Book Review: Wings of Glass, By Gina Holmes

By: Gina Holmes

Tyndale House

2013

Paperback

ISBN: 1414366418

From the Back:

On the cusp of adulthood, eighteen-year-old Penny Carson 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 find her own.

My Reflections:

The novel Wings of Glass is Gina Holmes third book. Holmes has previously published Crossing Oceans and Dry as Rain. I have not had the pleasure of reading these other two stories, but when Wings of Glass became available I jumped at the chance to review it.

This tale is an emotionally gripping narrative about dashed dreams, spousal abuse and good friends. The story is told in first person. Penny is retelling telling her story, not to the reader, but to her young son. It took a while for me to get accustom to this style of writing, but once I grew familiar with the flow It was fine, Gina’s writing is definitely unique and very memoir-like

Gina has masterfully written a very realistic, true to life story. The characters are believable, and heart breakingly accurate. It is strongly written, eye opening and raw.

 I must admit I felt like putting this book down and walking away at points in the novel. It was just too hard to see this beautiful, character get beaten down time and time again, emotionally and physically. It broke my heart to watch her turn her back on the very people who tried to help her. But like a train wreck you persevere on and find that Penny’s friends have her back, and will not let her continue on a life of destruction and fear.

This book is not a light read, I feel it would be a good choice for book clubs, there are some great discussion questions at the back, and this type of abuse often gets swept under the carpet even in churches. The more women are educated and supported the better it is for people suffering mental, physical and sexual abuse.

I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Tyndale House!

About the Author: 
 
 

Gina Holmes

Bestselling author Gina Holmes is the founder of the influential literary site Novel Rocket, regularly named one of Writers Digest's best sites for writers. Her debut novel, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Christian Book Award finalist and winner of the Carol, INSPY, and RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest awards, as well as a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and Publishers Weekly Religion bestseller. She is also the author of Dry As Rain, a Christy Award finalist, and Wings of Glass. Gina 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. To learn more about her, visit www.ginaholmes.com.