Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Wings of Glass
(Tyndale House Publishers - March 1, 2013)

by
Gina Holmes
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey now called Novel Rocket and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.

Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass will releases this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.

When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.

MY THOUGHTS:

The author takes the difficult and delicate subject of domestic abuse and makes the story not only palatable but engaging. She either did excellent research or her life has been touched in some way by abuse as her descriptions and scenarios were so realistically written. This book sent me on an emotional journey, going from happy, to sad, to mad and even disgusted - oftentimes within the span of a single page.

I disliked Trent from the moment he shows up in the book and at times, I even disliked Penny. I've never experienced domestic abuse firsthand, but I was left amazed and disappointed at the excuses that she gives her friends and the blind forgiveness she gives Trent.

Callie Mae and Fatimah had to be my favorite characters in this book...tough, mouthy, strong-willed, but also tender and vulnerable. I cheered them on many times in their attempts to get Penny away from the abuse and I loved their stick-to-itiveness (if that's a word).

I highly recommend this book - it is beautifully written, emotionally compelling, and is a story that will speak to you long after you've turned the final page. This is the first book I've read by Gina Holmes and it definitely won't be the last.

My sincerest thanks to CFBA and Tyndale House Publishers for generously providing a copy of this book for my honest review.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of Glass, go HERE.