I loved the previous books from Kimberly Woodhouse's Secrets of the Canyon series and was excited to get my hands on book three, A Mark of Grace. I was not disappointed. I loved it. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading historical fiction. Five plus stars.

A Mark of Grace is a wonderful historical fiction set in the early 1900s. Kimberley Woodhouse does a great job telling the history of the Harvey Girls in the Secrets of the Canyon series. Having just visited the Grand Canyon myself, the setting of the Canyon was perfect! The main characters are relatable. Ruth, having been scarred for life by a mountain lion attack, has a difficult time seeing herself as worthy of love and her struggles to find peace of mind and confidence in herself are realistic. The author displays this struggle well as readers see Ruth questioning why and beginning to recognize the working of God in her life. Interest is kept high with a mystery of who is behind all the mishaps at the hotel and with several ‘wow, I didn’t see that coming’ moments in the book. And what is a good historical fiction without a romance? Woodhouse has blended together a story of love, faith and hope in this final book of the series. I read a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

This book was lovely! When I finished the previous book in this series, "A Gem Of Truth", I was so glad to learn there would be another book featuring Ruth Anniston, the kind and motherly head waitress and mentor at the El Tovar hotel and restaurant.

Her story was both wonderful and yet hard to read, knowing all that she went through and seeing her struggle through her scars physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Her friends were all quite understanding and helpful, but her best friend Chef Frank was most of all.
He was very sweet and thoughtful of her needs, and helped her work through the hard lessons and dark times in her life.

I also appreciated the author's view and focus on God's grace in our everyday lives. The theme of "grace plus nothing" woven throughout this story was refreshing, sobering, and eye-opening for me.

This book was a delight to read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I received a complimentary e-book from Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley for my honest review. A positive review was not required of me, and the thoughts above are my own.

The conclusion of the Secrets of the Canyon series brings us Ruth's story, finally. The quiet, steady headwaitress has faced some major life challenges since we last saw her in book 2. And we have all been waiting for the conclusion of her story and relationship with Frank. While this story isn't filled with too many surprises, it is a satisfying read, especially if you have enjoyed the glimpses of Ruth in the other 2 books, I enjoyed the sweetness of the story, along with a little intrigue and drama. I especially enjoyed redemptive gospel that is presented throughout the story.

You are a beautiful woman of God who needs to stand up on the two wobbly legs that she has and let Him take control. ~ Frank

Something is not right - not just in her world, but also the world of El Tovar, the beautiful Harvey House at the edge of the Grand Canyon. For Ruth, the emotional rollercoaster finally settles down as she realizes that it all comes down to God’s grace - grace plus nothing. Realizing that she is more than the scars she wears, she is able to help solve the mystery of sabotage that is happening in this idyllic setting. But will they manage to figure it out before it is too late?

This third book in the Secrets of the Canyon series is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, trying to guess who is good and who is not. An ARC was received through Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

What An Amazing Ending to This Wonderful, Heartfelt Series!

In this third book we finally get to follow Ruth’s story and the aftermath of what happened in the last book. There is also a mystery to solve. Of course romance is also in the pages! You won’t want to miss this book! If you have not read book one or two run out and get them.

This series has made me think on some things regarding my personal walk with Jesus. It has also made me really want to go to the Grand Canyon and visit El Tovar!

A Mark of Grace
by Kimberley Woodhouse
Book 3 in the Secrets of the Canyon series

The story of Ruth was my most anticipated one of the series and it didn’t disappoint. You get to see her character through the previous two books and you fall in love with her 😊 Her faith and maturity, her selflessness, her charisma, her leadership, all those traits shining from her makes her a lovable character. But when the accident happens she changes and everyone notices it except her. I felt for her. She has her own battles to fight and even though she goes through a valley in her spiritual life it’s truly beautiful to see her rise and climb the mountain before her with God’s help. This story shows, in my opinion, how your life can drastically change in a second, for me it parallels Job’s and how God’s rewards are yours to take when you let go and let God.

Frank Henderson is such a lovable character. I loved his Christian spirit, his humor and his patience toward Ruth.

This story is full of mystery, suspense and secrets. And knowing that some events happened in real life (Harvey and Doyle) makes you think how frail the human mind can be when disagreements arise.

I loved “seeing” the El Tovar family again.
Emma Grace & Ray; Julia & Chris; Mr. Owens; Charlotte; Tessa! ♥️ I enjoyed the long lasting friendships among them all.

But I can’t end this review without sharing some favorites quotes/excerpts from the book…

“Grace… plus nothing.”
“I think it all comes down to grace.”
“…Like trying to count the stars. We can’t do it. I think the part that is unfathomable is that we want to do something for it. To somehow earn God’s favor. So that we feel worthy. Because we are unworthy until . . . His grace. And it’s completely and utterly by His grace alone. That any of us are here. That we are breathing. That we have the chance at eternity with Him.”

“By His unfathomable grace, you are here, Ruth. I am here. It has nothing to do with us. Or what we do. Or how we strive to earn it. It’s all Him. His grace.”

I received this book from the publisher, Bethany House, through NetGalley and a positive review was not required. All opinions are my own and I share them voluntarily.

A Mark of Grace may be Kimberley Woodhouse's best book yet! Ruth Anniston, an employee of El Tovar Hotel, is physically scarred from a mountain lion attack but she is also emotionally broken and angry at God. I admired newly appointed head chef, Frank Henderson, as he works hard at his new job while keeping his love for Ruth a secret. Frank and Ruth are thrown together more when thefts begin happening at the hotel. Ruth faces several problems and dangers before she learns that God's love for us is unfathomable and that man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. I recommend this well written book to others. I received a complimentary copy of A Mark of Grace from Bethany House and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Kimberly delivers another wonderfully written, uplifting, adventuresome book in A Mark of Grace. Throw in a little intrigue with a bad guy out to exact revenge against the Harvey House, add a beautiful friends to lovers love story and the pages practically turn themselves.

I really enjoyed Ruth’s journey in this story. I appreciated and empathized with her struggles. Loved how her friends and family showed her she wasn’t alone.

I think you will enjoy this book and the series if you love historical fiction, romance, mystery/intrigue and threads of faith.

I really enjoyed the story of Ruth. After being injured, Ruth has to come to grips with her new way of life. She tries various ways some that work and others not as she expected. She also has to work with Frank the head chef and Owen the manager of the El Tovar, the hotel she works at to find out who is trying to sabotage the hotel.

I liked seeing how Ruth evolved over the course of the story. She really had to come to grips with not only some things that happened in her life, but with things that were going on all around her. Her interactions with the other characters make you want to both cheer for her and give her a nudge in the right direction.

I also had the opportunity to listen to this book and felt that the narrator did a great job.

I love this series of Harvey Girls that is set next to the backdrop of the Grand Canyon.

This one was special even amongst the three. It was about Ruth who had worked tirelessly to share her faith with fellow Harvey Girls and helped shape them into the marvelous women they became. It is about Ruth who threw herself in the path of a Mountain Lion to save her friend.

When Ruth experiences a crisis of her own faith, there are crises all around her as someone is trying to sabotage the El Tovar. There to help her as he always has is Frank, the assistant chef. When he is promoted and the hotel manager asks for their help in finding the discrepancies, they get pulled into an adventure.

The bulk of the story is about Ruth and Frank trying to support Ruth and help her see her true self and true beauty. Ruth can't see past the scars that mar her face and this inability is hurting her faith and her soul. It was easy for Ruth to have faith when she felt beautiful, but now she feels alone.

Ruth's faith journey is probably the most poignant because she had a strong faith and now she feels less than. It is something so many can relate to for one reason or another. I felt a connection with her and an urgency for her to see herself as God would see her. In this way, the story added depth and emotion. The growth experienced by Ruth was beautiful and inspiring.

I received an early copy through the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Kathleen Woodhouse has hit another one out of the park! Although I found the book slow moving at times, I was reading it every chance I got to see what happens next. My favorite takeaway is this quote: “Grace plus nothing.” It’s takes us awhile sometimes to see that good uses all things in our lives, even our scars.

I absolutely love anything to do with the Harvey Girls ever since reading about it in another Bethany House book. This book was so good that I could vividly imagine the scenery Kimberley Woodhouse paints. This story is full of mystery, romance, and gorgeous scenery that will keep readers on their toes. Frank is one of the most patient book heroes out there.

Secrets of the Canyon has been such an enjoyable series and this book is a fantastic way to end it! Kimberley Woodhouse gives Harvey Girl Ruth Anniston her own story and we are allowed another visit to the famous El Tovar Hotel and the Grand Canyon as it was in the early 1900s. Ruth is the kind of person that we all need in our lives! She's a hardworking, loyal mentor and confidant, but she's now the one who desperately needs support. A serious accident has left her with both physical and emotional scars and it's apparent that Ruth won't ever find healing unless she can accept the help that others are eager to give. The problem is that she's determined to keep everyone at a distance, including the friend who has secretly loved her for years!

A Mark of Grace is filled with drama, suspense, and romance, but there's also a beautiful faith message woven into the fascinating historical plot. Ruth's reluctance to accept help reminds us that we've all been guilty of rejecting both human and spiritual help, and it's only through our trust, faith, and total acceptance that we can experience amazing grace. I was especially touched by Woodhouse's eloquent suggestion that any scars that we carry are nothing compared to those of Jesus Christ!

I highly recommend A Mark of Grace to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction. It's a book that I didn't want to end and it's part of a series that I will definitely read again!

I received a free copy from Bethany House but a favorable review was never required. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a beautiful and touching conclusion to the Secrets of the Canyon Series! A Mark of Grace is my new favorite story from Kimberley Woodhouse! I loved it! I love Harvey Girl’s stories and I’m so sorry to let these characters go, I wish the series would continue on and on.
This book is Ruth Anniston’s story, headwaitress for El Tovar, which I was looking forward to reading, especially since I read A Gem of Truth. Ruth was a character I admired, and she has a terrible setback in this book, for which I needed to know how she would finally get her Happily-Ever-After.
Ruth Anniston has been scarred for life. After an attack of a mountain lion, she’s seriously injured and her face and leg are left with scars that she tries to hide with makeup, and thankfully, her skirts. But even as her scars begin to fade, her limp and pain persist. She can no longer be the headwaitress, but she is assigned as a supervisor in the kitchen and diner. Ruth wants her old life back, but is that possible? Is it that what God truly wants or is He trying to show her something about her own worth that she might be missing?
Frank Henderson has been promoted to Head Chef of El Tovar. It’s his dream come true. But his other dream is courting her best friend, Ruth. But since the attack, Ruth is not the same, nor he sees her ready for him to declare his feelings. And he doesn’t want to lose her friendship. For him, Ruth is beautiful inside and outside. Her scars and limp don’t change a thing. But how can he convince her of it? And can he risk their friendship by making his feelings known to her?
Also, Ruth and Frank are involved by their manager in solving a mystery: someone seems to be stealing from El Tovar as the accounts don’t sum up. Will they be able to find who is the culprit? And can they discover it before Ruth is blamed and the Hotel is ruined forever?
This story was amazing and touching. My heart ached with Ruth and her struggle in seeing her worth despite her blemishes. The way the author delves into her feelings was so realistic and vivid. I was quickly rooting with Frank for her to see her beauty inside and out. Her faith struggles were so relatable, and I felt related to her self-doubts. It was wonderful how Grace grows in this story with the help of her friends. I loved the patience and understanding Frank has of her. He never pushes her, and he lets her know how much she’s worth… to him, to others, but especially to God. It’s beautiful when she realizes how she’s so loved and protected by God in spite of everything. And Frank was such a swooning hero: kind, compassionate, hardworking, and a true gentleman! Loved him!
The story has everything I look in a book: amazing characters, a plot with twists and turns that keeps you engaged, adventure and a dash of mystery and intrigue, and a sweet romance that warms your heart. And yes, a faith inspire message that helps you reflect and makes you want to get closer to God and become a better person.
This book is a winner and my favorite from the author! I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy from the Publisher but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Kimberley is a masterful storyteller. Each book just gets better. There is love and intrigue with lots of twists and turns. I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy and highly recommend this book and series.

I really wanted to love this novel. There are lot of lovely scriptures, and prayerful moments;
e.g. "Heavenly Father, You know my struggle. Please help me to see whatever it is that You want me to learn. I’m so tired of the constant war in my mind. I want to understand . . . I do. Please help."
However, there is a lot of ugliness from the villian(s) that was difficult for me (kidnapping, beatings, starvation, vile plotting). There's SO much ugliness in the world already, that I just do not enjoy reading it in my fictional escapes. I realize some villainy is expected, but for ME this was a lot. Take that with a grain of salt, because it's my own preference.
The book is well written and has a message of redeeming love, plus continues in the Harvey House theme which I always get excited about.

I give it 3 stars (=good from me).
I received an eVersion from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion without expectation or compensation. All opinions are mine alone.

1. A Deep Divide 5☆ (=great)
2. A Gem of Truth 4☆ (=great)

📖 Book 1 GoodReads Reading Challenge 2023 📚

Review has been or will be posted to GoodReads, Amzn, B&N, & Kobo

Stepping back in time to join Ruth Anniston and Frank Henderson at the El Tovar Hotel was like returning to reconnect with familiar faces and being a part of all the intrigue that was happening. There were many things I enjoyed reading in this mystery, including the themes of:

God’s grace
Patient and unfailing love
Knowing you are completely loved for who you are

My favorite character was Frank. He was extremely patient and never gave up on Ruth, even when she was pushing him away. He could look beyond how she was acting and see what was motivating her to withdraw from him and everyone else who cared about her. “Love always wins.” certainly applies here!

While this is the third book in the Secrets of the Canyon, it can be read as a standalone. If you like mysteries, romance, and Christian fiction, you will enjoy reading this book and the rest of the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An amazing finale to one of my favorite series! I have loved every minute of the series, from its great characters to the gorgeous setting, to the mystery element in each story. I have been waiting for Ruth's story, and it was even better than I hoped. Her relationship with Frank made for a fun read for me and her struggles from the events of book two, were real and relatable. After some rough spots in my life over the last couple year, I could definitely relate to Ruth. This was a fantastic read for me and without a doubt my favorite of the series. A wonderful read!

A Mark of Grace #3 Secrets of the Canyon by Kimberley Woodhouse

May 1909 El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon
We return to the Grand Canyons and the El Tovar Hotel in this final book in the Secrets of the Canyon series. I’m happy Ruth Anniston gets her own story. In the previous book, A Gem of Truth, Ruth survived a serious injury that left her physically scarred, broken, and angry at God. My heart aches for her as she struggles to adjust to a very different life than she had had previously. Her longtime friend, Frank Henderson, gives her courage, encouragement and prays for her as his heart longs for more than friendship.

As suspicious activities escalate and dangerous situations increase, Ruth and Frank work together along with El Tovar’s manager to solve the mysterious events before someone is seriously hurt or killed. They are dealing with ruthless characters that threaten all at El Tovar.

I enjoy the faith elements woven throughout the story, especially the faith lessons in regard to grace- God’s Grace. As the other books in this series, the beauty of the Grand Canyons and the El Tovar Hotel located near the canyons as well as the historic Harvey Girls are brought to life on printed-page. With vivid descriptions of the canyons I felt as if I was walking along the canyons trails. It would be fun to visit the El Tovar Hotel and see this historic hotel and the Grand Canyons. The Dear Reader and the note from the author has some interesting historical facts that inspired this book and which are woven within the storyline.

~I bought the book and I received a book from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~