Ray of Hope [Paperback]

Vanessa Davis Griggs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 28, 2010

Grandmother Ma Ray, a churchgoing woman with a mysterious past, steers her two reckless granddaughters away from trouble with her smarts, savvy--and the Word of God. . .

Troublesome teen sisters Sahara and Crystal Nichols are acting up, and their risqué behavior is more than their mother Lenora can handle. Enter the girls' 75-year-old churchgoing grandmother, Ma Ray, who agrees to take charge of the young women. She's determined to turn their lives around--and knows more about being a bad girl than either sister bargained for. . .

Sahara and Crystal don't realize what they're up against when it comes to Ma Ray, but when they learn of their grandmother's former rebel antics, which were wild enough to rival their own, they begin to appreciate her present-day passion for leading a more productive life--via family, love, and faith. . .

"Vanessa's rich stories of faith in action always hit the writing trifecta--they make you laugh, cry, and yearn for more." --Angela Benson, National Bestselling Author

"Vanessa is a superb storyteller." --ReShonda Tate Billingsley

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Griggs's sassy inspirational tale, a feisty, smalltown 75-year-old grandmother takes in her two city-raised grandkids for a memorable summer. Things get off to a nutty start when Ma Ray pulls a gun on a foolish boy who breaks into her house to hang out with her 17-year-old granddaughter, Sahara. It's all good, though, as Griggs (The Truth Is the Light) shows how a strong kinship develops between Ma Ray, Sahara, and 15-year-old Crystal. With spotty cellphone reception and no high-speed Internet, the girls shell peas, can food, and meet some nice Christian boys, though Sahara's tempted by the local bad boy. There are enough tears, hugs, and lessons learned before summer's over to appease readers, young and adult, who like a good dose of faith with their fiction. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Lenora Nichols can’t handle her wild, rebellious teen daughters, Crystal and Sahara. Their antics are so out of hand that she’s lost what little control she had. Enter Ma Ray, the fearsome twosome’s 75-year-old God-fearing, churchgoing, no-nonsense grandmother, who is ready, willing, and more than able to tame these teen hellions. There’s a plethora of multigenerational conflict and bonding as the girls learn there’s more to life than constantly acting out. Besides, Ma Ray has a secret: Crystal and Sahara are tame compared to what she was like as an adolescent. She knows all their tricks, and more. Griggs (Practicing What You Preach, 2009; Goodness and Mercy, 2009; The Truth Is the Light, 2010) has created another entertaining book with characters who will be enjoyed by a large cross section of readers, including those interested in African American literature and those who prefer inspirational fiction. --Shelley Mosley

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dafina; 1 edition (December 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758259603
• ISBN-13: 978-0758259608
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #393,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Vanessa Davis Griggs is a motivational speaker & author of such novels as: THE ROSE OF JERICHO, PROMISES BEYOND JORDAN, WINGS OF GRACE. Newer releases are: BLESSED TRINITY, STRONGHOLDS, IF MEMORY SERVES, PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH, GOODNESS AND MERCY, THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT, RAY OF HOPE, REDEEMING WATERS, and FOREVER SOUL TIES. To visit her Web site: www.VanessaDavisGriggs.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It Takes One to Know One, January 1, 2011

By 

On Assignment "Linda!" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ray of Hope (Paperback)

When Lenora Nichols realizes that she can't handle her rambunctious teen daughters, she turns to her mother for help.

A no-nonsense woman of faith Ma Ray's tough-loving ways, are deeply rooted in the memories of her own past and common sense. What Crystal and Sahara will come to realize is that their 75-year-old grandmother is more than they can handle. In fact, they will come to find that there is nothing they try that she doesn't have a solution for. Unfortunately those solutions don't often sit well with the determined girls.

Situations presented are those that many can identify with; some serious, others hilariously refreshing. A Ray of Hope is a delightful story with generational bonds not often displayed in contemporary works.

Dr. Linda Beed / Reviewer
On Assignment Reviews for Let Us Bear Fruit


Book provided courtesy of author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best read in a long time, January 5, 2011

By 

Aletha C. Whitfield "booklady" (Savannah, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ray of Hope (Kindle Edition)

I have read every book written by Griggs and this is by far the best one yet! I could not put this book down and read until 3:00AM to finish it. I certainly hope there is plenty more to come from Ma Ray! This is one for all teenagers to read and for adults as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoying the Warmth, June 21, 2011

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ray of Hope (Paperback)

In RAY OF HOPE, Ma Ray is the country living Christian version of who Madea would be if she stopped cussin', stripping, and smoking weed. She has the wisdom, wit, and boldness lost on modern day trendy grandmothers. Instead of trying to fit in with her granddaughters, she's modeling the life of conforming to Christ's image as the best fit. When Sahara and Crystal arrive on her doorstep with hopes of surviving through a boring hick summer, they find life is brighter, warmer and better with a ray of hope.

Vanessa Davis Griggs was long ago dubbed the Shirley Caesar of Christian fiction in my mind. When I read her books, I call it gospel fiction because of the tone, feel and voice given to the characters no matter what their age. Despite a few slow spots in the book and some predictable elements, the story brings a great cast of characters to life. This is one of the few stories I've read that would be enjoyed by teenagers and adults alike.

Reviewed by Shawneda Marks
for The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers