Customer Reviews

Rhythms of Grace

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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

Marilynn Griffith's latest rendering, Rhythms of Grace is an exquisite tapestry of colorful, multi-dimensional characters, and a richly textured storyline woven together by the threads of Biblical truth.

As a child, Diana (Grace) Dixon is the proverbial square peg being forced into a round hole. Her dark-skinned, elitist mother tries to stifle any semblance of ties with her African American heritage by insisting that her daughter adapt to a white gloves and lace lifestyle. Fourteen-year-old Diana is enrolled in a traditional ballet class where she is constantly being "corrected" by the white ballet instructor who neither understands, nor appreciates the physical characteristics of women who are of African descent.

Diana's father recognizes his daughter's fish-out-of water plight and provides a respite by enrolling her into an Afro-centric dance class located in the old neighborhood. The mother vehemently objects to the type of dance instruction and the location it is held in because it is a public recreation center where common folks go. Nevertheless, Daddy Dixon proudly escorts his daughter to and from the dance classes that set her soul free. The moment her feet strike "Zion" Diana is drawn into, and becomes one with the rhythms and beats that can only be produced by the soul. The dance instructor, Joyce, intuitively recognizes Diana's innate gift and takes her under her wing. For the first time she feels a sense of home and belonging.

However, the respite is short-lived. While her father and protector is away on a business trip, Diana is dragged from a bus stop and savagely raped by an older teen. Her attacker leaves her physically and emotionally bleeding. Her mother is convinced that the adolescent brought the attack on herself and has no reservations about sharing her distorted beliefs. The weight of guilt from not being there to rescue Diana from the attack renders her father emotionally unavailable until the day he dies, leaving his beloved daughter wandering and flailing through life's mazes.

Adult Diana makes futile efforts to shed her painful past by moving away and replacing given name with Grace, her middle name. After years away from the town where she experienced immeasurable agony, she is summoned back home by Joyce, her childhood dance instructor. When Grace returns she reconnects with a childhood crush, a treasured friend and encounters a host of other equally conflicted characters. Witnessing Joyce's wisdom and incessant optimism as she is embroiled in her own private battles serve as guideposts along Grace's pathway on her journey to Christ's loving, healing redemptive grace.
---V. Mason Theus, author of Brown Paper Bag, a novel
Chocolate Pages Reviewer



Rhythms of Grace

RHYTHMS OF GRACE by Marilynn Griffith opens in 1984 in Testimony, Ohio. It consists of three sections, beginning with the Chorus. The story highlights Diana Grace Dixon as a clumsy and miserable ballet dancer who is told that a favor is being bestowed upon her because her snobbish mother begged for the opportunity. Her saving grace is her father, who whisks, Diana away from the elitist school and enrolls her in a afro-centric dance school, much to her mother's dismay. Also showcased are other players who have solid roles throughout the novel. There is Zeely, a preacher's daughter and a friend of Diana's; Brian, the drummer at the dance school; Ron the white boy who somehow finds himself being raised in the same household with Brian; Jeremiah, the son of the church's first family and Joyce, Diana's dance instructor and mentor.

The second section is titled Harmony and the third is Rhythms. Each chapter alternates between the characters and examines their past and present. Fast forward twenty years, Diana who now goes by the name Grace Okoye, is summoned back to Testimony by her former dance instructor, to teach and bring her gift to the students of an alternative school. Grace has trepidation about returning because of a brutal assault that occurred as a teen and the consequences of the assault. Intertwined are the childhood memories and adult lives of Zeely, Brian, Ron and Jeremiah. As adults, each character's life story is somehow related to Grace and the past, coupled with the present, comes crashing down on each of them.

RHYTHMS OF GRACE is an excellent piece about redemptive love, grace and mercy. It is filled with messages for the masses and highlights both the redeeming and abandoned qualities of each character. Each character survived ordeals with God's guidance and as we watched their battles unfold it is evident that the power of prayer is a mainstay that protects us daily. I highly recommend RHYTHMS OF GRACE for the quality of the writing, the characterizations, the social commentary and yes, the story within!

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

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.

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

At first, I was wondering what was going on. As I went more into the book I was like wow how interesting. Marilynn Griffith brings the characters to life and you can actually see and feel them. I felt like I was there and when I found out there was a sequel, I got it right away. This book is so good and it is very inspiring. It taught me a lot. The characters had a lot of skeletons in the closet if you will and little by little you would get a little bit of what it was. This book showed how a young girl was pressured by her mother to do something she wasn't interested in. I would recommend this to anyone to read because you get so caught up in this book and you can't stop reading. It seems a little long at first being 85 chapters but it is worth it. It is really a heartfelt story, and I would read it all over again. I love the characters in this book because it seems all so real because I believe that this could happen for real. Marilynn Griffith really put her heart into this book.

I have always loved Marilynn Griffith but this book reminded me why. Rhythms of Grace is a wonderful story about forgiveness, acceptance and reconciliation with the past and with one's self. The story follows the main protagonist Grace, who after having a traumatic childhood experience, finds herself lost as an adult and at odds with herself. Along for the ride are several other characters who have their own issues, that are in many ways similar. Zeely, Grace's best friend, maintains a close but tense relationship with Grace as she has her own secrets to confront. Brian Mayfield, though accomplished in the eyes of the world, still struggles with his own sense of significance due to questions about his past. And Ron, the white boy in a black community struggles to figure out what really is the right thing to do.

What I loved about this book is the perfect characterization of all the main characters. Griffith lets you know who they are without ever telling you who they are. It's perfect. The author was also good at building suspense throughout the novel and kept me hanging on to the end. There was even a bit of a mystery involved and I was surprised to find out who was behind everything at the end. And of course, like every Griffith novel, it was very well written.

The only slightly negative thing was that the novel was quite long. I also didn't like that a few of the storylines were not completely tied up, so at the end you know there will be a sequel. However none of these factors should deter readers from an otherwise very good work of fiction.

There are certainly levels of Christian Fiction. There is a lot of stuff that entertains out there, but Griffith brings it to a higher meaningful level with this novel. I think readers looking for a bit more substance will like this one.

So I loved this book! At a time when I needed some encouragement but wanted something to read that would take me away and when present in my reality I can take soemthing from it, this book did it. I have shared this book with a friend and she has read it faster than I did.

Thank you for writing a Godly book that isnt caught up in the religiousness of church but instead speaks to the expression of real people loving a real God. I am so looking for more from the writer.

Very good book great characterization. I would also recommend Out of the Miry Clay fiction, urban, inspirational book if you plan on getting this one.

All Grace Okoye ever wanted to do was dance. Grace's dancing career was off to a great start until a brutal assault left her scarred for life. Fast forward twenty years later and Grace returns to her hometown to help children in need. But when an unexpected man from her past comes back into the picture, will Grace be willing to open her heart to him? Grace's best friend Zeely has her own set of issues. She is trying to figure out if she should take a chance at a love that she once thought was forbidden. Zeely's biological clock is also loudly ticking as she looks into other options in order to have a baby.

Rhythms of Grace is a riveting novel by Marilynn Griffith. Griffith once again brought a thought-provoking story with strong, rich characters. You will feel every emotion that these characters go through. Readers will see how Grace has to fight with her inner childhood demons in order to move forward in her life. There are also some shocking twists and turns to this novel that will definitely keep you on your toes. This story would not be complete without Griffith's signature wit and humor. Rhythms of Grace is emotionally-charged and insightful, making this novel yet another winner for Marilynn Griffith.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews