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Summary: This book was excellent! A MUST READ!
Review: Atretes : Mighty German warrior who was arrogant, fierce, hot blooded - until God changed him.
Rizpah : A beautiful widow who was has a tongue like fire and a shady past.
Theophilus : A Roman Centurion who has a heart and mind for God.
Anomia : Younger sister of Atrete's dead wife who is beautiful to behold but like Satan in character.
Rolf : Young Chatti warrior, caught by the deception of the Chatti god, Tiwaz.
Freyja : Atrete's mother, who is a high priestess of the Chatti god and shudders at the name of Jesus. This novel is about a mighty German warrior named Atretes who was help captive by Rome as a gladiator after his village was raided. When he finally earned his freedom, he found out that his son who was supposed to have died, was alive and in the hands of a widow named Rizpah. Rizpah had lost her own baby and was a woman after God's own heart. Atretes finds the widow and demands to have his son back. Rizpah did not want to let the boy whom she had named Caleb go. After certain circumstances she was allowed to live as a hired hand to take care of Caleb. Atretes found out that the persons who had taken him captive and thrown him in the ludus wanted to have him fight in the arena as a gladiator once again. He did not want to and therefore fled Rome with Rizpah and his son to go back to his homeland, Germania. With the help of a Roman centurion, Theoliphus, who was a Christian, they were able to travel to Germania and back to Atretes' people, the Chatti where deception, evil spirits, murder, and redemption occur. I will leave it at there. I do not wish to reveal too much. This book is filled with adventure, romance, resurrection and spiritual warfare where God prevails. I would recommend this book to anyone.
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Summary: Miracles, throat tight with tears, muscle twitching in jaw
Review: An interesting but uneven telling of an improbable, but possible, story. AD 79, starting in Ephesus. The heroine, a widowed Christian given a rescued baby to care for, is one of the leakiest characters I've found. She's either weeping, speaking through a throat "tight with tears," exhibiting eyes glistening with tears, or nursing the baby. (She had lost a baby and could be a wet nurse). The ex-gladiator whose baby she was given shows a twitching muscle in his jaw every few pages. Oh, editor, how could you?
The Scripture woven into the account is carefully done; the apostle John is shown with deep respect. The struggle of the early church is clear. We do move a little swiftly over the incredible journey to Germania and a little incredulously over the inexhaustible funds of Theophilus, a retired centurion. The baby develops at a peculiar rate as well.
The crown of the novel is the conversion of the gladiator, and it is accomplished by a miracle, the raising to life of the young widow, fatally shot by an arrow as the little travelling party is ambushed. For shame - even Jeffrey Dahler's conversion didn't require that. This is a good series, though.
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Summary: Great book
Review: As all of Francine's works are, this one was great
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Summary: Wonderful story of faith and forgiveness.
Review: As continuation of the Mark of the Lion series, the author weaves the lives of faithful followers with those whose walk is just beginning. It opens your heart as you see yourself in the lives of the chracters and their struggles.
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Summary: Miracles, throat tight with tears, muscle twitching in jaw
Review: As Sure as the Dawn is the third and final book of Francine Rivers' series of fictional Christian novels. Rizpah, a young Christian widow living in Ephesus, is given an unwanted baby shortly after the tragic death of her husband and only child. The baby, named Caleb by Rizpah, is the son of a renowned ex-gladiator name Atretes. Caleb's real mother lied to Atretes and said the baby died during childbirth. When Atretes finds out his son is alive, he demands to have him back. Because of Rizpah's love for Caleb, she is hesitant to return him. Although Rizpah gives the baby back, Atretes still needs her to feed Caleb because of the baby's refusal to nurse from anyone else. When Atretes decides to return to his home in Germany with his son Rizpah follows. Theophilus, a Christian and retired Roman centurion, guides them to Germany. The journey they take is not only physical but more importantly spiritual. In Germany the group spreads the gospel to those who will listen and overcome their own personal dilemmas.
The main characters were well developed and realistic. By writing with omniscience, the author gave the feelings and emotions of the other characters. The setting in Rome and Germany during A.D. 79 was interesting. It gave insight into the period's culture and the difficulties that they faced. I especially liked the character of Rizpah who is a good role model for Christian women today. The overall theme of the book describes the struggle for Christians to witness to an unbelieving world and overcoming difficulties.
Compared to the preceding novels, this one was a disappointment. It was not nearly as exciting or romantic as the other two. One weakness was the use of miracles for every turning point in the novel, making it slightly predictable. Overall the book was inspirational and enjoyable. I look forward to reading another Francine Rivers novel in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspirational but Disappointing
Review: As Sure as the Dawn is the third and final book of Francine Rivers' series of fictional Christian novels. Rizpah, a young Christian widow living in Ephesus, is given an unwanted baby shortly after the tragic death of her husband and only child. The baby, named Caleb by Rizpah, is the son of a renowned ex-gladiator name Atretes. Caleb's real mother lied to Atretes and said the baby died during childbirth. When Atretes finds out his son is alive, he demands to have him back. Because of Rizpah's love for Caleb, she is hesitant to return him. Although Rizpah gives the baby back, Atretes still needs her to feed Caleb because of the baby's refusal to nurse from anyone else. When Atretes decides to return to his home in Germany with his son Rizpah follows. Theophilus, a Christian and retired Roman centurion, guides them to Germany. The journey they take is not only physical but more importantly spiritual. In Germany the group spreads the gospel to those who will listen and overcome their own personal dilemmas.
The main characters were well developed and realistic. By writing with omniscience, the author gave the feelings and emotions of the other characters. The setting in Rome and Germany during A.D. 79 was interesting. It gave insight into the period's culture and the difficulties that they faced. I especially liked the character of Rizpah who is a good role model for Christian women today. The overall theme of the book describes the struggle for Christians to witness to an unbelieving world and overcoming difficulties.
Compared to the preceding novels, this one was a disappointment. It was not nearly as exciting or romantic as the other two. One weakness was the use of miracles for every turning point in the novel, making it slightly predictable. Overall the book was inspirational and enjoyable. I look forward to reading another Francine Rivers novel in the future.
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Summary: This was the best novel I have ever read.
Review: As Sure as the Dawn was an inspiring and wonderful book. It was full of action and good principles. I loved it!!!!!!!!
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Summary: Disappointing to say the least!
Review: Being a Roman history buff I really enjoyed the first two books in the series and was looking to forward to the third. Boy was I disappointed, so much so that I stopped reading with only thirty pages or so left. I just lost total interest. There were too many things that strained credibility. Unlike a previous post, them going to Germania and just start speaking German all of a sudden was ridiculous. That's believable? Yeah right. But what really annoyed me the most was the character of Rizpah. She was the most self-righteous, holier-than-thou character I can remember from any book I've read. The more I read of her the angrier I got.
The first two book were well written and inspirational, but "As Sure as the Dawn" turned out to be a overblown, melodramatic, credibility-challenged dud.
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Summary: Suspenseful, Romantic, Educational, Funny
Review: Francine Rivers delivers once again. I have read Voice in the Wind and Echo in the Wind and I was waiting for the suspense to die down but it never did. My eleven(11) year old enjoyed the series as much as I did. To read about love in a good clean but mostly real way was very refreshing. She took me back to Germania in a way that made me feel like I was there. She showed me God on level that I have not reached but aspire to reach. She gave my studies of God's Word life in a way that only Jesus' words and perables have only been able to do. I have read all three books in the series. Don't deprive yourself by reading only one. I have also read Scarlet Thead and The Atonement Child. I give Francine Rivers 5 stars as an author.
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Summary: Glorious Fiction...
Review: Francine Rivers is such a wonderful writer. If you enjoy Christian fiction, you'll enjoy her books. She writes such interesting stories, with well developed characters, her books really take you to that time and place.
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