When Coira MacDugall was stabbed for attempting to kill the new Lady of Clan Lathan, the Healer saved her life and gave her something more and unexpected...empathic sensitivity.
Coira has now been returned to Clan MacDugall and must learn to cope with not only her own regrets and emotions, but the emotions of others around her. Can she learn to understand and control her gift in time to earn her place at home? Or will her inability to cope lead to more death and treachery.
As the new MacDugall Laird, Logen MacDugall has been given not only a dwindling and fractured Clan, but a ward that has been sent home from Clan Lathan in some sort of secret shame. Rumors pin her as a murderess, but Logen sees something far more fragile and maybe slightly more dangerous in her. Trying to stay alive long enough to uncover the treasonous plot that has ended the lives of the previous Lairds, can Logen trust Coira and her unbelievable gift to discover where the danger lies? And will she even be willing to trust him in turn?
In THE HEALER'S GIFT readers get a chance to see the outcome of Coira's actions in Highland Healer, Book One of Willa Blair's Highland Talents series. While Coira was obnoxious and narcissistic in Highland Healer, in THE HEALER'S GIFT Coira is contrite and regretful as a result of the gift presented to her by the Healer. We see her struggling to find her place among people whom she fears will never accept her, which is quite a departure from her previous attitude.
Willa Blair does a fantastic job weaving a story of mystery, regret, hope, danger, and trust set against the back drop of the shores of the Scottish Lowlands. Given that this story is only a novella, she only had so much time to create a tale that was both captivating and satisfying, all while pointing to the rest of the series and subliminally saying "if you like this, you should read these". That is, in fact, just what she accomplishes with this wonderful tale.
Bottom Line: The characters are endearing, the story is fulfilling, and the set up for the remainder of the series presents an open invitation to dive right it. THE HEALER'S GIFT is a highly recommended read.
Coira MacDugall paid with her life for her attack on the
Highland Healer. But her victim did more than heal Coira's
fatal wound that awful night.
Now drowning in the unwelcome emotions of others, Coira
wonders if her new empathic ability was meant as a gift or
a
curse.
Logen MacDugall must discover who killed three previous
lairds if he hopes to survive for long in the position. He
believes Coiraβs new sense can help him root out the
conspirators, but after her disastrous time in the
Highlands, the last thing she wants is to get involved
with
another laird. Logen must help Coira gain control of her
talent in time to save him and their clan from those
intent
on destroying MacDugall.
Can Coira believe this laird truly loves her? Or will her
memories lead her to madness again?
Logenβs mouth on Coiraβs palm had set her whole body to
tingling. His kiss melted her bones. She held on to him,
certain that she could no longer stand on her own. The fire
that raged in him burned in her as well, making her weak.
Making her forget who he was. What he was. She could feel
nothing but the desire sweeping through him. It heated her
blood, overwhelmed her senses, and made her bold.
βDinna release me,β she warned. βI will fall.β
βHave I harmed ye then?β The concern in his voice was
mirrored in the sudden cold fear that lapped at her senses.
βNay, nay. Dinna fash.β The chill receded. Coira lifted a
hand and cupped Logenβs face yet again. His gaze burned
into her as if he was trying to read her mind. She knew he
could not do that, but the idea that he wished to know her
so well pleased her. βThe opposite. Ye make me feelβ¦things
Iβve never felt before.β
Logen stayed silent, his gaze moving over her face. The
feelings flooding through him seemed to well up from his
soul. His unspoken longing brought tears to her eyes and
threatened to consume her. Coiraβs throat tightened as her
own impossible longings escaped her control to blend with
his.
He finally spoke. βYe bring me peace. Did ye ken that? I
desire ye, I canna hide it. But ye bring me peace.β
βAch, Logen.β She kissed him softly while her heart broke
in two. βYe make me wish to weep.β He was completely open
to her, strong and confident, yet all she sensed was his
vulnerability. βNo one has ever said anything like that to
me. Has the Healerβs gift changed me so much, then?β
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