Gina Holmes's Dry as Rain ~ Reviewed

Dry as Rain
By Gina Holmes
Published by Tyndale House Publisher, Inc.(September 1)
ISBN# 978-1414333069
400 Pages

Back Cover:

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a powerfully moving story that tests the limits of love’s forgiveness. Like many marriages, Eric and Kyra Yoshida’s has fallen apart slowly, one lost dream and misunderstanding at a time, until the ultimate betrayal finally pushes them beyond reconciliation. Just when it looks like forgive and forget is no longer an option; a car accident gives Eric the second chance of a lifetime. A concussion causes his wife to forget details of her life, including the chasm between them. No one knows when—or if—Kyra’s memory will return, but Eric seizes the opportunity to win back the woman he’s never stopped loving.

REVIEW:

I was thankful to receive a review copy of Gina Holmes new book. I liked her main character Eric. He has a chance to take a good long look at his life and says, “When I’d first became a Christian, I read what Adam and Eve had done in the Garden of Eden and it really ticked me off. Now, I knew that I was no different then they were. I guess none of us are.” How true!

I enjoyed Eric’s honesty. His world was on the fast track to success! He sought the good things in life, a nice home in a good neighborhood only the best for his family! Of course there were sacrifices that had to be made in order to achieve his goal but it would be worth it. Right? He was determined to be at work early, stay late, and work holidays. His job came first! How else would he be able to provide for his family? They’d understand! So he thought!

Then realization hits him. Had all this money brought him happiness? No, he was more miserable than ever. He missed the early days of his family before they moved into the fancy neighborhood. Now his son was in the service and his wife kicked him out of the house. Then Eric gets a call. There’s been an accident and his wife has lost some of her memory! She’s forgotten they are separated! Eric and the Doctor felt it’s best to let Kyra regain her memory before they tell her the realities of her life. Her memory would return soon enough!

Eric wondered if he should take this time to let his wife know him again. How many people get a chance like this? Have a do-over? Maybe he could win her back! Time was ticking. He was in a race against the time her memory would return and remember why they were separated in the first place!

Gina Holmes pens an honest look at a couple whose drifted apart and doomed for divorce. Then an unforeseen car accident brings them together in a surprising way. It seems they have a fresh start.

I liked how this author shows what’s important in life and how easily we can lose track of our relationships when we start pursuing money; leaving relationships behind thinking they’ll still be there when we are done chasing the prize. God’s called us to a balanced life and one totally dependent on Him. I enjoyed this novel and its message. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Bonus Review:

Dry as Rain is a completely different book than Gina Holmes’s freshman release, Crossing Oceans, but it is as well-written as thought provoking as Oceans. Told in first person male voice, this story explores the theme of death, like Oceans, but the death is a slow, lingering death of a marriage. By the time the reader is introduced to the characters the marriage has crumbled into full separation, it is at the point where those who vowed to love til death do them part now revile the very faces that made those promises. Bitterness, blame, misunderstandings and selfishness have replaced all that was good and promising in the marriage.

These hindsight-wisdom tinged details all come out through the inner thought life and conversations of the husband, Eric. The wife, Kyra is in no position to share her thoughts with the reader because an accident has left her without memories of the rancor. Because she believes that their marriage is what it once was, the doctor suggests that the couple reconcile temporarily until her memory begins to return. Eric is given a chance at a do-over. But can he possibly win back his wife’s heart before she sees the disaster of what their marriage has become?

Holmes successfully weaves in some story elements that would be soap-operish if not written with skill and capable hands. I was also impressed with the honest grit that Holmes realistically portrayed. The characters are an authentic mix of likeable and frustratingly selfish at times. Kyra is not as fleshed out as Eric because the story is written in his POV. There are themes in this novel that will make some want to avoid it as it hits heavy in areas that some Christian fiction sidesteps around. There are also Christian themes of redemption and forgiveness that might push some folks away as well. Quite a bit of time is covered in the novel, so there are months covered with just a few pages, but as much as that takes away from the intimacy, it does help with reader emotions. If you are seeking stories that stick with you and leave you with hope. This is one of those. Tired of the sugar-coated, sit-com-simple style of inspirational fiction that falls flat and leaves you hungry for honestly drawn, broken, but forgiven people struggling through life’s struggles by clinging to grace, then this is one to look into.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer