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abigailkayharris's review
A bittersweet filled ending to the first Baxter series. The little snippets of backstory were interesting in their build-up to what was going on and what had happened in the Baxter's past, I logged the care and love between the family and how it was shown in the grief that the family goes through in Reunion. The joy and grief, the hurt, and the healing, the smiles and sorrow, they were all woven together into an ending of one story into the next.
There are some parts that got too telling and not enough something but otherwise was fine.
There are some parts that got too telling and not enough something but otherwise was fine.
stepgg's review
2.0
I was looking forward to this book. I assumed there would be a happy ending.. Nope this whole book was depressing as eff. it doesn't help that the book was all about Elizabeth dying and I just went through this with a family member so I could hardly get through the book. i felt like she wrote this book more trying to be a lesson than a story. (hey make your life count!) I felt like Karen tried to wrap up n make all the kid's stories all happy n hunky dorry to make up for this super sad book. I did not like how she threw I'm the secret son, I felt like his was thought up for this book and to make another series but it didn't seem like it fit in with the four previous books. really they kept that a secret all this time even when two of their kids had babies out of wedlock?? To me this whole book was a flop
rebar351's review
5.0
This book broke me in more ways then one. I don't think I've cried so hard reading a book since reading Karen's 9/11 series. Reunion was so beautifully written. Have a box of Kleenex beside you readers when you read this.. you will need them!
refinishednurse's review
4.0
This is a review of the entire Redemption series. I love a good bood with a Christ centered theme. I love that I know I'm not going to find any swearing or crap in them. I really enjoyed this series and the relationships protrayed. Lately I have been drawn to books about relationships and how to treat your spouse well, and these books have many healthy and strong relationships in them. I enjoyed them a lot.
reread13's review
3.0
I’m glad to be done with this series. It had its moments that were really good, but I did a lot of skimming though their blather. Glad I read it, but wouldn’t read again and wouldn’t necessarily recommend. As far as Christian fiction, this doesn’t hold a candle to Mitford.
elemenoreed's review
3.0
First of all, I feel like I must leave a warning that this book is very depressing and kind of a struggle to get through. Also, I think the introduction of the Dayne Matthews character was not very well done. I know that the author needed a segue into another series with a character that the reader would presumably feel attached to, but I think that his storyline was pretty much the most boring part of this book and I found myself not really caring too much what became of him (however, I have the first book of his series on my shelf for some reason, so I'll give it a go...). I think that his arrival in the narrative is completely abrupt and not very well executed because from the moment he came on the scene and we find out a bit of his story, I knew this was something of a shameless plug for a next novel. There are some loose ends that aren't really tied up. I got the impression from the author's afterword that the Baxter family wouldn't figure largely in the next series, so I will hope that if they ever do crop up, we'll be able to find out if Hayley makes a full recovery and anything more about what happens to Candy and Erin's kids. The trial for Kari's husband's murderer is brought up, but never was a conclusion reached...sigh. I feel like I want to stop here, but since I have the next book, I will soldier on.
shellyk51's review against another edition
5.0
This was hard to get through. As Elizabeth and her family are dealing with her cancer coming back, I'm waiting for the phone call that my mom has passed from cancer which will probably come this week. Just like Ashley and Landon, my wonderful husband & I flew to AZ for a week to do a civil courthouse marriage since she won't be here in September for our church wedding. I felt every feeling through that book. Joy, sadness, remorse and yet I know my mom is going Home. As this has been the last book in the Redemption series, I have to say it's the best. My heart is broken yet I also feel that God has sent the message in the book that it will be okay.
Some dates are very special. Jeff and I married on my mom's birthday. As my family waits for her to pass to Heaven, I see my Grandmother's bday is in 2 days. Maybe that will be another special day. As Elizabeth said in the book, I will see my mom and dad (Bob) in my children, my grandchildren and even in David and Kyle. Family is so special. As a friend told me, we may pick our family to make us stronger. I have to say mine has.
Some dates are very special. Jeff and I married on my mom's birthday. As my family waits for her to pass to Heaven, I see my Grandmother's bday is in 2 days. Maybe that will be another special day. As Elizabeth said in the book, I will see my mom and dad (Bob) in my children, my grandchildren and even in David and Kyle. Family is so special. As a friend told me, we may pick our family to make us stronger. I have to say mine has.
raben_76325's review against another edition
5.0
Elizabeth is the matriarch of a large family, a large, sprawling family, full of love, laughter, and faith. We have watched several of Elizabeth's children find love, struggle with their faith, and go through both amazing tragedies and triumphs, but in this book it's Elizabeth's turn to go through one of the largest and most heart-wrenching trials of her life as she comes face to face with a deadly cancer diagnosis.
In the light of this diagnosis, as Elizabeth and John begin to reflect on their lives together, a secret from the past remains the one regret of their lives. This secret focuses on a secret firstborn child that Elizabeth and John were forced to give up for adoption. At the same time, we are introduced to a young man, Dayne, who is struggling to find purpose and meaning in his life.
However, where there is great sorrow and regret, there is also great joy. Ashley and Landon are finally getting married! Elizabeth is also planning a reunion so that all the Baxters can be together for the first time in a couple of years and so she can see and spend time with each child and grandchild before she experiences an eternal reunion with Jesus.
This is the fifth book of the original Baxter redemption series, and it is emotional and gut-wrenching. I cried about four times reading this book, so don't read if you're not prepared for a good cry. That's my warning!! As with the last book, I thought I would share some thoughts about each of the major characters.
John and Elizabeth: Here is where all love stories end up on this side of heaven. To live is to die, and to love is one day have to say goodbye. Seeing the crushing emotional weight that they go through and their emotions of wanting to be together and yes needing to let go was excruciating to me. I felt such sorrow at the realization that they would be separate and that John would need to go on with his life for many years. It was painful to read, but beautifully written.
Ashley and Landon: Finally, all the obstacles to their marriage are gone and they are able to have their wedding before the end of the book. I am thankful that they are together and that there's no more back and forth for them.
Erin and Sam: This really doesn't have a lot of Sam, but they struggle to adopt, and finally end up with more blessings than they could imagine. There's some pain to get there, but the end is joyous.
Dayne: He is the firstborn that Elizabeth and John never got to be with. He's famous. He's handsome. He doesn't share their faith. He's searching for them, for God, for meaning, and I think he's going to have a wonderful journey in the next Baxter series. In the meantime, I enjoyed his introduction, and I loved how his conversation with Luke (and his glimpses of the pictures on Luke's desk) leads him to a journey to find his birth mother. I'm looking forward to getting started with his series of books.
This is a wonderful book, and even though I found it really emotionally difficult, I am so glad that I read it, and that I reached the end of this first series of Baxter books!
In the light of this diagnosis, as Elizabeth and John begin to reflect on their lives together, a secret from the past remains the one regret of their lives. This secret focuses on a secret firstborn child that Elizabeth and John were forced to give up for adoption. At the same time, we are introduced to a young man, Dayne, who is struggling to find purpose and meaning in his life.
However, where there is great sorrow and regret, there is also great joy. Ashley and Landon are finally getting married! Elizabeth is also planning a reunion so that all the Baxters can be together for the first time in a couple of years and so she can see and spend time with each child and grandchild before she experiences an eternal reunion with Jesus.
This is the fifth book of the original Baxter redemption series, and it is emotional and gut-wrenching. I cried about four times reading this book, so don't read if you're not prepared for a good cry. That's my warning!! As with the last book, I thought I would share some thoughts about each of the major characters.
John and Elizabeth: Here is where all love stories end up on this side of heaven. To live is to die, and to love is one day have to say goodbye. Seeing the crushing emotional weight that they go through and their emotions of wanting to be together and yes needing to let go was excruciating to me. I felt such sorrow at the realization that they would be separate and that John would need to go on with his life for many years. It was painful to read, but beautifully written.
Ashley and Landon: Finally, all the obstacles to their marriage are gone and they are able to have their wedding before the end of the book. I am thankful that they are together and that there's no more back and forth for them.
Erin and Sam: This really doesn't have a lot of Sam, but they struggle to adopt, and finally end up with more blessings than they could imagine. There's some pain to get there, but the end is joyous.
Dayne: He is the firstborn that Elizabeth and John never got to be with. He's famous. He's handsome. He doesn't share their faith. He's searching for them, for God, for meaning, and I think he's going to have a wonderful journey in the next Baxter series. In the meantime, I enjoyed his introduction, and I loved how his conversation with Luke (and his glimpses of the pictures on Luke's desk) leads him to a journey to find his birth mother. I'm looking forward to getting started with his series of books.
This is a wonderful book, and even though I found it really emotionally difficult, I am so glad that I read it, and that I reached the end of this first series of Baxter books!