Seattle has struck it a bit rich in terms of finding itself with writer physicians. One of the finest, Carol Cassella follows up on the promise and wonder of her debut, Oxygen, with an ambitious, wide-ranging second novel, Healer (Simon & Schuster). A woman's ambitions for a medical career get put on hold in order for other life to be lived, only to see her calling realized, after much travail has ensued, in rich and surprising ways. "A deeply powerful story about the intricate intersection of marriage, motherhood, and career. Clear-eyed and compassionate, Carol Cassella takes her readers on the roller-coaster ride of a marriage and family shaken by financial upheaval." - Erica Bauermeister.