Edna Ventre-Auerfeld, Penny’s Gift

Penny's Gift

Edna Ventre-Auerfeld

Pocket, Mar 2004, $6.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0743482069

Penny Cheney is a stay at home mother of four year old twin girls and a baby boy while her husband Hal works at International Supplies. However, Penny becomes ill and keels over in her kitchen. Hal rushes her to Southlawn Hospital where she is placed in the intensive care ward in a comatose state with no hope of recovery.

While Penny remains near death, miracles begin to happen in the hospital. Reporter Louis Klotz whose asthma is cured realizes that Penny is the center of incredible miracle worker of individuals dying from incurable diseases. His article brings the world to this small hospital.

When Penny regains consciousness she tells Hal that she was given a choice of entering the light or returning to her family with a healing gift not seen on earth in two millenniums. Penny will soon learn that her gift is also a curse as the demands on her become unbelievable with some people willing to endanger her loved ones to force her hand.

PENNY'S GIFT is an incredible thought provoking tale that focuses on the impact on a divine miracle worker who just wants to be a good loving mother and wife, not save the world second coming. The story line starts like a typical family drama, but quickly turns into a fabulous parable from the moment Penny receives Hobson's Choice until the climax of dealing with an endless demand. This is a great insightful tale of sacrifice from an author who has quite a future if this "daydream:" is any indication of her talent.

Harriet Klausner