Synopsis

Based on true events, The Healing is the story of Cate Henderson who, after twenty-six years in an abusive relationship, sets out on a quest to find healing. Cate packs up everything she owns and leaves Calgary on an odyssey westward, to Vancouver Island, where her ever-present journal and the abundance of nature become the foundation of her self-recovery. She yearns for something deeper and then when she isn’t looking, she finds love with the solid and virtuous Ethan. Cate thinks his steadfast love is what she is searching for, but soon realizes she needs to do her own work, that love for herself is the key.

With echoes of Eat, Pray Love, The Healing is a raw and vulnerable exploration of human resilience. At times both painful and uplifting, it’s a story about love, examining motherhood, partnership, grief, expectation, and optimism, and the journey inward to self-love.

Indigo/Chapters (CA)

Review

This story follows Cate, a woman that has left an emotionally abusive relationship is starting fresh in another part of the country. She has support from her children and meets some wonderful people in her new adopted town including the man that shows her what life can really be like with the right person.

This was an interesting read for me. I felt for Cate but was happy to see her realize that a long unproductive relationship was not something she should stay in for her own mental health. In her quest to rediscover herself, she meets men that aren’t necessarily good for her until Ethan. He is a good guy but has some of his own baggage and it was refreshing to see them work through things together and learn more about themselves and each other.

Cate also shares her journal entries with us and her desire to heal and move forward. She makes many discoveries about herself which only benefits her in the end. I thought the interaction with her children and ex-husband was telling and gave us more insight into her thought process. I enjoyed watching her grow in her new relationship and feel more comfortable in her skin.

My only negative is that the writing felt stiff and I didn’t feel like the story flowed as smoothly as it could.

Overall, we give this book 3 1/2 paws up.

About the Author

Lynda was born in a small prairie town in western Canada in the mid-sixties. She lived with her parents and older brother in a succession of small towns until a traumatic life event had them move to Calgary, Alberta.

When she found out she was pregnant at the age of sixteen, Lynda’s life took on a whole new direction. With the support of her family, as well as a stack of student loans and grants, she attended university. Lynda married and had two more children.

After more than twenty years trying to fix something that was broken beyond repair, Lynda left her marriage to embark on a new life adventure on Vancouver Island. There she met her soulmate, David. They fell immediately and deeply in love and married in 2014. Later that same year, she and David adopted his step-daughter.

Lynda’s life transformed once again when she and David moved to the Middle East. The expat gig has provided exciting travel opportunities and a myriad of new cultural experiences.

Now, Lynda’s days are filled with yoga, meditation, reading, writing, cooking, taking care of business and connecting with people she loves. In the future, she dreams of growing her writing career poolside from her home in Panama.

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