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In the Hands of Grace

by Dianne Greco (Goodreads Author)

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 13 ratings · 4 reviews

Susan Appleton is a woman who married well, lived the life of plenty, and loses most of it when her husband Harry is killed in a car accident. She manages to walk away from the lap of luxury and her husband's greedy family with some insurance money, a summer cottage on eastern Long Island and her well-paying, highly stressful job as an assistant gem broker in Manhattan's D...more

Paperback, 146 pages

Published October 12th 2012 by Writer's Coffee Shop

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Feb 03, 2012 Glenajo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved In the Hands of Grace, by Dianne Greco! This novella begins on the day that Susan Appleton is fired from her job in the Diamond District of New York that she has held for 17+ years. Susan’s husband died 18 months ago. At that time, she and her son, Chris moved to their current home in Bridgehampton. The story moves through the days as Susan tries to come to grips with the changes in her life, but when she begins visiting with her neighbor Grace, her world opens up. Grace is an elderly wo...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Tyggy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In The Hands of Grace brilliantly evokes the emotions of the reader right from the very beginning chapter.

The trials, hardships, and uncertainty of the future that plagues Susan Appleton are burdens many women all over the world have borne and experienced time after time. In this novel, we walk hand-in-hand with Susan as her world literally collapses in front of her very eyes.

Every step of the way, we watch as Susan starts her life fresh, new, and clear minded with a new outlook on life, despite...more
In The Hands of Grace brilliantly evokes the emotions of the reader right from the very beginning chapter.

The trials, hardships, and uncertainty of the future that plagues Susan Appleton are burdens many women all over the world have borne and experienced time after time. In this novel, we walk hand-in-hand with Susan as her world literally collapses in front of her very eyes.

Every step of the way, we watch as Susan starts her life fresh, new, and clear minded with a new outlook on life, despite the harshly blunt revelation of past betrayals.

With every curveball thrown her way, the reader will rejoice, as Susan overcomes her hurdles, triumphant and prevailing with every fork pitched in her road.

Seeking out her own kind of happiness, Susan inadvertently finds joy in the last place she thought to seek. It is a happiness that she lost so long ago, and one she so richly deserves.

A marvelously developed character, Susan is truly relatable. We as readers can see ourselves in her predicament and can imagine the outcome of every decision she has made thus far.

Utterly brilliant writing by Diane Greco.

In this novel, each turn of the page, ignites our imagination and merges with the realistically creative world that Diane has created. Not only can we connect to Susan, but to many of the other characters portrayed as well. Readers will absolutely adore uncovering the layers of the complex yet lovable characters.

The emotional baggage that Diane beautiful embedded into each important character captures my heart, spurring the memories of my own past as I read. Each page calls to me, urging me to read on and find out more as it sparks my curiosity, capturing my intrigue.

Beautifully written, In The Hands Of Grace is wise, intriguing, and descriptively appealing. Perfect for women of all ages.

The steady pace, style, and fresh flow that streams from the gifted hands of Diane Greco makes this novel absolute perfection for reading in the outdoors among the peace and calm of one’s personal get-a-way.
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Aug 08, 2011 Christy And Danielle added it · review of another edition

I have to say that I probably never would have found this AMAZING book had the author not requested a review for it! I'm so glad that she did! I absolutely LOVED this book. It took me two days to finish this book when it usually takes me a week to finish one. That's not to say that this is a short book because it isn't! It's just SO GOOD that I couldn't put it down! I was completely enthralled from beginning to end and I can't wait to read book 2!

Thank you so much Talia Jager for giving me to op...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Bonnie (Words at Home Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Review originally posted here: http://www.handsandhome.ca/2011/07/in...

It was when Susan thought that her life had ended that she really began to live again. She reconnected with friends and made wonderful new ones, she was able to take the time to strengthen her relationship with her son and she also found true love. She was also finally able to admit to herself what a damaging marriage she had been in and dealt with some of the stronger and unpleasant emotions she felt towards her late husband...more Review originally posted here: http://www.handsandhome.ca/2011/07/in...

It was when Susan thought that her life had ended that she really began to live again. She reconnected with friends and made wonderful new ones, she was able to take the time to strengthen her relationship with her son and she also found true love. She was also finally able to admit to herself what a damaging marriage she had been in and dealt with some of the stronger and unpleasant emotions she felt towards her late husband who had let her down tremendously.

In the Hands of Grace is the kind of book that just made me happy as I read it. Grace reminded me so much of my own grandmother and is the kind of woman that anyone would want to have in his or her life. She was wise, compassionate, and incredibly warm and welcoming. Grace did so much to help the people in her life without asking for so much as a thank you and her character was a wonderful reminder of the power of the human spirit.

The characters in this novel were so vividly depicted that I felt as though I was able to see not just what they did but also what made them venerable. Greco did not hide their emotions or weaknesses and I really appreciated this. I love a good strong character, but behind every realistic strong character is at least a moment of self doubt or even self pity and I was so happy that Greco showed us this side of her characters. It made them three-dimensional and really allowed me to connect with them.

The story took place over a very short period of time and while at times it felt as though things were tying up too neatly, under the circumstances it made sense to me why things moved as they did for Susan. Susan had wasted so much of her life being unhappy and she was finally actively pursing the things that filled her heart with love. In the Hands of Grace is a heart-warming story of love, family, friendship and finding oneself and the things that truly matter. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good story about a family coming together and finding strength in friends as well as yourself.

I received a free copy of In the Hands of Grace from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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