Janet R. Macreery’s A Little Grace is a historical novel set in late 17th-century Virginia, where Dory Cooper, a young Scottish exile who survived the Glencoe massacre, lives with her aunt and uncle on a farm near Pungo after fleeing witchcraft accusations in Salem. Her old friend Calum arrives with Mercy Laroche, an English herbalist connected to a secret Order that has traced Dory across the Atlantic. Their reunion comes as Aunt Orlie’s long illness becomes grave. Mercy believes dragon’s blood, a rare medicinal resin carried through the pirate trade, may restore her health. Dory joins Calum and Mercy on a journey toward Virginia’s eastern shore to find Dave Clarkson, a former pirate seeking redemption. Their route crosses the Chesapeake Bay before leading into isolated coastal settlements, where passage depends upon labor and every agreement brings a new obligation.

Janet R. Macreery links the settings in A Little Grace naturally so they become a part of every scene. Macreery does a beautiful job with colonial details to make each day as fleshed out as the larger events. The Kincaid mercantile is a perfect example, with its attic crowded with imported furniture that quietly establishes the hidden economy behind a remote trading post. And there's a Chincoteague horse! Macreery uses this to physically show us a young herbalist’s patient friendship with a stallion, and for me it is one of the book’s finest passages. Her calm offering of a biscuit ultimately leads to a sight of the pair swimming across the channel; it's wonderful. I think this book would be perfect for middle-grade readers who like history, adventure, and huge heart in their stories.

Dory believed she and her uncle and aunt had put the atrocities at Salem behind them, having found a way to escape from Massachusetts and start afresh in Virginia. When her old friend Calum turns up at her new home, accompanied by a girl she has never met and bringing news from home about her father’s welfare, she realizes she may have started celebrating too early. Seeing an opportunity to cure her ailing aunt of a debilitating condition, she convinces Calum and Mercy to accompany her on a harrowing trip across the Chesapeake region to find a rare plant. Only time will tell if the risks Dory takes will eventually yield positive fruit in Janet R. Macreery’s A Little Grace.

In A Little Grace, Janet R. Macreery emphasizes the role Dory’s friends and family played, creating a relatable origin story and context for readers to understand her attitude toward Calum. This allows readers to understand that the book is part of a larger series while also providing enough context for readers to enjoy this novel as a standalone. The author keeps the story feeling fresh by anchoring it in real history, drawing on landmark events such as the Salem witch trials. The dialogue between Dory’s friends and her hosts feels distinct and true to the era. What really stands out are the subtle nods to how dangerous a literate woman was seen to be back then. These details blend suspense into an authentic timeline that historical fiction fans will appreciate.

A Little Grace by Janet R. Macreery is a heartwarming story of life on the early American frontier, set in 1696. Dory and her aunt and uncle have moved away from the religious tension and witch hunt that was Salem, Massachusetts, and are now living on a small farm holding on the eastern shores of the Virginia colony. Life is tough and uncompromising, and although Dory still hankers for her life in Scotland and the father she had to leave behind, she is happy enough with her uncle and aunt, plus her friend Grace, a healer. When Dory’s old best friend, Calum, from her Scotland days, arrives unexpectedly, in the company of a young woman, Mercy, Dory is both thrilled and a little bit jealous. Dory’s aunt is ailing, and Grace assures them the only possible solution to her illness is a substance known as “dragon’s blood,” a herb that can only be obtained from the Far East. Determined to save her aunt, Dory, Calum, and Mercy set off on a treacherous cross-country journey to locate an ex-pirate who may have contacts that can secure the precious dragon’s blood for Dory’s aunt.

A Little Grace is a sweet, wonderful story that highlights pre-revolution society in the North American colonies. Author Janet R. Macreery does a wonderful job of painting the early American colony and the simmering tensions in the largely unruled and unguarded colonies of the time. I appreciated the time and effort by the author to describe the characters' thoughts and motivations, especially Dory’s. Although this book is rated as a “children’s adventure,” I would not limit the audience to just that sector. Young adults and adults will also gain a lot from the relationships between the main characters, as well as a glimpse of the early days of the American colonies. The trio's journey to search for the ex-pirate who can help them is the crux of the story, and I enjoyed the many and varied encounters and travails they experienced. This is a warm, cozy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend it.

A Little Grace is a historical adventure novel by Janet R. Macreery. In the year 1696, Dory Cooper has made her peace with living with Uncle Justin and Aunt Orlie in Pungo, Virginia, after barely escaping the witchcraft trials at the Massachusetts Colony in Salem. To her surprise, however, one day, an old friend named Calum from back home in Glencoe, Scotland, arrives at her uncle's place with his mysterious new friend, Mercy, a healer. But when Aunt Orlie's health takes a turn for the worse, Dory, alongside Calum and Mercy, embarks on a very dangerous journey to find the dragon's blood, which has healing properties. To do that, the trio will have to use all their unique skills and find the reformed pirate, Dave. But can he be trusted?

A Little Grace is a novel full of suspense, adventure, and intrigue. Thematically, the narrative shows the importance of friendship and the unexpected love of found family. I really enjoyed this book. Janet R. Macreery paces the plot brilliantly and has crafted a few deeply human characters whom you instantly begin to care about. There is an underlying layer of mystery to the narrative that keeps you curious and enthralled throughout the book. Macreery has built a world that truly feels lived-in. The characters' backstories and the background lore, especially about something like the Order, were some of the high points of the book for me. Dory, Calum, and Mercy also make a dynamic trio. Their distinct personalities and abilities add a lot of drama to the story. All in all, I think readers of adventure novels and historical fiction will love this book.