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Time of Grace
Shy young Caroline has come from England to Ireland in 1916 to work as a governess. But beautiful Grace, with her mysterious past and her fierce dedication to Ireland's freedom, opens Caroline's eyes to worlds she has never imagined. As their friendship blossoms into romance, Caroline finds the greatest happiness she has ever known. But can their love survive the condemnation of a repressive society-and Grace's involvement in the approaching Easter Rising? A passionate story of personal, sexual, and national liberation, set against the backdrop of an unforgettable moment in Irish history.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
26 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Gabriella West
21 books47 followersBorn in California, grew up in Ireland, moved to the Bay Area in 1988.
I'm the author of 9 LGBT-themed novels, including "Time of Grace" and "Elsie Street." Two recent books are set in England in the 13th century. "A Knight's Tale: Kenilworth" explores the events of the Second Barons' War through the eyes of a squire, Will, living in Simon de Montfort's household. Book 2 was published in March 2018. My most recent book is "Once You Are Mine," an M/M love story set in Northern California during the first year of the pandemic.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: My latest release in the Knight's Tale trilogy, THE KNIGHT'S RETURN, was released on May 12... but if you pre-ordered it, you will NOT automatically receive a copy, as the pre-order was unfortunately canceled right at the last moment. So, please look for it now on Amazon.com, .UK, or the other sites and pick up a fresh copy. Thank you!
Lastly, I'm pretty good about responding to friend requests :)
I'm the author of 9 LGBT-themed novels, including "Time of Grace" and "Elsie Street." Two recent books are set in England in the 13th century. "A Knight's Tale: Kenilworth" explores the events of the Second Barons' War through the eyes of a squire, Will, living in Simon de Montfort's household. Book 2 was published in March 2018. My most recent book is "Once You Are Mine," an M/M love story set in Northern California during the first year of the pandemic.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: My latest release in the Knight's Tale trilogy, THE KNIGHT'S RETURN, was released on May 12... but if you pre-ordered it, you will NOT automatically receive a copy, as the pre-order was unfortunately canceled right at the last moment. So, please look for it now on Amazon.com, .UK, or the other sites and pick up a fresh copy. Thank you!
Lastly, I'm pretty good about responding to friend requests :)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 14, 2018
I think the book was okay. The best parts about it were the storyline about the fight for Irish independence and the friendship between Caroline and Grace. However, once they became romantically/sexually involved I was disappointed by what felt to me like unnecessary drama. Some of it was also created by Caroline being selfish and a hypocrite and generally ready to think the worst of the woman she claimed to love. It’s safe to say I was not the biggest fan of Caroline, whose POV the book was written from, or the relationship drama.
I also have to say that while the writing was nice, it was also sloppy. This seems slightly contradictory, but I mean that the descriptions were done well, and the story was easy to read, but it was also full of sentences missing random words, words missing random letters, a lack of quotation marks at some places and then an abundance of quotation marks at another. I’m not usually that picky when it comes to grammar, but this was just sloppy writing and started getting on my nerves after a while.
I also have to say that while the writing was nice, it was also sloppy. This seems slightly contradictory, but I mean that the descriptions were done well, and the story was easy to read, but it was also full of sentences missing random words, words missing random letters, a lack of quotation marks at some places and then an abundance of quotation marks at another. I’m not usually that picky when it comes to grammar, but this was just sloppy writing and started getting on my nerves after a while.
August 19, 2020
This story was heart breaking and enlightening. This is my first historical romance book and I loved it. Caroline travels to Ireland for work and meets Grace. The friendship that develops between them is very emotional. They become involved and soon are cast out Unfortunately they get separated and life is difficult for Grace. The struggles they face are frightening. Well worth listening to. P.J. Morgan did a wonderful job and I didn’t know she could sing. I listened to this as an audiobook
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May 31, 2019An English governess and an Irish housemaid fall in love in the lead-up to the Easter Rising.
As historical fiction, I found this interesting. When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with Morgan Llywelyn's 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion, so I enjoyed revisiting this time period. West is able to convincingly draw upon the big themes of freedom, sovereignty, and equality in both her portrayal of the time period at large and her characters' individual lives.
This wasn't satisfying as a historical romance, but it does meet the genre requirements of a) being about the romantic relationship, and b) having a HEA. I didn't find it satisfying to read this book as a romance, however, because there was no interesting development in the romantic relationship. They meet each other, are instantly good friends, fall into bed, are in love, and have melodramatic spats. It was intensely tedious, and not the kind of romance arc I expect from a genre romance. I found the characters frustrating, especially the sole POV character, governess Caroline, whose emotions could be yanked all over the place in a single paragraph without discernible stimulus.
This book also had far more typos (missing letters, missing dialogue marks) than an average novel.
As historical fiction, I found this interesting. When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with Morgan Llywelyn's 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion, so I enjoyed revisiting this time period. West is able to convincingly draw upon the big themes of freedom, sovereignty, and equality in both her portrayal of the time period at large and her characters' individual lives.
This wasn't satisfying as a historical romance, but it does meet the genre requirements of a) being about the romantic relationship, and b) having a HEA. I didn't find it satisfying to read this book as a romance, however, because there was no interesting development in the romantic relationship. They meet each other, are instantly good friends, fall into bed, are in love, and have melodramatic spats. It was intensely tedious, and not the kind of romance arc I expect from a genre romance. I found the characters frustrating, especially the sole POV character, governess Caroline, whose emotions could be yanked all over the place in a single paragraph without discernible stimulus.
This book also had far more typos (missing letters, missing dialogue marks) than an average novel.
October 28, 2013
This is the second same sex romance I have read. Last time it was about the male gender.
Both times I have been very pleasantly surprised!
Caroline leaves her homeland to go to Ireland. She is to be a governess to young Amelia.
After the death of her brother, Ralph, she had to leave. Why not? He was the only thing that kept her around.
When she gets to her new place of employment she finds the Lady Wilcox to be a bit cold, but Amelia is a very pleasant young lady.
She finds one maid in particular to be very intriguing and often finds herself admiring her...what might come of this new and interesting friendship?
I think romances like this are always so much fun to read because on top of the love interest you have to get past the "do they feel the same about me" in a whole different way then a heterosexual relationship.
Highly recommend to everyone, regardless of your sexual preference!
Both times I have been very pleasantly surprised!
Caroline leaves her homeland to go to Ireland. She is to be a governess to young Amelia.
After the death of her brother, Ralph, she had to leave. Why not? He was the only thing that kept her around.
When she gets to her new place of employment she finds the Lady Wilcox to be a bit cold, but Amelia is a very pleasant young lady.
She finds one maid in particular to be very intriguing and often finds herself admiring her...what might come of this new and interesting friendship?
I think romances like this are always so much fun to read because on top of the love interest you have to get past the "do they feel the same about me" in a whole different way then a heterosexual relationship.
Highly recommend to everyone, regardless of your sexual preference!
February 21, 2018
3/3.5🌟
I enjoyed reading the historical aspect of the novel, it brought a three-dimensional feeling to Caroline and Grace's world. It was certainly well thought out and added some conflict in the novel, which I felt was needed to make the romance seem more realistic. I mean, the second Caroline saw Grace, she fell in love and she was very much pining for her throughout while Grace wasn't as interested in her at certain parts. I did like them but I wish there was more build up to them. Don't even get me started on the careless mistakes that littered the book, allowing me to not get into it as I wanted to (and I did want to because the concept was great).
I enjoyed reading the historical aspect of the novel, it brought a three-dimensional feeling to Caroline and Grace's world. It was certainly well thought out and added some conflict in the novel, which I felt was needed to make the romance seem more realistic. I mean, the second Caroline saw Grace, she fell in love and she was very much pining for her throughout while Grace wasn't as interested in her at certain parts. I did like them but I wish there was more build up to them. Don't even get me started on the careless mistakes that littered the book, allowing me to not get into it as I wanted to (and I did want to because the concept was great).
October 28, 2011
*Won via a Goodreads giveaway*
A wonderfully written love story between two women, Grace and Caroline, set against a fascinating backdrop of liberating Irish history. I don't tend to go for these kinds of novels but wanted to read something outside of my comfort zone and Time Of Grace was just perfect for this purpose. I was worried that perhaps it was going to be on the cheesy/tacky or explicit side of romance (judging by the cover alone) but instead it was tasteful with a sprinkling of naughtiness.
A wonderfully written love story between two women, Grace and Caroline, set against a fascinating backdrop of liberating Irish history. I don't tend to go for these kinds of novels but wanted to read something outside of my comfort zone and Time Of Grace was just perfect for this purpose. I was worried that perhaps it was going to be on the cheesy/tacky or explicit side of romance (judging by the cover alone) but instead it was tasteful with a sprinkling of naughtiness.
May 16, 2021
Cross-class lesbian romance. English governess Caroline and Irish maid Grace find each other.
Full of romance tropes. If I liked the romance genre better, I might have liked this book better.
The Irish uprising part was well-done.
Full of romance tropes. If I liked the romance genre better, I might have liked this book better.
The Irish uprising part was well-done.
March 26, 2016
Slow starting but picked up and very good.
January 24, 2020
This book was an okay read. Although, the story was interesting with the Irish uprising and the romance between Caroline and Grace it failed to keep me engaged. I had to force myself to go back and listen to it and that made for a not so engageing audiobook.
The narration was well done and I find one of the saving graces of the book.
In the end the story faired well and I liked the ending, but the only reason I finished listening was because it was a free audiobook and I felt obligated to listen until the end.
I was given this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The narration was well done and I find one of the saving graces of the book.
In the end the story faired well and I liked the ending, but the only reason I finished listening was because it was a free audiobook and I felt obligated to listen until the end.
I was given this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 30, 2019
Time of Grace is romance set against the backdrop of the Easter Rising, the first armed action during the Irish revolutionary period. Although the historical period is well researched, the characters themselves are not well-developed and lack depth.
My biggest pet peeve is the lack of a good editor. The book is riddled with several glaring typos that a spell check program could have corrected, as well as misspellings and a few grammatical errors that an editor or proofreader should have caught.
My biggest pet peeve is the lack of a good editor. The book is riddled with several glaring typos that a spell check program could have corrected, as well as misspellings and a few grammatical errors that an editor or proofreader should have caught.
November 23, 2019
I don’t have a solid opinion about this book. I finished the book with some apathy, as any of the problems that arise in the plot tend to be resolved quickly and without hassle, to the point where there isn’t as much tension as I expected toward the end of the book. If you’re interested in a quick feel-goodish story, check it out. It was also cool to learn about Ireland’s fight for independence at the beginning of the twentieth century.
February 7, 2018
Good book
This was an incredible story. I enjoyed reading about the Irish uprising, it actually got me to researching more informative. I thought the love story was well done too.
This was an incredible story. I enjoyed reading about the Irish uprising, it actually got me to researching more informative. I thought the love story was well done too.
August 20, 2019
Good read
O could not stop reading this book, it was the best historical love story I ever read. I cried , laughed😍
O could not stop reading this book, it was the best historical love story I ever read. I cried , laughed😍
March 25, 2018
Beautiful read
Beautifully written. Interesting story line and characters who you care about. Thought enjoyed the history aspect and how it related to the characters lives.
Beautifully written. Interesting story line and characters who you care about. Thought enjoyed the history aspect and how it related to the characters lives.
June 2, 2019
Captivating Tale
Pulled me in from page 1, and didn’t let me go till the end! This is a terrific tale about struggle...to find and be oneself; to find and embrace love; to be independent and free of oppression. The characters were developed enough, and real enough, to like....or not. Couldn’t help but hope for the best for Caroline and Grace!
Pulled me in from page 1, and didn’t let me go till the end! This is a terrific tale about struggle...to find and be oneself; to find and embrace love; to be independent and free of oppression. The characters were developed enough, and real enough, to like....or not. Couldn’t help but hope for the best for Caroline and Grace!
September 14, 2011
This review is from Rainbow Reviews, 4.5 stars. Read it here: http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=1574
This novel is not at all what I expected. This is not lesbian erotica couched in a historical plot, as often happens, but rather is a beautifully written historical novel that happens to have two female main characters in a romantic relationship. And it's totally enchanting.
Gabriella West takes us back to the Ireland during the buildup to the Easter uprising of 1916. Caroline, a young English woman mourning the death of her brother in the European war, goes to Ireland to work as a governess in a large country estate. There she meets Grace, a sympathetic servant, and she finds herself falling into a relationship that she did not expect. She did not expect to fall in love at all, and especially did not expect to fall in love with someone from a different social class, different upbringing, different religion and most especially with someone so different politically.
Caroline is introverted and is wrapped in her personal sorrow. Grace breaks her out of her shell, but their relationship is anathema to their employer. As they move from friendship into a physical relationship, the very real danger of being 'different' rears its ugly head.
But ~ the real story is about Ireland in 1916, a people longing to be free. Caroline's personal liberation from sexual repression is set in train against the backdrop of the liberation of the Irish people from political repression. The characters are sensitively, even delicately, drawn, and their relationships, their dialogue, their feelings ring true.
Time of Grace is a thought-provoking novel that has led me to want to read more about this period in history. Sexually, it is a true romance, not explicit, but delicately exploring a love not in tune with its times. Historically, it is a passionate exploration of an unforgettable time period in Irish history. I will be looking for more from Gabriella West.
This novel is not at all what I expected. This is not lesbian erotica couched in a historical plot, as often happens, but rather is a beautifully written historical novel that happens to have two female main characters in a romantic relationship. And it's totally enchanting.
Gabriella West takes us back to the Ireland during the buildup to the Easter uprising of 1916. Caroline, a young English woman mourning the death of her brother in the European war, goes to Ireland to work as a governess in a large country estate. There she meets Grace, a sympathetic servant, and she finds herself falling into a relationship that she did not expect. She did not expect to fall in love at all, and especially did not expect to fall in love with someone from a different social class, different upbringing, different religion and most especially with someone so different politically.
Caroline is introverted and is wrapped in her personal sorrow. Grace breaks her out of her shell, but their relationship is anathema to their employer. As they move from friendship into a physical relationship, the very real danger of being 'different' rears its ugly head.
But ~ the real story is about Ireland in 1916, a people longing to be free. Caroline's personal liberation from sexual repression is set in train against the backdrop of the liberation of the Irish people from political repression. The characters are sensitively, even delicately, drawn, and their relationships, their dialogue, their feelings ring true.
Time of Grace is a thought-provoking novel that has led me to want to read more about this period in history. Sexually, it is a true romance, not explicit, but delicately exploring a love not in tune with its times. Historically, it is a passionate exploration of an unforgettable time period in Irish history. I will be looking for more from Gabriella West.
October 6, 2016
A English young female feels a attraction towards a young Irish female maid that is new an forbidden to her as she is still a virgin .
A young woman gets a job as a governess for a wealthy family in Ireland . Tutoring a small female child . As she struggles to accept her new position she makes one female friend secretly . 18+
A young woman gets a job as a governess for a wealthy family in Ireland . Tutoring a small female child . As she struggles to accept her new position she makes one female friend secretly . 18+
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September 29, 2013A new ebook edition of Time of Grace is currently on preorder at Smashwords, Apple, BN, and Kobo. It's available for purchase on October 12, 2013, at the introductory price of $3.99!
June 29, 2019
There wasn't anything terrible about this book, but I can't find anything to recommend about it either. I mean, historical lesbians! Always great. But I really don't feel like this story captured any of intensity and passion and terror of the Easter Rising. I mean, it was there, but the dispassionate voyeuristic view of it that we got from Caroline was so sterile and didn't affect me in the slightest. I never really warmed to Caro; she was judgemental in hurtful ways and it never really felt like she fully repented of it. The book would have been better if told from Grace's POV, but not much. The writing was flat and sometimes textbookish, which I didn't enjoy. The romance was sweet at first, and I liked that I didn't fit the conventional romance novel style. But then it bounced all over and instead of becoming invested I simply got a bit bored.
The above does seem a bit harsh; again, I didn't actually dislike this book. But I needed more to like, like it.
2.5 stars.
The above does seem a bit harsh; again, I didn't actually dislike this book. But I needed more to like, like it.
2.5 stars.
February 8, 2021
Maybe 2.5 stars. I would have put it down before finishing the first half if it hadn't been for my bookclub, so on I went. I read the first half rapidly, and so missed all the bad editing that so bothered a number of people. The second half was quite a bit better. The history was interesting but too superficial and rather flat....as were the characters, more or less. This book had great potential for a good story, but was poorly developed and I just couldn't get into it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews