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.