The Thief: Book 2 in The Living Waters Series By Stephanie Landsem

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity and Stephanie Landsem for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.



Book Description:    

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure. Desperate to escape the accursed Judean province, he accepts a wager. If he can catch the thieves harassing the marketplace before Passover, he’ll earn a transfer away from the trouble making Jews.
Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Only with the help of Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, can she keep her blind brother, Cedron, fed and a roof over their heads.
When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Longinus longs to learn more about the mysterious healer. Instead, his journey leads him to Nissa, whose secret will determine the course of both their futures.
Unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus, they wonder who this teacher is who heals others but does nothing to save himself. Is the mercy he offers in his teachings real, or just another false promise? Can Nissa and Longinus overcome their pasts to find a future free of their shackles?
The Thief is an evocative story of two people trapped in their circumstances and the life-changing power of forgiveness and love.



My Thoughts:   


The Thief is the second book in Stephanie Landsem's Living Water series and I LOVED IT!  Mouse is a thief who steals to take care of herself and her blind brother, but her real name is Nissa. She is a Jewish woman who has had to defend herself and take care of herself.  Longinus is a Roman Centurion haunted by the events in his life. He makes a deal with another centurion that he will catch the two thieves that got away, which included Mouse.  A teacher comes to Jerusalem and heals Nissa's brother, Cedron. Nissa and Cedron find themselves exiled from their church and home. Nissa finds them another place but has to go back to stealing in order to make life happen.  Longinus yearns to learn more about this Teacher who healed Cedron and many others so he finds himself intertwined with Nissa.  Nissa and Longinus seek out Jesus to learn from Him and get His help. Can they save him before he is caught and tried?


The Thief is the second book I have read by Stephanie Landsem. I hadn't read her first book, The Well, when I requested to be part of this blog tour and this Launch team but I decided to read it before reading The Thief, and WOW. I read it in two days and it just made such an impact on me that I couldn't wait to dig right into The Thief.  The Thief ultimately tells the story of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection .  Stephanie Landsem writes with authority about the Bible, Jerusalem, Jewish and Roman customs, and the time period.  In The Thief, we meet many new characters but also get to learn more about some old friends from The Well, Longinus and Stephan. I loved the character of Dismas. He was a thief but he loved Mouse(Nissa) and took care of her to make sure she was safe. He made the ultimate sacrifice for her, something NO ONE had ever done for her before. His character really gave me something to think about.  I could NOT put this book down. From the start it grabbed my attention and held it throughout. I read The Thief in about two days also. Stephanie Landsem has written two wonderful stories that although fiction, they are rich in historical facts.  As I read the last chapters of this book I felt like I was going through the Stations of The Cross that I have participated in for Lent. Such a humbling experience. I found myself crying during parts of this story, parts that touched my heart.  I HIGHLY recommend this book, and series to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction, especially historical fiction and biblical fiction. You won't be disappointed! I cannot wait to read what is next in this awesome series! I give this book and series 5 STARS!!!

 


 Don't miss Stephanie Landsem's outstanding sophomore effort, The Thief.

Best-selling author Tosca Lee had this to say of the book: Filled with memorable characters, The Thief is a tale of hopelessness turned to hope, of high stakes made higher, and ultimate love. What happens when a character at the lowest rung of society crosses paths with the most well-known figure in history? The story of The Thief. I couldn't stop reading.

Stephanie is hosting a Kindle Fire HDX and book giveaway at her website. CLICK THE BUTTON to find out more and enter to win.
Find out what readers are saying HERE.