"A Gift of Grace" by Amy Clipston

{{This review was updated to the Official Rating System on April 23^rd, 2016. This book was first reviewed on June 5^th, 2013.}}

About this book:

  “When Amish Rebecca Kauffman gains custody of her English nieces, “blended family” takes on a whole new meaning.

  Rebecca Kauffman’s tranquil Old Order Amish life is transformed when she suddenly becomes guardian to her two teenage nieces after her English sister and brother-in-law are killed in an automobile accident. Instant motherhood, after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child of her own, is both a joy and a heartache. Rebecca struggles to give the teenage girls the guidance they need as well as fulfill her duties to Daniel as an Amish wife.

  Rebellious Jessica is resistant to Amish ways and constantly in trouble with the community. Younger sister Lindsay is caught in the middle, and the strain between Rebecca and Daniel mounts as Jessica’s rebellion escalates. Instead of the beautiful family life she dreamed of creating for her nieces, Rebecca is frustrated by her new role and begins to question her place in the Amish community, her marriage, and her faith in God. Will she be able to reconcile differences in her home—or will the clash of cultures tear her world apart?”


Series: Book #1 (of five) in “Kaufman Amish Bakery” series. (Has two bonus Christmas novella connecting to the series. Review of #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!)

Spiritual Content- Prayers & Crying out to God; Many Scriptures are quoted, read, repeated & remembered; Many talks about God, listening to Him, His will & plan; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; All about the Amish & Christian faiths (as well many mentions of shunning & the bishop); Many mentions of prayers & silent prayers over food; Many mentions of Bibles, Bible reading & devotions; Many mentions of Church, services & Sunday devotions; Mentions of God & faiths; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of miracles & blessings; A few mentions of sins; A mention of hymns; A recipe for a Scripture Cake is included, each ingredient has a Scripture reference.  

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘crummy’, a ‘dumb’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘gosh’, a ‘sheesh’ and eight ‘stupid’s; Jessica has an attitude (eye rolling & sarcasm); Mentions of car accidents (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a fire & death (barely-above-not-detailed): Mentions of running away & lying; Mentions of gossip; A few mentions of husbands striking their wives; A few mentions of parties, trouble & foul play in a death; A couple mentions of divorce.

Sexual Content- a cheek kiss and a boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Rebecca & her husband kiss, embrace and also snuggle in their bed (nothing ever goes beyond barely-above-not-detailed for them); Noticing and a bit of Smelling; two ‘harlot’s and four ‘hot’s; Jessica catches her best friend wearing Jessica’s boyfriend’s t-shirt only and assumes they’ve been doing hanky-panky; A mention of making out; A mention of hormones; A couple mentions of marital intimacy (no details); A few mentions of a rumor that Jessica gave a boy a seductive look (she really didn’t); A few mentions of another rumor of Jessica alone with a boy in a barn (nothing really happened); Mentions of reputations; Mentions of a kiss & remembering it (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of boyfriends & dating; Mentions of a boyfriend cheating & kissing another girl; Many mentions of Rebecca not being able to conceive a child;

            *Note: Mentions of low-rider jeans, tight tops, bikini tops & shorts.

-Rebecca Kauffman

-Jessica Bedford, age 15-16
                                                           P.O.V. switches between them mostly, but also Lindsay & Daniel (along with Sarah in the Epilogue)
                                                        302 pages (with recipes!)

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Even though one of the main characters is a married woman, I can see my fellow Amish-fiction loving’ teens enjoying the teen aspects of this novel because of Jessica and Lindsay. (I keep thinking that I’m spelling my name wrong… ;) ) There are some great lessons about listening to God and not out selfish hearts in “A Gift of Grace”. Amy Clipston is a talented author that made me feel many emotions while reading her first book published.

 Also, isn’t the new updated cover so pretty? :)

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.