A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston

A Gift of Grace: Kauffman Amish Bakery Series #1

In this first installment of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, we're introduced to the Kauffman family of Bird-in-Hand, PA.  Life is turned upside down for Rebecca Kauffman when she becomes the guardian of her two English teenage nieces, after Rebecca's sister, Grace and her husband are killed in an automobile accident.  Grace, left her Amish life in Bird-in-Hand to pursue life among the English and go to college, knowing there was more to her life than just the plain Amish lifestyle.  Rebecca and her husband, Daniel, bring the teenage girls back to Bird-in-Hand from their home in Virginia Beach, VA and their life is forever changed.  Rebecca believes that through all the trials of raising these English teenage nieces is God's will and a way for her to finally be a mother (she's been barren for the entire 15 years of marriage to Daniel).  Jessica is rebellious and resistant to the change brought into her life, as well as the grief and guilt she's carrying about her parents' death.  She finds the plain Amish life way to strict and harsh for her liking.  Younger sister, Lindsay, settles into the Amish lifestyle much easier, but is caught in the middle, as her aunt's and uncle's marriage becomes strained.  Rebecca battles her own inner turmoils, as she wonders if she can be a good mother to these two girls, remain in her marriage to Daniel, and trust her faith in God to work things out for the good.  While most of the issues get wrapped up by the end of the story, there are just enough loose details to make you want to move on to the next book of the series.

Thanks to the people at Zondervan Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book for my review.