The Reluctant Healer of Halifax by Terrie Todd

The Reluctant Healer of Halifax
by Terrie Todd

ISBN-13: 9798891514027
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: August 1, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Three days ago, Pearline Campbell's family was whole and Oliver Hamilton had come home from the war. But disfigured and shellshocked, Oliver ended their relationship. Then came Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the Halifax harbor was leveled by a tremendous explosion. Her parents are dead, her brother is missing, and her sister refuses to speak. Pearline must open her home to needy orphans, including an unidentified baby. Where can she find the strength for each new day as misery grips the city?


My Review:
Halifax is a historical set in 1917 in Halifax, Canada. As the only healers were minor characters, I'm not sure what the title's referring to. Anyway, this was the story of the explosion of a ship full of munitions in the Halifax harbor. The main characters managed to be everywhere interesting and learned about all of the details of the explosion, so it's basically a history lesson seen through a fictional frame. Pearline's home was far enough away from the harbor that it suffered minimal damage, so she took in orphans from the disaster while looking for her missing family.

Oliver has known Pearline for years and loves her, but his pride can't handle the pity and disgust he's sure he'll receive from people due to damage to his face and a missing eye. He broke off their unofficial engagement for her own good, so she won't feel embarrassed by him (though he claimed it's because she won't be able to handle the sight). He woefully underestimated Pearline time and again, and he kept making decisions for her (mostly, keeping distressing information from her) because he thinks she can't handle it. She kept forgiving him and hoped he'd finally come back to her. As even his own mother was exasperated with him, it's hard to call this a romance even if he did come to appreciate Pearline's emotional strength and integrity.

There was no sex or bad language. The ongoing gore was only minimally described, with the focus more on how people were impacted by what they witnessed. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.