Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Irish Healer

GIVEAWAY!

HERRIMAN, NANCY
THE IRISH HEALER

1830's London is rich with promise. And fraught with peril. Rachel Dunne and James Edmunds are about to discover that love is too.

Rachel Dunne has always been a healer...until she's accused of causing the death of a child under her care. Acquitted but shunned, she flees Ireland in search of a new life, convinced that she'll be fine so long as no one in London learns of her disgrace -- or forces her to sit at another sickbed.

Physician James Edmunds has endured the loss of too many patients -- the death of his wife the greatest blow of all. Deep in his grief, and no longer certain that God can be trusted, he decides the time has come to abandon his practice and run his family's small farm. Alone.  Though when he's drawn to the intriguing Irish woman who has recently joined his household, he begins to reconsider his well-paid plans.

Then cholera sweeps through London, and the life of James' young daughter hangs in the balance. Can Rachel and James overcome their innermost fears and regain their faith? Or is it too late for trust and love to heal their hearts?

My Review:

If you love books by Laurie Alice Eakes and Julie Klassen, you are going to love The Irish Healer! This  stunning debut novel is seeped in that kind of Austenish style. It was such a thrill to read that I raced right through but then tried to put the brakes on towards the end because I wasn't ready for it to be over! Does anyone else do that when they are reading a good book?

Herriman immersed me in the gritty reality of 19th century London and she didn't gloss over the seamier aspects. The contempt in which the Irish were treated really got my ire up, seeing as I hale from that fair isle. And the inequality between men and women -- oy, don't get me started. While I love to romanticize that era just like everyone else, I was grateful that Herriman didn't. It brought such depth to her story and upped my blood pressure a good bit as well! :-)

Both Rachel and James have so much more in common then they realize, but neither is bent on sharing their past which adds an air of mystery to their romance. The attraction is there, never mind that they are from different classes, but as the reader, I could see why they would be good for each other and it about drove me crazy waiting for one of them to reveal the reason for the their mixed emotions regarding healing. But when one finally did, I wanted to throttle the other! LOL. Herriman kept me on my toes right to the very last page.

James is an admirable tortured hero with so many rough edges that it was impossible to smooth them all out. In fact, he possessed one significantly un-hero-like quality that should have repelled me but the author created such depth to his character that she managed to engage my sympathy instead. Not an easy task, given his failing. Now doesn't that intrigue you? I hope so because this is one book you do not want to miss!

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Irish Healer, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please put the title in the subject line so your entry is easy for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 2, 2012. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

32 comments:

  1. Sounds very interesting! Add me!

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  2. This is the first time I've saw this book, but it looks right up my alley! :)

    bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

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  3. I don't remember how I stumbled upon this one, Bluerose. I think I was checking out publishers' new releases. Being Irish, I gravitated towards it and I'm glad I did! Good luck!

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  4. This sounds like my kind of book! Thanks for the giveaway.

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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  5. Wow, this looks like a great book! Thanks for the great giveaway! =)

    lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. I would love to be entered in this giveaway! Have this one on my WL:) Thanks so much!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  7. Good luck Liz, Elyssa and Charity!

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  8. Ooh! I'm so excited to read this book! Please enter me!

    Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. Thanks for the giveaway! Looks like a great read, can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

    Dreilly316(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. It's an excellent read -- wish I could give a copy to everyone. Good luck Emily and Deb.

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  11. Oooo, I have a hero with a bad flaw that I need to make sure doesn't kill a reader's interest. Would love to see how she does it.

    rmjagears AT gmail DOT com

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  12. That sounds intriguing, Melissa. Good luck with both the manuscript and the draw!

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  13. Thanks for introducing me to another new author Kav. I know exactly what you mean when you say that you race through reading a book as it is such an enjoyable read and then towards the end you are wanting to slow down as you really don't want the book to have to be ending especially if the book is part of a series and you know that it is going to be a bit of a wait before you get to read the next book in the series. I enjoy reading books about healers so would love the opportunity to be able to read this book. Can you please enter my name in the draw....

    zabook at tpg dot com dot au

    Many thanks.

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  14. Shaz -- a kindred reading spirit! Good luck!

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  15. Sounds great!
    I am excited to read it.
    Please enter me.

    dymesich[at]juno[dot]com

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  16. Thanks for the intro to a new author! Sounds like my kind of book.

    Patty

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  17. That is what the best of books do besides make me cry is make me want to throttle some of the characters.
    We all have our secrets, don't we? We don't just open up our past to anyone without over-protective discretion for fear of... many things but the biggest ones are rejection and criticism. At least that is what my opinion is today.
    Sounds like a great book!
    purensimplenatural at gmail dot com

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  18. Great thoughts, Pamela. And I bet more than just moi will feel like throttling a certain character a time or two when they read The Irish Healer. LOL.

    Good luck everybody!

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  19. Sounds like a wonderful book to read. Would love to win it! Thanks much!
    Blessings.....Joy
    ibjoy1953(at)yahoo.com

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  20. Thank you for your review of this book Kav, you have my curiosity stoked and it sounds like a wonderful story. Part of my family comes from Ireland, so it would be a good book to read up on the history of that era! Thanks for the opportunity to throw my name in the hat!

    Blessings,
    Lori

    triplel(at)evertek(dot)net

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  21. Please add me, I've wanted to read this for a while.

    julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. Hi. I have seen this book and it looked so pretty on the bookshelf. The story sounds great too. Thanks for your review. Please enter me. Thanks.

    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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  23. Nancy Herriman is a new author for me. I read the review of The Irish Healer and I would love to be entered to win this novel. It's rather interesting and its one I would love to win a copy of. Thanks again for the oppurtunity to enter.

    Mary Duff
    missniceguy@hotmail.com

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  24. "The Irish Healer"
    I loved the Review of this Book and would like to be entered in the Giveaway. I never read anything by Nancy Herriman and can't wait.
    Blessings

    ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  25. Would love to win this one too! Thanks :)

    sunshine6892 at hotmail dot com

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  26. I enjoy books set in London and this sounds like a great romance too!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  27. thanks for the chance to read this story :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  28. Please add me! I want to see what Nancy's imagination has been up to! :)

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  29. Considered yourselves entered, karenk and Jessica. Good luck!

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  30. I really enjoy Irish stories. Please count me in!

    yecenia@optonline.net

    http://christianbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/

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