An Unlikely Witness: Joanna's Story

Ordinary Women of the Bible

by Ginger Garrett

ALL JOANNA WANTED was a peaceful life at the palace. She wanted to bear children for her husband, Chuza, the steward of Herod Antipas, and bring honor to her family. Instead, Joanna became an eyewitness to the most trans-formative, shocking events in human history…events that would force her to choose between the life she once imagined, and a life she never could have dreamed of. When she faces the choice between maintaining the illusion of peace or following the Prince of Peace, Joanna finds herself at the crossroads of her heart.

Will she have the strength and courage to choose the right path?

Genres: Biblical Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical Fiction

275 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Ginger Garrett is the author of the middle grade titles Name Tags and Other Sixth Grade Disasters (Carolrhoda Press) and The Last Monster (Delacorte Press/Random House) as well as other titles for women.

A frequent media guest and television host, Ginger has been interviewed by Fox News, 104.7 The Fish Atlanta, and many other outlets. Ginger resides in Georgia with her husband, three children and her 27th rescue dog, Watson.

Reviews

[Joanna Bair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since my name is Joanna I perhaps had really high expectations of what I have always pictured Joanna’s life to have been like. This book portrayed a much harder and maybe realistic life. But I hated Chuza and it didn’t sit well with me how Jesus didn’t restore their marriage or her barrenness. His excuse for what happened to her seemed kinda lame. I know marriage and divorce back then we’re entirely different. It just feels to me that the Jesus I know would have been all about fully restoring their marriage not separating them. I think Jesus takes marriage seriously. Anyone else have an issue with that perspective?
I’m trying not to be offended because we share a name, but as the person I look up to most in the Bible I would not look up to the person portrayed here. That’s all. All that aside it’s probably the best written one in the series I’ve read and still my favorite so far. I just had some issues with where she took her story.

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quality of writing is inconsistent and tends towards simplistic, telling, not showing. Weak character and plot development. Questionable accuracy of historical backdrop and details for the genre. Needs more meat on its bones, but it gives the impression of being a story mill formula cranked out at high speed, rather than a carefully crafted story with the meticulous research expected in Biblical fiction. Kind of what I expected from the publisher, but I thought I’d give it a chance in case I was wrong. Sadly, I wasn’t. Not promising for inspiring me to read the rest of the books in the series.

[patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unlikely Witness: Joanna's story is part of the ordinary women of the Bible series. Joanna is the wife of Herod's steward Chuza. She lives a life of comfort. When Joanna takes on the task of finding out about this Jesus she meets Hum face to face. She witnesses many of Our Lord's miracles. Chuza wants a divorce because they are childless. Joanna leaves the palace and becomes one of Jesus' followers all the way to Calvary. Although Joanna is mentioned in the Bible Ginger Garett is actually writing fiction. That being said there are truths in the story. To chose Jesus is to chose life. Joanna witnesses the demons that go into pigs, Jairus' daughter, the woman who hemorrhaged for 12 years being healed, Lazurus' rising from the dead, other healings. She felt His love. Have faith Jesus tells her. Her new life is so different. In the palace there was intrigue and Joanna felt so alone. With Jesus and His followers she realizes she has a family. Joanna also realized Jesus had no rules about who He ate with, embraced, taught, or healed. He loves all. He tells her one day she would be in a garden one day and know great joy and life would begin again. Joanna learns repentance and the power of forgiveness.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Ordinary Women of the Bible Series from Guidepost and I think the best so far.

Joanna is the wife of Chuza a steward to Herod Antipas. It follows the life of Jesus through His crucifixion. The author obviously did her homework. It follows his miracles as outlined in the Gospels and the geography is spot on.

Joanna thinks she is infertile and seeks out Jesus to heal her as her husband wants a son. At first, I liked the character of Chuza. He was kind and understanding to Joanna on their wedding night, but as the story progresses and she does not get pregnant his character changes. She leaves him to follow Jesus. At the end of the book Chuza does redeem himself.



These books are easy reads.

[Tracy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize until I started reading other reviews that this is actually book #4 in the series. With that being said, I really enjoyed this book and am very glad that I have the first 12 books in the series.

Joanna only wanted a peaceful life at the place and to please her husband by giving him a son. Instead, she becomes an eyewitness to the most transformative, shocking events in human history..events that would force her to choose between the life she has imagined and one she's never dreamed of.

[Wendy Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read in this series, looking at the life of Joanna, one of the women who traveled with Jesus. I really enjoy Biblical Fiction books that shed light on the cultural norms of ancient society while telling a good story, and this book does that. It explores barrenness and how people viewed Jesus’s ministry. It was a nice, fast read.

[Mary Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. So far it was the best one in the series in my opinion. The story of Joanna had so many events and people from the Bible. I am looking forward to read the other books in this series.

[Sharon Teagarden-king · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story making the BIble stories come to life.

[Paula White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It ended way too soon, leaving me wanting more. Yet the perfect ending. Love this Guideposts series on Ordinary women of the Bible.

[Beverly Towne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh look at the ministry of Christ but some facts differed from the biblical account

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Except for the parts about Jesus, this book was sad and a lot of it just made me angry.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Poor quality. Unimaginative. Inaccurate. Author has little knowledge of biblical context and little knowledge of the Old Testament world view. The writing was juvenile and boring; endless boring dialog. This was like a middle schoolers summary retelling of a few miracles sprinkled with modern thinking and catch phrases. I wanted it to be good, it’s just not.

If you want good biblical fiction try Mark of The Lion.

[The Bookish Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different take to what we usually hear about Joanna, wife of Chuza, steward of Herod Antipas' household. Nevertheless, despite this departure from the narrative in the Bible, I enjoyed it.

But it ended rather abruptly with the women at the tomb on the first Eastern Sunday. I'd have like to know what happened after to Joanna.