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Ordinary Women of the Bible
Daughter of Light: Charilene's Story
As the Romans and the Jewish Council conspire to persecute followers of the Way, Philip’s four prophetic daughters flee by ship from their beloved home in Caesarea. Charilene, the youngest sister, dreams of a Roman legionary in desperate need of help, and his urgent call haunts her along their tumultuous voyage to Ephesus. God leads Philip and his daughters to the beautiful, broken city of Hierapolis, but their journey is far from over. In spite of the opposition, the sisters use their unique gifts to share the good news about Jesus until tragedy shakes this city’s core. What Charilene discovers below Hierapolis changes everything. She must work closely with her sisters to rescue those—including a Roman legionary— who’ve been wounded in both body and soul.
- GenresBiblical FictionFiction
253 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2021
About the author
Melanie Dobson
56 books1,859 followersWriting fiction is a fun excuse for Melanie to explore ghost towns and old houses, travel to unusual places, and spend hours reading dusty books and journals. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction with threads of romance and suspense.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 11, 2023
Charilene and her three sisters all have a gift. God comes to Charilene (Lena) in dreams. They are the daughters of Philip and all of them are followers of The Way. Living in Cesarina they are living out the teachings of Jesus. However they are warned they may have to leave their home. The four are hoping their father returns before god tells them to go. When they all are told to leave they do. Their journey to Ephesus is fraught with peril. In Ephesus they continue their work. Lena is led to Hierapolis where she finds the Roman soldier she dreamed of needing help. The Daughter Of Light aids the leper colony of Hierapolis but can she bring them into the light and love of God. Melaine Dobson writes this ordinary women of the Bible story. Not much is known of the daughters of Philip but this is a story of trust in God and faith in His love and care
October 20, 2025
I Loved The Characters
It was fun for me to experience the personalities of four women that the Bible doesn't tell us much about. It was interesting to know they were prophetesses and heard from God in a time that this was not very frequent. It was fun to read the way some would hear things or know things before the others but respectfully would wait until good had revealed it to all of them before discussing it openly. It gave these sisters an even deeper sisterly relationship that honored God above all others.
I enjoyed the plot and story very much and the way it ended focusing on the hope we all have access to in this life despite Amy and all circumstances we may go through with our Savior walking through them with us.
It was fun for me to experience the personalities of four women that the Bible doesn't tell us much about. It was interesting to know they were prophetesses and heard from God in a time that this was not very frequent. It was fun to read the way some would hear things or know things before the others but respectfully would wait until good had revealed it to all of them before discussing it openly. It gave these sisters an even deeper sisterly relationship that honored God above all others.
I enjoyed the plot and story very much and the way it ended focusing on the hope we all have access to in this life despite Amy and all circumstances we may go through with our Savior walking through them with us.
April 28, 2021
As with all the books of the Ordinary Woman of the Bible, I loved this book. All of Phillips daughters have special gifts. They flee their home to escape persecution for those who follow theWway. They have to leave not knowing if they will see their father again. Charilene, also know as Lena, has a dream about a Roman soldier she thinks she is suppose to save.
I love reading about the towns of the bible and the people. These fiction stories stay true to the bible while embellishing on the stories.
I love reading about the towns of the bible and the people. These fiction stories stay true to the bible while embellishing on the stories.
January 1, 2025
Excellent
I really enjoyed this one. This whole series has been very good, and so far this is my favorite. I loved it. The characters were excellent, and the plot was unique. Worth reading for sure!
I really enjoyed this one. This whole series has been very good, and so far this is my favorite. I loved it. The characters were excellent, and the plot was unique. Worth reading for sure!
October 8, 2025
An unexpected love story
The faith of Lena and her family is a powerful testament of God's love. While serving others in the cause of Christ, they survive the wrath of the enemy. God blesses them in unexpected ways.
The faith of Lena and her family is a powerful testament of God's love. While serving others in the cause of Christ, they survive the wrath of the enemy. God blesses them in unexpected ways.
May 2, 2021
3.5 Stars
June 13, 2021
Another great book on Ordinary Women Of the Bible. I really enjoyed this book.
November 27, 2024
Daughter of Light grabbed my attention faster than almost any book in the Ordinary Women of the Bible series. Scripture mentions Philip's four prophetess daughters exactly once, so when I found out there was a whole book about them, and by Melanie Dobson no less, I jumped on it. I proceeded to devour it and love every minute.
Perhaps the best part of the book for me was Charilene and her sisters. I loved these ladies and wanted to be their sister. They're all wonderfully different, but I saw myself in parts of all four. Like Hermione, I'm an oldest sister, I seek and value wisdom above almost any other virtue, and though medical travails make me shiver, I respect the art of healing. Like Iris, I love the arts, though my gift is writing, not visual arts. I try to paint with words like Iris paints with her colors, and I prefer the company of words to people in many cases. Like Charilene, I'm a dreamer who shies away from change and fears the unknown. And though Eustacia could get on my nerves, I could relate to her candor and attitude of, "Whatever it is, get it done and get it right."
Beyond the sisters, I loved the other characters, especially those in the leper colony. Servius, of course, captured my heart in more ways than one (this was the first time I "fell for" an Ordinary Women hero). ;) More importantly, I fully embraced how Servius, Zoe, and the others looked out for each other, loved each other as family, and learned to seek God and trust Him. The healings are of course a big and important part of that, but as someone who's been treated like an outcast too, I applaud Melanie for communicating, "healed" by the world's standards or not, people are still loved by God, made on purpose, and given purposes in this world and the next, if they will embrace Him and His plans.
Melanie also gets brownie points for Daughter of Light's plot itself, especially the understated, but well-written suspense therein. The entire thread with Decimus, the beauty and hidden nature of the leper colony's caves, the icy pools...I dove into every bit and loved every scene within. I found myself on the edge of my seat more than once, and cheering for triumphs, often right after my heart broke for failures or letdowns.
Daughter of Light "sparkles" with several miniature scenes full of light, from the sisters' visits to the leper colony, to Servius' new father-son relationship, to the ending baptisms. I could go on forever, but I'll stop here and encourage you to find your own treasures. No matter what you find, I'm confident you'll love this book!
Perhaps the best part of the book for me was Charilene and her sisters. I loved these ladies and wanted to be their sister. They're all wonderfully different, but I saw myself in parts of all four. Like Hermione, I'm an oldest sister, I seek and value wisdom above almost any other virtue, and though medical travails make me shiver, I respect the art of healing. Like Iris, I love the arts, though my gift is writing, not visual arts. I try to paint with words like Iris paints with her colors, and I prefer the company of words to people in many cases. Like Charilene, I'm a dreamer who shies away from change and fears the unknown. And though Eustacia could get on my nerves, I could relate to her candor and attitude of, "Whatever it is, get it done and get it right."
Beyond the sisters, I loved the other characters, especially those in the leper colony. Servius, of course, captured my heart in more ways than one (this was the first time I "fell for" an Ordinary Women hero). ;) More importantly, I fully embraced how Servius, Zoe, and the others looked out for each other, loved each other as family, and learned to seek God and trust Him. The healings are of course a big and important part of that, but as someone who's been treated like an outcast too, I applaud Melanie for communicating, "healed" by the world's standards or not, people are still loved by God, made on purpose, and given purposes in this world and the next, if they will embrace Him and His plans.
Melanie also gets brownie points for Daughter of Light's plot itself, especially the understated, but well-written suspense therein. The entire thread with Decimus, the beauty and hidden nature of the leper colony's caves, the icy pools...I dove into every bit and loved every scene within. I found myself on the edge of my seat more than once, and cheering for triumphs, often right after my heart broke for failures or letdowns.
Daughter of Light "sparkles" with several miniature scenes full of light, from the sisters' visits to the leper colony, to Servius' new father-son relationship, to the ending baptisms. I could go on forever, but I'll stop here and encourage you to find your own treasures. No matter what you find, I'm confident you'll love this book!
September 15, 2024
The Bible says, in the New Testamemt, that Philip the Evangelist had 4 daughters, all of whom had the gift of prophecy. The story puts flesh and blood, heart and soul, into these people.
Their Abba has said that his daughters need not marry unless they want to, and so far 3 of the 4 aren't interested. The one who is interested is being pursued by a cruel and unGodly Roman legionnaire known as Decimus. Once, when Charilene, who in the story is referred to as Lena, is coming home late, Decimus pits his hands over her mouth and drags her, fighting all the way, into the shadows of a niche in the city walls, meaning to rape her. He is stopped by the fuss Lena's bold sister Eustacia makes about his actions, fearless in her confrontation, and so Decimus lets Lena go, for the time being. But he says he will have her as his wife by threatening her father with ruin if !he doesn't consent to the marriage.
But God is way ahead of Decimus. For one thing, the Romans have detained the girls' abba in Jerusalem, where Paul has been arrested, just as the 4 prophetesses and a prophet named Agabus had warned Paul would happen if he went to Jerusqlem. Yet Paul felt called to go.
Meamwhile, the 4 girls have been told, separately, and by Paul when, by invitation of Felix (the Roman governor) the 4 girls are invited to visit, that God wants them to go to Ephesus for a while. But a sense of urgency grips them in the middle of the night one night, and they hurriedly pack, finding a friend to guide them through back ways to the ship so that they don't encounter Decimus or any other Romam soldier who might delay them.
During their time on ship, Lena has a recurring dream about a ship that looks like an alligator gaining on the ship to wreck it. The warning pertains to a severe storm, as it turns out, and Lena - who loves to be outside- is on deck when it strikes. Lena sees a vision of her Imma, who has been with Jesus for a year now, and knows things will be OK.
The battered ship is unable to go anywhere once it hits Cypress, but that it got there with no sails and a favorable supernatural wind - and that the prayers of the 4 prophetesses for the storm to stop were answered with a yes from God - eventually leads their sea captain, the man who left his wife and children poorly supplied when he is out to sea because he hates Christianity, finally come to Christ.
Meanwhile, during the last part of their voyage, and their month in Cypress trying to earn money fpr passage to Ephesus, and even once they arrive in Ephesus (and are met by their Abba who has been there for a week, anxiously waiting) of a Roman man in chains saying there is little time and great need.
Meanwhile, when Servius, as aa Roman soldier is tasked with whipping a small boy for theft when he doesn't want to, his lepeosy us discovered. He is stripped of his status as a soldier, put in a ragged tinic, given some food and money, and told he must call out, "Unclean!" repeatedly if anyone gets close. He soon finds out he cannot buy anything, and is robbed of money and food. He is rescued - after 4 or 5 days of no food and little water - by an old man named Titus, a Christian, and his elderly donkey, whom he has named Jupiter. Titus lets Servius stay in his barn while he feeds Servius up, then takes him to the leper colony and gives Jupiter to him for help and company.
Meanwhile, God is giving Philip and his daughters dreams of a coming earthquake, and they try to warn the people. Philip has rented 2 rooms, to have a place to gather new believers as a church. Lena has been led to the leper colony, where Servius lives, to minister. She recognizes Servius from her dreams. She and her healer sister minister to the lepers. After the quake, which Philip and his girls had warned was to come, people begin gathering in the rubble to hear more about this God Who warns them of disaster yet keeps them safe.
Decimus has followed Lena to Ephesus, and Lena has taken refuge with the lepers, but that makes no difference to Decimus once he discovers her hiding place. But something will make a difference, freeing Lena from Decimus.
The story gives us some information about the 4 prophetesses and their Abba, paths that they were likely to have followed. It makes the early church come alive in my mind, as has been true so far of every book in this series that deals in the era of followers of The Way. Old testament women in the series also do the same about their eras. I highly recommend this series and commend the diligent research of all the authors.
Their Abba has said that his daughters need not marry unless they want to, and so far 3 of the 4 aren't interested. The one who is interested is being pursued by a cruel and unGodly Roman legionnaire known as Decimus. Once, when Charilene, who in the story is referred to as Lena, is coming home late, Decimus pits his hands over her mouth and drags her, fighting all the way, into the shadows of a niche in the city walls, meaning to rape her. He is stopped by the fuss Lena's bold sister Eustacia makes about his actions, fearless in her confrontation, and so Decimus lets Lena go, for the time being. But he says he will have her as his wife by threatening her father with ruin if !he doesn't consent to the marriage.
But God is way ahead of Decimus. For one thing, the Romans have detained the girls' abba in Jerusalem, where Paul has been arrested, just as the 4 prophetesses and a prophet named Agabus had warned Paul would happen if he went to Jerusqlem. Yet Paul felt called to go.
Meamwhile, the 4 girls have been told, separately, and by Paul when, by invitation of Felix (the Roman governor) the 4 girls are invited to visit, that God wants them to go to Ephesus for a while. But a sense of urgency grips them in the middle of the night one night, and they hurriedly pack, finding a friend to guide them through back ways to the ship so that they don't encounter Decimus or any other Romam soldier who might delay them.
During their time on ship, Lena has a recurring dream about a ship that looks like an alligator gaining on the ship to wreck it. The warning pertains to a severe storm, as it turns out, and Lena - who loves to be outside- is on deck when it strikes. Lena sees a vision of her Imma, who has been with Jesus for a year now, and knows things will be OK.
The battered ship is unable to go anywhere once it hits Cypress, but that it got there with no sails and a favorable supernatural wind - and that the prayers of the 4 prophetesses for the storm to stop were answered with a yes from God - eventually leads their sea captain, the man who left his wife and children poorly supplied when he is out to sea because he hates Christianity, finally come to Christ.
Meanwhile, during the last part of their voyage, and their month in Cypress trying to earn money fpr passage to Ephesus, and even once they arrive in Ephesus (and are met by their Abba who has been there for a week, anxiously waiting) of a Roman man in chains saying there is little time and great need.
Meanwhile, when Servius, as aa Roman soldier is tasked with whipping a small boy for theft when he doesn't want to, his lepeosy us discovered. He is stripped of his status as a soldier, put in a ragged tinic, given some food and money, and told he must call out, "Unclean!" repeatedly if anyone gets close. He soon finds out he cannot buy anything, and is robbed of money and food. He is rescued - after 4 or 5 days of no food and little water - by an old man named Titus, a Christian, and his elderly donkey, whom he has named Jupiter. Titus lets Servius stay in his barn while he feeds Servius up, then takes him to the leper colony and gives Jupiter to him for help and company.
Meanwhile, God is giving Philip and his daughters dreams of a coming earthquake, and they try to warn the people. Philip has rented 2 rooms, to have a place to gather new believers as a church. Lena has been led to the leper colony, where Servius lives, to minister. She recognizes Servius from her dreams. She and her healer sister minister to the lepers. After the quake, which Philip and his girls had warned was to come, people begin gathering in the rubble to hear more about this God Who warns them of disaster yet keeps them safe.
Decimus has followed Lena to Ephesus, and Lena has taken refuge with the lepers, but that makes no difference to Decimus once he discovers her hiding place. But something will make a difference, freeing Lena from Decimus.
The story gives us some information about the 4 prophetesses and their Abba, paths that they were likely to have followed. It makes the early church come alive in my mind, as has been true so far of every book in this series that deals in the era of followers of The Way. Old testament women in the series also do the same about their eras. I highly recommend this series and commend the diligent research of all the authors.
October 26, 2024
Wow, So many veils to walk thru !! A must read
Melanie Dobson has a gift !! She is new to me her writing like me Angela Hunt & Mesu Andrews. Is a gift from The Lord ! Lina & Her Sisters are all gifted With prophecy from the Lord , these gifts are unselfishly used to help Spread the gospel and help people Spread the gospel and help people with healing And personal needs like food clothes because you're good Christians and Caesaria and Asian minor. Love & Redemption in Forgiveness all over the book ! You will be blessed when you finish the book open your heart and listen !
Melanie Dobson has a gift !! She is new to me her writing like me Angela Hunt & Mesu Andrews. Is a gift from The Lord ! Lina & Her Sisters are all gifted With prophecy from the Lord , these gifts are unselfishly used to help Spread the gospel and help people Spread the gospel and help people with healing And personal needs like food clothes because you're good Christians and Caesaria and Asian minor. Love & Redemption in Forgiveness all over the book ! You will be blessed when you finish the book open your heart and listen !
October 28, 2024
Beautiful story
Ordinary Women of the Bible is an incredible journey to take. A must read for all those who love God
Ordinary Women of the Bible is an incredible journey to take. A must read for all those who love God
June 10, 2026
⭐️4.75
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews