Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes
From the backcover of Wings of Glass:
From the best-selling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heartrending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. 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 Thoughts:
This is Gina’s third novel. She has previously published Crossing Oceans and Dry as Rain. I have not read her other books but after reading Wings of Glass I plan on it. If they are anything like this book I will love them.
I’ll be honest. I hesitated to read this book because I thought, I don’t want to read about an abused woman. But for some reason this book kept coming back to me and I decided to give it a try.
I am so glad I did. If I didn’t have to sleep I would have read this book in a couple of days. I didn’t want to put it down.
The women in this book are very endearing. Penny, the main character, frustrated me to no end. I wanted to grab her and say, “Stop giving that man chances.” She returned to her abuse over and over.
Yet, after thinking about it realize I did the same for years. I didn’t return to an abusive relationship but I returned to abusive thoughts and desires that nearly destroyed me and my marriage. Maybe that is why I love Penny and kept rooting for her to get it.
Like all of us, Penny gets a little help from her friends. Even after she ignores them and even hurts them they stay by her side and love her. That is what true friendship is all about, the kind of friends we all long for.
This is definitely not a light read, it deals with some very real issues, but I recommend it. It is so well written.
I think this would be a great book for book clubs. Discussion questions are in the end and if you do meals you could even have some fun with food from Africa 
You’ll have to read the book to see how that comes in to play.
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Here’s the giveaway: Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of this book by March 10th at 5:00 pm.
Thanks for the chance to win this novel.
You’re welcome, Katie. Thanks for stopping by.
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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i love gina’s novels…thanks for the opportunity to read her latest
No problem!
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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Thank you for the wonderful review! I would love to win this book! I have heard wonderful things about Gina Holmes but have not been blessed to read one of her books as of yet.
dianalflowers[at]aol[dot]com
Blessed is exactly what you will be if you read her book.
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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This book sounds very interesting. Would love to win it.
I know you would like it Aunt Karen
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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Well now Melissa, you’ve made me want to read this book. I’ve passed it up several times. Please put my name in the drawing. mac262(at)me(dot)com
Will do. I know, this book just coming back to me and everyone was saying good things…now I know why.
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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I just finished reading Gina’s Crossing Oceans. Would love to read another one from her. Thanks for the giveaway!
I just downloaded Crossing Oceans last week, I can’t wait to read that one too. Thanks for stopping by Cheryl.
I read Gina’s Crossing Oceans and it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m sure Wings of Glass will be another great read!
You won’t regret reading Wings of Glass, too. I really need to read Crossing Oceans.
My book club read Dry as Rain last fall. It also dealt with some difficult issues. Thanks for giving me a chance to win a copy of Wings of Glass. It looks like a great book.
Glad I can offer it to you, Pam.
It will be good to read this kind of material with some Christian thought.
Yes, the main character really struggled with what the Bible says as far as staying in a an abusive relationship and divorce. Ineresting thoughts and will difinetly spark some discussion. Thanks for commenting, Angie.
Wings of Glass looks so good! I love the cover too. Great review.
Thanks Beth. Hope you get a chance to read it.
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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I’ve heard great things about this book. Like you I’ve never read this author, but look forward to the opportunity.
I hope the you get the to read her work.
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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I enjoyed reading your review. I’ve had this book on my mind. Thank you for offering the opportunity to win a copy.
may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com
Not a problem, Kay. Thanks for commenting.
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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I haven’t read any of Gina’s books yet, but they sound interesting!
Thanks for stopping by, Marissa.
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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I entered to win this book on another blog, and as I re-read over my notes about what I had shared previously, they still stand up today, as why I think this is such an amazingly written novel that everyone should read!
Here were my original thoughts:
What I find inspiring the most, is that she took it upon herself to delve into a subject that I think most modern writers might not feel would be a story they’d want to tackle or even, have the guts to honestly protray! The fact that she has a history of knowledge first through incidents in her life or her sisters, long before it came home to her, is a rare ability to translate real life into fiction, in a way that reaffirms a situation that most women want to avoid or at the very least recognise before anything escalates! I applaud her courage and her wisdom to share everything that she has learnt in a way that can continously give back to others!!
… I completely agree with you, Ms. Finnegan, this is definitely not a ‘light’ read, but its an eye opening educational read I think, given the sensitive nature of the issue it addresses, as much a heart warming read as you get to come through the other end of the tunnel alongside the characters.
I would be honoured to win and to read this book!!
inkand-blogaways(at)usa.net
//Florida
Thanks for your insight, Jorie. I did read where Gina shared how she and family members had some of these same experiences, I loved her take on it, how she judged people for being in those relationships until she herself was in one and she understand how easy it was to lie to yourself about why it was okay to be treated that way.
Thanks so much for featuring me and Wings of Glass. This one is so close to my heart for reasons mentioned. I loved your review (obviously
and all the lovely comments. Bless you!
Thanks for stopping by, Gina. I have been reading your interviews on other blogs and loved learning more about your thoughts on this book. I can’t wait to read yuor others! You are a very talented writer.
I’ve heard great things about this one! I’m looking forward to reading it.
Hi Veronica, thanks for stopping by!
Melissa Finnegan http://www.5020genesis.wordpress.com
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