I have a deep affection for the Baxter series.

This series has always held a special place in my heart. The stories within it are not only captivating but also filled with rich and complex characters. Each book takes me on a thrilling adventure, exploring different worlds and concepts.

The author's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy for me to get lost in the pages. I find myself constantly on the edge of my seat, eager to see what will happen next.

The Baxter series has truly become a part of my life, and I can't wait to discover more of its wonders with each new installment.

I didn't have a particular fondness for this book.

It was intended to demonstrate how individuals can be redeemed from the mistakes they commit.

Nonetheless, everyone in it simply annoyed me.

Tim is having an affair with one of his students.

His wife, Kari, discovers this.

He claims he desires a divorce, but she refuses to grant him one.

She is certain that he will return to her.

I am all in favor of forgiveness.

But while this is happening, Kari encounters Ryan, an old lover, and sort of resumes their relationship.

Then she becomes angry with Tim when he says he wants to attempt to salvage the marriage.

There is WAY too much turmoil and angst in this book!

It seems that the characters are constantly making one bad decision after another, and it's difficult to feel any sympathy for them.

The story just drags on with all this unnecessary drama, and I found myself losing interest quickly.

I was hoping for a more engaging and inspiring tale of redemption, but unfortunately, this book fell short.

I can honestly say that I am not the kind of person who forces my faith on others. I am well aware that I am a Christian, but I don't religiously read the Bible, attend church faithfully, or pray on a daily basis.

Having said that, anyone familiar with the works of Karen Kingsbury knows that she is a Christian writer. Her writing incorporates verses from the Bible and includes a deep faith in family, love, prayer, and most importantly, God. I believe in all of that, but I don't openly act on it.

However, after reading the first book of this series, I have to admit that the writing was amazing and the story really drew me in. I loved falling in love with the Baxter family, and every turn of the page made me more and more engaged. I immediately went to the library and checked out the next four books and have since read all five.

This series follows the Baxters, which includes the parents (John and Elizabeth) and their five adult children. They face a world full of trials and tribulations, from first loves to divorce, from death to adoption, and other tragedies and celebrations. All the while, they lean on each other and on God for support, guidance, and strength.

I was truly impressed with this series, and I am very glad that I was introduced to Karen Kingsbury's work. It has had a profound impact on me and has made me think more deeply about my own faith and beliefs.

I won't read this because not even my faith will convince me cheaters deserve a second chance.

However, I've gotta say I love the fact that the husband dies

My 14-year-old daughter was recommended this series by our school librarian.

She cautioned me that it addressed some mature themes, but they were well-handled. So, I decided to read along.

I truly loved the book. It's about a Christian family with five adult children. Each book in the series focuses on a different child. This one centers on Kari and her husband Tim.

At the start of the story, we learn that Tim had an affair. Kari opts to stay in the marriage and attempt reconciliation.

I've seen numerous reviews criticizing the book because Kari stays with Tim and wants to make the marriage work. However, I think this was dealt with appropriately and not in a sexist or male-dominated way. There was no abuse, and it was her choice.

It's not suggesting that a woman must stay married, but rather that as a Christian, reconciliation is an option. You don't have to assume that divorce is the immediate solution.

Many critics believe the authors are imposing their views, but really, they are sharing their perspectives as a Christian author and a Christian counselor, stating that God can heal a broken marriage.

If you're not a Christian, I can understand why you might not agree with this book.

Anyway, there's a lot more to the story than that, and there are a few unexpected twists. It was a very uplifting and easy read. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and catching up with my daughter, who says it's her favorite series ever.

I never wanted to put this book down.

There were so many plot twists that it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

I felt like I was constantly sitting with a dropped jaw, completely amazed by the turns the story took.

The author did an excellent job of creating a captivating narrative that drew me in from the very beginning.

It was not only a thrilling read but also a touching story of the Lord's redemption.

The characters were well-developed and their struggles and triumphs were portrayed in a way that made me truly care about them.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story with depth and heart.

It will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted, and you will find yourself thinking about it long after you have finished the last page.

I highly recommend it to all book lovers out there.

I constantly had to compel myself to continue reading.

It is a narrative that was clearly based on the co-authors' concept of Biblical marriage, which is rather tenuous at best. I can tolerate a lackluster, unconvincing story with one-dimensional characters. However, completely disregarding the advice of the apostle Paul regarding marriage (he stated in 1 Corinthians 7:15 that if your unbelieving spouse desires a divorce, you should allow them) and not even addressing the issue of the Baxter family's underlying dysfunctional relationships was simply too much for me to endure.

Admittedly, the man who wanted a divorce returned to God, but only after he discovered that his wife was pregnant. I felt rather disrespected as a reader, as we were expected to simply believe that Tim would now be a good husband and Kari would be happy. I'm also quite upset about the "it was all a misunderstanding" situation with Ryan. I mean, really. You can't be that deeply in love with someone and not even seek an explanation when he suddenly desires a new girlfriend. I simply don't believe it.

I feel very manipulated into desiring to read the other books by underhanded comments that were left unexplained. You shouldn't make your readers read the next books in the series by bringing up things that you don't intend to explain until three books from now. This isn't a TV show where you get the audience to stay engaged through the commercial break by postponing the results of the voting until then. Maybe some people enjoy that sort of thing in their books, I don't know, but I prefer series that tell new stories. I keep reading because I like the characters, the story (and what I can learn from it), and I want to come away feeling a sense of accomplishment; not bullied into purchasing another book.

First of all, I decided to listen to the audio version of this particular novel. However, right from the start, I was extremely disappointed. The reader's performance was truly over-the-top annoying. The way they delivered the lines was so overly dramatic that it instantly reminded me of a teenage drama queen. It was just too much and really detracted from the overall experience.

Secondly, this author clearly falls into the category of Christian writers who seem to have this idea that they must infuse nearly every single page with Christian beliefs. Instead of simply focusing on writing a good, engaging story that naturally has a Christian foundation, these authors appear to think that they have to "hit you over the head with Jesus," as a pastor once so aptly said about over-zealous evangelists. While the plot of this novel does have some interesting points here and there, unfortunately, they are completely overshadowed by the extremely preachy tone that permeates the entire novel. It is highly emotional and overall, this novel in audio form is very much like a Christian soap opera.

It lacks the finesse and subtlety that would make it a truly great piece of literature. Instead, it comes across as heavy-handed and a bit too pushy with its religious message.

It's a rather difficult book to read.

Even though there are continuous reminders of Bible verses throughout, I couldn't stop myself from hoping that the storyline would take a different direction and lead to a more "normal" theme.

However, that's precisely where this book truly shines and becomes amazing.

You come to realize that God can indeed be a part of our everyday lives, just as much as in books like this one.

I am definitely going to read the series of Kingbury's books.

I'm eager to explore more of the author's work and see how the stories unfold and how they might further impact my understanding of faith and life.

The unique combination of a challenging storyline and the presence of religious elements has piqued my interest and made me curious to discover what else lies ahead in this series.

I believe there is much to be gained from delving deeper into Kingbury's literary world.

Man, there is truly nothing that can toy with my emotions in quite the same way as a Karen Kingsbury novel.

Her stories have this remarkable ability to draw me in completely, making me feel every single emotion along with the characters.

The Baxter family, in particular, has become like old friends to me.

I find myself constantly eager to pick up the next book and discover what new adventures and challenges they will face.

Kingsbury's writing is so vivid and engaging that I can easily picture each scene in my mind's eye.

It's as if I'm right there with the Baxters, sharing in their joys and sorrows.

I can't wait to read more about this wonderful family and see how their lives continue to unfold.

I will confess that I don't actually like Christian fiction. It's often too formulaic, and the characters and situations are too contrived. Often, I feel like the faith statements are too shallow, and the whole thing just turns me off.

However, my sister and mother have both been in love with a series from Karen Kingsbury for a while, and they kept recommending to me that I read the Baxter books. I would listen to them and find something else to read, but my mother bought me several series of them to try out for Christmas, so I just had to put them on my reading list. (This book will actually be a part of my #vtReadingChallenge as "a book recommended by a family member.")

Redemption is the first book in the Baxter family saga and it's the beginning book where we meet the whole family. The protagonist of this book is Kari Baxter Jacobs. The book begins with her husband walking out the door because Kari has discovered his affair. Despite the fact that Kari is still committed to their relationship, Tim wants nothing to do with their marriage. In his mind, he has found a new love and the old love is gone, despite the guilt and the small voice in his head reminding him of his sin. He decided to just drown that voice out with alcohol.

In her pain, Kari moves out of her home and moves in for a few weeks with her parents. We are introduced to her whole family and to the dynamics between them. (We're especially introduced to her sister Ashley, who will be the protagonist of the second book in the series.) An old flame also comes back into her life, and she has to make a decision to remaining committed to her marriage or allowing it to slip away. She also has to face an incredible tragedy in her life to overcome (as if her husband's infidelity isn't enough!!).

When I started reading the book, I was bothered by the formulaic feel of the writing. I was annoyed at the chapters from the point of view of Tim, who I considered to be very shallow and of low character. I had just finished reading the books of A Song of Ice and Fire, and after reading those, it was difficult to go to a writing style that was, quite frankly, much less beautiful. Yet, by the time I was fifty pages in, I was completely drawn into the story and the character.

I found myself tearing up several times during the book, especially as Kari faces her decision whether to stay in her marriage or to allow herself to reinitiate a relationship with her high school boyfriend. The love that puts duty over personal desire and is not self-seeking is still one that I have difficulty with, so to see her make the choice to commit herself to her marriage, even when it is hard, was something that I found beautiful and heartbreaking for her personal happiness. It reminds me of the lovely Gary Thomas books on marriage (Sacred Marriage & A Lifelong Love) where I was really brought home to the fact that my marriage wasn't about me and whether I was happy or not (and I am!!). Instead, I was struck again by how much my marriage has to do with my sanctification and my relationship with God. This section is beautifully handled in illustrating both the right decision and the personal pain that it caused.

Kari had already been through so much that I just couldn't stand it when she had to suffer more hardship before the end of the book. Yet, she still was able to sing "Great is thy Faithfulness" before the end of the book, and that is enough to remember.

Because of the way that this book emotionally moved me and reminded me of the purpose of marriage, I have to give the book five stars. I am going to momentarily pause my list of books to read for the challenge that I am working through and work through some more of the Baxter books because I have so enjoyed the time that I have spent in their world at this point. After all, it's no good to get back to a reading challenge until I've read enough of these books to be ready to move on without worrying about "what's going on in their world." :-)

Overall, Redemption surprised me. It started off with a writing style that I wasn't fond of, but as I got deeper into the story, I became completely invested in Kari's life and her struggles. The book explores themes of love, marriage, forgiveness, and faith in a way that is both relatable and thought-provoking. It made me reflect on my own marriage and the importance of putting God at the center of it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good Christian fiction read that will touch their heart and make them think.

The story was at least captivating. I can't say that I'm overwhelmed by the author's way of describing all the events, but the event itself spoke to me.

The book highlights one of many people's struggles with insufficiency, broken relationships, and infidelity. What was special was following a storyline from both partners' perspectives, (which doesn't happen all too often when it comes to these types of stories).

However, I must admit that I was extremely disappointed by the ending