Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Soft Cover

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

Reviewer:  Virginia Armstrong

Jags: 7 

First-year resident Dr. Lisbeth Hastings is overworked and sleep-deprived when her father summons her to his archaeological dig site.  It’s during her visit at the Cave of the Swimmers in northern Africa that she falls through a hidden portal, casting her back thousands of years to the ancient city of Carthage.   Finding herself the subject of a slave auction, she must put her trust in Cyprian Thascius , a legal advocate for the Bishop and a hidden Christian.  Thrown together, they must contend with many obstacles in their path fight for the freedom of themselves as well as their household.  Can their love possibly survive the onslaught that awaits them? 

Healer of Carthage is a story that intertwines present day life, especially that of medicine, with the tumultuous past.  It is a time of religious persecution, slavery and disease without medicine.  The story encompasses faith, love, betrayal and courage. 

The writing style is done in perfect form, flowing nicely from page to page.  The content is somewhat disappointing as the characters did not come to life as well as they could have, nor did the ambience of the past fill the pages.  Still, the story is worth the read, filled with growing romance, suspense, and a journey to the past.  

The Jag Review has received a free copy of this book from Howard Books, for our honest review. The opinions expressed here are our own.