I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Grace Jensen has endured years of surgeries since that fateful night she was disfigured due to a treehouse fire. Now 13 years later, her childhood best friend, the only person that truly remembers what transpired the night of the fire, reappears for her grandmother’s funeral. She convinces Grace to stay with her in Las Vegas for awhile. This becomes an awakening of sorts for Grace, as she learns not only does she feel other people’s pain, she can heal them. Her trip to Vegas is anything but uneventful as she meets new things and learns more about Marly. How will she react when secrets are revealed? What really happened on the night of the fire?

I loved the premise of this book, it truly spoke to me. One of the things that I got out of this novel is that sometimes all isn’t as it seems. That sometimes people are ugly on the inside, but they are very good at hiding it. This was a great novel that kept me wondering what could possibly go wrong. My heart broke for Grace when all of the secrets came to light. It keeps you guessing right up until the very end. The characters are amazing, although I was left hanging about the relationship between Adam and Grace, I wish they were people I could pop in on to see if they made it.
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I can't call this book anything but amazing. The sub-stories, the characters...

Grace has scars. She felt horrendous pain for quite some time after the fire. Unable to bear human touch because of this pain and these scars, she lived a relatively quiet life in northern California, along with her mother, and worked closely caring for wounded animals especially in the wild. Her mother, a hoarder, needed some exceptional care, but I felt that Grace often wondered if she was just enabling her in that lifestyle.

At first, you aren’t sure about Marly’s relationship with Grace. After all these years, Marly turns out to be another needful soul, even if she didn’t realize it. She was bold, brassy, and seemed at first a little crazy. We find out later that it goes deeper than that. She knows things Grace has pushed to the back of her brain, trying to forget. Perhaps it was just denial of the truth.

I think what got me the most about this book was how close it was in many respects to many points in my own life. My scars, my pain, and my own understanding of other people’s psychological, rather than physical, suffering came through loud and clear with Jordan’s fabulous ability to strike such a deep, resonant tone in her work.

I had to edit this down to something readable, because a four-page review on a book that struck so deeply into my soul was TMI online. Jordan is the reason I started journaling again.
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I was intrigued by the description of “Forged in Grace” and it lived up to my expectations. I could hardly put it down once I started reading…. had to keep turning the pages as the past was revealed with some twists and turns. Characters are well developed and come to life as the story unfolds.

“Grace Jensen survived a horrific fire at age 15. The flames changed her: badly scarred in body and mind, Grace developed an ability to feel other people’s pain. Unable to bear human touch, she has made a small life for herself in Northern California, living with her hoarder mother, tending wounded animals, and falling a little in love with her former doctor. Her safe world explodes when the magnetic Marly Kennet reappears in town; Grace falls right back into the dynamic of their complicated friendship. Marly is the holder of many secrets, including one that has haunted Grace for over a decade: what really happened the night of the fire?
When Marly exhorts Grace to join her in Las Vegas, to make up for the years they have been lost to each other, Grace takes a leap of faith and goes. Although Marly is not entirely honest about her intentions, neither woman anticipates that enlarging Grace’s world will magnify her ability to sense the suffering of others—or that she will begin to heal wounds by swallowing her own pain and laying her hands on the afflicted.
This gift soon turns darker when the truth of Marly’s life—and the real reason she ended her friendship with Grace—pushes the boundaries of loyalty and exposes both women to danger.”

“Forged in Grace” is an emotionally charged, slightly dark and fascinating read with a light paranormal twist…… well worth reading!

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. ( )

What do you think will be your lasting impression of this book? The pain Grace felt but the beauty she showed.

What did you think of the cover? Loved the cover. It felt perfect for the story within.

Did you like the way the book ended? Yes, it seemed to finish the story.

Would you recommend this book? Was a really good book and I would definitely recommend it.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author. ( )

Most excellent reading. Grace is a wonderful character. Surviving a horrible fire around age 15 but that isn't the whole story. The first page grabbed my attention and held it through missed meals and phone calls as I had to go on. The skill of this writer truly amazed me and I do applaud her abilities. This writing is of pain, hurt, evil, love and coping...and friendship or is it really friendship?
My cousin received this book from goodreads and she kindly loaned it to me. I thank her and good reads for the ability to read this book. ( )