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Reviewed by: Vanessa Dora Murray In 2002, Joann Denise Bellamy visited a poverty-stricken village called Mafi Sasekpe located in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa. That awe-inspiring experience led Bellamy to produce an amazing cast of characters in her debut novel, Saving Grace: When Fate Steps In. In addition, Bellamy got an overpowering urge to donate proceeds from her novel to development projects in Mafi Sasekpe. "I want to see the people of Mafi Sasekpe get good drinking water, health facilities, and the development of women and children," says Bellamy in TalkGhana. On the dedication page of Saving Grace: When Fate Steps In, Bellamy says, "I dedicate this, my first book, to the village of Mafi Sasekpe…you opened your homes and your hearts and allowed me to walk in. You taught me of courage and strength that I never knew I had…Friends of Mafi Sasekpe, you are a people of joy and wonder as you struggle to make each day count. Visiting you was a humbling experience…" Saving Grace: When Fate Steps In is a remarkable account about Grace Benjamin, the leading character, who was born and reared in Mobile, Alabama during the 1950s. Her Christian parents put the fear of God in their children. "Sunday mornings were the best in the Benjamin house," says Grace on page eighteen. "We'd wake up to the smell of slab bacon, fried fish, grits, fried apples, cheese eggs, hot biscuits, and Maxwell House coffee. Daddy said that the table was the family's meeting place and the place to speak our minds, but we knew that there were only so much of our minds that we could speak. Clearly, the one thing we dared not ask was to be excused from church. Ever!" When the unexpected happens, young Grace and her family spend several years grieving, trying to understand why their God would allow such a tragedy to occur. They felt that their God had betrayed them. Nevertheless, in due season, Grace and her family learn to trust God again. As an adult, Grace becomes a top fashion designer. Life is good until the unexpected knocks at Grace's door once again. Her faith in God dissipates. Spinning out of control, Grace does the unnatural. Only three people know her secret. And now, you too can know. Saving Grace: When Fate Steps In is jam-packed with enjoyable tension that leads to the gripping denouement. Second chances, mercy, and unconditional love sums up Saving Grace: When Fate Steps In, a memorable tome that was nominated book of the month in January 2008 by the Sugar and Spice Book Club. What did you like best about this book? What did you dislike about this book? How can the author improve this book? The views expressed in published reviews are solely those of the reviewer. The Urban Book Source cannot be held accountable. The information featured, represents that of the reviewer and not that of The Urban Book Source. The reviewer takes full responsibility for the information presented.
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Saving Grace
kind of helps us seek out our purpose our role in the universe! The
author was definately on the mark with this book. It was thought provoking and definately encouraged one to get up off that butt and take some kind of action! Don't be a bystander ,but actively participate! Sugar and Spice Book Club(Vice-President)judibelle