A Mark of Grace (Secrets of the Canyon Book #3) by Kimberley Woodhouse
Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Inspirational Romance
Location: El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Time Period: 1909
Romance: Very clean. Light kissing.
Faith: The major and minor characters walked through applying their faith and scripture to their own growth.
Kimberley Woodhouse writes a sad tale about a woman who suffered a personal trauma that left her leg deformed. The author did a good job of portraying the internal struggle, both emotional and spiritual, that a person faces in such circumstances.
Mostly, I liked the romance between Ruth and Frank, although there were times I wanted to knock some sense into Frank and encourage him to take a risk on love. The drama and tension of the antagonist came across well.
The middle part of the story felt repetitive and a little slow to me. Despite that, I was glad I kept reading as the story picked up.
This was the third book in the series and there were a few times I felt lost having not read the previous books. I’m sure if I’d read them in order, the scenes from Julia and Emma’s points of view would have been more meaningful to me. I would strongly encourage readers to start at the beginning of this series to enjoy the story more.
As someone who has lived in Arizona for over twenty years, I enjoyed reading about the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, a place I’ve visited many times. Woodhouse clearly researched the Harvey House, the setting, and the time, which allowed the reader to experience the rich history of the El Tovar.
I would recommend this book to fans of Christian historical fiction with a touch of romance.
Disclaimer: I requested and received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
