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Hannah's Heirloom #1
The Pomegranate Tree
After receiving an ancient ruby clasp from her long dead grandmother, Hannah Wilson decides to visit Masada, supposedly the place where this gift was given to one of her ancestors. Travelling with her is Max Vallier, her best friend, who was already going to Herod’s fortress in the desert, as part of an archaeological excavation team.
Once there, Hannah is disturbed by strange visions. Visions, which seem to revolve around the AD66 attack by Zealot rebels, on the Roman garrison based at the fortress.
As her two worlds begin to entwine, Hannah realises that she is experiencing the events of the past as they unfold, events, that so far she has only dreamed about. Pulled into the ancient world, she tends to three Roman soldiers who survived the attack, but who are now captives. Back in the modern world, she finds artefacts that tie her to her ancient counterpart. Meanwhile, her relationship with Max takes an interesting turn, but just as they admit their feelings for each other, a tragic accident tears them apart.
Fate intervenes and Hannah slips into the world of Ancient Masada. There, away from all modern trappings, she must rely on her wits and instincts to deal with the challenges of her alternate life. A life in which she, an unmarried Hebrew woman, is a healer - a trained physician fighting to keep alive the men under her care. This life becomes more complicated as she realises she is falling in love with one of the Roman soldiers, a love that could have deadly consequences.
Unsure whether she will ever be able to return to the modern world, Hannah accepts her destiny, rising to the challenges of living on an isolated fortress and, believing that she has a chance to save those she loves by using the knowledge she has brought with her from two thousand years in the future. The knowledge that, eventually, Jerusalem will fall and, that those escaping the city will make their way to this outpost, followed by an avenging Roman army intent on destruction.
Will Hannah escape? Will she ever see Max again, or is she doomed to die along with hundreds of others as Masada falls - and what does any of this have to do with an ancient ruby clasp?
Once there, Hannah is disturbed by strange visions. Visions, which seem to revolve around the AD66 attack by Zealot rebels, on the Roman garrison based at the fortress.
As her two worlds begin to entwine, Hannah realises that she is experiencing the events of the past as they unfold, events, that so far she has only dreamed about. Pulled into the ancient world, she tends to three Roman soldiers who survived the attack, but who are now captives. Back in the modern world, she finds artefacts that tie her to her ancient counterpart. Meanwhile, her relationship with Max takes an interesting turn, but just as they admit their feelings for each other, a tragic accident tears them apart.
Fate intervenes and Hannah slips into the world of Ancient Masada. There, away from all modern trappings, she must rely on her wits and instincts to deal with the challenges of her alternate life. A life in which she, an unmarried Hebrew woman, is a healer - a trained physician fighting to keep alive the men under her care. This life becomes more complicated as she realises she is falling in love with one of the Roman soldiers, a love that could have deadly consequences.
Unsure whether she will ever be able to return to the modern world, Hannah accepts her destiny, rising to the challenges of living on an isolated fortress and, believing that she has a chance to save those she loves by using the knowledge she has brought with her from two thousand years in the future. The knowledge that, eventually, Jerusalem will fall and, that those escaping the city will make their way to this outpost, followed by an avenging Roman army intent on destruction.
Will Hannah escape? Will she ever see Max again, or is she doomed to die along with hundreds of others as Masada falls - and what does any of this have to do with an ancient ruby clasp?
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2015
2 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 26, 2016
The Pomegranate Tree takes place at Masada - a fortress in the Judaean Desert built by Herod the Great, King of Judaea (37 - 4BC) - in the current day on an archeological dig, and in ancient times during the lead up to the last stand by Jewish patriots against of the Roman army, in 73 A.D.
Modern day Hannah is searching for clues to the history of an ancient ruby clasp, handed down through the generations of her family. She finds herself slipping back to ancient times and melding with the life of her ancestor, Hannah, a Jewish healer based at Masada.
Meticulously researched, The Pomegranate Tree is an exciting novel that includes time-slip, ancient history and some red hot romance - (maybe not one for your Grandma) - some of my favourite elements in a novel.
Rosie Chapel is an English-born, Australian-based author and this is her debut novel. The sequel, Echoes of Stone and Fire, is available now.
Modern day Hannah is searching for clues to the history of an ancient ruby clasp, handed down through the generations of her family. She finds herself slipping back to ancient times and melding with the life of her ancestor, Hannah, a Jewish healer based at Masada.
Meticulously researched, The Pomegranate Tree is an exciting novel that includes time-slip, ancient history and some red hot romance - (maybe not one for your Grandma) - some of my favourite elements in a novel.
Rosie Chapel is an English-born, Australian-based author and this is her debut novel. The sequel, Echoes of Stone and Fire, is available now.
August 19, 2023
This is an excellent novel of two intertwining stories, one set in the present day and the other in Roman times. Hannah Wilson is left a family heirloom by her grandmother, an ancient ruby clasp said to have been given to an ancestor at the Roman siege of the Jewish citadel of Masada. Hannah decides to visit Masada and accompanied by Max Vallier, her best friend, joins an archaeological team excavating the ruins. It is then that Hannah’s adventures begin and she is somehow transported back to the past, finding herself now occupying the body of a young Jewish woman, a healer, fighting to keep alive three Roman soldiers, who are prisoners there. I won’t spoil the book for potential readers by giving anymore of the plot away, but will only say that I was engrossed in it. Rosie Chapel has researched the period very well and is a very talented writer. I can thoroughly recommend the book and am very much looking forward to reading the other two novels in the trilogy.
April 3, 2016
Excellent book! If you like historical fiction, be sure to check out Rose Chapel's books. She know how to craft a story! I loved the relationship between Hannah and Max. Chapel knows how to give tidbits of the romance and past that keeps you wanting more. I am a history lover and I liked reading about the dig in Israel at Masada. I loved reading the wonderful tidbits of the past- for example, the quali, which was a soap like substance. If you love historical romantic fiction- this is the book for you! I look forward to Rosie Chapel's next book!
July 17, 2017
A historical novel that beautifully ties past and present together in such a seamless manner. Hannah is given a heirloom that sends her on a journey to the past when the Romans were the conquerors and the Jewish people were on the run. When the past and future meet in her dreams, Hannah feels her worlds start to collide in such a way that she may not be able to keep her sanity. A perfect blend of history that transcends time.
May 23, 2018
WOW! WOW! WOW! This is the first novel I have read by Rosie Chapel and it won't be the last as this story, the first in a trilogy, has me hooked.
I'm not generally I lover of historical based novels, but the attention to detail and the beautiful telling of Hannah and her man Max (in both times) makes for a compelling and addictive read.
Love, Love, Loved this story and am looking forward to continuing this series.
I'm not generally I lover of historical based novels, but the attention to detail and the beautiful telling of Hannah and her man Max (in both times) makes for a compelling and addictive read.
Love, Love, Loved this story and am looking forward to continuing this series.
August 20, 2019
why didn't I know about Rosie Chapel sooner! My goodness this book was fantastic. Defo a 5 star rating from me. I don't go into deep descriptions because that's just not my thing, but this was truly amazing. The way she weaved past and present was good, there wasn't any hard political bits to follow and I just thoroughly really really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait to read the second one in the series, where Max and Hannah (Roman Max and Hannah) are in Pompei. xx
October 1, 2016
More like 3.5 stars
I think the sign of a really good book is “life” interfering with my reading – resenting having to put down the book to go to sleep… work… eat. And that happened with this book. I found myself reading until 2am because I really wanted to know what would happen next and how it ended.
My only criticism is there was something about the tone of the book that wasn’t quite “right.” I’m not sure if it was how accepting everyone was of what was happening to Hannah – no-one questioned her sanity, or doubted her view of what was happening – or if it was the use of modern expressions in Roman times.
But it was only a minor issue, I would definitely recommend The Pomegranate Tree and I have already started Echoes of Stone and Fire.
I think the sign of a really good book is “life” interfering with my reading – resenting having to put down the book to go to sleep… work… eat. And that happened with this book. I found myself reading until 2am because I really wanted to know what would happen next and how it ended.
My only criticism is there was something about the tone of the book that wasn’t quite “right.” I’m not sure if it was how accepting everyone was of what was happening to Hannah – no-one questioned her sanity, or doubted her view of what was happening – or if it was the use of modern expressions in Roman times.
But it was only a minor issue, I would definitely recommend The Pomegranate Tree and I have already started Echoes of Stone and Fire.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews