Grace in Mombasa Book ➕ Author Review

Grace in Mombasa: From war torn England to historic Mombasa, a life in two parts. Christian Fiction is a wonderful story that was told in two parts. Unlike my normal reads, this is a slow pace novel. The character Grace does not actually get to Mombasa until Part 2 of the story and by then half of her life has seemed to have pass. However author Tracy wrote it so beautifully that I enjoyed being along side Grace’s journey from the day she was born until she retires. Throughout the story her happy moments seemed short-lived since tragedy seems to follow her. Curiosity kept me turning the pages to see when she would finally find happily ever after. It took me almost the whole book to realize what Grace learned. Many times we think happiness is finding someone to love and who will cherish us in return. For others it’s having children, health, or sadly money and material things. But what if we don’t get that in this life. Or worse gain it then lose it? What would our reaction be? Grace’s reaction was complete servitude to God, giving all she had to Him. The people she helped became her family and God never abandoned her. She had a choice of what to do with her pain. She chose a path I’m not sure even I would have selected if hurt came knocking at my door. I was moved to tears at the touching ending, I could almost hear God telling Grace, `Well done my good and faithful servant’.

Product Description

Inspired by true events. Grace in Mombasa is an intriguing historical saga of betrayal and loss, romance and heartbreak, and one woman’s journey in faith.

From the day she was born, Grace Clifton has navigated a life of loss and heartbreak, without a mother to guide her and through the ravages of two World Wars. With England in the midst of a Second World War, Grace experiences the excitement of love and romance, but all too soon, it turns to heartbreak. Through it all, Grace is sustained by her unwavering faith in God, but when all she holds dear is ripped away from her, Grace is left devastated and doubting everything she’s ever believed in.

As the world slowly recovers from war, Grace too begins the process of healing from bitterness and the deep wounds inflicted by life. However, her steadfastness to God is lost and she determines never to pray again. When an unexpected opportunity comes up in Kenya, Grace seizes the chance to escape the memories, hoping to find a purpose and build a new life for herself. In the city of Mombasa, Grace soon begins to realise she can’t ever distance herself from life’s complications, but if she’s prepared to open her heart, maybe her shattered faith will once more bring her hope, love and the healing that she desperately needs.

Grace in Mombasa is a story about a woman with amazing faith that is shattered when her life falls apart, but will God simply let her go? If you like heartfelt dialogue, stories seeped in fact and history, and memorable characters, then you’ll love Tracy Traynor’s moving and inspirational Christian novel.

Interview with Author:

Hi Tracy! I’m sorry I fell behind with my review. Some bloggers make author interviews look so easy but I’m having trouble putting words to the questions that passed through my mind as I read your novel.Here are a few I could mustard. 🙂

1)How much of Grace’s heart-break story applies to Moria’s Smith known story?

A: Hi Jessica, the only things in the book that are ‘real’ are: Moira worked as a governess in the UK, in the house I mention. Moira dob is the same as Grace, and the day she set sail is the real date, the ships log is in the back of the book so people can see. Moira did see the boy fall from the tree and went to the hospital, she decided then that she would stay and help people who came into the Native Civic – later called Coast General Hospital. Because she never left the hospital they did give her a job as an administrator and also her own room to sleep in the hospital. When I met her (I am the young English woman who prayed and sent letters to the UK asking for bibles) she told me she had a letter from a convent north of Nairobi who said they would look after her in her last years. Because I wanted a happy ending for the story I finish it with her getting on the train. Moira actually died in the Coast General Hospital, Christian ladies bought her the medicine she needed but she gave it away to the other patients. I know this because one of those Christian women are in contact with me. The bibles turning up like a miracle is true. The other part of the story that is true is the loaf of bread – but this didn’t happen to Moira it happened to me. I was longing for a bible cover as mine was getting very worn and I wanted to protect it against the constant damp air of Mombasa.My husband had been sacked, the Trade Bank of Kenya had shut it doors due to fraud and we lost all our money and we were only getting by because friends where bringing us bits of money and baskets of food whilst we waited for our flight tickets out of Kenya. One day I drove to Mombasa to get a loaf of bread from the only place where they made a type of bread that was English. When I was walking back to the car I heard the child crying. God told me to give away the loaf of bread and this was a very hard thing for me to do. But I did it and was instantly filled with an indescribable joy. I drove to see Dawn, my American missionary friend, who heard God tell her to give me her brand new bible cover. When we left Kenya, my husband and I, gave Dawn our car and other things… you can’t out give God, the more you give the more He loves to delight in giving you things, especially joy.

2) This is very fascinating. I love all the information shared in your author’s notes along with the pictures throughout your book. At the end you mentioned living in Kenya with your husband in the 1990s. Have you ever gone back?

A) No, I have never been back, but one of my dreams is to return to Mombasa and visit the hospital again.

3) 50% of this book’s sales is going to Barnabas Outreach Trust Mombasa. I know you write about it in the back of the book with links to the organization. But do you want to tell us a little about the trust?

A) This is Sean’s, missionary with Barnabas, update on what they are doing in Mombasa.

What We Do…

We have been working in Mombasa for seventeen years, where we have been able with God’s help to start a church in one of the poorest areas of Mombasa, called Bokole. We’re not a large charitable organisation but we mostly work through friendships we have built with the local people and especially the women, which means that whatever money we raise goes directly to meet the needs of people in Bokole who we personally know. We have established a small group of ladies called ‘Women of Hope’ who have started their own businesses, using micro-loans from a self managed fund. Simple activities like selling food to factory workers or second-hand clothes in the market helps to put food on the table and take care of their children. The women also meet regularly to support, pray for and encourage one another. We currently support a number of children by sponsoring their education and in the last couple of years we have helped two women suffering with breast cancer. In 2010 we acquired a 1.3 acre plot and built a church building and presently we’re building a small structure for the Sunday School and other activities. Our dream would be to one day establish a small school and clinic on the site as well.

What a noble cause for Christ! And to think that by buying this book we get to contribute to God’s work. Thank you Tracy for your time with us and patience with me. 😁

The book is on Kindle unlimited too guys and gals, so check it out. It’s one of those books that will leave you thinking long after you have read 😉.

You can connect with Tracy on https://tntraynor.uk/

http//twitter.com/tracy_traynor