Saving Grace by Pamela Fagan Hutchins is 2012 publication. I was provided a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Katie is going through a bad patch. She lost her parents in a tragic accident and then the man she is in love with makes in crystal clear he is not interested in a relationship with her- period with about ten exclamation marks. As a result, Katie has been killing the pain with a few too many bloody Mary's. Her job as an attorney also suffers.
Katie's friends and family urge her to take some time off and get her act together. She agrees and heads off on vacation. The tropical island where her parents died in an accident to be precise. Once there, Katie meets Ava and the two forge a friendship. Ava helps Katie try to find out what really happened to her parents. But, before Katie can make any progress she must return home to Dallas. Back at work, she is given her first ever criminal case, which she promptly botches. When she gets a call from the island explaining that Ava's lover has died and the house Katie had been interested in is back on the market, she returns to decide where her future is headed. But things go from bad to worse with Ava is accused of murder.
This is the first book in this series and I can tell you I am hooked. I can't wait to read the next one. Katie is a flawed character, surrounded by even more flawed characters, but is supported by some really great friends.
I loved Katie's conversations with herself. She referred to herself as "Katie". Knowing deep down she is in serious trouble with her drinking, she just can't seem to stop. Her heart is broken by the death of her parents and the rejection from the man she just can not stop loving. A career nose dive puts the cherry on the cake. But, the island is beckoning as well a house that is haunted.
Not only that, there is a nice man that has taken an interest in Katie. Will Katie have the strength to put Dallas behind her for good or will the past come calling?
There are some really funny moments and some really sad moments in this book. There is a mystery to solve, there is a ghost, there is heartbreak, there is romance. It was hard to place this one just one genre. So, if you like contemporary romance, paranormal romance, chick lit, women's fiction and mystery, then you will probably like this book. Katie will have more adventures in the next book which if you read the preview will have you quite impatient to start on the second book. Over all this one gets an A.