Return by karen kingsbury

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This was an extremely difficult book to get through, especially considering the tragedy of 9/11.

I could clearly sense that Karen Kingsbury had done an extensive amount of research about this event. She not only had a deep understanding of the facts but also incorporated some firsthand accounts and witnesses' perspectives.

The way she wrote this story was truly remarkable. It was so engaging and well-crafted that I simply could not put the book down!

Every page seemed to draw me deeper into the emotions and experiences of those affected by the 9/11 tragedy.

Kingsbury's ability to bring this story to life in such a vivid and powerful way is a testament to her talent as a writer.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of the impact of 9/11 and the human spirit in the face of such a devastating event.

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Naherth

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Genială și asta.

It is really great.

I truly believe that I will finish the series by the end of the week.

This is a remarkable achievement.

The note of 100 is a testament to my hard work and dedication.

I have been putting in a lot of effort to understand and master the content of the series.

Each episode has been a learning experience, and I have gained a wealth of knowledge and skills along the way.

I am looking forward to seeing the final outcome and sharing it with others.

I am confident that it will be well-received and will make a positive impact.

Overall, I am very satisfied with my progress and look forward to continuing to grow and learn.

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larkinsmithx

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This book places its emphasis on Luke, and there is a significant amount of Ashley as well.

I initially had the inclination to rate it unfavorably. However, I ended up staying up until 4 am to complete it in less than 24 hours.

Even though I felt that it dragged on more than some of the others, and the plotting was just a touch too clichéd, I still read it from start to finish without hesitation.

Clearly, I had some level of enjoyment from it. It's important to remember that these are character stories. The plot serves merely as a means to drive character development.

Nonetheless, I'm hoping that Brook and Erin will be the central characters in the next two books.

I'm eager to see how their stories unfold and how their characters will grow and evolve.

It will be interesting to observe if the author can bring the same level of depth and authenticity to their characters as was done with Luke and Ashley.

Overall, despite its flaws, this book has left me with anticipation for what's to come in the series.

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DltPROFILE742018

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

So far, Remember has been my absolute favorite among the series. Return was also a great read....but my heart truly broke for all the characters.

I have this strong feeling that this series should actually be named the "Ashley Baxter's Family Series." Now, don't misunderstand me....I have a deep love for Ashley Baxter and Landon Blake's story. I'm extremely excited to discover what lies ahead for them. However, I can't help but notice that for a book that was ostensibly written about Luke Baxter, it ended up discussing Ashley more than Luke.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I was overjoyed when Ashley achieved victory, and my heart sank when I learned about her test results. I won't go into spoilers here, but let me just say, it was really sad.

Now, here come the spoiler alerts. Seriously, if you haven't read the series yet but plan to, stop reading right now as it will spoil a lot of things. I'm a huge fan of Karen Kingsbury's books, but Luke Baxter's return to God seemed very....for lack of a better word, cheesy to me. He was agnostic for so long, and then all of a sudden, when he saw his kid, he was like, "Oh, I see my kid, yup, God exists." Personally, since I'm not in the "want-to-be-a-parent" category, this part was a bit of a letdown for me. I mean, Luke walked into Reagan's apartment fully determined to maintain his free-thinking lifestyle, and then the moment he laid eyes on Tommy, he suddenly became a Believer again. If I were Luke, it would take a whole lot more than that to convince me that God is real. But hey, everyone is different, and it was still a good book regardless. I just felt that Luke's return to God was more of a side story and a bit of a dolphin ending, considering the book was supposed to be about him.

But all in all, it was indeed a good book! I truly enjoyed it, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the next one!

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PikaBagel

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The plot is now beginning to venture into the "really?" territory.

However, it remains good enough to compel one to finish the last book in the series.

Despite this slight dip in plausibility, there is still an underlying charm and intrigue that keeps the reader engaged.

The story has developed in such a way that it has built up a certain momentum, and even though this new direction might raise some eyebrows, it also has the potential to lead to some exciting revelations and conclusions.

The characters are well-developed and their relationships add depth to the narrative, making it difficult to simply abandon the series at this point.

Even with the "really?" moments, the overall quality of the writing and the engaging nature of the story are enough to ensure that the reader will eagerly turn the pages of the final book, hoping for a satisfying resolution.

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vanillaskynet

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Another stellar notch in the Redemption Series.

This book delves more deeply into the character of Luke as he grapples with the far-reaching repercussions of 9-11 and experiences a profound crisis of faith.

It also takes an in-depth look at the lives of all the sisters. One sister has a sick child, which brings with it a host of emotional and practical challenges. Another sister is in the process of moving, dealing with the upheaval and changes that come with relocating. And yet another sister is on the verge of getting married, filled with excitement and anticipation but also perhaps some nerves.

Ashley and Landon continue to be a topic of conversation, their relationship still evolving and full of possibilities. But when Paris makes a call, will it bring an end to things?

These books are truly easy reads. At times, they may seem somewhat predictable, but there is ALWAYS a twist that catches me completely off guard. I simply cannot wait to read #4 and see what new surprises and developments await.

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dthq8281

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

One reason I don't read serial novels (or watch the show "Lost") is that as they progress, the plots often become overly convoluted. This is done to maintain the reader's interest and keep them turning the pages.

For instance, in this series, I'm reluctant to read the other two books. The events and circumstances within this family seem less and less like real life. While the first book started with a simple yet heartbreaking plot twist, this one ends with numerous inexplicable open ends.

Moreover, despite their flaws, the characters are still too idealized, especially the men like Ryan Taylor and Landon Blake. They are like fairy-tale princes, always saying the right things, never using irony or sarcasm, and even remembering to use coasters under their water glasses.

Kingsbury's prose also shows signs of laziness in this book. She leans too much on clichés and tired phrases like "a piece of her heart was missing" and "his thoughts swirled around him like a whirlwind."

I often feel like that kid in "The Princess Bride" who asks, "Woah, woah, woah--is this a kissing book?" due to all the descriptions of Landon's passionate, longing, tender, loving, and trusting kisses. Ugh, enough already.

So why did I give it four stars? Well, it is a real page-turner, and I do appreciate what Kingsbury is attempting to do. She aims to showcase God's faithfulness in people's lives. However, I would have preferred a single novel with a more focused story centered around a few characters, allowing for greater depth, rather than a complex web of characters whose lives intersect in increasingly absurd ways.

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TheOnlyBeefAlive

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I read this series either during my college years or in high school, so it has been quite some time ago.

Nevertheless, the series was truly enjoyable to read. It has the ability to immerse you in the challenges and struggles that the characters face, and it takes you through realistic situations that you can easily relate to.

Looking back, there are certain parts that I now find less realistic. For example, Landon "waiting" for Ashley since high school. In reality, most guys would simply move on with their lives and find another girl to marry.

Another instance is famous Dane Matthews pursuing small-town Katie. It seems a bit far-fetched.

Moreover, all of the characters in the series seem to be good-looking. My brother always used to make fun of me for reading these books, especially when there was an attractive male on the front cover.

Despite these minor flaws, there is also a bit of a melodramatic element to these stories. However, overall, they were enjoyable and even helpful for me when I was younger. They provided an escape from reality and allowed me to explore different emotions and experiences through the eyes of the characters.

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Redemption #3

Return

karen kingsbury gary smalley

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