Rejoice

Redemption #4

by Karen Kingsbury, Gary Smalley

How will Brooke handle the greatest challenge of her life?

A Terrible Tragedy
Brooke and Peter are struggling in their marriage when they are faced with the single worst moment ever. What was supposed to be a pool party for their two daughters and a handful of children ends in disaster. As three-year-old Hayley fights for her life, the Baxter family draws together, not even sure how to pray.

A Shattered Life
Peter is devastated by Hayley’s accident. Unable to see past his own guilt, he distances himself from Brooke and their girls and finds other ways to ease his pain. Illegal ways. Peter’s choices send him spiraling into a cavernous abyss that threatens to destroy not only his relationship with Brooke but his life.

A Reason to Rejoice
Against the backdrop of great pain and loss, a Baxter wedding takes place in New York City, a wedding that gives all of them a reason to smile again. Now, what will it take for Brooke and the Baxters to move forward, and how will the sudden loss of one special woman change them all?

A story of unspeakable loss and the overwhelming miracle of new life

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Romance, Christian Romance, Inspirational, Adult Fiction

369 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Karen 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...

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books, I simply can't get enough of Karen Kingsbury.
Doubt has a way of creeping into dark times, many times we all have doubts when things don't always go our way. Sometimes we wonder why that is but I believe it is the enemy. Luke, and Mr. Baxter have been through this and it was encouraging to see that I wasn't the only one.
This book was full of great reminders to rejoice and be joyful in times of trials, this doesn't mean we're not sad or can't cry but to go through the pain with him.

James 1:1-4 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

Philippians 4:4-6 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

[Cydnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #4 in the series focuses mainly on the oldest child, Brooke and her family. The other sibling's story lines continue side by side. I felt as though some plot lines concluded a bit quickly, while some others are being drawn out for quite a while. On the whole, I have enjoyed this series. A regular family facing what could be devatating problems and trials, and learning to rely on their faith to pull them through.
My favorite quote from this book: "...The 23rd Psalm says he'll walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death...It doesn't say he'll take us on a detour around the valley of the shadow of death. It says he'll stay beside us while we walk through it...You have to walk through it to get past it." This quote along with Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" pretty much sum up the focus of book 4 of the series.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series and becoming quit vested in the Baxter family. I do need to take a break from these books from time to time though. This family goes through so much, it is just hard to absorb at times. I love the way they lean on Christ during each crisis and I love the bonds each member has with the others. The family dynamics are very believable.

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I should just rate the entire series 5 stars right away before I even read the books. 🤷🏼‍♀️

This book is another great installment in the Baxter family drama. Honestly, with every book I read of this family, I get more and more invested. I want to know where life is going to take each of them. I'll be starting the next book in the series very soon.

[Asheley T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment is the most heavy so far and was a little difficult to read in some parts. Again, all five Baxter siblings are going thru big things in their lives. But this story follows Brooke Baxter most closely after a drowning in the family causes her husband to have a crisis of his brand-new faith and a spiral out of control.

Whew, it isn't easy to hear the details of a drowning and the immediate resuscitative efforts read for me via audiobook, so I had to take this book one chapter at a time for the first half. While it was hard to bear witness to the tragedy, it was wonderful to see how the Baxter family and their close friends lifted Brooke up and supported her. They even supported her husband Peter, even as he didn't want any help. The feelings of guilt that both Brooke and Peter had were heart-wrenching, but the way this family worked through their tough time was really encouraging and hopeful.

I'm reading this series with my dearest friend and absolutely loving our real-time texts back and forth when big things happen.

[Havebooks Willread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm having a love/hate relationship with this series. I've decided it's kind of like a soap opera. I can't help caring about the characters and wondering what's going to happen next. It's not wonderful writing, it's sometimes downright cheesy, and I even skim read a page here and there, but yet I cried my eyes out when the precious little three-year-old was found at the bottom of the pool and the battle for her life began. It's escapist fiction, and I'll be reading the last book in the series to see what happens to the Baxter family next.

[Abigail Harris]

I connected with this book so much . . . Yes, Kingsbury writes books that hit home but for me this is one of the closest to anything I experienced, and it broke my heart more than her other books, just wow. This book is realistic and the characters feel so real that I was right there with them. If you try one out the author's books try this one. I'm sure you won't regret it.

[Thera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superknap hoe zo’n serie boeken blijft boeien. Ook dit deel weer met een lach en een traan gelezen. Op naar de laatste!

[Oda Caroline🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lest i praksis

[Sussie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 It got really intense at times with everything going on. Some parts of the book were rushed, but the message was good.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOD is good

As always another awesome read. I always enjoy your books. This book is just a reminder of what a big and wonderful God we serve. Even in the lowest valleys you can always find him right there to be whatever you need at that moment. Thank you Karen for giving us good clean books to read. God Is Good!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

With each book I read in the series, I get more and more hooked. Even though I know it's fiction, there's something refreshing and uplifting about reading about love and having God in the middle of it. I love the messages that these books give you.

[Mikaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ Audiobook Review ~

Wow, this book was hard to read at times, lots of trajedy and suffering! I really enjoyed it though, this series keeps getting better and I get more hooked. I loved the way Brooke learnt to look for God’s goodness even in the darkest of situations, that God can bring good from what the enemy means for evil.

Characters: This book focuses on Brooke and her family, but her parents and siblings also have continuing storylines and major events. I’ve included these spoilers so I can remember in the future what happens in each siblings life:
•Brooke’s daughter Haylee drowns and Peter gets addicted to drugs
•Luke & Reagan get married
•Ashley is still pushing Landon away based on her diagnosis, raising Cole, still working at the altsheimers home.
•Landon gets a promotion with the fire station
•Landon proposes a second time
•Elizabeth is feeling tired from the weight of the family troubles.
•Irvel passed away

Series: This is book 4 in the redemption series and is definitely written to be read in order. But Karen does a good job at filling in the main details that you can read it without reading previous books but highly recommended to start from the start.

Content: I feel this series contains mature content. I really like the strong personal Christian faith that Karen Kingsbury has and reveals through her stories as a major theme in her novels. Some of the content includes: drug addiction, suicide, drowning, aids, divorce, child with brain damage


Book recommendations:


Audio Performance: 8/10
In this Abridged version Sandra gives a fully voiced performance (meaning each character is given a unique sounding voice) she reads nicely and was relaxing to listen to. Sandra narrates the entire series which is nice to keep consistency.

Author: Karen Kingsbury & Gary Smalley
Narrator: Sandra Burr
Length: 4hrs (Abridged)
Book Published: 22-Mar-2004
Audio Released: 1-Apr-2004
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Platform: christianaudio.com

[Melissa Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! This book was the hardest one for me to get through emotionally. I really had a tough time reading about a little girl drowning and never being the same again. I had to take breaks in between because some parts of the book left me feeling uneasy. I really grappled with why she had to drown in the first place and what I would have done in that scenario. As a mom of young kids, this storyline will most likely haunt me for a while. Still a good book, but I will probably have to take a Baxter family break after this one.

[Emily Damon · Rating 3 out of 5]

10/10 sad. This was the hardest book for me to get through in the Baxter family series, mainly because there was a serious accident with a small child in the beginning.

I love Karen & the beautiful, redemptive stories she writes but my momma heart may not be able to handle them anymore 😩 not tryna get tooooo real on Goodreads buttttttt I just don’t think I can take her stories emotionally anymore 🥵😂🥲

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great theme - learning to rejoice no matter what. Bad things happen to everyone, but we choose our attitudes, and for Christians, we choose whether we'll look for God in the bad things and rejoice or stay stuck in the dark. I didn't love reading about Peter's ordeal or one scene with Ashley and Landon in his apartment, but otherwise an emotional and thought-provokingly good read.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

I absolutely love this series! I was thinking I was going to need a break from the Baxter Family but I definitely do not need one! I just want more! Thank you Karen Kingsbury for a phenomenal story!

[Jennifer Pitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was beautifully written! A wonderful poem from a mother to a son on his wedding day and many Bible quotes I’ve now highlighted in my own Bible. This book taught & reminded me to REJOICE always. “Consider it pure joy when we face trails of many kinds and to rejoice in the Lord always.” Try to find a smile even through our tears. “Act with your head & your heart will follow.”

[Elizabeth Elsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ this one was probably my least favorite of the series so far, it was so heavy and sometimes the super happy, perfect endings feels too unrealistic. But I still love the family and the overall idea of the book.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! I am loving her books!! She really put me through a emotional rollar coster in this book!! It was sad at first!! But everything worked out!!

[Carol Maciej-Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Baxter family storyline. I sometimes feel there are so many over explained emotions, etc. but overall enjoy the family story.

[Karen Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this a bit slow compared to the first three, fairly enjoyable, but didn't make me stay up late each night reading for ages

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rejoice - Karen Kingsbury

Just finished the 4th book....and once I stop crying for joy with such a beautiful ending...I will be starting Reunion.

Can't believe I'm almost finished the Redemption series it's been such an incrediable journey.

Thank you Karen for giving us readers a place to run away too.

[Dakotah Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay so for some reason this book started out slow for me and i have no clue why. there was so much happening in the beginning of the book but i was just stuck and not really that interested if i’m being honest. that changed veryyyyy quickly tho. the rest of the book was amazing and kept my interest the ENTIRE time. mmm that ending tho😭😍 4⭐️ period.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well....I tried this author. I finished book 4 in this series and done. I don't need to read anymore of her books. Pretty much the same and so verbose....just too many words. Ironically I have a handicapped child, and I don't know, I felt a bit offended by how she was describing the brain injured child. If you know, you know. If you don't, I don't see how you can write about it honestly. But that's just my opinion. So yeah, I know so many people like this author and that's great. As for me, I'll move on.

[Mayda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This novel focuses on Haley’s accident and her parent’s reactions as they cope with the aftermath. Peter and Brooke separate, and Peter’s choices are also life threatening. In this installment, not only does God talk to Peter, so does Satan. But goodness triumphs over evil, and the extended Baxter family rallies to offer support. The most interesting characters are still the patients in the Alzheimer’s ward. This soap opera concludes in the next installment.

[Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

A couple should celebrate their love for each other everyday! that is what I learned in this book, because life has its up and down and it's better to go through it with the other half than by ourselves.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I loved this book!!!! My favorite quote for sure is, “‘Yes, Landon. Yes I’ll marry you!’ ‘Good. You were we’re getting the ring either way.’” So cute. And oh my word Peter crying for Hayley at the end had me in tears. Also thank goodness Luke came to his senses am I right? That’s all.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

4th in first Baxter family series. Brooke's daughter in a near-drowning incident

[Rosslyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read but not realistic enough in my opinion. Sadly things don't always turn out as well as these novels!