Rhythms of Grace [Paperback]

Marilynn Griffith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

Grace Okoye was a promising young dancer when her career was cut short by a brutal assault that left her scarred for life. Twenty years later, when her past gets in the way of her happiness, she heeds the invitation of her dance instructor and returns home to help hurting children and rediscover the rhythms of grace. What she doesn't expect is to meet a man who already seems to know her beat. But for all they share in common, the biggest thing in Grace's life is noticeably absent in his--faith. She's finally found the love of her life, but can she choose between him and God?
Real, raw emotion and the promise of redemption run through this soulful new book from Marilynn Griffith.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's 1984, and four young lives intersect in Testimony, Ohio, with one of the four, Diana, becoming the victim of rape. After introducing her major characters and a central issue, Griffith (Shades of Style series) jumps ahead to 2005, when Diana, now going by her middle name Grace, returns to her hometown, and her troubled past, to teach at a charter school for challenging teens the system is about to give up on. The book is all about relationships: their changes, their remarkable endurance, their power to nurture. Grace and minister's daughter Zeely are close friends; Grace and her teaching colleague Brian become quickly entangled in a halting but inevitable romance; lawyer Ron, who was like Brian's brother when the two were young, is engaged to Mindy but has been carrying the torch for Zeely. Interracial romance allows Griffith to engage racism as a force affecting her characters; the town of Testimony also got its name from the $500 exacted before a black fleeing slavery would be allowed to settle in the area. The book is thickly plotted, perhaps too thickly—some connections between characters and events strain credibility. Nor is everything resolved, since there's a sequel in the offing. Griffith's dialogue is engaging and her major characters deeply memorable; she deserves a wide audience. (Sept.)
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About the Author

Marilynn Griffith is a freelance writer and conference speaker whose online columns and blogs reach thousands of women each year. She is the author of the Shades of Style series. Marilynn lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband and their seven children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 427 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Reprinted edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800732782
• ISBN-13: 978-0800732783
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thanks for reading my books. Contact me by email at [e-mail]. Visit me on the web at marilynngriffith.com or sistahfaith.ning.com. Thanks!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dancing Through Life with God, September 10, 2008

By 

Jennifer Coissiere "The Tough Critic"... (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rhythms of Grace (Paperback)

Dance class is not always easy and neither is life. Grace Okoye has been dancing with two left feet for far too long. When Grace receives a letter and an old notebook asking her to return to the neighborhood from where she ran so many years before, the melody of her life quickly becomes a beat she can dance to. In Marilynn Griffith's Rhythms of Grace, one woman returns to her home town where others are trying to find the right beat for their life as well.

When Grace arrives in the small town of Testimony, Ohio her friend, Zeely Wilkins, has already set up her home for her. Zeely is a preacher's daughter, a teacher at the Imani Academy, a dancer, and a singer. She is organized in almost every way. The extra box Grace has is not the only thing Zeely tucks away in a dark corner. Will Zeely share with Grace what lies beneath the surface? Will she finally make the decision she has been battling for years?

In Rhythms of Grace the men have issues too, while still being macho. Dr. Brian Mayfield is one of them; dealing with the reality of his missing past. He is a sexy, loc-wearing tough guy, who has to share his classroom with the breathtaking Ms. Okoye. Fighting with his self, those around him and God, Dr. Mayfield finds a little trouble he was not expecting. Will he walk away from the Imani Academy to get away from his problems? Will he be able to survive sharing his space with Grace, without breaking down and believing God brought her to him?

The saying "each one teach one" fits perfectly in the same breath and statement as Rhythms of Grace. Of all the books I have read by Marilynn Griffith, this one is my all-time favorite. The characters are so real to me. I am certain I could find these people in my everyday life. I did not want this story to end. The words flowed across the pages like music flowing through the air wrapping itself around the body of a dancer. The only thing I am left wondering is will there be a sequel. I recommend Rhythms of Grace to lovers of music, dancers, Christian fiction; anyone who wants to read a book where they most likely will find someone they can relate to or know.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humbled by Grace, October 9, 2008

By 

I~Scribe "PLJames" (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhythms of Grace (Paperback)

I was given a copy of this book at a writer's conference in Dayton, OH. I have never heard of the author, but from the description of the book given, I knew I needed to read it.

What started out as skimming turned into reading and I could not put the book down. I left the session early just so I could read!

Without telling too much of the story, I'll just say that as a dancer, a survivor, a woman, and a Christian I was touched to my core in many places while reading. It caused me to reflect on my special relationship with my father and investigate the disconnects between my mother and I. Even though I am married, but I was inspired to continue believing in love and trusting in God's promises. I will make sure to nurture my own daughter and support her dreams so that she can become who God has called her to be.

I heard the voice of the characters as if they were people I loved telling me a story over Thanksgiving dinner.

I will look forward to reading more of the author's work, and until I do, I will thank God for His grace.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellence in literature and ministry, October 2, 2008

By 

book lover "Writer Mommy" (Wilmington, DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhythms of Grace (Paperback)

Marilynn Griffith has outdone herself. Rhythms of Grace is her best novel yet. Like all of her books, it is full of rich characters and has a compelling plot. This is excellent fiction, and the fact that it is Christian Fiction is an added bonus.

Synopsis: Grace has spent her life running from the tragedies in her past that continue to haunt her. She returns to her hometown only at the bidding of her former dance teacher. When she becomes a teacher at an alternative school, she develops relationships with old friends, new friends, and potential love.

Once I started reading this book, I hated to put it down. The only things that stopped me were my need to sleep and feed my children. Every page of this book is rich with Marilynn Griffith's prose, and the saving message of Jesus Christ is throughout the book.

Run, don't walk, to the nearest bookstore to pick up this book. You won't be disappointed