Nancy Herriman's The Irish Healer ~ Reviewed.

The Irish Healer
Nancy Herriman
Paperback: 307 pages
Publisher: Worthy Publishing (April 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936034786


Description:


During the deadly 1832 cholera epidemic in London, a heartsick Irish healer must find the strength to overcome her most fearsome obstacles.


Accused of murdering a child under her care, Irish healer Rachel Dunne flees the ensuing scandal while vowing to never sit at another sickbed. She no longer trusts in her abilities-or God's mercy. When a cholera epidemic sweeps through London, she feels compelled to nurse the dying daughter of the enigmatic physician she has come to love. James Edmunds, wearied by the deaths of too many patients, has his own doubts about God's grace. Can they face their darkest fears? Or is it too late to learn that trust and love just might heal their hearts?


Review:




After reading The Irish Healer, Nancy Herriman's debut novel, it came as no surprise that she has finaled in numerous awards for her non-published works and took home the 2006 RWA Daphne du Maurier award for Best Unpublished Mystery/Romantic Suspense. In The Irish Healer, Nancy's beautiful prose paints descriptive word pictures of London, her inhabitants and the intriguing Dr Edmunds and secretive Rachel. Infused with threads of mystery, a gently developed romance and struggles with self worth and calling, this story captivates and delights. In the vein of Siri Mitchell and Julie Klassen, spiritual themes are sensitively woven throughout as each of the characters come to terms with the tragedy of their past lives and open themselves to a future filled with hope and forgiveness. The Irish Healer holds plenty of promise of an enduring career for the talented Nancy Herriman.


Reviewed by: Rel Mollet

Bonus Review

The Irish Healer is about a young woman named Rachel Dunne, who is known as a healer in her native country of Ireland.  When a young child dies in her care, she is tried for murder.  Though she is found innocent, she ends up having to leave her home because the village is shunning her.  She vows to never practice medicine again, but ends up taking a job with James Edmunds, a young doctor who is depressed for many of the same reasons as Rachel is…the fact that he can’t save everyone.  She originally comes to assist him in organizing his practice before he sells it and moves to the country, but through circumstances beyond her control, she ends up being his assistant.  Of course, as you can imagine, they are also finding a growing attraction for each other.

I found this book a bit slow going at first, but after a while, it got more and more interesting.  I found it interesting that both characters were gifted in the area of medicine and caring for the others, but because of bad experiences, they thought that it was no longer what they were supposed to do.  But circumstances kept showing that what they wanted and what God wanted were two different things.  I enjoyed watching their walls and pride fall down as they realized that healing was truly in the Lord’s hands and not theirs and they weren’t to be blamed if they couldn’t save someone. 
 
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Bonus Review:

This is the first time I listened to an audio book and the first time I've heard of Nancy Herriman. Score on both accounts! Loved the audio and the author!

The Irish Healer brings you back to 1830's England, during the time of a Cholera outbreak. Dickenesque in style, author Nancy Herriman captured the feel of a crowded, dirty London, leastwise in the poorest section of St. Giles. 

At times I wished the heroine and hero weren't so snippy to each other, but as all good romances should, they ended up together. My favorite character, however, was the cook, Mrs. Mainprice (not sure on the spelling since I only heard it voiced and didn't read it myself). She's a no-nonsense, wise and compassionate woman who I liked to fancy as their fairy Godmother.

Overall, this is a fantastic read and I will definitely look for more of Nancy Herriman's upcoming releases.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep