Grace of a Different God

by Judith Nelson, Brent Nelson

What would you do if you were forced to run away from home at the tender age of sixteen? What if you had been hidden away all of your life in a reclusive cult, and knew little to nothing about the outside world? Would you know how to live on your own? Where to go? Whom you could trust?

Inspired by author Judith Nelson's own experiences, this is the story of Grace McGonnell. Raised within an isolated cult of religious fundamentalists, Grace is told by her controlling mother that she must marry a fellow cult member over twice her age. When her protests fall on deaf ears, she and her new friend Lydia decide to run away to Los Angeles, where they are kidnapped and forced into a horrifying world of drugs and sex.

Years later, Grace, now a successful attorney in Atlanta, is shocked to learn that her sixteen year old niece, still trapped within the cult, similarly is being forced to marry an older man – and that Grace's mother, once again, is involved. Grace is determined to save her niece at all costs. Even if it means confronting a past that she would do anything to forget. Even if it means revealing, for the first time, the pain of that hidden past to her husband and children.

The result is a stunning story of survival and triumph. A story of learning how we each should live and choose to treat others. And ultimately, a story of the power of love to conquer pain, isolation and fear.

Genres: Drama, Nonfiction, Christian

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2012

Reviews

[Felicity]

Grace found me

Hi I have had this book for years on my kindle without reading it😥today it has brought to my attention must fix my relationship with my daughters. Even though I love the LORD and have Benin serving Him faithfully I must do more to show love and grace. My second name Grace has been calling and bothering me for years and today it found me. And opened my eyes Thank You
Happiness Grace Rose

[Claudette Guay]

We occasionally r end about a cult but we really don’t know what really goes on behind the scenes

This book is an eye opener about what some people have to go through to escape

[Kat]

This book was amazing.

I got this book while it was free on Amazon - Amazon periodically has some free books on offer and I picked up this book. I am very glad I did so.

I'm always curious about cults and religion - I have my own reasons to doubt a few things that have been ingrained into me, and while I stand firm in my faith, I like to read about other religions, be that fiction or not.

The story was easy to read. The chapters alternates between the Grace then, and the Grace now. The same person, but in completely different state of mind. The younger Grace from the closed knit fundamentalist cult, and the Grace that is free from the organization and having her own successful life. History is about to repeat itself, and so Grace decides to intervene, despite all that putting her successful life in jeopardy.

I got a little bored and annoyed with her husband's wussiness and general lack of a spine, but it would seem everything worked out well. The Epilogue seemed a bit surreal and I think the book would have been better without it.

Very happy to have read this book and now I have a lot of food for thought.

[Carley]

My dad has always had an interest in cults and recently has become an atheist so his discussions on religious cults can get quite intense. Hearing him go off on it has sparked an interest in me. I thought this was a really interesting portrayal of life inside a cult as well as what happens to someone once they escape from a cult. I was a little worried when I was about 35% into it and it seemed like it had reached the point of conflict. I couldn't see how there was going to be much of anything else interesting to read but luckily I was proved wrong. I did find some of the dialogue to get a little wordy and I'd find myself skimming it occasionally. Other than that I found the characters and situations to be well thought out and pretty captivating.

[Daphine Robinson]

I cheered for Grace all the way through this book. There were times when I wanted to leap into the story and help her. I'm always intrigued by stories of religious cults and it was good to get a first-hand account from Grace's perspective. Thanks for haring your story with us, Ms. Nelson.

[Jennifer]

I got this book from Amazon for my Kindle Fire. Although I did find the book to be a little long I did enjoy reading it. The author has loosely based the book off of aspects of her life. I feel she did a great job giving a glimpse into cult like religion.

[Alison]

kindle 351 reclusive cult

[Linda]

While there are things in this book I didn't care for - the cussing and so much drinking alcohol - I did like the story, though it is a difficult and heartwrenching subject.

[Ann Miller]

Gritty realism, well-crafted plot, strong characters. While this isn't a feel-good book, I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to reading more of Nelson's work.