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Truth Trilogy #1
The Roman's Quest
Centurion Julius has eyes for a young Jewish woman, but a Roman is not what her father intends for her. Miriam is a pious Jewish girl, determined to do the right thing by her God and her parents, and she bows to her father’s wishes to betroth her to a Jewish fisherman, James ben Zebedee. Her heart yearns for the Roman, but their love is impossible. Miriam’s mother lies close to death, and her last wish is to see her daughter wed. The marriage has to take place before it’s too late.
Anne Baxter Campbell is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves her Lord, her family, and writing. She and her husband, one very small dog, and one overweight cat live in north central California .
Anne Baxter Campbell is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves her Lord, her family, and writing. She and her husband, one very small dog, and one overweight cat live in north central California .
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
16 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Anne Baxter Campbell
27 books48 followersI'm a Christian, a wife, a mom, a grandma, and a great-grandma who enjoys her family, friends, and writing.
I'm the author of The Truth Trilogy (The Roman's Quest; Marcus Varitor, Centurion; The Truth Doesn't Die), multiple short stories, some children's stories, and a devotional.
I live in Northern California with a super-friendly little mutt (Meggie Wigglesworth) and a queenly cat who comes to the name of Cleo when she feels like it.
I write reviews of books I like. Sorry--I will not write a negative review. In fact, I don't finish reading books I don't think well of. Don't have time for that.
By the way--I do not accept friend requests from people who hide their profiles--especially guys. I also do not accept friendship from guys "looking for a relationship."
I'm the author of The Truth Trilogy (The Roman's Quest; Marcus Varitor, Centurion; The Truth Doesn't Die), multiple short stories, some children's stories, and a devotional.
I live in Northern California with a super-friendly little mutt (Meggie Wigglesworth) and a queenly cat who comes to the name of Cleo when she feels like it.
I write reviews of books I like. Sorry--I will not write a negative review. In fact, I don't finish reading books I don't think well of. Don't have time for that.
By the way--I do not accept friend requests from people who hide their profiles--especially guys. I also do not accept friendship from guys "looking for a relationship."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 9, 2013
Julius Saturnius stands guard in the heat of a Jericho day, but he doesn’t mind because he’s waiting for another glimpse of the beautiful young Jewish girl he’s seen at the well.
Miriam doesn’t want to admit even to herself that she’s attracted to the handsome Roman centurion; after all, Rome is the enemy and she should not even look at him.
Through increasingly tense circumstances, Julius and Miriam become acquainted, but what can ever come of an attraction between a Jew and a Gentile? The impossibilities mount up into a high wall that separates them with faint hope of every being broken through. What Miriam doesn’t realize it that Julius knows her secret, and the Lord God knows the secrets of both their hearts.
This well-written story is set in the time the Romans ruled over the Jews, and the author has obviously gone to great lengths to research and depict the setting accurately. The characters are real and easy to identify with, and the plot leads the reader ever deeper into the impossible love story with each page. The Roman’s Quest is a sweet romance set in dismal and dangerous times, but where God is involved, miracles can still happen.
Miriam doesn’t want to admit even to herself that she’s attracted to the handsome Roman centurion; after all, Rome is the enemy and she should not even look at him.
Through increasingly tense circumstances, Julius and Miriam become acquainted, but what can ever come of an attraction between a Jew and a Gentile? The impossibilities mount up into a high wall that separates them with faint hope of every being broken through. What Miriam doesn’t realize it that Julius knows her secret, and the Lord God knows the secrets of both their hearts.
This well-written story is set in the time the Romans ruled over the Jews, and the author has obviously gone to great lengths to research and depict the setting accurately. The characters are real and easy to identify with, and the plot leads the reader ever deeper into the impossible love story with each page. The Roman’s Quest is a sweet romance set in dismal and dangerous times, but where God is involved, miracles can still happen.
July 4, 2017
In the days of John the Baptizer and the beginning of Jesus' ministry, Julius, a Roman centurion, is smitten by Miriam, a Jewish maid. The Jewish religious law and custom prevent the two from even speaking to each other. And though Miriam is likewise smitten with Julius, she keeps her love secret, for her father has promised her as a bride to a fisherman from Galilee.
Religion controls nearly everything Jewish, and Miriam and her friends and family heed the rules and constantly thank God or seek His guidance.
Meanwhile Julius prays, first to his gods, and then to the God of Jews that he might somehow be allowed to marry Miriam.
The tale is simple and predictable, experienced through multiple points of view.
Campbell treats us to good writing mechanics--proper sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation. And her ability to handle groups of individuals is awesome. As are the witty conversations of the many characters that perhaps go beyond believable.
The characters, in fact, are paragons of virtue. Industrious, compassionate, and witty. When they are not grinning, they are smiling or laughing. Yet in these perfect characters tragedy brings buckets of tears and prayer that seems as copious as when they are happy. Wrong-doers play the smallest of roles in this story, barely more than a glimpse.
Yes, prayer is copious because every detail of the Jewish life is ordered by religion, making this novel a vehicle for shared religious experiences with the reader, along with characters that are models for the reader to emulate.
A fast pace and lack of atmosphere makes victories appear too easy. As if our characters are favored above all, so God heals them while others continue to suffer. It may cause a reader to ask, why doesn't God heal everyone who is worthy and a believer?
The story has a problem with lack of development. The pace needs to slow, to allow more details. Otherwise the scenes are often nebulous, preventing the reader from visualizing the staging of characters or setting. You can't get into what's not there. Also on occasion we experience an abruptness during a shift in the scene that makes the reader stumble. We need at least a transition sentence to ease us through the shift.
As boy and girl seek to overcome obstacles, we are blessed with insight into the times of Christ and a beautiful look at Jewish customs and ceremony.
The story, innocent and sweet, slowly builds to a satisfying climax and denouement.
I can imagine this story appealing to a devout adolescent female.
Religion controls nearly everything Jewish, and Miriam and her friends and family heed the rules and constantly thank God or seek His guidance.
Meanwhile Julius prays, first to his gods, and then to the God of Jews that he might somehow be allowed to marry Miriam.
The tale is simple and predictable, experienced through multiple points of view.
Campbell treats us to good writing mechanics--proper sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation. And her ability to handle groups of individuals is awesome. As are the witty conversations of the many characters that perhaps go beyond believable.
The characters, in fact, are paragons of virtue. Industrious, compassionate, and witty. When they are not grinning, they are smiling or laughing. Yet in these perfect characters tragedy brings buckets of tears and prayer that seems as copious as when they are happy. Wrong-doers play the smallest of roles in this story, barely more than a glimpse.
Yes, prayer is copious because every detail of the Jewish life is ordered by religion, making this novel a vehicle for shared religious experiences with the reader, along with characters that are models for the reader to emulate.
A fast pace and lack of atmosphere makes victories appear too easy. As if our characters are favored above all, so God heals them while others continue to suffer. It may cause a reader to ask, why doesn't God heal everyone who is worthy and a believer?
The story has a problem with lack of development. The pace needs to slow, to allow more details. Otherwise the scenes are often nebulous, preventing the reader from visualizing the staging of characters or setting. You can't get into what's not there. Also on occasion we experience an abruptness during a shift in the scene that makes the reader stumble. We need at least a transition sentence to ease us through the shift.
As boy and girl seek to overcome obstacles, we are blessed with insight into the times of Christ and a beautiful look at Jewish customs and ceremony.
The story, innocent and sweet, slowly builds to a satisfying climax and denouement.
I can imagine this story appealing to a devout adolescent female.
March 21, 2014
The Roman’s Quest
The story is revealed through a cast of characters from the bible, such as, John the Baptist, James the apostle, and Jesus. It paints a picture of what life may have been like during Jesus’ times, and the people he knew and places he went. The story itself is woven between the scenes recorded in the Gospels. This is a romance of love and life, with Jesus imbedded in the depth and heart of it all. Excellently put to together by a gifted writer, easy to read and enduringly compelling. The characters were so wonderfully woven that I could see what they saw, feel what they felt. It was a nonstop read! I loved it!"
It is about a Roman soldier and his quest for a Jewish girl that he has come to adore. Julius, the Roman Centurion is assigned to the Roman occupied Jericho and each day on his watch he looks for her at the well. He finally gets to talk to her, and the story of his pursuit begins. There are various obstacles that have to be overcome, one being that Romans and Jews to not mix company, and another is she is promised to James, a fisherman and son of Zebedee. Although Miriam has known James all her life, she finds him a little to fishy smelling to become romantically inclined. She finds Julius handsomely intriguing, and fantasizes about spending her life with him. But she knows it is forbidden, and becoming betrothed to a Roman is defiantly out of the question. That is where the numinous enters into the story, and the tale begins. The story transports you back through the ages into their lives, enduring all the hardships and complications they encumber, and yes, the magical moments they share. John the Baptists passes through baptizing and preaching the gospel. Julius and his friend Marcus are mesmerized and become baptized. Their they see Jesus baptized also, and hear a voice from heaven. They both become to believe in the one God, and later decide to convert to Judaism. Later, Jesus passes by James, and calls him to become a fisher of men. This of course, throws Miriam’s marriage into a timely review. It is well noted by her father, and makes him have second thoughts, but he refuses to break his given promise. Will their lives ever be the same? You will have to read it and find out.
The story is revealed through a cast of characters from the bible, such as, John the Baptist, James the apostle, and Jesus. It paints a picture of what life may have been like during Jesus’ times, and the people he knew and places he went. The story itself is woven between the scenes recorded in the Gospels. This is a romance of love and life, with Jesus imbedded in the depth and heart of it all. Excellently put to together by a gifted writer, easy to read and enduringly compelling. The characters were so wonderfully woven that I could see what they saw, feel what they felt. It was a nonstop read! I loved it!"
It is about a Roman soldier and his quest for a Jewish girl that he has come to adore. Julius, the Roman Centurion is assigned to the Roman occupied Jericho and each day on his watch he looks for her at the well. He finally gets to talk to her, and the story of his pursuit begins. There are various obstacles that have to be overcome, one being that Romans and Jews to not mix company, and another is she is promised to James, a fisherman and son of Zebedee. Although Miriam has known James all her life, she finds him a little to fishy smelling to become romantically inclined. She finds Julius handsomely intriguing, and fantasizes about spending her life with him. But she knows it is forbidden, and becoming betrothed to a Roman is defiantly out of the question. That is where the numinous enters into the story, and the tale begins. The story transports you back through the ages into their lives, enduring all the hardships and complications they encumber, and yes, the magical moments they share. John the Baptists passes through baptizing and preaching the gospel. Julius and his friend Marcus are mesmerized and become baptized. Their they see Jesus baptized also, and hear a voice from heaven. They both become to believe in the one God, and later decide to convert to Judaism. Later, Jesus passes by James, and calls him to become a fisher of men. This of course, throws Miriam’s marriage into a timely review. It is well noted by her father, and makes him have second thoughts, but he refuses to break his given promise. Will their lives ever be the same? You will have to read it and find out.
February 1, 2014
Anne Baxter Campbell's The Roman's Quest transported me back to Biblical times. The reader catches a glimpse of many familiar Bible characters such as John the Baptist, James the apostle, and most importantly Jesus the Messiah.
The story is a romance between two unlikely characters—a Jewish girl, Miriam, and a Roman Centurion named Julius. Though the two are attracted to each other, there are many obstacles. Most importantly, Jews are forbidden to marry outside their race.
The reader meets a colorful cast of characters—Micah and Deborah, Miriam's parents, Cyril, Julius' Greek slave, Loukas, a Greek doctor converted to Judaism, Decanus Marcus, Julius' friend, and many more.
Roman occupied Jericho is the setting where the city comes alive with the buzz of daily activity. Enjoy the sights and sounds. Salt filled air, aroma of roasted lamb cooking, fresh catches of fish. See olives groves, chariots racing down a dirt-packed road, and a carpenter's shop.
When Julius decides to become a proselyte to the Jewish religion, God reaches down into his heart and touches him in a personal way when he learns the simple gospel.
The Roman's Quest is book one of The Truth Trilogy. I'm excited about reading more.
The story is a romance between two unlikely characters—a Jewish girl, Miriam, and a Roman Centurion named Julius. Though the two are attracted to each other, there are many obstacles. Most importantly, Jews are forbidden to marry outside their race.
The reader meets a colorful cast of characters—Micah and Deborah, Miriam's parents, Cyril, Julius' Greek slave, Loukas, a Greek doctor converted to Judaism, Decanus Marcus, Julius' friend, and many more.
Roman occupied Jericho is the setting where the city comes alive with the buzz of daily activity. Enjoy the sights and sounds. Salt filled air, aroma of roasted lamb cooking, fresh catches of fish. See olives groves, chariots racing down a dirt-packed road, and a carpenter's shop.
When Julius decides to become a proselyte to the Jewish religion, God reaches down into his heart and touches him in a personal way when he learns the simple gospel.
The Roman's Quest is book one of The Truth Trilogy. I'm excited about reading more.
September 2, 2016
Miriam is a young Jewish girl who falls in love with a Roman soldier named Julius. Knowing she'll never be allowed to marry someone outside her faith, she settles for an engagement to James. But when James decides to follow Jesus, and Julius decides to become a proselyte (convert to the Jewish faith), Miriam's life is turned upside down.
If you enjoy historical fiction with good, solid history as well as true-life historical figures, you'll enjoy The Roman's Quest. The story offers a nice look into what life was like when Jesus began His ministry. Anne Baxter Campbell does a wonderful job of setting the reader down into the ancient city of Jericho. Grab your clay pot and head for the well... there is a story to be told.
If you enjoy historical fiction with good, solid history as well as true-life historical figures, you'll enjoy The Roman's Quest. The story offers a nice look into what life was like when Jesus began His ministry. Anne Baxter Campbell does a wonderful job of setting the reader down into the ancient city of Jericho. Grab your clay pot and head for the well... there is a story to be told.
December 30, 2013
Anne Baxter Campbell has a knack for taking you back in time and bringing characters to life. Julius is a Roman soldier. He could most likely have any woman he wants, but he's fallen in love with a young Jewish maiden named Miriam.
Heroes often make sacrifices, and Julius is no exception. Through this man's sacrifice, he learns of a God who can move mountains, and more importantly circumstances.
You'll love this story. Anne's subtle humor, her way of weaving you into the time period, and her knowledge of the era will win your heart.
Heroes often make sacrifices, and Julius is no exception. Through this man's sacrifice, he learns of a God who can move mountains, and more importantly circumstances.
You'll love this story. Anne's subtle humor, her way of weaving you into the time period, and her knowledge of the era will win your heart.
January 20, 2014
The Roman’s Quest
By: Anne Baxter Campbell
I enjoyed this book. I loved the Characters all were very well written. As I was reading this I could picture it in my head back in biblical times. Story is of Roman Julius Saturnus who has fallen love and wants to marry a Jewish girl Miriam. Only problem is she is already spoken for. Julius being a Gentile cannot marry a Jew. I loved the biblical story was written in a way very easy to follow. I was pulled into the story from the very beginning. Looking forward to part two of The Truth Trilogy.
By: Anne Baxter Campbell
I enjoyed this book. I loved the Characters all were very well written. As I was reading this I could picture it in my head back in biblical times. Story is of Roman Julius Saturnus who has fallen love and wants to marry a Jewish girl Miriam. Only problem is she is already spoken for. Julius being a Gentile cannot marry a Jew. I loved the biblical story was written in a way very easy to follow. I was pulled into the story from the very beginning. Looking forward to part two of The Truth Trilogy.
October 30, 2014
“The Roman’s Quest” immediately draws the reader into the time when Jesus and His disciples walked the earth, within the setting of a fictional love story. Extensive research obviously went into both the Roman and Jewish culture of the first century. I especially enjoyed the way the writer wove certain people and scenes from the Bible in with her own story, surprising the reader at times with who some of the characters actually were.
Thanks Anne for the chance to review your book and I look forward to the sequel!
Thanks Anne for the chance to review your book and I look forward to the sequel!
March 20, 2018
The story itself is interesting, although the author had the Roman soldiers become proselytes to the Jewish religion, not Christianity. It is basically a romance story and sadly many of the details about the times are inaccurate. Marrying under a canopy only began in the Middle Ages and as far as my research suggests, was a replacement for the wedding week. The wedding details are not accurate although interesting.
In the time setting of the novel - the groom claimed his bride by going to her home, and she went with him to the home/room he had prepared and stayed there for the week, until the end when the couple joined the guests who had continued to celebrate. The needs of the bride and groom were taken care of by the friend of the groom, and the bride's chief attendant.
Many of the 'details' are fanciful - they add to the interest of the story, but they are not always accurate.
(I did gigabytes of research for the Apostle John Series, which I am happy to share, and have shared.)
In the time setting of the novel - the groom claimed his bride by going to her home, and she went with him to the home/room he had prepared and stayed there for the week, until the end when the couple joined the guests who had continued to celebrate. The needs of the bride and groom were taken care of by the friend of the groom, and the bride's chief attendant.
Many of the 'details' are fanciful - they add to the interest of the story, but they are not always accurate.
(I did gigabytes of research for the Apostle John Series, which I am happy to share, and have shared.)
September 4, 2015
Man, what a beautiful novel...
Smooth read and easy to follow the story.Amazing.
5 stars out of 5.
I want to read more books.
Smooth read and easy to follow the story.Amazing.
5 stars out of 5.
I want to read more books.
October 16, 2016
Great Book
I love the way Ms. Campbell uses the Bible as a background, and breathe life into characters. Thank you so much.
I love the way Ms. Campbell uses the Bible as a background, and breathe life into characters. Thank you so much.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews