Happy St. Patrick's Day Bookworms!
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Anna of Bethsaida by Susanne Blumer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Anna of Bethsaida
Series: The Arimathea Chronicles #2
Author: Susanne Blumer
Publisher: Sutton Avenue Press
Release Date: March 16, 2026
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Anna believed choosing Andrew meant gaining a home. Instead, she finds herself on the dusty roads of Galilee, under the watchful eyes of hostile Pharisees, walking ever closer to miracles that both heal and unsettle.
As a healer traveling with Jesus's ministry alongside Andrew, Anna takes her place among the women who follow, forming bonds that offer strength as the journey grows harder. While crowds press close to hear the Teacher's words, a different kind of attention gathers. In Jerusalem, her father Joseph of Arimathea, walks an impossible line within the Sanhedrin, and with each miracle Jesus performs, the net draws tighter around them all.
The cost of discipleship, Anna discovers, is not counted in miles walked or comforts surrendered. It is measured in the space between what she hoped following Jesus would be and what it actually demands.
Some journeys test what you believe.
Some reshape who you become.
Anna's does both.
This is Book 2 of The Arimathea Chronicles. Begin Anna's journey from the beginning with Book 1, Anna of Arimathea, where a scarred, isolated young woman discovers healing, first love, and purpose in the footsteps of Jesus.
Anna of Bethsaida is perfect for readers who love:
- Deeply researched biblical fiction with authentic period detail
- The untold stories of women in the early church - Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and the community that sustained Jesus's ministry
- Love stories tested by faith and dangerous callings
- Political intrigue woven through spiritual transformation
- Character-driven narratives where personal loss intersects with world-changing events
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Signed Copy from the Author| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Excerpt
"Anna."
Andrew's voice came from behind me, quiet as a prayer, and I realized he must have been standing there for some time, waiting for the storm to pass before approaching.
I did not turn. "Go inside."
"No."
Footsteps soft on the garden path. Then he knelt beside me, his shoulder touching mine. Around us the garden was dark and still, the jasmine a pale ghost against the wall, the stars cold and distant overhead. My knees had gone numb against the hard ground. My hands were caked with dirt, and I did not care.
"I thought I was better," I said. My voice sounded wrecked, raw as an open wound. "I thought if I just gave it enough time, if I just built a life here, I could be whole again."
"You are whole."
"Do not." I turned to face him, his face patient and steady in the darkness, full of a love I did not deserve. "Do not tell me I am whole when we both know it is a lie. I am terrified of a wedding. That is not whole."
His thumb brushed my cheek, warm against skin streaked with dirt and tears.
"You are whole," he said again. "Maybe not healed fully. Not finished. But you are whole. There is a difference."
"I am afraid," I whispered.
"I know."
"What if I cannot do it? What if I go back, and it destroys me?"
"Then I will gather the pieces." His hands came up to frame my face, his touch gentle, as if he held something precious and fragile. "Again and again and again, if needed. But Anna, you cannot live the rest of your life in this garden."
The words stuck in my throat, because I knew the truth. Knew it the way I knew the bitterness of healing herbs or the feel of fever beneath my palm. I was not happy here. I was only less miserable.
"Staying here is making me smaller," I said at last, the admission bitter on my tongue.
Andrew pulled me against his chest, and I breathed in the smell of him — sweat and wool and sawdust, the scent that meant home even when I was far from any place I recognized.
More in This Series
About the Author
Susanne Blumer lives her life surrounded by stories—some she writes, and some she sells. As the CEO and Founder of Sassafras on Sutton LLC, she is the owner of three magical indie bookstores nestled in the North Carolina mountains of Black Mountain and Waynesville and Beaufort, South Carolina. One even has a full coffee bar. Oh, happy day!
She is the author of The Arimathea Chronicles, a series set in first-century Judea and centered on the life of Anna, the daughter of Joseph of Arimathea. The first two books, Anna of Arimathea and Anna of Bethsaida, are available now. The third book, Anna of Calvary, will be available later this year. She's also written several children's books, including the award-winning Bell Tower Bible Adventure series she co-wrote with her husband. Her new children's picture book series, The Story of You, will release its first book late Spring 2026 called Before Your Story Had A Name.
When she’s not writing or doing other entrepreneurial tasks, you can usually find her hanging out on the floor of one of her stores, drinking coffee and learning the stories of her customers or spoiling her eight chickens. Susanne splits her time between Waynesville, NC in her beloved mountains and Beaufort, SC on the enchanting Lowcountry coast.
Connect with Susanne by visiting susanneblumer.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 Bookshop gift card and a signed copy of Anna of Bethsaida!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 17, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 24, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Im looking forward to checking this book out. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing about Anna of Bethsaida today!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book! Ty for sharing!
ReplyDelete