Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Grace  Avon Inspire; Original edition (October 26, 2010)  by  Shelley Shepard Gray   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   

Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven.  Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado.  She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children.  When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town's scenic bike trail.





ABOUT THE BOOK   

It's Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed & Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holiday.

Anna and Henry will be celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, and for Katie and Jonathan Lundy, it's their first Christmas with baby Eli. Winnie and Samuel Miller plan to stop by as well for a wonderful two weeks of family and rest.

But when two unexpected visitors show up, hoping to stay for Christmas, the family must test their commitment to hospitality. Levi is a widower who lost his wife four years ago and can't bear the thought of another Christmas alone. And Melody is a young pregnant woman who won't open up about how she ended up on her own at Christmas at almost nine months pregnant.

Katie, who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets, doesn't trust her, and strives to find out the truth about these two strangers who have disrupted their holiday. But as the Christmas spirit descends on them all, as well as snow that traps them in the inn, a healing and hopefulness takes over, allowing new relationships to be built, and the boundaries of family to be extended.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Grace, go HERE.


Margie's comments: Grace is a heartwarming Christmas story, a wonderful reminder of how God's grace sent His Son as a baby to eventually die for our sins. Grace taken to the extreme indeed. Two very hurt and lonely people show up at the inn, desiring to be left alone with their bad memories. However, the Brennemans have already made their Christmas plans, and they don't intend to leave anyone out, especially their guests. Throughout the book grace is vividly portrayed. The only, very minor "complaint" I have with the book is that it is the fourth in a series, and I feel like I've missed some very important information that isn't, of course, included in this book. To be fair, what's needed for this story is there. And it is still a very satisfying Christmas read. I look forward to reading other books by this author.