A Life of Joy: A Novel

Written by Amy Clipston

Narrated by Devon O'Day

Bestselling author Amy Clipston's Kauffman Amish Bakery series chronicles the tensions, loves, faiths, and challenges of the residents in the Amish community of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. In A Life of Joy, the fourth installment in the series, 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? Legions of Clipston fans want to know. Full of well-researched Amish culture, Clipston's book is true to form, delivering the best of the Amish fiction genre wrapped around a compelling story, with characters who will touch the hearts of loyal fans and new readers alike.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Feb 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9780310413080

Amy Clipston

Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She's sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, younger son, mother, and seven spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: @AmyClipstonBooks; X: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston; BookBub: @AmyClipston

Reviews for A Life of Joy

[kburne1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm really enjoying this series! I'm glad we got a book focusing on Lindsay after being introduced to her in the first book!

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When Lindsay’s godmother breaks her leg, she goes to help care for her during her recovery. Lindsay finds herself in a quandary, torn between the Amish community she misses and the English world she left years ago. Rediscovering old friends and old ways has her wondering where she really belongs. This book was interesting, but other than Lindsay re-experiencing the English lifestyle, not much happens. Still, the novel was entertaining, and serves as a bridge to the next installment.

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great story in the life of the Amish community set in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. This story is about 18 year old Lindsay Bedford, who finds herself adapting to the Amish way of life, after moving there 4 years ago after her parents died and being taken care of by her Amish Aunt and Uncle. Can an 'Englisher' truly leave all she has known behind and truly take on the life of an Amish person? Lindsay will be given an opportunity to revisit her English way of life in Virginia when she returns to help out dear friends. She will once again reconnect with her old friends, her church and her way of life. But which life will she choose?

I thought the author did an excellent job of making Lindsay's dilemma very real and believable and possible. This could not have been an easy decision for this young lady, and I liked the way both her Amish community and her English world left her make the decision that was right for her, even though I am sure it was hard not to try and sway her. I enjoyed Lindsay's heart of gold and watching her become a lovely young woman who finally figures out what she truly wants in life.

This is the 4th book in this series and I highly recommend reading these in the order written as there is so much background you will miss out on if you start with this story. All of the books are very good and just build upon one another. This author is one of my favorites when writing about the Amish community. There are good things about them and some that are rather harsh and she is not afraid to show both sides of this community, along with both sides of the English community Lindsay left behind.

[robin661_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Life of Joy
Amy Clipston

Book Summary: Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you'll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman's story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams ... and secrets. You'll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the "English" way of life-and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. In A Life of Joy, the fourth installment in the series, 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 in 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? Legions of Clipston fans want to know. Full of well-researched Amish culture, Clipston's book is true to form, delivering the best of the Amish fiction genre wrapped around a compelling story, with characters who will touch the hearts of loyal fans and new readers alike.
Review: I loved the characters in this book. The story line was believable and engrossing with characters you would root for and care about. The book was the fourth in a series and had many reoccurring characters and a continuous storyline of faith and family. I have not read all of the other books aside from one novella for the holidays I found it was easy to ease into the characters and relationships that were explained and never overdone. The book was easy to read and enjoyable throughout the story. The only problem I had was that the end seemed abrupt and with more questions than answers. I realize that this is a book in a series, however many resolve the main theme in the current book. This ending would not deter me from reading more books by this author.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

[lindz2012 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lindsay has been living with her aunt Rebecca and Uncle Daniel Kauffman. Lindsay Bradford comes to a crossroads in her live to join the church or return back to the English world where are older sister is college student. Lindsay needs to make a big decision.

Lindsay hear about her family friend Trish has an accedent and decide to got live with her until she can get back on her feet. Lindsay also while visiting Trish and Frank, her sister Jessica pressures her to get her GED and make life of for herself. Jessica seem to want to run her little sister life.

Lindsay does stay in contact with her friends in Bird in Hand with her Cousins and new friends. While Lindsay is struggling to see where she belongs. She also is having feeling for someone back in Bird in Hand. Rebecca starts to have compilations with her pregnancy and her niece doe not want to tell Lindsay for her to leave her homestead and worry about her. Katie does not know if she would tell Lindsay or not but decides to do this and hopes to be forgiven for doing it. I really would recommend this book, I would read the other 3 installment in order before reading this book.