Catching Katie, by Robin Lee Hatcher, 2003, RobinSong Inc., ebook edition 2018

Fighting for women’s rights while struggling with personal desires is the theme here. It’s 1916, and Katie has returned home after living in Washington DC where she got caught up in the Women’s Suffrage movement.

Catching Katie

Back home in small-town Idaho, women have already been granted the right to vote. She hopes to motivate them to exercise this right and to fight for nationwide rights and equalities.

Little does she realize how influential she is. Smart-looking, vivacious, and dynamic, she soon has many followers of both sexes. Including her closest childhood friend, Ben, now a swoon-worthy man. As the publisher of the local newspaper, he agrees to let her write a weekly column, which attracts much controversial attention.

Katie and Ben instantly fall back into their old friendship. However, it’s been years, and things have changed for both of them. Yet, despite their differences, they can’t escape their magnetic attraction to one another. What their heads tell them is contrary to their heart’s pull. What to do?

Katie has a strong calling to dedicate her life to fighting for women’s rights. But this doesn’t seem to jive with her heart’s desires. Is it possible to reconcile the two? Can Ben catch the woman he loves, and must he modify his own desires to do so?

I received this book as a free download from Kindle, and enjoyed it very much, as I do all of Robin’s books. Her writing is pleasant to read, and always thought-provoking. Find out more about the author and her books at www.robinleehatcher.com.

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Abi of Cyrene; The Girl Who Loved Simon, by Mary Lou Cheatham, 2015

Who Were Abi and Simon of Cyrene?

Simon of Cyrene carried the cross of Christ. Who was he? Mary Lou Cheatham weaves a tale of his life as seen through the eyes of his wife, another obscure Bible character.

Abi of Cyrene

A beautiful woman from Nubia, Abi accompanies Simon, her betrothed, on a long journey via camel and boat to Cyrene, her new home in North Africa. Both are descendants of King David and Solomon. Abi is also a descendant of the Queen of Sheba. They proudly follow their Jewish traditions.

Simon is a trader, and travels far and wide. Abi stays home with his family, managing the estate and raising their sons, until the day comes when Simon takes them to celebrate Passover at the temple in Jerusalem.

The Passover Lamb

Abi hopes to sacrifice a Passover lamb for the forgiveness of her sins. But what is all the commotion going on when they arrive? Some sort of horrible rebellion, with people shouting for the King of the Jews to be crucified. Who is this man, and what has he done?

From the beginning of Abi’s tale, I was drawn in. What would become of her? Her experiences and thoughts became mine as I read.

Mary Lou Cheatham gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people at the time, personalized through the eyes of Abi. We learn how it may have been that Simon of Cyrene came to be the one to carry the cross of Christ, and the dynamic effect of the crucifixion and resurrection on this little family. What will it mean to them?

Visit Mary’s author page on Amazon.com to find this and other books by Mary Lou Cheatham.