Two Friends Overcoming Breast Cancer

My two best friends, one African-American and the other Irish-American, both were diagnosed with breast cancer the year my mother died. Both of their mothers had breast cancer and had survived, although one is still being followed as her cancer is one of those tricky kinds that keeps popping up again.

A lot of praying, crying, encouragement, and time in the Word accompanied that time period. One memorable day, my daughter and I picked up flowers, pizza, and another goody and drove to my girlfriend’s house in a nearby town. I’d remembered how isolated I felt when my mother was going through her treatment and I didn’t want Susan to think there wouldn’t be something demonstrating my support.  I think both the person diagnosed and the loved ones often feel so alone.  I wanted to be there for my friend. 

My other friend, who I’ve known for almost thirty years, had a stiff upper lip attitude and didn’t even share about her breast cancer until after she’d had surgery. Raised in the deep south, she keeps a lot of stuff inside until she’s gotten through the worst of it. The downside of that, of course, is not receiving the support that could be offered you – and the prayers.

I have supported the American Institute of Cancer Research  for thirty years - back when it was considered nutty to believe foods consumed could have anything to do with cancer's prevention. Of course we now know there is input from food, environment, genetics, etc. Click on their name, above, to check out their website.

Nancy Herriman week ends today and we have been glad to have this breast cancer overcomer on with us this week.  She is a talented author.  Winner announced tomorrow morning.  Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win!

Are you a cancer survivor or friend or relative of a breast cancer overcomer?  What is the best thing to do when getting through this diagnosis and treatment?  

Carrie Fancett Pagels Reviews Audio version of "The Irish Healer" by Nancy Herriman

The Irish Healer 
by Nancy Herriman
(Worthy Publishing, 2012)


Amazing Debut Book!


I listened to The Irish Healer as an audio download through www.audible.com.  I have a platinum membership which means I listen to two dozen books a year.  For those of you who prefer audio and who regularly purchase books, the price ends up close to the cost of a paperback for many titles IF you order the membership. And NO, I do not own stock in the company!


SPOILER ALERTS (I am known for spilling the beans and if you don't want to know too much then don't read the review!)


The book starts off rather dark and I almost did not continue to listen.  Am I ever glad that I did! Rachel Dunne, a healer, from Ireland, flees after being acquitted of murdering a child in her care. One thing I missed in the listen at the beginning, but caught at the end, is that Rachel did not realize that the initial job she has secured in London is with a physician.


A widower, Dr. Edmunds failed to save his wife, who died from a fever after giving birth. His previous medical assistant has left and he needs help. He is packing up and moving to his country estate to honor his father's dying wishes. 


The details of the cholera outbreak are gross, but Nancy doesn't dwell terribly upon them. I don't normally like too much death in a book but I expect there would be a bunch of tertiary characters killed off, and there were.  But she left our favorite characters alive and well.


The narrator for this book was amazing. She was perfect for the story.  Rachel and the doctor are meant to be together and Nancy does a great job of showing the why/why not of the relationship. The craft was excellent. We will be reading plenty more from this author. I want to say that Nancy hits a midpoint between Christian historical fiction and Christian historical romance.  She could satisfy either reader but those looking for a straight formulaic romance should look elsewhere as they may be overwhelmed by the phenomenal details she gives in the book.


The Irish Healer is available for purchase on Amazon, as well as on Christian Book Distributors,  and on Barnes and Noble as well as in other fine book stores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Nancy Herriman’s books, choice of format.

Diana Flowers Reviews The Irish Healer by Nancy Herriman

The Irish Healer 
by Nancy Herriman
(Worthy Publishing, 2012)


4.5 stars~
Heartwarming Romance!


In The Irish Healer, Nancy Herriman has crafted a tender tale that takes our lovely young heroine, Rachel Dunne, from the lush blue-green, heather-filled hills of Ireland, to the sooty gray, crowded streets of 1830s London. Rachel is known as a healer in her native Ireland, but after being accused of murdering a patient under her care, Rachel flees to London. She secures employment with a wealthy physician, James Edmunds, but only to help him pack and organize his belongings, vowing never to be a healer ever again.


Dr. Edmunds, is hiding his own secret demons, and is in the process of closing down his practice and retiring on his country estate. Upon visiting, Finchingfield, as James's estate is called, Rachel falls in love with the emerald covered hills, his charming reddish brick home, and lovely fenced garden, and James Edmunds. However she knows a discredited Irish healer would never make an appropriate mistress there, and keeps her feelings towards the good doctor hidden.


As secrets begin to unfurl, will their budding love for one another turn into mutual contempt? Will Rachel learn to forgive herself for the death that occurred under her care?.. and more importantly, forgive God for allowing it to happen? When cholera strikes will she rescind her vow never to be a healer again?


The further I got into this book, the more I loved it! It is truly a heartwarming, romantic tale of forgiveness and redemption. The main characters were very realistic, struggling with an undeserved lack of self worth and unforgiveness. The spiritual thread is strong, and with a satisfying conclusion, I believe we have alot to look forward to in the future by Nancy Herriman. Very nicely written!

*I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and was not  
  required to write a positive review.



The Irish Healer is available for purchase on Amazon, as well as on Christian Book Distributors,  and on Barnes and Noble as well as in other fine book stores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Nancy Herriman’s books, choice of format.

Teresa Mathews' Review of Nancy Herriman's The Irish Healer

The Irish Healer 
by Nancy Herriman
(Worthy Publishing, 2012)

5 Stars *****

Reviewed by Teresa Mathews

Nancy Herriman takes us away to 1832 London with a story of Rachel Dunne and Doctor James Edmunds. Two people from different worlds, yet that are alike in the fact they both have a calling to heal others. In this story Nancy weaves a tale of shame, secrets and unforgiveness but by the grace that only God can give, it becomes a tale of forgiveness and love.

Rachel Dunne is from Carlow, Ireland, where she has been a healer since a very young age. When Mary Ferguson died under Rachel’s care, Mary’s father insisted Rachel had killed her. Rachel was brought to trial and found not guilty, but that didn’t stop Mary’s father from spreading his hate to others in town. To keep her family from any more undue stress, with the help of a relative, Rachel secures a temporary position with a physician in London who requires help to catalog his huge private library.

When Rachel finally arrives at Doctor Edmunds she is surprised to find him quite pleasant and especially handsome. Dr. Edmunds kindness stirs feelings in Rachel she would love to be able to act on but she knows that cannot be because if he finds out the real reason she is in London he would never forgive her. After several incidents of helping people in distress, will Dr. Edmunds realize Rachel knows more about doctoring than she is telling? When someone steals a letter from her mother, will her secret at last be revealed? Will Rachel ever be able to release the guilt she feels and receive forgiveness?

Dr. James Edmunds is a man that has given up hope in his calling to be a doctor. James has seen far too many deaths and some he takes the blame for, including his wife‘s. When Rachel Dunne shows up to help him pack up his library, James knows something is different about her. He feels drawn to her; it seems Rachel is like the breath of air he needs to revive his dead life. But James has secrets of his own and he feels it would be better for all if he just quietly moves away to the country and gives up his dreams of being a doctor. Will James be able find the grace and forgiveness that his soul needs? Will he ever be able to forgive Rachel for what he sees as her deception to him?

This was a great story, I found myself  being drawn into it and not wanting to put it down until the last page was read. Thank you Nancy for this most enjoyable read, I cannot wait to read another of your stories.

The Irish Healer is available for purchase on Amazon, as well as on Christian Book Distributors,  and on Barnes and Noble as well as in other fine book stores.

This book was requested from the publisher through NetGalley.  My opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.  

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of book format.

International Review by Marian Baay - The Irish Healer by Nancy Herriman

The Irish Healer 
by Nancy Herriman
(Worthy Publishing, 2012)

4 stars****

Rachel Dunne is the Irish Healer in this story. In her hometown in Ireland a child under her care died. Now she’s accused of murder and is fleeing to London. There her cousin has obtained a position as assistant for her with Dr. James Edmunds.

Dr. Edmunds’ wife died three years ago and he blames himself for her death. His father also died over a year ago and left him the family estate. The last wish of his father was that James would raise his daughter on the family property. Therefore Rachel is helping him pack his belongings.

Rachel vowed not to use her healing abilities anymore, but she finds out it’s harder to ignore her calling than she thought. Soon she falls in love with James, but she thinks there are too many obstacles that make a relationship seem impossible.

Both Rachel and James feel abandoned by God. But when the cholera epidemic is sweeping through London they must learn to pray and trust God again.

Nancy Herriman writes a promising debut novel! She really made me feel like I was in London with her lively descriptions. Her knowledge of healing seems accurate and therefore she writes a believable story. She also knows how to attract attention to the story. The more I read the more I liked the story.


Good job, Nancy!

The Irish Healer is available for purchase on Amazon, as well as on Christian Book Distributors,  and on Barnes and Noble as well as in other fine book stores.

This book was requested from the publisher through NetGalley.  My opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.  


GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of this author’s books, choice of format.

Interview with Nancy Herriman - Breast Cancer Overcomer

Nancy Herriman is the author of The Irish Healer. I met Nancy through Facebook and fellow ACFW members.

Nancy, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

 - Easily the most difficult thing I have recently had to overcome was a diagnosis of breast cancer, which was received shortly after The Irish Healer was bought by Worthy Publishing. A bittersweet time, for certain, where the jubilation of finally selling--after more than 10 years of hard work and numerous rejections--was tempered by the shock of a life-threatening illness. Without the support of prayer and my wonderful church family, it would have been a much more difficult ordeal. Because of this support, though, and the amazing folks at Worthy who have been a true blessing, I have been able to face this trial with (I hope!) a measure of equanimity.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

- Although this has changed over time, I would say my current favorite is Phil 4:13 ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ Beautiful, encouraging and very timely for my current life situation.

Disability friendliness:

Is this release available in audio format? Will it be released in large print?  (Thank you – we offer this information to our readers with difficulty reading books in regular print format.)

- Indeed yes, The Irish Healer is available in audio format. It is also available in e-book form (both on Kindle and Nook, as well as directly from Worthy), which permits folks to adjust the size of the font and make reading more comfortable and legible. The wonders of technology! At this time, I’m not aware if the book will become available as a large print in paper.

What is the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

- I hope that my readers will find encouragement to persist through difficulties and to know that they aren’t alone, since God is always with us. Understanding why troubles occur does not come easily, but God--if we ask--can give us the grace to persevere and hopefully overcome.

As you researched your book, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

- As I was doing research on the cholera epidemic, I think I was most touched by the fear people of the time must have felt as they dealt with a disease that had a cause they didn’t understand and that they also didn’t know how to cure. Talk about the need for pure and strong faith! Medical solutions of the day were more likely to harm and possibly kill them than heal.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

- In that regard, readers who feel themselves to be outsiders or outcasts (in the book, my heroine is an Irish immigrant in a time when they were despised in England) will encounter a story sympathetic to their situation. Also, the two central characters must attempt to heal others when they have lost their confidence or their courage to do so, a topic that not just people who work in a medical field might find therapeutic to read.

Thank you Nancy for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!


The Irish Healer is available for purchase on Amazon, as well as on Christian Book Distributors,  and on Barnes and Noble as well as in other fine book stores. And The Irish Healer is available for download on Audible.com!!!

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of this author’s books, choice of format.