I saw one review that said this book was a little hokey...and I guess there is a certain hokieness to it from a certain point of view. But I absolutely LOVED this book. Once I started, I couldn't put the darn book down. It's got such a unique and interesting storyline, and the romance is wonderful.

The Healer is a story about Jonah Gray Wolf, who at about two years of age, was brought into a remote Alaskan village clinging to the fur of a female wolf. The townspeople were horrified and fascinated all at once by the bizarre oddity. Jonah was taken in by the local doctor, but it wasn't long people the people began to realize there was something strange and different about him. Aside from his unusual kinship with animals, he could also heal a person with just his touch. After some fear, they accepted him and grew to love him as one of their own. But then Jonah healed the wrong person, a man who wished to control and contain Jonah for his own selfish purposes.

To save himself and those around him, Jonah went on the run for ten years. He slept in the wild, worked when he needed money, and communed with the animals. Then one day he encountered Lucia, a woman distraught over her gravely injured dog. Jonah helps the woman, but the first time they touch, each realizes there is something special between them. Soon Jonah is settling into life with Lucia, but he knows trouble is coming. Not only is the man still after him, but someone is stalking Lucia. And all too soon, the quiet life he'd had for only a short time falls apart. He decides it's time, though, that he stood up to his troubles. Including doing anything and everything to protect Lucia, a woman he loves more than anything.

This was such a wonderful, touching book to read. I loved Jonah. He was such a fascinating selfless character. He's got this amazing gift, but he sees it at just who he is. Despite the trouble it causes him, he never turns his back on someone in need. He's just one of those truly good guys. And I loved how he talked to the animals, like they were just people. It was amusing to read at times.

I also liked how the romance in this book played out. I don't always like it when authors do the "love at first sight" thing because it often comes off kinda cheesy and unrealistic, but because of the nature of the characters in this book, it just worked for them. And it's nice to read a romance once in a while where it's just pure romance. No angsty "I love you but I don't want to love you" stuff, or break-ups and getting back together at the very end. Jonah and Lucia meet, and that's it for them. It was very sweet to read. The kind of stuff that makes you sigh and wish you were them.

And on top of all that good stuff, the storyline was interesting and rather original - with Jonah a gifted healer on the run from a man who wanted to keep him locked up so Jonah would always be available to heal him if needed. Definitely not the type of story you encounter often. Plus there was Lucia's stalker...which might have been a little superfluous, but it added some nice dimension to the story. And it was fantastic how Jonah solved that issue. Sala also surprised me near the end with the identity of one of the "bad guys." I was expecting how that played out. So kudos on that! I like being surprised!

Basically, this was just a very enjoyable read from every aspect. A great romance, great characters, a great storyline. Sure there were a few flaws, maybe, but I can't even think of what they were because I liked everything else about the book.

So this is a good book to read if you love romance, animals, can suspend "reality" for a little bit, and like interesting storylines - or if you are a fan of Sala's books.