For Love and Grace (The Grace Series, Book 1) [Paperback]

Kendra Norman-Bellamy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

Dr. Gregory Dixon and Attorney Derrick Madison had a modern day biblical David and Jonathan friendship. They are closer than most brothers until Gregory performs a life-saving surgery on Grace, a beautiful college senior who was involved in a car accident that took the life of of Derrick's mother.

When Derrick finds out about the operation, he abruptly and abrasively ends his life-long friendship with Gregory. Meanwhile, Gregory's doctor/patient relationship with Grace turns into a deep, abiding love as he nurses her and watches her regain her healthy following the tedious brain surgery, causing a greater strain between the former friends.

Sherry, Derrick's wife is torn between her friendship with Gregory and Grace and her love for her husband. Agreeing with Gregory's decision to perform the surgery, she searches for a way to support Gregory's new life and love while trying to understand the grief and guilt that her husband is experiencing from his mother's untimely demise.

Will their friendship survive such a tragic event?

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kendra Norman-Bellamy, daughter of Bishop and Mrs. H.H. Norman of Macon, Georgia is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida. She currently resides with her husband and two daughters in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Aside from her writing ventures, she is also employed as an underwriting assistant and is an AFAA certified fitness professional, teaching kickboxing, aerobics, body works and total body conditioning. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: New Spirit (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583145494
• ISBN-13: 978-1583145494
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #673,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kendra Norman-Bellamy (www.KendraNormanBellamy.com) is the national bestselling author of numerous faith-based titles. She is best known for her fiction writing, but is also the author of one nonfiction title, "I Shall Not Die," an empowerment book that was inspired by her own life experiences.

In addition to her writing, Kendra is the visionary of KNB Publications (www.KNB-Publications.com), Cruisin' For Christ (www.CruisinForChrist.org), and The I.S.L.A.N.D. Movement (www.IShallNotDie.org).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Christian fiction : An auspicious debut!, July 28, 2003

By 

Alvin C. Romer "The Jackal" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: For Love and Grace (For Love and Grace Series #1) (Paperback)

If ever a book can grab you in the first few chapters and hold your attention long enough to know that it's character-driven and not a generic read, then you know that you have a good book. I read For Love And Grace and came away convinced that this author is destined for a graceful future. Kendra Norman-Bellamy has penned a love story extolling virtues of likable men seldom seen in lieu of the penchant to show them in sordid situations. Seldom too, will you find novels written where romance is not based on sex, sex, and more sex! Real life situations work best when storylines are woven to give poignancy to the process of eliciting genuine page turners.

When Derrick Madison lost his mother in a tragic car accident he immediately looks for reasons to justify angst gone awry by blaming others, and not allowing the better part of valor be instrumental in the healing process. The gist of this story involves Grace a college student who was involved in the aforementioned mishap. Enter Dr. Gregory Dixon, Derrick's best friend who falls in love with Grace and opens a can or worms that prove to be troublesome and somehow manages to bring to the fore the real meaning of friendship. I was able to read into the author's reason for writing such a book that would raise the sensibilities of strong male charisma amid the need to make viable decisions. Moreover, I saw how one can really bring back together friendship gone bad, how to deal with misguided guilt, learning how to let remorse guide forgiveness, and most importantly, in allowing a higher spiritual awareness define the real reason to fall in love. All of this is inherent in this book!

This is billed as Christian Romance, but the author articulates with clarity and the aplomb of a seasoned writer. It manages to render a heartfelt storyline allowing the characters to define substance, thus taking it way beyond the usual confines of a stereotypical debut novel. Kudos to you Kendra, we welcome this and look forward to the sequel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Books....Talented Writer, June 16, 2005

By 

Keven Hart (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Love and Grace (The Grace Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

As a black man, I love books that glorify black men. I was introduced to the writing of this author by a book store owner in my town. I asked for good fiction where men weren't made to look like snakes and her first words were "Have you read anything by Kendra Norman-Bellamy." With the option to bring the books back for a refund if I didn't like them, I walked out of the store with every one of her titles. That was Saturday. Today is Wednesday. I read all four of her books in five days and I loved every one of them. I can't say that I've experienced love like the folks in A Love So Strong, For Love & Grace, and Because of Grace, but it was kwel to read about black love and survival despite the odds and the forces that fight against them. I'm more of a Jhordan kind of guy in Crossing Jhordan's River. I got issues, but I'll bust a ni**** in the mouth if he messes with my family. All of these books were great and it was good to read about brothers who fought for their women and the survival of their marriage. I think I'm a fan.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original and Captivating, December 1, 2003

By 

Michele Homer (The Lone Star State!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Love and Grace (For Love and Grace Series #1) (Paperback)

This is the first time I've read a romance book where all the lead characters were professional and progressive black people and that in itself was a wonderful relief! Usually somebody in the leading role is a brother with a rap sheet so long that it reaches from one county to the other or a sister who has served more men than McDonalds.

For Love And Grace is a wonderfully written novel that just left me feeling warm and satisfied. I generally don't read a lot of Christian based novels because they lack the ability to capture my attention and hold it until the end. This one did that and did it very well. The author didn't spend her time trying to convert or save the reader's soul, but instead gave us a great story about Christian folks who had to survive an everyday situation that threatened their faith and friendship. The relationship that flourished in the middle of all of this between the doctor and the college student was beautiful.

My favorite character was Sherry who in my opinion did a heck of a job balancing her friendship with Greg and her love for Derrick. I could also relate to her because I too, am a school teacher who grew up with my best friend being a male classmate.

This book is definitely worth the read. I was disappointed to read one reviewer's comment that said she didn't want to see a sequel to this one. Everyone has their own opinion, but I, like the other reviewers, couldn't disagree more. I'd love to see a sequel so that we can read what happened after October 6th! Great first novel from an author who I'm sure we'll hear more from in the future.

Michelle Homer