I like to lose myself in a book. Especially when that book has characters that have depth and flaws and are not trying to be perfect. Every once in a while I read a book that makes me look at my life and wonder how I can be better, how I can stand taller…Rhythms of Grace is one of those books.

Call me blind to the fact, but I never knew there was such a genre as Urban Christian Fiction. I picked this book up after reading the summary on the back of the book (as I always do) at the library and when I got around to reading it, I wanted to read everything written by this author, Marilynn Griffith. Because her stories are real. They showcase people with real lives doing real things and living their lives as faithful people. They are not trying to fit God in their lives; they are trying to fit their lives to what God has planned for them. I guess this hits me the way that it does because that is where I am in my life right now; I am trying to live my life according to what he wants me to be, trying to follow his plan for me. And reading this book has just reinforced that for me. It seems like everything I do nowadays reinforces that for me. When you are open to it, it usually happens that way.

At the heart of the story is Grace, and she is the foundation of everything that evolves in this story. Grace is a survivor, and a dancer, and a teacher…but the one thing that you must also realize is that she is a woman. Having survived a brutal attack as a teenager, Grace returns to her hometown to a different world. Things that she once knew, are no longer.  She connects with a childhood crush and a cherished friend and begins a journey to begin a life anew.

Through all of the adversity that Grace has endured, it is a blessing to witness her journey toward healing. She has a mentor, Joyce, that guides her, and teaches her…but allows her to figure it out on her own, as it should be. As I read this book, I cheered for Grace. I wanted to see if Grace would overcome all of the baggage that she carried around to stand on top of it and yell, “I AM HERE!” The book does not disappoint in this regard.

Rhythms of Grace is an exploration into how to heal, how to believe, how to walk your path, and how to stay faithful when you’ve been handed distractions, temptations, trials and tribulations. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but that may be because the story had ended, and not in spite of it. I’ve always loved a book that allows you to explore all of the characters as both individuals and part of something bigger, and Rhythms of Grace does that marvelously.

This is a book you can lose yourself in. It is also one that you can learn something from. One of the best kinds of books to read, in my opinion.

BTW, Marilynn Griffith has her own web site and blog…check it out. She often posts readings of her poetry and short stories. Fabulous indeed! Check it out…