Grace

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 Stefan. 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.

Anna, 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.


MY THOUGHTS:
Shelley Shepard Gray has made me long to visit the Brenneman Bed & Breakfast! Her previous books focused on various members of the family; this novel focuses on the visitors that unexpectedly arrive at the Brenneman home just before Christmas, a time when the Brenneman family usually has no guests. I loved the authenticity of the wide range of emotions felt by each of the characters in this wonderful story--anger, resentment, fear, hope, joy, uncertainty, and of course, love. Make time during this upcoming season to curl up with this book!