Touch of Power

by D.M. Griffin

Eliora was a flirtatious girl whose need to control her fate caused her to cross a line, breaking God's Law. Her efforts to take control that God was not willing to relinquish to her failed miserably when her wedding night was ruined because of bodily functions unique to women. Little did she know that the issue would last twelve excruciating years.
Divorced by her husband, and taken advantage of by physicians, Eliora had no place to turn except to the other outcasts of society. Even there, she did her best to keep her secret, choosing to present altruistic motives for her presence in the leper camp when a handsome, young physician took notice of the less fortunate sufferers.
Castor could no longer tolerate the superficiality of his life in Rome. Not wanting to take the path his father mapped out for him toward politics, Castor chose the less reputable path of medicine. While his real motivation was to help those who needed it, the pressure was placed on him to make a name for himself by tending only to the needs of the rich, to those whose lives were worth saving. A tragic mistake would take him to the land of Judea where he would meet a woman who not only challenged his notion of the power to heal but would also reveal to him the power of God.
As the Almighty intertwines two very separate lives, will Castor learn his lessons or continue to resist a God he does not believe in? Can he humble himself by realizing that the true source of a physician's power does not lie in his skills but in the healing God allows him to be a part of? Will Eliora's long journey on a path of suffering ultimately teach her the value of a single life? Will the two ultimately become one as God touches them with power that not only heals their broken souls but unites them in a story of love that points to something greater?
Book in the Encounter Series

418 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2024

About the author

Demi lives in California but grew up in beautiful New England. As a married woman with three adult children, she enjoys spending her time crafting novels that enhance the truth of Scripture. Her characters are biblically based and entirely captivating. She launched Devoted Steps Ministry in 2016. Besides keeping up with the daily prayers and devotionals on the devotedsteps.com website, she works at a local church. She is an avid reader as well as a writer. Long walks around the lake offer her space for inspiration. Besides biblical fiction, she also writes speculative Christian fiction novels.

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.M. Griffin excels once again at creating a masterpiece of Biblical Fiction with her release Touch of Power. Touch of Power is the third installment of Ms. Griffin’s The Encounter series and tells the story of the Woman with the Issue of Blood (Eliora) based on Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:22-34, and Luke 8:41-56 and Castor, a man who has given up his privileged Roman lifestyle to honor his mother to become and work as Physician. Eliora, the oldest of three daughters, has a dream to be married and has selfish motives for making it happen. When Eliora learns that her younger sister, Terza is getting betrothed, she lies to her Family in hopes of being betrothed to the young man, Simeon, whom she has a crush on. When Terza ends up betrothed Simeon instead, Eliora ends up betrothed to a widower named Asher, a prominent Jewish man from Jerusalem with two children. After arriving in Jerusalem, Eliora experiences bleeding like no other thus going through a journey like no other that teaches her valuable lessons of Humility, Grace, and Value. Castor, having a heart to heal people, escapes his Roman upbringing by becoming Pilate’s Personal Physician while healing those truly hurting on the side. Eliora and Castor’s paths cross when they meet at a Leper’s Colony and a friendship develops. Due to misunderstanding, Eliora and Castor find that True Healing comes from the True Physician. Backed by Scripture reference, research, and inspired by the Creativity of God, Touch of Power by D.M. Griffin is a beautifully retelling of a much-loved Bibles Story.

I absolutely love D.M. Griffin’s retelling of the Woman with the Issue of Blood in Touch of Power! D. M. Griffin took Touch of Power and the retelling of the Woman with the Issue of Blood to places I had never imagined, and I love it! I love how Ms. Griffin weaves together different aspects of Bible History and Scripture that causes you to walk the streets along with the characters. I love the way Eliora was created and how she originally was cast as selfish, and in my opinion, snooty. I love that the lessons Eliora learned did not happen overnight, but that it was a long excruciating process because it is realistic of how it is in life sometimes. The way that Ms. Griffin writes Eliora’s medical condition really hits home to reader the reality that the Issue of Blood truly did last 12 years and speculates what the Woman in the Bible could have actually went through. Putting up with bleeding for 12 years and still functioning is truly a Miracle of God in and of it’s self! My heart broke for Eliora when she couldn’t get the healing and the answers she sought, and that she was taken advantage of along the way. I love the positive changes that Eliora made along the way, and the way she persevered regardless of her ailment. I love how the character of Castor was created. I marveled at the medical training Castor had to go through in terms of the fights he had to attend and it fascinated me. I was amazed that despite all the carnage he saw, Castor’s heart was still tender towards helping people get well regardless of race or status. I love that Ms. Griffin always weaves together other other Bible Stories and People from the Bible for the reader into the story, enhancing and adding unique elements to the story. I love the friendship that develops between Castor and Eliora. I love that Castor and Eliora’s Faith Journey were unique to them and how God brought them together. I appreciate that Castor had difficulty Believing and Elilora’s Faith ebbed and flowed with highs of belief and unbelief. If you are looking for an escape back in time to a unique time in Biblical History and visit a much-loved Bible Story in person, then I highly recommend Touch of Power by D.M. Griffin! I believe it’s a perfect read from beginning to end!

Have you read Touch of Power? What did you think of the book? What do you think of The Encounter series?

I would like to thank D.M. Griffin for giving me a copy of Touch of Power to review, for letting me be on the Touch of Power Launch Team, and for helping me with information I needed for this post. It’s been a blessing working alongside Ms. Griffin and her encouragement has been invaluable to me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is on Amazon and blog, Leslie's Library Escape.

[Becky Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

powerful Biblical fiction!!!!

I absolutely loved this book! There’s no doubt that the Lord has gifted this author with a talent to creatively fill in the gaps of the woman with the issue of blood while staying true to the Biblical account and the truth found in God’s Woed. I now have a new favorite author!!!

[Shonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful story that packs a punch! A beautiful story that weaves the perfect love of Jesus through all the characters. I found myself captivated from the first page and it only grew with each page. Every part from the suffering, to a chance at love builds the story, but when Yeshua shows up it’s epic! D. M. Griffin kept the story on pace, not letting a dull moment break up the story but instead kept me racing through the pages to find out what was next. There is a gut wrenching scene with the colosseum that wasn’t for me, just skip over that short part. Don’t let that deter you from reading this book, because other than that there is no other graphic parts in the story. The author does a great job within the plot of showing how God refines us to walk in faith. The characters are fantastic, a part of my heart was wrapped up in each one of them. Even the side characters brought so much to the story that I found myself rooting and caring for them. This is definitely 5 star worthy so make sure you carve plenty of time out for reading, you won’t be able to put it down!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touch of Power by D.M. Griffin is a compelling fictional retelling of the biblical narrative of the woman with the issue of blood. Set in an evocative historical backdrop, the story delves into Eliora’s struggles, pain, and redemption. From her early life as a spirited young woman to her transformative encounter with Christ, Griffin masterfully intertwines biblical themes with rich storytelling. The novel also explores faith, suffering, and the profound love of God as characters confront personal trials and societal expectations.

The writing style is immersive with moral undertones. For instance, the description of Eliora’s internal struggle with her illness and faith feels deeply personal yet slightly repetitive. One poignant scene involves Eliora realizing her worth beyond societal judgments, a theme mirrored beautifully in her interactions with Martha and her siblings. However, the pacing occasionally falters, especially during long monologues that, while poetic, slow the narrative's momentum. The ideas explored in the book are timeless and meaningful. The transformation of Eliora, as she wrestles with abandonment and spiritual awakening, is deeply moving. Griffin’s depiction of secondary characters, such as Martha’s quiet strength or the cynical yet hopeful Tithe, adds depth to the narrative. The central message—faith in God’s timing and love—resonates powerfully, particularly in the climactic scene where Eliora’s healing signifies both physical and spiritual restoration. What I found most intriguing was the symbolic thread of divine sovereignty running throughout the novel. Griffin doesn’t shy away from exploring complex questions about human suffering and divine purpose.

Touch of Power is a thoughtful and inspiring read, particularly for those who enjoy faith-based fiction with a historical setting. It is perfect for readers seeking a blend of biblical storytelling, personal redemption, and spiritual encouragement. It leaves a lasting impression of God’s love and the power of faith to transform lives.

[Rebecca Tellez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the third book of The Encounter series, D.M. Griffin takes us on a journey with the woman who had the issue with blood for twelve years. And what a journey it is! Eliora’s personality had a bit of refining to go through and as she grew as a person and in her faith, I fell in love with her. Castor, the male hero in this story, was easy to like and root for right from the first encounter with him. The secondary characters added so much to the story and their struggles and lives were really a second story within Eliora’s story. There is so much to love about this book family issues, faith struggles, healing, forgiveness, growth, Biblical history, and difficult topics. I could not wait to see what happened to each person and yet I did not want the story to end. The encounters with Jeshua reminded me of my own faith walk and I am so glad He was part of this book.
Definitely a five star book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Biblical history and captivating characters.
I received an ARC copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.

[Linda Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.M. Griffin drew me into this story about a Jewish young woman with a need to control her life instead of yield to God’s plan. The author's ability to fill in the gaps of biblical events with a storyline that seems so possible is truly remarkable. I appreciated both the inner and cultural battles of Eliora and the other main character, Castor. Although from very different backgrounds, the events of their lives were presented in a way that seemed very true to the time and cultures they were raised in. To then have God weave their lives together created such a beautiful story. Captivating and very well written.

[Patti Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart goes out to self-published authors. I often struggle with finding a well written biblical fiction story. I found one just a few days ago and have just finished it. Bravo, D. M. Griffin, you have touched my life with a story which will linger long as I recalled spiritual truths you have shared from the Word of God.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very moving. A truly beautiful story that caused me to do a lot of praying and reflecting. I only thought that a main character's presence at the Resurrection was kind of strange and irreverent, especially considering Jesus had dialogue in that scene. I was a little discomfited by it, but that might change with some more reflection.