Full of Grace

By: Dorothea Benton Frank

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

The rich atmosphere of South Carolina, both Hilton Head and Charleston, is brought vividly to life by Dorothea Benton Frank, a South Carolina native who, with her exquisitely evocative prose, makes you smell the sea air, see the palmettos, and savor the sweet tea, but this time it comes with a side of antipasti.

Hilton Head, South Carolina. Retirement heaven, at least it's supposed to be, but for Big Al and Connie, the move from New Jersey to this southern paradise has been fraught with just a few complications. Especially for their daughter, Grace.

Well, that's what she likes to be called. Her family insists on Maria Graziella. Seriously, enough with the Neopolitan. That might have been okay in New Jersey but now it's just plain silly and Grace at 31 is, horror of horrors, still unmarried. No wonder her family drives her crazy. Well, that and the fact that she's living with the man she would marry if they both weren't so commitment phobic. Michael is a doctor and a scientist and Grace has a good idea that he's also an atheist. Over the years, Grace has become a bit ambivalent about her faith but her family is as old-fashioned Italian as they get. The stage is set for a major showdown that might just change Grace's outlook on life, family, and the new South.

©2006 Dorothea Benton Frank (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers

Up lifting

I usually don't get books that are less than 8 hrs long and actually I didn't realize this one wasn't that long only after I had started listening to it. I am so glad that I did. It's important that we always remember that there are miracles happening every day, they just aren't making headlines. And it helps that this is one of my favorite authors!

Not What I Expected at All.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I loved all her other books but this one was not what I expected, not my favorite

If you’ve listened to books by Dorothea Benton Frank before, how does this one compare?

Ms. Frank writes fabulous southern book, about the people and locations of the south, this was not one of them.

What about Susan Bennett’s performance did you like?

It was fine.

Great audio book!

I really enjoyed this one and laughed and cried listening to it. The narrator was great with the accents. I really didn't want it to end.

Love the story, love the performance, the producing...not so much

This book was different from other Dorthea Benton Frank books but her characters were still her characters. There were issues with the volume such that I could not listen to the book while driving or walking because one minute the book would be too loud and the next too quiet. A good book to listen to while doing handwork or cooking.

not impressed

While a fan of Frank's other works, this book left me scratching my head. I couldn't get into the story at all and found myself continually getting distracted and waiting for the story to pick up and for there to be some action. Instead the story just ended and I feel like it never started. Big disappointment.