Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, this book was not what I thought it was going to be. There was a lot of heavy moments in this book, but it all led to a beautiful picture of what Jesus does for us. I was really emotionally devastated when I finished the prequel happy for Kari in her decision to marry Tim, just to start this book and find, he is having an affair. I was honestly pretty angry for the first few chapters, but as I watched the story unfold that began to change.
Kari and Tim’s story is one that points us back to the Gospel. It was written by Gary Smalley, a Christian author known for his relationship books, and Karen Kingsbury, a Christian Fiction author known for her deep books full of faith and real life. The combination of the two felt like a non-fiction book written as a parable. I believe it is how they intended it based on the authors’ notes at the end of the book.
One disclaimer, I would not read the Prequel before this book. There are major timeline issues as well as complete story reversals/changes. As a pretty detail oriented person this really irritated me and caused me to take more time to finish this book as I had to try to reconcile this in my head. I wish the publisher and the author had referenced this book before publishing the Prequel. I honestly could have gone without it, the information is all in this book.
However, even so, the characters’ stories are all unfinished and I look forward to reading more into this series! I am getting the feeling that Karen Kingsbury writes really big things into her books that both devastate us and yet also build us up in a way.
Content Guide:
Language: None
Spice: Level 1
TW: Marital affair, pre-marital sex mentioned, alcoholism, stalking, murder
This review appears on my blog: https://confessionsofabookwormweb.wordpress.com/2018/10/08/book-review-redemption/
This is probably my 4th or 5th reread of this book. I also forgot how weighty these books can be, but I still love this series. This book deals with the widely discussed topic adultery and divorce in Christian circles.
I liked how the authors showed Kari as someone who is willing to fight for her marriage, even though her husband, Tim, refused to – they could have really easily just had her concede to the divorce and run to the arms of her old flame.
Even though it deals with some serious topics, it was still an enjoyable read. I also liked all the different perspectives from Kari, Tim, Angela (the other woman), Pastor Mark Atterbury, Ryan, John and Elizabeth Baxter, ass well as a couple of others – it gave the story more depth and dimension.
It was great to revisit these beloved characters especially with the T.V. show coming out later this year based on the series. 4/5 Stars.
This is probably my 4th or 5th reread of this book. I also forgot how weighty these books can be, but I still love this series. This book deals with the widely discussed topic adultery and divorce in Christian circles.
I liked how the authors showed Kari as someone who is willing to fight for her marriage, even though her husband, Tim, refused to – they could have really easily just had her concede to the divorce and run to the arms of her old flame.
Even though it deals with some serious topics, it was still an enjoyable read. I also liked all the different perspectives from Kari, Tim, Angela (the other woman), Pastor Mark Atterbury, Ryan, John and Elizabeth Baxter, ass well as a couple of others – it gave the story more depth and dimension.
It was great to revisit these beloved characters especially with the T.V. show coming out later this year based on the series. 4/5 Stars.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing book, brilliant story. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
What start as me finding out I had to read I have to read 24 other books before I can read Mrs. Kingsbury’s latest Baxter series ended with me actually enjoying this book and hopefully I can make it to the one I would really like to read.
Redemption is the story of Kari Baxter Jacobs who finds out her husband Tim is an adulterer who also wants a divorce. Devistated she goes and stays with her parents for a while and decides that she wants to work on her marriage and refuses to divorce him. While staying with her parents she ends up seeing her old friend/ex boyfriend Ryan Taylor at church. Between both her husband, her ex boyfriend, and news she finds out in between she makes the decision to keep loving her husband hoping that he’ll come around.
The big take from this book was the message in it that love is a decision. Kari made the decision to keep loving her husband even after he not only cheated on her but said he wanted a divorce. While reading this book the message was kinda drilled into me more and more. Not in a bad way or anything it just made me think about it more. In fact this was the first time I’d ever heard/read that.
Both Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley did a great job. Although I’m not entirely sure what was written by who. I am sure though that the story was well written and evenly passed. The characters (some at least) were likable and in many ways relatable. Had I not had to put this down I definitely would have finished it in a day. While it had me drawn when I first picked it up, after putting I down for a couple days it did take me a little out to get back into it. That’s the only reason why this is four and not five stars.
After now being invested in these characters lives I will definitely be checking out the next book in The Redemption series.
Redemption is the story of Kari Baxter Jacobs who finds out her husband Tim is an adulterer who also wants a divorce. Devistated she goes and stays with her parents for a while and decides that she wants to work on her marriage and refuses to divorce him. While staying with her parents she ends up seeing her old friend/ex boyfriend Ryan Taylor at church. Between both her husband, her ex boyfriend, and news she finds out in between she makes the decision to keep loving her husband hoping that he’ll come around.
The big take from this book was the message in it that love is a decision. Kari made the decision to keep loving her husband even after he not only cheated on her but said he wanted a divorce. While reading this book the message was kinda drilled into me more and more. Not in a bad way or anything it just made me think about it more. In fact this was the first time I’d ever heard/read that.
Both Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley did a great job. Although I’m not entirely sure what was written by who. I am sure though that the story was well written and evenly passed. The characters (some at least) were likable and in many ways relatable. Had I not had to put this down I definitely would have finished it in a day. While it had me drawn when I first picked it up, after putting I down for a couple days it did take me a little out to get back into it. That’s the only reason why this is four and not five stars.
After now being invested in these characters lives I will definitely be checking out the next book in The Redemption series.
The twists at the end saved this book! Once you can get past some of the “cheesiness” the story is decent. There were certain plot points I had a hard time digesting and I would not recommend this book to people who are not secure in their Christian faith because I feel like this book poorly represents many Christians.
So far, I like this series. The beginning was a little blah...but I ended up liking it very much. On to book #2 :)
Here we have the character-building and gentle romance of Karen Kingsbury combined with the relationship savvy of Gary Smalley to show us a marriage ripped apart by infidelity, the addictiveness of a new relationship, the hormonal rush and created high it brings, and the devastation that follows in its wake.
It also shows that as there are two people in a marriage, each contributing to it - for better or for worse - there are also two sides to any breakup. Kari's forced introspection helps her to understand her part in Tim's distance, and after all she has her own temptation to resist.
They're not afraid to question God (Why did this happen? How could this happen?) and the answer seems to be that we must remember God views things from a different perspective, seeing the complete Monet rather than the brush strokes viewable up close.
The impending crisis from Dirk felt very artificial, but otherwise this was a great read, one which reiterates and demonstrates one of Gary Smalley's key points: that love is a decision, not a feeling, and that marriage is something both parties need to work at.
It also shows that as there are two people in a marriage, each contributing to it - for better or for worse - there are also two sides to any breakup. Kari's forced introspection helps her to understand her part in Tim's distance, and after all she has her own temptation to resist.
They're not afraid to question God (Why did this happen? How could this happen?) and the answer seems to be that we must remember God views things from a different perspective, seeing the complete Monet rather than the brush strokes viewable up close.
The impending crisis from Dirk felt very artificial, but otherwise this was a great read, one which reiterates and demonstrates one of Gary Smalley's key points: that love is a decision, not a feeling, and that marriage is something both parties need to work at.