Deeply relational & emotional


Karen and Gary offer us a truly unique perspective, one that goes from the inside out. They take us into the minds of their characters, showing us the inner workings and the self-talk that occurs. It's fascinating to see how this self-talk can be both positive and negative. So often, we find ourselves leaning towards the negative self-talk, which can have a significant impact on our lives and relationships. However, Karen and Gary continuously emphasize the importance of bouncing our thoughts off Scripture and the moving of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we can gain a better understanding of ourselves and others, and develop deeper and more meaningful relationships. Their insights are not only thought-provoking but also deeply emotional, as they touch on the core of our being and the need for connection and spiritual growth.

This book had a profound impact on me!

A few years ago, my husband and I endured a difficult period similar to that of Peter and Brooke. There were no drugs involved, and he never left the house, but somehow the connection between us got lost along the way.

Only God had the power to restore the love we once had for each other. It took nearly a year to overcome that challenging time, but now we praise God every day for His grace and mercy.

Also, while reading this book, several life events occurred, and "Rejoice in the Lord Always" was the first thought that came to my mind each day.

I am truly grateful to God for books like this that touch our hearts and enable us to experience the emotions through the characters, allowing us to relate to them on a certain level.

I never imagined that I would come to enjoy the Baxter series, but as you can see, having just finished the fourth book in the series, I am completely hooked!

Book #4 in the series places a primary emphasis on the eldest child, Brooke, and her family.

Concurrently, the storylines of the other siblings also progress side by side.

I had the perception that certain plot lines reached their conclusions rather swiftly, whereas some others were elongated for a considerable period.

Overall, I have derived enjoyment from this series.

It presents a regular family confronting potentially devastating problems and trials, and learning to lean on their faith to overcome them.

My favorite quote from this book is: “…The 23rd Psalm says he'll walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death…It doesn't say he'll take us on a detour around the valley of the shadow of death. It says he'll stay beside us while we walk through it…You have to walk through it to get past it.”

This quote, along with Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”, essentially encapsulates the focus of book 4 of the series.

It highlights the importance of having faith and persevering through difficult times, rather than seeking an easy way out.

The characters in the story serve as an inspiration, showing that with faith and determination, one can overcome even the most challenging of circumstances.

Made me cry so hard!!! It is such a sad story... I couldn't even figure out myself why God would let their little girl go through what she had to.

But when you read the story, you will see how it unfolds. There was a part that gave me chills and I just couldn't sleep without reading all the way through.

It shows the true powers of darkness and the intense fight between the destroyer of our souls and the creator of them. This is another great continuation of the Baxter family.

I am already reading book 5 and I'm really enjoying it. The story is so engaging and emotional that it keeps pulling me in. I can't wait to see what happens next in the lives of the Baxter family.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good, heart-wrenching story that also explores the themes of good and evil. It's truly a remarkable read.

A Depressing Book

I recently read a book that left me feeling extremely depressed.

The story was filled with hardships and tragedies that seemed to have no end. The main character faced one obstacle after another, and no matter how hard they tried, things just kept getting worse.

The author's vivid descriptions made it easy to imagine the pain and suffering that the characters were going through. It was as if I was right there with them, experiencing their emotions.

The book also had a very dark and gloomy atmosphere, which added to the overall sense of depression. The setting was often described as being cold, rainy, and desolate, which further emphasized the characters' feelings of hopelessness.

Despite its depressing nature, I have to admit that the book was well-written. The author did an excellent job of creating a believable and engaging story. However, I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light and uplifting read. It's just too depressing.

Overall, reading this book was a bit of a downer. It made me feel sad and helpless, and it took me a while to shake off the feeling of depression. I think I'll stick to reading more positive and inspiring books from now on.

This is the fourth installment of the Baxter Family series.

It centers around Brooke, the eldest daughter, and her husband Peter West. Both Brooke and Peter are doctors, and they have two daughters, Maddie and Haley. The West family is at a friend's place for a little girl's birthday party. Part of the celebration involves the girls swimming in a private pool. However, Brooke is called away due to a medical issue. Meanwhile, Peter is engrossed in watching a baseball game with another father. The girls take off their life jackets to enjoy the birthday cake. Tragically, Haley drowns in the swimming pool. She remains underwater for at least 15 minutes until it is noticed that she is missing. Although Haley survives, she is a shell of her former self.

Peter and Brooke had already been experiencing marriage problems before the accident, and things only worsened afterwards. Peter blames himself and moves out of the house, filing for divorce. Additionally, he develops a pain pill addiction. This book delves into how Brooke and Peter cope with the devastating accident, addiction, and marriage issues.

We also catch a glimpse of Ashley, who was diagnosed with HIV in previous books due to poor decisions. She refuses to marry Landon, believing he doesn't deserve to be burdened with her and her illness. Landon throws himself into his work as a firefighter in New York.

Luke and Reagon are set to get married in New York on Christmas Eve and plan to live there. How will the Baxter family deal with Luke leaving Bloomington?

The other Baxter kids have their own minor issues.

The book emphasizes that all people, even Christians, encounter difficult times in life. The question is, how do we handle these challenges? We need to learn to rejoice, which is not easy but is clearly instructed in the Bible. It provides a great application of God's Word to the hardships we face in life.

By far, the fourth book in this series stands out as the most intense one.

To be fair, all of the books in the series were excellent. In fact, I gave each of them a 5-star rating. If possible, I would毫不犹豫地 give this particular book a 6-star rating.

If anyone requires encouragement to embark on this series, they should do so just to experience the fourth book.

It should be noted that this book delves into several heavy series topics (TRIGGER WARNINGS): Suicide, drug abuse, mental illness, and harm to infants.

However, despite these challenging themes, this book does not hold back any punches. It is brimming with unwavering faith, remarkable growth, and the true essence of love and forgiveness. Truly, this is a book that is worthy of celebration.

I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a profound and impactful read.

Oh my gosh, I absolutely adored this book!!!!

My favorite quote without a doubt is, “‘Yes, Landon. Yes I’ll marry you!’ ‘Good. You were we’re getting the ring either way.’” It's just so incredibly cute.

And oh my word, when Peter was crying for Hayley at the end, it had me in floods of tears.

Also, thank goodness Luke came to his senses. Am I right?

That's all. This book truly had a profound impact on me. The story was engaging from start to finish, and the characters were so well-developed that I felt a deep connection to them.

The quotes were not only memorable but also added an extra layer of charm to the narrative.

The emotional moments, like Peter's tears for Hayley, really tugged at my heartstrings.

And Luke's realization was a welcome relief, making the story even more satisfying.

I can't wait to recommend this book to all my friends.

I didn't realize that it was part of a series.

As a result, some of the characters in the storyline seemed rather confusing to me.

This book wasn't the best one I've read. It had a very religious tone throughout.

Overall, it was just okay.

I'm not entirely sure if I'm interested in delving into the rest of this series.

Maybe if I knew more about the overarching plot and how the characters develop further, I might be more inclined to give it a try.

But based on this initial installment, I'm rather on the fence.

I'll have to think about it carefully before deciding whether to invest my time in reading the subsequent books.

It's possible that the religious aspect might put some readers off, while others might appreciate it.

For me, it was a bit of a mixed bag.

I have an intense love for these books, and Karen Kingsbury's works are simply irresistible to me.

Doubt has a cunning way of infiltrating our lives during dark times. There are numerous occasions when we all experience doubts, especially when things don't unfold as we desire. Sometimes, we find ourselves wondering why this is the case, but I firmly believe that it is the work of the enemy. Characters like Luke and Mr. Baxter have also endured such challenges, and it is truly heartening to realize that I am not alone in this struggle.

This particular book is filled with wonderful reminders that we should rejoice and be joyful even in the midst of trials. This doesn't imply that we won't feel sad or refrain from crying, but rather that we should go through the pain with Him by our side.

As stated in James 1:1-4, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."

Similarly, Philippians 4:4-6 tells us, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

These scriptures serve as powerful guides, encouraging us to maintain a positive attitude and trust in the Lord during difficult times.

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

This book was by far the most challenging one for me to endure emotionally. I truly had an extremely difficult time reading about a little girl drowning and then never being the same again. It was so heart-wrenching that I had to take several breaks in between reading sessions. Some parts of the book left me with a profound sense of unease. I really struggled with understanding why she had to drown in the first place. I found myself constantly wondering what I would have done if I were in that same scenario. As a mom of young children, this storyline is most likely going to haunt me for a long time. Despite all of this, it is still a good book. However, I will probably have to take a break from reading about the Baxter family after this one. I need some time to recover from the emotional turmoil that this book has put me through.

The story encompassed a wide range of challenging topics and experiences.

The Kingsbury and Smalley did an excellent job in vividly portraying the heart-wrenching tragedy that unfolds when drowning takes place.

It truly enhanced my comprehension of the difficulties faced by parents who have disabled children.

Nevertheless, I do believe that some of the circumstances that Ashley endured were rather burdensome.

All in all, despite the heavy aspects, I would highly recommend this book.

It offers a unique perspective and valuable insights into various aspects of life that are both thought-provoking and touching.

Readers are likely to be deeply moved and gain a greater appreciation for the complex emotions and situations that the characters encounter.

Whether it's the exploration of family dynamics, the struggle with disability, or the impact of tragedy, this book has something to offer for everyone.

It is a powerful and engaging read that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.