Loved this story!

Love this story and book! You are a great writer of religious stories and no offense language. This book brought many tears and also laughter.

We met John and Abby Reynolds in "A Time to Dance", when they struggled to come together after 21 years of marriage. Kingsbury brings them to us again in A Time to Embrace, a novel of pain and faith.

Everything seems to be back on track for the couple after their near-divorce scare. But one fateful night, a night when a few seconds make a lifetime of difference, changes everything. Abby and John must struggle to come together, and to come to the Lord.

As John struggles with a newly imperfect body, he also struggles with his faith. Like any human, he can’t help but ask, Why me? Why this? Why now? He wrestles with his pride and his anger. And yet, out of the ashes of his life comes forgiveness that witnesses strongly for his town.

At the same time, Abby fights her own battles. With John’s life changed, she strives to appear strong, to give him somewhere to lean on. She fights to support him and love him, even as he pulls away and becomes distant. And she tries to be her own source of strength, before she learns again to rely on her Heavenly Father.

Mixed into the couple’s struggle is the fight of those who love them. Their daughter, whose prayers helped save their marriage, now turns away from God. Their youngest son watches his dreams disappear. Their oldest son fights his own spiritual battles. And the boys who bear the blame – and their parents, who carry their share – must fight their own battles. Slowly but surely, each comes to see the hand of God amid the tragedy.

Once again, Kingsbury has brought us a heart-touching tale that begs the question, why do bad things happen to good people? Her three-dimensional characters stand up to the challenges given, reacting realistically and drawing the reader further into the story. I did raise my eyebrows at the miraculous conclusion, which I didn’t feel was altogether necessary, or even helpful. I loved watching John, his family, and his community come together, and felt that the ending read more as a ‘feel good’ ending than a realistic one. After all of that struggle, I don’t think the surgery made for a happy ending – instead, the happiness came from the peace everyone found. A more realistic ending would also have helped provide hope for those who struggle with permanent injuries.

Overall, the novel is an emotionally compelling read. The spiritual journey of each character, major and minor, kept the reader intrigued. Kingsbury has again managed to share a joyful story of a Christian family returning to God despite – or perhaps because of – their tragedy.

Wish her books were so depressing/sad. Similar theme to many of them.

3.5

3.5/5 This was my 39th Karen Kingsbury book LOL honestly it was super predictable (I guess that’s what happens when you’ve read literally every one of her books) but still a good read. I also met Karen while I was reading this so that was SUPER COOL.

I loved this book. I'm not a real romance reader but this was so good.

I was disappointed in this book. I do believe in God and in the need for ceaseless prayer, but this part of the book was so distracting for me. Every prayer was immediately answered, and almost always answered word for word the way it was prayed. This does little to encourage me as a believer. I felt like every prayer had to be answered immediately as if the author thought we would forget, or give up our hope in God if the prayer wasn't answered in the very next sentence. In trying to see this book through the eyes of a nonbeliever, I think this would be taken to be childish and unrealistic, and the book discarded before they took away the real value of the message in the book. In this book, there should have been more spoken of the truth of prayer - that you have to seek to live in the center of God's will, and pray from that heart, not just 'ask and you shall receive' (immediately - before the beginning of the next paragraph!).

Lessons in practical Christian love and devotion.

John and Abbie Reynolds have just survived a close call with divorce, but now their marriage seems to be on solid ground. John is still coaching football at Marion High School, and while he really tries to connect with his students and football players he is having difficulty with the team, they had bad attitudes and in general came off cocky,and the parents of the boys are even worse, having lost two of the first four games of the season, the parents are rude and condescending, threatening to get John fired if things don't improve. So when an unsigned letter shows up at the school questioning whether he is a good moral leader, because they say that he knows his players are drinking and drag racing but does nothing about it, and in an ironic twist of fate John is in a car accident, hit by a boy who was drag racing, while he survives he is paralyzed from the waist down. Can their marriage survive this, and how will it affect those around them?

Karen Kingsbury's writing skills shine thru in this book, the characters come off as very real, as they deal with day to day struggles. I enjoy the way she weaves God's message throughout her books, her stories are always very inspiring and reminds the reader that with God all things are possible.
While this is the second book in the Timeless Love Series, it can easily be read as a stand alone story, but I would recommend reading the first story, because you will get a glimpse of what John and Abbie's marriage endured, with the help of God.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an inspirational story, that has some substance to it, be prepared you won't be able to put this one down!

Even though I was provided a copy of this book to review by Booksneeze it in no way alters my opinion of this story.

"In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"... "Lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight..."

John and Abby struggled with their marriage. Life got in the way of focusing on each other, but after their daughter's wedding, their cherished memories prevailed.

John was the high school football coach, and troubles were brewing. Some parents and players were angry over playing time and rumors of students drinking and street racing. They took to an anonymous letter campaign to try to get John fired.

But, when John became the victim to two of his football players' actions and is paralyzed, the entire community changes their tune, seeks truth, and takes responsibility.

And through tremendous prayer, miracles happen.

Good story - but too predictable. I skimmed the last chapter....

A sad, touching, story of a family that seems to be healing, but then John is the victim of a senseless accident. And the person who caused the accident is a decent person who made a careless, tragic decision. Can the family ever forgive him? Can he even forgive himself? God will bring good out of it, but how? And all this at a time when other family members are struggling with a pregnancy and birth, wondering whether the baby will even make it. Too much all at once!

But God is faithful, working in people in ways we may not even see.