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New Heights #2
Saving Grace
As if the jolt of becoming a single mom to her two sons wasn't enough, Natalie Coombs is facing new stresses as the director of the crisis pregnancy center. A teenager who comes in for testing brings back memories of another pregnant girl whose life tragically ended in suicide. Desperate to reach out to this client, Natalie crosses professional boundaries and incurs the wrath of a mysterious assailant. Even within her family, all is not well as her relationship with her sister becomes increasingly tense. Natalie is compelled to carefully count the cost of following her heart and her convictions amid betrayal, physical danger, and strained family relationships. Filled with human drama, readers will be easily drawn in as national issues become highly personal in this gripping tale of conflict and commitment.
302 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
84 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Denise Hunter
85 books4,711 followersDenise Hunter is the award-winning author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 16, 2020
Wow does this story pack a wallop! It was hard to put down and it's a beautiful story. Loved it.
August 3, 2021
Saving Grace was a surprise for me because I didn't really expect to like it, and that is a terrible thing to say, but again it was at my library and I thought I can't go wrong with Denise Hunter. I didn't realize the subject matter, and it's something that I was surprised that Ms. Hunter tackled but it was published close to twenty years ago. Having said all that, the more I read the more I wanted to know. Natalie works at a Pregnancy Crisis Centre and meets a young woman named Linn, and as the novel progresses, it was so interesting how she was connected to Linn without knowing it. I don't want to say much because I don't want to give any spoilers. I really enjoyed this, like I said it was a surprise. Not many authors write about the Pro-Life movement in this way, and I thought it was well done.
November 2, 2016
After reading book 3 of this series over a year ago, I finally decided to find the first 2. It's been long enough that I wasn't really familiar with the other characters, yet I knew the final outcome for Paula & David, who we are introduced to in book 1, and well and truly thrown into their world in book 2. It's been an interesting series - quite different from others Denise has written. They all tell a story of 1 of 3 sisters, who live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Some serious subjects are covered within the plot. Rape, assault, adultery, abuse, abortion & adoption. They are dealt with sensitively and with care. It obviously is written in a 'pro life' angle, in every sense. Not just in regard to abortion & adoption, but I believe in the way we are to live life to the full, which requires bucket loads of forgiveness. When our lives are weighed down by guilt, or hurt we cannot live the way God desires - we miss out on the joy & love. Humility, patience & charity all come into play here.
That said, there are so many coincidences within this series, it gets very very unrealistic. I can see why it affected many people's view of the books when reading through other reviews. Obviously I think they were written that way for a reason - the shocker between Micah & Hanna, the connection between Linn, Natalie, Keith & even Kyle. Finally, the almost unbelievable event shock for Paula. They are stories after all, and Denise has used a lot of liberties in her writing. I enjoyed this series, I love the location, and if you can get past the almost too unrealistic to be true circumstances, you will take away much from the message found within the pages of the 'New Heights' series.
That said, there are so many coincidences within this series, it gets very very unrealistic. I can see why it affected many people's view of the books when reading through other reviews. Obviously I think they were written that way for a reason - the shocker between Micah & Hanna, the connection between Linn, Natalie, Keith & even Kyle. Finally, the almost unbelievable event shock for Paula. They are stories after all, and Denise has used a lot of liberties in her writing. I enjoyed this series, I love the location, and if you can get past the almost too unrealistic to be true circumstances, you will take away much from the message found within the pages of the 'New Heights' series.
May 8, 2021
This was a good book but just really hard to read. The struggles and trials they went through were tough and heart wrenching. So thankful for the biblical perspective in all of it.
March 12, 2024
Book 2 of the New Heights series, this time our main character is Natalie, but we learn lots of details from her sisters' lives as well.
Oh my..! This novel was an emotional rollercoaster! I don't remember feeling so many emotions in quite a while. I felt sadness, regrets, doubt, disgust, so much tension, even fear, also faith, love, but above all ANGER! Words can't explain how angry I was for Linn!
There were some very hard life situations and I wondered how the characters are going to deal with all the stuff happening, I was curious about their decisions - what a page turner! Also the plot twists were like no other, dear Mrs Hunter you're a master!
However, what I didn't enjoy was Linn, I tried my best to understand her and to like her, but I simply couldn't. She was so selfish and rude and was overreacting inappropriately, arguing with people who wanted to help her. Her situation was really bad, but she was lucky to have people around who cared and yet there was some sort of reproach I could sense in every word she was saying. I would have so much trouble forgiving her if I were Natalie, Linn didn't deserve it for such behaviour.
The ending was the ending I wish wouldn't happen, yet for some reason I had goosebumps... it was the reader's feeling of learning the true meaning of the book's title.
Can't give this 5 stars for Linn driving me crazy, but overall I loved reading this.
I had no other option than starting reading the 3rd book right away.
Oh my..! This novel was an emotional rollercoaster! I don't remember feeling so many emotions in quite a while. I felt sadness, regrets, doubt, disgust, so much tension, even fear, also faith, love, but above all ANGER! Words can't explain how angry I was for Linn!
There were some very hard life situations and I wondered how the characters are going to deal with all the stuff happening, I was curious about their decisions - what a page turner! Also the plot twists were like no other, dear Mrs Hunter you're a master!
However, what I didn't enjoy was Linn, I tried my best to understand her and to like her, but I simply couldn't. She was so selfish and rude and was overreacting inappropriately, arguing with people who wanted to help her. Her situation was really bad, but she was lucky to have people around who cared and yet there was some sort of reproach I could sense in every word she was saying. I would have so much trouble forgiving her if I were Natalie, Linn didn't deserve it for such behaviour.
The ending was the ending I wish wouldn't happen, yet for some reason I had goosebumps... it was the reader's feeling of learning the true meaning of the book's title.
Can't give this 5 stars for Linn driving me crazy, but overall I loved reading this.
I had no other option than starting reading the 3rd book right away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2019
Like the other two books in the series this book had the running theme of forgiveness and was very deep emotionally. Maybe accidentally starting from the last book in the series ruined it for me because I already knew what happened to all the characters, it was interesting to see how they got there though. A lot of difficult topics were addressed in the book which I commend the author for.
July 19, 2020
Great book on a some very tough subjects by author Denise Hunter. The main character Natalie works at a clinic to help guide pregnant women and teens to choose life for their unborn children. She helps them cope with their pregnancies and encourages them to choose to keep their children or give them up for adoption and sometimes the mothers do and other times they don't.
She encounters a young teen Lynn who has a college scholarship but gets pregnant and the father is not a part of Lynn's life. Something about Lynn pulls at Natalie and the two form a strong bond that she normally does not have with the women that come to her clinic.
At the same time this is going on, she is attacked in the parking lot of the clinic and later both her clinic and the one in the same town that performs abortions are bombed so there is mystery.
There are so many emotions built into this book about a very sensitive subject and people that have strong feelings about pro-life vs. abortions. There is conflict but so much more in this book "Saving Grace".
She encounters a young teen Lynn who has a college scholarship but gets pregnant and the father is not a part of Lynn's life. Something about Lynn pulls at Natalie and the two form a strong bond that she normally does not have with the women that come to her clinic.
At the same time this is going on, she is attacked in the parking lot of the clinic and later both her clinic and the one in the same town that performs abortions are bombed so there is mystery.
There are so many emotions built into this book about a very sensitive subject and people that have strong feelings about pro-life vs. abortions. There is conflict but so much more in this book "Saving Grace".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2021
Wow, the 2nd book was much better than the first. I enjoyed this one and give the author credit for such a challenging and vibrant story.
Natalie faces a moral dilemma when she decides to adopt the child of a teenage client at her Women's Clinic. When Linn becomes homeless, Natalie invites her to move in with she and her 2 boys.
As the story unfolds Natalie and Linn have difficult decisions to make. Forgiveness is the theme as Natalie works towards forgiving her ex husband for his infidelity. Linn tries to come to grips with her sister's death after learning everything is not as it appears.
On to book 3!
Natalie faces a moral dilemma when she decides to adopt the child of a teenage client at her Women's Clinic. When Linn becomes homeless, Natalie invites her to move in with she and her 2 boys.
As the story unfolds Natalie and Linn have difficult decisions to make. Forgiveness is the theme as Natalie works towards forgiving her ex husband for his infidelity. Linn tries to come to grips with her sister's death after learning everything is not as it appears.
On to book 3!
December 25, 2019
What a book for Christmas reading? Reason for the season a baby and parents Mary and Joseph. Babies, pregnant, abortion, adoption, single parent. Not a field of work for everyone. Choices, decisions and options?? teenagers/girls/single or married women gets to make these decisions with info given. hot political topic making laws and God? This book maybe 10 years old but the topic it covers is everyone's opinion on life where it begins?
October 6, 2020
4.5 stars! I listened to this book by Denise Hunter, it was a bit different than what I have read from her before. This one dealt with a serious topic and I felt she did a great job. I enjoyed all the characters except Paula, but I see she gets her own book next. So, hopefully she will turn into a likeable character. I also felt the narrator did a fantastic job.
July 20, 2016
Pretty good! Liked the emphasis on family and life and serving the broken. Could've done without some of the Christian life angst, but oh well. Wish I'd realized this was #2 in the series before I read it. Now I have to go read #1.
January 8, 2019
Book 2 was just as inspiring and compelling as the first one. Dealing wth difficult issues of life, we walk with the main character as she wrestled with the issues and discovers her strength through faith. On the book 3!
March 11, 2021
Good Lessons from fiction!
I finished this in less than 48 hours. It is a well written book that should be read by many young women. There are many Godly lessons to learn from this fictional story!
I finished this in less than 48 hours. It is a well written book that should be read by many young women. There are many Godly lessons to learn from this fictional story!
June 2, 2018
Earlier book by this author and it was not a good one. Lots of coincidences, poor character development, and very juvenile writing. Not recommended.
September 7, 2018
Did not enjoy this as much as the first in the series. It was just ok and very predictable.
October 11, 2018
Wow!
What an amazing story of forgiveness, grace, and love. God’s mercy, grace, love, and strength shine through this wonderful story!
What an amazing story of forgiveness, grace, and love. God’s mercy, grace, love, and strength shine through this wonderful story!
October 5, 2019
I loved this incredibly pro-life book! Highly recommended!
February 21, 2020
3.5. The subject of abortion is pretty hard to tackle and Hunter does a nice job with it. The story is a bit too contrived for my taste, but I liked the characters.
March 13, 2020
I volunteer at a pregnancy center and found the book to be really true to life and engaging. I couldn't put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2020
Saving grace
In resolved situation....Keith, Linn, a bit unreal, not as well thought out as first book in series., mending. Places , lacking resuilts
In resolved situation....Keith, Linn, a bit unreal, not as well thought out as first book in series., mending. Places , lacking resuilts
August 7, 2020
The power and joy of love and forgiveness! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2024
3.5 rounded up. Natalie Coombs is a recently divorced mother with two young sons who works as the director of a Pregnancy Resource Center. Every day, Natalie meets young women facing a unplanned pregnancy. With true compassion, Natalie prayerfully tries to open their eyes to the truth of their baby's humanity and the possible impact having an abortion can have on their own physical and mental health.
One of these young women is Linn, who is 19, pregnant and alone. As Natalie tries to help Linn see alternatives to abortion, she feels God asking her how far she is willing to go to save Linn's child. Far enough to alter her own life? Natalie ends up befriending Linn and agreeing to adopt her baby, until she finds out that Linn has been deceiving her all along. Can she forgive the unforgivable?
In addition to the personal drama with Linn, Natalie is also dealing with attacks on the clinic, including vandalism, an assault in her car, and biased reporting by the local television station where her sister is a news anchor. She finds a sounding board in a handsome young lawyer who handles adoptions, only to find that he has secrets of his own.
Since I am strongly pro-life, I identified with Natalie and admired her dedication to following God's will. I wish I could say I would have done the same.
One of these young women is Linn, who is 19, pregnant and alone. As Natalie tries to help Linn see alternatives to abortion, she feels God asking her how far she is willing to go to save Linn's child. Far enough to alter her own life? Natalie ends up befriending Linn and agreeing to adopt her baby, until she finds out that Linn has been deceiving her all along. Can she forgive the unforgivable?
In addition to the personal drama with Linn, Natalie is also dealing with attacks on the clinic, including vandalism, an assault in her car, and biased reporting by the local television station where her sister is a news anchor. She finds a sounding board in a handsome young lawyer who handles adoptions, only to find that he has secrets of his own.
Since I am strongly pro-life, I identified with Natalie and admired her dedication to following God's will. I wish I could say I would have done the same.
October 8, 2023
"Saving Grace" is more of a women's journey than a romance (the love story is a subtheme). Also, there is a subtheme of mystery.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves Francine Rivers's "The Atonement Child" (which also has a perspective of pregnancy and abortion) or Beth Vogt's, "The Best We've Been" (a book about fertility and unplanned pregnancy).
Themes of "Saving Grace" include: abortion, infertility, and adoption.
The spiritual theme is forgiveness.
I rated it as 4-stars because I thought it would have the romance and attraction that Micah and Hanna had in Mending Places (a book I adored by the way, especially how Hunter led us through two really dark backstories).
Overall, a good women's fiction book (with a subtheme of romance).
I recommend this book for anyone who loves Francine Rivers's "The Atonement Child" (which also has a perspective of pregnancy and abortion) or Beth Vogt's, "The Best We've Been" (a book about fertility and unplanned pregnancy).
Themes of "Saving Grace" include: abortion, infertility, and adoption.
The spiritual theme is forgiveness.
I rated it as 4-stars because I thought it would have the romance and attraction that Micah and Hanna had in Mending Places (a book I adored by the way, especially how Hunter led us through two really dark backstories).
Overall, a good women's fiction book (with a subtheme of romance).
February 25, 2021
I didnt like this book very much at first, because the prose is fairly plain. It also seemed ridiculous how all of the characters are connected to each other in more than one way.
However, I changed my mind as I kept reading. It involved themes of forgiveness and loving people even when it costs oneself to do so. It also involved second chances.
And my literary heart loved how Saving Grace (the title) turns out to have a double meaning at the end.
Plus, it's a clean read so I wasnt bracing myself for open door scenes.
Trigger warning: the main character is attacked at night early on in the book (but isn't physically injured.)
However, I changed my mind as I kept reading. It involved themes of forgiveness and loving people even when it costs oneself to do so. It also involved second chances.
And my literary heart loved how Saving Grace (the title) turns out to have a double meaning at the end.
Plus, it's a clean read so I wasnt bracing myself for open door scenes.
Trigger warning: the main character is attacked at night early on in the book (but isn't physically injured.)
January 8, 2026
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster with its many ups and downs. Denise Hunter does a great job drawing out the characters’ struggles and inner conflicts, and there were moments that definitely pulled at my heart. Overall, this book was a pleasant and engaging read, but it didn’t quite stand out to me compared to others in the genre. While I enjoyed the emotional depth and the journey the characters went on, it didn’t leave a lasting impression once I finished. Still, it’s a solid choice for readers who enjoy heartfelt, faith-centered romance with realistic challenges.
January 17, 2024
So I really love Denise Hunter, but this series just feels a little bit off. The first book of the series, had a twist that I felt was pretty questionable and very strange. This book also has a strange concept too. I believe in forgiveness but some of the forgiveness in these books borderline on straight stupidity. I’m going to read the third book and I still love Denise Hunter, I just don’t think this is my favorite series from her. It pushes too many boundaries.
October 22, 2025
Fabulous novel. The pregnancy center aspect stirred some beautiful and difficult memories of my own experiences. Aside from my personal connection, the characters and their difficult circumstances kept me turning the pages. The sacrificial love shown in this story shines brilliantly. I will be thinking about this novel for a while. I plan to wholeheartedly recommend it to my friends. I did listen to the audio version; the narration was great, too.
October 2, 2017
A good story with a challenging message, Saving Grace really got you into the mindset of Natalie and Linn, but I felt that the male lead was lacking, or at least that you don't get to know him as well as you wish. Enjoyable read, even though it is (as per usual with Denise Hunter) very emotionally heavy.
September 16, 2025
This book will hold your attention from beginning to end and at times will make you hold your breath and wonder how things can work out. It’s a reminder that we go through some hard times, but God will get us through. It’s a book that made me smile and cry. I cannot over recommend this book.
December 6, 2020
This book is the best of the series !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews