Finding Her Voice: From Broken to Bold Book 3: Acts of Early Female Apostles: A Novel

The women were called to speak. The world told them to stay silent. After being forced to move to Syria, hide her Hebrew heritage, and live under her Latin name, Junia must convince the church to end segregation, or her biracial son will never belong. As Junia explores diverse self-identity and cultures, she teaches, leads, makes trouble, makes friends, and founds new churches. While focused on her calling, will this young widow find a second-chance romance? Susannah has been evangelizing with her husband, Philip, but as unrest shakes the streets and new life grows within her, she wonders if it is possible to raise a family and still raise her voice. Is she barren if she bears only daughters? Will she risk her life trying for a boy? The elders told Mariamne that to be an apostle, she must give up her femininity, wear pants, and cut her hair. She has the same authority as male apostles in Hierapolis, but what will she give up for a special woman? Framed by the biblical narrative and historical events, this empowering and inspirational novel explores the courage it takes to stand and speak when others demand your silence. Can the women proclaim Jesus’s message of equality before church leaders silence them forever? Experience the struggles of early Christians as they try to unite Greek and Jew, male and female, gay and straight, into one body of Christ. This story of adventure is a feminist and LGBTQ+-affirming ancient historical fiction that is relevant, empowering, and inspirational today. Read it as a standalone or as the powerful conclusion to the biblical fiction trilogy: From Broken to Bold. "An immersive and deeply affecting novel that bridges antiquity and the modern age... Kelly restores voice and agency to those relegated to the margins of scripture. The result is a stirring blend of theology and drama." The Prairies Book Review "Junia’s and Susannah’s world is being ripped apart by divisions, just as we are seeing our own communities, political governments, and nations ripped apart by divisions." - Reader Views five-star review "This remarkable book is cleverly plotted, tangled with complex relationships, and emotionally rich; the prose sparkles, and the setting — physical, historical, and social — transports you to a period in history that is a delight to navigate. This is one of the finest religious-themed historical novels I have read in a long while." - The Book Commentary five-star review View Less