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Grace and the Guiltless
Grace Milton's peaceful life with her family on a horse ranch outside Tombstone, Arizona is shattered in one devastating night. Her family is brutally murdered by the notorious Guiltless Gang, leaving Grace the only survivor. Trekking into the wilderness on her stallion, Grace falls ill from the elements. A young man name Joe saves her life by taking her to an Apache camp where she learns about their way of life and begins to fall for Joe. When Grace encounters one of the Guiltless Gang, her strength will be tested. Can she survive as a bounty hunter, or will she fall into darkness again? This Western revenge epic will captivate teen readers with its ruthless spirit of suspense and adventure and a powerful central romance.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2014
12 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Erin Johnson
7 books19 followersErin Johnson grew up watching classic western movies with her father, which fueled her lifelong love of horseback riding. She's always dreamed of being a fierce-talking cowgirl, but writing about one seemed like the next best thing. She loves traveling, riding motorcycles and teaching, and lives in North Carolina.
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November 13, 2014
See more reviews on my blog.
Look at that cover. That is a badass cover. That is the badassest of badass covers that promises so much badassery. Ready that blurb. That is a badass blurb. It makes you think epic amounts of badassery are about to go down, doesn’t it?
It’s all lies.
The book starts out very well, with Grace’s peaceful and happy life being shattered when she watches her entire family get murdered. She rides into town and tries to report the crime to the sheriff, but he refuses to do anything because he’s been bribed by the gang that did the murdering. Grace’s grief and frustration were well done and an excellent set up for a hard-bitten heroine story to follow. There’s some stuff throw in about silver mining and land deals to make this bonified Western territory, and we’re all set up to go!
And then we don’t really go anywhere.
See, Grace, despite repeated and insistent claims to the contrary, is an idiot. She doesn’t really “succumb to the elements” as she does “bash her head against the elements in the mistaken belief that this will actually help anything.” She rides off into the desert with no water, no food, no direction, just some vague idea that she’s going to “find the Guiltless Gang” and then…shoot all six of them with her three bullets? On the one hand, I get that she’s overcome with grief and not thinking very well. On the other hand, if that’s the case, she should probably shut up about how well suited she is to all this. She has this annoying habit of never proving anything with her actions, almost dying, and then insisting “BUT YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, I’M GOOD AT STUFF.”
About halfway through the book, she gets rescued by Joe and taken to live with a Ndeh (Apache) tribe. And that’s the point at which this book gets truly rage inducing. Because this tribe exists to do nothing except be all smiles and welcomes to Grace, accept her immediately with no questions, heal her and her horse, give her a house, and do it all without a word of complaint. She kills one of their taboo animals and after a moment of shock, they’re all “eh, you had good intentions, here, have a special bow.” She joins them in one battle and (even though it’s stated in the book that young boys have to go on four raids before they’re considered warriors) she gets all warriored up and given a high honor. Give, give, give while smiling and/or being silent background scenery, that’s all these people are around for. (Oh, that, and to be so scared of ghosts that they can’t tell the difference between a ghost and a couple kids that were just hiding for several hours. How…how do you even write that with a straight face?)
Oddly enough, one of the things that bothered me the most was that Joe kept having his tan skin emphasized as “brown.” He’s a white boy that got adopted by the tribe when he was very young. It felt like the book was trying to have some diversity there with a “brown” love interest, but made sure that the guy was still properly Caucasian first.
Also, in true White Savior style, Grace learns the “Ndeh ways” (no, she doesn’t, she learns a bit of bushcraft but very little culture) from Joe (amazing how the white boy is the ‘voice’ of the tribe in this narrative, he does all the talking) and winds up being just awesome at all of them in a few short weeks. And then she keeps using the term “tracking instincts” to mean that skillset that she just learned, how the fuck do you confuse that with “instincts” you literally just learned it, it’s quite obviously not an instinct if you had to learn it. *ahem* Sorry, pet peeve.
Hey, remember that gang that Grace is supposed to be hunting down in the name of vengeance? Doesn’t happen. There’s a little bit of a hint of action at the end, but that whole vengeance plot line was nothing more than a too-often repeated bit of dialogue, where people tried to convince her to ‘let it go’ in a heavy-handed manner. Let what go? She hasn’t done anything yet!
(Oh, and parting shot, all that let it go BS pissed me off, too. Um, they’re a marauding band of criminals who like to kill toddlers and the law is notoriously crooked and ineffective even if they are good, why would you not go get them?)
Between the utter failure to deliver on the premise, the heroine’s lack of action to back up her repeated claims, and the misappropriation of Native American culture, I wouldn’t recommend this. Go watch True Grit if you want your fill of little girls avenging the death of family members.
Look at that cover. That is a badass cover. That is the badassest of badass covers that promises so much badassery. Ready that blurb. That is a badass blurb. It makes you think epic amounts of badassery are about to go down, doesn’t it?
It’s all lies.
The book starts out very well, with Grace’s peaceful and happy life being shattered when she watches her entire family get murdered. She rides into town and tries to report the crime to the sheriff, but he refuses to do anything because he’s been bribed by the gang that did the murdering. Grace’s grief and frustration were well done and an excellent set up for a hard-bitten heroine story to follow. There’s some stuff throw in about silver mining and land deals to make this bonified Western territory, and we’re all set up to go!
And then we don’t really go anywhere.
See, Grace, despite repeated and insistent claims to the contrary, is an idiot. She doesn’t really “succumb to the elements” as she does “bash her head against the elements in the mistaken belief that this will actually help anything.” She rides off into the desert with no water, no food, no direction, just some vague idea that she’s going to “find the Guiltless Gang” and then…shoot all six of them with her three bullets? On the one hand, I get that she’s overcome with grief and not thinking very well. On the other hand, if that’s the case, she should probably shut up about how well suited she is to all this. She has this annoying habit of never proving anything with her actions, almost dying, and then insisting “BUT YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, I’M GOOD AT STUFF.”
About halfway through the book, she gets rescued by Joe and taken to live with a Ndeh (Apache) tribe. And that’s the point at which this book gets truly rage inducing. Because this tribe exists to do nothing except be all smiles and welcomes to Grace, accept her immediately with no questions, heal her and her horse, give her a house, and do it all without a word of complaint. She kills one of their taboo animals and after a moment of shock, they’re all “eh, you had good intentions, here, have a special bow.” She joins them in one battle and (even though it’s stated in the book that young boys have to go on four raids before they’re considered warriors) she gets all warriored up and given a high honor. Give, give, give while smiling and/or being silent background scenery, that’s all these people are around for. (Oh, that, and to be so scared of ghosts that they can’t tell the difference between a ghost and a couple kids that were just hiding for several hours. How…how do you even write that with a straight face?)
Oddly enough, one of the things that bothered me the most was that Joe kept having his tan skin emphasized as “brown.” He’s a white boy that got adopted by the tribe when he was very young. It felt like the book was trying to have some diversity there with a “brown” love interest, but made sure that the guy was still properly Caucasian first.
Also, in true White Savior style, Grace learns the “Ndeh ways” (no, she doesn’t, she learns a bit of bushcraft but very little culture) from Joe (amazing how the white boy is the ‘voice’ of the tribe in this narrative, he does all the talking) and winds up being just awesome at all of them in a few short weeks. And then she keeps using the term “tracking instincts” to mean that skillset that she just learned, how the fuck do you confuse that with “instincts” you literally just learned it, it’s quite obviously not an instinct if you had to learn it. *ahem* Sorry, pet peeve.
Hey, remember that gang that Grace is supposed to be hunting down in the name of vengeance? Doesn’t happen. There’s a little bit of a hint of action at the end, but that whole vengeance plot line was nothing more than a too-often repeated bit of dialogue, where people tried to convince her to ‘let it go’ in a heavy-handed manner. Let what go? She hasn’t done anything yet!
(Oh, and parting shot, all that let it go BS pissed me off, too. Um, they’re a marauding band of criminals who like to kill toddlers and the law is notoriously crooked and ineffective even if they are good, why would you not go get them?)
Between the utter failure to deliver on the premise, the heroine’s lack of action to back up her repeated claims, and the misappropriation of Native American culture, I wouldn’t recommend this. Go watch True Grit if you want your fill of little girls avenging the death of family members.
August 21, 2014
*All quotes taken from ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Warning to self: I have been reading so many weird books lately, I may need my brain rewired.
Do you remember The Quick and the Dead? That movie with Sharon Stone, a young Russell Crowe, an even younger Leonardo di Caprio and even Gary Sinise (albeit at the end of a rope)? This is not that movie.
They share similarities, for sure, like a blonde seeking vengeance for her family and the good preacher dude, but that's about it. This book simply lacks the suave, gritty feel of the film. This is more like Shanghai Knights, only with Jackie Chan as a teenage girl on crack. I haven't watched many westerns, but this book has ensured I probably never will. I don't think I will ever be able to hear the word revenge or Western without thinking of the phenomenal stupidity of the protagonist.
Grace, I first thought, was sensible. She hides from the Guiltless Gang when she's supposed to, approaches the authorities and so on. But she rapidly spirals out of control after a few pages. There may be an equation detailing the inverse proportionality of Grace's desire for revenge to her good sense. She goes off into the desert to take down a gang full of grown, armed men with only a horse. She doesn't take food, water or even an extra bullet with her. She keeps on having near death experiences and doesn't stop to think that she might need preparation. The idiot can't even count - she has three bullets in the beginning and there are six in the Gang. Grace? Disgrace to teenagers.
There is also an incident with a bear which had me applauding and throwing confetti at the bear. The bear knew enough to run. Grace doesn't think enough to...wait, this quote sums it up: "It was bad enough that she was light-headed - she didn't need to add to it."
Then you should try not to be so stupid. But she gets better...after 190 pages. In a 270 page book. And then she gets too much better, so that we start wondering if Joe graduated from the Shaolin Temple of wild westerns. If you can train her...
The other thing driving me mad was the romance, which is the epitome of FUTILE. Let's face it folks, Joe is a tool. Grace uses him to get the skills and emotional support she needs and tosses him like yesterday's newspaper when it suits her. As a typical YA couple, they dance around each other (at one point, literally), flush and blush like powder puffs and take several attempts to get a kiss right. All for nothing.
I get that revenge/justice is the priority in Grace's life. It's not easy to watch such cold-blooded murder and not want some kind of retribution. I'm just not sure that this is the message the book wants to be giving. When revenge becomes the focus of life, there's nothing left after you get it. Which is why most doctors don't prescribe it. But Grace is not being helped by the fact that the people who are advising peace don't practice it. This book keeps shooting itself in the foot. The Ndeh say "Zen, revenge is not cool" and begin scalping people before they've even finished the sentence. It's really unfair to deny the heroine closure when they seem to be getting plenty of it.
The pacing is utterly terrible. In favour of teaching us the wondrous ways of the Ndeh, the plot goes on and on about Grace's training and taboo breaking. The author's sentiment about spreading awareness is appreciated, but why is the hero a white guy then? And why does he excel at Native Indian activities to the point of overshadowing the Indians themselves? There's so much whitewashing, every Indian and his grandmother speaks some English.
The writing is pretty standard. Not horrible or anything, but you feel like it's aimed at middle graders. Until the villain invites the heroine for a threesome. Then it just plain disappoints.
So do yourself a favour and use this book for target practice. Don't even bother to quick draw; it moves very sluggishly.
Warning to self: I have been reading so many weird books lately, I may need my brain rewired.
Do you remember The Quick and the Dead? That movie with Sharon Stone, a young Russell Crowe, an even younger Leonardo di Caprio and even Gary Sinise (albeit at the end of a rope)? This is not that movie.
They share similarities, for sure, like a blonde seeking vengeance for her family and the good preacher dude, but that's about it. This book simply lacks the suave, gritty feel of the film. This is more like Shanghai Knights, only with Jackie Chan as a teenage girl on crack. I haven't watched many westerns, but this book has ensured I probably never will. I don't think I will ever be able to hear the word revenge or Western without thinking of the phenomenal stupidity of the protagonist.
Grace, I first thought, was sensible. She hides from the Guiltless Gang when she's supposed to, approaches the authorities and so on. But she rapidly spirals out of control after a few pages. There may be an equation detailing the inverse proportionality of Grace's desire for revenge to her good sense. She goes off into the desert to take down a gang full of grown, armed men with only a horse. She doesn't take food, water or even an extra bullet with her. She keeps on having near death experiences and doesn't stop to think that she might need preparation. The idiot can't even count - she has three bullets in the beginning and there are six in the Gang. Grace? Disgrace to teenagers.
There is also an incident with a bear which had me applauding and throwing confetti at the bear. The bear knew enough to run. Grace doesn't think enough to...wait, this quote sums it up: "It was bad enough that she was light-headed - she didn't need to add to it."
Then you should try not to be so stupid. But she gets better...after 190 pages. In a 270 page book. And then she gets too much better, so that we start wondering if Joe graduated from the Shaolin Temple of wild westerns. If you can train her...
The other thing driving me mad was the romance, which is the epitome of FUTILE. Let's face it folks, Joe is a tool. Grace uses him to get the skills and emotional support she needs and tosses him like yesterday's newspaper when it suits her. As a typical YA couple, they dance around each other (at one point, literally), flush and blush like powder puffs and take several attempts to get a kiss right. All for nothing.
I get that revenge/justice is the priority in Grace's life. It's not easy to watch such cold-blooded murder and not want some kind of retribution. I'm just not sure that this is the message the book wants to be giving. When revenge becomes the focus of life, there's nothing left after you get it. Which is why most doctors don't prescribe it. But Grace is not being helped by the fact that the people who are advising peace don't practice it. This book keeps shooting itself in the foot. The Ndeh say "Zen, revenge is not cool" and begin scalping people before they've even finished the sentence. It's really unfair to deny the heroine closure when they seem to be getting plenty of it.
The pacing is utterly terrible. In favour of teaching us the wondrous ways of the Ndeh, the plot goes on and on about Grace's training and taboo breaking. The author's sentiment about spreading awareness is appreciated, but why is the hero a white guy then? And why does he excel at Native Indian activities to the point of overshadowing the Indians themselves? There's so much whitewashing, every Indian and his grandmother speaks some English.
The writing is pretty standard. Not horrible or anything, but you feel like it's aimed at middle graders. Until the villain invites the heroine for a threesome. Then it just plain disappoints.
So do yourself a favour and use this book for target practice. Don't even bother to quick draw; it moves very sluggishly.
March 29, 2014
After her entire family are brutally murdered by the Guiltless Gang, Grace travels to Tombstone in search of justice. But what she finds is a sheriff who is being paid to turn a blind eye and a town full of people who would rather cheat her than offer her help.
Leaving Tombstone she travels into the mountains on a vendetta to bring the bad guys to justice, dead or alive. But after only a day, she finds herself attacked by a bear and paralysed with violent stomach cramps after eating poisonous berries.
She is rescued by Joe who takes her to a Nde camp (The People...I'm presuming though it isn't mentioned that they are Navajo). There she is healed and returns to strength all the while learning skills that will help her in her quest for revenge.
Grace and the Guiltless is book one of what will be a series of Westerns aimed young readers and possibly young adults...I really want to give this book to my 10 year old niece because I think she will love it. The story is quite simple, the language is aimed at younger readers but I found myself really enjoying the book and I can't wait to see how the story develops.
I guess the one caveat I would offer is there is some violence in this book and it is quite gruesome. It's important to the story and not gratuitous but parents might want to keep that in mind if they have especially sensitive children.
Many thanks to Capstone and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
Leaving Tombstone she travels into the mountains on a vendetta to bring the bad guys to justice, dead or alive. But after only a day, she finds herself attacked by a bear and paralysed with violent stomach cramps after eating poisonous berries.
She is rescued by Joe who takes her to a Nde camp (The People...I'm presuming though it isn't mentioned that they are Navajo). There she is healed and returns to strength all the while learning skills that will help her in her quest for revenge.
Grace and the Guiltless is book one of what will be a series of Westerns aimed young readers and possibly young adults...I really want to give this book to my 10 year old niece because I think she will love it. The story is quite simple, the language is aimed at younger readers but I found myself really enjoying the book and I can't wait to see how the story develops.
I guess the one caveat I would offer is there is some violence in this book and it is quite gruesome. It's important to the story and not gratuitous but parents might want to keep that in mind if they have especially sensitive children.
Many thanks to Capstone and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
March 26, 2014
Reviewed for Netgalley
Tombstone, where part of this story takes place, was a real western town so lawless it was called “the town too tough to die.” Grace Milton should have taken a lesson from the town and the people in it because she is the most un-western, un-tough, none-too-bright heroine I have come across in a long time. Growing up in the west was perilous. There were outlaws, warring Native Americans, dangerous predators, poisonous snakes, droughts, and plenty more ways to die. So one would think that Grace would be able to take care of herself or that her parents would have taught her a thing or two about surviving in such an unforgiving land, yet she stumbles from one near death experience to another. Somehow, despite being in a desert, then in the uninhabited mountains, some stranger always comes along just in time to rescue her. How convenient. And completely unlikely.
When I read the blurb, I thought, wow, a tough heroine in a western themed book. Having grown up reading and watching westerns, I thought this book ought to be interesting. Instead, this damsel in distress really annoyed me. Frankly, were this not a Netgalley book, it would have failed my 50 pages rule (as in, if I am not completely hooked by page 50, I toss the book aside and reach for another one). Instead, I kept reading despite doing a lot of skimming. The story felt as if it dragged in some places and then rushed through important moments. The supporting cast, even the outlaw gang, felt like clichés. And the Guiltless Gang? Seriously, what a terrible name for a bunch of outlaws.
Very disappointing read.
Check out my blog - http://ggddizzy07.wordpress.com
Tombstone, where part of this story takes place, was a real western town so lawless it was called “the town too tough to die.” Grace Milton should have taken a lesson from the town and the people in it because she is the most un-western, un-tough, none-too-bright heroine I have come across in a long time. Growing up in the west was perilous. There were outlaws, warring Native Americans, dangerous predators, poisonous snakes, droughts, and plenty more ways to die. So one would think that Grace would be able to take care of herself or that her parents would have taught her a thing or two about surviving in such an unforgiving land, yet she stumbles from one near death experience to another. Somehow, despite being in a desert, then in the uninhabited mountains, some stranger always comes along just in time to rescue her. How convenient. And completely unlikely.
When I read the blurb, I thought, wow, a tough heroine in a western themed book. Having grown up reading and watching westerns, I thought this book ought to be interesting. Instead, this damsel in distress really annoyed me. Frankly, were this not a Netgalley book, it would have failed my 50 pages rule (as in, if I am not completely hooked by page 50, I toss the book aside and reach for another one). Instead, I kept reading despite doing a lot of skimming. The story felt as if it dragged in some places and then rushed through important moments. The supporting cast, even the outlaw gang, felt like clichés. And the Guiltless Gang? Seriously, what a terrible name for a bunch of outlaws.
Very disappointing read.
Check out my blog - http://ggddizzy07.wordpress.com
April 12, 2014
This is a book about revenge and the first chapter shows exactly why Grace seeks revenge. It was sad and I know she needed a strong motive, but I would have preferred to read about their murders after the fact - you know how some authors start the story later. But kudos to her for being able to write that scene!
The rest of the story is about Grace seeking justice for her family and she's very determined despite the setbacks - a good example of persistence. I enjoyed the setting details and the historical accuracy - I learned quite a bit.
The ending turned out better than I'd expected - with a nice little twist I didn't see coming (bonus points) and an almost upbeat conclusion. This is the beginning of a series and I expect there will be five more books as Grace hunts down the members of the Gang that killed her family.
The rest of the story is about Grace seeking justice for her family and she's very determined despite the setbacks - a good example of persistence. I enjoyed the setting details and the historical accuracy - I learned quite a bit.
The ending turned out better than I'd expected - with a nice little twist I didn't see coming (bonus points) and an almost upbeat conclusion. This is the beginning of a series and I expect there will be five more books as Grace hunts down the members of the Gang that killed her family.
June 6, 2014
From the Militant Recommender Book Review Blog:
http://militantrecommender.blogspot.com/
Having grown up in a time when westerns and cowboys ruled the airwaves, I was excited to read a new book about a cowgirl called Grace and the Guiltless by Erin Johnson. Grace is a tough, smart girl with a loving family who have moved to Arizona to try and make a living ranching and breaking and selling horses.
One evening Grace is trapped down in the cellar where she was sent to get vegetables for her Ma's dinner. The heavy door has slammed shut and she's left in the dark searching for the stick that propped the door open.
Suddenly, she hears horses and riders in the yard above her. Her Dad arguing with them. It's Elijah Hale and his posse, the Guiltless Gang. They have been after their property and even though her Dad has one more year to pay off and own the ranch outright, the gang have other ideas.
Shots are fired and screams and more yelling, she manages to get the door open enough to peek out and see her mother and brother lying on the ground. Her Dad catches her eye and lets her know to stay out of sight, but how can she when her family are being murdered right before her eyes. Before she knows it, her Dad is gone, and her little sister and, after the gang set fire to her house and ride away, she finds her baby brother dead, as well.
Swearing vengeance, Grace buries her whole family, searches out Bullet, the semi-wild horse that only she can ride, and sets off to right some wrongs.
Grace is not super girl. Mistakes are made along the road to learning how to survive and live alone. There are corrupt officials to deal with. There is also, a young man who may or may not be an Apache, who reaches out and helps her when others turn their backs. This mystery man will play a larger role as we follow Grace on her trail of retribution into what will become a series.
Well written with lots of action, some violence, and insights into Native American culture make this a great book for any fan of the genre.
http://militantrecommender.blogspot.com/
Having grown up in a time when westerns and cowboys ruled the airwaves, I was excited to read a new book about a cowgirl called Grace and the Guiltless by Erin Johnson. Grace is a tough, smart girl with a loving family who have moved to Arizona to try and make a living ranching and breaking and selling horses.
One evening Grace is trapped down in the cellar where she was sent to get vegetables for her Ma's dinner. The heavy door has slammed shut and she's left in the dark searching for the stick that propped the door open.
Suddenly, she hears horses and riders in the yard above her. Her Dad arguing with them. It's Elijah Hale and his posse, the Guiltless Gang. They have been after their property and even though her Dad has one more year to pay off and own the ranch outright, the gang have other ideas.
Shots are fired and screams and more yelling, she manages to get the door open enough to peek out and see her mother and brother lying on the ground. Her Dad catches her eye and lets her know to stay out of sight, but how can she when her family are being murdered right before her eyes. Before she knows it, her Dad is gone, and her little sister and, after the gang set fire to her house and ride away, she finds her baby brother dead, as well.
Swearing vengeance, Grace buries her whole family, searches out Bullet, the semi-wild horse that only she can ride, and sets off to right some wrongs.
Grace is not super girl. Mistakes are made along the road to learning how to survive and live alone. There are corrupt officials to deal with. There is also, a young man who may or may not be an Apache, who reaches out and helps her when others turn their backs. This mystery man will play a larger role as we follow Grace on her trail of retribution into what will become a series.
Well written with lots of action, some violence, and insights into Native American culture make this a great book for any fan of the genre.
return-to-later
July 24, 2016I was enjoying the book but got sidetracked with real life, so I had to put it aside and by the time I came back, my galley had expired. I hope to come back to it at some point when I get another copy.
May 22, 2014
Grace and the Guiltless/Erin Johnson
I'm finished with Grace and the Guiltless: Wow! Kept me enthralled the whole way through. I galloped through it. Grace is a strong, brave heroine -- just the way I like them. And her romance... loved the tension, but I wanted to see more of a resolution at the end.
I found this story poignant and heart-wrenching. Grace lost her family in the beginning, so it started out sad, but I couldn't help loving her pluckiness. I admired her heroics to save her baby brother, and her survival following the fire and the gang members' cruelty. Grace kept going in spite of the odds.
Some of the events seemed a bit unrealistic, but Westerns often have that larger-than-life feel. The preacher was somewhat of a surprise, but I liked the opposing viewpoints between him and Grace -- she with her anger at God, and he with his message of forgiveness.
Overall the storytelling and writing were strong, so they carried me along, and I was on the edge of my saddle waiting to see how Grace would overcome all the challenges she faced. In the end, she prevailed and saved someone else's life. A true heroine. Gutsy, strong, and determined describe her well. She kept going even when it seemed everyone turned against her. Everyone, except Joe, that is.
I loved the touch of romance, and look forward to seeing where Grace and Joe's relationship is headed as well as how Grace makes out as a bounty hunter. I can't wait to see what adventures she'll face next. I'm cheering her on, hoping she'll take down that whole gang.
I'm finished with Grace and the Guiltless: Wow! Kept me enthralled the whole way through. I galloped through it. Grace is a strong, brave heroine -- just the way I like them. And her romance... loved the tension, but I wanted to see more of a resolution at the end.
I found this story poignant and heart-wrenching. Grace lost her family in the beginning, so it started out sad, but I couldn't help loving her pluckiness. I admired her heroics to save her baby brother, and her survival following the fire and the gang members' cruelty. Grace kept going in spite of the odds.
Some of the events seemed a bit unrealistic, but Westerns often have that larger-than-life feel. The preacher was somewhat of a surprise, but I liked the opposing viewpoints between him and Grace -- she with her anger at God, and he with his message of forgiveness.
Overall the storytelling and writing were strong, so they carried me along, and I was on the edge of my saddle waiting to see how Grace would overcome all the challenges she faced. In the end, she prevailed and saved someone else's life. A true heroine. Gutsy, strong, and determined describe her well. She kept going even when it seemed everyone turned against her. Everyone, except Joe, that is.
I loved the touch of romance, and look forward to seeing where Grace and Joe's relationship is headed as well as how Grace makes out as a bounty hunter. I can't wait to see what adventures she'll face next. I'm cheering her on, hoping she'll take down that whole gang.
March 19, 2014
Grace's family is brutally murdered by a group of land-greedy outlaws and though naively unprepared, she goes on a mission to avenge her family's deaths. After a series of mishaps, she ends up recuperating with a tribe of Native Americans (where the bulk of the story takes place), and the story closes with Grace's physical healing and training complete and her decision to leave her new friends so she can rekindle her quest.
There are some themes in the book that make it distinctly not a book for young readers (the brutal murder of Grace's family, some scenes in a "house of ill-repute") but the writing style throughout the book seemed very juvenile and simplistic to me and I just couldn't reconcile the flatness of Grace's character (or the love interest, Joe, for that matter) with the richness of the dessert setting and tribal community. This book has potential, and I can hope the series gets better, but I wasn't exactly wowed by this reading experience.
There are some themes in the book that make it distinctly not a book for young readers (the brutal murder of Grace's family, some scenes in a "house of ill-repute") but the writing style throughout the book seemed very juvenile and simplistic to me and I just couldn't reconcile the flatness of Grace's character (or the love interest, Joe, for that matter) with the richness of the dessert setting and tribal community. This book has potential, and I can hope the series gets better, but I wasn't exactly wowed by this reading experience.
August 14, 2014
I am a huge fan of western movies as well as classic western reads. This book is written in the same vein as Zane Gray’s classic westerns. In fact, I am reminded of Gray’s two books in particular, Riders of the Purple Sage and Wildfire. The detailed imagery of Tombstone, Arizona and the surrounding western desert sets the tone of the story. After witnessing the brutal deaths of her family at the hands of the Guiltless Gang, sixteen-year old Grace vows that justice will be served. The plot is action packed as she seeks revenge against the Guiltless Gang. Along the way she finds help and romance with a kindred spirit in the traveling preacher named Joe, his own family having been killed when he was young. While at times the protagonist seems too contemporary for the historical context of the story, this isn't necessarily a negative as both Grace and Joe are very engaging, and no doubt will entertain young adult readers.
October 15, 2014
Even though I’m no fan of western movies, and have never read a western novel in my life, I thought I’d give this book a go. Boy, am I glad I did! It was an excellent read: it hooked me from the very first page and didn’t let go until the final sentence. Yes, it’s that gripping. I especially enjoyed the way it transported me in space and time to somewhere totally outwith my own experience. The plot enthralled me (although it was gruesome at times) and the main character, Grace, was very skillfully drawn. Having witnessed the horror of her family being butchered by the Guiltless Gang (oh, the irony of that name!), it was interesting, if not a bit sad, to see her transform from an innocent young girl into a gritty, resourceful and determined – and sometimes foolhardy - young woman. In fact, this book is packed with great characters, villains and all. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
July 25, 2025
Soooo good! Too bad there's only one other book in the series when there supposed to be more 4/5.
August 16, 2017
I wanted to love this book. In the beginning it felt like a first book, but at the same time, I kept thinking, "This author's going to be the female Louis L'amour."
There were a few problems though, that started up as she left to follow "The Guiltless". These are super light spoilers that don't really ruin the book, but thought I'd cover them up anyways:
It was interesting, but I didn't buy the ending, and I'm bummed it didn't just end since that seemed to be the route the author was taking.
There were a few problems though, that started up as she left to follow "The Guiltless". These are super light spoilers that don't really ruin the book, but thought I'd cover them up anyways:
It was interesting, but I didn't buy the ending, and I'm bummed it didn't just end since that seemed to be the route the author was taking.
September 10, 2017
It was a good book. I actually had the opportunity to meet the author during the first session of A Novel Idea and took classes with her. I also met her again at the Penn Writers Conference. Very nice woman. I thought the western puns throughout the story could be a bit much at times and I felt like the relationship with her and Joe was a bit rushed toward the end. I would have liked to have seen him admit his feelings about halfway through and then have there be tension rather than cramming it all in the end. I understand it's a series, and I'm interested in reading the sequel, but I still think it could have played out better with the romance and tension between them.
December 10, 2017
I really liked this book! Grace is a very strong female protagonist, and sometimes I got really annoyed with her decisions!! Why doesn't she follow her heart? I think she should love Joe, and I also think that she doesn't entirely need to get revenge on the guiltless gang. But then that would defeat the purpose of the book!
I still like your book Erin Johnson!!
I still like your book Erin Johnson!!
September 19, 2017
Grace Milton is one tough cookie...who would have thought killing Doc Slaughter could earn her a reward and kick start her new bounty hunting passion...Her Cold revenge is on! Lets see if she will hunt down Elijah Hale and his gang
August 24, 2017
I don't usually read western but this was pretty good.
August 9, 2020
Anyone who loves a good Western with amazing lead female role will love this book!!
February 9, 2021
A western novel with a young woman who develops personal power following the murder of her family. Rough and tumble, gritty. Native American sympathetic characters. Plenty of villains.
August 5, 2022
love the storyline but man the writing is rough
September 10, 2024
It's always going to be a no from me when white people write about different cultures it just gives me the ick
April 18, 2014
Grace and the Guiltless is a difficult book to review. I discovered this fact soon after finishing it late one night: I had closed the cover with an empty face, my thoughts as blank as a piece of paper, as I set the book down on my bedside table and promptly fell asleep. Quite literally, I had no words. It was over the the next few days that my feelings toward it began to unfurl; piece themselves together slowly but surely. And only now can I confidently type out an appropriate review for this quite enjoyable YA novel. I can assuredly tell you now, that this, by no doubt, will be a three star review. And maybe the reason for that is because of my complete neutrality and utterly uncertain opinion towards it at first, but considering that, I can't stress enough how rewardingly (and positively) I present this book with three stars.
Grace and the Guiltless, at it's heart and core, is a classic western tale. You can almost taste the dusty air, feel the gritty grip of the desert that protrudes from it's short and choppy chapters. The imagery presented is truly enthralling; my focus skillfully aimed at the captivatingly cruel setting. The atmosphere of the novel is introduced right from the beginning with a gripping scene of action that sets the tone for the rest of this Wild West story.
And with that introduction of ambience, we're also met with the star of Grace and the Guiltless, Grace herself. Or, whom I like to call 'The Unluckiest Person To Have Ever Trailed Through The Desert'. It is no joke; Grace is in need of a lucky charm or two.
The beginning of the story is a more-than-brief look at Grace as she treks through event after event of god-awful happenings aimed right in her direction, including her family being brutally murdered in front of her 16-year-old eyes. Grace's determinedness to find justice throughout the course of the novel is impossible not to adore, as is the contrast of her timid, fragile personality. What was most likeable about the whole cast of featured characters is how their characteristics weren't weighted; enough negative aspects to weigh out the positive ones; they felt normal and relatable. Agree with it or not, but that's a rare expectancy to come by...
Grace and the guiltless would be a fantastically unpredictable story if it weren't for the synopses, which shamelessly gives far too much away.
Adding to that, my negative views toward the book would be aimed at two annoyances. Firstly, the writing felt overly juvenile for the story it was telling. Grace and the Guiltless is a gritty, harsh, slow (in a good way) book at it's finest times, but the style in which it is told makes it seem, dare I say, pathetic at times. Secondly, I don't see why Grace and Joe's relationship had to be a romantic one. The love scenes can be very off-putting due to the fact that they are utterly unnecessary and unrealistic. The story, as a whole, would've benefitted even if the pair's relationship was to be one of only great friendship. The 'couple' approach just didn't work at all.
At the end of it all, I look back at my experience of reading Grace and the Guiltless and categorise it as an enjoyable one. The story itself contains a certain spark of originality that you generally don't see much of in the genre where it sits so quietly. Grace's story is one I will be following to the end.
Grace and the Guiltless, at it's heart and core, is a classic western tale. You can almost taste the dusty air, feel the gritty grip of the desert that protrudes from it's short and choppy chapters. The imagery presented is truly enthralling; my focus skillfully aimed at the captivatingly cruel setting. The atmosphere of the novel is introduced right from the beginning with a gripping scene of action that sets the tone for the rest of this Wild West story.
And with that introduction of ambience, we're also met with the star of Grace and the Guiltless, Grace herself. Or, whom I like to call 'The Unluckiest Person To Have Ever Trailed Through The Desert'. It is no joke; Grace is in need of a lucky charm or two.
The beginning of the story is a more-than-brief look at Grace as she treks through event after event of god-awful happenings aimed right in her direction, including her family being brutally murdered in front of her 16-year-old eyes. Grace's determinedness to find justice throughout the course of the novel is impossible not to adore, as is the contrast of her timid, fragile personality. What was most likeable about the whole cast of featured characters is how their characteristics weren't weighted; enough negative aspects to weigh out the positive ones; they felt normal and relatable. Agree with it or not, but that's a rare expectancy to come by...
Grace and the guiltless would be a fantastically unpredictable story if it weren't for the synopses, which shamelessly gives far too much away.
Adding to that, my negative views toward the book would be aimed at two annoyances. Firstly, the writing felt overly juvenile for the story it was telling. Grace and the Guiltless is a gritty, harsh, slow (in a good way) book at it's finest times, but the style in which it is told makes it seem, dare I say, pathetic at times. Secondly, I don't see why Grace and Joe's relationship had to be a romantic one. The love scenes can be very off-putting due to the fact that they are utterly unnecessary and unrealistic. The story, as a whole, would've benefitted even if the pair's relationship was to be one of only great friendship. The 'couple' approach just didn't work at all.
At the end of it all, I look back at my experience of reading Grace and the Guiltless and categorise it as an enjoyable one. The story itself contains a certain spark of originality that you generally don't see much of in the genre where it sits so quietly. Grace's story is one I will be following to the end.
September 30, 2014
Grace and her family lived a quiet existence out in the Wild West. They trained horses and grew their own food, pretty much staying to themselves. When the guiltless gang shows up, it is purely coincidental that Grace was in the cellar, otherwise she would have been executed with the rest of her family. Grace now has one mission, and that is to seek revenge on the Guiltless Gang, since no one else will bring them to justice. With just the clothes on her back and her father’s gun, she heads into the desert to hunt them down.
I have been putting off writing this review for a while now since I have read the book. I am just not really sure what to say or how I felt about the book. Really I am ambivalent towards it. The story started really strong and I was instantly engaged in the death and horror thrown out at me, but by the 50th page of the book, I really did not care anymore for the story. I feel bad saying this, mainly because I was so excited to read this one, but maybe my expectations were too high. I have never read a teen book set in the old west, so I was looking forward to something very different. Yes, I know there have been tons of Western movies about teenage girls surviving/getting revenge, but I have never read a book about it. Well, this one fell flat and I had to force myself to get to the end, which is not how a book is suppose to be. I felt at times I was reading a how to manual for survival, how to hunt, built a tepee, cook, shot…The list goes on. It read more like an instruction than a story at times.
Grace drove me insane, and not in a good way, where you root for the character anyway, but more in an I can’t stand her way. She was pretty much on a suicide mission and having a pity party the entire time. I agree she had a very difficult thing happen to her, but geez, go about getting justice the right way. She just saddles her horse and goes into the desert to chase this ruthless gang down with no supplies or prep, as if she will succeed. The only reason she survives is because she continuously receives charity from strangers. On her own, she would have died the first day, but Grace does not care. And then when she has a pout party since the Indians won’t let her hunt with the men just made me mad. It seemed like the story took a random tangent that “don’t do that because you are a girl” kept popping up. I kinda feel like this is the wrong timeline to have a women’s rights movement. I just could not support her and her suicidal tendencies and her “I am on my own” attitude when clearly she is not.
Overall I did not enjoy the story and I will not be continuing on in what is most certainly a new series. I am sure others will enjoy the story, but it was not for me.
I received this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I have been putting off writing this review for a while now since I have read the book. I am just not really sure what to say or how I felt about the book. Really I am ambivalent towards it. The story started really strong and I was instantly engaged in the death and horror thrown out at me, but by the 50th page of the book, I really did not care anymore for the story. I feel bad saying this, mainly because I was so excited to read this one, but maybe my expectations were too high. I have never read a teen book set in the old west, so I was looking forward to something very different. Yes, I know there have been tons of Western movies about teenage girls surviving/getting revenge, but I have never read a book about it. Well, this one fell flat and I had to force myself to get to the end, which is not how a book is suppose to be. I felt at times I was reading a how to manual for survival, how to hunt, built a tepee, cook, shot…The list goes on. It read more like an instruction than a story at times.
Grace drove me insane, and not in a good way, where you root for the character anyway, but more in an I can’t stand her way. She was pretty much on a suicide mission and having a pity party the entire time. I agree she had a very difficult thing happen to her, but geez, go about getting justice the right way. She just saddles her horse and goes into the desert to chase this ruthless gang down with no supplies or prep, as if she will succeed. The only reason she survives is because she continuously receives charity from strangers. On her own, she would have died the first day, but Grace does not care. And then when she has a pout party since the Indians won’t let her hunt with the men just made me mad. It seemed like the story took a random tangent that “don’t do that because you are a girl” kept popping up. I kinda feel like this is the wrong timeline to have a women’s rights movement. I just could not support her and her suicidal tendencies and her “I am on my own” attitude when clearly she is not.
Overall I did not enjoy the story and I will not be continuing on in what is most certainly a new series. I am sure others will enjoy the story, but it was not for me.
I received this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
September 11, 2015
Welcome to the Wild West. The beginning serves as a rather rude welcoming for readers when Grace’s whole family is murdered in cold blood. Grace is left all alone. She doesn’t know much about surviving in the wilderness or shooting a gun but she does know that she must seek revenge for her family. She embarks on a journey to find the Guiltless Gang—the people who killed her family—and find the justice she deserves.
In truth, I have never read a western before Grace and the Guiltless. Something about the setting, the horseback riding, the cowboys—it never really appealed to me. However, it is always good to try new things and when I picked up Grace, it was a pleasant surprise. The novel had all the ingredients for a perfect Western: the cowboys, the Indians, the guns, the horses, and even the ranch away from town. However, Erin Johnson brought a non-stop rollercoaster ride that does not give readers time to breathe. The show starts from page one, with Grace’s family being murdered, and the action doesn’t end until the last page.
Grace follows in the footsteps of books like The Hunger Games and Divergent with an incredibly strong female protagonist, taking both the figurative and literal reins of her own story. Grace has guts and is driven on her journey by her family’s deaths. Readers may find her want for revenge, and the mention of her journey, a bit overplayed in the novel. The constant action keeps the plot moving and keeps readers from being too annoyed. I do understand that Grace has lost her entire family; it is extremely natural to seek revenge. Still, Johnson could have withheld the repeated mention of “my family’s dead, got to avenge them” and “can’t be happy, got to go and get revenge.”
Despite the repetition of the main goal of the novel, Grace is a never-ending adventure that everyone can enjoy. From younger YA to adults, readers will not want to stop reading this fantastic thrill set in the Wild West.
And what would a novel set in the Wild West be without romance? Yes, there is romance! I wasn’t expecting it. Erin Johnson cleverly draws her romance which leaves readers wanting more. It is the sort of romance that gradually becomes more beautiful as more pages are turned. It is both realistic and so natural.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Her Cold Revenge, to find out what happens next. There wasn’t as much as a cliffhanger as I would have hoped but, in this case, it was better to end the way it had been. Johnson created some suspense, while still keeping within Grace’s character.
Erin Johnson’s Grace and the Guiltless is a continuous horse-back ride through the Wild West that will keep your heart pounding way past the last page.
In truth, I have never read a western before Grace and the Guiltless. Something about the setting, the horseback riding, the cowboys—it never really appealed to me. However, it is always good to try new things and when I picked up Grace, it was a pleasant surprise. The novel had all the ingredients for a perfect Western: the cowboys, the Indians, the guns, the horses, and even the ranch away from town. However, Erin Johnson brought a non-stop rollercoaster ride that does not give readers time to breathe. The show starts from page one, with Grace’s family being murdered, and the action doesn’t end until the last page.
Grace follows in the footsteps of books like The Hunger Games and Divergent with an incredibly strong female protagonist, taking both the figurative and literal reins of her own story. Grace has guts and is driven on her journey by her family’s deaths. Readers may find her want for revenge, and the mention of her journey, a bit overplayed in the novel. The constant action keeps the plot moving and keeps readers from being too annoyed. I do understand that Grace has lost her entire family; it is extremely natural to seek revenge. Still, Johnson could have withheld the repeated mention of “my family’s dead, got to avenge them” and “can’t be happy, got to go and get revenge.”
Despite the repetition of the main goal of the novel, Grace is a never-ending adventure that everyone can enjoy. From younger YA to adults, readers will not want to stop reading this fantastic thrill set in the Wild West.
And what would a novel set in the Wild West be without romance? Yes, there is romance! I wasn’t expecting it. Erin Johnson cleverly draws her romance which leaves readers wanting more. It is the sort of romance that gradually becomes more beautiful as more pages are turned. It is both realistic and so natural.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Her Cold Revenge, to find out what happens next. There wasn’t as much as a cliffhanger as I would have hoped but, in this case, it was better to end the way it had been. Johnson created some suspense, while still keeping within Grace’s character.
Erin Johnson’s Grace and the Guiltless is a continuous horse-back ride through the Wild West that will keep your heart pounding way past the last page.
April 26, 2014
My copy was provided by Netgalley.
Grace lives a peaceful life on a ranch with her family. She loves her family and will do anything for them. Yet her peaceful existence is obliterated when the Guiltless Gang arrives in town. These ruthless killers murder Grace's whole family and the only reason Grace was left alive is because she hid. Grace wants revenge for her family's deaths, but no one will do anything. The sheriff is biased after being paid by the Guiltless Gang and he won't help Grace. So Grace goes out alone to fight for her revenge.
But before she can get close to accomplishing her dream, she becomes deathly ill and almost dies. But a man named Joe saves her and takes her to an Apache camp where she is healed slowly. As Grace navigates through life at this camp, learning how to hunt and take care of herself, she falls in love, but never loses sight of her dream. Grace has to learn if she will ever be strong enough to act on her revenge or if she should finally let it go.
This book was quite simple with an obvious storyline and language a younger reader could easily understand. But the violence makes it hard to pinpoint what age group would want to read this book. There's murder and blood so it might be for young adult readers, but the language makes it seem as if this book is intended for younger readers so it gets a little confusing.
What I didn't understand is how helpless Grace was in the beginning. She didn't know how to defend herself or at least learn how to survive alone. She didn't know what's poisonous or how to use a knife. You would think her parents would have taught her some things considering she lives in the Wild West with murderers running around, but Grace is absolutely clueless. It's also improbable that a girl would get attacked by a bear and then eat poisonous berries. That much bad luck can't happen to someone. And whenever she gets close to dying, she always has someone to save her. This book doesn't teach you that you can survive on your own. It teaches you that there will always be someone to save you.
I did enjoy the setting details and how beautiful the author made it appear to be. I could imagine the desert in my mind and this made the book seem real. The history in this book was a nice touch. I liked how it talked about the Apache camp and what it was like to be an Apache. The history taught you more about the past and I enjoyed it.
The ending had a little twist I didn't see coming and it had an ending that wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, but let you know there's more to come. While parts of this book seemed cliché, but it has potential and I do want to read the next book in the series.
Grace lives a peaceful life on a ranch with her family. She loves her family and will do anything for them. Yet her peaceful existence is obliterated when the Guiltless Gang arrives in town. These ruthless killers murder Grace's whole family and the only reason Grace was left alive is because she hid. Grace wants revenge for her family's deaths, but no one will do anything. The sheriff is biased after being paid by the Guiltless Gang and he won't help Grace. So Grace goes out alone to fight for her revenge.
But before she can get close to accomplishing her dream, she becomes deathly ill and almost dies. But a man named Joe saves her and takes her to an Apache camp where she is healed slowly. As Grace navigates through life at this camp, learning how to hunt and take care of herself, she falls in love, but never loses sight of her dream. Grace has to learn if she will ever be strong enough to act on her revenge or if she should finally let it go.
This book was quite simple with an obvious storyline and language a younger reader could easily understand. But the violence makes it hard to pinpoint what age group would want to read this book. There's murder and blood so it might be for young adult readers, but the language makes it seem as if this book is intended for younger readers so it gets a little confusing.
What I didn't understand is how helpless Grace was in the beginning. She didn't know how to defend herself or at least learn how to survive alone. She didn't know what's poisonous or how to use a knife. You would think her parents would have taught her some things considering she lives in the Wild West with murderers running around, but Grace is absolutely clueless. It's also improbable that a girl would get attacked by a bear and then eat poisonous berries. That much bad luck can't happen to someone. And whenever she gets close to dying, she always has someone to save her. This book doesn't teach you that you can survive on your own. It teaches you that there will always be someone to save you.
I did enjoy the setting details and how beautiful the author made it appear to be. I could imagine the desert in my mind and this made the book seem real. The history in this book was a nice touch. I liked how it talked about the Apache camp and what it was like to be an Apache. The history taught you more about the past and I enjoyed it.
The ending had a little twist I didn't see coming and it had an ending that wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, but let you know there's more to come. While parts of this book seemed cliché, but it has potential and I do want to read the next book in the series.
April 10, 2014
I was sent this title for review from the publishers, this in no way affected when my review consists of. All my reviews are 100% my thoughts and feelings about the book. This is review contains mild spoilers, please read with caution.
I can't say wow, but I can say, hmm... I have mixed feelings about Grace and the Guiltless but all in all, it was a pretty standard book. I really dislike writing reviews for 3-4 books because I don't have much to say. It's just: 'Yeah, it was a pretty good book. Meh.'. There's no extreme, there's no ranting, there's no fangirling. There's just meh.
In my opinion, It wasn't the best start. I was pretty much annoyed and exasperated with the whole situation. Grace's peaceful family is killed by the Guiltless Gang, leaving her the only one behind. She feels it is her duty to take revenge for her family so she sets off on her journey to do so. What I didn't like about the beginning was the little parts. When the gang had left, she goes to search for her little brother, Zeke. She passes the kitchen and somehow, she's thinking about cake more than finding her soon to be dead, brother. She has to remind herself not to think about soup. I was also expecting a little more emotion when Grace's whole family dies. I didn't quite get what I was looking for. I mean, I would burst into tears for my entire life if my family died.
She meets good and bad people throughout her journey. It was almost as similar to The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy is going on the yellow brick road. One of the main characters she meets is Joe, I really disliked the way he was introduced to the story. Almost fairy tale like. When Joe is introduced into the story, Grace was in a pretty bad state. We do not learn or know anything about Joe. He also 'gallopped off into the sunset' before he could be thanked for his kindness. Do you get my point? I'm not sure if the author wanted it to come across as mysterious or not.
As with all 'mixed feeling' books, I also had a few likes. I really like the message of the story. While Grace is trying to track down the Guiltless Gang, those around her are persuading her to try to find peace and forgive those you have hurt you. I thought it was very sweet. But even so, the book isn't the tiniest bit sugar coated. Good things and bad happens to everybody and Grace is no different. I also love the fact that Grace isn't perfect. As with any heroine, she has to learn and I'm glad that she doesn't know everything from the start.
*actual rating: 3 and a half
I can't say wow, but I can say, hmm... I have mixed feelings about Grace and the Guiltless but all in all, it was a pretty standard book. I really dislike writing reviews for 3-4 books because I don't have much to say. It's just: 'Yeah, it was a pretty good book. Meh.'. There's no extreme, there's no ranting, there's no fangirling. There's just meh.
In my opinion, It wasn't the best start. I was pretty much annoyed and exasperated with the whole situation. Grace's peaceful family is killed by the Guiltless Gang, leaving her the only one behind. She feels it is her duty to take revenge for her family so she sets off on her journey to do so. What I didn't like about the beginning was the little parts. When the gang had left, she goes to search for her little brother, Zeke. She passes the kitchen and somehow, she's thinking about cake more than finding her soon to be dead, brother. She has to remind herself not to think about soup. I was also expecting a little more emotion when Grace's whole family dies. I didn't quite get what I was looking for. I mean, I would burst into tears for my entire life if my family died.
She meets good and bad people throughout her journey. It was almost as similar to The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy is going on the yellow brick road. One of the main characters she meets is Joe, I really disliked the way he was introduced to the story. Almost fairy tale like. When Joe is introduced into the story, Grace was in a pretty bad state. We do not learn or know anything about Joe. He also 'gallopped off into the sunset' before he could be thanked for his kindness. Do you get my point? I'm not sure if the author wanted it to come across as mysterious or not.
As with all 'mixed feeling' books, I also had a few likes. I really like the message of the story. While Grace is trying to track down the Guiltless Gang, those around her are persuading her to try to find peace and forgive those you have hurt you. I thought it was very sweet. But even so, the book isn't the tiniest bit sugar coated. Good things and bad happens to everybody and Grace is no different. I also love the fact that Grace isn't perfect. As with any heroine, she has to learn and I'm glad that she doesn't know everything from the start.
*actual rating: 3 and a half
December 17, 2014
I wasn't sure what to expect going into Grace and the Guiltless, but I wound up enjoying it. Westerns are a new genre for me, but one I'm excited to try more from since I've had a fun experience so far. This one starts off with a bang! In the opening chapter, Grace's whole family is murdered and their house is set on fire. After burying them, Grace goes to town to find the sheriff. Unfortunately, he's being payed off by the gang who killed her parents and siblings, so she decides to take justice into her own hands. She overhears where the gang is camping out, so she heads out into the desert, where her survival skills are severely lacking. Luckily, Joe finds her and takes her back to the Ndeh tribe who has adopted him as their own. There Grace learns some essential skills for her mission, while also trying to be deferred from it for her own sake.
After those first chapters, I was excited for a fast paced, gun-slinging tale, but Grace and the Guiltless was more about Grace's personal journey. She is dead set on killing the entire Guiltless Gang, but that's put on hold as she heals within the Ndeh's camp. There she learns a bit of their language, culture, and some of their skills. Grace knows she has to be smart or else she's going to get herself killed, so she learns everything they're willing to teach her. She also grows close to the people, almost like a new family, despite vowing to never love anyone again. This part was slow, but interesting.
I really liked the direction Grace and the Guiltless took at the end. Everyone has been telling Grace to let go of her vengeance, and settle down. That killing all of those men will change her, and there will be no coming back. Well, Grace wants her revenge and she's going to get it! It was kind of nice to see a protagonist not be deterred, despite it being the wrong decision. Even that didn't play out how was expecting! Grace has gotten herself into something, and if she keeps going, she will be lost. It was a great twist, and I'd love to see where it goes in the next book!
In the end, Grace and the Guiltless was pretty great. I may not have been fully into the middle portion, but the beginning and the ending are completely engaging.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
After those first chapters, I was excited for a fast paced, gun-slinging tale, but Grace and the Guiltless was more about Grace's personal journey. She is dead set on killing the entire Guiltless Gang, but that's put on hold as she heals within the Ndeh's camp. There she learns a bit of their language, culture, and some of their skills. Grace knows she has to be smart or else she's going to get herself killed, so she learns everything they're willing to teach her. She also grows close to the people, almost like a new family, despite vowing to never love anyone again. This part was slow, but interesting.
I really liked the direction Grace and the Guiltless took at the end. Everyone has been telling Grace to let go of her vengeance, and settle down. That killing all of those men will change her, and there will be no coming back. Well, Grace wants her revenge and she's going to get it! It was kind of nice to see a protagonist not be deterred, despite it being the wrong decision. Even that didn't play out how was expecting! Grace has gotten herself into something, and if she keeps going, she will be lost. It was a great twist, and I'd love to see where it goes in the next book!
In the end, Grace and the Guiltless was pretty great. I may not have been fully into the middle portion, but the beginning and the ending are completely engaging.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
August 11, 2014
When I first started this book, I wasn't completely hooked, and I didn't find myself liking it. As it drew towards the middle, I found it to be a bit better and I did start to get into it. By the ending, I was somewhat enjoying it. It did take a long time though to get from, hmm, to, it's OK, to, it's actually kind of good.
I must admit I wasn't too keen on Grace at the beginning of this story. Sure, she was a strong female character, which is brilliant, but, I thought she was rather arrogant and I didn't get on with her as much as I had originally hoped. Again, as it came towards the end, Grace had, just like the story, redeemed herself and created a change in opinion from myself.
I did think it was endearing how, after her family are killed, she has a real want to avenge them and find those who did this to her family. I didn't particularly agree with the way she was portrayed at this point, but I liked how Joe was brought into the story and became a kind of savior for her, and would be a way of hopefully calming the burning rage she has.
Joe was the one character I really enjoyed reading about. He was charming, and I loved how he turned his life around by living with the Ndeh, a tribe. Joe, just like Grace, had faced a similar experience, but he seemed to have dealt with his pain in a different way.
I keep thinking that perhaps it is good that I didn't like Grace in this book, because as this story is set to continue, I will be able to see how she develops as a character and learn more about her as a person, as well as seeing how her quest continues. I also wonder whether what we are lead to see is just an act and she is hiding her true emotions and therefore I am hoping to see how she copes as she is forced to live in a man's world.
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February 23, 2015Grace watches as a gang on horseback ride in and slaughter her family. With her mother, father, sister, and two brothers dead, she vows revenge.
The only life she has known has been on the homestead where her parents settled hoping to raise horses and provide for their family. When a group of so-called ranchers/outlaws decides they want the land her family will soon own, they set fire to the log cabin and kill everyone Grace loves. When she emerges from her hiding place in the root cellar, she faces total devastation and the horrible task of burying her slain family members.
Grace heads to the nearest town to report the incident to the sheriff only to discover that the Guiltless Gang has been paying the lawman to look the other way. Alone and inexperienced, Grace barely escapes town with her life. She heads toward the hills where she believes the criminals have headed, hoping to use her father's gun to get her revenge. Instead her lack of survival skills have her traveling in circles and becoming the victim of a bear attack.
With the help of a young man, she winds up in the camp of a tribe of Apaches who tend to her wounds and offer her a safe place to stay. Will their friendship and acceptance enable her to put aside her anger or will she still try to carry out her promise to kill the men responsible for her family's deaths?
Author Erin Johnson takes readers back to the wild west in GRACE AND THE GUILTLESS. It may not be the usual time and place for a young adult adventure, but Johnson's smooth narrative and non-stop action will capture teen readers and no doubt leave them begging for more. This is a must have for classroom and library shelves.
The only life she has known has been on the homestead where her parents settled hoping to raise horses and provide for their family. When a group of so-called ranchers/outlaws decides they want the land her family will soon own, they set fire to the log cabin and kill everyone Grace loves. When she emerges from her hiding place in the root cellar, she faces total devastation and the horrible task of burying her slain family members.
Grace heads to the nearest town to report the incident to the sheriff only to discover that the Guiltless Gang has been paying the lawman to look the other way. Alone and inexperienced, Grace barely escapes town with her life. She heads toward the hills where she believes the criminals have headed, hoping to use her father's gun to get her revenge. Instead her lack of survival skills have her traveling in circles and becoming the victim of a bear attack.
With the help of a young man, she winds up in the camp of a tribe of Apaches who tend to her wounds and offer her a safe place to stay. Will their friendship and acceptance enable her to put aside her anger or will she still try to carry out her promise to kill the men responsible for her family's deaths?
Author Erin Johnson takes readers back to the wild west in GRACE AND THE GUILTLESS. It may not be the usual time and place for a young adult adventure, but Johnson's smooth narrative and non-stop action will capture teen readers and no doubt leave them begging for more. This is a must have for classroom and library shelves.
April 27, 2014
I have mixed feelings about Grace and the Guiltless by Erin Johnson, but all in all, it was a pretty standard book.
The novel did not have the greatest start, to be honest. I was basically irritated and frustrated with the entire situation. Main character Grace's passive-filled family is murdered by the Guiltless Gang, leaving her the sole survivor. She arises to feel that it is her obligation to extract vengeance for her family, thus she sets off on a passage to do so. I was also honestly expecting a tad more emotion from Grace when her whole family is killed. I did not really get what I wanted. I mean, most people would burst into tears if their family died, instead of thinking about food and random things as Grace did for most of it in the start.
There were a few things I did enjoy about Johnson’s novel. I truly did enjoy the overall message of the tale. While Grace is stuck in the mind-set of revenge and equal retribution being the answer to her problems and attempting to track down the Guiltless Gang, the people around her were encouraging her to attempt to find peace and to absolve those who have hurt her. Regardless of this, the book is not the least bit sugar-coated and played down. Good and bad things occur to every person and Grace is no different. I also respected the notion that Grace is by no means perfect. As with any decent heroine, she has to learn and develop as the story progresses.
An Advanced Readers Copy was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
The novel did not have the greatest start, to be honest. I was basically irritated and frustrated with the entire situation. Main character Grace's passive-filled family is murdered by the Guiltless Gang, leaving her the sole survivor. She arises to feel that it is her obligation to extract vengeance for her family, thus she sets off on a passage to do so. I was also honestly expecting a tad more emotion from Grace when her whole family is killed. I did not really get what I wanted. I mean, most people would burst into tears if their family died, instead of thinking about food and random things as Grace did for most of it in the start.
There were a few things I did enjoy about Johnson’s novel. I truly did enjoy the overall message of the tale. While Grace is stuck in the mind-set of revenge and equal retribution being the answer to her problems and attempting to track down the Guiltless Gang, the people around her were encouraging her to attempt to find peace and to absolve those who have hurt her. Regardless of this, the book is not the least bit sugar-coated and played down. Good and bad things occur to every person and Grace is no different. I also respected the notion that Grace is by no means perfect. As with any decent heroine, she has to learn and develop as the story progresses.
An Advanced Readers Copy was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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