Although I'm not a widow, I have friends who are. I was reluctant to check this book out for a long time, but finally did and am glad I did. Audrey's reading the book of John made me decide to read it again. Although the book is fiction, it feels like a real diary and true story. ( )

NCLA Review - Audrey Eaton has shut herself off from friends and family in the year and a half following the death of her beloved husband, Tom. A retired teacher, she spends her days watching TV and avoiding personal contacts. She comes to realize that she cannot go on that way. Hoping to find healing, she embarks upon a long trip from her home in Missouri to the Southwest, including a stop she and Tom had hoped to make but never did. She takes Tom's Bible on the trip and begins reading the book of John. As she studies with new eyes the life of Jesus, and sees Him reaching out to her through strangers she meets and old friends she visits along the way, she begins to emerge from her shell. She shares her innermost thoughts and dreams (of Tom) with the reader and jubilantly returns home to her children and grandchildren after two months on the road and a total change in her outlook on life. Rating: 4—MW ( )

I enjoyed this thought-provoking journey of a widow facing life without her soulmate. It was touching, yet honest. Painful at times, and accented throughout with Audrey's references to the Bible. Though I could not relate to Audrey's position in life, I was definitely able to feel her emotions through Tender Grace. Enough so that I gifted the book to a friend who had recently lost her life partner unexpectedly--with a story very similar to Audrey's. ( )

LOVED IT!! ( )

The novel, Tender Grace, is written in the perspective of a recently widowed woman through her daily diary. The widow, Audrey Eaton, is trying to learn how to cope with losing her long-time husband. It has been 2 years since his death and she realizes it is finally time to do something for herself. Audrey decides to take a road trip. The beginning of the book moved me by describing the emotional depression that can come along with losing a loved one. This spoke to me as my boyfriend has just recently lost someone special to him. As the book went along, it did become monotonous as each daily experience was related to something Audrey had been through with her late husband. I feel the main character faced her fears head-on with moving on in life, however, I was not fond of the ending. I was left feeling I needed more of a follow up in how Audrey dealt with day-to-day issues after returning from her trek across the US. Overall, though, good book on the related subject of grieving for a loved one. ( )