Time of Grace

Rating:
Summary: A great first novel!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Time of Grace". Ms. Wests' characterizations are marvelous and the action is lively. A splendid mix of historical facts and personal adventure, with an excellent account of the Irish uprising of 1916. It is also a story of alienation and of developing meaningful relationships. I highly recommend it to all readers no matter of gender preference. I was immediately absorbed with the story and the characters. It reads quickly and I was sorry to see it end. Hope we see lots more from Ms. West!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful first novel
Review: This is one of the best first novels I have come across.

In terse, unsentimental language that is, at the same time, sensitive and poignant, Gabriella West takes us back to Ireland just before the Easter uprising of 1916. Within this turbulent setting we find Caroline, a young English woman with a sad past, sailing to Ireland to work as a governess in a large country estate. To her immense surprise, she finds herself falling in love for the first time. Equally surprising to her is that she is falling in love with a young woman instead of a young man.
To make matters even more challenging, the young woman is from a lower social class, and is an Irish Catholic Nationalist who wants the 'Brits out'.

The tale is told from the thoughtful, empathic viewpoint of Caroline, who reminds me quite a bit of Jane Eyre. That is, she is a thinker, with a strong independent streak behind her conventional exterior. ...Ms.West weaves a very believable story that brilliantly captures the essence of that time in Irish history, as well as addressing the very real difficulties...and indeed, very real dangers...of being gay in a judgmental world.

Thought provoking, with excellent character development and insight into what an actual lesbian relationship can be like.
Plus...you are kept guessing to the very end about their fate...