Rating: 
Summary: entertaining contemporary character study
Review: Action star Stone Senterra visits Dahlonega, Georgia to try to meet with Grace Vance, widow of Georgia Bureau of Investigation hero Harper. Her deceased husband died two years ago taking out the psychopath Turn-Key Bomber just before the serial killer was going to blow up a hospital. The world saw Harp's heroism as he died saving many innocent lives. Now Stone, known for dumb down action thriller flicks, wants to film Harp's life. He tries to charm Grace, but she rejects his deal as she believes he is only capable of an action-packed cinematic insulting dolt of a movie.Stone's bodyguard Boone Molene tries to intercede as he is grateful to his employer for giving him a chance straight out of Angola Prison. As Boone and Grace become acquainted they fall in love, but she still refuses Stone's efforts as she believes that the action hero will destroy the dignity of her late husband. This entertaining contemporary is more a character study than a romance, though a love subplot adds depth to the tale. The story line provides insight into Grace and through her eyes Harp. Fans will appreciate Grace's efforts to keep her late spouse's life from becoming a bogus macho action adventure flick as he was deeper than just a GI Joe doll. Deborah Smith furbishes a strong look at legends and how Hollywood can corrupt and propagandize or enhance heroes. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence
Review: Grace Bagshaw Vance does not hesitate to wield a shotgun or dump gravel on the only paved road that leads to Stone Senterra's mountain production headquarters. Widowed, this thirty-four year-old ex-beauty queen and former host of a popular morning show on Atlanta TV earns the classic southern pronouncement, "She's crazy, bless her heart." Her husband Harp, a GBI agent, gave his life to prevent a serial killer from blowing up Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. His status as a national hero garnered the attention of action-movie superstar Stone Senterra who plans to direct the movie about Harp's life and death. Unfortunately, with such blockbuster films to his credit as Viper Platoon and Death Squad Patrol, Stone's ability to keep his outrageous tendencies under control seems doubtful. Stone's bodyguard Boone Noleene proves to be the only hindrance in Grace's plans. She gracefully handles Stone's outrageous sister who stars in his movies and oversees publicity. She forces Stone changing locations to Alabama, and she strongly affects those who star in the movie. But Boone and she quickly develop a passion and an impossible desire that neither can afford to fulfill. Beneath the surface they are surprising alike, concealing poignant and painful pasts. They are equally loyal and equally determined as well, despite the fact that Grace intends to stop the movie Boone's boss vows to film. CHARMING GRACE becomes a poignant and provocative account of the power of the media to reshape the world according to the price of a ticket. Grace struggle to preserve the memory of her husband even as Stone's careless exposure becomes far less than the truth. Her instant attraction to his bodyguard lends profound shades of grey to a tale that is at once simple and yet deeply complex. Furthermore, outrageous characterizations and marvelous witticism combines for a fast-paced read that readers will find impossible to put down. Fans who adored Deborah Smith's previous release, SWEET HUSH, will easily recognize her remarkable style as both lyrical and mesmerizing. Indeed, Smith's voice has certainly made an indelible imprint and although I had forgotten reviewing Smith's previous novel, I immediately recognized her wonderful authorial voice before finishing the first few pages. CHARMING GRACE earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.
Rating: 
Summary: very disappointed
Review: I am a big fan of Deborah Smith, but found this one not up to her potential. I thought her attempt at humor fell short, and her characters unrealistic. For some reason, I felt like I was reading a cartoon without the pictures.
Rating: 
Summary: Can't get through it!
Review: I had to check the Amazon reviews to see if other readers have had the same problem finishing this book as I have had. As a native Georgian, I love Deborah Smith's novels, but I've had to push myself to finish this one. The dialogue is unnatural, the story is choppy, and I really don't see where the plot is going. Please, read her other novels first to see what a gifted writer she is.
Rating:
Summary: Poor, Poor, Poor
Review: I have been a fan of Ms Smith's books for a while and Charming Grace was a total disappointment - the story was hard to follow; the characters unbelievable and the content generally like a really cheap soap opera. Not worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A very charming book...
Review: I read this book in one day, because it captured my attention from the very first word to the very last. I liked everything about this well-written and charming book--the romantic and familial story of love, the flawed and loyal main characters and the quirky and interesting secondary characters.
Rating: 
Summary: SOOOOOO Disappointing!
Review: I usually dive right into a novel by Deborah Smith and dislike coming up for air but with this one not only did I have to push myself to finish, I had to keep putting it down when disgusted with the main character's behavior. I will only mention one part of the storyline...Grace refuses to forgive (or talk with) her father since he never liked her first husband....she only forgave him after he hit someone. I completed the novel because even telling a very frayed yarn...Ms Smith is a gifted storyteller!
Rating:
Summary: Not So Charming.......What Happened!
Review: I was so disappointed in this book....I ordered "Ministers With White Collars and Black Secrets" and "Charming Grace" together. I later found out that they are by two different people with the same name. Even though "Ministers" was great and I couldn't put it down, I found out that the sequel to that book is "Robbed Without A Gun"...Still I decided to read "Charming Grace", it did not hold my attention and for 2 weeks now I have not been able to finish it. Too predictable, no excitement. Why pair these two books together....Charming Grace not so charming at all.
Rating:
Summary: So I'm not alone...
Review: I wondered why I was having trouble getting through this novel - good to know I'm not alone. I've enjoyed most of Deborah Smith's novels but am finding that with this latest offering, her work is becoming extremely formulaic. Two disparate characters meet: one a charming southern belle with quirky family, the other a rough and tumble outsider. Big sex scene smack in the middle of the book then somehow all gets resolved. It's becoming so predictable I know what's going to happen before I turn the page. It's too bad because Ms. Smith has genuine talent but before she embarks on another writing project she needs to get some fresh ideas.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing but clichés & similes!
Review: I've read everything this author has written and I've never been so disappointed in her work. I found myself wondering if someone is writing under her name. A number of people have written about how difficult it was to get through the book; well, I've tried and tried and finally decided I had to know if it was just me or if others had the same feelings. I logged onto amazon and now that I know that I'm not alone in my opinions, I quit! This is not worth finishing. Reading keeps me up at night way-past-my-bedtime, but 1-2 pages of this book puts me to sleep. (Maybe I'll keep it by my bedside, after all.)
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