Anthony Priest, the junkie sitting beside her, instinctively touches her when she cries out, but Gina flees in shock and pain. Poor in health but rich in faith, Gina Merritt-a young, broke, African-American single mother-sits in a pew on Ash Wednesday and has a holy vision. The book we discussed was Wounded by Claudia Mair Burney. It's a quest for truth, sanity, and grace…and an unexpected love story.Recently I have had the pleasure of being a part of a round table discussion put together by Amy at My Friend Amy’s Blog. Along the way they encounter an uncertain evangelical pastor, a gentle Catholic priest, a certifiable religious zealot, and a transvestite drug dealer, all of whom lend their voices to the tale. Putting aside their difference and their mutual distrust, Gina and Anthony embark on a search for answers. Is it a miracle, or just a religious delusion? It seems like everyone who knows of the mysterious stigmata has an opinion, and it's not always favorable. Wanting an explanation, Anthony follows Gina home. A prizewinning journalist before drugs destroyed his career, Anthony is stunned that he is suddenly overcome with a sense of well-being and he instantly knows that he is cured of his addiction.

When the vision fades, Gina's hands are bleeding.Īnthony Priest, the junkie sitting beside her, instinctively touches Gina when she cries out, but she flees in shock and pain. As tears fill her eyes, Christ kisses Gina's hands, leaving two perfect red roses. Instantly she has a holy vision of the Son of God kneeling before her. As she sits in a pew on Ash Wednesday with throbbing pain in her knees and a raging migraine, she turns her concentration elsewhere and silently prays, 'Share with me, Jesus.' Gina Merritt, poor in health and rich in faith is the last person to expect a miracle to happen to her. If a miracle happened to you, wouldn't you tell everyone? What if they thought you were crazy? SHE HAD A VISION OF CHRIST PLACING TWO PERFECT RED ROSES IN HER HANDS.AND THEN SHE WAS WOUNDED! She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a quirky dwarf rabbit. Her work has appeared in Discipleship Journal magazine, The One Year Life Verse Devotional Bible, and Justice in the Burbs. She is also the author of Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz, and the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries and the Exorsistah series for teens.

Cook novel Zora and Nicky: A novel in Black And White. Claudia is the author of the popular Ragamuffin Diva blog and the David C.