Grace

Title: GRACE
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire
October 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-199096-0
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

The Brenneman family is preparing for a family Christmas. They have no guests scheduled, so they are going to fill the rooms with family. But then they get an unexpected reservation—one sent my mail that traveled the country before arriving, and their guest, Levi is due to arrive that day. But before Levi arrives, a very pregnant Amish girl, Melody, comes, carrying a a gift certificate and swearing she made a reservation.

Melody wants to get away from well meaning family after her brutal attack resulting in her pregnancy. She is shunned by her community for making bad decisions. Levi is angry at the world. He lost his wife and baby tragically, and now the last place he wants to be is someplace that celebrates Christmas. He thought a bed and breakfast would be safe.

The Brenneman’s try to make the best of an uncomfortable situation, but it is hard when their daughter Katie has an attitude problem and is snippy to family and quests alike. What will it take for everyone to have a Merry Christmas?

GRACE is the fourth book in the Sisters of the Heart series. I was a bit confused at first, as I’ve read the other series, Seasons of Sugar Creek more recently, and I couldn’t seem to place the characters. After awhile I realized that this book went back to the first series I read by this author. As a result it took me quite awhile to get grounded in the Brenneman’s part of the story. Levi’s and Melody’s portions of the story flowed much more smoothly.

I enjoyed watching these two hurting characters heal and interact with the big, loving Brenneman family and did enjoy going on a deer hunt with the men and interacting with the women as they baked cookies. Discussion questions, a letter from the author, some yummy sounding recipes, and a chapter from Ms. Gray’s newest series Families of Honor are included at the end of the book. Highly recommended for a good holiday read. $12.99. 287 pages.