Warriors With Holy Hands is the story of Ruth Falk who finds herself lost in time, her life for three years spiraling downward. Stricken mysteriously ill and then orphaned, Ruth looks to the past for answers. Searching through family diaries and records, Ruth discovers several extraordinary relatives whose lives span three generations. Ruth also learns a curse spoken by one ancestor engaged her … one ancestor engaged her prayer-warrior grandmother in a pitched spiritual battle.
With increasing paralysis, Ruth joins a friend in the faith on a journey to the Southern Highlands, where it all began. There in the course of seven days–over ten months–all that has unraveled in recent years comes together. Life as she knows it will never be the same.
Warriors is a mystery that is finally, stunningly, revealed as serendipitous fruit from the branches of a family tree. It is a story of encouragement for those who seek God.
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Warrior with Holy Hands
So many characters to keep track of and a lot of different years. It was hard for me to keep track of which characters were from what time period. I believe they were from family history. There was a lot of sickness. I believe part of the story was trying to figure out how the family history related to the sickness.
I did really like the character named Thomas. He was born with something wrong with him but seemed to be a healer.
This wasn’t the book for me but someone younger might enjoy it more.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. This review is my own opinion.
The story centers around a young woman named Ruth. She has a mysterious illness that baffles the VA hospital. After being injured in the field she must suffers from a concussion. It is hard to explain her paralysis and other symptoms that are not related to a head injury. I could sense her need to find out what is going on with her. There is nothing worse than going to the doctor and they have no explanation as to why you are experiencing pains, eye problems, etc.
Ruth is determined that maybe her family history will help give clues to her illness. This is where I became very confused. I usually love time slip stories. They take us back in time as we learn details of a family and it ties in together . There were too many characters for me to be able to keep up with. I was lost at times and wanted to scream. Going back to more than one time period overwhelmed me. There is definitely a big mystery surrounding Ruth’s family and the more she dug, the more she found skeletons in the closet.
Thomas was a very big part of the story and I wanted someone to protect him. He was different from the other kids and was bullied constantly. At one point in the story boys trap him alone with his dog. The graphic nature of this scene made me angry and sad. I wish the author would have found another way to express the boys’ anger toward Thomas without the violence they did on the dog. In that moment we see Thomas laying hands on his dog as if to heal him. I won’t tell you what happened, but it began to open secrets long buried in the family.
There was quite a bit of violence in the family during the early days which involved the KKK. I will never understand how a person can murder another human being because of their color. The author does bring to light the different eras and how trouble seemed to follow Ruth’s ancestors.
Ruth will not give up until she finds answers that are hidden in diaries that are part of her kin. Her continue deterioration was making it harder for her to track down relatives and get answers that she desperately need to get help from doctors. We travel to different eras where a puzzle piece starts to open the mystery that could save Ruth’s life. It is filled with spiritual undertones that at times I wasn’t sure of. I liked parts of the book, but most of it was just too confusing and seemed to take to long to fit the puzzle pieces together.
I will say that I was intrigued by the genealogical aspect of the story. I have done extensive research on my family history and have many secrets that had been buried for years. I was shocked at how my parents were able to hold on to the biggest secrets of their lives until they died. While my brother and I researched, we found a shocking discovery. Ruth will have many details she will have to sort through as she searches for a cure for her illness. Will her ancestors hold the answer she needs?
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with Warriors with Holy Hands. It was a poignant, haunting, different book. At times it was hard to follow, but it is well worth the read. This Christian novel spans different decades with different family members. It deals with divine healing and evil curses, as well as family, love, praying, following God, and faith.
This is the story of Ruth. She is alone in the world with only a distant relative. Her health is failing and Ruth is looking for answers. Could her problems be from a family placed done years ago?
I loved the rural southern setting where it began. The author painted a picture that drew me in. I enjoyed the Jewish traditions and symbolism the book covered. It was something that I was able to glean more information from that I had not known.
The author has written a complex, thought provoking story. At times I still think about it. The mystery and intrigue are so compelling that I could not put the book down. It has some adult sections in it and for that reason I would not recommend it for teens.
The many characters are believable. Each have redeemable characteristics as well as flaws. There are so many twists and turns in this book. Just when I thought I had something figured out, the author surprised me and took a different direction.
I would definitely recommend reading this book. It takes a bit to get invested but the story develops and you will be caught up in it. Do this as a book group. There is plenty to discuss. I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my own thoughts.
‘Life can only be gained by giving it away.’
Ruth Fall is an OR specialist working in Iraq when she is gravely injured by an IED. A medic, David Lee Mayfield, not part of her unit, seems to have healing hands, bringing her back from the brink of death. ‘Somewhere, somehow, this soldier had crossed my path – before he actually crossed my path.’ Unfortunately her injuries continue to plague her until she no longer can walk. Spending her time delving into her family history, she unearths information that most certainly will affect her life!
I found I had to take copious notes in order to be able to follow the story line. However, it was most certainly worth the effort as I began to see how the many different characters were woven together to make the tapestry that was Ruth’s family. The praying great grandmother and grandmother, the parents that loved her very much, relatives that were previously unknown, all warriors in their own right. Prayer was what released this family from the curse – that and believing that they were changed by God.
‘I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun, not because I can see it, but by it, I can see everything else.’ – C.S.Lewis
I received a copy of this ebook through CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions are my own. All statements in quotes are taken directly from the book.