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rachel93's review against another edition
4.0
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.
nicolemcor's review
3.0
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.
reese2323's review
4.0
So far, I like this series. The beginning was a little blah...but I ended up liking it very much. On to book #2 :)
felinity's review
4.0
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.
mtaylor414's review
3.0
This was a book loaned to me by my mother-in-law. It was really good but extremely depressing. The series is about the Baxter family drama so I'm not sure if I will read the others or not. I have the second one at home, but I think I need a break from the sadness. I need something uplifting or funny to read now. :) All in all though, it was a good story.
mechapman80's review
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
stacyculler's review
4.0
I read several books in this series and really like Karen Kingsbury as a Christian author.
thatisagreatread's review
4.0
I had my doubts in the beginning, but was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoyed this first book. Then again, I loved reading the Twilight Series and these books are similar....with a Christian spin to them. The character development was excellent and the books are a quick read (again, similar to Twilight). Just like Twilight, the first 150 pages are spent introducing you to each of the characters, but once you get past all the "introductions" and get into the story, the story is actually quite intriguing....making you want to quickly get to the end and pick up the next book in the series. The story, while sometimes somewhat predictable, still sucked me in and I found myself crying through several chapters.
I will say this: these books are not for those who are skeptical or critical about Christianity. If you are like this, or just a literature snob in general, don't even bother reading them. You will be disappointed.
I will say this: these books are not for those who are skeptical or critical about Christianity. If you are like this, or just a literature snob in general, don't even bother reading them. You will be disappointed.