Grace and Mercy (Urban Christian) [Paperback]

Brittney Holmes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 2009 | Series: Urban Christian

Kenda Tyson has lived a pretty wonderful life. Her parents are lawyers who own their own firm, and they provide their 17-year-old daughter with only the finest. Kenda has come to expect that the men in her life will continue to offer her that same level of luxury, and when she meets the good-looking, smooth-talking Jerome Smith, she's sure she's hit the jackpot. Her perspective quickly changes, however, when she finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of love, lies, and abuse.

The first time she has to examine a bruise on her face, Kenda allows herself to believe that it was a mistake Jerome will never make again. Her friends try to convince Kenda that being with Jerome is not what's best for her, but when she refuses to listen to them, they walk away, hoping that God will hear their prayers and protect Kenda's life. When Kenda decides that her relationship with Jerome is more important than her friendships and her family, will she realize how much she is giving up before it's too late?

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Urban Trade Paper; 1 edition (May 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601629915
• ISBN-13: 978-1601629913
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brittney Holmes is currently enrolled at the University of Georgia where she is pursuing Bachelor's degrees in Journalism and Psychology. She is actively involved throughout campus, participating in organizations like the National Association of Black Journalists, the Black Affairs Council and Abeenefoo Kuo Honor Society; she is also the Afterschool Program Coordinator at Rocksprings Community Center. A gifted journalist, Brittney has worked as a staff writer for "The Red & Black" (an independent newspaper serving the UGA community), serves as the Managing Editor for "InfUSion Magazine" (UGA multicultural magazine), and a writer and copy editor for "NABJ Showcase" (official newsletter for the National Association of Black Journalists). She also serves as a youth contributing writer for Global Woman magazine and a member of the Zeta Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Published through Urban Books (Urban Christian imprint), her debut novel, "Living Consequences" gained recognition from the African American Literary Awards Show where she received the 2007 Open Book Award for Best Young Adult Fiction of the Year. Along with her second novel, "Testing Relationships"--which was released in June 2008--Living Consequences appeared on Essence Magazine's Best Sellers list in February and March 2009, making Brittney a two-time National Best Selling author at the age of nineteen. Her third novel, "Grace and Mercy" was released in June 2009; and her fourth novel, "On Bended Knee" was released in May 2011. She was recently recognized for her accomplishments in Who's Who in Black Atlanta 2010.

In addition to writing novels, Brittney has also authored several poems addressing the subjects of Christianity, peer pressure, and social issues. In her free time she enjoys reading, writing, singing, dancing, listening to music, shopping, and spending time with her family and friends. When not in Athens, Georgia, Brittney resides in Stone Mountain, Georgia with her parents, Jonathan Bellamy and Kendra Norman-Bellamy and her younger sister, Crystal Holmes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, August 27, 2009

By 

SBrown "Strawberry Brown" (mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grace and Mercy (Urban Christian) (Paperback)

OK, I thought Brittany Homles did her thing in, " Testing Relationships, but I see some real growth in her through this new novel, "Grace, and Mercy." Let me 1st just say to have 3 novels out at the tender age of 19, and have so much wisdom about life this young is a good thing to have in this wild, and crazy world!

Now, with that said, lol, in," Grace, and Mercy, 17 year old Kenda has always gotten, any, and everything she has always wanted. From the best cloths, to the hottest guy's at school, Kenda always get want she wants, until one day at the mall changes all. In walks Jerome. A handsome, smooth talking 21 year old that Kenda falls madly head over heels in love with....that is until things down heel. Somethings happens that changes the courses of her, and Jerome's relationship forever. Everything goes from good, to bad, all in the matter a few months. Things had gotten so bad that at one point her family, and friends stop speaking to her. Kenda was not making smart decisions with her life, by staying a harmful, and hurtful relationship with a man that doesn't love her the way he say's he does. With no where to go, and no one to turn to, Kenda is left all alone. The one place she never thought she would ever be. Throughout this novel Kenda, a girl that looks for love in all the wrongs place's found what it REALLY means to be loved by God, the one that has been there for her from the start. Ms. Homles does a good job with this book. Read this book you will get alot from it. Weather teens, or," Grown folks." Lol, everyone will learn what the greatest lover of all time has to offer! GREAT READ. I can't wait to read her next novel!

5.0 out of 5 stars An Urban Teens Read Book Review, December 9, 2010

By 

Urban Teens Read - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grace and Mercy (Urban Christian) (Paperback)

This book is about a teenage girl named Kenda Tyson who has everything in the world. She lives in Georgia and is the proud daughter of two successful lawyers who has their own firm, which she will take over once she is done with school. Kenda is also a gold-digger and has dated many boys. However, the last boy she dated was Raymond Sheppard, a guy who left a lasting impression on her and whom she still has feelings for. Before the first day of her senior year in high school, Kenda and her best friends, Roslyn and Chantal, went to the mall. At the mall Kenda meets a man named Jerome Smith. She was interested in him because he was handsome and she could tell that he was making money but she does not know that that was the first step in changing her life forever.

With the issues Jerome brings in her life, she finds herself losing the people she loves day by day and going through things she never thought she would. With no one there to help her, she finds herself building a relationship with God and learns to love herself again. It is a very interesting book. It shows that having money doesn't make you happy but having family and friends that love you does.

4.0 out of 5 stars Grace and Mercy, September 16, 2010

By 

Linda Y "always reading" (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grace and Mercy (Urban Christian) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this story which features, 17yo Kenda who's entering her senior year of school with no worries but shopping, spending time with her friends and arguing with her younger brother when she meets 21yo Jerome at the mall. Soon she's caught up with Jerome's affection and gift giving when the real him surfaces, a man with a quick temper and an even quicker hand and oh yeah, he's also a drug dealer. Very well written story about domestic violence told through the eyes of a teen and how hard it is to escape. But with the support of her brother & friends, she not only develops a relationship with God but a closer relationship with her busy lawyer parents to overcome several obstacles that try to weigh her down. Highly recommend.