Based in WW2-era Miami, the history is real, but the characters have powers called "Graces." Truly it's historical fantasy.
Set against a backdrop of World War II, the Grace family and friends live in, and operate out of, Gracestone, a Miami Beach luxury estate. Most of them are "Graced," meaning they have special powers: Navigators can get anywhere without a map, and are never lost; Incapacitators are never bested in a fight, and can turn any item into a weapon; Knowers can learn all there is to Know about any topic, just by concentrating on it for a few moments. There is no finite number of Graces, and a person can be Graced in more than one way,
In Graced 1943, the first book in The Grace Family Chronicles, the characters are focused on protecting the children of Gracestone. Kidnapping is always an issue, mainly because its patriarch, Henri Grace, is a Midasian Multiplyer, meaning her can Multiply wealth, and he has passed this rare Grace onto one of his grandsons. Greedy people, and even the U. S. government, target Midasian Multiplyers, hoping to exploit their ability to make money.
Like most Americans in the mid-1940s, the Grace family and friends are enmeshed in World War II, and the action moves to the atomic weaponry lab in Los Alamos, NM, and to Europe and South America, and then back again to Gracestone for Henri's wife's ill-advised Christmas Ball in December of 1943. Be warned: the ending is a cliffhanger, and it leads into the second book in the series, The Atherlings 1944.
This series has the feel of an old-fashioned radio soap opera crossed with a comic book and a war drama. The cast is large, and their lives intermingle, sometimes in surprising ways. Graced 1943 is a book for anyone who enjoys actions tinged with humor in a setting that features real history, and larger than life characters.
Professional Reviews
Incredible Gift Lies Inside
I was drawn into this book almost immediately! I am all for the supernatural, but this tale is so much more than just that.
The author was able to really create a detailed vision of the family element, giving a great backstory to the family as a whole, as well as a great painting of the individual characters. I got invested in their lives within the first pages of the book.
But, more than that, we learn all about what makes this family so unique, with the author detailing the incredible gifts held within this mansion. You become a part of this family, and feel what they feel: especially the fear of kidnapping.
I truly enjoyed this first book, and look forward to enjoying these stories even further.
Definitely should be on your
I thought this was a fabulous book! It combined actual history with time travel, supernatural abilities, romantic drama, and the thing is...it was all believable! I was drawn into the story, worried when people disappeared, having been kidnapped, and really got involved with the characters. I really loved it. As a voracious reader, I do read at least 10 books a month if not more, and this was definitely the top 1 for this month.
Looking forward to the second book
I downloaded this book because the cover caught my eye. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the author's wry humor really drew me in. The characters have adventures, often relating to World War 2, that are not meant to be believable, but are fun nonetheless. I'm looking forward to the second installment and finding out what happened after the Christmas party.
First Place Winner in historical fiction in the Purple Dragonfly Awards for excellence in children's literature, and named a U.P. Notable Classic.
Feel like you are in the moment nearly 100 years ago with a young girl, daughter of Finnish immigr
