Abi of Cyrene

By: Mary Lou Cheatham

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

In the Bible, this character has no name, but we know who she is. In the last chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul sends her a greeting because he loves her like his own mother. Simon, her husband, is the last person who performs an act of kindness for Christ before the crucifixion. Her two sons, Alexander and Rufus, appear to be leaders in the early church. It seems she spends her later years in Antioch, home of the first people called Christians.

History has remained silent about this astonishing woman. Abi of Cyrene, an imaginative novel about Simon's wife, uncovers her life as it might have been.

Before moving to Cyrene, she is a young Nubian archer, living near the Nile in the ancient land of Nobatia. The name Abi, meaning her father, alludes to her greatest need, to be loved by a father. The man who contributed to her biological parentage beats and belittles her. Melech, a eunuch slave, loves her as a father should.

The rabbi in her hometown of Meroe tells Abi not to pray to the Father in Heaven, because she is a woman. She prays anyway in every crisis, and she receives blessings. As life's journey takes her from one culture to the next, can her hopes be realized?

Abi of Cyrene, beautifully written and believable, takes the modern listener on a fast-paced adventure through ancient lands.

©2015 Mary Lou Cheatham (P)2015 Mary Lou Cheatham

Absolutely Loved It!!

I'm a stickler for Biblical accuracy in fiction like this. As much as is possible, I'd rather that the person stay on target with what has been written, finding reasonable reasons for what happened. This story hit the nail on the head, no pun intended!! She doesn't allude to gnostic theories, and Abi stays faithful as a Jew. Even her reasons for rejecting Maschiach ring true, because the reasons given are exactly what many have said. I loved it, loved it, loved it! Narration was spot on!

Deep research into ancient world

Cheatham must have spent days researching the world she leads us through in ABI...a good performance by the reader, too, makes it hard to put this down.

Best book yet by Mary Lou Cheatham!

This is an amazing story! The narration is superb too. I highly recommend listening to this story.

love faith that brings family together.

thank you for the book of Obi truly given me a seal for the word ,again thank you with hope again can continue what I started. thank Jesus ✌️.

An inspiring story of faith

This was a very good read and a great story of faith. It was great to see Abi and Simon both develop as husband and wife and as Christians through the book.

Absolutely wonderful

There are no words to describe the beauty of this book! It’s a beautiful written book of Simon of Cyrene’s wife. She is an amazing woman of such faith. Mary Lou describes everything in such detail ! The narrator Sarah was amazing !

The description of the crucifixion was so detailed - it actually is graphic., however it made you feel the pain!

This book was amazing and i wish it didn’t need !

A book of pure faith, hope, love and forgiveness ! ❤️

riveting storyline

A well written book. I didn't suspect the Biblical connection in the beginning. Very enjoyable!

Excellent novel and Whispersync also worked well

I happen to enjoy listening when commuting but reading when in locations that require quiet, so this feature can be important. The historical, biblical novel was excellent and the character development was quite well done. Others have commented on the brining to life of the story told in the bible, but this went a little deaper with how this specific family was brought in to witness the events and then have misunderstandings between the wife and husband, with eventual resolution to their disjointed understanding about the events, and how they were brought closer because of those very events. Very uplifting in the end. Told the story without being overbearing or "preachy."