Praying for Grace

Grace #5

by M. Lauryl Lewis

Trying to survive in a land ruled by the dead, Zoe finds herself more alone than ever after the death of her lover. Time goes by and life becomes even more intolerable. Never sure of who she can trust, and her ability to sense the dead drastically altered, she is forced to face some major realities as what remains of the group of survivors moves to higher ground.

Book 5 of the Grace Series. Intended for mature audiences only.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Paranormal

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2014

About the author

Born and raised in the great Pacific Northwest, M. Lauryl is a wife, mother, nurse, and author of horror/paranormal/romance. An avid camper, reader, and lover of Hawaii and Alaska for traveling!

As an author, she strives to create realistic characters who are flawed, and who react to situations as "real people" might.

Reviews

[Allie Rashkow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate you M. Lauryl Lewis. I bet you cackle manically to yourself every time you release a book at the heart break and misery you're going to cause us readers. You're terrible. No...really...you're amazing. It takes a lot for something to break my heart as much as you are able to do every book and how much you can make it soar with happiness too. I cannot even begin to tell you how much this book rocked. It was AMAZING! I hate what happened. I love what happened. I can't believe 99% of what happened actually happened. I know. Confusing. But seriously all that needs to be known is WOW, freaking, WOW! How long until the next one? Gah...it doesn't matter. Anytime is to long of a time. But I guess I'll just have to suck it up and wait. Unhappily wait.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!

In most series of books you can pick a favorite as one is not as good or exciting as the other, not so in the Grace series! Please do read them in order though.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the first 5 books in the series I feel like this was the one I liked the most.

I feel like Zoe had moments where she still seemed weak and helpless but at the same time has finally started to grow up and show she can kick butt when she needs too.

I think more characters died off in this book that had in previous books. Although all the deaths were sad and gruesome, I don't feel like Lewis kills them off for gore factor. All the deaths seemed to occur naturally during the course of the story.

Some of the deaths in this book actually made me cry, which is a first for the series.

I have enjoyed this book so much that I now need to get book 6 and the prequel so that I have read them all. I am finding M. Lauryl Lewis to be one of my new fave authors.

[Jenni Shamburger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointed with the ending, just not what I expected. I was really upset about Boggs's death, always wanted Zoe and Boggs to end up with each other. With the amount of time it took for this book to come out, I felt the author rushed the storyline & sacrificed quality. Overall this is a decent series, with the first and second books being the best in the series.

[Summer Adams]

Hope

I hate that I've lost a lot of my favorites but I was so happy to get Gus back that it made up for it! I look forward to the next book and will wait as long as you need! I hope everything with your sons surgeries goes well and I will keep you all in my heart!

[Summer Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love where this is going! Patiently drumming my fingers until the next one is out. ;-) You have a fan in me and I will wait as long as you need!

[Dorothy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the books, but got a little tired reading all the sex scenes, honestly don't think I would be that involved with sex while watching out for the dead trying to kill me. I could not put them down, once I started, I lived the book until finished. Hope she ends the series with some happiness, they deserve it after all the horror they have gone through. Glad that she and Gus found each other again, but got a little put off with him constantly breast feeding , poor babies had to make sure they got fed up with him fighting them for food. Great reads, up and down, hope and death. Sure takes one on a roller coaster of emotion.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite book of this series so far!!

I love this book because its like breath of fresh air for once. The main character needed it. Can't wait to get to the next book in this series.

[Danelle Paye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best end of the world zombie book

I love reading this genre I have read so many end of the world zombie books most are just a story this is so much !more this has everything makes you think about this book long after you finish it

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Praying for Grace (The Grace Series Book 5)

The further adventures of the survivors zombie apocalypse. All of the survivors meet up with a new group who live on a old military base. Will this group be good or evil? Zoe is pregnant again. A great, sad, and scary story.

[Carys Wiggans · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn't have a complexity about the zombies, there's drama with the human survivors.... brilliant.

[christina westby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yesss

I cant get enough of them! I needed some tissue but man I couldn't put the book down. I'm about to start the next book. S excited to find out what's next

[No Drama Llama · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much loss and sorrow yet still get keep on pushing on, Gah. It’s such a great storyline.

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was good. But I didn't think it was as good as the fourth. What really made me upset was that in the last book was that Gus left Zoe to go and find his other family and really hurt Zoe. But then he comes back I was so excited. Then found out he was bonded to Gretchen. I never really liked her. I honestly was kind of happy when she was gone, but really sad when she killed Emmett. That is so sad for Zoe. Practically losing 2 children already with another on the way. All the characters keep going away and every time I pick up a new book in the series it makes me sad. Especially because I started to really like some characters and the BAM they are gone. I am really excited to read the next book hope it is good as these ones have been!

Overall, Very good book and looking forward to reading the next book!

[Oleada Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful book.

This series of books keeps you on your watch. One minute they are alive and big parts of the story then they are gone. What made me really mad was when they killed baby Imit and Boss off then brought on unknowns for few chapters then killed them. Why not leave all the beginning characters on and let their lives work to the end.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Date I first read this book- June 20-23, 2015. I'm re-reading it now 2/27/2019.

ALERT!!!! LOTS OF SPOILERS!!!!! I love 💘 this series. I was so surprised by some of the things that happened and so excited to see someone I didn't think I would see again. This book was so much more emotional and Zoe's group lost so many friends and loved ones. It sucks bc I feel like they are always losing someone that is close to them. I get to know the characters as if I'm right there with them and as if I'm part of their group going thru everything with them. I feel like when they lose someone I'm experiencing that loss too. What Zoe has went through is horrible. I can't imagine even wanting to go on and I know she feels like giving up but I'm so glad she is strong. She has lost so much. I like how we got to find out more about the infected people who are like Zoe. It was great information. I can't believe she is pregnant with Gus's baby and that the baby is supposed to help save the world. Crazy for realz!!! Zoe's pregnancy's only last like 3 months and the baby is usually always full term looking when it comes out. It's crazy. I like that they meet some new friends, Clark and his wife are great people. I like Hoot and I wish Hoots sister, Gretchen, played a bigger part in this series. I hate how she passed. Anyways, I'm glad they found a safe haven and they are like a happy little family together. I just wish the family had more of the original group in it. We have Zoe, Gus, and their baby girl, Hope, who is growing twice as fast as normal, then we have Uncle Hoot, and Clark and his wife Laura, who are like grandparents. I despise what happened to Boggs it was compete BS. I hate what happened to Abby and Danny. They would have been cute together. It sucks tho bc in that world getting sick is basically a death sentence. I just wish it never happened to them. I loved Abby and Danny was awesome.
With all that being said I loved the lady part even tho it freaked me out too lol. Baby Hope is 1-years old and she just walks up to a Roamer and touches it and says bye-bye and it dies. I mean OMG WTF!! She's a little bad ass for a 1-yr old (basically looks 2 bc growth) baby girl lol. I was shocked. I can't wait to start next book and see what happens.

[Shana Festa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lewis wasted no time before delivered her one-two punch in the beginning of book five. I suspect more than a few readers will take in a gasp of shock. Not this reader, though. I was pleased with the cuts.

Lewis' fifth installment has a case of baby fever. They're in...they're out...alive...dead...albino. No, seriously. I've got to hand it to her, though, writing the zompoc with babies is a hard thing to do. I know, I tried!

The ending left me with a big Ooh (no spoilers here folks) and I'm itching to get my hands on the next one to see where Lewis takes things.

Her story has a strong theme of change. As in, it's evolving right before my eyes. The characters progress and regress in a great big transition curve throughout the entire thing. This may have been an issue had Lewis not jumped ahead in time a bit to show the characters did indeed have a bit of respite. There's only so much intensity a reader can take without the story feeling weighty, and Lewis did the series right by giving us a bit of a breather.

This is a welcome addition to the Grace series, and I'm chomping at the bit for more. Lewis' take on the zompocalypse is fresh, gritty, and raunchy. And I love getting lost in her fictional world. Though I wouldn't want to live there!

--SHANA FESTA, THE BOOKIE MONSTER & AUTHOR OF TIME OF DEATH

[Sherry Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fast paced series with a lot of sex going on which I never would've expected.

A really good series but seems like people die a little too often for my taste without enough actual mourning for the losses. They also seem to be "getting it on" at times when you know there is no possible way they would be doing that in that particular situation. That is something that bothers me because when I'm reading a book I like to feel like what's going on is completely logical within the parameters of the situation so when it isn't believable it make me remember that I'm reading a book when I tend to like being so engrossed in the book that I'm startled by something in my real life interrupting it if you know what I mean....Regardless I would recommend this book and or series to anyone over the age of 21 who enjoys the zombie Genre but is looking for a slightly different (and sometimes blush worthy) twist on things I chose this rating because it wasn't A five. If I give it my own Rating I would say it was a 3.90 because 3 just wouldn't do it justice but I can't incomplete good conscience give it a solid four. Bottom line read it I think you'll like it.

[Janice Colbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished the book 3 days ago and I was pretty upset as to the characters that were killed off. I was very impressed that this book was so much better to read due to not having the major typos, etc. that her other books had. It made for a smoother read.
I enjoyed the fact that the group finally met up with this guy who took them to where he and his wife were living. The way it was built, they said it was like a "hobbit home". I thought that was cool, considering that I am a Lord Of The Rings/The Hobbit fan.
At this point, I'm not rooting for anyone to survive because she has killed off so many characters. Even characters that I thought would stick around and survive this Zombie outbreak. At this point I have now made sure to not get too attached to certain characters because it's heartbreaking when they are killed off. You invest so much emotion, etc. into these characters and then "poof", they are gone.
Still a great book overall. Can't wait for the next book to come out! I'm curious as to what will happen next.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best zombie series out. There is no reprieve from the sense of constant alertness that Lauryl Lewis keeps you in. This extends not just from the actual zombie scenes,but also to the everyday fight for survival in this hellish new world. One of the strongest points of this series is that you as the reader feel not only a link to most of the characters, but also the constant sense of foreboding and despair in a world where monsters are no longer a thing of fiction. The ending to this particular part of the story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page, without a doubt!

[Dezieroze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series

I read all 5 books in the Grace series over a two week span. There were a lot of twists and turns, and a lot of mystery as to what was going to happen next. This was definitely a good read that I was able to read...for free, from my Amazon account. I liked pretty much all of the characters, even though many were left under developed. The editing left a lot to be desired as well, meaning sometimes I had to go back and read then re-read the sentence or paragraph, just to get the meaning of what the author was trying to say. Other than these few flaws, I highly recommend these novels, and look forward to #6 in the series.

[Pleasure Your Shelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be the end of the series. I was expecting it to answer a lot of questions Like what are the lightning flashes in the sky? Why do some people injured come up with green streaks and gifts and not others? What are the folks from the compound trying to achieve? Why are they feeding zombies? Why do Zoe's pregnancies progress so swiftly? what causes the different kinds of zombies? what are the charred zombies about? what about the hunters? what caused the spontaneous turning in a previous book? questions, questions!.

Again - I don't like the main character, but I want to know what happens with the zombies?

[Lindy Lu Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this series... loved everything about it with more deaths and new friends around every corner. This has been the most exciting series and I find myself excited for the next so thank you Ms. Lewis that there will be another coming soon... I just can't get enough of this story!! In this story you realize that Zoe is no longer the naïve girl she was at the beginning.... She is a strong character who rolls with the punches and keeps at it... I loved this one so you need to read it, it will be worth it if you loved the others!!

Check out my blog at lindylubookreview.com

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turns everything from the previous book on its head. I'm still not sure how I feel about some of the developments. I can't really say anymore without spoiling the plotline.

My only complaint for this series is that I wish the author would recap some of the characters at the start of the next books. With the books being spaced out I don't remember some of the secondary characters as well. Of course as soon as I figure them out they die anyway so it might be a moot point.

[joanna wiggans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic series

Don't want to give any spoilers so bear with. The characters are very real and lovable I downloaded whole series and found myself wondering how they were doing whilst in work and couldn't read . Waiting for last book now as need to know what happens to them next.

[Kristin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! Could not believe how much death there was in this book, and main characters at that. And it was sad to lose those characters, but it is a zombie book! Can't wait to see what happens next!

[Wende Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh!!! You're killing me!! I tell myself I'm going to delay reading the next book so it's not so long of a wait before the next comes out (yeah...no self control). Another amazing installment to the Grace series!!!

[Jdm74aol.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

There were so many unexpected twists and turns. I am so thrilled that this book lived up to my hopes. I was afraid story would become stagnant, but I was still drawn into Zoe's world. I cried in a few places with losses I wasn't expecting. I love the characters and storylines.

[Cade Carvell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to this fabulous series

Ok, another book is do out in 2015, so the adventure isn't done, yet.
Zoe has her baby and the world of the dead has no idea what she unleashed with this baby!

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good! I love this series and hope there's more to come.