Customer Reviews

The Healing Season (Regency Series #3) (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #48)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Healing Season
By: Ruth Axtell Morren

Sit down with this book and travel into London in the early eighteen hundreds when society had distinct classes, notoriety was hard to overcome, and medicine advanced slowly. Within the pages you will find faith and betrayal and love.

Stage actress Eleanor Neville dragged herself out of the mire of life into the world of acting, talent and success. With her career on an upswing, she was close to achieving all she ever wanted. The night she called on surgeon Ian Russell to save one of her fellow actresses from death, she had no way of knowing every aspect of life was about to change for her.

Ian Russell, dedicated surgeon, excellent teacher and devout Christian lived his life serving those in London who could not afford his services. Many times his payment was in morsels of food, if at all. His single life was lonely, but he trusted God to bring his perfect mate to him. He would never have guessed the night he answered Mrs. Neville's call would change him forever.

This book is a journey into history, into the hearts and souls of two people who are more lonely and lost than they would ever have discovered had they not met. As you read, you will hear the sounds of the streets, smell the dark corners and allies and touch a bit of history that, like any era, holds both beauty and horror. As you walk the streets with Ian, watch Eleanor on stage and meet the children of the mission don't be surprised if the God who heals them all places some healing balm upon your heart.

Reading the blurb on the back of the book isn't what encouraged me to buy this it. In fact, I passed it over several times BECAUSE of the back. But since I so enjoyed Wild Rose I thought, at 6.99, I might as well give it a chance. I'm so happy that I did!

The back of the book says this: "But despite his fascination with her glittering world, Eleanor feared her notorious past would end their future together before it had even begun."

I wasn't interested in a book where the hero was fascinated by the "hollywood" lifestyle. I didn't want to see another heroine hiding her innocent past because of shame.

In fact, the hero of the book was NOT fascinated but rather disgusted by her "glittering world." And she was not worried at all about her offensive career. In fact, she was proud of her past!

She was rather scornful to him because of his purity and wanted to cause him to fall. For awhile, she isn't the heroine but the villain!

This book was wonderfully written and very enjoyable. It had an interesting plot with wonderful main characters- characters that grow more likeable as their journey moves along- and secondary characters alike.

Almost a Hosea story... almost!

I have really enjoyed the other books written by this author. But, neither of the characters in this book are likeable. I am all about reading fluffy cheesy endings...but this ending was just not reasonable. Two people this unlikeable cannot become so accepting of each other and in love in about 4 pages.

It wasn't until I neared the end that I realized this book is a retelling of Hosea and Gomer, albeit with a twist. Thoroughly engaging in story and style, Morren transports her readers to London in the early 1800s. Credible emotions and prejudices color both Ian's and Eleanor's lives, creating wonderful conflict and tension. The Healing Season doesn't have the predictability of formula romance; rather it's a beautiful love story of God's grace. A definite recommendation for your bookshelf.

Well, once again, after reading some of the negative reviews on this book I began reading with a wary heart. And once again I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike some I liked and understood both the hero and the heroine. The hero is a devout Christian who has saved himself for his future bride and can't fathom the idea that she will be less than pure. The heroine comes from an abusive background who has never known a man worth trusting until she meets the hero. It's a long road for both of them. He loves her but feels he shouldn't. She loves him but feels she's not worthy.

I found the medical history very interesting and it made me appreciate so very much how far we've come. I was definitely educated in this area.

I did feel that the heroine's conversion was a bit quick in the end (which is highly unlike RAM first two books in this series). I felt that she should have gone through a longer period of learning about Jesus before she would want to asked Him into her life. I also felt that the hero should have asked the heroine's forgiveness for his harsh words toward her. There was something else that happened that I almost wish hadn't, but this isn't a 'fluff' book. It deals with some harsh realities and it was very well done. I just know I'm going to love the fourth book too, and then I'm going to be so disappointed that they are over.

Sadly, this is 2 hours I will never get back.

The book started off ok with its characters, an actress Eleanor Neville, and a religious doctor Ian Russell. However, it takes 3/4 of the book to develop the romance between Eleanor and Ian, with Ian unable to reconcile his religion and Eleanor's work as an actress.

I feel that the author portrayed Eleanor using a relationship with a Duke that she does not like to further her employment, and how she is then captured by that Duke and abused by him.

However, I do not feel that it is believable how fast Eleanor turns to religion and then is accepted by the doctor. I do not feel that the heroine grows, but she is abused, and then she throws away her dreams of acting to be with the doctor. I believe that two people need to give and take, not for one to completely capitulate to the others needs in order for a relationship to work.

I also did not consider the side story about faith based healing believable. The author paints Ian as a scientific doctor, and writing off other physicians as charlatans. Ian has works published at the academy for his work on surgeries. And then out of the blue, believes he recovered from a tumor he had because he prayed to God? Ridiculous.

As another reviewer mentioned, this is definitely not the author's best book. Without giving too much away, if you plan to read this book you should be aware that the hero will likely strike you as haughty or snobby as well as somewhat self-righteous. I believe that's one of the biggest flaws with this book.

Mainly, it isn't that the hero is faulted so much as his fault doesn't give the reader the impression that it's ever realized by the character. Through the entire book his snubbing and high-mightiness may begin to wear on your nerves. He is all for pleasing God, and that's great, but he is far too critical and constantly lacks (enough) understanding.

Another problem I personally felt this book had (that others may disagree with me on) is that the book lacked heart and soul. The story was there but I think a reader doesn't feel the love of God through it. It comes off a bit preachy and "religious" -- quoting scriptures, but the Spirit of God, love of God feels like it's missing.

The heroine, although faulted was quite likable and it was much easier to bear her personality than the hero's over the span of 400 pages. You could relate to why she made the choices she made.

Don't get me wrong, it's also understandable why the hero made the choices he did and his thoughts were even understandable. What wasn't understandable was the snotty behavior he had throughout the book all the way until the end of it. It was just plum exhausting and frustrating.

It's difficult to like him in spite of his kindness because he spent so much time degrading the heroine in his mind without really working hard to set aside his critical nature. Coming from a good home and good family I personally felt the hero should realize his quality of life had a lot to do with that and realize that others downfall was due to their quality of life--surroundings, how they grew up, what their lives lacked.

If he'd spent more time trying to understand than criticize and degrade, then I think the book would've been better. In the end, I think what lessened the book was his ability to evolve to his full potential. I never really felt like that happened, exactly.

Lastly, the ending was a tad bit too cheesy when compared to the bulk of the book and the rigid behavior of the hero. It didn't quite bode well with me. I think cheese was good but just a tad bit too much Parmesan was sprinkled on top when it came to the dialogue of the hero.

In summary, this is a book that is very interesting at times and not so interesting at other times. You may find yourself putting it down here and there as opposed to being gripped by the story line. Took me ages to get through it -- but I was interested enough in the plot to finish it.

I am very fond of romances. In fact, I read all kinds of them...to be honest. This one was my first Christian romance and it is simply marvelous! Ruth Axtell Morren is a very gifted author, indeed! In this story of an angel of a doctor treating the people of the worst parts of London in 1817 and a very talented and famous theater actress with a sad and violent past, Ms. Morren created a wonderful tale of love, faith, redemption, and also told us about the real conditions of medical care back in the beginning of 19th century. How did our hero Ian and heroine Eleanor meet for the very first time? You'll have to find out and read this book up to the very end. In this one, we really see that God exists and is at our side in the worst moments!

Today's authors don't often give us a glimpse into the rougher side of the Regency, but in The Healing Season, Ms. Morren tackles what would have been some of the very real, and pressing issues of the day. The glitter of society is a distant world to Methodist surgeon, Ian Russell, as far removed as Paris Hilton's existence is from mine. He is driven by his work among the poor. It is his heart's desire to establish a children's hospital in the heart of London, at a time when many physicians refused to treat children.

When summoned to help a young woman who has botched an attempted abortion, Ian meets Eleanor Neville, who discovered her friend on the brink of death. Together the two work through the night to try to save the girl's life.

Mrs. Neville, is Eleanor's stage name, and she is one of the leading actresses in London's burlettas. When she and Ian are increasingly thrown together she fights her increasing attraction to the one "good" man she has ever met. Having never been introduced to the Bible or church she find his devotion to his ideals, utterly incomprehensible.

Ian finds the beautiful actress an increasing temptation, and struggles against the attraction. She has been used by several men, while he has kept himself pure for his future wife.

The conflict sizzles as the two are drawn inexorably together. It is only when they discover the power of Godly forgiveness that they can move beyond their past's and their prejudices to find one another.

My only criticism is that there seemed to be no satisfying resolution of the final situation with the villain. He is portrayed as an insanely jealous man, and Eleanor goes into hiding to escape him. Even with some very strong clues, he doesn't even attempt to find her. His reaction seems strangely anticlimactic, and I kept wondering when he would come for her.

I found the Healing Season to be well researched and engrossing. Ms. Morren is definitely skilled at developing her setting and giving the reader a sense of time and place. It would have been very easy for Ms. Morren to rely on sensationalism as she presented the harsher elements of the story, but she handled the gritty realities with sensitivity.

Ruth Axtell Morren has crafted an engaging and romantic story that will draw you into Regency London and keep you there.

Beautiful and self-sufficient, actress Eleanor Neville doesn't need a man in her life. But when a dear friend nearly dies of trauma, she calls on surgeon Ian Russell, a man with a reputation of helping people, including those who can't afford to pay him. Ian is different than any other man Eleanor has known, but can she trust him?

Ian has a thriving medical practice helping London's needy, gives weekly lectures, plus helps out at the local mission. He is a godly man who doesn't need complications in his life, but he wouldn't mind a wife, if God would provide her. After meeting Eleanor, he is both entranced by her beauty and disgusted by the past she shares with him--a past full of sinful mistakes.

When Eleanor has an accident during a performance, Ian is there to rescue her. He helps with her recovery, and to his own chagrin, begins to have feelings for her. Will he act on those feelings or reject the woman he loves? Is God's love strong enough to turn Eleanor from a life of fame to a life for Him?

Morren has a masterful way with words. The reader is transported to another time and period and won't be able to put the book down until the end. This is a well-written historical, a bit longer than the usual trade paperback, but Morren uses every page to her full advantage.

The reader will be able to identify with real characters that have real flaws and fragile emotions. As the love story unfolds between hero and heroine, you'll feel each conflict and each pain. This is a beautiful romance handled deftly by a master storyteller.

The inspirational aspect of this book is handled well, without being overdone. Morren allows her characters to question their faith and then ultimately come to a decision point where they must choose God, but never preaches to the reader.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended inspirational romance.