Mar 12, 2023

Blog Tour: A Mark of Grace by Kimberley Woodhouse

A Mark of Grace (Secrets of the Canyon Book #3) by Kimberley Woodhouse

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Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Inspirational Romance

Location: El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon, Arizona

Time Period: 1909

Romance: Very clean. Light kissing.

Faith: The major and minor characters walked through applying their faith and scripture to their own growth.

About the Book

When everything crumbles, her chance for a new beginning hangs in the balance. Ruth Anniston survived an injury that left her physically scarred, broken, and angry at God. Now, she finds herself working behind the scenes as a kitchen and dining room supervisor at the El Tovar Hotel, hidden away from curious eyes and with little hope of finding love. When money begins to disappear from the hotel, Ruth’s entire livelihood is put at risk when she lands on the list of suspects.

Frank Henderson has at last succeeded in obtaining his dream job as head chef at the El Tovar. But competition in the kitchen is fierce, and one mistake could cost him his future. As the thefts at the hotel continue, and his affection for Ruth grows, Frank’s career–and his heart–are in jeopardy.

As tensions run high, Ruth and Frank must work together to save the El Tovar. They find themselves growing closer . . . but can their combined ingenuity overcome the odds against them?

My Review

Kimberley Woodhouse writes a sad tale about a woman who suffered a personal trauma that left her leg deformed. The author did a good job of portraying the internal struggle, both emotional and spiritual, that a person faces in such circumstances.

Mostly, I liked the romance between Ruth and Frank, although there were times I wanted to knock some sense into Frank and encourage him to take a risk on love. The drama and tension of the antagonist came across well.

The middle part of the story felt repetitive and a little slow to me. Despite that, I was glad I kept reading as the story picked up.

This was the third book in the series and there were a few times I felt lost having not read the previous books. I’m sure if I’d read them in order, the scenes from Julia and Emma’s points of view would have been more meaningful to me. I would strongly encourage readers to start at the beginning of this series to enjoy the story more.

As someone who has lived in Arizona for over twenty years, I enjoyed reading about the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, a place I’ve visited many times. Woodhouse clearly researched the Harvey House, the setting, and the time, which allowed the reader to experience the rich history of the El Tovar.

I would recommend this book to fans of Christian historical fiction with a touch of romance.

Disclaimer: I requested and received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in the Poconos, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.

More from Kimberley

It is such a thrill to be able to bring readers A Mark of Grace, book three in my Secrets of the Canyon series. These books have been near and dear to me since 2009, right from the moment the idea of setting a Harvey Girls series at the El Tovar on the rim of the Grand Canyon first hit me.

Ever since the release of A Deep Divide, book one in the series, I’ve received tons of messages from readers who hoped Ruth would have her story. All along, the plan was for the final installment to be hers.

Ruth has been a strong character throughout the series. A mentor. A friend. A headwaitress. But when a crisis hits her life, it affects every area—emotional, physical, and spiritual—and her confidence in everything she thought she knew crumbles.

Life isn’t easy for any of us, and I love a good story that I can grow and learn through. I pray A Mark of Grace is that for you.