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Daughters of Blessing #3
A Touch of Grace
She thought she knew what she wanted in life... then Jonathan arrived.
Eighteen-year-old Grace Knutson loves Blessing, North Dakota, and sees no reason to leave. She's more serious-minded than her twin sister, Sophie, and very sensitive to the feelings of others. In spite of her family's disapproval, Grace has always had a soft spot in her heart for Toby Valders, for she's seen the vulnerable side he keeps well hidden.
Jonathan Gould, the handsome scion of a wealthy New York family, creates a flurry of anticipation and speculation when he arrives in Blessing. Jonathan's father wants him to learn the value of manual labor and to appreciate the accomplishments of those not born to wealth. Surprisingly, the "city boy" takes to farm life and actually enjoys working from dawn to dusk alongside the others. Soon he finds himself inexplicably drawn to gentle, courageous Grace.
But Jonathan's affection presents an agonizing dilemma for Grace. Is he truly the one her heart desires?
319 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
137 people are currently reading
819 people want to read
About the author
Lauraine Snelling
160 books2,047 followersAward-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
September 7, 2019
What a sweet story! Can't wait to read the next one!
November 27, 2015
Another book read to the wife. She loves to be read to, she always has. Reading is one of the few things that we can do together.
Diana and I have completed another book. This one was a nice story about Kaaren's daughter Grace. Grace was born deaf and learned to sign at an early age. Along the way, she learned to read lips and even to speak. A most remarkable child.
In this book, Mr. Gould's son, Johnathan, comes to spend the summer on the Bjorklund farm in Blessing. Mr. Gould's intent was for Johnathan to learn about work and discipline and he did. Along the way, he fell for Grace. The remainder of the story was about Grace figuring out what was best for her. That realization came on her return home for a Christmas visit in the last chapter.
It is most likely best to read the preceding books in order to understand the characters - just saying.
Diana enjoyed the book - she gave it a four star rating.
Diana and I have completed another book. This one was a nice story about Kaaren's daughter Grace. Grace was born deaf and learned to sign at an early age. Along the way, she learned to read lips and even to speak. A most remarkable child.
In this book, Mr. Gould's son, Johnathan, comes to spend the summer on the Bjorklund farm in Blessing. Mr. Gould's intent was for Johnathan to learn about work and discipline and he did. Along the way, he fell for Grace. The remainder of the story was about Grace figuring out what was best for her. That realization came on her return home for a Christmas visit in the last chapter.
It is most likely best to read the preceding books in order to understand the characters - just saying.
Diana enjoyed the book - she gave it a four star rating.
March 20, 2024
I was looking forward to this story the most out of the series and it didn't disappoint. This story was so gentle and sweet, just like Grace and Jonathan. Because Grace is deaf, it was so interesting to see the world through her eyes and the challenges she faces. I enjoyed continuing the stories of the other characters and I'm so sad I only have one book left to go. Jonathan is a real sweetie, so patient and kind just like his love for Grace while he waited for her heart to become his. My only complaint is that a romance is not a proper romance without a kiss (sorry for the spoiler). The immense amount of work farmers did back then is mind boggling and made me feel quite lazy as I laid on the couch reading. Overall this story had such a softness to it that made it comforting to read.
October 3, 2010
This is the first of the Blessing, ND books where it seemed that the story wasn't over at the end. Snelling didn't exactly give us a cliffhanger, but I wanted more of Grace's story. The love story didn't really get going until the book was almost over. I'm hoping that there will be more than a passing reference to Grace in the later books.
February 26, 2017
My favorite book of the series! Grace is so sweet and Jonathan is such a nice guy. The romance was clean and just so fun. I loved getting to watch Jonathan who is from the city and doesn't know how to handle a farm try to take on the Knutson's large dairy farm! It was quite entertaining! Interwoven is Snelling's amazing insights into the realism and details of Frontier life.
July 9, 2019
I loved the story of Grace and Jonathan. My only wish was that the ending would have been a little more definite. I listened to this on audio.
June 9, 2022
Another delightful and engaging story in the Daughters of Blessing series. It was really fascinating to see how the deafness and sign language were so beautifully highlighted in this novel. Grace’s emotions, particularly the hurt she experienced, were exquisitely expressed and tugged my heartstrings. It was good to see Jonathan honored his parents’ wishes even as he stood up for himself as well. He found a really great balance in this. Wonderful example!
Content: alcohol
Content: alcohol
October 20, 2022
2.5 stars
This was surprisingly boring. Maybe I would've liked it more if I had read the other books about the other ladies in the family, but either way, it dragged and I would not call this a romance. Yes, I know it's Christian romance, but still. They never kissed. They never even hugged. And I felt like he started loving her out of nowhere.
This was surprisingly boring. Maybe I would've liked it more if I had read the other books about the other ladies in the family, but either way, it dragged and I would not call this a romance. Yes, I know it's Christian romance, but still. They never kissed. They never even hugged. And I felt like he started loving her out of nowhere.
January 10, 2022
Love all her books ...
especially the "Blessing" books!
Historical fiction at it's finest!
especially the "Blessing" books!
Historical fiction at it's finest!
November 6, 2024
A rich city boy sent to the farm to learn the ropes. He caught himself falling in love with Grace who is a twin and deaf.
Grace was overcoming a broken heart and deaf challenges.
Grace was overcoming a broken heart and deaf challenges.
November 8, 2025
Accidentally read this book out of order, but the Lord knew I needed the encouragement in this book at this exact time.
Still in the early stages post miscarriage, and in this book a character suffers a loss. The response stopped me in my tracks - I actually printed it and put it in my journal.
Prayer: “Father, I know you love him (baby) more than I could, but give him some extra love, please. He didn’t get to discover what a wonderful earth you have given us, but I realize you know what is best. I know he is healed now of whatever was wrong; and while we are all sad, he is in your mighty hands, safe and home.” 😭🙏🏻 (pg 77)
The whole book had sweet little reminders of God and the overall story was cute - always a little cheesy but what I love about Lauraine Snelling is how well she captures honest hardships and how people walk through it… sometimes beautifully, sometimes poorly, but ultimately always coming back to God and trusting Him through it.
So I’ll keep reading all her books when I need something easy that doesn’t require too much thinking. 🧡
Still in the early stages post miscarriage, and in this book a character suffers a loss. The response stopped me in my tracks - I actually printed it and put it in my journal.
Prayer: “Father, I know you love him (baby) more than I could, but give him some extra love, please. He didn’t get to discover what a wonderful earth you have given us, but I realize you know what is best. I know he is healed now of whatever was wrong; and while we are all sad, he is in your mighty hands, safe and home.” 😭🙏🏻 (pg 77)
The whole book had sweet little reminders of God and the overall story was cute - always a little cheesy but what I love about Lauraine Snelling is how well she captures honest hardships and how people walk through it… sometimes beautifully, sometimes poorly, but ultimately always coming back to God and trusting Him through it.
So I’ll keep reading all her books when I need something easy that doesn’t require too much thinking. 🧡
July 27, 2015
Like all of the books in her series of books about the town of blessing, this one was good like them all! It's neat to see the kids we seen born in earlier books grow up, learn about the world, and build there own lives. I like reading about Grace, she's deaf, and as a blind person it's interesting to me to see how she manages. She goes through much of what we blind people tend to with some people's unexcepting behavior. She's a beautiful character! Just another good book by Lauraine Snelling!
July 9, 2016
Loving this entire series and the authenticity of life in this time period and how well it is written.
February 13, 2021
A Touch of Grace is the 3rd novel in the Daughters of Blessing series. I enjoyed this as much and possibly even more than the first 2 books in the series. The main character in this novel is Grace Knutson---twin sister to Sophie who was the main character in the 2nd book in the series.
Grace Knutson is the opposite of her twin sister Sophie in personality. She is very quiet, tends to withdraw, very careful and cautious with her words and emotions. She is also deaf although she has learned to speak and can do signing and reads lips.
Grace and her sister Sophie had been so close until Sophie ran off to marry Hamre. Although she is back in Blessing now, she is too busy with her twin babies and upcoming 2nd marriage to have time for Grace. For much of her life, Grace has had a special friendship with Toby Valders who has a bad reputation in town even though he has changed. She loves him and wants to move their friendship closer to courtship but finds out he has found someone else. Feeling like her life and plans have been upturned, she makes a decision to go to New York to find out more about a deaf school there.
The novel also has a subplot which intertwines with Sophie's future. Jonathan Gould was sent to Blessing by his father after he has become involved in college activities which displease his father. His father has already been a friend of the Bjorkland family for many years and wants Jonathan to be exposed to real work. As it turns out, Jonathan loves farming work and leaves Blessing knowing he wants to devote his career to farming in some way. When he returns to New York at the end of the summer, he persuades Grace to go with him to learn about the deaf school.
Once again, I loved the way Snelling developed her characters and interspersed meaningful Christian messages within the plot. Now that I read this far along in the series, it brings back to memory how much I have always enjoyed Snelling's books so much even after taking a break for several years. Now I look forward to future novels that tell the stories of the Norwegian families of Blessing, North Dakota. Although each book can be read as a stand-alone, they are much more meaningful when read as a series. This novel introduced some health concerns for Haaken and possible trouble with the new owner of the general store so I am anxious to find out how what happens as well as the story of another young woman in the town, Rebecca.
Grace Knutson is the opposite of her twin sister Sophie in personality. She is very quiet, tends to withdraw, very careful and cautious with her words and emotions. She is also deaf although she has learned to speak and can do signing and reads lips.
Grace and her sister Sophie had been so close until Sophie ran off to marry Hamre. Although she is back in Blessing now, she is too busy with her twin babies and upcoming 2nd marriage to have time for Grace. For much of her life, Grace has had a special friendship with Toby Valders who has a bad reputation in town even though he has changed. She loves him and wants to move their friendship closer to courtship but finds out he has found someone else. Feeling like her life and plans have been upturned, she makes a decision to go to New York to find out more about a deaf school there.
The novel also has a subplot which intertwines with Sophie's future. Jonathan Gould was sent to Blessing by his father after he has become involved in college activities which displease his father. His father has already been a friend of the Bjorkland family for many years and wants Jonathan to be exposed to real work. As it turns out, Jonathan loves farming work and leaves Blessing knowing he wants to devote his career to farming in some way. When he returns to New York at the end of the summer, he persuades Grace to go with him to learn about the deaf school.
Once again, I loved the way Snelling developed her characters and interspersed meaningful Christian messages within the plot. Now that I read this far along in the series, it brings back to memory how much I have always enjoyed Snelling's books so much even after taking a break for several years. Now I look forward to future novels that tell the stories of the Norwegian families of Blessing, North Dakota. Although each book can be read as a stand-alone, they are much more meaningful when read as a series. This novel introduced some health concerns for Haaken and possible trouble with the new owner of the general store so I am anxious to find out how what happens as well as the story of another young woman in the town, Rebecca.
August 10, 2024
This story tugged at your heartstrings all the way through. Grace is deaf. How she handles being a twin, the hurt of her twin leaving her for marriage and through birthing babies their interests are so far apart now, feelings for a boy that wants to marry someone else, the struggles of being a deaf person, and Johnathan - and I rode each emotion right along with the story. I was disappointed in how the author left the story between Grace and Johnathan. They were each starting to feel something for the other but neither one had made a declaration to the other. I would have loved to see where the author would have taken the story next with Grace going to New York City and seeing the life Johnathan had before he came to Blessing and fell in love with the town. Grace's family is always referring to Grace as "always Grace" because she is there in all the upheaval that happens and helps where needed. Johnathan calls Grace "pure Grace" which has peaked her curiosity and helped give her a new outlook about herself. Look forward to the next book but not sure how Rebecca fits into the story because she wasn't even mentioned in this book.
October 29, 2024
I picked up the four books in this series story arc ”The Daughters of Blessing” and found them good, but not great. In my religious romance novels I like stories where I see the characters fall in love and where a character’s faith is contemplated with strong, realistic thinking. Either a characters faith is strong and they can voice why that is or a character is struggling and they work through the struggle to find a stronger faith. These books seem to gloss over some of the potentially darker stuff to stay light and fluffy. Which is fine but deprives the story of some substance.
Overall I liked the story. The author is definitely one of the better religious romance writers I have read but this series felt a little cookie cutter.
Overall I liked the story. The author is definitely one of the better religious romance writers I have read but this series felt a little cookie cutter.
June 21, 2017
I remember reading when Sophie and Grace were born and I have so enjoyed reading about them as young women. I was, as usual, moved to tears and brought to laughing out loud at parts. You just can't go wrong with any of Lauraine Snelling's books. Not only is the town called Blessing, but these books have all been a blessing to me.
October 18, 2018
Lauraine Snelling is not my favorite historical romance author, but, "A Touch of Grace" has been one of my absolute favorite books. Not only are you able to feel and relate to what it is like to live in a silent world but also to navigate back and forth through two far extremes of living - living materialistically and living with the land. Bravo! Ms Snelling was truly inspired writing this one!
March 15, 2021
As the stories of the Bjorlund family continue this one is about Grace Knutson. Grace, one of the twins, was born deaf. Because of Grace her mother had started a school for the deaf in their home. Grace figured she would always be home helping her mother. But, another opportunity comes along and Grace must decide what she wants to do.
July 5, 2022
I love this entire series! I come back to it time and again because it is so uplifting.
I really enjoyed reading Grace's journey and hope to read more of her adventures in future books. This book ends leaving you wanting to know the end of the story but it will be years later before we see what happens.
I really enjoyed reading Grace's journey and hope to read more of her adventures in future books. This book ends leaving you wanting to know the end of the story but it will be years later before we see what happens.
November 2, 2022
This is a delightful story that held my interest throughout. Grace and Jonathan both change in different ways; the different walks of life they are from certainly serve to broaden their outlook on life. Grace is definitely courageous in the way she handles her deafness. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
August 12, 2025
Jonathan's character really develops in this story. I'd consider him the MMC and Grace the FMC. There are some twists and turns along the way and a division of societies between Blessing, ND and NYC. NY continues to create a bad name for itself with their lifestyles and absent minded thinking. Grace is resilient though. She doesnt let her being deaf discourage her from what she's set out to do.
July 31, 2017
Sadly, I can very much relate to Grace's situation in the beginning of the book. God had good things for her, and He has good things for me, too. How neat to see that process written out in this book.
September 23, 2022
A lovely and uplifting story of a young deaf girl living on a farm in ND around 1900-1902. I learned a lot about life back then, including the problems that can cause your next meal to be in question. Love and loss, hope and despair, plenty and in want...all are covered in this book.
July 28, 2023
Excellent book. Well written as always by Lauraine Snelling.
My mother’s family comes from the North Dakota area. She was born in Fargo. She too enjoyed reading books, which we would share stories of different authors. Would highly recommend Lauraine’ s novels. Thank you!
My mother’s family comes from the North Dakota area. She was born in Fargo. She too enjoyed reading books, which we would share stories of different authors. Would highly recommend Lauraine’ s novels. Thank you!
November 5, 2025
Brave Grace
Love the flow of the story. Treasure the family relationships and close love ties. Love to hear of the traditional Norwegian foods, especially the Christmas special dishes, cakes, and cookies!
Love the flow of the story. Treasure the family relationships and close love ties. Love to hear of the traditional Norwegian foods, especially the Christmas special dishes, cakes, and cookies!
April 23, 2018
It was great getting to know Grace, but Jonathan's walk was not faith filled.
January 22, 2019
Began the book by listening to it on CD.
October 24, 2019
This one is far and away my favorite of the Daughter of Blessings series, so far. Much better than the previous two, in both character development and writing style. Looking forward to the next!
November 28, 2019
Grace, who is deaf, travels to NYC with Jonthan Gould
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews