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A Taste of Grace
Dr. Gracelyn Toliver’s world unraveled the day she lost her federal job—the career she’d poured her soul into. That loss, coupled with the recent death of her mother, becomes too heavy to bear, driving her to a dark place she barely escaped.
A move to a small Georgia town offers Grace a chance to breathe again, unexpectedly leading her into the lives of the broad-shouldered, swoon-worthy Pastor Caleb Stallings and his two young daughters, who see Grace as the mother they’ve been praying for. As Grace and Caleb navigate the delicate dance of caring for the girls, their mutual attraction quickly ignites, forcing them to reckon with feelings neither expected.
Can Grace and Caleb shed the weight of their pasts and embrace the possibility of a union built on trust, honesty, and faith? Or will old scars threaten to steal the promise of joy and restoration that is finally within their reach?
A move to a small Georgia town offers Grace a chance to breathe again, unexpectedly leading her into the lives of the broad-shouldered, swoon-worthy Pastor Caleb Stallings and his two young daughters, who see Grace as the mother they’ve been praying for. As Grace and Caleb navigate the delicate dance of caring for the girls, their mutual attraction quickly ignites, forcing them to reckon with feelings neither expected.
Can Grace and Caleb shed the weight of their pasts and embrace the possibility of a union built on trust, honesty, and faith? Or will old scars threaten to steal the promise of joy and restoration that is finally within their reach?
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 23, 2025
❤️🙏🏾
A Taste of Grace was a beautiful story. I love a good story about healing and redemption. Grace had lost it all, her parents, her career and was at her lowest. But by “the grace” of God, her uncle stepped in and gave her hope. This is a women’s fiction story, but the romance component was done well. I adored Pastor Caleb and the girls! The good pastor was ready to risk it all to have Grace as his wife and I was here for it. There were so many gems and divine messages but it wasn’t preachy; it was relatable and landed in the right place for me. I loved this book.❤️
A Taste of Grace was a beautiful story. I love a good story about healing and redemption. Grace had lost it all, her parents, her career and was at her lowest. But by “the grace” of God, her uncle stepped in and gave her hope. This is a women’s fiction story, but the romance component was done well. I adored Pastor Caleb and the girls! The good pastor was ready to risk it all to have Grace as his wife and I was here for it. There were so many gems and divine messages but it wasn’t preachy; it was relatable and landed in the right place for me. I loved this book.❤️
July 17, 2025
A Taste of Grace
This was a beautifully written book. Although the MMC was a pastor this book is not a Christian romance this is black.lol be simply put. I love how Grace loved on them babies from day one. I will say Pastor Caleb peed me off with how he treated Grace when Mad Maddie showed up at the church. All in all this was a good book and once the spice came it was spicing.
This was a beautifully written book. Although the MMC was a pastor this book is not a Christian romance this is black.lol be simply put. I love how Grace loved on them babies from day one. I will say Pastor Caleb peed me off with how he treated Grace when Mad Maddie showed up at the church. All in all this was a good book and once the spice came it was spicing.
July 18, 2025
Pretty good read...
August 13, 2025
Great book of Grace
What a tastefully written romance. If you love a book that is not only sensual but spiritual and has a good base of faith, I would strongly recommend this book.
Monica Cox this book was a reminder that we all fall short and men of the cloth not only had a past before they received their calling, but baby they are just as human as the next person, but gracefully made and chosen by the man above. I believe that Grace was everything g that Caleb needed, and she was even more of what she needed.
Mental health is real, and children have a way about them that will tell you pretty much everything you need to know.
Epilogue was excellent!
What a tastefully written romance. If you love a book that is not only sensual but spiritual and has a good base of faith, I would strongly recommend this book.
Monica Cox this book was a reminder that we all fall short and men of the cloth not only had a past before they received their calling, but baby they are just as human as the next person, but gracefully made and chosen by the man above. I believe that Grace was everything g that Caleb needed, and she was even more of what she needed.
Mental health is real, and children have a way about them that will tell you pretty much everything you need to know.
Epilogue was excellent!
July 25, 2025
A Holy Hoe
This was an absolutely amazing read and so relatable Grace was a women who defined herself with her career and parents when she no longer had either she fell into a dark place having to learn to love herself and find her way out of darkness and accept her new normal now Pastor Caleb had a past he was an admitted ho who’s wife abandoned Him with 2 beautiful girls who took a vow of celibacy…when these two encounter each other it’s instant attraction and those who are close to them validate their feelings but this read had so many gems of acceptance, redemption, communication and the marital bed is never defiled cause baby they both brought the heat…now I wanted to know who pulled Grace from the bridge and why was her uncle not talked about more overall this was a great read
This was an absolutely amazing read and so relatable Grace was a women who defined herself with her career and parents when she no longer had either she fell into a dark place having to learn to love herself and find her way out of darkness and accept her new normal now Pastor Caleb had a past he was an admitted ho who’s wife abandoned Him with 2 beautiful girls who took a vow of celibacy…when these two encounter each other it’s instant attraction and those who are close to them validate their feelings but this read had so many gems of acceptance, redemption, communication and the marital bed is never defiled cause baby they both brought the heat…now I wanted to know who pulled Grace from the bridge and why was her uncle not talked about more overall this was a great read
July 25, 2025
3.75⭐️
August 8, 2026
A Taste of Grace was such a beautiful read.
Grace had been hit from every direction. Losing her parents, losing her career, and reaching a point where she had no clue what came next. Then her uncle stepped in and gave her somewhere to start again.
And Pastor Caleb? Sirrrrr. 😂 That good pastor was ready to risk it ALL for Grace, and I was here for every minute of it. I adored him, the girls, and watching Grace slowly find love, family, and herself again.
What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the faith element. There were messages throughout the story that made me stop and think, but I never felt like I was being preached at. Everything fit naturally into Grace's story of healing and finding her way forward.
I also loved this different spin on arranged marriage. Since I'm knee-deep in Arranged Marriage August, I appreciated getting a story that approached the trope from a completely different angle.
Healing, redemption, family, faith, and a pastor ready to stand on business about his woman? Yeah... this one got me. 🥹💕 (4.25/5)
Grace had been hit from every direction. Losing her parents, losing her career, and reaching a point where she had no clue what came next. Then her uncle stepped in and gave her somewhere to start again.
And Pastor Caleb? Sirrrrr. 😂 That good pastor was ready to risk it ALL for Grace, and I was here for every minute of it. I adored him, the girls, and watching Grace slowly find love, family, and herself again.
What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the faith element. There were messages throughout the story that made me stop and think, but I never felt like I was being preached at. Everything fit naturally into Grace's story of healing and finding her way forward.
I also loved this different spin on arranged marriage. Since I'm knee-deep in Arranged Marriage August, I appreciated getting a story that approached the trope from a completely different angle.
Healing, redemption, family, faith, and a pastor ready to stand on business about his woman? Yeah... this one got me. 🥹💕 (4.25/5)
July 17, 2025
Grace and Caleb sitting in a tree. K I S S I N G! Loved these two. It's definitely a grown folk read. Their immediate attraction was fire 🔥. Baby he was a pastor, but behind closed doors, he was a man with needs on a mission. Pastor Caleb was just Caleb, and nasty and in for the wild behind closed doors.
Pastor C said "No" to just a courtship to see how they faired. He laid it out with no option because he knew himself, and Grace agreed. Pastor was on a lock down mission.
Grace knew her strength and was determined to walk in her purpose, which was to renew her strength and find the love of her life. She went through such a traumatic time after the death of her last parent, her mother. Those girls, Hannah and Esther, loved them some Grace and were not letting her get away.
Caleb lost some brownie points with me after the way he responded to his wife Grace, after that flussie ex wife sayshayed her a&& into the Mother's Day service. However, he won them back!
Pastor C said "No" to just a courtship to see how they faired. He laid it out with no option because he knew himself, and Grace agreed. Pastor was on a lock down mission.
Grace knew her strength and was determined to walk in her purpose, which was to renew her strength and find the love of her life. She went through such a traumatic time after the death of her last parent, her mother. Those girls, Hannah and Esther, loved them some Grace and were not letting her get away.
Caleb lost some brownie points with me after the way he responded to his wife Grace, after that flussie ex wife sayshayed her a&& into the Mother's Day service. However, he won them back!
August 29, 2025
I absolutely loved the story of Caleb and Grace. These two were definitely meant to be together. The way Hannah and Esther were immediately attached to Grace was the sweetest. Those little girls made every scene they appeared in some of the sweetest moments. I loved how Caleb spoke and prayed life over Grace. Every time he prayed over her or affirmed her, had me swooning. Grace was the epitome of her name. She showed Grace in the streets but didn't play about letting her freak out for her man😜😜. This story was so well written, and I enjoyed every moment of reading these characters find their way to love.
August 21, 2025
Amazing Grace
This book fed my soul so much! This is my first encounter with Monica Cox. I immediately downloaded this read when I saw this author comment on a post of Love Belvin’s referencing Ezra Carmichael - one of my favorite male protagonists!
I’m so happy that I read this book. Those of us who have had the privilege of being raised in nurturing god-fearing loving homes struggle with the interplay between - what I will refer to as romantic relationships vis-à-vis spirituality/christianity. It’s so hard balancing what we believe the tenets of Christianity require against our flesh.
This book was a great reminder that we are human and flawed but that Jesus Christ is full of amazing grace which he extends to us everyday!
You have a fan in me now Ms Monica! Thank you for such a beautiful story and for sharing your gift with us!
This book fed my soul so much! This is my first encounter with Monica Cox. I immediately downloaded this read when I saw this author comment on a post of Love Belvin’s referencing Ezra Carmichael - one of my favorite male protagonists!
I’m so happy that I read this book. Those of us who have had the privilege of being raised in nurturing god-fearing loving homes struggle with the interplay between - what I will refer to as romantic relationships vis-à-vis spirituality/christianity. It’s so hard balancing what we believe the tenets of Christianity require against our flesh.
This book was a great reminder that we are human and flawed but that Jesus Christ is full of amazing grace which he extends to us everyday!
You have a fan in me now Ms Monica! Thank you for such a beautiful story and for sharing your gift with us!
August 9, 2025
Awesome
Ms. Cox crafted an exceptional narrative 📖 exploring the profound love story between Caleb and Grace 💕. The novel begins with a weighty emotional landscape 😔 but gradually transforms into a poignant tale of healing and connection 🤝. The story powerfully illustrates the challenges of suffering in silence 🤫 and the transformative power of finding understanding and support 🌟. Grace discovers emotional refuge and personal restoration through her relationship with Pastor Caleb 🙏, their connection characterized by intense passion and deep emotional intimacy ❤️. The narrative also highlights the redemptive journey of Hannah and Esther 👭, who find solace and maternal love 🤱, contrasting sharply with their bio mom circumstances. The book emerges as a compelling exploration of love, resilience, and personal growth 🌱, offering readers an emotionally rich and ultimately uplifting experience that resonates with authenticity and hope.
Ms. Cox crafted an exceptional narrative 📖 exploring the profound love story between Caleb and Grace 💕. The novel begins with a weighty emotional landscape 😔 but gradually transforms into a poignant tale of healing and connection 🤝. The story powerfully illustrates the challenges of suffering in silence 🤫 and the transformative power of finding understanding and support 🌟. Grace discovers emotional refuge and personal restoration through her relationship with Pastor Caleb 🙏, their connection characterized by intense passion and deep emotional intimacy ❤️. The narrative also highlights the redemptive journey of Hannah and Esther 👭, who find solace and maternal love 🤱, contrasting sharply with their bio mom circumstances. The book emerges as a compelling exploration of love, resilience, and personal growth 🌱, offering readers an emotionally rich and ultimately uplifting experience that resonates with authenticity and hope.
June 20, 2026
Wow! I really really enjoyed this! This book touched on every single thing!
Talk about redemption! Grace deserved it all. I literally LOL so much at her and Caleb.
The literally couldn’t put it down, I was at the movies with my kids wrapping it up! Great job Ms. Cox!
Talk about redemption! Grace deserved it all. I literally LOL so much at her and Caleb.
The literally couldn’t put it down, I was at the movies with my kids wrapping it up! Great job Ms. Cox!
July 18, 2025
wow
Completely speechless!
I loved this book whole heartedly I’m so happy grace got the life that she was destined for.
Completely speechless!
I loved this book whole heartedly I’m so happy grace got the life that she was destined for.
October 5, 2025
Mixing It Up
The story of Grace and Caleb was a vision of holiness coupled with unadulterated passion. The deepness of their connection was intertwined with the everyday trials of keeping it real in love.
The story of Grace and Caleb was a vision of holiness coupled with unadulterated passion. The deepness of their connection was intertwined with the everyday trials of keeping it real in love.
August 14, 2025
Tears
This was a pleasant read. I really enjoyed how touching it was and how relatable it was as well. Great book!
This was a pleasant read. I really enjoyed how touching it was and how relatable it was as well. Great book!
August 11, 2025
Loved this book!
I truly enjoyed reading this book because the characters were so well written. I’m loving reading about great single fathers and the prayers were so powerful and heartfelt.
Grief is real and redemption is possible is what I took away from this book.
Monica Cox stories are always great❤️
I truly enjoyed reading this book because the characters were so well written. I’m loving reading about great single fathers and the prayers were so powerful and heartfelt.
Grief is real and redemption is possible is what I took away from this book.
Monica Cox stories are always great❤️
August 2, 2025
🙏🏿❤️🤗
Excellent Read. I was in a reading slump and this book was just what needed. This couple had me crying, smiling and kicking my feet in happiness. It was a good mix of holy and nasty. Well written I am becoming a quick fan of Monica Cox’s books
Excellent Read. I was in a reading slump and this book was just what needed. This couple had me crying, smiling and kicking my feet in happiness. It was a good mix of holy and nasty. Well written I am becoming a quick fan of Monica Cox’s books
July 30, 2025
Grace is given.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Appreciated that the entire family had biblical names. It was good seeing the growth and development of the MFC and MMC.
Grace isn’t earned; it’s given.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Appreciated that the entire family had biblical names. It was good seeing the growth and development of the MFC and MMC.
Grace isn’t earned; it’s given.
July 26, 2025
yasssss
It was a little holy a little spicy a little hood. Just enough of everything a reading cleanser. This was a good one.
It was a little holy a little spicy a little hood. Just enough of everything a reading cleanser. This was a good one.
July 19, 2025
This was chef's kiss
Gracelyn thoughts and soul mirrored many who just kept receiving blow after blow. However, our time is not when we want it to be because we have more living to do. Sometimes, our purpose is a new beginning and true friendship. It is the hard conversations with strangers and family. My emotions took a beating, but the tears were cleansing.
Caleb came right on time, but in that time, he found his healing in peace in Grace. Although he was a man of God, he also was and is a work in progress. The two together were courage and understanding. They were each others solace in darkness and partner in loneliness.
This is a good book to read for spiritual reasons, but it does bring the spice.
Gracelyn thoughts and soul mirrored many who just kept receiving blow after blow. However, our time is not when we want it to be because we have more living to do. Sometimes, our purpose is a new beginning and true friendship. It is the hard conversations with strangers and family. My emotions took a beating, but the tears were cleansing.
Caleb came right on time, but in that time, he found his healing in peace in Grace. Although he was a man of God, he also was and is a work in progress. The two together were courage and understanding. They were each others solace in darkness and partner in loneliness.
This is a good book to read for spiritual reasons, but it does bring the spice.
July 19, 2025
This was a sweet story! I love the spotlight on mental health and second chances at life, in all aspects. Caleb and Grace truly bettered each other’s lives.
July 18, 2025
Pastor Caleb and amazing Grace were a match made by the hands of God! This book showed what pain and healing look like. It highlights redemption as well as loss – loss of family, loss of how we see ourselves via what we do for a living and loss of a family that was thought to have been forever. It is important to remember that children see the hearts of people, and Grace by the grace of God had a redeeming story to tell.
September 1, 2025
Beautiful 🥰🥰
I loved it inside out such a beautiful romantic relationship between characters chemistry was off the chain simply amazing loved it yessss🫶🏽touched my heart!
I loved it inside out such a beautiful romantic relationship between characters chemistry was off the chain simply amazing loved it yessss🫶🏽touched my heart!
August 29, 2025
YES 🙌🏿
LET 👏🏿ME 👏🏿TELL 👏🏿YALL👏🏿 SOMETHING !!!!!!this book was everything Dr. Grace is my kinda Christian she was outside acting like a lady of Christ, but secretly was a lady of the night cause SITSTA !!was throwing that THANG BACK ON PASSTA!!!!!!!😂🤣😂🤣
LET 👏🏿ME 👏🏿TELL 👏🏿YALL👏🏿 SOMETHING !!!!!!this book was everything Dr. Grace is my kinda Christian she was outside acting like a lady of Christ, but secretly was a lady of the night cause SITSTA !!was throwing that THANG BACK ON PASSTA!!!!!!!😂🤣😂🤣
September 6, 2025
Just a taste, this was definitely more than a taste of Grace. I’m a sucker for a pastor romance book so I was hooked. Great information concerning depression and suicidal tendencies. Also shows a pastor is just a man who has come through what they have come through. Everyone given the chance can come through better on the other side.
You may walk in the valley of the shadow of death, but you don’t have to stay there.
You may walk in the valley of the shadow of death, but you don’t have to stay there.
July 19, 2025
This was a nice read, like the messages were clear and powerful. My only critique and this is probably due to some religious propaganda lol and programming but I felt like Pastor Caleb was unbearably HORNY. Like off rip mans was fiending. Like I get it Grace was THAT GIRL but as a man of the cloth I just expected him to have a tiny bit more uhmm couth especially since lust is a sin but I guess in his case it was more so desire EITHER WAY I needed him to dial it back like a hair or two.
August 9, 2025
Mediocre
The story started off well, and then quickly fell apart. Everything happened way too fast. The relationship between Caleb and Grace was lightning quick. I didn’t understand the scene with the ex wife. She came and went with no real purpose. It was very anticlimactic. And what ever happened to the uncle that helped her?
The story started off well, and then quickly fell apart. Everything happened way too fast. The relationship between Caleb and Grace was lightning quick. I didn’t understand the scene with the ex wife. She came and went with no real purpose. It was very anticlimactic. And what ever happened to the uncle that helped her?
September 5, 2025
A good mix of Christianity and Smut
Content and Creativity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This is a book rooted in Christianity and it shows through prayers, words of affirmation, prophetic word and sight. The author's comedic timing was impeccable. She also used grace as a main component in the entire book. I was flabbergasted by the messiness. Then kicking and screaming when things came to a head. This book gave everything.
Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Now I did not say all of that to say this book is tame because it is not at all. Caleb the MMC has a literal hankering for Grace the FMC. So a taste is just the tip of the iceberg and the passion is nothing to scoff at. I only deducted a pepper because Caleb had a few questionable hang-ups. I would love to visit the Graden of Eden with my husband. Im new to this author but I will absolutely read more of her work.
Content and Creativity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This is a book rooted in Christianity and it shows through prayers, words of affirmation, prophetic word and sight. The author's comedic timing was impeccable. She also used grace as a main component in the entire book. I was flabbergasted by the messiness. Then kicking and screaming when things came to a head. This book gave everything.
Spice 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Now I did not say all of that to say this book is tame because it is not at all. Caleb the MMC has a literal hankering for Grace the FMC. So a taste is just the tip of the iceberg and the passion is nothing to scoff at. I only deducted a pepper because Caleb had a few questionable hang-ups. I would love to visit the Graden of Eden with my husband. Im new to this author but I will absolutely read more of her work.
August 16, 2025
Caleb and Grace
A wonderful story of second chances, forgiveness, overcoming grief and loneliness
Grace was overwhelmed and at the end of her rope, but God have another plan for her life
Enters Caleb and his family and his adorable daughters
Monica brings us into this family to find hope, joy, peace and a deep love that only God can create for two people
The children bring a feeling of happiness as they experience their prayers answered in the form of Grace
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it
A wonderful story of second chances, forgiveness, overcoming grief and loneliness
Grace was overwhelmed and at the end of her rope, but God have another plan for her life
Enters Caleb and his family and his adorable daughters
Monica brings us into this family to find hope, joy, peace and a deep love that only God can create for two people
The children bring a feeling of happiness as they experience their prayers answered in the form of Grace
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it
November 3, 2025
I liked the characters Grace and Caleb. I enjoyed Caleb’s spiritual leader side versus his “human side” which made him relatable and showed the complexities of being a senior Pastor and dating. I liked that the book addressed mental health from the standpoint of SI and treatment which is often shunned in the black community. The book was funny and had enough drama to keep wondering what was next. I didn’t like the arranged part of the relationship because neither really felt like they wanted that part but I enjoyed the story overall.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews