If you’ve been with us since the start of A Novel Bookshelf then you might recall my slight infatuation (okay… obsession) with a new novelist from last year. Gina Holmes’ debut novel, Crossing Oceans, was easily my favorite read of 2010. I’m still recommending it to people even a year later (by the way… have you read it yet?!). I’ve been eagerly awaiting her next novel ever since. And it’s here! Dry as Rain is here! Check out the video to see what the story is about.
As a book buyer for LifeWay Christian Stores, I see a lot of novels that contain good stories with loveable characters and fun situations. But, the stories that I personally get passionate about are the ones that reflect real life. If you are around me long enough, you know that one of my “fiction soap boxes” is that we need more books that people today can relate to. Life isn’t always pretty. Life doesn’t always end up wrapped up with a pretty pink bow. The guy doesn’t always get the girl. Life is hard. Life is messy. But God is good throughout it.
Gina Holmes writes that kind of story. Dry as Rain can be difficult to read at times because the emotions that are coming through the page are real. You can feel the pain that Eric and Kyra are inflecting on each other as their marriage is rapidly falling apart. Each spouse is struggling with anger, doubt, and a lack of forgiveness.
Gina isn’t afraid to take her reads to the yucky part of life because that’s the way life can be for all of us. We all mess up and hope that we’ll get a do-over like Eric in the novel. Her writing reminds you that there is a God who loves unconditionally and who has provided the ultimate second chance at the life he desires us to live. I love that about Gina’s writings and I love that about the power of Christian novels.
Be sure to come back tomorrow! Gina will be joining us to share about her heart for writing novels. See you then!
Thank you so much Rachel. :-)
I haven't read Crossing Oceans yet... and I need to! I have read Dry as Rain though and I was so impressed with how Gina handled such a complicated and delicate issue like adultery. She's definitely an author I will be following in years to come!
You've GOT to read Crossing Oceans! Just be sure to have a box of tissue nearby... you're gonna need it!
Gina, I enjoyed this. When I first started writing I had a character who was such a good Christian that every problem he encountered was taken God in prayer and solved within a chapter. He was such a nice boy.
It made for a boring book,though. Real life is full of trouble that we don't handle like good Christians. It's full of sin and conflict. Novels must be, too. Good novels move us from death to life, I think. Move us forward, toward Christ, toward hope, toward love, toward honor. But you have to start with the dishonor and the danger so you have better things to move toward.
Thanks for this.