen’s Emma.
In 2010, her first novel was released, YHWH, The Flood, The Fish and The Giant, and the sequel, YESHUA, The King, The Demon and The Traitor, co-written with NY Times best-selling author, GP Taylor. Her biblical novel, SISTERS OF LAZARUS; Beauty Unveiled, reached Amazon’s Top Ten Best-seller’s list for biblical fiction. The sequel, GLORY REVEALED: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two, hit Amazon’s Top 100 Hot New Releases in Christian Historical Fiction. The third in the series, GRACE EXTENDED, reached Amazon’s Top Ten Hot New Releases list for biblical fiction, and Amazon’s Top One Hundred List for Hot New Releases for Ancient History Fiction. Her novel, THE CARPENTER AND HIS BRIDE; The Birth of Hope debuted at #39 on the Bestsellers in Biblical Fiction chart.
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