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Redemption #1
Redemption
The Redemption series won "Christian Retailing"’s 2005 Retailer’s Choice Award for Best Series! When Kari Baxter Jacobs finds out that her husband is involved in an adulterous relationship and wants a divorce, she decides she will love him and remain faithful to her marriage at all costs. This book shows how God can redeem seemingly hopeless relationships, and it illustrates one of Gary Smalley’s key messages: Love is a decision. "Redemption" is the first book in the five-book Redemption series that Gary and Karen will write about the Baxter family—their fears and desires, their strengths and weaknesses, their losses and victories. Each book will explore key relationship themes as well as the larger theme of redemption, both in characters’ spiritual lives and in their relationships. Each book includes study questions for individual and small-group use as well as a “teaser” chapter of the next book in the series.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Karen Kingsbury
223 books10.7k followersKaren Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.
See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...
See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,226 reviews
March 2, 2016
I've read several reviews of this book that expressed the disappointment and disapproval of Karen Kingsbury promoting women staying with cheating husbands. I do not believe the author was saying that you have a Biblical responsibility to stay with a spouse who has cheated - because you don't. Adultery is a biblically justified reason for divorce. The main character in this story, Kari, deeply believed that God wanted her to stay with her husband and resolve the problems they had, and there is absolutely no shame in trying to fix a broken marriage.
I had a difficult time reading this when
I also believe that Kari's persistence to follow what she believed God wanted to her to do concerning Tim was extremely encouraging. I can only imagine the hurt Kari felt when her husband betrayed her. Even the thought of my husband being like Tim makes my heart hurt. What would I do if Matthew looked at me with no emotion and told me he wanted a divorce and there was nothing I could say or do to change his mind? What if I knew he was spending every night in the arms of another woman? Could I bear it? I don't know. But, I do know that the only way I could possibly make it through would be to lean on God which is what Kari did. She didn't believe she had the strength to fight for a marriage that she believed God wanted to be healed but her husband didn't. It's so easy to give up when things are really, really hard, but we have to remember that we first live for God and need to follow His guidance even when we don't understand why.
I had a difficult time reading this when
I also believe that Kari's persistence to follow what she believed God wanted to her to do concerning Tim was extremely encouraging. I can only imagine the hurt Kari felt when her husband betrayed her. Even the thought of my husband being like Tim makes my heart hurt. What would I do if Matthew looked at me with no emotion and told me he wanted a divorce and there was nothing I could say or do to change his mind? What if I knew he was spending every night in the arms of another woman? Could I bear it? I don't know. But, I do know that the only way I could possibly make it through would be to lean on God which is what Kari did. She didn't believe she had the strength to fight for a marriage that she believed God wanted to be healed but her husband didn't. It's so easy to give up when things are really, really hard, but we have to remember that we first live for God and need to follow His guidance even when we don't understand why.
May 14, 2009
I beyond hated this book. I felt like the author was pushing her beliefs. Specifically, I felt like, thru her character, she was saying that God wanted women to stay with their cheating husbands. Even after getting caught the husband couldn't commit to ending the affair. And the wife stayed with him, not because she felt it was where God was leading HER, but because that is what christian women should do.
Let me say I have no personal experience with being cheated on, so it's not for that reason that this rubbed me so wrong. I just think that the path for one person may not be the path for another. It felt like the author was making a statement, not writing a fictional situation with fictional characters.
Let me say I have no personal experience with being cheated on, so it's not for that reason that this rubbed me so wrong. I just think that the path for one person may not be the path for another. It felt like the author was making a statement, not writing a fictional situation with fictional characters.
December 23, 2020
As I made my way through the cheaters’ contrition tour, Amazon’s cross-selling carousel (“Customers who bought this item also bought”) exposed me to indie and fringe titles I would not normally encounter, including two works of Christian/inspirational fiction. The tour was all about examining a broad spectrum of representations of cheating in romance (and quasi-romance) fiction, so I decided this was a valid and relevant perspective to read.
Let's start with a pop-up review of the first inspy cheating book I read (Devotion by Marianne Evans): stripped of the characters’ propensity for filtering everything through scripture, Devotion would be a middle-of-the-road straying husband story with the predictable “it was just an infatuation” remorse, couples counseling and recommitment to the marriage, and an otherwise blameless wife shouldering a percentage of the blame because she got too busy with charitable works to be attentive to her husband. The scripture was not a compelling overlay for me, but I don’t feel qualified to comment on its effectiveness for readers who do filter their life choices through Bible passages.
Then there’s the irony that is Redemption.
Our story starts with the husband in bed with the OW at her apartment. He’s a journalism professor; she’s a grad student in the program. They met in his class, though they didn’t have sex until the course was over, because that would be unethical. He is completely in love with this young woman, who is his intellectual equal (as well as hot), and he is so over his beautiful-but-unintellectual wife.
A jealous former boyfriend of the OW phones the wife to tip her off to the affair, giving her the address of the OW’s apartment. In her doubt, the wife tries to reach the husband at the conference he’s supposed to be attending that weekend, only to discover there is no journalism conference at the hotel he named and her husband definitely doesn’t have a room there. (I love the brazenness of his leaving contact details for a fictional conference at a random hotel while he spends the weekend at the OW’s place. That’s some high-stakes gambling or a deep desire to get caught.) The wife then drives to the apartment complex identified by the anonymous caller and sees her husband’s car. *gasp* She triggers his car alarm, and he emerges all sleep-tousled to turn it off. *gasp* When he spots his wife but makes no move to approach her, she jumps back in her car and drives off.
The husband returns to their apartment the next morning and flatly tells his wife he doesn’t want to be married to her anymore. She declares she will not give him a divorce, and starts in about them seeking counseling with their pastor. At this point, I’m actually feeling a little sorry for the husband, because he isn’t being heard. His feelings for his wife are dead. His love for her is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired. IT IS NOT PINING FOR THE FJORDS. He moves in with the OW, and I google to see if it’s actually possible for one spouse to block a divorce. (Delay, yes. Prevent, no.)
So the impact of Christianity on this scenario is that she feels called upon by God to preserve their marriage, and he is deliberately turning his back on God to pursue a relationship with the OW.
Let's start with a pop-up review of the first inspy cheating book I read (Devotion by Marianne Evans): stripped of the characters’ propensity for filtering everything through scripture, Devotion would be a middle-of-the-road straying husband story with the predictable “it was just an infatuation” remorse, couples counseling and recommitment to the marriage, and an otherwise blameless wife shouldering a percentage of the blame because she got too busy with charitable works to be attentive to her husband. The scripture was not a compelling overlay for me, but I don’t feel qualified to comment on its effectiveness for readers who do filter their life choices through Bible passages.
Then there’s the irony that is Redemption.
Our story starts with the husband in bed with the OW at her apartment. He’s a journalism professor; she’s a grad student in the program. They met in his class, though they didn’t have sex until the course was over, because that would be unethical. He is completely in love with this young woman, who is his intellectual equal (as well as hot), and he is so over his beautiful-but-unintellectual wife.
A jealous former boyfriend of the OW phones the wife to tip her off to the affair, giving her the address of the OW’s apartment. In her doubt, the wife tries to reach the husband at the conference he’s supposed to be attending that weekend, only to discover there is no journalism conference at the hotel he named and her husband definitely doesn’t have a room there. (I love the brazenness of his leaving contact details for a fictional conference at a random hotel while he spends the weekend at the OW’s place. That’s some high-stakes gambling or a deep desire to get caught.) The wife then drives to the apartment complex identified by the anonymous caller and sees her husband’s car. *gasp* She triggers his car alarm, and he emerges all sleep-tousled to turn it off. *gasp* When he spots his wife but makes no move to approach her, she jumps back in her car and drives off.
The husband returns to their apartment the next morning and flatly tells his wife he doesn’t want to be married to her anymore. She declares she will not give him a divorce, and starts in about them seeking counseling with their pastor. At this point, I’m actually feeling a little sorry for the husband, because he isn’t being heard. His feelings for his wife are dead. His love for her is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired. IT IS NOT PINING FOR THE FJORDS. He moves in with the OW, and I google to see if it’s actually possible for one spouse to block a divorce. (Delay, yes. Prevent, no.)
So the impact of Christianity on this scenario is that she feels called upon by God to preserve their marriage, and he is deliberately turning his back on God to pursue a relationship with the OW.
December 19, 2008
Karen Kingsbury writes books that deal with issues all christians face at some time or another...the characters are flawed and human yet God is present in all their lives....
Read
December 8, 2020I won't read this because not even my faith will convince me cheaters deserve a second chance but I've gotta say I love the fact that the husband dies 😂 morbid yes...... But I don't even care. To the lovely individual who recommended this book to me, guaranteeing me I'd absolutely love it.....you've been blocked and deleted for even DARING to rec me a book with cheating while claiming to love my reviews! May you burn your ham this Christmas(not if you have kids though)😂😂😂😂😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2022
What have I just read.
At first sight it could look like the usual sexist trope where the cheating asshole husband gets the doormat back without even trying.
But it was more.
I knew what the book was about because I’ve read (and enjoyed) many reviews of my friends, that made me laugh and made me curious.
Be warned, it’s Christian romance so god is the third main character in the book, or better, he’s THE main character.
The couple has been married for some years, and the book opens with the husband cheating on his wife with his student.
He’s a uni professor. We immediately understand he’s a slimy nematode, the kind that dates his student for one year and falls in love with her hard, then proceeds to having sex with her and lie repeatedly to his wife. He feels just a bit guilty for deceiving his beautiful, virtuous, Christian and faithful wife who waits for him at home believing he’s at some conference while he’s shagging his new piece of ass at her place.
He thinks she’s not only smarter but also hotter than his quiet wife, and his feelings for her are much more intense than those he ever felt for his wife.
But. There’s a but. The piece of ass has a stalker ex who’s not very sane and is actually mad at the professor for stealing his gf.
So he calls the cheaters wife and tells her exactly what and where her husband is doing. And who he is doing.
The poor heroine is shattered and goes to see if it’s true and yes she sees the dirty scumbag at ow house. The asshole doesn’t even follow her and goes back to his weekend of hot sex with the slutty student, then goes back home where he declares he’s in love with ow and wants a divorce.
He’s cold and impervious to the poor heroine’s tears and leaves her to go living with ow.
Even if the heroine was not always present lately she’s always been an affectionate and loyal wife and his behavior is callous and cruel and not justified.
That is where we all readers want him to die a slow and painful death.
Mind my words.
The heroine, as the good Christian she is, refuses to divorce and tells him he has to come back home because they made a vow and they have to carry on with it.
She’s adamant about it and even days and weeks after he’s gone she doesn’t want to give him divorce- not ever.
That is where I started to wonder what was wrong with her.
I mean, even if the husband has been cheating on her for months, told her he doesn’t love her anymore, lied to her, she wants the marriage to go on because god wants it.
Really? Are you serious? How can she be so sure what is god’s will?
Whatever.
The story gets interesting because we find out more about them.
We find out that when she met him she was on the rebound because she had just broken up with the true love of her life, a man who left her to play football as a pro, and she used the hero to forget om.
So no great love at all on the heroine’s part, while the husband was in love with her since he first saw her.
Aaaaaand now, years later, her true love is back in town, just when she’s been dumped by her husband.
So as she tries to get her recalcitrant hubby back and she finds out she’s preggar, she starts seeing om again, finding out she’s still so in love with him, and he of course has always been in love with her.
They talk about what separated them years before but now alas, it’s too late: the heroine wants to candidate herself to the martyr of the year and she wants to go back to her husband that she of course doesn’t love.
The husband eventually understands his mistake and goes back to his wife, that of course, he has always loved while ow was only a middle age crisis.
They go counseling and are happy for some time until ow calls the husband and tells him she’s pregnant too. Of course it’s not true and as soon as he goes to her apartment to tell her he loves his wife and wants only to be with her, the stalker ex shoots him dead.
And the heroine has her daughter while om is there, telling her he will always be there for her.
And of course there’s something of a cliffhanger because the book is the first installment of a series.
What can I say.
There’s a hidden meaning in everything in this book. Nothing is as it seems.
- the hero: is not the husband of course. He’s om.
- the husband is a lowlife of a loser that nobody would like to meet during their life. He’s a coward because he doesn’t even have the guts to tell the truth first to his wife then to his gf. He simply leaves and refuses to give explanations. It’s a wonder that two women, two beautiful and clever women, are attracted to a half man like that. He’s also losing hair. He’s not even rich. The heroine, who’s a model, is richer than him. Really? He’s selfish and unstable. He thinks he loves his gf more than he ever loved his wife, then he has a crisis and becomes an alcoholic and then suddenly he knows he has always loved his wife while ow was only a fling. A real man. So the reader, of course, can’t love this character and all women reading this book wants him to have what he deserves. That is exactly what he gets in the end.
- the hero. He’s too good to be true. A good Christian man, who has always been faithful to the heroine but lost her on a misunderstanding. Really? No. Not exactly. The hero, who has known the heroine since she was 12 and has always wanted to marry her, was selfish too, because he one sided decided that he would go away to play pro football and then he would come back eventually to marry her. When he was ready, when he was free. He thought she would wait forever, without even making a real commitment to her. In another book the heroine would have waited forever and with her virtue intact. Here she meets a nice professor and decides it’s time to move on.
So he loses her and he’s the one to pine for her while she is pregnant with her husband’s child.
- the heroine. Oh the heroine is the most hypocritical person in all Christianity. She’s a saint, she wants her marriage to be perfect and to go on even if neither she nor her husband are in love with each other. Because she is the one who has never loved her husband. She is the one who as soon as she sees the hero, her true love, understands she will love him forever. And she decides she will stay with her cheating husband. Her refusal of divorce is never because she loves her husband but because she want to keep her vows. Even when those vows are empty and no more valid. The impression is that this marriage is based on pride and duty. Not an environment you wish for your children. But the clever author lets us believe that she’s the mistreated wife of a cheating asshole, who thinks she’s a bimbo and so he falls in love with a smarter model. But the heroine is guilty as hell. Her husband was always second best. Not even second.
- other characters are the voice of truth. Her sisters thinks she’s crazy and pathetic and her husband will always cheat on her. And it’s exactly what we readers think. We don’t wish their marriage to go on. We want him punished. Hard. And we want her to marry her true love.
Oh this author. She’s so smart and clever.
She lets us think that the heroine has to suffer and that her choice to stay married to the cheater is the right one, but what does she do?
She does exactly the opposite.
Because in the end the heroine is the real winner and all her men are punished for their sins to her (not to god).
- the hero dies because of his affair with ow, knowing he will never know his daughter and she will very likely grow up with om. And it’s all his fault, because his actions took him exactly there.
-om understand that because of his selfish choices in the past he will have to wait until the heroine recover from her husband’s death and then he will have to raise her late husband’s daughter. His penance. He should have married the heroine as soon as she was of age.
-ow. She loved the cheating husband more than the heroine, that’s for sure. She lost the love of her life because she was a slut and a family wrecker. She deserved it.
- God. He lets us know that the sinners must pay. Always. With interests. And good heroines get all. Even if they make wrong choices, he’s there to correct them. And make it right again.
- if you read the other books of the series you’ll know h/H eventually marry and live happily.
- I’ve enjoyed this book so much, so subtle and yet hidden in plain sight. It’s not bigot as you may think. And the heroine takes it all.
- I don’t feel any angst because the heroine’s choice is sensible and she’s not in love with her husband at all. At. All. No matter what the author says. If you read carefully you can see she loved om all the time. Her hurt is because she failed to have a perfect marriage, not because she lost the man she loved. He was a filler.
This is a story behind a story.
But I liked because it is very original.
At first sight it could look like the usual sexist trope where the cheating asshole husband gets the doormat back without even trying.
But it was more.
I knew what the book was about because I’ve read (and enjoyed) many reviews of my friends, that made me laugh and made me curious.
Be warned, it’s Christian romance so god is the third main character in the book, or better, he’s THE main character.
The couple has been married for some years, and the book opens with the husband cheating on his wife with his student.
He’s a uni professor. We immediately understand he’s a slimy nematode, the kind that dates his student for one year and falls in love with her hard, then proceeds to having sex with her and lie repeatedly to his wife. He feels just a bit guilty for deceiving his beautiful, virtuous, Christian and faithful wife who waits for him at home believing he’s at some conference while he’s shagging his new piece of ass at her place.
He thinks she’s not only smarter but also hotter than his quiet wife, and his feelings for her are much more intense than those he ever felt for his wife.
But. There’s a but. The piece of ass has a stalker ex who’s not very sane and is actually mad at the professor for stealing his gf.
So he calls the cheaters wife and tells her exactly what and where her husband is doing. And who he is doing.
The poor heroine is shattered and goes to see if it’s true and yes she sees the dirty scumbag at ow house. The asshole doesn’t even follow her and goes back to his weekend of hot sex with the slutty student, then goes back home where he declares he’s in love with ow and wants a divorce.
He’s cold and impervious to the poor heroine’s tears and leaves her to go living with ow.
Even if the heroine was not always present lately she’s always been an affectionate and loyal wife and his behavior is callous and cruel and not justified.
That is where we all readers want him to die a slow and painful death.
Mind my words.
The heroine, as the good Christian she is, refuses to divorce and tells him he has to come back home because they made a vow and they have to carry on with it.
She’s adamant about it and even days and weeks after he’s gone she doesn’t want to give him divorce- not ever.
That is where I started to wonder what was wrong with her.
I mean, even if the husband has been cheating on her for months, told her he doesn’t love her anymore, lied to her, she wants the marriage to go on because god wants it.
Really? Are you serious? How can she be so sure what is god’s will?
Whatever.
The story gets interesting because we find out more about them.
We find out that when she met him she was on the rebound because she had just broken up with the true love of her life, a man who left her to play football as a pro, and she used the hero to forget om.
So no great love at all on the heroine’s part, while the husband was in love with her since he first saw her.
Aaaaaand now, years later, her true love is back in town, just when she’s been dumped by her husband.
So as she tries to get her recalcitrant hubby back and she finds out she’s preggar, she starts seeing om again, finding out she’s still so in love with him, and he of course has always been in love with her.
They talk about what separated them years before but now alas, it’s too late: the heroine wants to candidate herself to the martyr of the year and she wants to go back to her husband that she of course doesn’t love.
The husband eventually understands his mistake and goes back to his wife, that of course, he has always loved while ow was only a middle age crisis.
They go counseling and are happy for some time until ow calls the husband and tells him she’s pregnant too. Of course it’s not true and as soon as he goes to her apartment to tell her he loves his wife and wants only to be with her, the stalker ex shoots him dead.
And the heroine has her daughter while om is there, telling her he will always be there for her.
And of course there’s something of a cliffhanger because the book is the first installment of a series.
What can I say.
There’s a hidden meaning in everything in this book. Nothing is as it seems.
- the hero: is not the husband of course. He’s om.
- the husband is a lowlife of a loser that nobody would like to meet during their life. He’s a coward because he doesn’t even have the guts to tell the truth first to his wife then to his gf. He simply leaves and refuses to give explanations. It’s a wonder that two women, two beautiful and clever women, are attracted to a half man like that. He’s also losing hair. He’s not even rich. The heroine, who’s a model, is richer than him. Really? He’s selfish and unstable. He thinks he loves his gf more than he ever loved his wife, then he has a crisis and becomes an alcoholic and then suddenly he knows he has always loved his wife while ow was only a fling. A real man. So the reader, of course, can’t love this character and all women reading this book wants him to have what he deserves. That is exactly what he gets in the end.
- the hero. He’s too good to be true. A good Christian man, who has always been faithful to the heroine but lost her on a misunderstanding. Really? No. Not exactly. The hero, who has known the heroine since she was 12 and has always wanted to marry her, was selfish too, because he one sided decided that he would go away to play pro football and then he would come back eventually to marry her. When he was ready, when he was free. He thought she would wait forever, without even making a real commitment to her. In another book the heroine would have waited forever and with her virtue intact. Here she meets a nice professor and decides it’s time to move on.
So he loses her and he’s the one to pine for her while she is pregnant with her husband’s child.
- the heroine. Oh the heroine is the most hypocritical person in all Christianity. She’s a saint, she wants her marriage to be perfect and to go on even if neither she nor her husband are in love with each other. Because she is the one who has never loved her husband. She is the one who as soon as she sees the hero, her true love, understands she will love him forever. And she decides she will stay with her cheating husband. Her refusal of divorce is never because she loves her husband but because she want to keep her vows. Even when those vows are empty and no more valid. The impression is that this marriage is based on pride and duty. Not an environment you wish for your children. But the clever author lets us believe that she’s the mistreated wife of a cheating asshole, who thinks she’s a bimbo and so he falls in love with a smarter model. But the heroine is guilty as hell. Her husband was always second best. Not even second.
- other characters are the voice of truth. Her sisters thinks she’s crazy and pathetic and her husband will always cheat on her. And it’s exactly what we readers think. We don’t wish their marriage to go on. We want him punished. Hard. And we want her to marry her true love.
Oh this author. She’s so smart and clever.
She lets us think that the heroine has to suffer and that her choice to stay married to the cheater is the right one, but what does she do?
She does exactly the opposite.
Because in the end the heroine is the real winner and all her men are punished for their sins to her (not to god).
- the hero dies because of his affair with ow, knowing he will never know his daughter and she will very likely grow up with om. And it’s all his fault, because his actions took him exactly there.
-om understand that because of his selfish choices in the past he will have to wait until the heroine recover from her husband’s death and then he will have to raise her late husband’s daughter. His penance. He should have married the heroine as soon as she was of age.
-ow. She loved the cheating husband more than the heroine, that’s for sure. She lost the love of her life because she was a slut and a family wrecker. She deserved it.
- God. He lets us know that the sinners must pay. Always. With interests. And good heroines get all. Even if they make wrong choices, he’s there to correct them. And make it right again.
- if you read the other books of the series you’ll know h/H eventually marry and live happily.
- I’ve enjoyed this book so much, so subtle and yet hidden in plain sight. It’s not bigot as you may think. And the heroine takes it all.
- I don’t feel any angst because the heroine’s choice is sensible and she’s not in love with her husband at all. At. All. No matter what the author says. If you read carefully you can see she loved om all the time. Her hurt is because she failed to have a perfect marriage, not because she lost the man she loved. He was a filler.
This is a story behind a story.
But I liked because it is very original.
May 27, 2020
This was beautiful.
This is not a book praising or normalizing cheating and staying with an unfaithful partner in a Christian marriage. Kari even says that adultery gives her a Biblical reason to divorce her husband.
The writing was lovely. I'm excited to read more about the Baxter family. Their faith was so comforting to read about, and I loved the diversity of their family. Several children strayed from their family's faith, and I can't wait to see their stories.
I don't think the inclusion of Ryan was a great idea story-wise, but every character still felt so real. I greatly enjoyed Redemption, and the ending did bring a tear or two to my eyes.
4/5 stars. Quite good.
This is not a book praising or normalizing cheating and staying with an unfaithful partner in a Christian marriage. Kari even says that adultery gives her a Biblical reason to divorce her husband.
The writing was lovely. I'm excited to read more about the Baxter family. Their faith was so comforting to read about, and I loved the diversity of their family. Several children strayed from their family's faith, and I can't wait to see their stories.
I don't think the inclusion of Ryan was a great idea story-wise, but every character still felt so real. I greatly enjoyed Redemption, and the ending did bring a tear or two to my eyes.
4/5 stars. Quite good.
August 31, 2022
2.5 🌟rounded up. What an effing bummer. Yes, there’s angst: infidelity, a surprise pregnancy, an über Christian wife who won’t grant her husband living with his girlfriend a divorce, there’s a bunch of drinking, and a scorned gun-toting lover hopped up on steroids. This book is a clown car of issues. This book does not have a happy ending, so I suffered through a lot of evangelical prose only to wish I had considered gouging my eyes out instead. 😑
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2017
I think a lot of people rate this book for the message it gives: Love is a Decision
If my opinion would have been based solely on this I would also give it five stars, Karen truly brought the theme through beautifully.
But I don't just read for a theme or a messages, I want an intriguing plot and full well developed characters. I want a clear line between whose point of view I'm reading.
For me this was the biggest issue, there were so many characters that sounded the same, that felt the exact same thing, and described it the exact same way. I get that this is the first book in a series, but there where so many unwanted characters and thoughts brought in, that at stages it was just to much.
This is my second Kingsbury novel and to be honest I was disappointed, the plot for this book and A Time to Dance was almost the exact same plot, cheating husband dedicated wife, supporting family that doesn't quite understand. The plot was not really a surprise for me in any way. I predicted the ending so accurately when I hit the forty percent mark it was an "I told you so" ending.
I really like the christian fiction and would try other books, I'm just not sure it will be Karen Kingsbury's books.
If my opinion would have been based solely on this I would also give it five stars, Karen truly brought the theme through beautifully.
But I don't just read for a theme or a messages, I want an intriguing plot and full well developed characters. I want a clear line between whose point of view I'm reading.
For me this was the biggest issue, there were so many characters that sounded the same, that felt the exact same thing, and described it the exact same way. I get that this is the first book in a series, but there where so many unwanted characters and thoughts brought in, that at stages it was just to much.
This is my second Kingsbury novel and to be honest I was disappointed, the plot for this book and A Time to Dance was almost the exact same plot, cheating husband dedicated wife, supporting family that doesn't quite understand. The plot was not really a surprise for me in any way. I predicted the ending so accurately when I hit the forty percent mark it was an "I told you so" ending.
I really like the christian fiction and would try other books, I'm just not sure it will be Karen Kingsbury's books.
January 16, 2009
I'm giving it 50 pages... which corresponds exactly to the first four chapters. If I don't like it by then, I will abandon yet another book and add to my arsenal of thoughts about why I don't like fiction.
Wish me luck.
UPDATE: I'm 140 pages into this book which was described to me as "life-changing."
So far, I give it an emphatic "eh." I've already read phrases like "hit him like a Mack truck," and "deeper than a canyon." I've already read through scenes containing the exaggerated speech of a drunken man, and the melodramatic hesitation over dialing the last digit of a phone number.
Oh, and a character named Dirk. DIRK.
So, the writing isn't riveting, is all I am saying. It's Christian-y in ways that make me want to gag a little. And, despite the superficial 'messiness' of the characters involved in the conflict, they are messy in very neat, predictable ways. Not messy like in real life. It's starting to really read like morality play.
And I'm getting a little uncomfortable with the continual assertion by the main character that seems to follows this pattern: God wouldn't let it happen this way unless he was eventually going to work it out for me.
It remains to be seen if she wises up on that score. For that reason, I'll keep reading (along with the reason I read past my intended 50 pages, which is that I feel like I need to read it all to be able to creditably say that I didn't like the book.) So, I will finish the book... even though I think I already know how it is going to end. Only 219 pages left to go. (But who is counting, right?)
Seriously hoping this book surprises me, but not counting on it.
THE FINAL VERDICT:
Eh.
This is basically a Christian soap opera. I can appreciate what Kingsbury and Smalley are trying to accomplish through this book - I have been encouraged in a few aspects of my faith, but I am not the sort to take a lot of life lessons from fiction. So all I am left with is, was this a good story?
It isn't an awful story. Contrived. A bit hokey. But not awful. Being that this book is the first in a series, a lot of groundwork was laid down for the storylines of the later novels. However, I can't say that I am dying to know what happens to these characters. As 'real' as they were supposed to be, they were just TOO much of whatever trait they were supposed to portray. They came in and out of behaviors too quickly and too conveniently. And I found Ryan's behavior at the end downright creepy.
Add in here the believability of having two girls in the same family, both incredibly beautiful, both sought after by anyone with an X chromosome, and both with men who have pined after them since they were teenagers. Maybe this is my problem with fiction, but that kind of stuff just isn't believable.
As for the story itself, I thought the ending was very convenient, both in terms of the plot for the next book, and also for the romantics who want the perfect ending. The writing was pretty weak too. On more than one occasion, a character felt things "with every fiber of his being." There is a really bad metaphor of a sinking ship that was totally unnecessary. There was a photographer who wore a beret and said things along the lines of 'work with me baby.' And, to describe one character, Kingsbury wrote that she could not have been more disgusted if someone had dumped ten spiders down her sweater. I guess I'm just saying that this is not the kind of writing that really draws me in.
So the bottom line is this: I'd read the next novel in this series if I wanted some light, escape reading. But the book would probably have to be readily accessible. I don't see myself hunting it down and devouring it by next week.
Wish me luck.
UPDATE: I'm 140 pages into this book which was described to me as "life-changing."
So far, I give it an emphatic "eh." I've already read phrases like "hit him like a Mack truck," and "deeper than a canyon." I've already read through scenes containing the exaggerated speech of a drunken man, and the melodramatic hesitation over dialing the last digit of a phone number.
Oh, and a character named Dirk. DIRK.
So, the writing isn't riveting, is all I am saying. It's Christian-y in ways that make me want to gag a little. And, despite the superficial 'messiness' of the characters involved in the conflict, they are messy in very neat, predictable ways. Not messy like in real life. It's starting to really read like morality play.
And I'm getting a little uncomfortable with the continual assertion by the main character that seems to follows this pattern: God wouldn't let it happen this way unless he was eventually going to work it out for me.
It remains to be seen if she wises up on that score. For that reason, I'll keep reading (along with the reason I read past my intended 50 pages, which is that I feel like I need to read it all to be able to creditably say that I didn't like the book.) So, I will finish the book... even though I think I already know how it is going to end. Only 219 pages left to go. (But who is counting, right?)
Seriously hoping this book surprises me, but not counting on it.
THE FINAL VERDICT:
Eh.
This is basically a Christian soap opera. I can appreciate what Kingsbury and Smalley are trying to accomplish through this book - I have been encouraged in a few aspects of my faith, but I am not the sort to take a lot of life lessons from fiction. So all I am left with is, was this a good story?
It isn't an awful story. Contrived. A bit hokey. But not awful. Being that this book is the first in a series, a lot of groundwork was laid down for the storylines of the later novels. However, I can't say that I am dying to know what happens to these characters. As 'real' as they were supposed to be, they were just TOO much of whatever trait they were supposed to portray. They came in and out of behaviors too quickly and too conveniently. And I found Ryan's behavior at the end downright creepy.
Add in here the believability of having two girls in the same family, both incredibly beautiful, both sought after by anyone with an X chromosome, and both with men who have pined after them since they were teenagers. Maybe this is my problem with fiction, but that kind of stuff just isn't believable.
As for the story itself, I thought the ending was very convenient, both in terms of the plot for the next book, and also for the romantics who want the perfect ending. The writing was pretty weak too. On more than one occasion, a character felt things "with every fiber of his being." There is a really bad metaphor of a sinking ship that was totally unnecessary. There was a photographer who wore a beret and said things along the lines of 'work with me baby.' And, to describe one character, Kingsbury wrote that she could not have been more disgusted if someone had dumped ten spiders down her sweater. I guess I'm just saying that this is not the kind of writing that really draws me in.
So the bottom line is this: I'd read the next novel in this series if I wanted some light, escape reading. But the book would probably have to be readily accessible. I don't see myself hunting it down and devouring it by next week.
January 23, 2016
This is not my first time reading REDEMPTION from the Karen Kingsbury Redemption series. I had read the first three books in the series when they first came out, but then I got out of step. I continued to purchase all the books in the set and the series’ that followed, but always felt I needed to go back to the beginning and re-read before I continued on into the other series that dovetail off of this one. So, between my other scheduled readings, I have committed to get up to speed on the multiple series put out by Kingsbury. All that to say my reviews will probably be short and to the point.
The Redemption series follows the Baxter family. The Baxter’s seem to be a genuine, close knit family, but there are many fractures under the surface. REDEMPTION tells the story of Kari Baxter Jacobs. When she discovers her husband, a respected professor, is having an affair with one of his students, her life comes apart at the seams. Wanting to do everything she can to save her marriage, she refuses to give up on her husband. But, when her old high-school sweetheart shows up on the scene, and would like to pick up where they left off, Kari is torn between forgiveness and anger, temptation and commitment. What ensues is a roller-coaster of emotions and a horrible tragedy. Kari’s strength on all counts will be tested.
It took a little while to get back into this book. I think it’s because Christian fiction has grown by leaps and bounds since this series debuted in 2002. About a third of the way in, the momentum picked up and I remembered why I liked Karen’s writing. I like stories that are realistic, not cookie-cutter, and the troubles that plague the Baxter family make them human. I am half way through REMEMBER, the second in the series and will post more when I am finished.
The Redemption series follows the Baxter family. The Baxter’s seem to be a genuine, close knit family, but there are many fractures under the surface. REDEMPTION tells the story of Kari Baxter Jacobs. When she discovers her husband, a respected professor, is having an affair with one of his students, her life comes apart at the seams. Wanting to do everything she can to save her marriage, she refuses to give up on her husband. But, when her old high-school sweetheart shows up on the scene, and would like to pick up where they left off, Kari is torn between forgiveness and anger, temptation and commitment. What ensues is a roller-coaster of emotions and a horrible tragedy. Kari’s strength on all counts will be tested.
It took a little while to get back into this book. I think it’s because Christian fiction has grown by leaps and bounds since this series debuted in 2002. About a third of the way in, the momentum picked up and I remembered why I liked Karen’s writing. I like stories that are realistic, not cookie-cutter, and the troubles that plague the Baxter family make them human. I am half way through REMEMBER, the second in the series and will post more when I am finished.
June 19, 2011
he best TV shows are the ones that end with you wanting to know what happens next. The ones that you season pass on your TiVo because you don't want to miss any part of the storyline. The ones where each episode leads into the next and is connected to all of the ones that came before it. Those are my favorite kind of shows.
So it's no surprise, I'm a sucker for any books that are part of a series. I love that by the end of a good series each of the characters is developed so thoroughly that I feel like I know them personally. And I'm sad to see them go.
Two years ago I did a giveaway on my blog and asked readers for book recommendations. One of the top recommendations was the book Redemption by Karen Kingsbury. I had no idea when I bought it that it was part of a five-book series. I just finished reading the fifth and final book of the series and wanted to let everyone know about these great books. I used Redemption in one of Fluent Brittish's book swaps, and everyone that read it loved the book.
So here I am taking that recommendation and passing it on to you. Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series is about people like you and me. It's about a family that goes through trials, struggles, and hardships. About individuals that sometimes forget their faith but always eventually come back around. About relationships between friends, family, lovers, neighbors, and strangers. It's about life. Life as I know it and life as you know it. And I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a way to remember that no matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets, it will always be okay.
So if you're looking for a good book, I've got five for you. Redemption, Remember, Return, Rejoice, and Reunion.
So it's no surprise, I'm a sucker for any books that are part of a series. I love that by the end of a good series each of the characters is developed so thoroughly that I feel like I know them personally. And I'm sad to see them go.
Two years ago I did a giveaway on my blog and asked readers for book recommendations. One of the top recommendations was the book Redemption by Karen Kingsbury. I had no idea when I bought it that it was part of a five-book series. I just finished reading the fifth and final book of the series and wanted to let everyone know about these great books. I used Redemption in one of Fluent Brittish's book swaps, and everyone that read it loved the book.
So here I am taking that recommendation and passing it on to you. Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series is about people like you and me. It's about a family that goes through trials, struggles, and hardships. About individuals that sometimes forget their faith but always eventually come back around. About relationships between friends, family, lovers, neighbors, and strangers. It's about life. Life as I know it and life as you know it. And I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a way to remember that no matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets, it will always be okay.
So if you're looking for a good book, I've got five for you. Redemption, Remember, Return, Rejoice, and Reunion.
July 30, 2012
I can honestly say, I am not someone who pushes faith on anyone - I know I am a Christian; however I don't read the Bible religiously; I don't attend church faithfully and I don't pray on a daily basis. With that being said - anyone who is familir with the works of Karen Kingsbury knows she is a Christian writer and her writing incorporates versus from the Bible and includes a deep faith in Family, Love, Prayer and most importantly - God. I belive in all of that - however I don't act on it openly. But in reading this first book of this series, I have to say this writing was amazing and the story drew me in. I loved falling in love with the Baxter family and every turn of the page drew me in. I immediately went to the library and checked ou the next 4 books and have read all 5 books. This series follows the Baxers who include the parents (John and Elizabeth) and their 5 adult cihldren who face a world of trials and tribulations from first loves; to divorce; to death; to adoption; and other tragedies and celebrations. All the while leaning on eachother and God for support, guidance and strength. I was thoroughly impressed with this series and I am very happy I was introduced to her work.
August 20, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book so am going with 3 stars. Although this book primarily features Kari Baxter Jacobs when she finds out her husband is having an affair, it also starts to show hints at what will be coming in future books in this series. Each features one sibling but includes the story of others within it, so it's a bit like a family drama although there is romance mixed in some of the stories.
I have a few issues with how Kingsbury and Smalley had Kari chose to fight for her marriage, although if that was what she wanted then of course she was right to pursue it. One of the things I like about it is that things weren't all black and white with her feelings for her husband and also for the man she loved prior to that. I also respected the fact that this isn't a rosy family where all five kids have simply followed in the footsteps of their parents' faith because although that certainly happens, it's not uncommon for a more mixed set of results.
Very Christian, no sex scenes at all, but we do see scenes between her husband and the woman he's been having an affair with in her apartment including in bed. This book doesn't end up with everything neatly wrapped up in a bow for anyone which is rather realistic, but this doesn't mean there is nothing hopeful in it.
I have a few issues with how Kingsbury and Smalley had Kari chose to fight for her marriage, although if that was what she wanted then of course she was right to pursue it. One of the things I like about it is that things weren't all black and white with her feelings for her husband and also for the man she loved prior to that. I also respected the fact that this isn't a rosy family where all five kids have simply followed in the footsteps of their parents' faith because although that certainly happens, it's not uncommon for a more mixed set of results.
Very Christian, no sex scenes at all, but we do see scenes between her husband and the woman he's been having an affair with in her apartment including in bed. This book doesn't end up with everything neatly wrapped up in a bow for anyone which is rather realistic, but this doesn't mean there is nothing hopeful in it.
March 28, 2018
Karen Kingsbury leads you on a emotional roller coaster in the story of Redemption. Personally this one was extremity painful. I don't mean in a negative way but it felt so real and relative that my heart hurt from beginning to end.
My favourite elements to this story are:
1. while there are main characters it's not written from one or two characters POV. Each of the lives of the Baxter family and their nearest & dearest were explored individually. Some more than others.
2. The Word of God informs us of many things but how does that look in reality? Karen Kingsbury paints a beautiful, truthful & painful picture bringing Biblical principles to life.
3. I love how scripture is used.
4. I love that God has his own voice.
5. I love that the consequences of disobeying the principles of God are driven home throughout the story. It causes you to stop, reflect and examine your heart and your personal walk as a believer in Christ.
Overall I loved this story. It made me cry, scream, shout, cry and also smile.
Karen Kingsbury's writing is very captivating. I can not wait to read more about the lives of the Baxter family in this series. I am hooked!
I listened to the audio version. Narrated by "Sandra Burr" who I give 5 stars throughly enjoyed listening to this on audio. Finished within 48hrs :).
Recommended to all Christian contemporary fiction fans. Don't let the fact that it was written 16 years ago put you off. This story is as much relative now as it was when it was first written.
Warning: If you have had adultery challenges in your marriage this story may be very raw and difficult to read.
My favourite elements to this story are:
1. while there are main characters it's not written from one or two characters POV. Each of the lives of the Baxter family and their nearest & dearest were explored individually. Some more than others.
2. The Word of God informs us of many things but how does that look in reality? Karen Kingsbury paints a beautiful, truthful & painful picture bringing Biblical principles to life.
3. I love how scripture is used.
4. I love that God has his own voice.
5. I love that the consequences of disobeying the principles of God are driven home throughout the story. It causes you to stop, reflect and examine your heart and your personal walk as a believer in Christ.
Overall I loved this story. It made me cry, scream, shout, cry and also smile.
Karen Kingsbury's writing is very captivating. I can not wait to read more about the lives of the Baxter family in this series. I am hooked!
I listened to the audio version. Narrated by "Sandra Burr" who I give 5 stars throughly enjoyed listening to this on audio. Finished within 48hrs :).
Recommended to all Christian contemporary fiction fans. Don't let the fact that it was written 16 years ago put you off. This story is as much relative now as it was when it was first written.
Warning: If you have had adultery challenges in your marriage this story may be very raw and difficult to read.
April 25, 2021
This is my least favorite book by Kingsbury . . . But it isn’t her fault, I just didn’t love the themes of the plot. It was a good story of redemption though I feel that that it ended too easily with the murder just because one of the characters was in love with another person – their high school crush even. sighs I didn’t like it but otherwise, it was pretty good through better for 17/19 up and I’m only giving 2 and 1/2 stars. Not a favorite but it was all right, I guess.
November 13, 2017
I reviewed this book several years ago, so this is a reread review. I can tell you that my thoughts then were high on this book and not much has changed through the years. Mrs. Kingsbury's books were introduced to me by my mother many years ago, and I was hooked. Redemption was one of the first Kingsbury books that I read, and it is one of my favorites. I was instantly hooked on it the first time I read it, and the reread was no different. Whenever I find myself in a book funk, or I suffer a tragedy in my life, I pick up Redemption and am reminded that with God's redeeming grace, I can pull through anything.
As someone who went through a bad first marriage, this book truly hits home for me. There are many elements of the book that I went through but I didn't lean on God through it all like Kari did. I loved watching her character again. It truly felt like reuniting with a long lost friend. The pain and suffering she felt, once again became my own. The sadness and the struggling, were mine. I found myself wanting to wrap her in a big old hug and fall to my knees to pray for her.
This is definitely still a 5 star book in my opinion. Mrs. Kingsbury can create a novel that will suck you in, wrap you up in God's warmth and grace, and set you down in a brand new place. Her words will stay with you long after you've shut the pages, long after you've placed the book back on the shelf. She will leave you breathless and ready for the next book. I highly recommend this book to all!
*I purchased this book for my personal collection. Cafinated Reads was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
As someone who went through a bad first marriage, this book truly hits home for me. There are many elements of the book that I went through but I didn't lean on God through it all like Kari did. I loved watching her character again. It truly felt like reuniting with a long lost friend. The pain and suffering she felt, once again became my own. The sadness and the struggling, were mine. I found myself wanting to wrap her in a big old hug and fall to my knees to pray for her.
This is definitely still a 5 star book in my opinion. Mrs. Kingsbury can create a novel that will suck you in, wrap you up in God's warmth and grace, and set you down in a brand new place. Her words will stay with you long after you've shut the pages, long after you've placed the book back on the shelf. She will leave you breathless and ready for the next book. I highly recommend this book to all!
*I purchased this book for my personal collection. Cafinated Reads was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
June 15, 2011
The First book of an entire three set series called the Redemption series, the forgiven series and the sunrise series. All following the life of the Baxter family. 6 children, multiple grandchildren, a husband and a wife and the story of their lives and their children. This book in specific begins with the struggles of one of the eldest daughters, Kari and her cheating husband. We get a sense of the entire family and how much they love one another through the love of Christ. The focus, redemption, and how we must trust in God to provide us with our lives and pathways. Once you redeem your love for Christ, everything changes and your life has purpose. Its hard not to follow the entire series after reading just this book because you'll want to know what happens to each of the Baxter children as time passes on.
July 10, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book before reading it and I now can say it was well worth the read. It spoke to me in a number of different ways. It helped me step back and look at certain situations differently. I thank God for all that He has done for me! I thank Him for His forgiveness.
I read a review on here about how much someone hated this book. They stated that it was because they felt that the author was trying to push her believe rather than right fiction. I completely disagree with that. I think the person was upset because they had to face the fact or accept the fact that there are people in the world that truly (I being one of them) believe in this type of love. And Love being God and how He can help overcome anything.
I'm really looking forward to finishing the series.
God Bless!
I read a review on here about how much someone hated this book. They stated that it was because they felt that the author was trying to push her believe rather than right fiction. I completely disagree with that. I think the person was upset because they had to face the fact or accept the fact that there are people in the world that truly (I being one of them) believe in this type of love. And Love being God and how He can help overcome anything.
I'm really looking forward to finishing the series.
God Bless!
Read
December 1, 2019What I see is that there are a lot of people using God's name to justify their shit. This author should be ashamed for writing such bullshit.
January 15, 2024
3,5 ⭐️
December 18, 2012
I kept having to force myself to keep reading. It is a story that was obviously hung upon the co-authors' idea of Biblical marriage which is shaky at best. I can put up with a half-hearted, unbelievable story with flat characters, but completely ignoring advice from the apostle Paul about marriage (he said if your unbelieving spouse wants a divorce you should let them in 1 Cor 7:15) and not even addressing the issue of the Baxter family's underlying dysfunctional relationships was too much for me to take. Granted, the guy that wanted a divorce came back to God but only AFTER he found out that his wife was pregnant. I felt pretty disrespected as a reader that we were supposed to just believe that Tim was going to now be a good husband and Kari would be happy. I'm also pretty upset about the "it was all a misunderstanding," situation with Ryan. I mean, really. You can't be THAT in love with someone and not even want an explanation when he suddenly wants a new girlfriend. I just don't believe it. I feel very manipulated into wanting to read the other books by underhanded comments that were left unexplained. You shouldn't get your readers I read the next books in the series by bringing things up you don't intend to explain until 3 books from now. This isn't a TV show where you get the audience to hang on through the commercial break by postponing the results of the voting until then. Maybe some people like that kind of thing in their books, I don't know, but I like series that tell new stories. I keep reading because I like the characters, the story (and what I learn from it) and come away feeling accomplished; Not bullied into buying another book.
July 21, 2009
I'm really surprised at how much I enjoyed this, as I'm very skeptical of Christian fiction books that either depict characters through rose-colored glasses or employ conversion as a plot device or major moral turning point for wayward characters. Refreshingly, this had neither. The story involves Kari, a young wife; her husband Tim; Kari's family, the Baxters; and Kari's former (and still current) love, Ryan. Tim is a journalism professor and begins a very passionate affair with a student that causes him to leave his wife. As the title implies, it is a story of redemption, about how (and why) Kari and Tim reconcile, and how Kari and Tim address the sin issues in their lives that led to the estrangement that developed in their marriage prior to the affair.
The characters' inner dialogue was spot on. My biggest complaint was that the main characters (aside from Tim) were exceedingly beautiful, intelligent, financially successful, and virtuous. Granted, we all know families like this, the kind who go to church together as a family and live in a big, comfortable house where youth group meets, and seems to have no problems on the surface. So it is not inconceivable to me that a family like the Baxters exists. However, Kari and Ryan's rekindled romance following Tim's affair with the student was unbelievably G-rated. If their feelings for each other were as strong as they described, I can't believe there wasn't real temptation to do more than kiss. Ryan, especially, seemed unusually restrained for a guy in his position.
I'll be reading Book #2 in the series!
The characters' inner dialogue was spot on. My biggest complaint was that the main characters (aside from Tim) were exceedingly beautiful, intelligent, financially successful, and virtuous. Granted, we all know families like this, the kind who go to church together as a family and live in a big, comfortable house where youth group meets, and seems to have no problems on the surface. So it is not inconceivable to me that a family like the Baxters exists. However, Kari and Ryan's rekindled romance following Tim's affair with the student was unbelievably G-rated. If their feelings for each other were as strong as they described, I can't believe there wasn't real temptation to do more than kiss. Ryan, especially, seemed unusually restrained for a guy in his position.
I'll be reading Book #2 in the series!
January 7, 2008
If you like bible verses mixed into a sappy romance novel, then this is the book for you. An acquaintance recommended it to me because it takes place in Bloomington, Ind., where we both had lived, and she loved the book. Although it did hold my attention, I'm far too cynical to appreciate the goodness of the lead character, and I couldn't help rolling my eyes as scripture constantly popped into the characters' heads to motivate or justify their actions. I also had a hard time accepting that the husband went from a teetotaler to a hapless drunk in a matter of days after sipping his first white zinfandel.
What I learned: Don't drink cheap white zinfandel. Read the Bible and romance novels separately.
What I learned: Don't drink cheap white zinfandel. Read the Bible and romance novels separately.
August 12, 2024
TW: Steriod use, stalking, alcoholism
Kari gets a call telling her that her husband, Tim has been cheating on her. When she confronts Tim, he says he wants a divorce, but she’s not going to give it to him. While trying to talk Tim into counseling, an old flame of Kari’s pops into town. Now she has to decided does she want to stay married or does she want to see what could have been.
I was scared to start this because of what the content is about. I actually ended up loving this more than I thought. I can’t even explain how much I love this book. I can’t wait to get the second book. I am hoping my library has the complete series. At the end I bawled my eyes out. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next for the Baxter family.
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Excuse me, but I am a blubbering mess. Rtc.
Kari gets a call telling her that her husband, Tim has been cheating on her. When she confronts Tim, he says he wants a divorce, but she’s not going to give it to him. While trying to talk Tim into counseling, an old flame of Kari’s pops into town. Now she has to decided does she want to stay married or does she want to see what could have been.
I was scared to start this because of what the content is about. I actually ended up loving this more than I thought. I can’t even explain how much I love this book. I can’t wait to get the second book. I am hoping my library has the complete series. At the end I bawled my eyes out. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next for the Baxter family.
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Excuse me, but I am a blubbering mess. Rtc.
August 18, 2021
An older book, but a good one.
The main character was Kari Baxter who just found out her husband was having an affair. Whew, what that poor woman went through as she believed God was calling her to hold on to her marriage even though her husband asked for a divorce. I had a hard time relating because I’m not sure I’d be so forgiving. But it was an inspiration, nonetheless.
It’s a story of God's faithfulness even when we're not. It’s about being faithful to Him and seeing what He can do. It’s about your fears, frustrations and anger, and how putting them in God's hands brings a stillness to one's heart. A quote about the story in Mark 4 is so relevant as the disciples were out on the Sea of Galilee.
"The wind and waves were wild, tossing the boat like a child’s toy until the disciples cried out for their Teacher’s help….Where was Jesus? Sleeping at the back of the boat. But at their desperate request, He rose and stretched His hand out toward the sea. ‘Be still!’ he said. And suddenly the wind and waves grew calm again.”
Kari's father was a bit like how I'd think of Karen Kingsbury's co-author, Gary Smalley, a devoted Christian, husband and a loving father. It was lovely to see him pour his heart into loving and praying for his children. His words of wisdom are ones I will carry in my heart for years.
Good book, worth my recommendation.
The main character was Kari Baxter who just found out her husband was having an affair. Whew, what that poor woman went through as she believed God was calling her to hold on to her marriage even though her husband asked for a divorce. I had a hard time relating because I’m not sure I’d be so forgiving. But it was an inspiration, nonetheless.
It’s a story of God's faithfulness even when we're not. It’s about being faithful to Him and seeing what He can do. It’s about your fears, frustrations and anger, and how putting them in God's hands brings a stillness to one's heart. A quote about the story in Mark 4 is so relevant as the disciples were out on the Sea of Galilee.
"The wind and waves were wild, tossing the boat like a child’s toy until the disciples cried out for their Teacher’s help….Where was Jesus? Sleeping at the back of the boat. But at their desperate request, He rose and stretched His hand out toward the sea. ‘Be still!’ he said. And suddenly the wind and waves grew calm again.”
Kari's father was a bit like how I'd think of Karen Kingsbury's co-author, Gary Smalley, a devoted Christian, husband and a loving father. It was lovely to see him pour his heart into loving and praying for his children. His words of wisdom are ones I will carry in my heart for years.
Good book, worth my recommendation.
June 13, 2013
First, I listened to the audio version of this novel. The reader was over-the-top annoying, so overly dramatic it reminded me of a teenage drama queen. Second, this author falls into the category of Christian writers who think they must infuse nearly every page with Christian beliefs. These authors, instead of writing a good story that has a Christian foundation seem to think they have to “hit you over the head with Jesus,” as a pastor so aptly said about over-zealous evangelists. The plot has some interesting points, but they are overshadowed by the preachy tone of the novel. Highly emotional, this novel is like a Christian soap opera in audio.
January 31, 2016
This book is about The Baxter's. John and Elizabeth have 5 adult children, Erin, Brooke, Kari, Ashley and Luke. The book tells the story of things families deal with daily, love, loss, grief, happiness, sadness. I felt as if I knew all of them and I belief an author has done a great job when you relate to the characters as real people. I will definitely finsih the series. I love the Baxters.
January 15, 2020
The thing with this book is the saying
Women need to feel needed
While men need to feel loved is appropriate.
While I'm not a fan of most cheating novels and I don't see that they can be redeemed. I never thought I'd say this but wow. He was actually redeemed by the end. It was an emotional read and heavily Christian so if your not into those stories this book isn't for you
Women need to feel needed
While men need to feel loved is appropriate.
While I'm not a fan of most cheating novels and I don't see that they can be redeemed. I never thought I'd say this but wow. He was actually redeemed by the end. It was an emotional read and heavily Christian so if your not into those stories this book isn't for you
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