The Healer's Gift
Barbara Cutrera
Synopsis~
Ainsland, a virgin widow fleeing from her husband's murderer, and Collum, a healer who possesses supernatural abilities, are brought together by circumstance. What begins as a marriage of convenience for the couple evolves into one of great love and passion. Yet, Collum's tragic past and the ever-looming threat of Ainsland's malevolent pursuer's appearance in their close-knit rural community overshadows their ability to be truly content. When evil strikes and all seems lost, will it be the resilient, headstrong Ainsland who is able to save herself, her husband, and the people she has come to know and cherish or will Collum, determined and wise, somehow manage to rescue the love of his life before time runs out?Amy's Thoughts
I was skeptical about this book. I'm not really a "historical romance" kind of chick. However, I was pleasantly surprised, this should fall under "historical romance with a touch of paranormal".
Ainsland has lost everything she holds dear. Her husband. Her parents. Under attack, she escapes and run. While on the run, she meets Collum. Collum is a healer. As he rescues Ainsland & heals her, he hasn't escaped her beauty. In an attempt to keep her safe, they marry. As life begins to settle around them, tragedy strikes.
Barbara Cutrera did a fabulous job of recreating life in this time period. I felt like I was watching the story unfold in front of my eyes. Extremely engaging, I couldn't put it down. I almost wish Ainsland & Collum's story hadn't come to an end so I could read more. Beautifully written, classic love story.
About the Author~
Barbara Cutrera has been a writer since childhood but didn’t begin writing novels until 1999. She released In a Manner of Speaking, a mystery blended with romance, and Over, Under, Across & Through, Book 1 in The Real World Series, in 2012. Cutrera, a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Florida Writers’ Association, was born and raised in Louisiana and moved to Florida with her husband and son in 2004. She works with the visually-impaired and is visually-impaired herself. She firmly believes that our minds are only limited by the restrictions that we place upon them. That is why her literary credo is, “Transcending reality by exploring it one story at a time….”
Excerpt~
Collum stood near the well looking up
into the clear night sky at the two moons. When Ainsland came up
beside him, he took her hand and wordlessly urged her to walk with
him. She could feel the sadness emanating from him and wanted to say
something comforting but knew that it was unnecessary. He understood
without having to be told.
They walked deeper and deeper into
the woods, and Ainsland began to become concerned. If something
should happen to one of the children, then how would anyone find
them?
“Don’t worry,” Collum said
unexpectedly. “I explained to Edward where you and I were going.
He could find it if he had to.”
They went past the place where
Collum had found her unconscious fourteen years earlier. Another
five minutes passed and then another. Just when Ainsland was about
to ask him how much further they had to go, he slowed to a stop near
some overgrowth on the side of a hill. Without warning, he released
her hand and ducked between what appeared to be brambles and poison
ivy.
“Collum, what are you doing?”
“Trust me, little wife,” he
called to her, his voice muffled by the living things that stood
between them. “Come to me.”
Pulling her cloak tightly around
her, Ainsland gradually pushed her way through and was surprised to
find that there were no thorns. She assumed that there was also no
poison ivy as she went blindly forward.
Ainsland had only just emerged
through the tangle of vines, plants, and branches when Collum took
her in his arms and pulled her against him. He bent low to kiss her,
and she felt the familiar passion begin to build between them.
Abruptly, he released her then gestured for her to look around.
Walls of the thick overgrowth
surrounded them on all sides. In front of them lay a small pool of
water that was surrounded by lush groundcover and a multitude of
night-blooming flowers. The air smelled sweet, and the moonlight
shone brightly, unobstructed in the clearing.
“What is this place?” Ainsland
breathed.
“My gift to you,” he answered.
“I don’t understand. I’ve
passed here many times and never suspected that any of this was here.
Do others know of it?”
“Edward does, because I showed
it to him tonight. Otherwise, no.”
Still perplexed, Ainsland began to
slowly walk around the little pool. She knelt beside it and touched
the glassy surface with her fingers. The water was warm.
“Part of the hot springs,”
Collum told her.
“Was this place always like
this?” she asked, as he knelt beside her.
“When I discovered it years ago
it was an almost impenetrable area of the forest. However, I found
herbs within that could be located nowhere else, so I began to clear
the useless weeds and dead brush. I found you not far from here soon
afterwards, and I sensed that this was meant especially for us to
share. I’ve been working on making it ready ever since.”
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