“Unbound by Grace kept me up until the wee hours… Massaro’s characters stepped off the pages and into my heart… You won’t be disappointed!”―Deborah Raney, RITA® Award-winning author of Beneath a Southern Sky and the Chandler Sisters Novels seriesWhen the past holds the future captive, there is only ONE chain breaker.Tori Bishop has carved out a safe circle of friends who know nothing of her … circle of friends who know nothing of her privileged status. But when she’s roped into attending a glitzy fundraiser, she brings along strong and steadfast Derek for support. As long as her secret stays safe, she never has to question his motives.
Derek Miller wants his life to count for something, to make a difference—especially in the life of Tori Bishop, the spunky smart-mouth who loves razzing him. But if his prison record comes to light, she’s sure to take off running.
When Tori and Derek get involved in building a local women’s shelter, the extra time together stirs more than an ember of attraction. Haunted by the fear of exposure, each must wrestle with the chains of their pasts to experience freedom, love, and the full depths of God’s grace.
About Unbound by Grace
This inspirational Christian novella explores the ways in which our pasts– mistakes, betrayals, wounds– can keep us from experiencing the full depth of God’s grace. But releasing our pasts to Him can free us to receive new life and love. A follow-up to Grace in the Flames, this shorter read delivers a meaningful faith journey as well as a fun, flirty, and heart-pounding love story.
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Wow. This is the first book I’ve read by Michelle Massaro and I am hooked! When I saw the advance praise for this book written by Toni Shiloh, I knew it will be a great book. If you have never read Michelle Massaro but have enjoyed Toni Shiloh’s books, you will definitely want to pick this one up. If you love contemporary inspirational romance with a good dose of faith and life lessons, this book is for you.
The author weaves an emotionally charged, heart-tugging tale of Tori, the only daughter of wealthy parents struggling to find her identity outside of the money her parents own, and Derek, an ex-con struggling to find a better way for himself and his extended family that still lives in poverty and fear. The emotions are so raw and real, the writing is easy to read, the characters are lovable and easy to relate to, the plot is well-crafted and well-paced with some surprises along the way, and the faith journey that both Tori and Derek travel is inspiring. The dialogue between Tori and Derek is fantastic in its sassiness, tenderness, and vulnerability. The fears that each face can only be unbound and undone by His Grace and the title is so appropriate. Now I need to go and read the previous book, Grace in the Flames, to get the backstory on John and Jenni, Derek and Tori’s best friends who have major roles in this story.
I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Michelle Massaro is a really talented writer. I thought I had seen it all when I read Grace In The Flames book 1 of her grace series but Unbound By Grace took me to a whole new exciting and beautiful realm.
Tori and Derek were like cat and rat; always throwing barbs and teasing each other mercilessly, but behind all that was each of them chained and held in slavery by something in their past. I loved how the author wove the story of the two of them Christians but still holding onto something in the past and how they both came to the place of total surrender and freedom when they choose to let go and allow God take control.
Tori and Derek’s story warmed my heart and brought to mind again that God is the master chain breaker if we surrender all to Him.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
Beautiful and encouraging story. I am excited to read other pieces by this author.
really enjoyed the story and thought the characters were easy to relate to. Tori comes from money and has found it hard to trust people. She never knows if they like her for herself or because she has money. I can understand why she doesn’t let a lot of people into her life. The author does an excellent job of making the characters come alive with a story that captures true emotions. Tori has a good heart but I think she has let her wealth overshadow who she really is. It is refreshing to see how much she listens to God, but I could feel her struggle at times . I loved reading how vulnerable she can be and how much she wanted to be accepted.
Derek was definitely my favorite character. He has had a hard upbringing and has made poor decisions. The great news is that God gives second chances. Derek is trying so hard to make a better life for himself but he still finds that not everyone believes in him. I liked how he didn’t back down from doing what was right. It was hard to read how judgmental Tori became when an incident occurs that strains their relationship.
The story is a lesson in trust and reaches into your soul to understand how grace is around us. Tori and Derek may come from different backgrounds, but they each share a common struggle. Will Tori be able to accept Derek after she finds out about his past? Can Derek forgive Tori when she says unkind things to him that hurt him to the core? This is one book that you don’t want to miss out on.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Unbound by grace
Derek has changed so much after becoming an Christian. He grew up poor and his family really had a hard time and still are. Tori is from an well to do family. With Derek and Tori being from different backgrounds can they be good for each other. They met through mutual friends that getting married. Loved all the events they were in. Very good entertainment while playing golf.
Love how Derek is so generous and just wants to do more of God’s work. He is such an inspiration. So cute that he had a name for his car. I did enjoy the story.
I received an complementary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review.
Unbound by Grace, by Michelle Massaro, is truly a special book! While it is certainly an entertaining reading experience, this novella is also genuinely moving and utterly compelling. The surprisingly intricate plot is well-paced and thoroughly appealing from beginning to end. Though it is a quick read, it is well-written and deeply meaningful as it grapples with profound themes including forgiveness, second chances, trust, and faith.
The characters are incredibly well-developed for a novella. They are authentic and vulnerable as they struggle to overcome their insecurities and fears while also clinging to their hopes and dreams. The characters are believable and their struggles are truly thought-provoking. As a writer, Ms. Massaro is very talented at building tension between the characters, which makes the story real, satisfying, and incredibly intriguing.
Unbound by Grace is one of the best novellas I have read in quite some time. Relevant and realistic, this book challenged me to think more carefully about my own assumptions regarding grace, forgiveness, second chances, and redemption. More than simply a pleasure to read, this book is an experience to ponder and savor. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*I received a copy of this novella through the author and Celebrate Lit. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.
Tori and Derek are both believers yet they are deceived by fear and the lies they believe about themselves. I loved reading their banter and the way they came to a more accurate understanding of their polar economic circumstances. Exposing our prejudices is the only way we can rectify them.
Unbound by Grace contains some delightfully swoony kisses and yet, my heart was also challenged and encouraged by the faith thread in the story. This novella is an excellent choice, I highly recommend it and I am patiently anticipating more work from this author!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
When the past holds the future captive, there is only ONE chain breaker…
My rating is 4.5 stars
Derek was a new creation. He had been saved out of a life of sin. He was white as snow. And yet, because of his past, he struggled. A lot. He felt that if people knew, they would treat him like an outcast. It was hard enough for him to find people to trust him with a job!
Tori had almost the opposite problem. She kept her “privileged” background hidden – fearful of being used for her wealth or prestige. Because of a man who had used Tori in the past, she had a difficult time trusting anyone. Assuming everyone would do the same thing given the chance.
Though their situations appeared to be very different, they both needed to learn how to trust others and more importantly, to trust God. Unbound by Grace explores the way we sometimes project our past hurts onto others, judging them for things they never did.
The author didn’t pull her punches and did a great job in showing what it looks like to live out your faith in hard times. And while I cringed at Derek’s street lingo, it was necessary and realistic. It was just a part of who he was.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Though it was obvious many of the characters were from a previous story, I wasn’t lost from not having read Grace in the Flames. I am interested in that one and will likely be picking up a copy soon.
Read the full review of Unbound by Grace by Michelle Massaro with a Preview and Guest Post at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
I hated for this book to end! Derek and Tori are great leading characters who learn to find freedom from the past through God’s Son! Tori resents her privileged life because of people using her for their personal gain. Derek has to overcome growing up in the hood and being an ex-con. I recommend Unbound by Grace to others! I received a complimentary e-book from Orange Grove Press. This is my honest opinion.
Unbound by Grace kept me up until the wee hours considering this thoughtful exploration of the truth that sometimes having everything can be as much of a trap as having nothing and that we’re all broken in different ways. Massaro’s characters stepped off the pages and into my heart. They made me smile, sometimes brought a tear, made me ponder, but most of all had me holding my breath longing for grace to win in the end. You won’t be disappointed!