Smart, strong, and a follower of the Jewish God, Lydia has nonetheless always quietly conformed to the expectations of
the wealthy Roman society surrounding her. Even though married off at fifteen to a man she dislikes, she is determined to
be a faithful wife. But when her husband is killed some years later, Lydia vows never to remarry and returns to her father's
house in Thyatira with her twelve-year-old daughter. There, a new life begins to emerge. // As she is trained in the
family dye business, Lydia's shrewd management quickly creates profit, prestige—and envy. At odds with her jealous
brother, who is a staunch Roman and can't understand her obsession with the Jewish religion, Lydia finds herself yet
again at the mercy of a patriarchal society. Will fleeing to Philippi be enough to protect herself and those under her care?
Will she keep her vow to widowhood when a handsome Greek God-fearer turns out to be more than just an employee? ?
And when she meets a strange man named Paul the apostle by the river one Sabbath day, will Lydia have the courage to
once more let her life be dramatically changed—this time forever?