The Four Seasons of The Healer of Briarwood
with MK McClintock
You may have heard the phrase “The seasons of our lives . . .” and then someone will tell you they are in the summer of their life or perhaps the winter. The same can hold true for a book and its characters. Whether or not intentional by the author, chances are the characters of a story can represent the seasons in a year. I did one of these for the second Gallagher book, Gallagher’s Hope, and explored the idea that I could apply it to the latest installment, The Healer of Briarwood.
Spring—Rachel
Rachel’s story as a secondary character begins with tragedy, and yet she is the essence of hope throughout the story. Through her, Katharine and Brody see both the end of sorrow and the renewal of life. She has a long, personal journey ahead, and the best of what is to come for her is just beginning.
Summer—Katharine
Katharine is considered an old maid at thirty years, and while her spring has passed, she has many more seasons to look forward to as she continues to bloom. Like others who have come before her, this is a time for her to make choices and she has big choices to make. She is willing and ready to take risks in life, business, and love, and she does so with courage.
Autumn—Finn
Brody is a practical sort who has seen much of life—good and bad—and has come through it with hope for the future intact. He’s a steady sort with a big heart who isn’t afraid to do whatever is necessary to heal those in need and fight for those he loves, all while living by a code of honor that puts him in good company with the Gallagher men. There is more to Finnegan Brody than anyone realizes.
Winter—Elizabeth
Elizabeth, as the eldest female, is for all intents and purposes the matriarch at Hawk’s Peak. She is not directly connected to Katharine, Finn, or Rachel, nor does she rule the Gallagher clan, but the people feel her presence from ranch to town, and into every home. She comforts, heals, and is a beacon of strength to all who might ask, “Is it too late?” Elizabeth would reply, “It is never too late to live your best life.”
Just as the seasons blend one into the next, the dreams of the Gallaghers and people of Briarwood complement the dreams of family and friends until there is one common goal—hope, love, and the promise of peace.
MK is giving away an autographed copy of The Healer of Briarwood to one lucky commenter! Come in and let’s talk. What season of life do you think you’re living in?
A man with a healer’s touch. A woman with a healer’s heart.
Doctor Finnegan Brody tends his patients, keeps to himself, and vividly remembers the heartaches and trials from the Civil War and why he devoted his life to healing. He watches the townspeople live their lives, loving and laboring alongside one another, and wonders if one day he will give a woman as much time and dedication as he gives the people of Briarwood.
Katharine Kiely has a deep-rooted stubbornness to never give up, even if it means leaving behind her comfortable life by the sea to protect her father’s health and help expand his empire. When she finally arrives in Briarwood to convince the Gallaghers a spur line should cross their land, nothing goes as she expected.
Finn, with his knowledge of healing the people, and Katharine, who learns how to heal with her heart, join together as the townsfolk of Briarwood face challenges and choices that could alter their way of life forever.
Welcome to Briarwood and Hawk’s Peak, where friendship, love, and hope conquer overwhelming odds.
Buy Links
E-Book: Kindle
Paperback: Amazon ~ B&N ~ Large Print ~ IndieBound ~ Bookshop.org ~ BAM!
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/kDUreawijNQ
I feel like we are living a winter season right now. It’s a tough one.
It is a tough one, Janine. Winter always ends, though, and welcomes spring, so here’s to hoping it’s sooner than later for everyone. Thank you for visiting!
I love spring when everything is new. Right now we are in an extreme winter vortex. I’ll be really ready for a thaw.
I was one of those crazy people doing a happy dance when winter set in . . . now I’m counting down the days until the negative temps go away. The thaw will be nice. Thank you so much for visiting today!
Definitely winter. Four days ago, I lost my best friend of seventeen years.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, Julie. Losing someone we love is difficult no matter the season. Prayers to you and your friend’s loved ones, and a wish for hope that this winter for you ends soon.
I am living in winter in terms of age but maybe fall in other ways.
With winter comes wisdom. Most of my favorite people are living in their “winter,” and I find their company, their stories, and their lessons both enjoyable and valuable. Thank you for visiting today, Debra!
Late autumn….my fave!
Me, too! 🙂 Thank you for visiting today, Laura. Here’s to many more autumns!
What a great post. Reminds us to think about where we are now and how we can move forward. Thanks. This is such a pretty cover. The books sounds wonderful. Gotta go and check it out. I think I am in the Autumn of life right now. Yes. I have been looking to what I can do to change certain things and how I can grow from others.
quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Thank you, Lori! I hope you enjoying meeting Finn and Katharine (and all the others). Autumn is a good place to be, and I like what you’ve said about what we can do to change some things and grow from others.
Good Morning! Thank you for this fabulous post!
Thank you for visiting today, Cary!
Because I’ve had to slow my life down due to breast cancer treatment, I feel I’m in my winter season of life. Plus, the weather is -20 below and it is difficult to be outside. But, in my heart, I look forward to being in the spring of my life, when I will complete chemotherapy and begin to breathe in a spirit of having fought the fight, enjoy fresh, spring air, rainy days, and dream of gardening, planting Dahlias, and hugging my grandkids again. Thank you for blogging today. So nice to meet you and learn about your books.
I am sorry to hear of your difficulties, Kathy, but what a beautiful outlook on life. I believe we all have another spring in us, no matter where in life we are right now. Prayers to you for a quick recovery and many happy spring days with your gardens and grandkids. Thank you for visiting today.
So great to hear from you, Kathy. Your post touched me deeply. Like MK said, you have a beautiful outlook on life. You’ll get through this!! Hugs and more hugs.
Welcome, MK! I love Finn already! Can’t wait to read about him and all of the characters in The Healer of Briarwood.
Thank you, Sharon! Finn is easy to love. 🙂 I hope you enjoy meeting them all. I’m glad you stopped in for a visit!
I am living in the winter of my life right now and also the winter all around me right now. I live in KY so we have ice everywhere right now and I am so ready for spring. I am ready for a new beginning and that is what spring is to me. Your book sounds amazing and I would love to read it. Thanks for the chance.
It’s not easy when the winter of life coincides with the kind of real winter we’re having. I hope you and yours stay warm and safe, and keep thinking springtime thoughts and new beginnings. Thank you so much for visiting today!
Wow, I’m late to this fun party! Thank you so much to the lovely ladies at Petticoats & Pistols for having me today. I’m so happy to be able to share Finn, Katharine, and Briarwood with you all!
Since summer is my favorite season I so look forward to the neverending warmth and soothes my soul. Being older it is not easy to contend with winter anymore. Your book sounds wonderful.
I agree, the warmth is soothing, and will be here soon. Many wishes for happy summer days ahead. Thank you for visiting today, Anne!
What a meaningful and beautiful post today. Seasons are important to me and always have been. We look forward to them with anticipation and hope.
Thank you, Ellie! I agree with you one the importance of all seasons, and how each one brings some new to anticipate and enjoy.
I feel sometimes I am in the Autumn of my life and at other times I fell like is the Winter of my life. This year has been hard.
You are not alone, Kathleen. It has been a “winter” year for many, but spring is not far away. I hope you find your spirit burns bright with hope for all that may await. Thank you for visiting us today.
I think that seasons are how life is lived. I remember living through the worst imaginable winters ever yet the most beautiful summers too. When I had to go through treatment I missed so many experiences and seasons which I can never relive but now I am healthy again I will treasure them much more.
That is beautifully said, April, thank you. The struggles of each season make the beauty of each season all the brighter. I am glad you are healthy and look on each season as a treasure.
I think I live in the SPRING season since I am always hopeful and happy. Winter to me is not a happy feeling since I can’t go outside as much and enjoy Nature.
You’ve made me smile with your talk of hope and happiness always. I hope your constant “spring” rubs off on all those around you. 🙂 Thank you for visiting today.
Welcome, welcome, MK!! I really loved your blog today. Your perspective of the seasons is awesome, and I loved your book trailer, too. I bet you made it yourself, didn’t you? Because you’re so crazy talented that way!!!
Thanks for mentioning the trailer, Pam! I didn’t see that until I read your comment. It is gorgeous, MK! I love trains, and the footage of that train is beautiful.
Thank you, Sharon! I like trains, too, at least the old steam trains. I have fond memories from riding the Durango-Silverton train in my youth.
Ah, thank you, Pam! Yes, I made the book trailer. 🙂
Hi, I think we are in the season of Winter, but I am living in the Season of Hope, there is always a rainbow at the end of a storm. I loved your post, Thank you so very much for this beautiful post. Your book sounds like a very, very good read. Thank you for the chance. Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you.
I like that – living in the Season of Hope. Well said, Alicia. Thank you very much for visiting today and sharing your rainbow and sunny thoughts.
I feel like I am in the autumn of my life. I am dealing with aging parents. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
Thank you for visiting, Debra! Autumn is a great place to be in both life and seasons. May your parents impart wisdom, and may you enjoy many more years of their company.
Hello MK I Love the season of Spring The Beautiful flowers blooming and the Beautiful scents of the Lilac bushes Your book sounds amazing Have a Blessed Day!
Thank you for visiting, Sarah! I love the scent of lilacs in bloom. Somehow everything seems right with the world when those beautiful buds reveal themselves every year. A blessed day to you, too!
I’m a forever Autumn gal.
denise
I would happily live in a perpetual autumn, except I like gardening too much. 🙂 Thank you for visiting today, Denise!
Age would put me into the Winter category, but I have strong Autumn tendencies.. I can empathize to a degree with all the “Seasons” but I would think that would be true of most of us. At times, it is how others see us that puts us into one of those Seasons, even if we see ourselves differently. These sound like wonderful characters to get to know.
The pictures that accompany this post are lovely. I love the country and always look forward to being able to go back out West, either side of the Canadian border.
Stay safe and healthy.
Well said, Patricia. It is true that others do not always see us as we do ourselves, but I believe how we feel is far important than what others think. I’m glad you like the pictures. 🙂 Thank you so much for visiting and sharing your lovely thoughts.
I just finished Gallagher’s Pride and loved it! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. The Healer of Briarwood sounds like a book I would also love to read and the cover is beautiful. Age wise I am in the Fall of my life but since the end of Oct it feels like the Winter. My oldest son is having a serious health issue. Reading a good book helps to relieve some of the stress I feel. It is wonderful to see you on Petticoats and Pistols and I very much enjoyed your post.
Thank you so much, Sharon! You’ve made this frigid winter day a touch warmer with your kind words. 🙂 Ethan and Brenna are very dear to me.
I think, perhaps, most of us are all feeling a touch of winter (other than the weather) these days, for so many reasons. I’m so sorry to hear of your son’s health issues, and pray he can find some comfort. He is lucky to have family. Wishes of hope and blessings to you and yours.