Circle of Grace by Penelope Stokes
Reviewed by Vicki Carver
Penelope Stokes has established herself as a highly respected author of
women’s fiction with a Christian theme. Her newest novel, Circle of Grace, is
based upon four women who had met thirty years previously while in college. A
reunion of the four former roommates is being planned during the telling of
the story.
Grace Benedict is fifty-two years old and has recently learned she is dying
from an advanced form of cancer. Grace has lived a lonely, unfulfilled life
but wants to find some connection with her former college friends before her
death. Through the years Grace has been lying to her friends to convince them
that her life has been much more
exciting than it really has been.
Liz, Tess and Lovey are the three other roommates. Each of them has a story to
tell about the lives they have lived in the thirty years since college. Liz
has been deceived by her former husband and has made some surprising changes
in her life since her divorce. Tess had always planned to become an author of
adult fiction but her life has taken some amazing turns as well. Lovey had
married her college sweetheart, Bo Tennyson. Financial success has allowed
Lovey to live a comfortable lifestyle but her life with Bo was lonely. As he
became more successful in business he spent less time at home.
The four women meet at a posh resort. At first, there is an uncomfortable
rapport among them, mainly because they have all been misleading each other
about their lives. However with time each woman begins to tell own story and
past misconceptions are changed to startling revelations. As the week-end
progresses new bonds are forged between the former friends which enable
Grace to live out the remainder of her
life with a new sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Circle of Grace is a highly emotional story. Stokes has the ability as an
author to weave her characters’ lives together as they interact with each
other. This book also has a gentle Christian influence which permeates the
unfolding of the plot and ultimately enriches the lives of the characters.