"A Life of Joy" by Amy Clipston

About this book:

  “Lindsay Bedford began her life as an Englisher, but since going to live with her aunt and uncle, she has found peace in the Amish community of Bird-in-Hand. Now that she’s eighteen, she has to figure out where she belongs. As a member of the Amish church? Or in the English world like her older sister?

  Eighteen-year-old Lindsay Bedford has reached a crossroads. Should she stay in the small Amish community she's known and loved for four years or return to the English life of her hometown in Virginia where her older sister is a college student? An extended visit to Virginia might just tip the scales as Lindsay reconnects with friends, joins a new church, works on her GED, and is pressured by her sister to stay and “make something of herself.”

  Will Lindsay leave her aunt Rebecca and become English or settle in Bird-in-Hand and join the Amish church?”


Series: Book #4 (of five) in “Kaufman Amish Bakery” series. (Review of Book #1 Here!, #2 Here!, & #3 Here!) (Has two bonus Christmas novella connecting to the series. Review of #1 Here! and #2 Here!)

Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, remembered, & talked about; Prayers & Blessings over food; Church going, Singings, Youth Groups, & Sunday School classes; Many talks about God, trusting Him, praying, faiths, being baptized, & joining the (Amish) church; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God, trusting Him, & His plans; Many mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Many mentions of churches, church going, worship, services, sermons, ministers/bishops, hymns, youth groups/singings, & Sunday School classes; Many mentions of being baptized, baptism classes, & joining the (Amish) church; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, books of the Bible, & Scriptures; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; Mentions of faiths; Mentions of Amish beliefs; Mentions of Mennonites; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of sins; A couple mentions of devotions; A couple mentions of cross necklaces.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘duh’, a form of ‘dumb’, and a ‘stupid’; A bit of sarcasm & eye rolling; Sibling bicker & arguments; Pain (barely-above-not-detailed); A wild party with drinking, drunks, & people kissing; Mentions of a car accident & deaths; Mentions of pain, an accident, & injuries; Mentions of throwing up & blood; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & drunks; Mentions of bars, clubs, & wild parties (and Jessica going to them); Mentions of hateful comments; A few mentions of a father leaving his family; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of rumors & busybodies; A couple mentions of when Jessica ran away; A mention of a possibility of being hit by a car;

         *Note: Mentions of car brands; A mention of an actor (Kevin Bacon).

Sexual Content- five head/forehead kisses (married couples), two cheek kisses (married couple), and a not-detailed kiss (married couple); Noticing; Touches, Warmth, Embraces, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); A drunk tries to grab Lindsay’s rear (she yells at him & snacks away his hand, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of young adults making out & grouping each other at a party; Mentions of dating/courting, dates, breakups, couples, boyfriends, & waiting for a relationship with someone; Mentions of liking someone, feelings, just being friends, blushes, & staring at them; Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of seeing a couple kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of noticing; A few mentions of cute boys; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a girl kissing a boy behind an outhouse; A mention of a summer romance; Love, falling in love & the emotions;

         *Note: Mentions of swimsuits (& skimpy ones), shorts, & tank tops; A few mentions of scantily clad young people; Mentions of the possibility of a miscarriage; A couple mentions of infertility; A mention of a uterus expanding in a pregnancy; A mention of pregnancy hormones; A couple mentions of men who try to take advantage of young women.

-Lindsay Bedford, age 18
                                         P.O.V. switches between Lindsay, Rebecca, Jessica, & Katie

                                                       311 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Ever since I read the first book, “A Gift of Grace” a few years ago, I’ve always liked Lindsay and felt connected to her. Maybe it’s because our names are a letter apart, but she’s always been a favorite for me. I’ve been looking forward and looking forward to reading her story and I wasn’t disappointed. This novel had tons of Spiritual Content, which I so enjoyed. I was a little shocked by that ending…“wait, that’s it?? Huh?” Looks like I’ll need to read the last book here soon! :)

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*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.