1950s in the South and Gracie is sent to her grandmother’s house for the summer. Her mother has been admitted for in-patient psychiatric care and Gracie thinks she is personally to blame. She and her dog, Brown Hound, are shipped off to Miss Emily’s house for a break. Her cousin Janie lives there, too, after the untimely deaths of Janie’s parents from a car accident. The two girls are the same age, 10-11 years old, and they get into a summer of good-intentioned but dubious situations.
The two girls find an ally of Uncle Ben, their uncle. They are digging for the story surrounding family friend and housekeeper, Marcella, who has a drinking problem.
The reader encounters strong women in Missy Emily and Gramma Jane, plus the strong-willed Sissy (Gracie’s mother).

This atmospheric novel took me back to my childhood. It is so well written and I loved the characters.
Many thanks to Brother Mockingbird and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. After her mother's breakdown Gracie is sent to North Carolina to live with her Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and cousin Jane. There Gracie meets Marcell a black women who's father was hanged when she was a young girl. Gracie and Jane set out to find out who hanged Marcell's father where he is buried.

This is a new-to-me author, and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a well written book that keep me turning the pages to see what happened next. Grace's story is full of emotion, you will laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between. This is a heartwarming story you don't want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy from Brother Mockingbird, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I reached the halfway point on this one, and called it quits. There were so many characters to keep track of, and the storyline was difficult to follow.
Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

The story follows a young girl who has lived a timid, scared and guilty childhood who moves to a relatives farm and discover familial love a close friendship and a mystery to solve. This is quite a long novel, but worth a read for sure!

Summer of Grace is written in a classic American Style like Fannie Flagg and Ethan Frome. The story follows a young girl who has lived a timid, scared and guilty childhood who moves to a relatives farm and discover familial love a close friendship and a mystery to solve. This is quite a long novel that I would describe as evocative.

I received a dARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I loved the title of this book: The Summer of Grace. So much could be explored within that. It is listed on NetGalley in General/Women's Fiction as well as Teen & YA - which had me intrigued.
The writing structure "feels" middle grade to me but doesn't feel childish. All I know is I enjoyed it very much and was curious to see what else the author wrote; I look forward to seeing future works from her in this same vein.

Grace is a young girl who is ignored largely by her mother and scolded when she garners her mother's attention. She is sent to her grandmother's farm for the summer to give her mother a "rest". She is apprehensive but thrives in the simple country setting and loving guidance of not only her grandmother but other extended family as well.
This book also explores the impact of segregation, lynchings and racism through Marcell's storyline. While the girls were originally motivated to help Marcell for selfish reasons, they begin to understand her as they uncover the past one secret at a time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To see the wrongs done by adults through the innocent eyes of a child is so revealing. Then to see children try to correct those wrongs while adults tried to keep everything hush-hush due to their fears warmed my heart.
In the early 1950s Grace, a young child, believed she was to blame for her mother’s mental illness, was sent to live with relatives in North Carolina while her mother was hospitalized. What she learned there with her dog Brown Hound and loving relatives changed her life.
I highly recommend this book.

What a sweet coming of age story! I really enjoyed watching the protagonist (Grace) growing up. She made me laugh and cry too at times. Family is everything back then. I miss that feel.
I love the Southern setting of the novel too.
This new to me author has described Grace's home so well that I felt like I was a part of her family. I didn't want the story to end.
This was mom's era too. That's why this book in a way was special to me.
I loved everything about this story except for Sissy. I didn't like her at all! I thought that she was mean and selfish.
Jane and Grace tickled me pink with their antics and I appreciated their good hearted adventures.
In a way I felt like the older ladies made the story.
I laughed at Brown Hiund's name and I loved how she sensed that about Sissy.
I could just imagine her reaction.
A wonderful Southern heartwarming story that will touch your heart in more ways than one.
5 stars for a job well done. I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own!

The Summer of Grace caught my attention and looked to be an interesting story.
As I read through it I found it to be hard to follow and not what I was expecting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brother Mockingbird for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Karen Jones' The Summer of Grace.

As a sucker for southern coming of age novels, this one ticks ALL the right boxes. Not to be missed!

"It’s 1951 on the NC family farm when Gracie and Brown Hound meet the family. Great Granny Jane smokes a pipe and is fast with her cane, Miss Emily is loving but firm, and Jane, her cousin of the same age, has a swashbuckler’s heart."