Nao may have managed to infiltrate Kogetsuan by marrying Tsubaki, but can she discover the truth behind her mother’s death without her true identity being exposed? At the invitation of one of the shop’s junior employees, Jojima, she pays her first visit in years to the staff quarters where her mother raised her. She feels a natural affinity for this helpful young man, but it turns out the secrets of his past are just as terrifying as her own…
New Beginnings, Old Flames As Nao adjusts to her new position running Kogetsuan, Tsubaki returns, asking to work as a regular employee. Nao is hesitant, but accepts for the good of the store, as a hand injury has temporarily put her out of commission. However, living under the same roof after so long begins to spark feelings thought dead and lost memories from eighteen years ago. A jealous Takigawa pushes to marry Nao, and after growing close to him, she's tempted to accept. But there's more to her gentle benefactor than meets the eye. He has a few dark secrets of his own…
The Final Challenge Ayako, the proprietress's mother, has found a way to force Tsubaki to make wagashi to her exact specifications whether he wants to or not. Meanwhile, Nao's due date for her pregnancy draws near, but it doesn't stop her from making sweets for Sanae. Everything comes to a head in a tea party showdown that pits husband against wife for the fate of Kogetsuan. Will Nao and Tsubaki be able to foil Ayako's scheme to control her family?
A Fateful Decision The mystery of the incident that claimed Tsubaki's father and Nao's mother has finally been solved, and Kogetsuan can move forward. However, Nao must make a choice. The members of the Burokukai wish to hear how the Proprietress mistreated her. It's a chance to reveal all the awful things the woman did to Nao and her mother…So why is she hesitating?
Discover · How the springs at Hierapolis help us understand why Jesus described the church at Laodicea as “lukewarm” · The background and circumstances of certificates of divorce in Judaism · How Jewish dietary laws provided a powerful metaphor for God’s acceptance of the Gentiles Brimming with lavish, full-color photos and graphics, the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary walks you verse by verse through all the books of the New Testament. It’s like slipping on a set of glasses that lets you read the Bible through the eyes of a first-century reader! Discoveries await you that will snap the world of the New Testament into gripping immediacy. Things that seem mystifying, puzzling, or obscure will take on tremendous meaning when you view them in their ancient context. You’ll deepen your understanding of the teachings of Jesus. You’ll discover the close, sometimes startling interplay between God’s kingdom and the practical affairs of the church. Best of all, you’ll gain a deepened awareness of the Bible’s relevance for your life. Written in a clear, engaging style, this beautiful set provides a new and accessible approach that more technical expository and exegetical commentaries don’t offer. It features: · Commentary based on relevant papyri, inscriptions, archaeological discoveries, and studies of Judaism, Roman culture, Hellenism, and other features of the world of the New Testament · Hundreds of full-color photographs, color illustrations, and line drawings · Copious maps, charts, and timelines · Sidebar articles and insights · “Reflections” on the Bible’s relevance for 21st-century living Written by leading evangelical contributors: Clinton E. Arnold (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen), General Editor S. M. Baugh (Ph.D., University of California, Irvine) Peter H. Davids (Ph.D., University of Manchester) David E. Garland (Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) David W. J. Gill (D.Phil., University of Oxford) George H. Guthrie (Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) Moyer V. Hubbard (D.Phil., University of Oxford) Andreas J. Köstenberger (Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) Ralph P. Martin (Ph.D., University of London, King’s College) Douglas J. Moo (Ph.D., University of St. Andrews) Mark L. Strauss (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) Frank Thielman (Ph.D., Duke University) Jeffrey A. D. Weima (Ph.D., University of Toronto) Michael J. Wilkins (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) Mark W. Wilson (D.Litt. et Phil., University of South Africa) Julie L. Wu (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) Robert W. Yarbrough (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary includes Matthew, Mark, Luke (Volume One) John, Acts (Volume Two) Romans to Philemon (Volume Three) Hebrews to Revelation (Volume Four)
