The Healer's Touch: Tikva's Story

Ordinary Women of the Bible

by Connilyn Cossette

When Jewish Sailor's wife Tikva received word, more than a decade ago, of a family tragedy, the shock of the news sent her into premature labor, and she delivered a stillborn son. From that time until this, despite chasing after a multitude of healers’ promises and spending all she had on torturous treatments, she hasn’t been able to stop the resulting hemorrhaging. The doctor she saw today, like all the others, had given her lofty promises of a cure but turned out to be yet another charlatan.

Defeated, Tikva returns home to her aged mother-in-law, who has heard tell of a miracle-working Rabbi visiting their province.

Does Tikva dare hold out one last hope for healing?

Genres: Biblical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Connilyn Cossette is a Christy Award-winning and bestselling author of stories that illuminate the ancient world of the Bible, in hopes readers will dig deeper into the Word and encounter the Great Storyteller himself within its pages. She is blessed to be the adopted mother of two graduated homeschoolers and is a recent breast cancer survivor. She and her husband of nearly thirty years live just north of Charlotte, NC when they aren't traveling around, exploring the world together!

Connect with her at ConnilynCossette.com

Reviews

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story of the woman healed of the 12-year hemorrhage by touching Yeshua's tunic. I felt immersed in the time period and the culture. This was my first time to read a book by Connilyn Cossette. It won't be my last.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I love Connilyn Cossette and the story of the woman with the issue of blood has always been near and dear to my heart (as a person who has also had an issue of blood - though not to that extreme), I struggled to get into this one a bit. I think that was because of 2 things - 1. I'm used to Ms. Cossette's books being in 1st person and this one was a 3rd person perspective, so it skewed my expectation, and 2. this is not the first Biblical fiction I've read about this story and it took a different track. I think that's one struggle I have with Biblical fiction - because the scripture leaves out many of the details, an author can take creative license within the context and culture and come up with a supporting story-line.... and if they differ, I have a hard time reconciling it in my head as the first way is, to me, the way it actually happened (even though we have no real way of knowing). Regardless, this was a well-written story and plausible to what we know of the Scriptural account. The characters were likable and I did enjoy the flow of the story. I enjoyed seeing Jesus through the eyes of this woman as well. I would recommend this to fans of Biblical historical fiction.

[Tina at Mommynificent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connilyn Cossette has long been one of my very favorite authors, and I have absolutely loved every single one of her Biblical fiction novels set in ancient Israel before the coming of the Messiah. I kind of thought that would forever be her thing so I hardly dared to hope that she would ever write about Yeshua/Jesus so this book was more than a dream come true for me because I hadn't even let myself dream it! This book is so very good! I felt so strongly connected to Tikva and desperately wanted her to be healed and restored, and every interaction with Yeshua was handled both reverently and genuinely. I loved everything about it and know I will return to it many times!

[Maygon Brack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connilyn Cossette does not ever disappoint!! She told of the faith and hope of the woman that touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and extended the story from the simplicity of what we know in the Bible to lead our imaginations as to the woman’s name and what her life might have been like before and after. I absolutely loved it. She always makes you feel like you’re there living within these characters. Have your tissues ready because my eyes might have leaked a few times.

[DevotedToHope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touched the Healer!! Enjoyed it!!

[Lylah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." ~ Psalm 27:8

"The Healer's Touch: Tikva's Story" by Connilyn Cossette is the second book in the "Ordinary Women of the Bible" series.
This story is based off the account of the woman with an issue of blood found in the gospels of Luke, Mark and Matthew. I have always treasured this brief encounter recorded in the Word of God.

However, the incredibly talented Connilyn Cossette took the ancient colors of this story and brought them close. With her mastery of words she was able to brighten the picture and make every emotion within those few words vivid. I absolutely adored this book and can't remember the last time a story lit my soul on fire with hope.

"Let him look, she thought. Let him see what Yeshua has done." - "The Healer's Touch" by Connilyn Cossette

Tikva's story has EASILY become a favorite and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

[Brits · Rating 5 out of 5]

tikva's story is a reimagining of the women with the issue of blood in the Bible. her life before healing how she was slowly wasting away and how the people all avoided her like she was the plague due to her being unclean. her journey to see Jesus. Her faith. Her instant healing as she dares to touch His hem. the fear when he notices as she is not supposed to touch anyone as she will make them unclean. The fear that Jesus will be upset that an unclean woman touched him. The compassion in His eyes as he reaches out his hand to her and calls her daughter! her life after healing. the celebrating. the telling others. and more happy endings...

[Ana Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. It definitely gives a lot more insight as to how the woman that Jesus healed from 12 years of bleeding might have lived. I feel like it’s easy nowadays to forget the Jewish laws back then and how that kind of illness was considered unclean and how they would basically be shunned by everyone. How touching someone that was deemed unclean would also make you unclean, so this book definitely makes you understand just how isolated Tikva must have felt.
There really must have been a reason as to why Jesus called her daughter, she must have needed that kind of comfort.
I am really enjoying this book series about women in the Bible and I can’t wait to continue with the remaining books.

[Morgan's Endless Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great retelling of the woman with the issue of blood! I don't think it's quite as good as Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar (though it's been a while since I read that one), but it was very good! Helena was MVP, for sure. It was nice to see a mother-in-law who wasn't awful.

[Magda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as Tikva (which means Hope), who after 12 years of spiritual & physical pain received the Healer’s touch, so did I encounter a healing touch from Him while reading this beautifully written account of what this bleeding woman may have endured. The Bible doesn’t go into detail about her life however Connilynn, once again, imagined and depicted what may have been in such a realistic and touching way. I fell in love with the characters, not wanting this story to end. I do hope there is a follow up to this story!!! Now to search out another one of her New Testament stories! (Did she write another??) I thought I would only be hooked on her OT narratives, but thankfully I was extraordinarily mistaken!

[patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The name of the woman that touched Jesus' cloak is not named in the Bible nor is why she was bleeding. Connilyn Cossette fleshes out the story. So it is a work of fiction. Tikva is a young woman married to a sailor. The day she learns he is lost at sea along with his father Tikva loses their baby and for twelve years she bled. She is getting weaker and weaker. Her mother-in-law (Helena) and Tikva are thrown into poverty paying for the treatments from midwives and doctors. Her own family rejects her as she is considered unclean. Simcha, a potter, who has a deformity of his own gives them work. An unclean woman may not mix with others as her touch can contaminate them. She is rejected by everyone except Helena, Simcha, and his daughter Adina. When word comes of a rabbi that cures people and asks for no money Tikva is at first hard to convince to try. But when she sees a leper cured and the change in that woman she agrees. Simcha and Tikva travel to Galilee with friends of Helena. Tikva manages to touch the fringe on His cloak. The Healer's Touch: Tikva's story goes on to tell you not only of her physical healing but of her emotional healing and the power of Adonai. She is able to forgive and tells everyone about the Rabbi. Tikva means hope, this story is one of hope for we all want to be cured of serious illness and be accepted by our community.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful imagining of the woman with the issue of blood - who had remained permanently unclean - touching the hem of Jesus's garment and being healed. In fact, we know. little of her aside from the fact she had gone broke paying for the useless cures of healers and physicians. It isn't much of a strain to realize that constant bleeding for a dozen years and the poverty that would have accompanied anyone who was considered permanently unclean would mean a life in the shadows, and constant wasting from the disease itself and the poverty that would mean insufficient food would make it worse. Setting the main character of Tikva in the household of a very Pharisaical Pharisee was anninteresting choice
When she lost her baby from the stress of learning her husband and father in law had been lost at sea, he refused to help in those early days of her constant bleeding, and said it was the job of her husband's family to care for her, not his job. Nor did he ever send her food or money to help with everyday needs. After all, what could Tikva do but embarass him in front of all his Pharisee friends? Even when her mother in law lost everything, still she stood beside Tikva, the name the author gives the main character (Tikva means hope), while her family, upon orders of her Pharisee father who felt his reputation would be ruined if he had anything to do with Tikva, all turned their backs on her. Meanwhile, the crippled potter, who made such exquisite pottery, gave Tikva and her mother in law, Helene, a job and a place to live, even offering her marriage. Knowing full well what it cost a person to be ostracized for something not their fault, and having admired Tikva since their childhood, he knew how it felt.
Most of us want to believe we would all recognize Jesus and run into His arms if we were given the chance, but people in that century were fickle as we are today. The book addresses the doubts Tikva had before she got desperate enough to try to ask Jesus for help, the actual difficulty in getting anywhere near Him, and the faith she had that if she just touched His hem, she would be healed. Why did she wait so long? For one thing, 3 of her father's Pharisee buddies were there, and uf they recognized her, they would point out that she was unclean, and that in Jewish law, anyone who had inadvertently touched her or her clothes in passing would be unclean, wpuld have to wash their clothes and bathe, and still be unclean until evening. If they busted her publicly, she could be in a world of hurt. But they did bust her, and didn't get what they expected (likely a blistering rebuked from Jesus for contaminating him and everyone else in the crowd). But Jesus commended her faith, which was what He said had cured her, and told her to go in peace.
There is more to the story, much more, and it is well worth the reading.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a Bible story about the hemorrhaging women who is healed when she touches Jesus' robe. What you don't know is her life before her healing and after. And although this is fiction the author has a good imagination and makes you think about the things you are not told in the Bible. It says she spent a lot of money trying to get healed and the author supposes were she got it. It says she sees a lot of doctors and again the author tells a story of a doctor she sees that she believes can help her but makes things worse. You know she is considered unclean and people don't want anything to do with her, but I've never considered that would even be her family and friends., although in the book her Mother-in-law stays by her side even when her Mother and Father don't. She makes you think about the hardship she has endured being an outcast. Although it doesn't say so in the Bible in this story she travels a long distance to find Jesus and be healed.

This is the second book I've read in this series and can't wait for the next.

[Joanna Bair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Cossette’s other books so I had high expectations. This one is simpler, but it’s still well written. I liked the perspective on a story I’ve read other novels on. I was a little off put by Jesus not healing Simcha, doesn’t seem like something Biblical but I guess the Bible says Jesus healed everyone who wanted healing and Simcha didn’t.
My sister has been going through a series of miscarriages, and I’ve had my own hormonal issues that I’ve been healed of I could relate to the story much more than when I read the other book about this lady years ago before I ever got sick. So it was interesting relating more.
I liked it but I’m only giving four stars cuz the other books by this author are sooo incredible this one is great, but not the same.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sweet story of the woman who touched Jesus’ robe and instantly became healed. Tikva has been shunned since she lost her baby when she learned that her first husband has died. Through the help of her mother-in-law and a crippled village potter, Tikva learns to trust her feelings and search for healing for her uncleanliness. When she hears about Jesus, she decides this is her only chance. Her belief in Jesus grows as she witnesses some of his healings and his ways. In one last desperate attempt, she falls to the ground in a heavily crowded street and has the full strength and understanding of Jesus put through her as she touches the hem of his garment. She then rebuilds her life and tells everyone she can about the new Messiah.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking

I truly enjoyed this perspective. Tikva's life. The effects of her long-term bleeding disorder and the toe take on her, not just emotionally physically. To read her life slowly coming to an eventual in and put a New perspective and urgency that overtook her when seeing Jesus and fearing it was her last opportunity to be healed when probably end.

Love the development of all the characters and the way they showed kindness, love and support and family and friends and long ago to turn their backs. He truly was an interesting take on a very well-known piece of scripture. I thoroughly enjoy this author and her writing style forward to her new box as they are released.

[Brittnee Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment is one of faith and hope and in the actual account, we don't even know the woman's full story. Connilyn Cossette, as always, did a fabulous job of not only writing truth as it is in scripture, but opening a window to what might have been. As always, her writing captured my heart and stirred in me a desire to read God's Word!

I recommend this book to anyone who has struggled, dealt with pain and loss, or needs a fresh dose of faith and hope! Enjoy!

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

I loved the author’s perception on what might have been the story of the woman who was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe. It aligns with scripture and has me going to my Bible to check it. The main and secondary characters were nothing short of amazing. I highly recommend this well written, easy to understand, heart-warming story. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

[Lynnette Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

I read every book this author writes. This particular story from the Bible has always fascinated me. Seeing it performed in the Chosen series touched me emotionally. This woman had such difficulty physically as well as emotionally. She was rewarded royally for her faith. The story of this young woman was written so beautifully. I will be reading all the books in this series. It's exciting that the ordinary women of the Bible are being made known.

[Greta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story, even while reading the Bible.
So, I expected a lot of emotions from this book.
However, I was disappointed.
I am not a fan of the way it was written, it stretched out too long in my opinion and the pace was very slow, especially in the first half. I had to skim through some pages to get to the main point.
It would have been better shorter but more intense, in my opinion.
I liked the love story in it, though.

[Maxine Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed each book I've read written by Connilyn Cossette and this one was no exception. Little is written in the Bible about this woman who'd suffered with continual blood loss for 12 years and spent all her money looking for cures. Connilyn creates a wonderful back story to this woman (she named Tikva - which means "hope"). It culminates in a wonderful end. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When all hope seems lost

Tikva went from newlywed to expectant mother to widow and burying her child in a short time. Devastated didn't even begin to cover her grief. Bleeding for a few weeks after birth or miscarriage is expected, but to go on for years...

Where was Adoni when she needed Him? Her family, everyone except her mother in law had deserted her and called her unclean. It is a riches to rags to blessed story. Healed with a fresh start in life. Why? Jesus.

[Megan McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story so heartwarming. Tikvah has had so many trials and each day she grows weaker. She loves Simeon but because of it knows she will never call him her own. And his daughter is like her own. When she begins to her about Jesus she decides it is her last hope. When she meets a woman who was healed by his hands she has hope. And believes the with God it is possible. She cannot contain her joy when she is healed.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fictional story about one of my favorites of Jesus’ miracles. I loved the story and at times was tearing up thinking of how hard it must have been for the woman ( Tikva in the book). The focus was not on romance as much as on her struggle with her sickness, her survival, and her pain. A lovely interpretation with lots to think about after finishing.

[Tracy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

the woman in the parable finally has a name. Tikva had it all, a husband, baby on the way, friends...in one moment all is stripped from her life.. her husband and father-in-law's death, her unborn son ripped from her womb and due to being "unclean" because of hemorrhaging, has been cast out not only by her family, but by the community as well. Bless Tikva's mother-in-law, Helena, for never leaving her side and Simcha, who having offered her sanctuary and work. Tikva has been to every midwife and healer and has found no relief. When rumors spread about a Rabbi who can heal everyone, will Tikva listen to her heat and loved ones?

[Tiffany Milam Treanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent! I love being able to connect more with a Bible story. Even though it's a lot of fiction in it, I love when authors write books like this based on Bible stories and use real things from the bible. This was really good and I can't wait to read more of them. Love that my daughter has more books that she can read that are biblically based!

[Karen Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have always wondered about the "rest of the story" in many of the biblical stories I have read or studied about. This was the story of Tikva the woman with the issue of blood who suffered for over 12 years. Enjoyed reading and learning about her story as it gave so much more meaning to her healing from Jesus. Very good read!!

[Mary Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I remember the passage in the Bible about the woman who touched the edge of Jesus’ robe and was healed. Even though most of the story was fiction, it put a face to this woman and made you feel her pain and then her joy of being healed.

[Toria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Healer's Touch by Connilyn Cossette is a great book. I loved reading it. It is about the woman with the problem of bleeding who was healed by Jesus. It was a story that personally touched me because I have had many health problems and know when your hope is not in Jesus you will do anything to try to be healed of the problems. This story beautifully shows that struggle without Jesus and the journey of finding Him and the hope and peace that comes from personally encountering Him, whether or not you are healed.

[Diane Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this flushed out story of the woman healed by Jesus. The author did an amazing job developing a back story so we could feel what touching Jesus’s tassel would mean to this woman. I will definitely be looking at some of her other books.