Rating: 
Summary: Honesty is not the best policy for these four friends
Review: I love the way Penelope Stokes can tell a story. "The Amethyst Heart" is my favorite book by this author. I suppose the reason I liked it is because Amethyst is always truthful, never wishy-washy, and has her priorities straight with regard to her relationship with God.
The characters in "Circle of Grace" are disappointing to say the least. True friendship has to be based on truth, and truth is lacking in this book even when they all confessed their deceptions. In my opinion, there is too much "pussy-footing" around and too much "political correctness" in their relationship. That's not the way people who love each other react in a crisis. I wanted one of them to stand up for their beliefs or at least grieve privately for Liz. I wanted Tess to come out of the "closet" and say that she was a Christian because she loved Jesus, not because of some feminist agenda. I did not want Grace to have to apologize for being concerned about Amanda and her relationship with Bo. And at the end of the story, Bo's sudden and immediate transformation is not convincing.
I think the problem with this book is that it is about an issue: tolerance, which the author equates with grace. The two are not the same.
I was going to donate this book to the church library, but somehow I feel the author failed to create characters that have a real relationship with God. Some of them go to church and even do good deeds. I was hoping one of them would be able to lead the others to Christ, but none of them had the courage to do it.
Also, the God in this book is not a real person. God, the loving father, the God of justice and compassion, as depicted in the scriptures is absent from this book. In his place is some abstract power source. I asked some of my Christian friends to read this book and they felt the same way.
Rating: 
Summary: An Absorbing Story for Readers of Faith Fiction
Review: After penning nine novels, Penelope Stokes knows how to craft an interesting story, and she raises the bar a bit higher for herself in CIRCLE OF GRACE.Four mismatched college classmates craft an unlikely alliance in this tale, then drift apart over the next few decades, connected only by their "circle journal," passed around by mail for each woman to update the others on how her life unfolds. However, most of the women can't resist embellishing their accomplishments, hiding important life events, or brushing aside their failures, so the entries in the circle journal are mostly a charade. Grace Benedict (whose name has several interesting connotations) had thought of the foursome as "the Four Corners" or "the Compass Points" in college because of their diversity of perspectives when challenged in a philosophy course to answer the question, "What is truth?" The heart of Stokes's novel lies in the answer to this question. Liz Chandler, a dyed-in-the-wool atheist who, as a student, believed love was overrated, goes on to find true love with a surprising person --- but she isn't sure she is ready to be honest with her old friends about her new life. Amanda, or "Lovey," is the vacuous, agnostic blonde Southern cheerleader whose dream marriage to football player Bo Tennyson has slipped away over the years into an expensive, polished façade. But can she confront Bo with the truth about their relationship? Tess Riley, the daughter of an Episcopal bishop, has become a successful writer with two Newbery Medals and three Horn Book Awards. But she keeps the truth about her identity a secret. And Grace, the moral compass and "truth teller" of the foursome, believed in college that "the truth will set you free...truth enables us to become the people we were created to be." But thirty years later, Grace is perhaps the worst at coming clean, spinning a fantasy life in the circle journal for her friends that bear no relationship to reality. Grace has been burned in the "truth telling" department before. Her parents' marriage had a dark side that she discovered after her father's death. It was then that truth ceased to be an abstract concept for Grace. As Stokes beautifully writes, truth then "had a color, a taste, a smell. A dark red hellish light, a bitter burn like acid on her tongue, a scent of smoke and ash and the rotting remains of half-cremated dreams." Her mother tells her, "We always think we want the truth, Grace. But the truth isn't always pleasant or noble, and it's certainly not painless." Now, diagnosed with a terminal illness and long past believing her college credo that "the truth will set you free," Grace must decide if she will finish life the same way she has lived it, or be willing to be painfully honest with her friends about her own deceptions and her need for a relationship. Readers who dislike their authors deviating from what they have come to expect will enjoy CIRCLE OF GRACE, which echoes THE BLUE BOTTLE CLUB in its object motif and follows some familiar Stokes formulas. In this sense, CIRCLE OF GRACE is like settling in for a conversation with an old friend. However, more conservative Stokes fans will discover that the author has taken some risks in this novel: allowing her characters to use some profanity, and letting one of the friends "come out of the closet." What is most unmistakable about this novel is how Stokes's writing, always proficient, sparkles in places, and she proves she knows how to turn some lovely phrases ("Liz's questions, along with so many of her own, hung out there like loose threads on a badly-woven sweater. Pull one, and everything might unravel."). This novel, with its lovely writing and themes of truth, loss, friendship and redemption, will provide an absorbing story for readers of faith fiction. --- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
Rating: 
Summary: A great inspirational book!
Review: Circle of Grace was the first Penelope Stokes book I had read. I loved it & was hooked! I work in a library & recommended it to people I came in contact with. Several of my co-workers read it as well & agreed that it was a very good read. I have since read more of hers & am reading one now. I love the way she writes & felt such emotions when I read Circle of Grace. I definitely recommend it to anyone that loves a feel good book!
Rating:
Summary: A Grace-filled story of Friendship
Review: I am sure to be one of thousands, but I just finished Ms. Stokes lastest book, A Circle of Grace. What a wonderful story of grace-filled friendship. Amid the tears I shed as I read the final chapters, I was witness to the Hope that is for us all as we live in Faith.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bit Surprising
Review: I have read many of Stokes' books and have fallen in love with her writing and characters. This book follows the lives of four college roommates through a journal that is passed between them for thirty years. Typical Stokes format, but the similarities stop there.
I have come to associate Stokes' writing with the Christian fiction genre. With few exceptions, I read only Christian fiction so the lesbian story line caught me off guard. I kept expecting Stokes to address the issue from a Biblical standpoint, but it never happened. Also, the profanity was completely out of line with what I have previously read of Stokes' writing. The book had ample opportunity for spiritual growth of the characters, but Stokes chose this time to let the pieces fall where they may. I will be more careful when selecting the next Stokes book.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: I practically ran to the bookstore when I realized that Circle of Grace had been published already, and I'd missed it. I choked a little on the price, but I was so excited. I've read every other fictional book written by Stokes and re-read them too. I recommend them frequently, and they are rarely all on my book shelf at the same time. I recommend her because unlike quite a few Christian authors, she actually has writing talent. So much gets published in the Christian literature realm because of its message rather than its quality. And I enjoy authors who not only proclaim the awesome message of salvation in their books but also do it with beautifully crafted words and stories. I enjoyed this in Stokes' other novels.
I feel a little betrayed by this novel, by Stokes herself. At first I was startled by the rough language used intermitenly throughout the book. But I've been in writing classes, I understand the need to "be true" to the character. It didn't bother me any less--these books are a sanctuary to me from the rest of the harsh world--but at least I could understand. But as I progressed through the book and realized that not only was she using harsh language but also including a subtle lesbian love affair, I was shocked. To top it all off, she never states anything firmly. The story tells of love and compassion, forgiveness and grace, but it fails to mention the Author of all of those. It says that Jesus never answered the question "What is truth?" when Pilate asked Him. But the truth is that Jesus had already answered that question early. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." In her beautiful way of writing, Stokes merely disguises the well-known lie that all ways lead to heaven. That all roads lead to the gate. That all truth is truth. It's an illogical statement and one that I did not expect to come from her novels.
I too will never again buy one of her books unread or recommend her as an author--only certain books of hers. I've already returned the book to the Christian bookstore where I bought it and warned them of the content. When they realized what it contained, they decided to remove it from their shelves.
I'm very sorry to see a favorite author falter in this way, and I feel betrayed by the fact that she never gave any hint that the change was coming--not on her website, not in the fly leaf cover summary, not in any reviews.
Rating:
Summary: A really good book
Review: I thought this was a very good book and was disappointed in some of the reviews. I wonder if they failed to see the spiritual aspect of the book. Did they not read the part where Grace was in Church when they were receiving communion and Grace, who had not believed for so long, thought,"We are the bread, gathered and sifted together. We are the wine,pressed and mingled and distilled. Henri Nouwen, a Christian writer stated that we are the bread, broken and given to others, through Christ.
There was a lesbian couple and I wondered if perhaps the negative reviewers would have had Tess stay with a cheating, lying man instead.
I have given the book to two friends to read, both of whom enjoyed it as I did.
I will continue to read Ms. Stokes books and recommend them to others.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed!
Review: I was very let down by one of my very favorite authors. I buy everything she puts out before I read it and have loved every one. This one is very different! She is a "christian" author but this book isn't christian. There was mention of faith but not in God- it was in ones self, love, faith, and friendship. Yes these things are important but not as important as God! Why call it "christian" fiction if it's going to be wishy washy and not represent christian ideas? Insinuating that characters were gay was a shock for a christian book, as was the language! At first I thought she was just making a point they needed God and the beginning had promise for a good book. However, I was disappointed because she dropped the ball! I was waiting for her to redeem herself and the book until the last sentence! I will not be buying her books just because she wrote it! I can't trust her anymore and won't be wasting my money! I am not a writer or normally a critic, I'm a normal, every day reader. If she wanted to write something like that she should've gone under a different name instead of TOTALLY changing her style without notice. If you usually love her work, I suggest you either skip this one or get it from the library so you don't waste your money like I did. I am every easily entertained, but wasn't with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Real People
Review: This was a story that centered around dishonesty. However, I think it's a human trait that we tend to not always want all of our friends to know the true state of our affairs. These women had a friendship many moons ago, and they hardly knew each other at this point in time when Grace decided to confess all. I found the dishonesty not to bother me as it made the characters seem more real and that yes they were falliable also. Instead of the goody two shoe character that you may enjoy reading about but you can't really see yourself or your neighbor in.
This story is more emotional and tends to be weighted down with some heavy issues. I liked how instead of fitting a happy ever after fairytale pattern the author left some things open ended. Such as the issue of Grace's daughter.
I didn't find anything in this novel to be inspirational as I was led to believe. There were a lot of things that I could see easily offending the straight inspirational reader, but overall a very satisfying reading experience.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpected Storyline
Review: This was a well written book, and one I might have enjoyed......if I knew I was reading a secular novel. I thought I was reading christian fiction, and waited thru almost the entire book for the christian message to shine thru. I realized almost at the end of the book that was not going to happen. I had no reason to expect otherwise, as she has previously written christian fiction and I got it off the christian fiction shelf at the library. I'm very glad I didn't pay for this book as I wouldn't have received what I thought I was paying for.
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