Dee's Reviewed:For love and Grace

For Love and Grace
Kendra Norman-Bellamy
BET Books (October 15, 2004)
ISBN: 1583145494
Paperback: 261 pages

+++ crosses rating

Kendra Norman-Bellamy brings southern charm and grace to inspirational romance fiction with For love and Grace, her debut novel. Set in Atlanta, Georgia we are introduced to two male friends who've known each other since both of their mother's shared a maternity ward room at their births.

Dr. Gregory Dixon, one of the brightest stars in brain medicine, finds his professional duties at odds with his best friend, Derrick Madison, esquire, when the patient Gregory has committed to save has supposedly killed Derrick’s mother in a hit and run accident. To make matters worse, Gregory rehabilitates the patient, Grace, behind Derrick’s back. During these late night treatments he falls for the patient, Grace, although she is in a coma most of the time. Gregory is torn between his allegiance to God and his childhood allegiance to Derrick, as well as his mounting love for Grace, a romance that he questioning himself.

Attorney Derrick Madison is on a mission to make Grace pay for his mother’s death. He uses his legalese and work allies to help him punish Grace once she is fit for trial, despite the fact that he has been forbidden to stay away from the criminal in

vestigation. Derrick's grief turns into unjustified hatred and he struggles with what he knows about forgiveness and what he feels inside. When he finds that his wife has sided with Gregory his own relationship is in jeopardy.

Although the story is sweet, there are many challenges in the novel. It is hard to understand why Gregory falls for a sleeping Grace. What does that say about God's ideas for marriage? What does that say about God's definition of a true romance? What does God say about the role of women in marriage? Are we just Sleeping Beauties waiting for our Prince Charming to show up or are do we have our own God given purposes in this world?

Although the characters are not perfect, some of their actions are a bit unbelievable. Gregory spends his nights rehabilitating a patient. When does he have time to record his medical notes? Gregory is a gorgeous Christian man, who has women falling at his feet. Yet, he picks a person that he cannot participate in any real dialogue with, because she is in a coma.

The most realistic character in the story is Derrick, who struggles with his faith and changes for the better.

If you are a hopeless romantic, this book is for you. If you want to read a book about black men who aren’t keeping secrets and having baby Mama Drama, then this book is for you. If you are a christian woman and you want to find a good read that nurtures your soul, this book is for you, too.