The Healer's Touch Review
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The book opens with U.S. Marshal Ian Cawley chasing an outlaw on horseback into a small Missouri town. At the appearance of a ghostly dancing light, his horse panics and crashes into a barn. The outlaw gets away and Ian, who has lost his wallet and badge in the chase, wakes up with amnesia. He has no idea who he is. In fact he could be an outlaw because the local hills are infested with them, including the real-life notorious James-Younger gang led by Jesse James.
The barn belongs to a young woman Lyric who lives with her younger sister Lark and mother. The three women are shunned by the townsfolk because of the mom’s mental illness (clearly bipolar disorder), and Lyric has resigned herself to never getting married because she might inherit her mom’s condition. Interestingly, Lark doesn’t feel this way at all and wants to stay in town whereas Lyric longs to escape as soon as their difficult mom dies and she can somehow find the money to relocate.
When Lyric finds Ian, she assumes he is an outlaw and she can nurse him back to health and then turn him in for the reward money. When she tries to identify Ian (whom she’s named Joseph) by looking at wanted posters down at the sheriff’s office, this unfortunately draws the attention of the sheriff and his deputies who are super enthusiastic about having a hanging. Any hanging will do. It doesn’t even matter if they can’t conclusively identify Ian because he’s probably an outlaw anyway, and it will be good for the town’s morale. But then Ian and Lyric start to fall in love.
The Healer’s Touch is an entertaining read. One problem I had involves Ian’s decision to set a plan into motion that he keeps secret from Lyric for “her own good.” As a method of generating conflict, this type of plot twist is a bit timeworn. But overall this is a warm and sweet Christian inspirational romance. Rather than feeling preachy, the spiritual parts will probably strike even modern readers as a natural outgrowth of the historic setting. This is a time period in which almost everyone had the Bible memorized, and Christian readers especially will appreciate the sincere and perceptive application of Scripture to these characters' lives. Lyric and Ian are an appealing couple who deserve their happy ending. Little sister Lark is an especially strong character who could use her own book as she pursues her reluctant 17 year-old love-interest Murphy.
Type of Romance: Male-Female Romance
Title: The Healer’s Touch
Author: Lori Copeland
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Subgenre: Historical Romance, Christian Inspirational Romance
Setting: Small town Missouri USA in 1887
Sex scenes: Level 1 - none (See “Levels of Explicitness” in Related Links below)
Viewpoint: alternating third-person (Lyric, Ian) sometimes on the same page.
Note: I received this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation for this review from author or publisher. (Buy link to come upon book’s release date 8/1.)
The barn belongs to a young woman Lyric who lives with her younger sister Lark and mother. The three women are shunned by the townsfolk because of the mom’s mental illness (clearly bipolar disorder), and Lyric has resigned herself to never getting married because she might inherit her mom’s condition. Interestingly, Lark doesn’t feel this way at all and wants to stay in town whereas Lyric longs to escape as soon as their difficult mom dies and she can somehow find the money to relocate.
When Lyric finds Ian, she assumes he is an outlaw and she can nurse him back to health and then turn him in for the reward money. When she tries to identify Ian (whom she’s named Joseph) by looking at wanted posters down at the sheriff’s office, this unfortunately draws the attention of the sheriff and his deputies who are super enthusiastic about having a hanging. Any hanging will do. It doesn’t even matter if they can’t conclusively identify Ian because he’s probably an outlaw anyway, and it will be good for the town’s morale. But then Ian and Lyric start to fall in love.
The Healer’s Touch is an entertaining read. One problem I had involves Ian’s decision to set a plan into motion that he keeps secret from Lyric for “her own good.” As a method of generating conflict, this type of plot twist is a bit timeworn. But overall this is a warm and sweet Christian inspirational romance. Rather than feeling preachy, the spiritual parts will probably strike even modern readers as a natural outgrowth of the historic setting. This is a time period in which almost everyone had the Bible memorized, and Christian readers especially will appreciate the sincere and perceptive application of Scripture to these characters' lives. Lyric and Ian are an appealing couple who deserve their happy ending. Little sister Lark is an especially strong character who could use her own book as she pursues her reluctant 17 year-old love-interest Murphy.
Type of Romance: Male-Female Romance
Title: The Healer’s Touch
Author: Lori Copeland
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Subgenre: Historical Romance, Christian Inspirational Romance
Setting: Small town Missouri USA in 1887
Sex scenes: Level 1 - none (See “Levels of Explicitness” in Related Links below)
Viewpoint: alternating third-person (Lyric, Ian) sometimes on the same page.
Note: I received this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation for this review from author or publisher. (Buy link to come upon book’s release date 8/1.)
Join the Discussion! |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: I'll be posting all my reviews for Male-Female romance books to this thread. Here is the first one: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane puts anxiety-prone Justine in a love-triangle between the mysterious Packard and the righteous Otto in a fast-paced, funny, paranormal romance set in an alternate-world Chicago terrorized by rogue telepaths. Mind Games Review |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is set in medieval Brittany and features Ismae, a seventeen year-old peasant girl turned assassin who must pose as the mistress of principled knight Duvall in a secretive land of supernatural visions and imminent invasion by the hated French. Grave Mercy Review |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Male-Female romance Baby It's You by Jane Graves is a sprightly, funny opposites-attract romance set in small-town Texas with appealing characters in flighty, free-spirit Kari and gruff, protective Marc. The character nuances and interactions are especially good. Baby It's You Review |
Sandra Investing/HFinance: Thanks, Val. I loved your review of Baby It's You. I put a hold on it at my library. Sounds like a good read. |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: You're very welcome, Sandra, and thanks for your comment! I hope you enjoy the book. Let me know what you think. ![]() |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Here is the latest: Male-Female romance Delectable by Adrienne Lee left me with a believability question, but otherwise delivers a light and fast-paced plot about second chances and the perils of start-up businesses. Read my review of Delectable here. |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Knock Out by Mallery Malone is a short (about 88 pages) erotic fiction about a woman boxer and her long-lost love and trainer, which delivers on its sexual promise with a satisfying undercurrent of emotional closeness achieved by the two romantic leads. My review of Knock Out. |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: In New Adult romance Dark Paradise by Angie Sandro, 20 year-old Mala is a beautiful black Creole girl who finds the body of a white girl in the Louisiana bayou. To solve the murder mystery, she teams up with the girl's handsome brother as her ancestral psychic powers begin to awaken. Dark Paradise Review |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Necessary Force by D.D. Ayres takes place in Washington DC. Georgie is a rising star in the field of photojournalism who has attracted a creepy stalker. She receives protection from a handsome FBI agent and his K-9 unit dog. Necessary Force Review |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: In male-female paranormal romance Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh, a female telepath and a male leopard shapeshifter join forces to hunt down a highly-placed sociopath murdering young women. This is the first book in a lengthy series and a Must-Read! Slave to Sensation Review |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Only With You Review Male-Female romance Only With You by Lauren Layne is an excellent romantic comedy and opposites-attract romance about a hapless party girl and an aloof businessman. The story manages to be equally funny and heartfelt. Only With You Review |
gracejwilliams: I've always loved reading, though primarily science fiction or crime novels. The last couple of months I have started to turn to erotic romance novels, the spur being recommendations from my friends to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Yes I know it wasn't a great book but a reasonable storyline. Since then I have taken to read romantic kindle novels and would recommend Lynn Richards, The Texas Billionaire series, it sounds terrible but the plot is actually quite good. At the moment I am reading a new book called Unconventional Desires by Victoria Louise Sadler. Erotic fictional novel but targeted as a romance, haven't finished it yet but its quite addictive and definitely graphic. Looking for recommendations for other books of a similar nature. |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Thanks for the recommendations, Grace. I haven't tried the Texas Billionaire yet, and will look into it. ![]() Deep Desires by Charlotte Stein, Willing Victim by Cara McKenna (borders on non-consensual), Dirty by Megan Hart, Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha (SF - dystopia) A Shot in the Dark by Christine d’Abo, Crescendo by Leah Brooke Bared to You by Sylvia Day. |
gracejwilliams: Thanks, when I've finished this one will have a look on Amazon. |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: You're very welcome, Grace. Feel free to post here again and let us know how those books worked out for you. ![]() |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: The Healer's Touch Review Male-Female romance The Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland is set in 1887 Missouri and features a farm girl shunned by the townsfolk because of her mother's mental illness who takes in a U.S. Marshal with amnesia whom everyone mistakes for an outlaw. The Healer's Touch Review |
Sandra Investing/HFinance: I read Only With You after your recommendation. I, too, enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the follow-up book, Made For You. |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: Sandra, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reminding me about the sequel. ![]() |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: The Other Side of the Pillow by Zane is a pleasant story of an attractive African American couple coming together, but it's not a keeper for me because of the tight focus on two characters who seem subordinate to the story's message of second chances. The Other Side of the Pillow. |
Val FictionWrit/RomanceBk: The Devil Wears Kilts (Scandalous Highlanders Book 1) by Suzanne Enoch is a male-female romance featuring a hard-charging Scottish clan leader trying to fit into London high society during the Regency period. It's not written for broad comedy though it has some priceless culture-clash elements, and is instead heartfelt, suspenseful, and extremely well-written. It is a must-read! |
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You Should Also Read:
Male-Female Historical Romance
Male-Female Inspirational Romance
Levels of Explicitness
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