Grace

by Barbara Hindley

Grace is an unconventional Christmas tale that takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1992 against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic and the distant war in Guatemala. The setting is The Painted Lady, an upscale Victorian inn near Harvard Square where the rooms are designed to reflect famous New England authors. Innkeepers and loving partners Arthur and Nick recreate the very meaning of the holiday season by sheltering a series of desperate Child, the streetwise, African-American foster daughter of the inn's housekeeper; Rosa, a homeless Mayan Indian from Guatemala who is discovered on the inn's porch one snowy night; Violet, who retreats to the inn whenever her relationships fall apart; and Tim, the shy, idealistic man who helps Central American refugees find political asylum in the United States. Weaving in and out of each other's lives, these memorable characters form unexpected friendships and the bonds of a true family.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by my co-worker!