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Sunrise #2
Summer
A NEW BEGINNING: Hollywood actor Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart are married and living in Bloomington, Ind., where Dayne has found a solution to his on-camera love scenes—he wants Katy to star in his next film. Katy wins the part and is cast opposite her super-star husband. The story of a small town girl's dream come true is too much for the press to resist, and in an effort to appease them, the couple agrees to a 12-episode reality show. It seems like the perfect compromise but by the time they finish filming the movie, they feel cracks around the edges of their marriage. Now they face an uncertain future, and possibly the end of everything that truly matters to them.
AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER: The Baxter family learns that Ashley and Kari are both pregnant, but an ultrasound reveals that something is wrong with one of the babies. As the summer progresses, the sisters pray for a miracle while trying to face the unthinkable. It's in this trying season that they must all learn the lesson God has been trying to teach them—He is still in control, and He will be with them regardless of the outcome.
AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL: The Flanigans continue to draw closer to their only daughter, yet Bailey struggles to find her way amidst the turmoil of adolescence. She has always made good decisions, but she wants to experience more of life. Her friendship with Cody Coleman—the young border staying with the Flanigans—continues to blossom in this summer after his graduation. But when Cody decides to enlist in the Army, he'll have to say goodbye to the family he's come to love and the girl he'll never forget.
AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER: The Baxter family learns that Ashley and Kari are both pregnant, but an ultrasound reveals that something is wrong with one of the babies. As the summer progresses, the sisters pray for a miracle while trying to face the unthinkable. It's in this trying season that they must all learn the lesson God has been trying to teach them—He is still in control, and He will be with them regardless of the outcome.
AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL: The Flanigans continue to draw closer to their only daughter, yet Bailey struggles to find her way amidst the turmoil of adolescence. She has always made good decisions, but she wants to experience more of life. Her friendship with Cody Coleman—the young border staying with the Flanigans—continues to blossom in this summer after his graduation. But when Cody decides to enlist in the Army, he'll have to say goodbye to the family he's come to love and the girl he'll never forget.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
334 people are currently reading
3243 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kingsbury
236 books11.6k 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 346 reviews
February 24, 2012
I am loving these books. I like that I can read a good clean book and have my emotions moved.
June 19, 2018
Summer ⭐️
Star reasoning
⭐️ love the characters
⭐️the family is so raw and real
⭐️love seeing our characters family grow and their lives build up
⭐️Her writing draws you in to their lives so quickly.
-1 Its not a full reason not to give it 5 but its not the best in the series and Im hoping the rest of this set will be just as good or better.
Star reasoning
⭐️ love the characters
⭐️the family is so raw and real
⭐️love seeing our characters family grow and their lives build up
⭐️Her writing draws you in to their lives so quickly.
-1 Its not a full reason not to give it 5 but its not the best in the series and Im hoping the rest of this set will be just as good or better.
March 27, 2018
4.5 — This was another Baxter family tearjerker; I cried quite a lot while reading the last two chapters. KK excels at writing emotional scenes with a focus on God and his working things together for good in the toughest situations. This book was much better than the first book in the Sunrise series and more like what I expect from a KK book.
April 25, 2016
It's been a very long time since I've read the Baxter family drama series, so rereading them is like rediscovering it beauty all over again. Karen's books always touch my heart. This one was no exception. Cried hard through it all. I'm just as in love with this family now, as w
I was when I first read about the Baxters.
I was when I first read about the Baxters.
December 24, 2023
Getting my love for the Baxter Family back with this series so far. Probably 3 and a half stars for this one.
I didn't enjoy Summer as much as I did Sunrise. It took me a while to get through it and the middle was pretty tough. The story of Katy and Dayne seemed like the author was trying to follow a bullet point rather than letting the two characters develop. For the past six books, a huge portion of Katy and Dayne's life have been spent talking about how the tabloids are vicious, they make things up and they ruin lives. You even see it with your own eyes in the last of the Firstborn series. Now suddenly Katy thinks Dayne's having an affair because of his picture with Randi Wells being in the tabloids. I know he talked with her on the phone a lot but it just seems that Katy should be smart and realize that the magazines were doing what they do best. The strain on their marriage could have been avoided by them being honest with each other and finding time, even if there wasn't much of it, to talk to each other and tell them what happened/what's going on rather than waiting until the magazines come out to tell their spouses what happened. I feel like both of them have been reacting to each other based on what the magazines say and they should be smarter than that. Dayne especially. I also thought that the sudden band-aid on their relationship was so sudden it was unreal. Fight-fight-fight-fight, oh, Ashley's in labor? Suddenly we're in love and newlyweds again!!! Not even their kid and suddenly they went from arguing and accusing each other of cheating to holding hands and loving on each other in the hospital room. Very weak. I also really did not like the way Brooke was treated. Don't get me wrong, I am very pro-life. But it really bothered me that Brooke was torn into by everyone when she really did have Ashley and Landon's best interest at heart. She wasn't suggesting abortion to get rid of the baby. She was a doctor and doctors are told that for a baby with ancepaly, death will come and abortion will not only prevent further damage to the womb and save room for future children, but it will also help the mother's emotional response when the baby is born. Whether this is true or not, Brooke was trying to be there for Ashley and she got treated like the bad guy. I mean, her sisters and father tore into her and I honestly don't blame Brooke for not wanting to come around. She wasn't suggestion it out of convenience. They really treated her wrong. Can we also not have one book where the mere sight of a newborn baby doesn't change someone's entire outlook on life?
A few things that I really did like are going to sound callous and mean, but please here me out. Spoiler alert here, don't continue reading if you intend to read the book for the first time. But I am glad that Ashley's baby didn't have some miracle happen. Why? Because the Baxter Fam has been one miracle after another, with the exception of Elizabeth passing away. The miracles were becoming unrealistic and the Baxter's faith was being based on miracles rather than trusting God when He says no. There isn't anything for people to connect to who haven't experienced that life-changing miracle, the every day people like me to whom God says no to miracles who have to deal with that. The loss of Ashley's baby made their faith in God real and their love for Him real, showing that it wasn't based off of loving God only when He's good. Landon struggled. Ashley struggled. She reacted like a normal red-blooded person would have. She lost it! And that makes her and Landon so much more relatable in my opinion. I don't want to sound cold but the relatability of the loss of the baby was refreshing. Sometimes God says no and we have to press forward in faith and love when He does. I'm glad this book addressed that rather than bringing in another miracle.
I am in love with the story of Bailey and Cody and I'm glad that Karen Kingsbury decided to write a series about them!! I'm ready to read it. Bailey is so relatable to me because she struggles with a lot of the same things I did as a teenager. Cody is a great guy and I hope they wind up together someday.
I did enjoy the book, especially towards the end and it had me crying. I loved Karen Kingsbury's personal note in the end....it also made me cry. This wasn't my favorite but I do recommend it because it was good. :) On to the next!
I didn't enjoy Summer as much as I did Sunrise. It took me a while to get through it and the middle was pretty tough. The story of Katy and Dayne seemed like the author was trying to follow a bullet point rather than letting the two characters develop. For the past six books, a huge portion of Katy and Dayne's life have been spent talking about how the tabloids are vicious, they make things up and they ruin lives. You even see it with your own eyes in the last of the Firstborn series. Now suddenly Katy thinks Dayne's having an affair because of his picture with Randi Wells being in the tabloids. I know he talked with her on the phone a lot but it just seems that Katy should be smart and realize that the magazines were doing what they do best. The strain on their marriage could have been avoided by them being honest with each other and finding time, even if there wasn't much of it, to talk to each other and tell them what happened/what's going on rather than waiting until the magazines come out to tell their spouses what happened. I feel like both of them have been reacting to each other based on what the magazines say and they should be smarter than that. Dayne especially. I also thought that the sudden band-aid on their relationship was so sudden it was unreal. Fight-fight-fight-fight, oh, Ashley's in labor? Suddenly we're in love and newlyweds again!!! Not even their kid and suddenly they went from arguing and accusing each other of cheating to holding hands and loving on each other in the hospital room. Very weak. I also really did not like the way Brooke was treated. Don't get me wrong, I am very pro-life. But it really bothered me that Brooke was torn into by everyone when she really did have Ashley and Landon's best interest at heart. She wasn't suggesting abortion to get rid of the baby. She was a doctor and doctors are told that for a baby with ancepaly, death will come and abortion will not only prevent further damage to the womb and save room for future children, but it will also help the mother's emotional response when the baby is born. Whether this is true or not, Brooke was trying to be there for Ashley and she got treated like the bad guy. I mean, her sisters and father tore into her and I honestly don't blame Brooke for not wanting to come around. She wasn't suggestion it out of convenience. They really treated her wrong. Can we also not have one book where the mere sight of a newborn baby doesn't change someone's entire outlook on life?
A few things that I really did like are going to sound callous and mean, but please here me out. Spoiler alert here, don't continue reading if you intend to read the book for the first time. But I am glad that Ashley's baby didn't have some miracle happen. Why? Because the Baxter Fam has been one miracle after another, with the exception of Elizabeth passing away. The miracles were becoming unrealistic and the Baxter's faith was being based on miracles rather than trusting God when He says no. There isn't anything for people to connect to who haven't experienced that life-changing miracle, the every day people like me to whom God says no to miracles who have to deal with that. The loss of Ashley's baby made their faith in God real and their love for Him real, showing that it wasn't based off of loving God only when He's good. Landon struggled. Ashley struggled. She reacted like a normal red-blooded person would have. She lost it! And that makes her and Landon so much more relatable in my opinion. I don't want to sound cold but the relatability of the loss of the baby was refreshing. Sometimes God says no and we have to press forward in faith and love when He does. I'm glad this book addressed that rather than bringing in another miracle.
I am in love with the story of Bailey and Cody and I'm glad that Karen Kingsbury decided to write a series about them!! I'm ready to read it. Bailey is so relatable to me because she struggles with a lot of the same things I did as a teenager. Cody is a great guy and I hope they wind up together someday.
I did enjoy the book, especially towards the end and it had me crying. I loved Karen Kingsbury's personal note in the end....it also made me cry. This wasn't my favorite but I do recommend it because it was good. :) On to the next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2021
I read this back in 2015, and as I was reading it this time small things would stick out as a reminder from the previous read, but I didn't remember details. I'm trying to work my way through the books I have left in this series....it's slow going.
I enjoyed how the Words of God are used throughout the story and how the family prays together and seeks Gods guidance. Several times I have pulled my bible out and looked up the book and verse mentioned. It's a good reminder of how I need to be more dedicated to praying and seeking Him for my daily walk.
There are a LOT of characters in this book and the series. So much so that I get bogged down with trying to keep up with who is who. I don't dislike the books, but I'm finding I'm bored with them. I have about 6 more that are in this series and on my shelf that I really want to read and then I will unhaul all of them. I don't see rereading them.
Rating: PG -due to adult situations (nothing in detail, but something that would need explaining), there are some remarks about affairs and people coming between a married couple.
Language: clean read
Recommend: yes
I enjoyed how the Words of God are used throughout the story and how the family prays together and seeks Gods guidance. Several times I have pulled my bible out and looked up the book and verse mentioned. It's a good reminder of how I need to be more dedicated to praying and seeking Him for my daily walk.
There are a LOT of characters in this book and the series. So much so that I get bogged down with trying to keep up with who is who. I don't dislike the books, but I'm finding I'm bored with them. I have about 6 more that are in this series and on my shelf that I really want to read and then I will unhaul all of them. I don't see rereading them.
Rating: PG -due to adult situations (nothing in detail, but something that would need explaining), there are some remarks about affairs and people coming between a married couple.
Language: clean read
Recommend: yes
February 26, 2013
Christian family romance. This book is full of the struggles that threaten to destroy her characters, like all of her others. Unrealistic characters, situations & resolutions. Still...it is uplifting, and while it may antagonize unbelieving realists, it deserves accolades for its clean language & moral message.
I'm probably through reading this author. All 3 of the books, form different series, are essentially the same.
I'm probably through reading this author. All 3 of the books, form different series, are essentially the same.
September 1, 2025
I really love reading about the Baxter family. A loving, converging family with realistic life situations and problems. Reading the story we realize that even in the hardest times we have to trust in God. There's beauty in everything, even the things don't happen as we want it.
September 19, 2022
This is the 2nd book in the Sunrise series. I was a little bit disappoined with this book. I thought it dragged on a bit for the middle part of the book. But in the last few chapters, could hardly put it down. I was having a difficult time trying to read through the tears in my eyes. Wow. I loved the ending. Karen has such a way of weaving God's blessings with the seriousness in the world of the Baxters. These books always get my heart pumping and brings a great feeling of joy to me. God is good, even when things look bleek. I would recommend this book to my friends and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
June 11, 2018
In a never-ending (well, it will be ending, but at this point it seemed so) series that tends to have its ups and downs, this is a definite up. Very well written and poignant story about God's sovereignty.
Kingsbury's character development is unrivaled. These familiar faces have become members of the reader's own family, and we now rejoice when they rejoice and weep when they weep. Her latest title delves into some deep subjects with heart-tugging poignancy and faith-affirming drama enveloped in the power of family.
Dayne and Katy Matthews are basking in the joy of their new marriage as they embark on the challenge of filming a movie together. But not everything about the experience is sunshine and roses; in fact, very little of it is turning out positively. Can their fledgling marriage survive the trials of Hollywood?
Meanwhile, Ashley Baxter Blake is excited that she and her sister Kari are pregnant at the same time. They dream of raising their children to be as close as siblings. But when Ashley receives some devastating news about the child she's carrying, can she trust God's sovereignty, no matter what the outcome?
Review originally appeared in RT BookReviews
Kingsbury's character development is unrivaled. These familiar faces have become members of the reader's own family, and we now rejoice when they rejoice and weep when they weep. Her latest title delves into some deep subjects with heart-tugging poignancy and faith-affirming drama enveloped in the power of family.
Dayne and Katy Matthews are basking in the joy of their new marriage as they embark on the challenge of filming a movie together. But not everything about the experience is sunshine and roses; in fact, very little of it is turning out positively. Can their fledgling marriage survive the trials of Hollywood?
Meanwhile, Ashley Baxter Blake is excited that she and her sister Kari are pregnant at the same time. They dream of raising their children to be as close as siblings. But when Ashley receives some devastating news about the child she's carrying, can she trust God's sovereignty, no matter what the outcome?
Review originally appeared in RT BookReviews
May 5, 2024
The ending of this one had me in TEARS. I cannot even fathom losing my precious baby girl. One of the hardest lessons I've ever had to learn is that God is still good even when our circumstances are not. I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I'm hoping we will hear about how Landon and Ashley are dealing with grief.
June 5, 2012
Awesome book! No book has ever made me cry so much.
June 7, 2023
The Baxter family is going through hard times. Sisters, Bailey and Brooke are on the outs because Brooke has made it clear that Bailey should get an abortion but Bailey disagrees so the tension is high between them. Dayne and Katy are co-starring together in a Hollywood movie and it is creating problems in their new marriage. Bailey and Landon are expecting a baby and there is reason to believe the baby's health is in jeopardy and expected to die at birth. They are counting on a major medical miracle. Are these problems going to be resolved?
June 11, 2025
I started off this book not really liking it. I thought too much wrong was going on and I just wanted to get to the happy parts. These books are all very realistic in life and this was brought to me that life isn’t always happy but in the end they found joy in the hardships. The ending I was tearing up the whole time. Such a sweet moment with the whole family and always being there together. Their love for each other and the lord is so encouraging!
Some quotes:
God’s still God even when things don’t go your way.
I might be an afraid but I won’t doubt.
1 king 19
- all because he was patient enough to hear the Lord in the gentle whisper
Some quotes:
God’s still God even when things don’t go your way.
I might be an afraid but I won’t doubt.
1 king 19
- all because he was patient enough to hear the Lord in the gentle whisper
July 5, 2024
Such wonderful and practical Bible truths in these books...especially this one! Have your tissues ready for a glorious ending!
April 9, 2024
Another one that made me cry! A must read! Trigger warning for infant death
October 18, 2019
Title: Summer
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Series: Sunrise, 2; Baxters, 12
Format: paperback, large print
Length: N/A
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: A NEW BEGINNING: Hollywood actor Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart are married and living in Bloomington, Ind., where Dayne has found a solution to his on-camera love scenes—he wants Katy to star in his next film. Katy wins the part and is cast opposite her super-star husband. The story of a small town girl's dream come true is too much for the press to resist, and in an effort to appease them, the couple agrees to a 12-episode reality show. It seems like the perfect compromise but by the time they finish filming the movie, they feel cracks around the edges of their marriage. Now they face an uncertain future, and possibly the end of everything that truly matters to them.
AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER: The Baxter family learns that Ashley and Kari are both pregnant, but an ultrasound reveals that something is wrong with one of the babies. As the summer progresses, the sisters pray for a miracle while trying to face the unthinkable. It's in this trying season that they must all learn the lesson God has been trying to teach them—He is still in control, and He will be with them regardless of the outcome.
AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL: The Flanigans continue to draw closer to their only daughter, yet Bailey struggles to find her way amidst the turmoil of adolescence. She has always made good decisions, but she wants to experience more of life. Her friendship with Cody Coleman—the young border staying with the Flanigans—continues to blossom in this summer after his graduation. But when Cody decides to enlist in the Army, he'll have to say goodbye to the family he's come to love and the girl he'll never forget.
Favourite character: Cole
Least favourite character: Brooke & Katy
Mini-review: I'm not sure how I feel about this to be honest. It was emotional, but some of the characters (*cough* Brooke and Katy *cough*) ruined some things. Also I feel like Dayne and Katy's story wasn't talked about enough. It felt odd and rushed. Same with the Flanigans.
Fan Cast:
Ashley Baxter-Blake - Brittany Snow
Landon Blake - Scott Eastwood
Dayne Matthews - Diego Klattenhoff
Katy Hart-Matthews - Sophia Bush
Kari Baxter-Taylor - Kate Mara
Ryan Taylor - Matt Lanter
John Baxter - Jeff Goldblum
Elaine Denning - Christine Baranski
Luke Baxter - Joseph Mazzello
Reagan Decker-Baxter - Elizabeth Olsen
Bailey Flanigan - Zendaya
Brooke Baxter-West - Bryce Dallas Howard
Peter West - John Krasinski
Jenny Flanigan - Gabrielle Union
Jim Flanigan - Luke Wilson
Cody Coleman - Brandon Larracuente
Erin Baxter - Stef Dawson
Randi Wells - Brooklyn Decker
Dr. Amy McDaniel - Jenny Slate
Rhonda Sanders - Anna Paquin
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Series: Sunrise, 2; Baxters, 12
Format: paperback, large print
Length: N/A
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: A NEW BEGINNING: Hollywood actor Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart are married and living in Bloomington, Ind., where Dayne has found a solution to his on-camera love scenes—he wants Katy to star in his next film. Katy wins the part and is cast opposite her super-star husband. The story of a small town girl's dream come true is too much for the press to resist, and in an effort to appease them, the couple agrees to a 12-episode reality show. It seems like the perfect compromise but by the time they finish filming the movie, they feel cracks around the edges of their marriage. Now they face an uncertain future, and possibly the end of everything that truly matters to them.
AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER: The Baxter family learns that Ashley and Kari are both pregnant, but an ultrasound reveals that something is wrong with one of the babies. As the summer progresses, the sisters pray for a miracle while trying to face the unthinkable. It's in this trying season that they must all learn the lesson God has been trying to teach them—He is still in control, and He will be with them regardless of the outcome.
AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL: The Flanigans continue to draw closer to their only daughter, yet Bailey struggles to find her way amidst the turmoil of adolescence. She has always made good decisions, but she wants to experience more of life. Her friendship with Cody Coleman—the young border staying with the Flanigans—continues to blossom in this summer after his graduation. But when Cody decides to enlist in the Army, he'll have to say goodbye to the family he's come to love and the girl he'll never forget.
Favourite character: Cole
Least favourite character: Brooke & Katy
Mini-review: I'm not sure how I feel about this to be honest. It was emotional, but some of the characters (*cough* Brooke and Katy *cough*) ruined some things. Also I feel like Dayne and Katy's story wasn't talked about enough. It felt odd and rushed. Same with the Flanigans.
Fan Cast:
Ashley Baxter-Blake - Brittany Snow
Landon Blake - Scott Eastwood
Dayne Matthews - Diego Klattenhoff
Katy Hart-Matthews - Sophia Bush
Kari Baxter-Taylor - Kate Mara
Ryan Taylor - Matt Lanter
John Baxter - Jeff Goldblum
Elaine Denning - Christine Baranski
Luke Baxter - Joseph Mazzello
Reagan Decker-Baxter - Elizabeth Olsen
Bailey Flanigan - Zendaya
Brooke Baxter-West - Bryce Dallas Howard
Peter West - John Krasinski
Jenny Flanigan - Gabrielle Union
Jim Flanigan - Luke Wilson
Cody Coleman - Brandon Larracuente
Erin Baxter - Stef Dawson
Randi Wells - Brooklyn Decker
Dr. Amy McDaniel - Jenny Slate
Rhonda Sanders - Anna Paquin
February 12, 2017
Dayne and Katy are married! They are excited to be on their honeymoon, and Dayne thinks he has the solution for all their celebrity problems. Instead of starring in his next movie with a Hollywood A-lister, he can star with Katy instead. However, working together and taking part in a reality show puts a spotlight on their marriage that is becoming more and more difficult for them to handle.
Ashley and Kari are both pregnant, and they dream of their babies being closer than siblings and of sharing everything together. Yet, an ultrasound reveals that there is something wrong with one of the babies. The sisters pray for a miracle and try to get ready for the unthinkable. They all must struggle with God and with their feelings as they attempt to learn the lessons that God has for them in this storm.
The Flanigans are attempting to stay connected with their daughter Bailey, but she's deep in the midst of adolescent turmoil and emotional drama. He friendship with Cody Coleman continues to get deeper, leaving her wondering where things are going from here. However, Cody enlists in the army, and will spend the summer saying good-bye to both the Flanigan family and to Bailey.
This is a beautiful and emotionally wrenching book. I actually spent a large part of the last hundred pages reading through my sobs and found myself challenged by the way I pray and with my relationship with God as a result of this story. That's what I'm looking for in any book that I read, so to find it here has been a great thrill and pleasure. This is easily among the top three of the Baxter books I've read so far (Probably #2 to Reunion).
As always, I like to track the point-of-view characters, and there are a lot of them in this book, so this may take a little bit of reading to track down. There are spoilers ahead, so stop reading now if you don't want to learn more of the story's plot line.
Katy: She starts off the book as a newlywed, on her honeymoon with her husband. She is full of optimism for the future, excited to start working on a movie with him, and willing to sacrifice some of there privacy with the press in the hopes of gaining some peace. Yet, things don't work out the way we imagine that they will. The constant scrutiny of the press, along with the environment of a movie set are deeply detrimental to her marriage. In fact, the marriage is so troubled that, even though there is a little hope at the end of the book, it is hard to see what the way forward is going to be for Dayne and Katy. It's a stressful time for her, and so sad because of how hopeful things were in the beginning of the book. It looked like she'd found her happily ever after, and now she's in a deeply uncertain place.
Ashley: I cried buckets of tears for her with this book. She is the one who's baby has a fatal birth defect. She chooses to just focus on enjoying her pregnancy and praying for a miracle. She later realizes that the miracle isn't going to come, and she questions why God is allowing this tragedy to take place in her life. She is filled with joy at her pregnancy, sadness at her baby's death, and love from God because of the way her family rallies around her. It's a beautiful story, and so sad.
Jenny: She's in this book to shepherd over Bailey. She works with her daughter as a friend and a parent, and when her daughter's friend has an unexpected pregnancy, she's also a force for trying to save that baby from abortion and to help that friend's mother understand what's going on. It's a thankless job, and we don't know what happened with the friend and the mother by the end of the book, so I'm hoping to have some updates in the next book.
John: John's falling in love! His relationship with Elaine has grown so much and it's such a joy to see how much of a help and a rock that Elaine is for him in this book. His story is such a sweet story, and he's such a wonderful supporting character that I love his presence in this book!
Dayne: He is, of course, having some marriage problems with Katy in this book. Some of them are self-caused as he allows himself to be overly involved in supporting his friend Randi Wells during her divorce (without communicating about it with Katy). His initial response to everything is to close himself off emotionally and act as if everything is okay. That's just not going to cut it in some of these situations.
Landon: Despite his pain at his baby's fatal diagnosis, he is Ashley's rock. He is there to be her emotional shoulder and friend. He helps keep her involved with her family and takes care of the boys at times when Ashley is not emotionally able to. He also has the sweetest scene in the book as he explains to Cole that Cole's baby sister is very sick and is going to die. It's just a perfect scene from a very honorable husband and father.
Bailey: She's not as caught up in "boy drama" in this book. She's focusing on CKT and on her studies. Yet, she finds herself with a terrible crush on Cody Coleman, and is overwhelmed at the idea that he's leaving to join the army. Young love! She also has a friend who has been a strong Christian up till this point, but finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy. Hopefully, Bailey will learn from her friend's mistake.
Kari: Kari only has one or two perspective scenes in the book. It's just enough to let us know that she's suffering some intense guilt over the fact that her daughter is healthy and that Ashley's is dying. We also learn that she's really taking the role of peacemaker as far as siblings go in the family, and that is a role that suits her very well.
Brooke: Brooke is the biggest realist of the all the siblings in this book, but Brooke has a problem. She counsels Ashley to get an abortion, thinking that would be easier on Ashley and Landon, but it reveals the value that she places healthy lives above God's sovereign hand. It causes a rift in her and Ashley's relationship for a time, but I think both Ashley and Brooke understand the bigger picture by the end. I also think that Brooke's learned that God is the creator and sustainer of life in a way that she didn't understand before this tragedy.
Luke: Luke also only has a few perspective scenes in the book. He feels for Ashley. His marriage is not paradise and has its own turmoil and issues. I'm pulling for him, but I really admit that sometimes I struggle with the attitudes that he has toward Reagan in their marriage. He is just not my favorite character.
So, that's it for this book. It's an excellent one, and it's a must read for the Baxter series. It's also an excellent book for helping with some perspective when God doesn't answer our prayers the way that we wish he would.
Ashley and Kari are both pregnant, and they dream of their babies being closer than siblings and of sharing everything together. Yet, an ultrasound reveals that there is something wrong with one of the babies. The sisters pray for a miracle and try to get ready for the unthinkable. They all must struggle with God and with their feelings as they attempt to learn the lessons that God has for them in this storm.
The Flanigans are attempting to stay connected with their daughter Bailey, but she's deep in the midst of adolescent turmoil and emotional drama. He friendship with Cody Coleman continues to get deeper, leaving her wondering where things are going from here. However, Cody enlists in the army, and will spend the summer saying good-bye to both the Flanigan family and to Bailey.
This is a beautiful and emotionally wrenching book. I actually spent a large part of the last hundred pages reading through my sobs and found myself challenged by the way I pray and with my relationship with God as a result of this story. That's what I'm looking for in any book that I read, so to find it here has been a great thrill and pleasure. This is easily among the top three of the Baxter books I've read so far (Probably #2 to Reunion).
As always, I like to track the point-of-view characters, and there are a lot of them in this book, so this may take a little bit of reading to track down. There are spoilers ahead, so stop reading now if you don't want to learn more of the story's plot line.
Katy: She starts off the book as a newlywed, on her honeymoon with her husband. She is full of optimism for the future, excited to start working on a movie with him, and willing to sacrifice some of there privacy with the press in the hopes of gaining some peace. Yet, things don't work out the way we imagine that they will. The constant scrutiny of the press, along with the environment of a movie set are deeply detrimental to her marriage. In fact, the marriage is so troubled that, even though there is a little hope at the end of the book, it is hard to see what the way forward is going to be for Dayne and Katy. It's a stressful time for her, and so sad because of how hopeful things were in the beginning of the book. It looked like she'd found her happily ever after, and now she's in a deeply uncertain place.
Ashley: I cried buckets of tears for her with this book. She is the one who's baby has a fatal birth defect. She chooses to just focus on enjoying her pregnancy and praying for a miracle. She later realizes that the miracle isn't going to come, and she questions why God is allowing this tragedy to take place in her life. She is filled with joy at her pregnancy, sadness at her baby's death, and love from God because of the way her family rallies around her. It's a beautiful story, and so sad.
Jenny: She's in this book to shepherd over Bailey. She works with her daughter as a friend and a parent, and when her daughter's friend has an unexpected pregnancy, she's also a force for trying to save that baby from abortion and to help that friend's mother understand what's going on. It's a thankless job, and we don't know what happened with the friend and the mother by the end of the book, so I'm hoping to have some updates in the next book.
John: John's falling in love! His relationship with Elaine has grown so much and it's such a joy to see how much of a help and a rock that Elaine is for him in this book. His story is such a sweet story, and he's such a wonderful supporting character that I love his presence in this book!
Dayne: He is, of course, having some marriage problems with Katy in this book. Some of them are self-caused as he allows himself to be overly involved in supporting his friend Randi Wells during her divorce (without communicating about it with Katy). His initial response to everything is to close himself off emotionally and act as if everything is okay. That's just not going to cut it in some of these situations.
Landon: Despite his pain at his baby's fatal diagnosis, he is Ashley's rock. He is there to be her emotional shoulder and friend. He helps keep her involved with her family and takes care of the boys at times when Ashley is not emotionally able to. He also has the sweetest scene in the book as he explains to Cole that Cole's baby sister is very sick and is going to die. It's just a perfect scene from a very honorable husband and father.
Bailey: She's not as caught up in "boy drama" in this book. She's focusing on CKT and on her studies. Yet, she finds herself with a terrible crush on Cody Coleman, and is overwhelmed at the idea that he's leaving to join the army. Young love! She also has a friend who has been a strong Christian up till this point, but finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy. Hopefully, Bailey will learn from her friend's mistake.
Kari: Kari only has one or two perspective scenes in the book. It's just enough to let us know that she's suffering some intense guilt over the fact that her daughter is healthy and that Ashley's is dying. We also learn that she's really taking the role of peacemaker as far as siblings go in the family, and that is a role that suits her very well.
Brooke: Brooke is the biggest realist of the all the siblings in this book, but Brooke has a problem. She counsels Ashley to get an abortion, thinking that would be easier on Ashley and Landon, but it reveals the value that she places healthy lives above God's sovereign hand. It causes a rift in her and Ashley's relationship for a time, but I think both Ashley and Brooke understand the bigger picture by the end. I also think that Brooke's learned that God is the creator and sustainer of life in a way that she didn't understand before this tragedy.
Luke: Luke also only has a few perspective scenes in the book. He feels for Ashley. His marriage is not paradise and has its own turmoil and issues. I'm pulling for him, but I really admit that sometimes I struggle with the attitudes that he has toward Reagan in their marriage. He is just not my favorite character.
So, that's it for this book. It's an excellent one, and it's a must read for the Baxter series. It's also an excellent book for helping with some perspective when God doesn't answer our prayers the way that we wish he would.
September 13, 2016
One of the most difficult, influential events in my life was the birth of a stillborn son to a couple at our church. I was around 15 at the time. Watching the father--the lone pallbearer--carry the tiny casket from the hearse hurt. It made me wrestle with my faith as I never had before.
This story took my heart back to that experience. Much of the book revolves around Ashley Baxter Blake praying for a miracle for her unborn daughter who has a fatal malformation. The story tracks the characters as they wrestle with many of the same questions I did.
Kingsbury writes in a genre that can become formulaic and predictable. Fluffy. This story wasn't.
This story took my heart back to that experience. Much of the book revolves around Ashley Baxter Blake praying for a miracle for her unborn daughter who has a fatal malformation. The story tracks the characters as they wrestle with many of the same questions I did.
Kingsbury writes in a genre that can become formulaic and predictable. Fluffy. This story wasn't.
September 2, 2018
Great book! Both Ashley and Kari and both pregnant, and the Baxter family is excited. However, one of Ashley's ultrasound reveal to her and Landon that their baby girl has neural tube defect. Ashley refuses to have the baby aborted, even though the doctor told them that Sarah would die at birth.
John Baxter is friends with Elaine, but, Ashley seems to think there might be something more between them.
Meanwhile, Katy and Dayne have been asked to do a 12-episode reality show, to make the press happy. Sadly, the reality show happens to cause more problems between them, and they question whether or not their marriage will survive.
I was so saddened when Sarah died at the end of the book. I also loved seeing all the Baxters together during that sad time.
Addicted to these books!
John Baxter is friends with Elaine, but, Ashley seems to think there might be something more between them.
Meanwhile, Katy and Dayne have been asked to do a 12-episode reality show, to make the press happy. Sadly, the reality show happens to cause more problems between them, and they question whether or not their marriage will survive.
I was so saddened when Sarah died at the end of the book. I also loved seeing all the Baxters together during that sad time.
Addicted to these books!
July 3, 2008
Karen Kingsbury's book, Summer,is an exceptionally well-written book with three story lines that will keep you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next.
The most pivotal story of the three focus around Ashley Baxter Blake and finding out there is a problem in her pregnancy and how her faith as well as her extended families faith is stretched. I found myself literally crying at the resolution of the story and silently praying that it would end differently. Karen Kingsbury has a remarkable way of writing that captures the reader,draws them in, causes them to reflect on their own beliefs and trust in God and leaves them being touched spiritually.
The most pivotal story of the three focus around Ashley Baxter Blake and finding out there is a problem in her pregnancy and how her faith as well as her extended families faith is stretched. I found myself literally crying at the resolution of the story and silently praying that it would end differently. Karen Kingsbury has a remarkable way of writing that captures the reader,draws them in, causes them to reflect on their own beliefs and trust in God and leaves them being touched spiritually.
June 29, 2009
This story was a sad one but also very touching and healing. The author did a great job drawing me in to the story and I felt the emotion. She is truly an expert at making your heart connect with her characters. I want to be a Baxter. They have an awesome, yet realistic family with real-life problems. One of the underlying themes of this book is the importance of communication. The author shows the fallout when people close off their hearts to each other and she also shows the beauty of allowing God's will and not fighting it. This was one of the most emotionally touching stories Kingsbury has written. Highly recommended.
June 3, 2008
Absolutely fantastic book! I had trouble putting it down, and cannot wait to read the next two books in the series. The book provides the reader with the full range of emotions as you watch the unfolding and interweaving of life circumstance for these families. It's realistic fiction where you fall in love with the characters and can relate to them as friends, sisters, brothers, and parents. I laughed, I cried, I cheered them on!!! Karen Kingsbury is a true gem!
October 3, 2015
A Quickie Review
It's been a long time since I've read any installments in this series, but, I remembered enough about it well enough to follow this one. While the story is rather convoluted and has diverging plot points, the story itself is enjoyable, though a bit heart-wrenching. Fans of Karen Kingsbury know what to expect from her writings, and that's just what they'll get here.
Score: 4/5
It's been a long time since I've read any installments in this series, but, I remembered enough about it well enough to follow this one. While the story is rather convoluted and has diverging plot points, the story itself is enjoyable, though a bit heart-wrenching. Fans of Karen Kingsbury know what to expect from her writings, and that's just what they'll get here.
Score: 4/5
January 7, 2019
I love the journey Karen has us on with Dayne and Katy, and the Baxter family expecting two new babies in the family. I love how she shows that there's beauty in a situation even when God doesn't move in the way we pray that He will. His ways are perfect, no matter the outcome. We just need to trust Him through it all.
September 25, 2024
A wonderful story of God’s peace during trials. I almost stopped reading this series and am so glad I continued. Trigger warnings, this book deals with a sick unborn child and there is talk of abortion. I love that Karen Kingsbury dealt with this storyline so well. This book had me in tears. A wonderful story of hope and peace. I’m so glad I keep reading!! So worth the 5 stars!!!! Excellent!!
November 26, 2019
I cried SOOO hard reading this book!!!! Probably one of the saddest and hardest to endure books she has written, and they are all riddled with heartache.. Powerful story of trusting God through the hard times and believing He is there even if His answer to your prayer is no. I will recommend a box of tissues while you read (I may just be a soft touch though)
December 23, 2019
Get a box of Kleenex cause this is a tear jerker!
Good story line. It tells the story of Dayne and Katy after they get married. The story about Ashley and her baby girl Sarah, which is a very sad story. Continuing story is very hard to put down. The details leaves no room to over think the different situations discribed in the story.
Good story line. It tells the story of Dayne and Katy after they get married. The story about Ashley and her baby girl Sarah, which is a very sad story. Continuing story is very hard to put down. The details leaves no room to over think the different situations discribed in the story.
November 5, 2017
Too teary-eyed to write a review. It was such a tender novel. I had hoped that Sarah would survive but the ending surrounding her brief little life was a blessing to all the Baxter family. The theme of “choosing life” was so important and woven into the story so beautifully.
February 1, 2019
Tear jerker. Took a bit to get into this one but cried my eyes out at the end. I liked how Karen was able to bring a modern day medical/ethical issue into the story and show a Godly response through her characters.
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