Book Review: Up From Dust by Heather Kaufman

Kimberly's Rating (out of 5 hearts)

Title:               Up from Dust
Author:            Heather Kaufman*
Published:       January 23, 2024        
Pages:              342
Genre:             Historical Christian Fiction
Setting:            Israel, AD 29
 
What happens when a young woman falls for a man whose occupation makes him her family’s enemy?

Martha of Bethany knows adversity intimately. After her mother's untimely passing, she shoulders the immense responsibility of raising her siblings: the quiet and studious Lazarus, and the wild and rambunctious Mary. Despite the weight of her duties, Martha finds solace in friendship and the tender stirrings of first love. However, just as she begins to glimpse the possibility of a new future, tragedy strikes once more, shattering her dreams.

A decade passes, and Martha's life takes another unexpected turn when her friend implores the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her ailing husband. When Martha realizes that this carpenter-rabbi is intricately linked to her past, she grapples with doubts about entrusting him with her future. Yet, as Jesus continues to perform miracles and offer teachings that resonate deeply, Martha's hardened heart begins to soften, inviting her to consider a new path forward.

I’m in awe of Heather Kaufman's ability to build a plausible, captivating story around a few verses of Scripture. This beautifully written story hits all the right notes: love, hope in the face of despair, forgiveness, a new life in Christ

Up from Dust is a book that I'll read again and again, to make sure there's nothing I missed!

*Heather can be found at www.hmkstories.com