Take Four by Karen Kingsbury

Young and popular actor Brandon Paul has lived his short life starring in movies by day and making the tabloid headlines at night. Christian movie directors Keith Ellison and Dayne Matthews of Unlocked, the next movie Brandon is starring in, have instructed him to clean up his act if he expects to star in the film. However, Brandon decides the follow their instructions for an entirely different reason: because of Bailey Flanigan, his co-star in Unlocked. However, despite the heartthrob’s obvious affections for her, Bailey wants to understand her kind yet tight-lipped boyfriend Cody. She knows something has been going on in his life, but he refuses to tell her. This only makes things more complicated for her. Meanwhile, Andi Ellison is trying to make the hard decision as to what she will do with the baby growing inside her. Should she raise the child as her own or give it up for adoption? With so many questions, how will the intertwining lives of these families affect one another?


Karen Kingsbury seems content to write the never-ending Baxter Saga for the rest of her life, but it’s time for this series to be put to rest. The Baxter family long ago became perfect, and her attempts to create another family like them have failed. There are few characters that are realistic, and she is generally running out of good ideas for this saga. It’s really time to move on.

Brandon Paul is a more ambiguous character than one may expect, even if Karen is trying to create the next Dayne Matthews through him. Keith Ellison, Dayne Matthews, and all the Baxters are dead characters with no substance. Bailey Flanigan is an situational character that Karen can use for any purpose. Cody Coleman remains to be an interesting character, but beyond him, this cast of characters is suffering for substance.

The relationship between Brandon and Bailey was a copycat of Karen’s former relationship between Katie and Dayne, but at least it had a different outcome. At least Brandon was no one’s long lost son. Yet. The situation with Andi and her baby was cheesy and convenient, however. At least the roller coaster relationship between Bailey and Cody always makes things interesting. The best thing Take Four produced was an end to this mediocre film-making series. However, Karen has already made it clear that she’s not ending the Baxter Saga, but is continuing it with Leaving, no doubt the beginning of another single-word-series. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Karen Kingsbury needs to stick with standalone novels.

Perhaps Karen will surprise us all with the beginning of this next sub-series.

2 stars

Take Three by Karen Kingsbury

Andi Ellison has made a mess of her life by giving into physical temptation with a shady boy named Taz. Now she has received the devastating news that she is pregnant and she does not know which direction to take. Who should she tell if anyone? Should she keep the baby or kill it? If she knows anything, she knows she does not want to tarnish her father's image in the film making industry. Keith Ellison has been enjoying his success in Hollywood as a Christian director and is looking forward to his next movie. But the strange behavior of his daughter and his co-director Chase Ryan are keeping him distracted. Bailey Flanigan also remains confused about her two suitors, Tim Reed and Cody Coleman. She wants to do the right thing, but what she thinks is the right thing is not what her heart tells her. Only God holds the answers for all their dilemmas-if they will seek Him with all their hearts.

When I finished this book, the first thing I said was "Karen Kingsbury can do better than this." I know she can; she has proven she can. Through uncharacteristic cheesy circumstances and characters, Karen is bringing the never-ending Baxter Family Saga down to the mud with such writing. It is clear she is trying to shake off certain characters, but she could have done so a better way.

After all their imperfect circumstances were resolved, the Baxters became perfect characters. Keith Ellison, Chase Ryan, the Flanigans, Cody Coleman, and Tim Reed are not exemplary characters either. Andi Ellison is the best character of this book because she is the only one that makes any realistic mistakes. She is the only believable character. The Baxters are fountains of wisdom, the Flanigans are a perfect family, Keith and Chase are simple characters, Cody Coleman is a perfect victim who is fast becoming a perfect male lead, something Karen Kingsbury has never done before, and Tim Reed has become a cheesy villain, for lack of a better word. Either Karen is slipping as an author or this series has met entropy. I agree with the latter, for all good things must come to an end.

The Bailey\Tim\Cody triangle was finally resolved in this book after much ring-around-the-rosy, but it could have been handled in a better way. Tim and Cody become polar opposites instead of the ambiguous characters they once were. It was predictable which one Karen was pulling for, so the best thing she could have done was do the opposite. The least she could have done was avoid the black and white answer she gave. The Andi Ellison situation is another problem. While she created the situation by her imperfect choices, Karen did every possible thing she could do to help her avoid the consequences. The end is not realistic, something Karen has not done since her early days.

I know Karen Kingsbury is not failing as an author; the Baxter Family Saga is failing as a series as result of longevity and entropy. The realistic, everyday life plots are gone, replaced by typical plot molds. I hope Karen can end the series on a good note with Take Four and avoid adding anymore sub-series' to the saga. But don't count on it.

2 stars

Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury

Brad Cutler has it all-a promising career as an advertising agent, an upcoming marriage to his beautiful fiancee; no worries about anything in life. God is good. But why does Brad keep having flashbacks of a relationship with a high school girlfriend? Isn't his fiance enough? What is this nagging at him? Something from his past is calling him back to Holden Beach, North Carolina, where he did something he needs forgiveness for.

I said there was no way Karen couldn't end this originally, and I was right. However, the end wasn't the one I was expecting. I mean that in a good way. Though it seems like at first that the end is predictable, it is also very realistic. Karen ended the book in the most realistic way she could, and it worked.

Besides the realistic end, there is an original end to a subplot that I did not expect her to do. This shows that even when Karen ends her books predictably, she always strives for originality in other areas. This alone puts her above other female authors.

But Karen also has a superb writing style that makes the reader feel as if it were really happening. I think this is because Karen is very good at capturing real life through her imperfect characters. Imperfect characters are another one of her specialties that rank her higher than most female authors.

The biggest problem with Shades of Blue is the characters' lack of personalities. I can only think of one character with a true personality. This is strange for Karen Kingsbury and there is really no reason for it. She usually has better characters than these.

If you read the afterword, you realize that this story means more to Karen than it seems like at first. I applaud her for writing what she wrote in the afterword, because it took courage to reveal what she wrote there.

All in all, Karen Kingsbury's writing style has not decreased over the years, and I doubt it will. I only hope she continues to write original plots similar to Shades of Blue.

4 stars

When Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury

A woman is battling her checkered past, and it's showing in the way she acts. She's going crazy; forgetting and misplacing things, leaving her two foster sons at a bus stop, buying the wrong things at the store. She eventually loses custody of her foster sons and checks herself in to a mental institute.
Her husband, who still has custody of their sons, eventually wonders where in the world his wife went and begins searching for her.
I'm afraid I can't tell you the woman's secret or it would eliminate any point in reading the book. It's very interesting.
Though, I must say, Karen went a little too far with this one, to the point of being far-fetched from reality. She always tries to bring emotion into the plot one way or another.
The only perfect character I can think of is the husband.
All in all, this isn't a bad book, and it definitely warrants a read.
3 stars

Waiting for Morning by Karen Kingsbury

When a drunk driver causes a wreck in the middle of the interstate, he ends the lives of a father and his daughter. Left behind on earth are his wife and other daughter.
The wife immediately plunges herself into the lawsuit against the drunk driver and joins several coalitions against drunk driving. While she is doing this, her daughter that's still alive plunges deeper and deeper into depression and eventually attempts suicide.
This book is definitely one of Karen's best. There are many imperfect, believable characters. The only perfect character I can think of is the lawyer who also forms the male side of the inevitable romantic subplot. This romantic subplot is probably what is keeping this book off the Elite List. But what is a Karen Kingsbury book without one?
All in all, this book is very interesting and entertaining to read.
3.5 stars

On Every Side by Karen Kingsbury

A young small town reporter is outspoken about her views in the stories she covers-especially adoption. Through her years as a reporter she has seen many children come and go-all except one, a Chinese girl with a deformity. No one wants her anymore because she's "too old."
The reporter is also distressed when she hears that the town Jesus statue is being challenged as un-Constitutional-by her former boyfriend, a lawyer who used to claim to be a Christian. She is dumbfounded because he used to love the statue.
The young lawyer is mad at God for letting his mother die, so he decides to fight God at every turn.
The idea behind this book is interesting. At least this is a court case where the focus lawyer actually loses. But the surrounding events that make everything turn out perfectly are what keeps this book off the Elite List.
The characters are just average, as can be expected with this type of book.
All in all, this book is good, just not great.
3 stars

Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury

Connor Evans is a commercial pilot with unwanted baggage. After finding out that his short term mistress, a flight attendant, has died and left behind their son, he has no idea how he's going to tell his wife.
The boy lives on Hawaii and must travel across the Pacific to stay with his "mommy's friend", thus leaving his only friend behind-his dog.
Oceans Apart is a journey of grief based on the choices of the leads. There aren't any perfect characters for that reason.
With this kind of plot, there isn't really any way to end it but the original way because no one has ever come up with a plot like this before.
Karen Kingsbury has definitely improved as her writing career has progressed through the years. That's the reason both of her stand alone books of 2008 are Elite.
4 stars

Halfway to Forever by Karen Kingsbury

Halfway to Forever is the book that truly forges a bond between Waiting for Morning and A Moment of Weakness.
Tanner and Jade have just found out that she is expecting a baby. But they are then devastated to find that Jade also has a brain tumor. To remove the brain tumor would be to destroy the fetus, and they are afraid that she won't be able to get pregnant again.
Hannah wants more children, so she and Mark decide to adopt. The only problem with this venture is they get themselves involved in a strange situation with some sleazy street people.
There is really no way to end either of the plots but the way she did. I mean, there is an original way, but it isn't very pretty.
All four characters have achieved hero personalities in this book, solidifying the fact that this book should have gone unwritten. The first two books were fine as they were. Karen always has to meddle with her books.
This is probably Karen's worst book and the only one I would not encourage you to read.
1.5 stars

Every Now and Then by Karen Kingsbury

For all of those who waited weeks to your hands on a copy of Every Now and Then, it was probably a letdown to the rest of the series. To me, the book was mostly filler until Kingsbury gets to her next big project.
It's about a completely new character to the 9\11 series, Alex Brady, a firefighter struggling with his past of unforgiveness and struggling with his future of searching out arsonists. He's completely obsessed with finding and apprehending arsonists.
Karen throws Jamie and Clay (who have now achieved hero personalities) in just to make this one part of the series. I think she also uses Clay's police tragedies to make the book longer.
The main difference between this book and the other two books is that it doesn't seem natural. It seems forced. Karen Kingsbury should never be forced. That is disastrous.
All in all, it won't hurt you to read this book (I've probably said that about all her books), just don't get your hopes up.
2.5 stars

Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury

Meghan is a social worker who has taken in a boy no one else wants. The boy seems to think that the famous local NFL quarterback is his father, and therefore, takes great pains to see him. Meghan believes the boy is crazy, but does not refuse to take him to an autograph signing.
The plot also follows the old NFL quarterback, who is trying to mentor the young, wayward quarterback. He also wants one more Super Bowl win under his belt before retirement.
Sports is pretty much a closed genre until someone can actually come with an original sports plot. Trust me, it's hard; I can't even think of a original sports plot right off.
But Karen could have thrown off expendable plot devices such as the romantic subplot and the miraculous Super Bowl win. But when you eliminate these, there's not much to the plot.
Believe me, I like football. I really do. I follow the NFL every season. I always want my team to win the Super Bowl. I think it's kind of funny that Karen chose a team like the 49ers to win the Super Bowl.
But this is not really one of her best books, though it won't hurt you to read it.
2 stars

A Time to Embrace by Karen Kingsbury

After coming so close to divorce and getting back together again, John and Abby are more in love than ever. But then a tragedy strikes them: a car accident that ends John's career as a coach. On top of that, their daughter is pregnant ahead of schedule.
The car accident doesn't happen until near the middle of the book, therefore causing the first half to be merely character reintroduction. At least most of the characters stayed true to their personalities. John and Abby seemed to have achieved hero personalities.
The book is mostly a journey of grief and asking God why. But Karen couldn't leave well enough alone. She just had to do it. She made the end work out perfectly. She did what the public wanted her to do. This book had the potential to be one of the best sequels ever, but she didn't do it.
Like I said about the first, it won't hurt you to read this one, especially if you're not looking for originality.
2 stars

A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury

A married couple, who has been married twenty plus years, is suddenly talking about divorce. Why? Because of an affair the husband had. But they aren't telling anyone, not even their kids about the divorce.
So when their daughter and her boyfriend are talking marriage, they have no choice but to bury their secret and to immerse themselves into the wedding.
This book is short compared to some of Karen's other books, but I believe she did everything she could do to make it long. She includes historical accounts of the family and several good characters, like the future in-laws.
But as usual with most of Karen's plots, there really is no way to end this kind of plot but the way she did, causing this book to be one of her more bland ones.
But all in all, I do not regret reading it and you probably should too.
2.5 stars

This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury

There is no book on earth that compares to This Side of Heaven. But I'm not saying it's the best book on earth, I'm just saying that in the middle of the book, Kingsbury took the plot in a completely different direction. Not her, nor any other author has ever even considered doing what she did. The best part is I can't tell you what it is! You'll have to read it for yourself!
The story is about a victim of a car accident, a tow truck driver, who has to endure excruciating pain from day to day. He has withdrawn from everyone he used to know, including God and his family and he only talks to his neighbors and chat room friends. He is addicted to the pain medication his doctor prescribed for him after the crash. However, a certain woman has contacted him saying that he and her have a daughter together, a daughter he has never met. His parents are skeptical about this and do not want him to send the money she demands.
The main aspect that keeps this book from being five stars is the predictable end.
Kingsbury has never done anything like this before, but it still does not top One Tuesday Morning. If you haven't already read this book, read it as soon as possible.
4 stars

One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

Lots of fiction has come out of the tragedy of 9\11. But none captures the realisticness the way One Tuesday Morning does.
Jamie Bryan is a firefighter's wife who lives in fear of her husband always dying on his calls in NYC. But a casual morning call to the World Trade Center doesn't seem like a big deal at first.
Eric Michaels is a businessman who has left his family at the bottom of the career ladder he has climbed. He gets stuck in the World Trade Center as it is collapsing.
Now a man that looks like Jake Bryan is lying in a hospital bed. But he has no recollection of who he is or where he came from. Jamie can only assume he is her husband, so she does all she can to prime his faulty memory.
The characters in this book are real and believable. It wouldn't be the same without them.
The end of this book really makes the whole thing worthwhile. The book wouldn't be the same without it either.
Basically, there is a reason we have rated this book five stars.
5 stars

Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury

If anyone could come up with an interesting custody plot, than it would be Karen Kingsbury.
When a couple who cannot have any children receive word from the social worker that the real father of their foster son is getting out of prison, they panic because he wants his son back. So they have this bright idea: to pretend to be Christians and escape the country with him on a mission trip with their friends.
Normally, this would be an interesting story, if it had had an interesting end. The leads are imperfect, which is a plus. But the end makes everything turn out perfectly. Otherwise, this would be one of her best books to date.
I'm not saying the book is completely ruined; the book is still entertaining to read. So why don't you just pick up a copy and start now?
3 stars

Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury

Usually romance sequels to romance novels aren't that great. Just Beyond the Clouds is no exception.
The plot focuses more on Cody's brother CJ, and a Downs Syndrome school he goes too in Colorado Springs. This is definitely a good thing as it adds greatly to the plot. After Ali's death, Cody doesn't have a very good view on life and discourages his attending the school. But then the stubborn teacher invites him to come and sit in on a class one day. After that, Cody finds himself falling in love with the teacher.
I don't like replacement romances. I'll just get that out in the open right now. I think that they're cop outs, something to keep the public happy.
The characters remain mediocre, as they were in the first book. The plot is easy to figure out. I think it could have been better without multiple hospital trips.
But I do applaud Karen for her ability to make a nonsensical title like Just Beyond the Clouds actually work.
2 stars

Ever After by Karen Kingsbury

I usually don't like sequels. I have said this many times before. But if a sequel can be better than the first, than this is true about Ever After.
Now that Emily Anderson has her parents together, she is looking to her own love life. Justin Baker, a man in her workplace, is the one currently pursuing her interest. Their relationship, to me, was kind of rushed.
Lauren and Shane are having troubles in paradise. The pain their families inflicted on them in their past is wearing on their relationship and threatening to end it.
There's not really much else I can say about this book that wouldn't give away the original end. The characters remained the same as in the first book, which combats one of the worst sequel vices.
I think Karen is getting better and better as she continues to write novels. Once again, she has crafted a realistic story with a plausible and believable end.
This book is one worth reading.
5 stars

Even Now by Karen Kingsbury

Emily Anderson wants her parents back together. But first she has to find out why they were separated in the first place. So she turns to her mother's old diaries in her grandparents' garage.
Lauren and Shane were never married, yet they produced a daughter they don't even know about. Their families separated them for this reason. Now each of them is poised to marry another, and Emily must find them before they do.
While the end of this plot is predictable, Karen has this effect on readers that tells you "it's okay to be predictable once and a while."
The characters are imperfect. Perfect characters are a vice for this genre.
Karen has proved to be a master at this genre, which makes this book worth reading.
4 stars

Beyond Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

Usually I don't like sequels or plots about replacement romances, but there's always an exception.
Jamie Bryan is doing her best to move on from her husband's tragic death. She does this by immersing herself in charity work related to 9\11. She is working at a chapel in NYC dedicated to helping those who were hurt in the tragic collapse of the Twin Towers.
Clay Michaels has given up on love and has immersed himself in his police work in NYC. But when he saves Jamie from a group of potential rapists, his views on life are forever altered.
I don't like using statements like the one I just used, but this book truly deserves it. The twist to this replacement romance is the fact that Jamie doesn't know who Clay really is due to certain circumstances.
Clay is somewhat of a perfect character, but for some reason, this doesn't really matter. Karen has that effect on readers.
All in all, though the end of the book is predictable, the twists along the way made this book worthwhile.
4 stars

A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury

Cody Gunner is a rodeo rider struggling with his family life, mainly his broken relationship with his father. His brother has Downs syndrome, and his mother just wants him to forgive his father.
But then he meets Ali, a barrel rider with cystic fibrosis. she has to wear a special vest to keep her from doubling over with coughing fits while riding through all the dust. He and Ali eventually marry, but not after he donates a lung to her.
The coincidence of his lung being the type she needs is a little absurd, but this is what happens in this type of book. The characters are what they need to be for this genre.
The plot is just one of those plots that was taken from a mold that was crafted since the beginning of fiction. The advantage Karen has above the other authors in this genre is her ability to capture the emotion without being too sappy or dramatic.
Basically, this story is cute, but not her best.
2.5 stars