New novel by Gina Holmes builds to intense finale

I just finished reading a preview copy of Roanoke author Gina Holmes' new novel, Wings of Glass, due out in March. Its a riveting tale of domestic abuse, as a young woman deals with an alcoholic husband, trying to convince herself that he will turn his life around. Penny's strong faith in God - and the Bible's view that divorce is a sin - keeps her in a nightmarish situation, with a baby on the way to make things even more complicated.

Befriended by a Sudanese woman and an older woman who is also her employer, young Penny walks on eggshells at home, fooling herself by believing that Trent will stop drinking and abusing her. Wings of Glass - which refers to a statuette given to Penny by her employer, Callie Mae ( who had originally purchased it for her own daughter, beaten to death by a man) is the third novel from Holmes. Her first, Crossing Oceans, was a Christian Book Award finalist, as was her second novel, Dry As Rain. Holmes, who has also started a public relations firm with the notorious River Laker, should recieve kudos for Wings of Glass (Tyndale House Publishers), another Christian-themed book with nary a cuss word among its 365 pages.

Wings of Glass builds to a somewhat-surprise climax, and Holmes' writing gets better and more intense as it moves along. She also includes several pages of information at the end for people dealing with domestic abuse. You can feel the angst as Penny tries to survive in her harsh domestic environment, as readers wait along with her for Trent to explode once again. Thanks to Gina Holmes for scrounging up another advance copy for my review. Look for a radio interview with her soon on Roanoke This Week With Gene Marrano (Saturday and Sunday mornings, 11:30 on Fox Radio 910am) and a print interview in the Roanoke Star. Support this rising local author by purchasing a copy of Wings of Glass when it is published in March.