Weekend Writing: Reviewing Karen Kingsbury's "Family"

"The feeling became more obvious with every heartbeat because it was something he'd longed for a lifetime. The feeling of family." - Karen Kingsbury, "Family"

If you are familiar with my blog, you should know by now that I am a fan of Karen Kingsbury's writing. I have been reading my way through her Firstborn series--a continuation of the Baxter Family series established in the Redemption series. Kingsbury's "Life-Changing" fiction never fails to comfort, inspire, and impact me in ways I hardly expect. 

I love the Baxter family. Like I have previously expressed in other reviews [for example, my review of Found], I love the family but the Firstborn series is especially captivating to me because Dayne Matthews is a character we can all relate to and love. He's a Hollywood heartthrob who, after a long and difficult struggle with his identity, chooses to reconnect with his faith and fight back against his past. He falls in love with Katy Hart, the small-town, innocent Christian girl who works as a director of the Christian Kids Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. He loves Katy and he wants nothing else but to have a future with her, even if it means giving up on his life as a Hollywood star. Undoubtedly, he would do it--just for her.

Karen Kingsbury's "Firstborn" series (photo/Amazon.com).

Family continues the story of Dayne and Katy. Since the first book in the series, Dayne and Katy have a connection they can't deny. I'm envious of their relationship. Even when they try to stay away from each other, it's impossible. They're soulmates and God keeps bringing them together, forcing them to confront the issues at hand and learn to grow closer together. 

This proves to be a challenge when they're in the middle of a lengthy, stressful court case. Previously in the Firstborn series, Dayne and Katy were involved in a near-murder, in which a stalker fan tried to kill Katy because she was kissing Dayne. Crazy Hollywood fans! At the court trial, Dayne is concerned for not only Katy's safety but also that once the media learns her identity, she will no longer be the "small-town, private girl" from Indiana. Paparazzi will follow her every move and tabloids will exploit her past. They will try to tarnish her good Christian name, and Dayne doesn't want that to happen to the one girl he has ever really loved.

Karen Kingsbury's "Family."

At the same time, John Baxter [Dayne's biological father] hasn't yet told his children the news that the one and only Dayne Matthews is their older brother. They had no idea they even had a brother. That is enough news of itself, but their brother is also the biggest celebrity in America. John knew this would be difficult news to share, but he has to tell them. He has to reunite his family--for the first time ever. It's what his beloved wife, Elizabeth, wanted before she passed away. It's what he always wanted and dreamed about, as well.

It's what Dayne desperately wants to do, too. But, he knows as soon as he meets his family--as soon as he welcomes them into his life--everything will change. The media will find out about the Baxters and destroy the family. They'll exploit the news that Dayne was adopted and spin the story about how John and Elizabeth gave him up for adoption. They'll publish news articles about his siblings--like how Ashley Baxter Blake had a child out of wedlock while studying abroad in Paris. He doesn't want to ruin the Baxters with his intrusion in the family. 

But it has to happen. Because until the Baxters are really reunited, they're never going to be one big happy family. Dayne will always be missing. John knows this and deep down, Dayne knows this, as well. He has always longed for a family, but the price of having a family might be too severe. It will change everything.

Forever.

Karen Kingsbury (photo/Landmark Booksellers)

Once again, Kingsbury continues her phenomenal writing style of being inspirational but also heartbreaking at the same time. While I was reading Family, I wished the paparazzi would go away and never come back. I wanted Dayne to have a normal life. I wanted him to meet the Baxters without any fears. But, throughout the novel, the characters are reminded that they must trust God in every step of the way. They must trust that God knows the path for them. God will allow for Dayne to meet his family after all these years of being separated. As long as they put God in the driver's seat, everything will be okay. This is an important lesson that we must learn in our own lives. 

I have one more novel in the series to go--Forever. I'll be sad to finish the Firstborn series. I love it so much. But, all good things must come to end, even our favorite book series. I already know it will be a beautiful ending. 

Until next time...

Read on.

-KJL-