Readers say, "Fascinating, illuminating.."."More than I expected.."."They came to life before my eyes." Having heard the Christmas story told and retold more times than we can count, it is easy to view Mary and Joseph as nothing more than paper people whom we encounter every year on the Christmas cards that crowd our mantle. In Road to Bethlehem, a prelude to his popular Seeds of Christianity Series, E. G. Lewis rounds out this flat, two-dimensional view of Mary and Joseph. In his hands they become real flesh and blood people who live, love and interact with the world around them. Relying upon meticulous research and masterful storytelling, he has crafted a wonderfully entertaining, thought-provoking, and deeply informative novel. Through careful attention to detail he immerses the reader into the daily life of the new carpenter in Nazareth and a young woman named Mary who has caught his eye. There's a beautiful innocence to Mary and her thoughts. The author has a gentle way with words, explaining just enough to intrigue, leading enough to entice. Wise lessons are threaded into the tale...the power of forgiveness, the gift of mercy, and the healing capacity of love. The God of these pages is ever-present in the characters' lives, but never intrusive. You'll come away from this novel with a deep understanding and newfound respect for both Mary and Joseph. Like all of E. G. Lewis' Seeds of Christianity books, Road to Bethlehem is both historically and Biblically accurate. As always, it includes Author's Notes full of interesting insights designed to enhance your reading experience.