Customer Reviews

The Ways of Grace

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Grace Colebrook is really starting to question where she went wrong in her life. Surely not every woman who walks out on her wedding because she finds her fiancé boinking her sisters best friend at the wedding has as much bad luck as she does? It's bad enough that her sister and Mother think she's made the mistake of the century by not accepting this, but then her ex actually wants her to pay him back for her engagement ring she paid more than half of? And how could they fire her from her job as a toy creator, knowing that her ideas were some of the greatest they'd ever had? And when her little cousin needs a mother because of the death of her own, doesn't she step in and take the little angel-only to find out that Ruth is a not the tidy, perfect little child she thought she'd be. Oh, and what about that guy, that Dr. Jack Berenger, that because she's been so upset on her weddings cancellation, she'd wound up sleeping with? Really! Just because he was her neighbor didn't mean he couldn't try to avoid her a little harder.

Dr. Jack Berenger has been living life on the merry go round-work, sleep, eat, work, sleep, eat, etc. for so long, he's astounded when he looks out his window and sees a vision sitting in her wedding gown, seeming to just be waiting for him to come and rescue her. When Jack follows through on his impulse, he never dreams that the woman he'd had his one night stand with would walk out on him, even lying to him about her name. When he discovers that his neighbor is none other than the lying Holly aka Grace Colebrook, he decides he's much better off just to forget about her. Hasn't he had enough problems in his life up to this point? It's why he doesn't feel anymore. But even as Grace lies and tries to evade him, Jack finds himself drawn to this beautiful and intriguing woman against his will. Is it because she seems to be so needy? Because she makes him laugh-something he hasn't done in so long he can't remember when the last time was?

Grace is an incredible heroine-full of laughter, even though her life is falling apart around her, scrambling for excuses to see Jack one minute, and trying to hide from him the next. She's struggling for independence from her overbearing family, and doing an incredible job at a hard time in her life. When she stumbles upon the perfect business-Fluff Cakes-to help her gain confidence, and begin to rebuild her life, we see Grace flourish. And Jack was the perfect hero for Grace. Serious and staid, having given up light and laughter after the tragic death of his daughter, it's like seeing the petals of a flower open up, watching him flourish under Grace's compassion and zest for life.

Ms. Lee has penned an emotionally charged tale, that'll make you cry, and make you laugh out loud, then cry again. Grace and Jack are the perfect balance for one another, and the author does a super job of letting us see not only the relationship grow, but Grace and Jack as people grow. This is Ms. Lee's first venture into contemporary romance, and this reviewer thinks it was absolutely the right move! The Ways of Grace is a love story we'll all want to add to our keeper shelves!

After catching her fiance with a wedding guest in a compromising position, Grace manages to fall into the arms of a stranger who happens to be her downstairs neighbor Jack Berenger, a trauma surgeon new to the building.

When she's ready to go back to work, she discovers that the office loser has stolen her idea for a new product, and after pleading her case to management, is fired.

Jack has a painful past that he's trying to forget by throwing himself into work and having brief affairs. After discovering that Grace lives upstairs, his attempts at follow-up encounters are rebuffed.

Somehow, Grace manages to become the guardian of a surly second grader who decides that Grace and Jack would make great parents, and schemes to get them together, as Grace builds a new baking enterprise from scratch and fights her attraction to Jack and for custody of Ruth.

Great story about a woman's fight to regain her self confidence and achieve the dreams she set for herself so many years before, but was afraid to chase. And a guy who gave up long ago only to find that love can be great the second time around.

It never rains but pours - and life is a double whammy for sheltered Grace Colebrook when she caught her fiance Walter entangled in sex with her best friend just before her wedding and she ends up drawn to a stranger in a passionate one-night stand who happens to be her neighbour Manhatten ER doctor Jack Berenger. Her idea for a toy creation is unscruplously stolen by a rival and she is dismissed from the company.

Reads like an ER script? Linda Francis Lee's transition from historical to contemporary plunges into a shaky start where the drama unfolds unabashedly melodramatic with sketchy side-characters like Jack's brother Hugh and her homosexual colleague Mark that sparks occasional banal laughs. The first half of the book is underdeveloped with Jack and Grace in an identity askance though the chemistry between the two is palpable with the alpha-male and damsel-in-distress situation that is out of platitude.

It wasn't till the second part that solved the enigma of the ravishing accolades heaped upon the book. Linda Francis Lee redeems herself as she juggles the dynamics of a family drama with sensitivity and light-hearted humour. The romance improves with Ruth's entrance who added the needed barbs to the tepid pace. She is the seven-year old sprite who comes under Grace's care after the demise of her father. Grace channels her energy to fighting the custody of the child and sheds her wimpish facade to prove to Jack she can carve a niche for herself and set things right through a thorny path. The family drama is poignant as each confronts his personal demons to stay united together in the face of adversity.

It was initially more fluff than stuff and certainly Linda Francis Lee's perilous fall from grace. However like her heroine despite her flaws, she finds strength and beautifully soars with renewed faith and grace. The romance is bittersweet and will leave a smile in its surprising triumph.

Linda Frances Lee, best known for her emotion-filled historicals, ventures into the contemporary arena with this latest novel. Looking out of his brownstone apartment late one winter night in Manhattan, Jack Berenger spies a weeping woman sitting alone on a bench. Somehow, he feels drawn to this woman dressed in a wedding gown, who, for all appearances, seems to have abandoned her wedding. As Jack ventures outside, he and the woman recognize a vulnerability in one another, and Jack leads her to his apartment, where a passionate night ensues.

Grace Colebrook, the crying bride, hardly recognizes herself anymore. She abandoned her fiancé at the altar, after having discovered him in flagrant delecto outside the church. And she is certainly not a one-night stand type of girl and never even gave Jack her name when she left abruptly after their sizzling encounter. Unbeknownst to Jack, she knows all about him, as she lives in the apartment above him, and was informed by a neighbor that he is an E.R. doctor at St. Luke's Hospital. To top it off, her job at a toy manufacturing company comes to an abrupt end, and her socialite mother and sister continue to disparage her character and encourage her to reconsider marrying Walter, her errant fiancé.

As Jack continues to fight his attraction to Grace and painstakingly maintain control of his life, Grace embarks on a new business, even as she gains temporary custody of her orphaned seven-year-old cousin, Ruth. Ms. Lee deftly addresses the emotions surrounding Jack and Grace as they learn to trust one another and redefine their relationship. With Grace, readers find a likeable heroine, who is able to face adversity with both tenacity and charm. Linda Frances Lee has successfully made the transition from historical to contemporary romance with the finesse of a truly gifted writer.

I just loved this book because it made me both laugh and cry. The sparkling chemistry between Grace and Jack was fabulous, so clever and funny I couldn't wait to see what they were going to say and do next. And the other characters were just as great. And the end just wrenched my heart. This book just shot up to the top of my favorite romances in the past five years.

I downloaded this book because the description was deceptively written to make you think it was like any other good romance, and let me tell you, it is NOT! After I started reading I could not put the book down, which was unfortunate because I use romance novels to lull myself into sleep. Grace is a very strong character and the author does a great job of showing the many facets of her personality without making the reading tedious. Unlike most romances you truly get to know the main characters and feel the depth of their emotions, not just for each other during a few passionate couplings. Not only did we get to know the characters but the author made them uniquely appealing. Rather than sticking with the tried and true "damsel in distress" plot, we got to see how Grace rescued herself in more than one way, and rescued Jack, too. I was very happy with this book and connected with it in more than one way, though I won't say more as to not spoil it for you. I really look forward to reading more of Linda Francis Lee's work.

Toy creator who bakes cakes when she gets stressed has a 1-night stand with her new & handsome ER-doctor neighbor on the night of what-was-supposed-to-be her wedding day. She gives him a fake name, runs out the second his back is turned & hopes to avoid him in the future. But they eventually see each other & both dismiss their 1-night stand as insane but not life-changing yet hero has difficulty ignoring or forgetting her. As their paths converge more often, they are increasingly drawn into each other's lives & are forced to face the fears each have been running away from.

The writing was good overall & romance had depth. I got a good look at different facets of their character & see each develop as their romance unfolds. There were some funny moments esp with the quirky heroine. There was a bit of angst as well but not in a tearjerking way. It served to clarify hero's life choices & made me empathize with his struggles, esp with his feelings for heroine. Sexual chemistry was abundant & love scenes were ok. The pacing of this book was moderate.

Recommended.

One day Grace Colebrook felt she owned the world, but that feeling ends rather quickly when she finds her fiancé sleeping with another woman just prior to the ceremony. On the professional front, a peer steals her work claiming it as his. When she publicly makes an accusation that she cannot prove her boss at Kendrick Toys fires her. Distraught over losing a job she loves, that night Grace ends up in the arms of her sexy neighbor whom she has never met. Jack Berenger and Grace share the best sex of their lives.

Jack kills himself working as a New York Emergency Room doctor with no interest outside of medicine. That changes after his encounter with Grace, who rejects his follow-up advances. Meanwhile, Grace agrees to become a foster mother to an orphaned relative Ruth. This proves as great a challenge as Jack's assault on her heart.

This is a very warm relationship drama that focuses on the need for loving relationships that most humans require to feel good about one's self. The deep characters make Linda Francis Lee's tale happen as the audience will feel for Grace (though why she was fired so readily seems like a bad business decision), root for Jack, but especially want Ruth to make it. This is a triumph for those fans that appreciate a wonderful family drama.

Harriet Klausner

Linda Francis Lee has another winner with THE WAYS OF GRACE. Grace and Jack's story is touching and heart-warming, and Ms. Lee knows how to present the strong emotions these two totally likable and vulnerable people display. Grace is a no-nonsense, strong heroine, and Jack is the vulnerable, sensitive hero. The secondary characters were also colorful and interesting, including Mark, Hugh and Ruth. The FluffCakes were great: original and unique. THE WAYS OF GRACE is a page-turner and a keeper. It is an intricate, moving, intelligent, highly entertaining, and beautifully written novel.

Also recommended: Linda Francis Lee's NIGHTINGALE'S GATE

I loved this book from the first page when Jack sees Grace sitting in front of the church in her wedding gown. It only gets better from there as their romance heats up the pages starting with chapter one. Linda Francis Lee has another winner to add to her impressive list of books. Don't miss it!