Heal the Wounded was a finalist in the 2011 Readers Favorite Book Awards in the Christian – General Fiction Category and WINNER of the Bronze Medal in the Young Adult (Coming of Age) category!

The second book in the “Wounded Trilogy“

“Heal the Wounded is the much-anticipated sequel to Lynn Dove’s brilliant debut novel, Shoot the Wounded.

After the death of their friend, Ronnie (in Shoot the Wounded), Leigh and Jake are trying to come to terms with the aftermath of Ronnie’s death. As their love grows for one another, Leigh and Jake must face a series of devastating, life-changing events that will challenge their love and their relationship with God.

Tim, Ronnie’s brother, a bitter and tormented young man after the death of his sister, becomes the target of bullies at his school. Feeling hopeless and alone, he cuts himself to find that emotional release to let go of the pain he deals with everyday.

Trying to embrace his newfound faith, Mike, Jake’s best friend, lives in his own private nightmare dealing with the consequences of his parent’s constant arguing and his father’s alcoholism.

Exerpt from the book:

“You don‘t get it, Dylan! Ronnie was absolutely beautiful, smart, fun to be around – ”

“And you‘re not, is that what you‘re saying, Leigh?” Dylan stopped and spun her around. “Did Jake ever say he liked Ronnie more than you?”

“He didn‘t need to say it, I just knew…” Leigh would not look Dylan in the eyes.

“You‘ve got a huge chip on your shoulder, Leigh.” Leigh was hurt by the tone of his voice, but she had to admit that he was right.

“I don‘t usually like to go to the movies with girls who think of themselves as ugly and stupid. In fact, of all the ugly stupid girls I have gone out with in the past, I wouldn‘t even list you among the top ten,” Dylan teased.

“Whaaa…?” Leigh frowned.

“I guess I said it wrong,” he said, then laughed good-naturedly. “What I mean is, I think you are beautiful, smart, fun to be around, and I want to get to know you better—but only if you start to think of yourself the same way. I‘m not into girls who have low self-esteem. I‘m into girls who are confident about themselves and their abilities. I can‘t stand girls who need their egos stroked all the time, but I also can‘t stand girls who don‘t think they‘re good enough for me or anyone else. I hate doormats. Do you hear what I‘m saying?”

Leigh nodded, still a little unsure of herself. Dylan smiled and gave her a hug. “Look, don‘t put yourself down—ever—at least not around me. I think maybe it was my baby sister who showed me how to admire girls who don‘t take any crap from anyone. She was stubbornly pig-headed… remember my tattoo?” Leigh nodded. “Maybe that‘s what Jake liked about Ronnie. She sounds like a girl who didn‘t care what the rest of the world thought of her. She did her thing anyway. Not saying she made all the right choices, but hey…” Dylan did not finish the sentence. He refused to make a judgement about the way Ronnie had lived her life. “I‘m not too sure about this Jake guy, though. I‘m worried that, when he realizes how dumb he was to let you go and comes back for you, you‘ll dump me… but then again…” He paused and looked deeply into Leigh‘s eyes. “But maybe not. Give me a chance, okay?”

Before Leigh could react, Dylan leaned down and kissed her warmly on the lips. His eyelashes fluttered against her cheek. His lips were soft and she felt herself kissing him back. He lingered there for what seemed to Leigh an eternity and then, when he released her, she thought her knees would buckle. Dylan looked at her, grinned, and then said self-assuredly, “Bet that Jake guy never kissed you like that.”

Leigh had to agree.

(pages 83- 84, Heal the Wounded by Lynn Dove)

Heal the Wounded, like Shoot the Wounded, delves even deeper into the real world of teenagers trying to live out their faith in the midst of upset and struggle.

Will these youth find God’s healing and hope in the middle of hurt and heartache?

Brilliantly written, poignantly told, readers who loved Shoot the Wounded will not be disappointed with Heal the Wounded‘s powerful message and the on-the-edge-of-your-seat storyline.”

Heal the Wounded is available on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, on Lynn’s website and wherever fine books are sold!

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