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Miriam: Repentance and Redemption in Rome
Miriam: Repentance and Redemption in Rome receives Honorable Mention for Fiction in 2014 Catholic Press Association awards.
Book Review:
A tale for our times-both cautionary and uplifting-"Miriam: Repentance and Redemption in Rome" is the story of what it means to love and to sacrifice. Author Cheryl Dickow shines as she expertly weaves the lives of such saints as Padre Pio and Edith Stein into the story of Miriam, a Mossad agent. The reader is taken on an unforgettable journey that invites everyone to explore his or her own beliefs and attitudes in light of the Truth of Christ.
Join agents as they seek to accomplish their tasks for the Four Horsemen Mission. See what happens when the United States passes the ultimate in pro-abortion legislation. Contemplate the seemingly impossible as the veil between heaven and earth is pulled aside in a moment that will change the course of humanity.
Dickow brilliantly uses the Jewish roots of Christianity to draw the past into the present. Her knowledge of both faiths is skillfully used in this cleverly crafted work of fiction which will leave the reader satisfied and yet wanting more!
What was said about Dickow's first book aptly applies to this, her second, in which she solidifies her place as an author of women's inspirational Christian fiction:
"I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading short novels, Christian fiction, travel books, or realistic women's fiction." Valerie
"Good, Catholic fiction of the modern era is not that easy to come by, so when I picked up Cheryl Dickow's Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage from Bezalel Books, I was so excited to finally find a tale I could relate to." Nancy
"Page after page, you will ask yourself how the author could possibly know you so well. Your innermost thoughts, your soul." Chris
"I find few books today that relate to my vocation as a Catholic Wife and mom of 5 but this one did. I enjoyed the book so much that I am hoping that Cheryl Dickow writes a sequel so we can enjoy the characters again. I highly recommend this book!" Toni
Book Review:
A tale for our times-both cautionary and uplifting-"Miriam: Repentance and Redemption in Rome" is the story of what it means to love and to sacrifice. Author Cheryl Dickow shines as she expertly weaves the lives of such saints as Padre Pio and Edith Stein into the story of Miriam, a Mossad agent. The reader is taken on an unforgettable journey that invites everyone to explore his or her own beliefs and attitudes in light of the Truth of Christ.
Join agents as they seek to accomplish their tasks for the Four Horsemen Mission. See what happens when the United States passes the ultimate in pro-abortion legislation. Contemplate the seemingly impossible as the veil between heaven and earth is pulled aside in a moment that will change the course of humanity.
Dickow brilliantly uses the Jewish roots of Christianity to draw the past into the present. Her knowledge of both faiths is skillfully used in this cleverly crafted work of fiction which will leave the reader satisfied and yet wanting more!
What was said about Dickow's first book aptly applies to this, her second, in which she solidifies her place as an author of women's inspirational Christian fiction:
"I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading short novels, Christian fiction, travel books, or realistic women's fiction." Valerie
"Good, Catholic fiction of the modern era is not that easy to come by, so when I picked up Cheryl Dickow's Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage from Bezalel Books, I was so excited to finally find a tale I could relate to." Nancy
"Page after page, you will ask yourself how the author could possibly know you so well. Your innermost thoughts, your soul." Chris
"I find few books today that relate to my vocation as a Catholic Wife and mom of 5 but this one did. I enjoyed the book so much that I am hoping that Cheryl Dickow writes a sequel so we can enjoy the characters again. I highly recommend this book!" Toni
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2013
1 person is currently reading
133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 17, 2013
Miriam Goldfarb, the heroine of Cheryl Dickow's new novel, "Miriam, Repentance and Redemption in Rome," will be well-known to those who've read Dickow's debut novel, "Elizabeth, A Holy Land Pilgrimage." But one need not have read the first book to enjoy the sequel; each of these works can stand on its own merits, and each is a compelling testament to the power of good Catholic fiction to inspire readers of all faiths.
Miriam is a devout young Jewish woman who is strong, yet gentle; she is "at once steel and silk," as the author describes her. She has been working as an agent for Mossad, Israel's Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations. Her mother has prayed fervently that Miriam will not stay in this elite group, convinced that being a Mossad agent is not what God wants of her daughter. As the story progresses, Miriam, too, begins to doubt that this is her true calling.
Through her associaton with Mossad, Miriam meets a wonderful young man named Joseph, the son of a Christian mother and a Jewish father, and she falls in love with him. Joseph, who has been raised in the Jewish faith, but has been heavily influenced by his mother's strong beliefs as well, reciprocates those feelings; however, they remain unspoken between the two.
When Miriam and Joseph are both called to be part of a four-man Mossad team, whose mission is to protect some extremely important religious leaders given the code name the "Four Horsemen" (among them, the "White Dove" - the pope!), the plot thickens and the book becomes a page-turner that is hard to put down. Sent to Rome under a cloak of secrecy, Miriam and Joseph face grave danger, and even death; and all the while they must hide their feelings for one another so that they don't compromise the Four Horsemen operation. And it is such a vital operation, for as Joseph says when he addresses the Mossad team, "...we fight against principalities that are dark and wicked. But what we have come to learn is that those powers have taken on human form; they have brought the spiritual battle to the earthly realm and we are now required to fight it on two fronts." Indeed, the very fate of the world's future is hanging in the balance.
"Miriam, Repentance and Redemption in Rome" is at once a gripping suspense novel, a poignant love story, and an inspiring conversion tale. I highly recommend this deeply touching work of fiction, which would be a perfect choice for a women's book club. It is "chick lit" with substance: entertaining, yes; but also edifying. In the forward, the author says her prayer is that every reader will be blessed by this work. Bravo, Cheryl Dickow! As far as this reader is concerned, mission accomplished.
(My longer, more in-depth review of this book will appear on CatholicFiction.net.)
Miriam is a devout young Jewish woman who is strong, yet gentle; she is "at once steel and silk," as the author describes her. She has been working as an agent for Mossad, Israel's Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations. Her mother has prayed fervently that Miriam will not stay in this elite group, convinced that being a Mossad agent is not what God wants of her daughter. As the story progresses, Miriam, too, begins to doubt that this is her true calling.
Through her associaton with Mossad, Miriam meets a wonderful young man named Joseph, the son of a Christian mother and a Jewish father, and she falls in love with him. Joseph, who has been raised in the Jewish faith, but has been heavily influenced by his mother's strong beliefs as well, reciprocates those feelings; however, they remain unspoken between the two.
When Miriam and Joseph are both called to be part of a four-man Mossad team, whose mission is to protect some extremely important religious leaders given the code name the "Four Horsemen" (among them, the "White Dove" - the pope!), the plot thickens and the book becomes a page-turner that is hard to put down. Sent to Rome under a cloak of secrecy, Miriam and Joseph face grave danger, and even death; and all the while they must hide their feelings for one another so that they don't compromise the Four Horsemen operation. And it is such a vital operation, for as Joseph says when he addresses the Mossad team, "...we fight against principalities that are dark and wicked. But what we have come to learn is that those powers have taken on human form; they have brought the spiritual battle to the earthly realm and we are now required to fight it on two fronts." Indeed, the very fate of the world's future is hanging in the balance.
"Miriam, Repentance and Redemption in Rome" is at once a gripping suspense novel, a poignant love story, and an inspiring conversion tale. I highly recommend this deeply touching work of fiction, which would be a perfect choice for a women's book club. It is "chick lit" with substance: entertaining, yes; but also edifying. In the forward, the author says her prayer is that every reader will be blessed by this work. Bravo, Cheryl Dickow! As far as this reader is concerned, mission accomplished.
(My longer, more in-depth review of this book will appear on CatholicFiction.net.)
October 6, 2013
The author, Cheryl Dickow has faithfully answered the call to a much higher standard of character building reading for young women today! Miriam, Repentance and Redemption in Rome, by Cheryl Dickow, is the engaging, heartwarming and enlightening sequel to Elizabeth. The exciting international outcome of Miriam and Joseph's life threatening covert assignment is mingled with their unspoken yet powerful love for each other. This thrilling adventure is gently woven in a colorful tapestry of multiple cultural and religious traditions. In this world of automatic hatred based on religious and political differences, the author reminds us that no matter what our religious or cultural background, we are human with hearts that love and can be broken. I enjoyed this book so much!
The author brings us into the lives of the young heroes and their families in a way that makes you feel like you were there. I enjoyed the ease with which the stories of heroism of our great Catholic Saints seem to parallel the lives of the heroes in her story. The author presents us with the beauty of how traditions that honor God are an integral part of the lives of the characters in her story. It is refreshing to read books that depict strong Catholic faith in women as a positive, worthy and beautiful traits. Ms. Dickow is unafraid to share our beautiful Catholic traditions with the world. I highly recommend this book for all young ladies in their teens and beyond. The content is edifying and intellectually stimulating. I look forward to reading more of Cheryl Dickow's books.
The author brings us into the lives of the young heroes and their families in a way that makes you feel like you were there. I enjoyed the ease with which the stories of heroism of our great Catholic Saints seem to parallel the lives of the heroes in her story. The author presents us with the beauty of how traditions that honor God are an integral part of the lives of the characters in her story. It is refreshing to read books that depict strong Catholic faith in women as a positive, worthy and beautiful traits. Ms. Dickow is unafraid to share our beautiful Catholic traditions with the world. I highly recommend this book for all young ladies in their teens and beyond. The content is edifying and intellectually stimulating. I look forward to reading more of Cheryl Dickow's books.
February 18, 2014
They say storytelling is the most effective way to communicate God's truth. Jesus himself taught with parables and stories. Cheryl Dickow has made an incredible contribution to the Christian Fiction genre with her book Miriam: Repentance and Redemption in Rome. Cheryl invites readers to experience God's truth through a masterfully written apocalyptic story, rich with interesting and complex characters, set against the backdrop of modern day Rome. Cheryl's ability to weave both Jewish and Catholic history and prayers throughout the plot is both beautiful and poignant. I particularly enjoyed the overlap of the supernatural in the story, when the Archangel Michael stands unseen, as he protects two of the unknowing main characters. There is a heavenly battle of good vs. evil being waged that we cannot see, however our actions on earth tip the scale for one or the other. Passing laws that support the destruction of God-given life tilt the scale of justice. In Miriam, The four horsemen from the Book of Revelations happens to be the four highest leaders of the four largest world religions. I found this aspect of the plot riveting! I enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a story that has it all: Action, faith, love, history and depth. A great read!
March 12, 2014
This novel is an action-adventure love story not of the Hollywood kind! These characters have real faith--including questions--and try to live out their faith in their daily lives. Interestingly, the daily life of the title character is the intriguing and political life of a Mossad agent. In the course of this work, saints and religious places are studied, and the reader benefits by learning this interesting information. Plus, the action takes place in Rome and the Holy Land, so the reader gets to go there, too!
The author skillfully describes the heavenly parallels of worldly political battles. Thus is the reader invited to contemplate the eternal consequences of modern-day events. Also, the reader is invited to ponder God's involvement in the world. As one character notes, God constantly "drew back the veil" between heaven and earth in Old Testament times, why not now?
The novel entertains while educating, inspiring, and challenging the reader.
I highly recommend this book for readers of love stories, spy novels, Christian fiction, and women's fiction.
The author skillfully describes the heavenly parallels of worldly political battles. Thus is the reader invited to contemplate the eternal consequences of modern-day events. Also, the reader is invited to ponder God's involvement in the world. As one character notes, God constantly "drew back the veil" between heaven and earth in Old Testament times, why not now?
The novel entertains while educating, inspiring, and challenging the reader.
I highly recommend this book for readers of love stories, spy novels, Christian fiction, and women's fiction.
December 12, 2013
A chilling portrayal of faith, miracles, sacrifice, strength, and how, in the battle of good and evil, good always wins. Using the heritage of Judaism in the Catholic faith, Dickow expertly leaves the reader asking: What does God want of me? Are we, like Saul (St. Paul) on the road to Damascus as well? Do we we need to make radical changes within ourselves? Miriam, who was open to God's will, is an inspiration to those who would like to walk with God but do not know how to surrender to Him in every aspect of their lives. With examples of the saints such as Edith Stein and Padre Pio, we come to understand that even in the face of great evil, God is in control. By the last page, we know that, like one of the characters says, "God will guide this and His will is going to prevail." Dickow's heart is on every page of this book.
June 5, 2014
I won this in a first reads giveaway. I think I thought it was something different because I do not read Christian fiction. But I gave it a try and was not impressed.
I found the writing poor, with lots od unnecessary rambling and very little plot. There was not enough character development to make me care when characters were hurt. The plot fizzled out about half-way through, leaving many loose ends.
I also found much of the subject matter off-putting. The idea that abortion is what will cause God to intervene in the world, when war, poverty, rape and abuse do not is small-minded, absurd and without any base in Christian scripture. The notion that Jews find the "real God" by converting to Christianity is egocentric and offensive.
I found the writing poor, with lots od unnecessary rambling and very little plot. There was not enough character development to make me care when characters were hurt. The plot fizzled out about half-way through, leaving many loose ends.
I also found much of the subject matter off-putting. The idea that abortion is what will cause God to intervene in the world, when war, poverty, rape and abuse do not is small-minded, absurd and without any base in Christian scripture. The notion that Jews find the "real God" by converting to Christianity is egocentric and offensive.
December 30, 2013
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The way Cheryl brings in the Christian faith and our Jewish roots is amazing. This book was thought provoking, intense and left the reader wanting more. The characters were so real you felt you knew them. The love between the characters was so well expressed. Cheryl please keep using your God given talent and keep writing books!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews