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Grace Like a River Flows #1
Grace Like a River Flows
Grace Like a River Flows is Christian fiction. Glencoe, by another name, is real and I pastored there for five years. Many characters are based on real people I knew. But the great story? It's all made up. Well, almost. ”The tracks have separated this town for a hundred years, but one day God's grace began flowing like River. And, like a mighty, raging river, you can't control it and you can't stop it. God's grace goes where He wants. Grace Like a River Flows is about very flawed people who live on both sides of the tracks which run through Glencoe. Lives are changed. Families are transformed. And an old mainline church is renewed. Come meet the cast of characters who will be touched by God. Charlotte (featured on the cover) has seen the tracks. Will God’s grace touch her life? Look for the surprise ending! You’ll never see it coming.
- GenresChristian FictionFiction
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 9, 2019
the story was interesting although it had many mistakes in the editing. The Christian focus of grace and mercy was good because of God changing people's lives. I just couldn't get past that the book needed much more editing and that's why I gave it 2 stars. The author does states in the back that he didn't want to pay for the editing. I suggest you rethink that.
March 20, 2024
This book was well written and had engaging characters. The plot was well planned and the story was so captivating that I stayed up until 4am reading it! It has become one of my favorite books. It is one that I plan to read again. It has action and humor and the last page will quite possibly have you lifting your jaw from the floor in surprise. It was written by a pastor who had previously served at a church in the community of Glencoe. Many of the places are real and some characters are loosely based on real people. By the time you finish you will be wanting to visit the town. I don’t give 5 stars loosely!
I started reading another book by him and it was not theologically sound. When I messaged him about it he said since it was fiction his depiction of God didn’t need to be accurate. At that point I no longer read any more of his books. God doesn’t need a “plan B” as mentioned in the later book because He knew everything that would happen before creation.
I started reading another book by him and it was not theologically sound. When I messaged him about it he said since it was fiction his depiction of God didn’t need to be accurate. At that point I no longer read any more of his books. God doesn’t need a “plan B” as mentioned in the later book because He knew everything that would happen before creation.
December 21, 2021
Finished Grace Like a River Flows by R. Marshall Wright. This book is absolutely amazing! R. Marshall Wright does a great job in bringing the characters out in all of their real life experiences. There was domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and alcoholic abuse (none of these were graphic) and much more. The story shows how God works in people's lives just as He works in ours!! I Love It!!❤️ I recommend if you want a real life story this is the book to read!! You become familiar with the characters and will want to know more about the little town of Glencoe!!
May 28, 2020
This is the second book I've read by this author. His stories are unique with a strong 'author voice'. Humorous, hard to put down and an interesting story.
A natural storyteller.
There is some head-hopping and an omniscient point of view but the sheer style of the writing makes these points seem unimportant.
A story full of hope and transformation.
A natural storyteller.
There is some head-hopping and an omniscient point of view but the sheer style of the writing makes these points seem unimportant.
A story full of hope and transformation.
November 22, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. It is a gospel-centered novel and it also fast-paced and kept this reader turning the pages. This story is about real life. This book has it all happiness, danger, romance, prejudice, hypocrisy, tension, persistence and God's Grace. There is even a secret advenger, ( no not the marvel kind) that takes justice into his own hands, his ways are violence which I don't usually like but in this book, it didn't bother me, maybe because of the overall message of the story. I like that the author includes his dog as one of the characters in this story. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Christian Fiction!
I received a contemporary copy from the author and these opinions are my own.
I received a contemporary copy from the author and these opinions are my own.
October 30, 2020
Grace Like a River Flows, is a powerful Christian book about a towns love, redemption, trials and forgiveness. This book will change the way you think and will pull at you emotionally, especially as it can be very relatable in this modern day life. Praise for the author for sending a messages to the readers and for a wonderfully written book!
April 5, 2020
LOVED this book!!!!
It’s rare that I’m ever surprised by the ending of a book, but I was by this one. I’m not sure how to adequately describe it. It had messages of grace, forgiveness, trusting God, not judging books by the cover, and others. The one that really hit me was I was so happy when I first gave my self to Christ but somewhere along the way, I took control of my life back and it has gotten me nowhere. All I can say is I highly recommend this book.
It’s rare that I’m ever surprised by the ending of a book, but I was by this one. I’m not sure how to adequately describe it. It had messages of grace, forgiveness, trusting God, not judging books by the cover, and others. The one that really hit me was I was so happy when I first gave my self to Christ but somewhere along the way, I took control of my life back and it has gotten me nowhere. All I can say is I highly recommend this book.
Did Not Finish
August 21, 2024Fall 2023 - I could not finish this for several reasons. Mainly, I am not personally a fan of the conversational style of writing in particular. Not for me. DNF.
May 17, 2021
Grace truly does flow like a river...
R. Marshall Wright knows how to tell a good story—not write a novel. He’d be the first to tell you that. He writes stories that hit you where we all live and has no problem ripping your heart out. That’s a compliment, folks! If you read his books—this is my first read of one of his books, but I assume the same applies throughout—you will quickly discover that he gets to the heart of what life is like sometimes and contrasts that with what God would like to see happen. God never forces his mercy or his will upon us. He extends it to us for us to accept. That is what you will find between the covers of this author’s books. A story of heartache and of grace. A story of the healing power of God’s love.
R. Marshall Wright tells stories about real life, real trials and tribulations, real tragedies. He doesn’t gloss over it; he exposes it. And he makes you care about the lives of the people he creates. Most of us will discover we have known people like those in the story at some point in our lives. Some of us may even have experienced similar lives ourselves. The fact that he was a pastor gives him a unique perspective of life that hints to us that he may have seen many of these things as well.
There is no reason to go into a deep synopsis—you can read the book’s description and sample chapters for that. It’s a simple story. It starts with a simple event, the beating of a young woman by her deadbeat husband and the dominos fall from there. It’s a story about about a pastor, a small town and its people and its church, and the amazing grace of God. It is a story you won’t easily forget. Read it. You’ll be glad you did.
R. Marshall Wright knows how to tell a good story—not write a novel. He’d be the first to tell you that. He writes stories that hit you where we all live and has no problem ripping your heart out. That’s a compliment, folks! If you read his books—this is my first read of one of his books, but I assume the same applies throughout—you will quickly discover that he gets to the heart of what life is like sometimes and contrasts that with what God would like to see happen. God never forces his mercy or his will upon us. He extends it to us for us to accept. That is what you will find between the covers of this author’s books. A story of heartache and of grace. A story of the healing power of God’s love.
R. Marshall Wright tells stories about real life, real trials and tribulations, real tragedies. He doesn’t gloss over it; he exposes it. And he makes you care about the lives of the people he creates. Most of us will discover we have known people like those in the story at some point in our lives. Some of us may even have experienced similar lives ourselves. The fact that he was a pastor gives him a unique perspective of life that hints to us that he may have seen many of these things as well.
There is no reason to go into a deep synopsis—you can read the book’s description and sample chapters for that. It’s a simple story. It starts with a simple event, the beating of a young woman by her deadbeat husband and the dominos fall from there. It’s a story about about a pastor, a small town and its people and its church, and the amazing grace of God. It is a story you won’t easily forget. Read it. You’ll be glad you did.
June 13, 2020
Grace Like a River Flows by R. Marshall Wright is a very intriguing story. The title reflects well on the story, as you see and feel God's grace flowing through the little town and touching the lives of a wide range of its people. There are several tough topics that come up in the story, as many of the characters experience major difficulties in their lives. But the beauty that God's grace brings out of their real-life struggles makes for a captivating read.
The style is a little out of the ordinary. It gives you the feeling of a narrator telling a story more than the typical feel of many novels; the story teller even throws in his own comments about the town, people, and events from time to time. It took me a bit to become really engaged, but once I did I was very involved with the lives of the characters and cared a great deal about the turns their lives were taking. The book is self-published and has several noticeable editing errors but all in all is one I would definitely recommend to others.
I can't neglect to share a warning before you read this book. If you are one of those readers who likes to check out the end before you finish the story, I highly suggest you DO NOT do that with this book. There is an element of mystery that runs throughout the the story, and you DO NOT want to spoil it before the end. The twist was so big that I had to go back and read it a couple of times to be sure it said what I thought it did!
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book. I was happy to share my own thoughts in this review.
The style is a little out of the ordinary. It gives you the feeling of a narrator telling a story more than the typical feel of many novels; the story teller even throws in his own comments about the town, people, and events from time to time. It took me a bit to become really engaged, but once I did I was very involved with the lives of the characters and cared a great deal about the turns their lives were taking. The book is self-published and has several noticeable editing errors but all in all is one I would definitely recommend to others.
I can't neglect to share a warning before you read this book. If you are one of those readers who likes to check out the end before you finish the story, I highly suggest you DO NOT do that with this book. There is an element of mystery that runs throughout the the story, and you DO NOT want to spoil it before the end. The twist was so big that I had to go back and read it a couple of times to be sure it said what I thought it did!
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book. I was happy to share my own thoughts in this review.
September 16, 2020
I had not read anything by R. Marshall Wright until I read Grace Like a River Flows, so I didn't know what to expect. For $1.99, I'd try it. At first I thought it was similar to Mitford series by Jan Caron (Ho hum). After a couple chapters I realized this was much better. There is so much to this little book. Happiness, danger, romance, prejudice, hypocrisy, tension, persistence, and God's Grace. As a Christian, I was embarrassed by the attitudes and behavior of many of the church members. Pastor Reagan and God had a lot of work to do. I really liked it, but I had to cry a couple times. I confess I did like Brad, who handled things a bit uniquely, but effectively. He accomplished what the lawmen could not.
I liked the way Mr. Wright told the story, including a few interruptions for his own comments. He is a great story teller. I'd like to hear his sermons.
I certainly will recommend this to my friends and to any of you looking for a book. I rarely give 5 stars and won't this time. I thought the romance in two cases went a little too quickly - almost like a fairytale. Also, even though Wright gave credit to his editor-friends, the editing was not very good. Besides grammatical errors, some of the sequencing was odd. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
I liked the way Mr. Wright told the story, including a few interruptions for his own comments. He is a great story teller. I'd like to hear his sermons.
I certainly will recommend this to my friends and to any of you looking for a book. I rarely give 5 stars and won't this time. I thought the romance in two cases went a little too quickly - almost like a fairytale. Also, even though Wright gave credit to his editor-friends, the editing was not very good. Besides grammatical errors, some of the sequencing was odd. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
April 28, 2019
This is the second book I have read by R. Marshall Wright and it was even better then the first one! The story takes place in a small town divided by railroad tracks. But those tracks divide much more then the town physically. It is a story about people just like you and me. Some who strive to better themselves, some who want to take advantage of others, some who judge and look down on the people from the "wrong" side of town, and those that just want to get out of that area and build a good life for their families. These people are so relatable and they are people many of us run into and walk right by day by day, they may even remind us of ourselves in a lot of ways. These are people that need the Love of Jesus. This is a huge story about forgiveness and acceptance of God's Children. This book made me laugh, cry, become angry and even roll my eyes a time or two. But overall.... it was so touching and I absolutely loved it! And I did NOT see the twist coming at the end. I had to go back and read the ending three times for it to "sink" in. Read this book! You won't be sorry!!!!
July 21, 2019
Wonderful Read
This book is very well written. I have never read anything by R. Marshall Wright, but after reading Grace Like a River Flows, I’m looking forward to his next book(s).
From the first page to the last, this book kept my attention and was so easy to relate to the cast of characters. Being from a small village in Ohio, it was easy for me to visualize the small little town of Glencoe and some of the things that happen in a small town.
The author writes about real life things that we may face in our everyday lives. But he shows that no matter what we face, no matter how bleak things may seem, no matter how hopeless we feel, we serve a Big God who will walk with us through it all! With Him all things are possible!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a wonderful Christian Fiction! Thank you, Mr. Wright, for such a great book!
This book is very well written. I have never read anything by R. Marshall Wright, but after reading Grace Like a River Flows, I’m looking forward to his next book(s).
From the first page to the last, this book kept my attention and was so easy to relate to the cast of characters. Being from a small village in Ohio, it was easy for me to visualize the small little town of Glencoe and some of the things that happen in a small town.
The author writes about real life things that we may face in our everyday lives. But he shows that no matter what we face, no matter how bleak things may seem, no matter how hopeless we feel, we serve a Big God who will walk with us through it all! With Him all things are possible!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a wonderful Christian Fiction! Thank you, Mr. Wright, for such a great book!
April 21, 2020
Anyone who ever lived in small town will be able to relate to this story. In this story about happenings among the rich and the poor, those from the right side of town and those from the wrong side of the tracks in this particular small town are many wrongs that must be set right including abusive alcoholic boyfriends, dads who beat their kids, 3rd and 4th generation welfare recipients, victim of rape, abuse of power, pride, falsely accused and on the list goes. And in this town are some residents that would love to see a come to Jesus moment for the wrong doers. But what can a pastor and a sheriff do to set things aright and help the townspeople get headed in the right direction. Well they might just get a little help from a friend. Get a copy to see if there is hope for this town. And be prepared for a surprise ending that left me dazed and wanting to go read the book all over.
October 18, 2023
Grace Lives
This book is one that I will think about often. It is the first book written by R. Marshall Wright that I have read, but it will not be the last.
When I find a new author that I like, I typically binge read every book I can find written by that author. I don’t know how long it will take me to read all of his books, I hope he has written so many that I’ll be occupied for weeks!
I love that whenever a thread or storyline in this book was completed, it was because God had worked it all out and His Will was done. I believe that God has completed many threads in my life. I was blessed to have been raised by Christians who taught me to recognize the hand of God working in my life.
Grace does exist. This book can teach you how to recognize it in your own life.
This book is one that I will think about often. It is the first book written by R. Marshall Wright that I have read, but it will not be the last.
When I find a new author that I like, I typically binge read every book I can find written by that author. I don’t know how long it will take me to read all of his books, I hope he has written so many that I’ll be occupied for weeks!
I love that whenever a thread or storyline in this book was completed, it was because God had worked it all out and His Will was done. I believe that God has completed many threads in my life. I was blessed to have been raised by Christians who taught me to recognize the hand of God working in my life.
Grace does exist. This book can teach you how to recognize it in your own life.
June 12, 2024
What a great book! His storytelling style works with a touch of similarity to other male authors I’ve enjoyed in the past including Lee Child and John Grisham. The difference between him and these authors is that while they, as mainstream authors may have a minor Christian character in their storyline, his main character is a Christian who fights for people to learn to walk out their lives with Jesus daily and his stories have the conservative language and storylines that I do prefer. Yes, he definitely includes romance in his stories but with a focus on relationship without the overt passion. His somewhat dry sense of humour is the icing on the cake for me because I was thoroughly entertained.
April 15, 2020
Wow! I am not sure what I expected going into this self-published novel, but it delivered quite a punch. Seriously. Shades of Robert Whitlow and Charles Martin mixed with a unique voice all its own. Set in a small southern town in the early 1990s, the book is packed with faith, suspense, quirky characters, and a compelling plot that kept me reading well past my bedtime. Yes, there are a few places a good editor could have added value, but overall the writing is excellent. The author has clearly mastered the difficult arts of pacing and suspense. R.Marshall Wright is now on my personal must-read list!
April 30, 2020
To me, this book was like a roller coaster-it starts out slow. But do not stop reading because when it gets to the top you will find a beautiful story line, so hang on for all the twists and turns creating a great ride about God’s grace. This book reveals that only God’s grace can create events that will surprise and amaze you. Just as you cannot stop a roller coaster as it is going down the tracks you cannot stop God’s grace as it flows like a river to bridge cultures, lifestyles and knit hearts together! Read this book and see how you can join in the flow of the river of Gods grace!
January 24, 2022
10 star again!
Another 10 star rating! God's amazing grace, His never ending mercy is intrinsically wound through this book. You will meet Brad, an avenger for the innocent. Reagan,the pastor who leads his church and the parishioners from being cold and dead to new life in Christ. Meet Billy who Katie has accused of raping her . Lloyd, the judge, who after a meeting with Jesus, learns justice needs to be tempered with mercy.Charlotte, from the wrong side of the tracks meeting Chad.. Once I started this, I finished in one sitting. A great book! Alice
Another 10 star rating! God's amazing grace, His never ending mercy is intrinsically wound through this book. You will meet Brad, an avenger for the innocent. Reagan,the pastor who leads his church and the parishioners from being cold and dead to new life in Christ. Meet Billy who Katie has accused of raping her . Lloyd, the judge, who after a meeting with Jesus, learns justice needs to be tempered with mercy.Charlotte, from the wrong side of the tracks meeting Chad.. Once I started this, I finished in one sitting. A great book! Alice
September 25, 2023
Small towns are a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly. 1992 was certainly an unusual year in small-town Glencoe, which was centered around the church and folks who lived on both sides of the tracks, shall we say. When those folks intermingled and even came to church, people became stirred up. Church sermons became more meaningful, but not everyone was happy about that, especially after something unspeakable happened. Then there was the mysterious "avenging angel," a disturbing character. I enjoyed how the epilogue tied up all the loose ends, including that of that troubling avenger.
August 6, 2026
R. Marshall Wright's Grace Like A River Flows works it's way into your heart. the people of Glencoe come across as folks you could meet in your own town. The problems and solutions are realistic and you will quickly be drawn into their stories, cheering them on. The best part is God shows up and shakes up the town and life will never be the same.
So next time you have a free eveing, brew up some tea, grab a snack, shut your phone off and cuddle up witha great story! And the good news is that it is book one of a series!
All thoughts are my own.
So next time you have a free eveing, brew up some tea, grab a snack, shut your phone off and cuddle up witha great story! And the good news is that it is book one of a series!
All thoughts are my own.
April 21, 2019
This book takes place in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business. There is a bully, a mother trying to care for her young children. A young girl with accusations. A young man going through a tough time and not believing that God would let bad things happen. These are a few people with life problems. Then in steps a vigilante for Christ who shows the townspeople how to accept God and to do God's work with each other.
May 20, 2019
This book had me contemplating and thinking from the start. Deep book about grace, mercy and unconditional love wrapped around deep subject matters. Wasn't sure what to think when I started it but enjoyed it from the beginning. There is even bits of humor and romance woven into the story which keep it from being dark even though there was some heavy subjects dealt with. The characters and situations are portrayed in a very real manner.
March 17, 2020
The characters in this book are our neighbors or people we have known throughout our lives and just maybe there’s a little bit of us in most of them. There are many story lines and characters, but the flow is seemless from one to the other.
Parts were sad and other parts made me laugh out loud. I love books that make me laugh. Heartwarming, spiritually insightful, overall a very good read and close to a 5 star review from me.
Parts were sad and other parts made me laugh out loud. I love books that make me laugh. Heartwarming, spiritually insightful, overall a very good read and close to a 5 star review from me.
August 18, 2021
And it was good
I chose this book because it looked interesting. I never got bored. I was usually able to remember the characters which is unusual for me. The author put enough info to give my memory a chance and it worked - at least for me.
This was not an action packed read - at least not on a physical level. Spiritually, this book moves and it kinda sneaks up on you.
It's a "light" read. Totally enjoyable.
I chose this book because it looked interesting. I never got bored. I was usually able to remember the characters which is unusual for me. The author put enough info to give my memory a chance and it worked - at least for me.
This was not an action packed read - at least not on a physical level. Spiritually, this book moves and it kinda sneaks up on you.
It's a "light" read. Totally enjoyable.
August 20, 2024
This was a really good read!
I’m a slow reader and there are a lot of characters in this book to “get to know” but I’m really glad I took the time to read it.
Wright does an excellent job of showing how Jesus changes lives and is for everyone no matter our social status.
I enjoyed the author’s unique sense of humor and the spiritual depth he weaved through out the story.
Content consideration: r@pe.
I’m a slow reader and there are a lot of characters in this book to “get to know” but I’m really glad I took the time to read it.
Wright does an excellent job of showing how Jesus changes lives and is for everyone no matter our social status.
I enjoyed the author’s unique sense of humor and the spiritual depth he weaved through out the story.
Content consideration: r@pe.
April 13, 2019
This is the best book I’ve EVER read. It’s full of love, shows Gods mercy in action and his redemption. I can relate to the small church pastors situation as well as his connections with members of the church. It’s easy to read, but gives a lot to think about. I’ll be looking forward to more from this author in the future.
April 20, 2019
The only word I can think of for this book is WOW. R. Marshall Wright has written story about class conflict, forgiveness and growing in the Lord. His characters are well developed and interesting. You will probably recognize people you know in these characters. I loved the twists and turns of the story line. This may be a new genre for the author but I hope there will be more to come
May 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. A town where residence from different sides of the track find out they are not so different from each other after all. People from both sides find forgiveness, redemption and love. The little church they attend brings folks together and a pastor who leads them in a most unexpected way.
May 5, 2019
This is a great book about a bunch of delightful, flawed realistic characters in a small town and the minister's efforts to bring them to God. It's based on the author's experiences and told with a gentle humour without sparing the gritty details of life on the wrong side of the tracks.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews