"The Damascus Way" by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke * Book Review

Have you ever wondered what it might have been like to live among the first century Christians? In book three of the Acts of Faith Series, The Damascus Way, Davis Bunn and Janette Oke bring to life the struggles and fears of these early followers of The Way.

Facing persecution at the hand of Saul of Tarsus, members of the fledgling church flee from Jerusalem to settle in outlying areas. Julia, the daughter of wealthy merchant Jamal, soon encounters followers of The Way and finds her life taking a course different from what she originally envisioned.

Young Jacob, a caravan guard for Julia's father, embarks on dangerous journeys on the "Frankincense Trail" as well as relaying messages between believers in the area. As their paths intersect, Julia and Jacob must overcome their initial mistrust to accomplish an essential mission.

I'm always a bit hesitant to jump into a book mid-series, but I didn't find that to be a problem in this novel. I didn't feel like I was missing any essential information even though this is the third book in the series. The story is interesting and well written, and definitely sheds light on what life might have been like for those early followers of Christ. As you might assume from the title of the series, "Acts of Faith," many of the characters and events in the novel are taken from the book of Acts. Of course, these are fictional accounts of what might have happened, but the story remains true to the Biblical account. 

It's an easy read full of adventure and a little romance thrown in for good measure. If you're a fan of religious historical fiction, I'm sure you'll enjoy this collaboration by Bunn and Oke, both veterans of the Christian writing world.




I received a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed were my honest thoughts of the story.