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The Prayer Tree #2
Saving Grace
Every year on the night of New Bethany's annual Splendor Belle Gala, reclusive Sera Grayson appears on the porch of her aging antebellum home dressed in a tattered ball gown. Legend holds she is reliving the greatest disappointment of her waiting endlessly for the man who stood her up more than fifty years ago. Rosemary, Naomi, Gayle, and Lucy, first introduced in Jones's Prayer Tree, together decide to help out the eccentric old woman-partly to strengthen their own special bond, threatened by time and the demands of everyday life. Will their joint project instead tear them apart forever?From the Trade Paperback edition.
- GenresChristian Fiction
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 1998
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 25, 2022
3.5 stars. The idea that God’s grace, prayers, and friendship get us through life’s problems was a major theme. It was enjoyable for the most part, but somehow the problems each member of the prayer circle had didn’t seem catastrophic, just stressful. I couldn’t help comparing this book to the Yada Yada Prayer Group books by Neta Jackson, which I love. I might have rated this one higher if I had read it first.
January 9, 2012
Saving Grace by Annie Jones: Steel Magnolias, It’s Not
I received this ebook from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group to read and honestly review.
The following review of Saving Grace should remove any doubt that I am letting a free review copy get in the way of being honest, because to be honest, weak plot structure, confusing point of view switches, and overdone southernisms got in the way of some nice characterization, witty dialogue, and a good story.
I was all set to enjoy a good story about the friendship of four women’s friendships but felt cheated. Maybe if I had read the first book (I found out Saving Grace is a sequel only afterward.) I would have been more interested in the plot. But come on! Whether or not to restart the prayer group seems a weak vehicle for the characters to ride. And helping Grace seems like the obvious thing for good Christian women to do, not something they should have to be talked into.
And the story was confusing. Other reviewers blamed themselves for not having read the first book. This no doubt would have been helpful, and I suggest you do read it first. But the main reason for the confusion was the bewildering point of view switches. The (rather pointless) prologue sets up the book to be about Naomi and her husband, but then the point of view jumps around among the characters in no consistent, recognizable pattern, making it difficult for the reader to commit to the story.
I’ll take the author’s word that the southernisms in the story are authentic. But whether they are or not, they don’t read authentic and are as overdone as red eye gravy on grits. This too gets in the way of the story. Whenever the four women get together, not much real, character- building conversation occurs—just a lot of odd expressions get tossed around in ways that don’t advance the plot.
Now with all that negative critique out of the way (for which I am truly sorry), I loved the parts that focused on each individual woman and her man. In those passages, the point of view focuses in on one character long enough for the reader to get caught up in her thoughts and problems. There, the characters become real and the reader wants to know more. There, the excessive southern dialect gets out of the way, and the conversation is clear and true. (I especially enjoyed seeing the interaction between Ben and the endearing Lucy. I laughed out loud at several exchanges. I could really sympathize with her embarrassing faux pas and yearning for a husband and children. ) It is because of these passages that I kept reading Saving Grace and why I plan to check out other titles by Annie Jones.
I received this ebook from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group to read and honestly review.
The following review of Saving Grace should remove any doubt that I am letting a free review copy get in the way of being honest, because to be honest, weak plot structure, confusing point of view switches, and overdone southernisms got in the way of some nice characterization, witty dialogue, and a good story.
I was all set to enjoy a good story about the friendship of four women’s friendships but felt cheated. Maybe if I had read the first book (I found out Saving Grace is a sequel only afterward.) I would have been more interested in the plot. But come on! Whether or not to restart the prayer group seems a weak vehicle for the characters to ride. And helping Grace seems like the obvious thing for good Christian women to do, not something they should have to be talked into.
And the story was confusing. Other reviewers blamed themselves for not having read the first book. This no doubt would have been helpful, and I suggest you do read it first. But the main reason for the confusion was the bewildering point of view switches. The (rather pointless) prologue sets up the book to be about Naomi and her husband, but then the point of view jumps around among the characters in no consistent, recognizable pattern, making it difficult for the reader to commit to the story.
I’ll take the author’s word that the southernisms in the story are authentic. But whether they are or not, they don’t read authentic and are as overdone as red eye gravy on grits. This too gets in the way of the story. Whenever the four women get together, not much real, character- building conversation occurs—just a lot of odd expressions get tossed around in ways that don’t advance the plot.
Now with all that negative critique out of the way (for which I am truly sorry), I loved the parts that focused on each individual woman and her man. In those passages, the point of view focuses in on one character long enough for the reader to get caught up in her thoughts and problems. There, the characters become real and the reader wants to know more. There, the excessive southern dialect gets out of the way, and the conversation is clear and true. (I especially enjoyed seeing the interaction between Ben and the endearing Lucy. I laughed out loud at several exchanges. I could really sympathize with her embarrassing faux pas and yearning for a husband and children. ) It is because of these passages that I kept reading Saving Grace and why I plan to check out other titles by Annie Jones.
April 13, 2012
So do you like the southern girl book theme? You know what I mean. It has some really good ones that are already classics. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, The Help, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Steel Magnolias. Yeah, you know these. Well I love this type of book. Maybe it is being a Texas gal that helps them tug at my heart so. Or it could be that they sound the way I talk.
It is just a book that makes me feel at home is so comforting. I know that is why the popularity of these 'southern' books hits home with so many. 'Saving Grace' is another that fits into this grouping. Now it is not as tug at the heart strings as others. But a decent read. I do think there is a lil bit that seems to be stock or expected. Now again, that is the charm of this type of story. It could be the family down the street or your great aunt as the character.
While I enjoyed reading Annie Jones story I did not like the method I had to do it on. This was another e-book that I could download on to my computer with Adobe Digital Editions. But I could not get it to transfer to my generic e-reader. That is so aggravating. I had to sit in my office to read. And that is not good. You see, I tend to disappear into facebook and pinterest if I am near my computer. You too? So I try to stay with good old fashion paper books. They work best for me. Maybe one day I will get this all down and be a lil more tech savvy.
I do thank WaterBrook Multnomah for sharing with me though. It is great to be part of their Blogging For Books group.
It is just a book that makes me feel at home is so comforting. I know that is why the popularity of these 'southern' books hits home with so many. 'Saving Grace' is another that fits into this grouping. Now it is not as tug at the heart strings as others. But a decent read. I do think there is a lil bit that seems to be stock or expected. Now again, that is the charm of this type of story. It could be the family down the street or your great aunt as the character.
While I enjoyed reading Annie Jones story I did not like the method I had to do it on. This was another e-book that I could download on to my computer with Adobe Digital Editions. But I could not get it to transfer to my generic e-reader. That is so aggravating. I had to sit in my office to read. And that is not good. You see, I tend to disappear into facebook and pinterest if I am near my computer. You too? So I try to stay with good old fashion paper books. They work best for me. Maybe one day I will get this all down and be a lil more tech savvy.
I do thank WaterBrook Multnomah for sharing with me though. It is great to be part of their Blogging For Books group.
September 28, 2011
This is not the type of book I would normally pick up and read. I like Christian fiction, but I usually read it because I got it free for my Kindle or I got it free in exchange for a review. That being said, I almost always enjoy them. This book is no different. It's a book about finding strength when you think your world is falling apart. We all face times like that, and if we maintain the right perspective, we grow stronger. And we make it. Being Christian fiction, that idea is shared in terms of religious belief. This isn't what I would call a born again book. Those are harder for me to swallow. :) This isn't so in your face, it's just a given accepted part of who the characters are.
The story is interesting. I have a soft spot for history and legends, and as this book touched on both, it's not surprising I liked it. The characters overall were believable. I don't know that Ben or his relationship with Lucy were very well developed, but most of the other characters felt rounded out to me.
I might have known the characters a bit better if I had read the first book in this series, The Prayer Tree (The Prayer Tree Series #1). Normally, reading a book in a series makes me want to read the others, but I have to admit, that is not so in this case.
Anyway, I give it three out of four stars.
I did receive this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for this review.
The story is interesting. I have a soft spot for history and legends, and as this book touched on both, it's not surprising I liked it. The characters overall were believable. I don't know that Ben or his relationship with Lucy were very well developed, but most of the other characters felt rounded out to me.
I might have known the characters a bit better if I had read the first book in this series, The Prayer Tree (The Prayer Tree Series #1). Normally, reading a book in a series makes me want to read the others, but I have to admit, that is not so in this case.
Anyway, I give it three out of four stars.
I did receive this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for this review.
November 22, 2011
What a wonderful story! The story centres around four friends, Gayle, Rose, Naomi
and Lucy have drifted apart in the last years Naomi being the plotter and schemer in the group discovers that there is a way she can bring the group together: By convincing her friends if they could go visit Grace, is said to sit on the porch every year on the night of the Annual SplendorBelle Gala waiting for a man who stood her up over fifty years ago.
I’d say the author did a very good job in creating believable characters. And what I really enjoyed most about this was that, Christian values were nicely woven in the story without coming out as preachy. I enjoyed how the women were there for each other in times of great difficulty, loved the dialogue as well, the descriptions were well done. There were moments in the story I chucked to myself, others I was touched to the point of being misty eyed. At the end of the story, when Grace revealed what happened over fifty years ago, on the night of the Gala, I found myself reading eagerly, and later smiling, glad to finally know the truth.
Everything was tied up nicely, and I loved the Happy Ever After. After reading this to the last page, I just sighed happily.
and Lucy have drifted apart in the last years Naomi being the plotter and schemer in the group discovers that there is a way she can bring the group together: By convincing her friends if they could go visit Grace, is said to sit on the porch every year on the night of the Annual SplendorBelle Gala waiting for a man who stood her up over fifty years ago.
I’d say the author did a very good job in creating believable characters. And what I really enjoyed most about this was that, Christian values were nicely woven in the story without coming out as preachy. I enjoyed how the women were there for each other in times of great difficulty, loved the dialogue as well, the descriptions were well done. There were moments in the story I chucked to myself, others I was touched to the point of being misty eyed. At the end of the story, when Grace revealed what happened over fifty years ago, on the night of the Gala, I found myself reading eagerly, and later smiling, glad to finally know the truth.
Everything was tied up nicely, and I loved the Happy Ever After. After reading this to the last page, I just sighed happily.
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May 25, 20094
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November 7, 2010
It was good, not great. I probably would have liked it better if I had realized there was a book before this one, but I didn't like this one enough to go back and read the first one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews