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The Reluctant Healer
Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2018
Winner 2019 International Book Awards (General Fiction and Inspirational Fiction Categories)
Between Doubt and Belief
The Reluctant Healer tells the story of a young attorney who is torn between mounting evidence that he has the spiritual ability to heal others and his life-long skepticism of alternative views. Will Alexander is cautious and conventional. But when he meets Erica, a beautiful, intense energy healer, he becomes troubled not only by her unorthodox endeavors but also by the limitations of his own existence. Amidst this turmoil, Will is startled to discover that he may possess metaphysical gifts of healing that confront the narrow doctrines of his regulated life.
The Reluctant Healer paints a portrait of a reasonable man who traces a path between skepticism and belief. Flawed, funny, and agnostic, Will distrusts much of the alternative world, even as he struggles internally with phenomena that challenge both his sense of self and his orderly perspective. Will’s love for Erica, the exposure to her world, and his newfound powers place his life in a state of uncertainty, teetering between disruption and liberation.
Winner 2019 International Book Awards (General Fiction and Inspirational Fiction Categories)
Between Doubt and Belief
The Reluctant Healer tells the story of a young attorney who is torn between mounting evidence that he has the spiritual ability to heal others and his life-long skepticism of alternative views. Will Alexander is cautious and conventional. But when he meets Erica, a beautiful, intense energy healer, he becomes troubled not only by her unorthodox endeavors but also by the limitations of his own existence. Amidst this turmoil, Will is startled to discover that he may possess metaphysical gifts of healing that confront the narrow doctrines of his regulated life.
The Reluctant Healer paints a portrait of a reasonable man who traces a path between skepticism and belief. Flawed, funny, and agnostic, Will distrusts much of the alternative world, even as he struggles internally with phenomena that challenge both his sense of self and his orderly perspective. Will’s love for Erica, the exposure to her world, and his newfound powers place his life in a state of uncertainty, teetering between disruption and liberation.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2018
178 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Himmel
1 book20 followersAndrew Himmel practices law in New York City and is a founding partner of Himmel & Bernstein, LLP, located in the Flatiron District. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Himmel worked in book publishing for The Dial Press, Harper & Row and William Morrow. While at William Morrow, Mr. Himmel worked for the veteran editor Harvey Ginsberg, whose writers included Saul Bellow and John Irving. Mr. Himmel lives in Manhattan with his wife, the universal energy healer Michele LaGamba-Himmel. Their daughter, Nicole, is a writer, who also lives in Manhattan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
November 2, 2018
I received this book for free from Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a pleasant surprise. When I was offered this book to review, I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant because of the healing aspect of the book. I decided to give it a chance since it is about a lawyer and I am currently in law school.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the first third of the book. It started off a little slow and I didn’t know what direction the book was going to go. It wasn’t until Will takes a leave of absence from his law firm that things really picked up and got exciting.
As a law student I LOVED the legal aspects of the book. I loved that it was written as a Memorandum. I loved how it showed him going to court and the opinion at the end. Since the author is a lawyer it was all very authentic. I even saw some of the things I am learning about in school (like failure to state a cause of action and references to Learned Hand).
As for the healing aspect of the book, it was interesting. I still don’t know what to think about it all, but it did provide a lot of food for thought.
Character-wise, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Erica. At times she bothered me a lot because of her attitude. But on the other hand I loved Will. I loved seeing his journey and how he grew throughout the book.
Overall, this was a different, yet intriguing read.
For more book reviews, be sure to check out my blog: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/
This book was a pleasant surprise. When I was offered this book to review, I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant because of the healing aspect of the book. I decided to give it a chance since it is about a lawyer and I am currently in law school.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the first third of the book. It started off a little slow and I didn’t know what direction the book was going to go. It wasn’t until Will takes a leave of absence from his law firm that things really picked up and got exciting.
As a law student I LOVED the legal aspects of the book. I loved that it was written as a Memorandum. I loved how it showed him going to court and the opinion at the end. Since the author is a lawyer it was all very authentic. I even saw some of the things I am learning about in school (like failure to state a cause of action and references to Learned Hand).
As for the healing aspect of the book, it was interesting. I still don’t know what to think about it all, but it did provide a lot of food for thought.
Character-wise, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Erica. At times she bothered me a lot because of her attitude. But on the other hand I loved Will. I loved seeing his journey and how he grew throughout the book.
Overall, this was a different, yet intriguing read.
For more book reviews, be sure to check out my blog: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/
December 27, 2018
To review this book is to completely reveal myself, and share parts of not just my belief system, but my past and present. Which of course is the dilemma of the central characters, at least our humble protagonist. He was afraid to believe to make a stand, much like the author himself in his own experiences that led to the writing of the book. I cannot hide, as the stakes are too high on an ethical, moral, psychological, and spiritual level - and especially given the spiritual gift with which I was blessed during the course of this book.
I begin with a brief description, no more than what the synopsis or back of the book shares. Even that much is unlike my reviews.
Stodgy dull lawyer meets enigmatic beautiful quirky woman, who is an energy healer, in a bar. he is inexplicably drawn to her, despite that he doesn't ascribe in the least to anything she believes or espouses, which is at the core of who she is. Why is she drawn to him? Because her energetic talent is seeing similar energy or talent or potential in others, and we discover she believes him to have an unknown untapped extraordinary power to heal. Meeting Erica, Will Alexander's life is turned upside down, and everything he knows and believes is challenged. This story is his mental and spiritual journey as the reluctant healer.
I must give away that this is a novel, but that author himself was a thirty year practicing attorney married to one of New York's esteemed energy healer, and while the novel is such, there are aspects of his own coming to terns that did play into the characterization of the novel. I am so proud of you Andrew, for the courage to confront what didn't initially make sense and to fall in love with your wife. I am also so proud of you for writing a book at 61, and I can't wait for the sequel.
I don't often announce my own beliefs in healing and spirituality unless audiences are already open. But this book was beautifully done for the ambivalent audience and a treasure for those of us already singing in the choir. My own history on this is that I have met and been to numerous healers in New York and other places that have been the real deal. And I grew up with my mother embracing her own gifts as I was a teenager, and she taught me how to heal, and I have seen her work. Her work as a naturopathic physician (in training and experience only) has been astounding, and I watched her teach on accessing one's gifts throughout my childhood. None of this is new to me, so it remains a gift.
A few things personal to me about the book. One had to do with the section on visiting a prominent healer who uses chanting, vibrations, and frequencies. I fully believe that singing is healing physically and psychologically. I cannot express enough how much I know this to be true. That singing keeps you physically and spiritually healthy. I also know what music does to me spiritually during synagogue services, and that it is the music that transports the prayer to a higher level. Singing Jewish music and in synagogue is one of my deepest pleasures, and I know for a fact it is healing.
The second personal and completely vulnerable thing, something I haven't told anyone outside my husband, and a prominent social media video blogger that I wrote a letter to, that has yet to be received, or even possibly sent, is that at the end of the story, the central character gets into some trouble with negative exposure from a troubled conflicted person. I found out recently that I am in a similar position, and it could very threatening to my career. I have been meditating a lot about what the spiritual thing is to do about it, that also fulfills my ethics to a troubled person. I didn't share it with my close friends, because I didn't even want anybody to look it up. Its pretty awful, and i have been thinking about how spiritually and practically to resolve it - and to know that the highest good will happen no matter what. But the reason I am sharing this parallel, is because I think its kind of spiritual and uncanny that the very thing I am going through appears in the book I am reading in just about the same way. In fact, I not only marvel about that in my clinical practice, that the very thing I need to be working on is presented to me, so I can learn something as a secondary gain, I have also written papers on spirituality in psychotherapy, that describe this joint phenomena, who is sent to you, and How that spiritual enactment takes place as a deeper mirror to the actual work. That is born both out of my experience, belief, and childhood. In any case, I found it uncanny, and helpful in terms of letting me know that spiritually and in the world, things are going to be fine, because when you act from the energetic right place, things have a way of working themselves out. Not that I don't take any responsibility whatsoever. I liked that the characters did. We are all imperfect, and ultimately flawed too.
I loved the book. 4.5 stars. Not for everyone, but it will get to the people it needs to. Thats just how this works.
I begin with a brief description, no more than what the synopsis or back of the book shares. Even that much is unlike my reviews.
Stodgy dull lawyer meets enigmatic beautiful quirky woman, who is an energy healer, in a bar. he is inexplicably drawn to her, despite that he doesn't ascribe in the least to anything she believes or espouses, which is at the core of who she is. Why is she drawn to him? Because her energetic talent is seeing similar energy or talent or potential in others, and we discover she believes him to have an unknown untapped extraordinary power to heal. Meeting Erica, Will Alexander's life is turned upside down, and everything he knows and believes is challenged. This story is his mental and spiritual journey as the reluctant healer.
I must give away that this is a novel, but that author himself was a thirty year practicing attorney married to one of New York's esteemed energy healer, and while the novel is such, there are aspects of his own coming to terns that did play into the characterization of the novel. I am so proud of you Andrew, for the courage to confront what didn't initially make sense and to fall in love with your wife. I am also so proud of you for writing a book at 61, and I can't wait for the sequel.
I don't often announce my own beliefs in healing and spirituality unless audiences are already open. But this book was beautifully done for the ambivalent audience and a treasure for those of us already singing in the choir. My own history on this is that I have met and been to numerous healers in New York and other places that have been the real deal. And I grew up with my mother embracing her own gifts as I was a teenager, and she taught me how to heal, and I have seen her work. Her work as a naturopathic physician (in training and experience only) has been astounding, and I watched her teach on accessing one's gifts throughout my childhood. None of this is new to me, so it remains a gift.
A few things personal to me about the book. One had to do with the section on visiting a prominent healer who uses chanting, vibrations, and frequencies. I fully believe that singing is healing physically and psychologically. I cannot express enough how much I know this to be true. That singing keeps you physically and spiritually healthy. I also know what music does to me spiritually during synagogue services, and that it is the music that transports the prayer to a higher level. Singing Jewish music and in synagogue is one of my deepest pleasures, and I know for a fact it is healing.
The second personal and completely vulnerable thing, something I haven't told anyone outside my husband, and a prominent social media video blogger that I wrote a letter to, that has yet to be received, or even possibly sent, is that at the end of the story, the central character gets into some trouble with negative exposure from a troubled conflicted person. I found out recently that I am in a similar position, and it could very threatening to my career. I have been meditating a lot about what the spiritual thing is to do about it, that also fulfills my ethics to a troubled person. I didn't share it with my close friends, because I didn't even want anybody to look it up. Its pretty awful, and i have been thinking about how spiritually and practically to resolve it - and to know that the highest good will happen no matter what. But the reason I am sharing this parallel, is because I think its kind of spiritual and uncanny that the very thing I am going through appears in the book I am reading in just about the same way. In fact, I not only marvel about that in my clinical practice, that the very thing I need to be working on is presented to me, so I can learn something as a secondary gain, I have also written papers on spirituality in psychotherapy, that describe this joint phenomena, who is sent to you, and How that spiritual enactment takes place as a deeper mirror to the actual work. That is born both out of my experience, belief, and childhood. In any case, I found it uncanny, and helpful in terms of letting me know that spiritually and in the world, things are going to be fine, because when you act from the energetic right place, things have a way of working themselves out. Not that I don't take any responsibility whatsoever. I liked that the characters did. We are all imperfect, and ultimately flawed too.
I loved the book. 4.5 stars. Not for everyone, but it will get to the people it needs to. Thats just how this works.
October 30, 2018
Will Alexander is a young intern at a large law firm. When he meets Erica, he is immediately drawn to her. She claims that he is surrounded by color auras and she believes he’s a natural healer. Erica is a social worker who is beginning to believe she can heal people through energy healing. Will is very conflicted about his ability to heal, despite evidence to the contrary.
I struggled through over a third of this book but could not take it any further than that. When I got to the part when Will, Erica and a man who wanted healing all lost consciousness and Will sees them running through a field, suspending themselves in the air and then they were all striking and punching each other. That’s where I gave up. It’s not often that I don’t finish a book that I intend to review, but I could not waste any more time with this one.
Let me say that I have a very open mind when it comes to alternative healing. I’m a Reiki practitioner myself and believe in energy healing and thus the reason I was attracted to this book. My review is more based on poor writing and a story that I could not find any reason to continue reading. It seemed very disjointed to me and I had a hard time following it. Other negative plot points would include the fact that when Will first becomes involved with Erica and for quite some time afterwards, he thinks she’s crazy but he wants her sexually so he continues to see her. That turned me off from the start. As for Erica, she may well be an energy healer (and I assume they’re talking about Reiki here though I don’t believe they actually use the word) but she has such a strange way of dealing with people. When she was trying to convince Will of their healing powers, she grabs the arm of a woman to force her to show Will that her skin condition was healed. She also worked as a social worker, yet was apparently incorporating energy healing into her work with her clients, which had to be unethical. There were quite a few instances of strange responses by the characters and nothing rang true to me.
Unfortunately, I can’t find anything good to say about this book so I can only give it one star. My apologies to the author and Goodreads giveaways but this wasn’t for me.
Not recommended.
This book was won by me in a Goodreads giveaway contest.
I struggled through over a third of this book but could not take it any further than that. When I got to the part when Will, Erica and a man who wanted healing all lost consciousness and Will sees them running through a field, suspending themselves in the air and then they were all striking and punching each other. That’s where I gave up. It’s not often that I don’t finish a book that I intend to review, but I could not waste any more time with this one.
Let me say that I have a very open mind when it comes to alternative healing. I’m a Reiki practitioner myself and believe in energy healing and thus the reason I was attracted to this book. My review is more based on poor writing and a story that I could not find any reason to continue reading. It seemed very disjointed to me and I had a hard time following it. Other negative plot points would include the fact that when Will first becomes involved with Erica and for quite some time afterwards, he thinks she’s crazy but he wants her sexually so he continues to see her. That turned me off from the start. As for Erica, she may well be an energy healer (and I assume they’re talking about Reiki here though I don’t believe they actually use the word) but she has such a strange way of dealing with people. When she was trying to convince Will of their healing powers, she grabs the arm of a woman to force her to show Will that her skin condition was healed. She also worked as a social worker, yet was apparently incorporating energy healing into her work with her clients, which had to be unethical. There were quite a few instances of strange responses by the characters and nothing rang true to me.
Unfortunately, I can’t find anything good to say about this book so I can only give it one star. My apologies to the author and Goodreads giveaways but this wasn’t for me.
Not recommended.
This book was won by me in a Goodreads giveaway contest.
October 8, 2018
This was a really interesting read for me - a bit of a push and pull of:
what I believe in
vs.
what makes me curious
vs.
what makes a good story
I'm definitely one that believes in Science, and things that are proven, and are real, but I DO think that it would be AWESOME if people had special powers and could just heal with a touch, a sound, or simply just being in the same room. I'm thinking along the lines as more of a Avengers and Harry Potter fan - magic and superpowers are so cool - amirite?
I read this with an open mind, and because of that - I found it fun, and fascinating and imagined, what would I do myself - if put in the same situation. Beliefs aside, if this just happened to you - what would you do?
Will Alexander is a young attorney, just kind of riding the wave. He's not really a go-getter trying to work his way up to partner or be a big shot, he's just kind of existing, and doing the day-by-day thing. Until one day, he meets a woman in a bar who says he is surrounded by colors. What the what?!
Erica is an energy healer, and she's shocked by the strength of whatever is emanating from him, but Will just doesn't understand her. What on earth is she talking about? Yet, for some reason he's inexplicably drawn to Erica, and his desire for her is stronger than however insane he thinks she may be.
Soon, they become inseparable, and Will just goes through the motions, accepting her quirks, digressing from any talk of spiritual healing, and avoiding telling friends and family about what Erica so strongly believes in. Until he starts seeing things happen - people are getting better, and Will may be a part of that healing. He struggles with what he believes as an intellect, a man of reason - and begins to take an agnostic approach of expanding his mind and coming to terms with things he never believed could exist. Could he really possess the power to heal? Can he make people better just by being in the same room as them? Is he going crazy all because of his love for Erica?
The Reluctant Healer was really thought provoking and interesting, with a great cast of characters from across all spans of beliefs and uncertainty. An impressive debut.
what I believe in
vs.
what makes me curious
vs.
what makes a good story
I'm definitely one that believes in Science, and things that are proven, and are real, but I DO think that it would be AWESOME if people had special powers and could just heal with a touch, a sound, or simply just being in the same room. I'm thinking along the lines as more of a Avengers and Harry Potter fan - magic and superpowers are so cool - amirite?
I read this with an open mind, and because of that - I found it fun, and fascinating and imagined, what would I do myself - if put in the same situation. Beliefs aside, if this just happened to you - what would you do?
Will Alexander is a young attorney, just kind of riding the wave. He's not really a go-getter trying to work his way up to partner or be a big shot, he's just kind of existing, and doing the day-by-day thing. Until one day, he meets a woman in a bar who says he is surrounded by colors. What the what?!
Erica is an energy healer, and she's shocked by the strength of whatever is emanating from him, but Will just doesn't understand her. What on earth is she talking about? Yet, for some reason he's inexplicably drawn to Erica, and his desire for her is stronger than however insane he thinks she may be.
Soon, they become inseparable, and Will just goes through the motions, accepting her quirks, digressing from any talk of spiritual healing, and avoiding telling friends and family about what Erica so strongly believes in. Until he starts seeing things happen - people are getting better, and Will may be a part of that healing. He struggles with what he believes as an intellect, a man of reason - and begins to take an agnostic approach of expanding his mind and coming to terms with things he never believed could exist. Could he really possess the power to heal? Can he make people better just by being in the same room as them? Is he going crazy all because of his love for Erica?
The Reluctant Healer was really thought provoking and interesting, with a great cast of characters from across all spans of beliefs and uncertainty. An impressive debut.
September 21, 2018
Will Alexander is a young attorney living in New York City. His beliefs are based off science, reason, and evidence. Then he meets Erica, a beautiful and intense energy healer who he is inexplicably drawn to. Will is introduced to the metaphysical world and, although enraptured by Erica, is troubled by her unconventional doctrine. Amidst falling in love, he encounters the idea that he may possess spiritual abilities.
Himmel takes readers on a thought-provoking and humorous adventure with themes of self-discovery, Eastern vs. Western medicine, embracing differences, and a hint of romance. The contrasting philosophies will encourage readers to expand their own perspective and the analysis of the placebo effect is downright fascinating.
The Reluctant Healer is so unlike any of the mainstream fiction that you will find hitting the shelves today. Will’s journey, speculating his belief and toward the supernatural, leads him to discover the inner most desperation and hope that lies within the human spirit. Though fiction, there is truth and lessons to be learned in Himmel’s words. People will do anything to find peace and happiness in their own life, even if that means trying unconventional methods to achieve it.
Thank you Smith Publicity for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an an honest review!
Himmel takes readers on a thought-provoking and humorous adventure with themes of self-discovery, Eastern vs. Western medicine, embracing differences, and a hint of romance. The contrasting philosophies will encourage readers to expand their own perspective and the analysis of the placebo effect is downright fascinating.
The Reluctant Healer is so unlike any of the mainstream fiction that you will find hitting the shelves today. Will’s journey, speculating his belief and toward the supernatural, leads him to discover the inner most desperation and hope that lies within the human spirit. Though fiction, there is truth and lessons to be learned in Himmel’s words. People will do anything to find peace and happiness in their own life, even if that means trying unconventional methods to achieve it.
Thank you Smith Publicity for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an an honest review!
August 28, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review, this in no way changes my opinions and all of the words below are my own.
The Reluctant Healer is about as far from the type of book I normally read as you can get. With that being said I’m probably picky about the parts of the book that are inconsequential to others, so I’m starting out by saying despite my middle of the road rting, I’d still recommend this to other peoplae!
The biggest issue to get out of the way is that I did not like the main character. At all. We all know it’s hard to read a book when you don’t care for the main character, so the beginning was very slow going for me. Luckily I liked his co-worker, and the woman who pushed the plot in the direction of healing. This is something more a personal issue than a writing issue, I’m sure other people will love him. I mostly just wish it had not been in first person. Too much of the main character for me, and throughout the book it made awkward transitions between personal thoughts and the outside perspective. Dozens of pages would go by as a standard, outside point of view narrative then suddenly it would feel like someone telling a story with “to to this day” day” and “I cannot recall". It is a debut novel so it might just be the author still finding a comfortable writing style, which is no problem! Basically if it had have been third person pretty much all my issues would he fixed.
Where the plot is concerned I enjoyed the book much more. I know next to nothing of alternate/spiritual healing methods, but it all seemed very well researched. The plot was supported well by that, and made it the kind of book that makes you need to stop and Google things out of curiosity. Things progressed quickly enough to keep me interested while actually taking a long amount of time in the characters’ world. The author handled weaving the characters stories together really well!
The Reluctant Healer is about as far from the type of book I normally read as you can get. With that being said I’m probably picky about the parts of the book that are inconsequential to others, so I’m starting out by saying despite my middle of the road rting, I’d still recommend this to other peoplae!
The biggest issue to get out of the way is that I did not like the main character. At all. We all know it’s hard to read a book when you don’t care for the main character, so the beginning was very slow going for me. Luckily I liked his co-worker, and the woman who pushed the plot in the direction of healing. This is something more a personal issue than a writing issue, I’m sure other people will love him. I mostly just wish it had not been in first person. Too much of the main character for me, and throughout the book it made awkward transitions between personal thoughts and the outside perspective. Dozens of pages would go by as a standard, outside point of view narrative then suddenly it would feel like someone telling a story with “to to this day” day” and “I cannot recall". It is a debut novel so it might just be the author still finding a comfortable writing style, which is no problem! Basically if it had have been third person pretty much all my issues would he fixed.
Where the plot is concerned I enjoyed the book much more. I know next to nothing of alternate/spiritual healing methods, but it all seemed very well researched. The plot was supported well by that, and made it the kind of book that makes you need to stop and Google things out of curiosity. Things progressed quickly enough to keep me interested while actually taking a long amount of time in the characters’ world. The author handled weaving the characters stories together really well!
October 15, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from Smith Publicity for an honest review. I accepted this book because the premise intrigued me and this was not a book I would naturally pick up. This is the story of Will, a NYC lawyer. He meets a girl that intrigues him but he soon realizes their ideas and interests are not at all similar. Erica considers herself a natural healer and is immersed in meditation and energies, pursuits that are not at all realistic in Will’s world. Although he finds Erica slightly wacky he is still very interested in her. Early on in their relationship Erica tells Will that he is also a natural healer with even stronger abilities than hers. Will is very skeptical but as time passes he begins to see that maybe some of what Erica believes is true. Ultimately Will is caught between logic and science and auras, chakras, and energies. The book is engaging and the characters were interesting. I found the book well written for a first time author.
September 1, 2018
This book, was a DNF for me. And honestly, the thought of money being made off of it.... made me almost as mad as the main character. He is disrespectful towards the lead female, sees her job as pointless and a waste of time, says he's pretty sure he's only listening because he likes her in bed. It was just disgusting, and I could not bring myself to bother finishing it. I received it as a free copy for a review and every person I've talked to, put it down. I find positives in everything I read, and do in life in general. To post a negative review.. is heart breaking, and takes everything I have to truly KNOW that it deserves it.
January 8, 2019
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I am always open to new book experiences that I know nothing about. At first I was intrigued by the story but I couldn't get past the areas where it dragged on aimlessly. There would be long passages of experience where I got lost and not in a good way. I found the characters empty and their interactions not involved enough. There were a few story lines that would renew my interest in the book, such as "The Future of Fraud" incident, but then the story fell apart in legal jargon at the end and left me with a bored uninterested feeling.
October 31, 2018
What’s the harm? What’s the harm in trying something different? In seeking a new answer? In changing your whole outlook on your purpose in life?
When I first picked up The Reluctant Healer by Andrew Himmel, I didn’t expect to like it. No doubt, I would likely only have suggested it for fans of New Age fiction. But it’s not a book that advocates unilaterally for unconventionality, so I kept reading. What’s the harm? Now I think it’s a great read for anyone who likes thought-provoking themes. And besides… readers will absolutely need to know what happens to the main character, even if the path the story takes is eccentric and sometimes frustrating.
The book is about juxtapositions. Logic vs. absurdity. Doubt vs. certainty. Healing vs. harming.
Will Alexander, a young attorney, is just going about his regular, logical life, when he meets Erica in a bar and falls for her. Over their first dinner date, Will learns that Erica is a social worker, but is diving heavily into some New Age healing and alternative energy work that make him supremely skeptical. But he’s willing to overlook her quirks… for now.
Yet when he discovers that it is actually he that possesses the stronger metaphysical healing gifts, he is forced to come to terms with his own skepticism. He struggles internally with how he should handle what he doesn’t really believe to be true, even faced with what seems to be genuine evidence.
Over the course of the book, readers will find themselves cheering Alexander as he keeps one foot on logical solid ground and dips the toes of his other foot in a challenge of conventional wisdom.
The Reluctant Healer may not have convinced this reviewer of the possibility of energy healing, but it did make for a curious and interesting read about embracing differences and figuring out our purpose in this world — whether realistic or transcendental.
When I first picked up The Reluctant Healer by Andrew Himmel, I didn’t expect to like it. No doubt, I would likely only have suggested it for fans of New Age fiction. But it’s not a book that advocates unilaterally for unconventionality, so I kept reading. What’s the harm? Now I think it’s a great read for anyone who likes thought-provoking themes. And besides… readers will absolutely need to know what happens to the main character, even if the path the story takes is eccentric and sometimes frustrating.
The book is about juxtapositions. Logic vs. absurdity. Doubt vs. certainty. Healing vs. harming.
Will Alexander, a young attorney, is just going about his regular, logical life, when he meets Erica in a bar and falls for her. Over their first dinner date, Will learns that Erica is a social worker, but is diving heavily into some New Age healing and alternative energy work that make him supremely skeptical. But he’s willing to overlook her quirks… for now.
Yet when he discovers that it is actually he that possesses the stronger metaphysical healing gifts, he is forced to come to terms with his own skepticism. He struggles internally with how he should handle what he doesn’t really believe to be true, even faced with what seems to be genuine evidence.
Over the course of the book, readers will find themselves cheering Alexander as he keeps one foot on logical solid ground and dips the toes of his other foot in a challenge of conventional wisdom.
The Reluctant Healer may not have convinced this reviewer of the possibility of energy healing, but it did make for a curious and interesting read about embracing differences and figuring out our purpose in this world — whether realistic or transcendental.
December 28, 2018
As New York attorney Will Alexander discovers, Kalil Gibran spoke wisely when he said “Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that Faith is his twin brother”.
The Reluctant Healer gently meanders through Will’s growing love for Erica and his struggle with doubt about her unconventional metaphysical beliefs, in general, and about his healing abilities, in particular.
After a series of, to Will, inexplicable events, he reaches the point where he takes a leap of faith – he takes a six month leave of absence from his legal firm to explore his healing abilities. The real world intrudes on Will’s inner journey with betrayal and other challenges that inexorably push him onto a new path – a path that, for all his questions and doubt, show Will as a man of faith who has the capacity to bring spiritual, if not physical, healing to others.
With touches of humour, an easy-to-read style and well-drawn characters, Himmel weaves thought-provoking questions into the tapestry of a very human man reluctantly experiencing the transcendental powers of an inner awakening. Love is the catalyst that pushes Will Alexander out of his comfort zone, but it’s his own innate capacity for an enquiring faith that allows Will to survive the initiate’s journey and embark on the next phase of his spiritual evolution, strengthened by both his deepened concept of love and his unanswered questions.
If you’re a reader who wants a light-hearted book to escape your questions, this is not the book for you. If you’re willing to look beyond the ordinary concepts of faith and healing, there is much in The Reluctant Healer to engage both your reason and your emotion.
The Reluctant Healer gently meanders through Will’s growing love for Erica and his struggle with doubt about her unconventional metaphysical beliefs, in general, and about his healing abilities, in particular.
After a series of, to Will, inexplicable events, he reaches the point where he takes a leap of faith – he takes a six month leave of absence from his legal firm to explore his healing abilities. The real world intrudes on Will’s inner journey with betrayal and other challenges that inexorably push him onto a new path – a path that, for all his questions and doubt, show Will as a man of faith who has the capacity to bring spiritual, if not physical, healing to others.
With touches of humour, an easy-to-read style and well-drawn characters, Himmel weaves thought-provoking questions into the tapestry of a very human man reluctantly experiencing the transcendental powers of an inner awakening. Love is the catalyst that pushes Will Alexander out of his comfort zone, but it’s his own innate capacity for an enquiring faith that allows Will to survive the initiate’s journey and embark on the next phase of his spiritual evolution, strengthened by both his deepened concept of love and his unanswered questions.
If you’re a reader who wants a light-hearted book to escape your questions, this is not the book for you. If you’re willing to look beyond the ordinary concepts of faith and healing, there is much in The Reluctant Healer to engage both your reason and your emotion.
October 8, 2018
Have you ever considered the effect positive thinking, directed energies, and alternative healing practices can have on your health? If you were struggling with a malady undiagnosed by dozens of specialists, or facing imminent death at the hands of a cancer that is unresponsive to widely-used methods such as chemotherapy and radiation, would you consider visiting an unlicensed -- and possibly ineffective -- individual on the basis of their rumored potential healing energy? Do you believe that hope can produce a change in our physical and mental states of being?
These questions -- and plenty others -- are all considerations around which author Andrew Himmel has crafted his debut novel, The Reluctant Healer. Set in New York in the present day, The Reluctant Healer centers on one man's lifelong notions about medicine and purpose and self-identity. Will Alexander is a lawyer (and not altogether a prominent one) at an up-and-coming firm when he meets Erica, a social worker and spiritual healer. Erica isn't shy when it comes to her unconventional beliefs about medicine, the mind, and our methods of coping; and she's quick to point out that Will hosts some sort of powerful (albeit impossible-to-pinpoint) healing properties. What ensues is a careening, dubious tale of the route to alternative healing -- from both a healer and healee's perspective -- that will undoubtedly leave you scratching your head. But in a good way, most of the time.
Full review: https://littlereaderontheprairie.word...
These questions -- and plenty others -- are all considerations around which author Andrew Himmel has crafted his debut novel, The Reluctant Healer. Set in New York in the present day, The Reluctant Healer centers on one man's lifelong notions about medicine and purpose and self-identity. Will Alexander is a lawyer (and not altogether a prominent one) at an up-and-coming firm when he meets Erica, a social worker and spiritual healer. Erica isn't shy when it comes to her unconventional beliefs about medicine, the mind, and our methods of coping; and she's quick to point out that Will hosts some sort of powerful (albeit impossible-to-pinpoint) healing properties. What ensues is a careening, dubious tale of the route to alternative healing -- from both a healer and healee's perspective -- that will undoubtedly leave you scratching your head. But in a good way, most of the time.
Full review: https://littlereaderontheprairie.word...
November 27, 2018
I received this copy from Smith Publicity for honest Review.
I admit that I started The Reluctant Healer with some skepticism due to the mystic elements of the concept, but the first thing that struck me was how well the author writes, and that is what matters most to me in reading a book. Having been thus drawn in, I became intrigued by the idea of a fact- and logic-based attorney opening his eyes to alternative ways of looking at the world and life. I appreciated the hurdles of disbelief and doubt that the main character had to overcome and I very much enjoyed his journey. I recommend the novel to everyone.
I admit that I started The Reluctant Healer with some skepticism due to the mystic elements of the concept, but the first thing that struck me was how well the author writes, and that is what matters most to me in reading a book. Having been thus drawn in, I became intrigued by the idea of a fact- and logic-based attorney opening his eyes to alternative ways of looking at the world and life. I appreciated the hurdles of disbelief and doubt that the main character had to overcome and I very much enjoyed his journey. I recommend the novel to everyone.
October 16, 2020
I found this novel about a lawyer-turned-healer to be compelling, unique and intelligent, despite it being a bit fantastical. Clearly there is something autobiographical about it, but I like creative approaches to storytelling.
The juxtaposition of hard facts, rules and solidity of the law versus the uncertain and ill-defined world of a spiritual healer is at play here, and both are a bit irritating at times. But I think the author approaches it with a sensibility and intelligence that makes the ride fun and engaging to the reader. At least it was that way for me.
The juxtaposition of hard facts, rules and solidity of the law versus the uncertain and ill-defined world of a spiritual healer is at play here, and both are a bit irritating at times. But I think the author approaches it with a sensibility and intelligence that makes the ride fun and engaging to the reader. At least it was that way for me.
June 7, 2021
As a spiritual fiction author myself, I know there aren't many novels that treat spirituality in an honest, respectful way and that are also good reads. The Reluctant Healer is all that in spades.
It's the story of a conventional young attorney named Will who meets a woman at a bar. She is an energy healer and immediately senses those same gifts in Will. As the story unfolds, Will remains skeptical, but he soon begins to see evidence that, despite his desires to the contrary, she may be right.
As his romance and healing powers blossom, Will is torn between his conventional life in the staid world of law and his growing recognition that there's a metaphysical existence out there he can no longer ignore. The novel is beautifully paced and Will is a fully developed, three-dimensional character (his girlfriend Erica, alas, is less so). Since the author is a lawyer and his wife an energy healer, Himmel clearly knows of what he writes.
Highly recommended!
It's the story of a conventional young attorney named Will who meets a woman at a bar. She is an energy healer and immediately senses those same gifts in Will. As the story unfolds, Will remains skeptical, but he soon begins to see evidence that, despite his desires to the contrary, she may be right.
As his romance and healing powers blossom, Will is torn between his conventional life in the staid world of law and his growing recognition that there's a metaphysical existence out there he can no longer ignore. The novel is beautifully paced and Will is a fully developed, three-dimensional character (his girlfriend Erica, alas, is less so). Since the author is a lawyer and his wife an energy healer, Himmel clearly knows of what he writes.
Highly recommended!
March 6, 2019
I received a physical ARC of this book for an honest review. I was very excited to read this because of the summary. This isn't normally the kind of book I would pick up right away and read, so this is a new experience for me. Basically, a lawyer named Will Alexander meets this woman named Erica, in a bar, and sort of gets pulled into her own spiritual world of healing. Erica admits to being drawn to Will as he has no idea that he himself is a healer, a reluctant one at that.
The beginning of the book was pretty steady paced. You learn more about Will and the kind of lawyer that he is. Andrew Himmel is lawyer, so the book is definitely written by one. There were a lot of details into law aspect of the story, including a full on court room scene and a disposition.
I really don't want to complain about that part, but as for someone who isn't familiar with all the details of law and how the court room system is put together, those parts of the book nearly had me kind of skimming. I do enjoy it when an author is knowledgeable about careers such as this, but it can get a little tedious and a bit dragged out.
I had a sort of 'like her, hate her' relationship with Erica. Erica is incredibly smart and knows what she's doing, but most times I found her too pushy. In one part of the book, just to give some proof that healing does work, she actually grabbed onto a woman's arm (her former client) to prove that there was no sign of the infection she had when the woman came to Erica.
The woman was scared and mad that she did that. Hell, I would be too. Tone it down a bit, Erica.
I like the idea of healing, but I'm also like Will, I can be highly skeptical. You just never know these days.
I would say 3 stars for this story. I like that the author is knowledgeable in law, because he is a lawyer, but I don't think we needed an entire chapter of a legal document. Some parts did drag, and sometimes I couldn't tell what Erica and Will were to each other. Lovers? Friends? Spiritual partners? I'm still not quite sure.
I can't really complain about the ending because...how would something like this end?
The beginning of the book was pretty steady paced. You learn more about Will and the kind of lawyer that he is. Andrew Himmel is lawyer, so the book is definitely written by one. There were a lot of details into law aspect of the story, including a full on court room scene and a disposition.
I really don't want to complain about that part, but as for someone who isn't familiar with all the details of law and how the court room system is put together, those parts of the book nearly had me kind of skimming. I do enjoy it when an author is knowledgeable about careers such as this, but it can get a little tedious and a bit dragged out.
I had a sort of 'like her, hate her' relationship with Erica. Erica is incredibly smart and knows what she's doing, but most times I found her too pushy. In one part of the book, just to give some proof that healing does work, she actually grabbed onto a woman's arm (her former client) to prove that there was no sign of the infection she had when the woman came to Erica.
The woman was scared and mad that she did that. Hell, I would be too. Tone it down a bit, Erica.
I like the idea of healing, but I'm also like Will, I can be highly skeptical. You just never know these days.
I would say 3 stars for this story. I like that the author is knowledgeable in law, because he is a lawyer, but I don't think we needed an entire chapter of a legal document. Some parts did drag, and sometimes I couldn't tell what Erica and Will were to each other. Lovers? Friends? Spiritual partners? I'm still not quite sure.
I can't really complain about the ending because...how would something like this end?
November 27, 2019
Andrew Himmel's original debut novel is told with a fresh writing style, an eccentric approach to his subjects and characters, and a dry, wry wit, especially in the descriptions and observations expressed in the viewpoint of the novel's main character, New York attorney Will Alexander.
The main theme of The Reluctant Healer is the collision of Alexander's legalist, rationalist world view which is challenged when he meets the sexy New Ager Erica Wells. When they meet, Erica reveals she's an energy healer who can perceive Alexander has extraordinary abilities as a natural healer. Alexander doesn't accept that judgement but finds himself drawn to the beautiful woman who is an intellectual match for him even if her metaphysical beliefs are the polar opposite of his own.
Very reluctantly, Alexander finds himself being put in situations where his natural energies seem to, in fact, cure all manner of diseases and afflictions. For Erica, natural healers like Alexander are badly needed in a new era where viruses are becoming immune to antibiotics and it's natural energy, energies found in everything, that can be cures when the afflicted are merely in Alexander's presence.
Alexander's journey takes him into all manner of circumstances including long motorcycle rides, theft of an opponent's cell phone, and situations that ultimately place him in legal jeopardy. To say more would be to swerve into the world of spoilers.
Himmel's style and tone are extremely cerebral and the book is not light reading. It's a book with serious intent. In supplementary material at the end of the book, Himmel reveals much of the book's content was inspired by his own journey, very much like Alexander's, as the author' wife Michelle became interested in energy healing and pulled him into her realm of Universal Energy healing. Jumping off from his real-life experiences, Himmel claims his novel was ignited when he mused, "What if the conventional individual, rigid in his beliefs, developed
the capability of healing others, even as he distrusted much of the alternative world? His struggle would become poignant and pronounced, because he would
be grappling not just with tension in his relationship but also with internal conflict with phenomena that challenged both his sense of self and his worldview."
In a quiz prepared for readers with an academic bent, Himmel says, "The author believes that The Reluctant Healer is a bigger story about how we as human beings get along with and coexist with people who are different from—and
sometimes the complete opposite of— us."
It seems to me larger themes also include a modern twist on the conflicts between the rational and the mystical. In other words, The Reluctant Healer is a brain tickler designed to stimulate thought an reflection in Himmel's readers. He offers no answers, no final conclusions, advocates no point-of-view, and leaves the story open for a sequel already in progress.
Not a book for all readers, but certainly one for readers who like to digest what they read and be challenged by above average language choices, imaginative imagery, and be willing to absorb the story slowly. I had to read it in chunks, always eagerly returning quickly to continue the flow.
This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on Nov. 27, 2019 at:
https://waa.ai/OQKw
July 23, 2019
Whether I believe some or all of the New-Age topics or not, I am always ready to put aside my skepticism and prejudice in favor of science and enjoy a well-told story, which I found The Reluctant Healer to be one. The book with most of its short chapters beautifully written is easy to read and fast-paced after one-quarter of the way. The story question or premise —What would a certain character who is more or less set in his life do when a strange talent is discovered in him? –also attracts the imagination and curiosity.
The main character Will Alexander is a young attorney working in a firm. One evening he meets a woman named Erica in a bar. Erica is into everything New Age as an energy-healer, and she tells Will that she sees his aura of many colors and that he is special and can accomplish big things like healing others. Although Will is highly skeptical of what Jessica says and believes in, he is captivated by her and pursues her. The two start a relationship, even if Erica gets a bit pushy at times. When Will unknowingly heals a few people, he ends up believing what Erica says. Then, a few other twists and turns occur in the story that keeps a reader reading.
What made me startle a bit--on the negative side with disbelief--, is Will’s treatment of Jessica, the two-faced activist tabloid author, who tricked him just to get a story and bend it her way into some kind of titillating, unjust news. As a lawyer and a smart person, I didn’t expect Will to fall into such a trap. Then, as to the naming of the characters, Erica and Jessica can be mixed up by a reader who lacks attention since the two names rhyme and they have the same syllable count.
As to the characters, Will is a nice guy but can be wishy-washy and gullible at times. The way Will changed--throughout the story to its end--shows this author’s talent and keen insight into this character. As to Erica, I thought she was the stronger character but somewhat brash and unlikable from my point of view. Even though she may be very smart and sure of what she knows and believes in, I found her respect for other people to be lacking, unless when they were good to her, like Will's parents. She certainly isn’t the kind of person who could convince me on the merits of any New Age beliefs.
I did like the judge and the courtroom scene at the ending as well as the legal documents since I am always curious about the law and the courts. For me, that last part brought another perspective to the story.
Although some readers may think that the story isn’t quite finished, what makes the ending satisfactory for me is that Will came to terms with his healing ability and he and Erica are now looking toward a future together. On the other hand, I would like to know how they would proceed from this point on. I guess that will be up to the author to let us in on this couple’s future.
The main character Will Alexander is a young attorney working in a firm. One evening he meets a woman named Erica in a bar. Erica is into everything New Age as an energy-healer, and she tells Will that she sees his aura of many colors and that he is special and can accomplish big things like healing others. Although Will is highly skeptical of what Jessica says and believes in, he is captivated by her and pursues her. The two start a relationship, even if Erica gets a bit pushy at times. When Will unknowingly heals a few people, he ends up believing what Erica says. Then, a few other twists and turns occur in the story that keeps a reader reading.
What made me startle a bit--on the negative side with disbelief--, is Will’s treatment of Jessica, the two-faced activist tabloid author, who tricked him just to get a story and bend it her way into some kind of titillating, unjust news. As a lawyer and a smart person, I didn’t expect Will to fall into such a trap. Then, as to the naming of the characters, Erica and Jessica can be mixed up by a reader who lacks attention since the two names rhyme and they have the same syllable count.
As to the characters, Will is a nice guy but can be wishy-washy and gullible at times. The way Will changed--throughout the story to its end--shows this author’s talent and keen insight into this character. As to Erica, I thought she was the stronger character but somewhat brash and unlikable from my point of view. Even though she may be very smart and sure of what she knows and believes in, I found her respect for other people to be lacking, unless when they were good to her, like Will's parents. She certainly isn’t the kind of person who could convince me on the merits of any New Age beliefs.
I did like the judge and the courtroom scene at the ending as well as the legal documents since I am always curious about the law and the courts. For me, that last part brought another perspective to the story.
Although some readers may think that the story isn’t quite finished, what makes the ending satisfactory for me is that Will came to terms with his healing ability and he and Erica are now looking toward a future together. On the other hand, I would like to know how they would proceed from this point on. I guess that will be up to the author to let us in on this couple’s future.
October 26, 2020
Book review tour
The Reluctant Healer 📚
Genre: Romance novel
🌟My rating: 4.8/5🌟
🌸My review🌸
☑️Reading romance novel is always an ammusing experience for me and i can feel the same with this book.
☑️The Reluctant Healer paints a portrait of a reasonable man who discover a path between doubtfulness and belief.
☑️ The main theme of The Reluctant Healer is the accident of Alexander's rationalist world view which is challenged when he meets the beautiful New Ager Erica Wells. When they meet, Erica reveals she's an energy healer who can perceive Alexander has extraordinary abilities as a natural healer.
☑️Later, Alexander doesn't accept that judgement but finds himself drawn to the beautiful woman who is an intellectual match for him even if her spiritual beliefs are opposite of his own.
☑️This book is completely original, compelling, and fresh
☑️This is one of the most intriguing books I have read in a long time.
☑️The author has a gift for writing a novel that keeps the reader immersed in the story, page by page. I could not put it down. Truly, a significant book for our time.
☑️This is a fairly fast paced novel once you get into it. The chapters are short and events unfold one after another
☑️ Himmel's style and tone are extremely rational and the book is not light reading. It's a book with serious intent. In supplementary material at the end of the book, Himmel reveals much of the book's content was inspired by his own journey, very much like Alexander's, as the author' wife Michelle became interested in energy healing and pulled him into her realm of Universal Energy healing.
☑️I would have loved to see these characters and events fleshed out and developed so that readers could have a more emotional connection to them.
☑️ It seems to me larger themes also include a modern twist on the conflicts between the rational and the religious.
☑️It does give some insight into the world of healing energy but for people interested in learning about the topic, I would suggest choosing it as it is the more realistic source.
So if you are romance novel fan, this book is for you!✅❤️
The Reluctant Healer 📚
Genre: Romance novel
🌟My rating: 4.8/5🌟
🌸My review🌸
☑️Reading romance novel is always an ammusing experience for me and i can feel the same with this book.
☑️The Reluctant Healer paints a portrait of a reasonable man who discover a path between doubtfulness and belief.
☑️ The main theme of The Reluctant Healer is the accident of Alexander's rationalist world view which is challenged when he meets the beautiful New Ager Erica Wells. When they meet, Erica reveals she's an energy healer who can perceive Alexander has extraordinary abilities as a natural healer.
☑️Later, Alexander doesn't accept that judgement but finds himself drawn to the beautiful woman who is an intellectual match for him even if her spiritual beliefs are opposite of his own.
☑️This book is completely original, compelling, and fresh
☑️This is one of the most intriguing books I have read in a long time.
☑️The author has a gift for writing a novel that keeps the reader immersed in the story, page by page. I could not put it down. Truly, a significant book for our time.
☑️This is a fairly fast paced novel once you get into it. The chapters are short and events unfold one after another
☑️ Himmel's style and tone are extremely rational and the book is not light reading. It's a book with serious intent. In supplementary material at the end of the book, Himmel reveals much of the book's content was inspired by his own journey, very much like Alexander's, as the author' wife Michelle became interested in energy healing and pulled him into her realm of Universal Energy healing.
☑️I would have loved to see these characters and events fleshed out and developed so that readers could have a more emotional connection to them.
☑️ It seems to me larger themes also include a modern twist on the conflicts between the rational and the religious.
☑️It does give some insight into the world of healing energy but for people interested in learning about the topic, I would suggest choosing it as it is the more realistic source.
So if you are romance novel fan, this book is for you!✅❤️
November 30, 2019
Will Alexander is a lawyer, an up-and-comer at his firm who is just trying to get through the daily grind. His life changes when he meets Erica, a social worker turned energy healer. Will and Erica are drawn to one another. Erica sees a strong energy around Will, one that he doesn't realize he possesses. Will tries to dismiss Erica's beliefs as eccentricities, however as he is pulled more into Erica's life and healing practice, Will's own beliefs begin to waver as Erica tells Will that he has helped her patients simply by being with them and one of Will's legal clients feels a weight lifted off of his shoulders after Will met with him. Will begins to realize that there might be something about him that can help others, but his beliefs are still on the fence and his legal mind won't allow him to admit to doing anything, even as he begins to take on his own clients in Erica's practice.
The Reluctant Healer is a book to read with an open mind. It is the story of a perfectly ordinary man, Will -who thoroughly believes he is an ordinary man despite evidence of the extraordinary. There isn't a lot of action or suspense in The Reluctant Healer, it is mostly the story of Will coming to grips with forces within himself yet outside of his control, and slowly changing his worldview and belief system. Even without a lot of excitement, The Reluctant Healer still had me intrigued. I really wanted to know what Will's ability was, how he was going to decide how to use it and if it had any limits. Since this is a story of Will, his character is really the only one who is fully fleshed. Erica is a large part of the story, yet I didn't get the feeling that I knew her too well. Will's choices were what powered the story. I found some choices very natural and some choices baffling, especially towards the end. Overall, The Reluctant healer is a story of opening your mind to a world of opportunities beyond what you would normally consider.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Reluctant Healer is a book to read with an open mind. It is the story of a perfectly ordinary man, Will -who thoroughly believes he is an ordinary man despite evidence of the extraordinary. There isn't a lot of action or suspense in The Reluctant Healer, it is mostly the story of Will coming to grips with forces within himself yet outside of his control, and slowly changing his worldview and belief system. Even without a lot of excitement, The Reluctant Healer still had me intrigued. I really wanted to know what Will's ability was, how he was going to decide how to use it and if it had any limits. Since this is a story of Will, his character is really the only one who is fully fleshed. Erica is a large part of the story, yet I didn't get the feeling that I knew her too well. Will's choices were what powered the story. I found some choices very natural and some choices baffling, especially towards the end. Overall, The Reluctant healer is a story of opening your mind to a world of opportunities beyond what you would normally consider.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
October 27, 2020
📚BOOK REVIEW 📚
📚✨ THE RELUCTANT HEALER✨📚
AUTHOR:- Andrew D. Himmel
🌟MY RATINGS:- 4.8/5 🌟
▶️Andrew Himmel's "Reluctant Healer" is one of the most profound and thought-provoking novels in quite some time.
▶️This book is a beautiful rendition of a phenomenon that's happening now at a heightened rate - a romance between a spiritual healer and a jaded nonbeliever.
▶️The moment you open the book, it feels like the writing engulfs you into a wormhole that transports you to the set of the story.
▶️The main character Will Alexander is a young attorney working in a firm. The story revolves around ‘’Will’’ who is a Lawyer by profession.
▶️He is an active associate attorney in a very respectable firm in Manhattan.
He finds a girl that likes him but he soon realizes that their ideas, interest are totally different and there are no similarities between them.
▶️Two people from opposite ends of the spectrum brought together to open each other's eyes to paths and experiences previously unseen that better each half of the whole.
▶️Emily tells That she sees his aura of many colors and that he is special and can accomplish big things like healing others.
while Emily becomes enamored of the colors she sees radiated off of him, and so they begin their journey.
▶️The two start a relationship, even if Erica gets a bit pushy at times. When Will unknowingly heals a few people, he ends up believing what Erica says.
▶️Then, a few other twists and turns occur in the story that keeps a reader reading.
Although Will is highly skeptical of what Jessica says and believes in, he is captivated by her and pursues her.
▶️I appreciated the hurdles of disbelief and doubt that the main character had to overcome and I very much enjoyed his journey.
▶️This is truly a remarkable book. Andrew Hummel is an excellent writer but he is also an attorney.
▶️I will not give more spoilers, but I can assure you that this book will definitely keep you engage till the end.
📚✨ THE RELUCTANT HEALER✨📚
AUTHOR:- Andrew D. Himmel
🌟MY RATINGS:- 4.8/5 🌟
▶️Andrew Himmel's "Reluctant Healer" is one of the most profound and thought-provoking novels in quite some time.
▶️This book is a beautiful rendition of a phenomenon that's happening now at a heightened rate - a romance between a spiritual healer and a jaded nonbeliever.
▶️The moment you open the book, it feels like the writing engulfs you into a wormhole that transports you to the set of the story.
▶️The main character Will Alexander is a young attorney working in a firm. The story revolves around ‘’Will’’ who is a Lawyer by profession.
▶️He is an active associate attorney in a very respectable firm in Manhattan.
He finds a girl that likes him but he soon realizes that their ideas, interest are totally different and there are no similarities between them.
▶️Two people from opposite ends of the spectrum brought together to open each other's eyes to paths and experiences previously unseen that better each half of the whole.
▶️Emily tells That she sees his aura of many colors and that he is special and can accomplish big things like healing others.
while Emily becomes enamored of the colors she sees radiated off of him, and so they begin their journey.
▶️The two start a relationship, even if Erica gets a bit pushy at times. When Will unknowingly heals a few people, he ends up believing what Erica says.
▶️Then, a few other twists and turns occur in the story that keeps a reader reading.
Although Will is highly skeptical of what Jessica says and believes in, he is captivated by her and pursues her.
▶️I appreciated the hurdles of disbelief and doubt that the main character had to overcome and I very much enjoyed his journey.
▶️This is truly a remarkable book. Andrew Hummel is an excellent writer but he is also an attorney.
▶️I will not give more spoilers, but I can assure you that this book will definitely keep you engage till the end.
October 28, 2020
The Reluctant Healer
Author: Andrew Himmel
Book Ratings: 4.9/5
When I started flipping through this book, I was amazed to see the way this author has pen downed his thought with such a conviction and clarity.
There goes a lot of efforts with this writing and proof reads, which shows immense professionalism.
The main characters of this book viz Will Alexander and Erica Wells are drafted so well that they keep revolving around you throughout this read.
Will, a young aspirant attorney who works in a firm and is having a mind split between the thought of spiritual ability to heal others and his skeptical nature with respect to alternative views. Will is portrayed as a character who takes great care to avoid possible danger or problems at the same time he is always behaving in a traditional or normal way.
When Will meets Erica who is young, energetic, beautiful, and intelligent and is an intense energy healer, he starts feeling uncomfortable not just due to her nature of being different from what is generally accepted or traditional at the same time situation handling difficulties in his own self.
When they meet, Erica reveals that she is an energy healer who can observe Will has immense abilities as a natural healer.
The reluctant healer gives a feel of a practical man who has connect between belief and doubtful nature. Will's love for Erica, the entrance into her world and new gained powers places his life in uncertain ways between break the orthodox nature and the freedom.
Finally Will refuses to accept that judgment that Erica can perceive that he has extraordinary abilities as a natural healer. At the same time he finds himself drawn to the beautiful woman who is an intellectual match for him even if her spiritual beliefs are opposite of his own
Very interesting read for one and all, even after couple of years of the release this book still keeps rocking and one of those never shadowing novel which lingers in your mind post read.
Author: Andrew Himmel
Book Ratings: 4.9/5
When I started flipping through this book, I was amazed to see the way this author has pen downed his thought with such a conviction and clarity.
There goes a lot of efforts with this writing and proof reads, which shows immense professionalism.
The main characters of this book viz Will Alexander and Erica Wells are drafted so well that they keep revolving around you throughout this read.
Will, a young aspirant attorney who works in a firm and is having a mind split between the thought of spiritual ability to heal others and his skeptical nature with respect to alternative views. Will is portrayed as a character who takes great care to avoid possible danger or problems at the same time he is always behaving in a traditional or normal way.
When Will meets Erica who is young, energetic, beautiful, and intelligent and is an intense energy healer, he starts feeling uncomfortable not just due to her nature of being different from what is generally accepted or traditional at the same time situation handling difficulties in his own self.
When they meet, Erica reveals that she is an energy healer who can observe Will has immense abilities as a natural healer.
The reluctant healer gives a feel of a practical man who has connect between belief and doubtful nature. Will's love for Erica, the entrance into her world and new gained powers places his life in uncertain ways between break the orthodox nature and the freedom.
Finally Will refuses to accept that judgment that Erica can perceive that he has extraordinary abilities as a natural healer. At the same time he finds himself drawn to the beautiful woman who is an intellectual match for him even if her spiritual beliefs are opposite of his own
Very interesting read for one and all, even after couple of years of the release this book still keeps rocking and one of those never shadowing novel which lingers in your mind post read.
July 20, 2019
This book proved quite enigmatic for me. It starts (and ends) with details about lawyers and the legal system; in between, not so much. For an associate at a large law firm (as detailed in the first few chapters), Will Alexander never seems to live that life. After meeting Erica, even while ostensibly still grinding away at the law firm, he never seems to work at night or on the weekends.
The book picks up speed (and intrigue) in the middle section. Will's search for life purpose reminded me of Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams (the book version is titled Shoeless Joe). Is Ray a farmer or a baseball dreamer? Can he be both simultaneously? Does he believe the dream life he has stumbled into? What is he going to do???
The difference in Will Alexander is he does not commit to believing the dream. When the book focuses on how his new life impacts the relationships he has with other people, the book takes off. Unfortunately, the book concludes by abandoning these topics.
I understand that it took several years to write the book. However, there were a number of characters and issues that seem to be placed in the plot for the sake of convenience only; to provide a crutch for why people and plotlines disappear.
While I hope that Will and Erica find whatever it is they seem to be searching for, by the end of the novel I cannot acknowledge that I have made a connection with either of them enough to care deeply or be concerned with the conclusion of that search.
The book picks up speed (and intrigue) in the middle section. Will's search for life purpose reminded me of Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams (the book version is titled Shoeless Joe). Is Ray a farmer or a baseball dreamer? Can he be both simultaneously? Does he believe the dream life he has stumbled into? What is he going to do???
The difference in Will Alexander is he does not commit to believing the dream. When the book focuses on how his new life impacts the relationships he has with other people, the book takes off. Unfortunately, the book concludes by abandoning these topics.
I understand that it took several years to write the book. However, there were a number of characters and issues that seem to be placed in the plot for the sake of convenience only; to provide a crutch for why people and plotlines disappear.
While I hope that Will and Erica find whatever it is they seem to be searching for, by the end of the novel I cannot acknowledge that I have made a connection with either of them enough to care deeply or be concerned with the conclusion of that search.
October 28, 2020
🌟 Book Review Tour 🌟
.
@tanmaymehta.ig
.
🌟Book Title : The Reluctant Healer 🌟
🌟 Author : @andrewdhimmel 🌟
.
.
🌟My rating : 4.9/5🌟
.
.
👉The story revolves around a young attorney, Will Alexander, who gets to know that he has the spiritual powers and the ability to heal others. ✨
👉Will is cautious and conventional but when he meets Erica, the love of his life, who is unorthodox, he feels troubled.✨
👉The beginning of the novel is little bit slow but gradually story picks up it's pace✨
👉The Reluctant Healer depicts the path of a common man who is unorthodox and is not sure whether he believes in God or not. He traces a path between belief and skepticism.✨
.
.
👉The book is totally a 5 star. The author has written the book so well and expressed every emotion in such an amazing way. The transformational journey of inner duscovery that receals, however reluctant we may be, that we all have healing abilities✨.
.
👉The reluctant healer is about embracing differences, sustaining love in turbulance and figuring out places in world (real or spiritual)✨
.
.
👉The author has played with the emotions very well. He has depicted many emotions like love, belief, loneliness etc.
This is a fairly fast paced novel once you get into it. The chapters are short and events unfold one after another.✨
.
👉Atlast I will not give more spoilers, I would recommend this book to people who are mysterious and read full of complex characters and questions✨
.
@tanmaymehta.ig
.
🌟Book Title : The Reluctant Healer 🌟
🌟 Author : @andrewdhimmel 🌟
.
.
🌟My rating : 4.9/5🌟
.
.
👉The story revolves around a young attorney, Will Alexander, who gets to know that he has the spiritual powers and the ability to heal others. ✨
👉Will is cautious and conventional but when he meets Erica, the love of his life, who is unorthodox, he feels troubled.✨
👉The beginning of the novel is little bit slow but gradually story picks up it's pace✨
👉The Reluctant Healer depicts the path of a common man who is unorthodox and is not sure whether he believes in God or not. He traces a path between belief and skepticism.✨
.
.
👉The book is totally a 5 star. The author has written the book so well and expressed every emotion in such an amazing way. The transformational journey of inner duscovery that receals, however reluctant we may be, that we all have healing abilities✨.
.
👉The reluctant healer is about embracing differences, sustaining love in turbulance and figuring out places in world (real or spiritual)✨
.
.
👉The author has played with the emotions very well. He has depicted many emotions like love, belief, loneliness etc.
This is a fairly fast paced novel once you get into it. The chapters are short and events unfold one after another.✨
.
👉Atlast I will not give more spoilers, I would recommend this book to people who are mysterious and read full of complex characters and questions✨
October 31, 2020
The Reluctant Healer📚
My rating : 4.5/5 📚
🌻My review🌻:
📚 The Reluctant Healer is based on more of spiritual belief and healing powers.
📚 It is beautifully written by Andrew D. Himmel and has 42 chapters.
📚The story starts when an intern named Will Alexander met the Energy healer in a bar named Erica.
📚 They were instantly drawn towards each other and the story is all romantic in the first half.
📚It became more and more interesting as Erica reveals her Beliefs, spiritual and energy healing abilities.
📚In the start Will wasn't completely convinced and wasn't into the same plane but eventually they made it up together.
📚 I have heard about all these energy healing powers as my family have connections with the Reiki Mission and I could connect in a lot of ways to this novel.
📚 I'm a strong believer of the Reiki Healing power which I don't think is exactly named but I guess it describes that only. I do believe there's some kind of energy in every element around us. And that we sometimes fail to see it in ways.
📚 Overall I was drawn and fascinated towards the turmoil of the story of Will and Erica and how their life went on.
Final Thoughts:🌻
📚It may not be of everyone's liking as it as detailed and intrigued facts of healing powers through energy and beliefs. But as I'm connected to the same, I absolutely adore the story and would be waiting for the sequel ❤️
My rating : 4.5/5 📚
🌻My review🌻:
📚 The Reluctant Healer is based on more of spiritual belief and healing powers.
📚 It is beautifully written by Andrew D. Himmel and has 42 chapters.
📚The story starts when an intern named Will Alexander met the Energy healer in a bar named Erica.
📚 They were instantly drawn towards each other and the story is all romantic in the first half.
📚It became more and more interesting as Erica reveals her Beliefs, spiritual and energy healing abilities.
📚In the start Will wasn't completely convinced and wasn't into the same plane but eventually they made it up together.
📚 I have heard about all these energy healing powers as my family have connections with the Reiki Mission and I could connect in a lot of ways to this novel.
📚 I'm a strong believer of the Reiki Healing power which I don't think is exactly named but I guess it describes that only. I do believe there's some kind of energy in every element around us. And that we sometimes fail to see it in ways.
📚 Overall I was drawn and fascinated towards the turmoil of the story of Will and Erica and how their life went on.
Final Thoughts:🌻
📚It may not be of everyone's liking as it as detailed and intrigued facts of healing powers through energy and beliefs. But as I'm connected to the same, I absolutely adore the story and would be waiting for the sequel ❤️
October 27, 2020
📒Book review tour by @tanmaymehta.ig.
📒 Reluctant Healer by
Andrew D.Hinnel
📒My rating- 5/5
📒My review:
📒 The story revolves around a young attorney, Will Alexander, who gets to know that he has the spiritual powers and the ability to heal others. Will is cautious and conventional but when he meets Erica, the love of his life, who is unorthodox, he feels troubled.
📒The Reluctant Healer depicts the path of a common man who is unorthodox and is not sure whether he believes in God or not. He traces a path between belief and skepticism.
📒 Will's love for Erica and Erica's exposure to her unorthodox world and Will's belief leaves him insto the state of uncertainty and confusion.
📒 The bokk is totally a 5 star. The author has written the book so well and expressed every emotion in such an amazing way. The transformational journey of inner duscovery that receals, however reluctant we may be, that we all have healing abilities.
📒The Reluctant Healer is one of the most amazing books I have read. It kept me immersed in the story. I read the book in one go.I could not put it down.
📒The author has played with the emotions very well. He has depicted many emotions like love, belief, loneliness etc.
📒I am definitely recommending this book to all the book lovers.
📒 Reluctant Healer by
Andrew D.Hinnel
📒My rating- 5/5
📒My review:
📒 The story revolves around a young attorney, Will Alexander, who gets to know that he has the spiritual powers and the ability to heal others. Will is cautious and conventional but when he meets Erica, the love of his life, who is unorthodox, he feels troubled.
📒The Reluctant Healer depicts the path of a common man who is unorthodox and is not sure whether he believes in God or not. He traces a path between belief and skepticism.
📒 Will's love for Erica and Erica's exposure to her unorthodox world and Will's belief leaves him insto the state of uncertainty and confusion.
📒 The bokk is totally a 5 star. The author has written the book so well and expressed every emotion in such an amazing way. The transformational journey of inner duscovery that receals, however reluctant we may be, that we all have healing abilities.
📒The Reluctant Healer is one of the most amazing books I have read. It kept me immersed in the story. I read the book in one go.I could not put it down.
📒The author has played with the emotions very well. He has depicted many emotions like love, belief, loneliness etc.
📒I am definitely recommending this book to all the book lovers.
November 10, 2019
If you’re willing to look beyond the ordinary concepts of faith and healing, there is much in THE RELUCTANT HEALER that will engage both your reason and your emotion.
This book was a whirlwind of things for me. The concept is one both hard to accept and take in if you are an emotional reader/person.
It all starts when Will decides to take a leap of faith which takes a six-month leave of absence from his legal firm to explore his healing abilities. Which then takes him on a journey that comes with a lot of betrayal and other challenges that push him onto a new path instead of the edge. It's a path that, for Will, all his questions and doubt, show him as a man of faith that actually has the capacity to bring spiritual healing to others.
It's very easy to read this story, with characters and events that make it very realistic for the reader to envision. When you start reading, you can't stop and when you put it down you can't stop thinking about it. It was a great read and I am glad I was actually introduced to this book or else I probably would have never picked it up.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a whirlwind of things for me. The concept is one both hard to accept and take in if you are an emotional reader/person.
It all starts when Will decides to take a leap of faith which takes a six-month leave of absence from his legal firm to explore his healing abilities. Which then takes him on a journey that comes with a lot of betrayal and other challenges that push him onto a new path instead of the edge. It's a path that, for Will, all his questions and doubt, show him as a man of faith that actually has the capacity to bring spiritual healing to others.
It's very easy to read this story, with characters and events that make it very realistic for the reader to envision. When you start reading, you can't stop and when you put it down you can't stop thinking about it. It was a great read and I am glad I was actually introduced to this book or else I probably would have never picked it up.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
February 3, 2019
A very happy happenstance to have stumbled over this book!
This is truly a remarkable book. Andrew Hummel is an excellent writer but he is also an attorney. I am not very interested in lawyers, or in the law much either, but Will the main character in The Reluctant Healer is. He is an active associate attorney in a very respectable firm in Manhattan. He is exceedingly competent, a credible litigator, grounded in the physical realm. His girlfriend, Emily, is almost his total opposite. She expresses everything in herself and all around her as having energy, even pretzels. They meet in an uptown bar. Will is entranced but fumbles badly for a pick-up line while Emily becomes enamored of the colors she sees radiated off of him, and so they begin their journey. The author states in Q & A after the book that "Existence requires something flammable to incinerate its boundaries." Never have a read a book with a better summary . Hummel also says "I feel in my gut that his (Will's) story needs to go forward.". I do too. So will you. Happy reading!
This is truly a remarkable book. Andrew Hummel is an excellent writer but he is also an attorney. I am not very interested in lawyers, or in the law much either, but Will the main character in The Reluctant Healer is. He is an active associate attorney in a very respectable firm in Manhattan. He is exceedingly competent, a credible litigator, grounded in the physical realm. His girlfriend, Emily, is almost his total opposite. She expresses everything in herself and all around her as having energy, even pretzels. They meet in an uptown bar. Will is entranced but fumbles badly for a pick-up line while Emily becomes enamored of the colors she sees radiated off of him, and so they begin their journey. The author states in Q & A after the book that "Existence requires something flammable to incinerate its boundaries." Never have a read a book with a better summary . Hummel also says "I feel in my gut that his (Will's) story needs to go forward.". I do too. So will you. Happy reading!
July 3, 2019
This book is a beautiful rendition of a phenomenon that's happening now at a heightened rate - a romance between a spiritual healer and a jaded nonbeliever. Two people from opposite ends of the spectrum brought together to open each other's eyes to paths and experiences previously unseen that better each half of the whole.
The moment you open the book, it feels like the writing engulfs you into a wormhole that transports you to the set of the story. The author's honest, direct yet extremely well-written approach takes you into the flow of his thoughts and it isn't before long that you start seeing parts of yourself in the story's characters. There is something overwhelmingly familiar in the story as the reader begins to relate to the characters, almost instantly synchronistic clues appear, shedding light on your own relationships.
I highly recommend indulging in this enlightened, yet not preachy, well-written, yet not taxing, lighthearted, yet substantive, piece of art.
The moment you open the book, it feels like the writing engulfs you into a wormhole that transports you to the set of the story. The author's honest, direct yet extremely well-written approach takes you into the flow of his thoughts and it isn't before long that you start seeing parts of yourself in the story's characters. There is something overwhelmingly familiar in the story as the reader begins to relate to the characters, almost instantly synchronistic clues appear, shedding light on your own relationships.
I highly recommend indulging in this enlightened, yet not preachy, well-written, yet not taxing, lighthearted, yet substantive, piece of art.
October 28, 2020
"THE RELUCTANT HEALER" by @andrewdhimmel
Ratings-4.7/5⭐
MY REVIEW📚
🖋The Reluctant Healer tells the story of a young attorney who is torn between mouting evidence that he has the spiritual ability to heal others.
🖋When Alexander meets Erica,a beautiful, intense , energy healer he become troubled not only by unorthodox endeavours but by the limitations of his own existence.
🖋This book paints a portrait of a reasonable man who traces a path between skepticism and belief.
🖋The story of a Reluctant Healer comes across as well as research and plot is engaging with the author trying to show us the alternative approach to life and holistic healing in general.
🖋The beginning of the novel is little slow but gradually the story does pick up its pace and starts getting interesting.
🖋The Plot is only that can be called " Unique" but at the same time us totally plausible
🖋I would recommend it to people who enjoy reading books which have deep meaning and make u think about life at large.
Ratings-4.7/5⭐
MY REVIEW📚
🖋The Reluctant Healer tells the story of a young attorney who is torn between mouting evidence that he has the spiritual ability to heal others.
🖋When Alexander meets Erica,a beautiful, intense , energy healer he become troubled not only by unorthodox endeavours but by the limitations of his own existence.
🖋This book paints a portrait of a reasonable man who traces a path between skepticism and belief.
🖋The story of a Reluctant Healer comes across as well as research and plot is engaging with the author trying to show us the alternative approach to life and holistic healing in general.
🖋The beginning of the novel is little slow but gradually the story does pick up its pace and starts getting interesting.
🖋The Plot is only that can be called " Unique" but at the same time us totally plausible
🖋I would recommend it to people who enjoy reading books which have deep meaning and make u think about life at large.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews