Grief and Grits is a daughter’s beautiful, and honest testimony to her dear mother. The events described happened during the time when the world was anxious, confused, worried and scared, yes, the global pandemic.

This account hit home to me in so many ways… caregiver to an aging mother, North Carolina setting, strong values, a fierce faith in God, parenting and grand parenting and of course as a daughter to mother who suffered with Covid in her 90’s

Marsha Gray Hill, the author, has penned a loving and heart felt story of her beloved mother she lost to Covid.

Part of the story unfolds during the height of the uncertain and scary time of the pandemic. Her words bring back so many emotions of that recent time in our history, The other parts of the book highlight the author’s childhood and the wonderful Christian influence of her parents. Her mother Adaline reminds me so much of my amazing Christian mother who actually and barely survived Covid at age 94. I was allowed to see my mama for 30 minutes a day, dressed in full protective gear and was only allowed to touch her through the bed clothes.

I relived those years of role reversal as I became the mother to my baby who looked to me for care and comfort. What a privilege!

My heart was so warmed as I read how her mother dedicated everything in her life to Jesus as she cared for family, friends and even the unlovely that many of us would be tempted to look the other way.

We are humans and in that light the author is honest and open about the events and decisions made during her mother’s care days.. What a wonderful and dedicated daughter and thank you for writing this tribute to your momma and sharing it with the world.

I would love to meet Marsha Gray Hill and invite her to a book signing in my North Carolina local bookstore.

This talented author has written a page turner. This memoir is heartwarming and heartbreaking. The family in this book lives, and dies, through the Covid pandemic. A time most of us wish to forget, but the stories need to be told. Marsha Hill tells her family story. The title tells it all…read about the journey of this author and remember. Thanks Netgalley.

What a moving, beautiful tribute to a loving mom. The book included so many tender insights into the frailty of life in such a lovely way. I highlighted many memorable quotes that I will look back on with peace. Grief is a tricky subject and I was moved to tears many times as I worked through my own grief in other areas. You could truly feel the love, admiration, emotion, and respect throughout the book — what a gift!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Accessible and relatable. I appreciated the author's observations and her love for her mother. A beautiful remembrance of her mother, honest thoughts about covid, and I'm sure, a book that could bring comfort to others who have suffered through loss during this time. Thank you for the ARC!

I found this story soothing for my mind. Like the author my mother also had the end stage of dementia and finally succumbed to Covid, and it’s been hard to come to terms with not being able to stop any of it, but you have to in your own way, otherwise you become stuck.
I loved how close the authors family are to each other and how helpful they were when so much was in chaos and yet they persevered when they needed to. I loved the authors story of her loving mother who was always there for others and tried to do what was right and made others around her believe the same way.
All in all, this story will help others who have found themselves in the same dilemma of not being in control of the parent’s destiny and hopefully will make them feeling less alone in the experience.

I want to thank Camille Campins-Adams, Forefront Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book that will help others with their grief.

“Grief and Grits- A Daughter's Journey of Love and Loss When the World Was Upside-Down“ by Martha Gray Hill is a lovely and meaningful testimony to her dear mother. There aren’t many times in life when we are all basically on the same page, but the recent Pandemic is surely one of them. We all were anxious, confused, worried and some of us, like the author, had to deal with grief.

The author’s beloved mother died of Covid, and part of the story focuses on this scary time. The other parts of the book highlight the author’s childhood and the wonderful Christian influence of her parents, and also the family’s attempts to help their mother as she became older.

The heart of this book for me, was the compelling story of the life of Adaline, the mother. She lived for Jesus and she truly was a light for the Lord. After her death, hundreds of people wrote to share how she had loved, helped and encouraged them.

The author is honest and open. I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been a bit more coherent and organized. But, this story is truly from the daughter’s heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forefront Books for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

Reading "Grief and Grit(s)" took me on an emotional pilgrimage that unveiled the intricate layers of loss and love. Marsha Gray Hill's memoir echoed a universal truth: amidst chaos and grief, the human spirit radiates resilience and love. This journey offered profound insights, teaching me that even in the darkest moments, hope and compassion thrive.

The book reflects personal grief and the societal value placed on the vulnerable. It prompts crucial introspection about our treatment of the elderly and challenges us to redefine the narrative, advocating for dignity and compassion at every stage of life. Hill's words illustrate the bittersweet moments of mother-daughter love, transitioning from nurturing to vulnerability -- a heartrending portrayal.

The lessons within the pages are a broader reflection of societal priorities, urging us to reassess how we view and care for the elderly. Through Gray Hill's storytelling, I experienced a profound transformation of roles and emotions, from laughter to tears, from sorrow to resilience.

Hill's memoir illustrates the enduring strength found in human connection and the power of advocating for human dignity. I grappled with uncomfortable truths while embracing hope and determination. "Grief and Grit(s)" is a call to action -- a reminder to cherish our loved ones and advocate for the vulnerable among us.

"A heartfelt odyssey through grief and resilience."

"A touching reflection on love, loss, and the human spirit."

"A soul-stirring memoir of love's enduring power."

"A deeply moving triumph of the human spirit."

"A compelling narrative that navigates the complexities of loss and hope."

"A tender portrayal of the bond between mother and daughter."

"An introspective journey that explores the depths of compassion and grief."

"A heartfelt exploration of societal values and compassion."

"A compelling call for dignity and compassion in every stage of life."

This is an amazing book. It is timely and a deep study of love, loss, grief, and family dynamics. The author shares her journey of saying goodbye to her mother during the recent pandemic. It explores the topic of grief in all its forms and serves as a personal guidebook. It deals with the rawness of the passing of those we treasure. I must admit this book hit close to home to me as I recently suffered a loss of my own. This made me feel that I am not alone and I sincerely thank Marsha Gray Hill for opening up her pain for all of us. It has helped me as I go through these difficult days. I highly recommend this book to anyone suffering loss. This book took a lot of courage to write. It deals so much with how we treat the elderly in our society and asks each of us to do something in our own life to help others experience loss in a kinder, gentler way. All I can say is thank you! This is a book I really needed to read.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Camille Campins-Adams, Forefront Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.