Driftwood Tides

Sometimes when we hold onto too tightly to our dreams, they can slip between our fingers no matter how tight we try and hold on. In the case of Holton Creary, he can seem to find anything to live for any longer. Since losing his wife Adele, five years ago, he believes he was at fault. He had fixed her brakes in her car and that fateful morning when she left, she died when she hit another car head on. The results of just what caused the crash were inconclusive, but in Holton's heart, he was to blame.

Now struggling to make ends met as a driftwood sculpture, he finds the only way to get through the long nights in look down the inside of any gin bottle he has handy. His assistant Tess, knows from experience, that the only way for an alcoholic to get help is when he is ready. No amount of pressure can make anyone want to get better. For Holton, he has virtually given up. He can only hope one day, he will drink his way into unconsciousness and never wake up.

To make matters worse, a local artist is copying Holton's driftwood sculptures and selling them for a whole lot less and taking his contacts within the local community. But no matter how low Holton offers to sell his original creations, Henry just keeps under cutting his prices to take away any hope that Holton can make a living.

Libby is struggling to find a way to tell her over-bearing mother, Caroline, that the wedding she had dreamed of is vastly becoming the one Caroline never had. She is sparing no expense to ensure that Libby has the finest wedding she can afford. But Libby has news that is bound to rock Caroline's world, yet she doesn't realize it will also rock hers as well. In being tested for genetic abnormalities in preparation for her wedding to Rob, Libby discovers that the woman she believed to be her birth mother has been lying. The test results have confirmed that her mother, Caroline, and her birth father both had O+ blood types and Libby's is an A+. There is no way, she is the product of the parents she has believed up to now and now she has to find a way to confront Caroline. When she learns that she was adopted and her birth mother is Adele Creary, she sets out to find out just why her mother put her up for adoption. But she won't be ready to learn what she discovers in the process.

I received Driftwood Tides by Gina Holmes compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such a moving story about finding hope in the midst of loss, learning how to find forgiveness and overcoming storms to see new future. Gina does such an exceptional job at bringing the reader down to Holton's level and seeing just how bad things are in his eyes. He has lost all hope despite what lies all around him. He begins to relate to the broken pieces of driftwood he finds abandoned on the beach as if no one wants them any longer. The transformation of what he creates by fashioning them into a work of beauty isn't apparent until Holton can hit rock bottom. Only then will he be able to look up instead of where he has been.

For those that know what the struggle of alcoholism can do not only to the person drinking but to their support system as well, this is an eye opening look at reality at it's bleakest from the eyes of those who have been there. It's not pretty and it's not supposed to be. The writer doesn't attempt to rush this to a conclusion but show you that the path often offered isn't the one that is chosen instead. She makes you care deeply for both Libby and Holton as they both struggle to overcome their pasts and instead look to embrace a future of hope, but it will take blood, sweat and a whole lot of tears to get there. It's truly a beautiful look at restoration and hope and one I give a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Driftwood Tides, Gina Holmes or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Driftwood Tides by Gina Holmes

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Wings of Glass

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~ Richard Bach

"He always said if I left he would kill me, but there are far worse fates than death. Guess I hadn't known that until I met and married Trent Taylor. I didn't mind the cuts and bruises half as much as the insults and accusations. Whoever said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" has never been on the other end of a tongue that really knows how to cut.

I hope you never know that kind of pain, Son. More than that, I hope you never cause it. How could you? You have such a soft heart. My sweet Emmanuel.

Surely by now I've told you your name means "God with us." Because he was, Manny. He is. Even if you haven't realized it yet, you're lucky to have such a wonderful name. I used to hate mine - Penny - because that's exactly how much I felt I was worth for most of my life. But God used you to change all that.

It's important to tell you before I begin this story that it's not my intention to make you hate your father. He's a man - fallen, like the rest of us. But I know you'll ask about him, and I decided when you were old enough, I would share with you all I know. That day hasn't come yet - you're just beginning to talk! - but I best write it down while it's fresh in my mind. Although some of it, I know, will fade.

Reading this won't be easy, and please don't feel you have to if it's too much. I'm not one to believe all truths need to be spoken, but just in case you want to know, need to know, I'd rather you hear it from me as a whole story than get bits and pieces of the puzzle from others and not be able to make them fit together quite right.

Besides, your grandmother told me long ago the best way not to repeat history is to know it. I think that's probably right. " (Prologue).

This is the story told from the eyes of one who lived what most of fear. Penny Carson was abused by a man, she had once loved and who believed that control was a necessary part of his life, Trent Taylor. It is told as if you are reading it as a journal of sorts written for her son Emmanuel when he was old enough to understand.  It is a difficult one to read, but also once that compels you forward in her story to know why some one would stay in a relationship that has no real ending to it. The 'whys' we often ask when confronted with a situation of domestic abuse often seems to be an easy answer to most of us. Just leave, right? Only for those who have been at the beginning, at some point their views on their situation shift and at times they feel justified by the abuse. It's sad when the only hope Penny can manage to find is when she learns her husband has had an accident. She was hoping he might die, but instead her only thoughts were, " Great. Now he's going to be even meaner."

But this is a story of hope found in the midst of darkness. It comes in the form of two ministering angels,Calle Mae Johnson and later Fatimah Wek although like most victims of abuse, it takes Penny awhile to gain enough courage and confidence to confide in them, although she never lets on that Trent is hitting her. She continues to come up with excuse after excuse to cover for his behavior but at some point Calle and Fatimah share their own secrets with Penny. Even then, it's still too hard for her to admit the truth. But will she take a risk if it means placing her own baby in danger?

I received Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Allliance and Tyndale Houe Publishers for my honest review and received no compensation to provide a favorable review. The opinions expressed are solely my own. This is a difficult novel for some, but also one I believe we all need to read, if more than to know a little bit about what goes on in the world even if we would love to pretend it doesn't. For the victims of domestic abuse, it provides a voice and offers hope to those that might see things different by reading this novel. It takes courage to share what Penny has to endure from the beginning and you see the early signs that should have been red flags for her. How she innocently passed them off as simply jealously or a sense of belonging to Trent. The journey is filled with tears, understanding, and hope and one I am personally glad I got the opportunity to take through Gina's words. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Wings of Glass, Gina Holmes and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

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Dry As Rain

Behind every broken vow, lies a broken heart.

When Eric and Kyra Yoshida first met, they thought their love would last forever. But like many marriages, theirs has crumbled, one thoughtless comment and misunderstanding at a time, until the ultimate betrayal pushes them beyond reconciliation. Though Eric longs to reunite with Kyra, the only woman he has truly loved, he has no idea how to repair the damage that has been done.

Then a car accident erases part of Kyra's memory - including her separation from Eric - and a glimmer of hope rises from the wreckage. Is this a precious opportunity for the fresh start Eric has longed for? Does he even deserve the chance to find forgiveness and win back Kyra's heart? Or will the truth blow up in his face, shattering their last hope for happiness?

My Review:

I received Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and found this to be a perfect example of what it truly means to seek and find forgiveness. While the premise behind the story involves infidelity, the second chance that Eric sees as a sign from God leads him to delay telling Kyra the truth, even though the doctors have warned him that Kyra's memory could come back at any time.

He spends the first few nights dealing with the feelings of guilt, remorse and regret because even though Kyra remembers nothing, he still knows that nothing has changed from his own perspective. He now holds in his hand a simple choice, to tell the truth or live a lie, and ultimately he chooses wrong. The book is filled with what happens when we don't live alongside God's truth and the darkness that will follow for those wrong decisions.

For once I was happy that this didn't end up the way we would all like, because much like reality, we don't get second chances. Not all our life decisions end up for the best and sometimes life throws us a curve ball. Yet its what we chose to do in THAT moment at the crossroads, that determines the course of the life that follows. This is a shining example of that and how the road to forgiveness isn't an easy path as we'd like it to be sometimes. That is real and for that reason, I award, Dry As Rain, a perfect 5 out of 5 stars because life isn't perfect!

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes

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