Destination Stardust (previously published as Father, Son & Grace)
Formats: E-Book, Paperback, Hardback, Large print
Ages: 12-15, 16-18, 18+
The year is 2007 and the Stardust Casino is scheduled for demolition. Grace's chance to see the icon from her past one last time fades, after the car she's driving breaks down outside Little Rock, Arkansas. But on their way to the Grand Canyon, Ray and his eleven-year-old son, Benny, stop to help, and before Grace has time to talk herself out of it, she accepts their offer to take her to Las Vegas. As Ray's classic Olds Cutlass eats up miles of highway, Grace can't shake the feeling the boy controls the journey and something greater than their physical selves is riding shotgun.
At a gas stop in Oklahoma, Benny knocks over a garbage can and discovers a bag full of money. It's not long before the man who hid the bag is on their tail, demanding its return. But despite Ray's efforts to comply, nobody anticipates the resourcefulness of a boy like Benny, launching father, son, and Grace "...on the trip of a lifetime, with unexpected, often hilarious, results." ~Patricia Day, 5-Star Readers' Favorite
Reviews
Reviewed by Patricia Day for Readers' Favorite Father, Son & Grace by Cindy Hiday is the delightful, yet exciting story of Ray, Benny and Grace. Ray is grieving the loss of his wife. Benny has Downs Syndrome plus another very special quality. He sometimes reads minds. Grace, the wife of a pastor, needs to see a particular casino in Vegas one last time. It is scheduled for demolition, but has particular memories for her. When Ray takes Benny on a trip, he is not expecting events to turn out quite the way they do. Grace has to trust people she does not know, otherwise her dream of reaching Vegas will not materialize. Together they have an adventure they could all do without, yet it helps them in unexpected ways. When Johnny - a two-bit gangster, or so they think - comes into the picture, everything turns from chaotic to dangerous. The story is unusual. The characters are colorful and mostly lovable. Benny won my heart early in the story. He is a delightful young man with a knack of winning, despite the odds. As the story unfolds, you’ll be taken on the trip of a lifetime, with unexpected, often hilarious results. Their relationship becomes close, and they learn more than they lose along the way. To say more would ruin the book for you, so I’ll stop here. Ray, Benny and Grace could be people you know, they are so credible. A good book with characters the reader can actually enjoy. I found myself surprised and smiling, often. This is a good story and fun to boot. Recommended.
