Sunday, April 22, 2012

Loving by Karen Kingsbury

Title: Loving

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Why I Read It: It's the last book in the Bailey Flanigan series, and I've read the first three.

Where I Got It: Target

Rating:  4 stars



Overview from Barnes and Noble:

The answers Bailey Flanigan once longed and prayed for are finally becoming clear. In Loving, the fourth and final book in the Bailey Flanigan Series by New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, Bailey is planning a wedding and making decisions that will shape her future. Bailey enjoys the beginning of her new career and time spent with Brandon while Cody faithfully coaches his team on and off the field. Will she spend her life with Brandon Paul in Los Angeles, or will her heart draw her back to Bloomington, Indiana and Cody Coleman, her first love? Bailey has learned much and grown over the years, but the greatest challenges, the richest joys, and the deepest heartaches are still to come. Featuring members from Karen Kingsbury's popular Baxter family, Loving completes Bailey and Cody's story --- the finale thousands of fans have been waiting for.





Sadly, I have finished reading the last book in the Bailey Flanigan series by Karen Kingsbury. It's a bitter sweet moment. I was very excited to read this final installment. But, I am very saddened that its ended. I have a lot of unanswered questions. Not necessarily because of the way the book was written, but just because I want the story to keep going! 

Through out the series, we've wondered, "Who is Bailey going to choose? Brandon, or Cody?" There has been the ever popular, "Team Cody!" and "Team Brandon!" Like from the Twilight saga with Edward and Jacob. Everyone had who they wanted her to choose, and who they didn't want her to choose. I, for one, had one I was hoping she'd choose. Maybe I was right. ;-) 

I'll be honest though, the story line was sort of disappointing. After reading reviews from others, I found that I agreed with a lot of what people said. We all thought she was going to choose someone else, but at the last second, it was like Karen changed her mind and decided to change the story. The middle to the end of the story just didn't seem to go with the beginning of the story. To me, it kind of felt like it she had the same story, with two separate things going on. If that makes any sense. Characters stayed the same, but I felt like I was reading two different books. 

Karen did teach us something though, like she does in all of the books she writes. In the entire series, shes taught us that we can love again after being hurt. We can be happy again. I, for one, needed to be reminded me of that. She also taught us that God brings us to different seasons in our life. When one season in our life ends, there is always going to be another one soon. 

If you didn't know already, Karen Kingsbury is a Christian/Inspirational writer. All of her books have God and religion in them. Which is why I enjoy them so much! 

All in all, this was a pretty good book. I did enjoy it immensely, I was just disappointed in how it was written, disappointed that Bailey didn't choose who I wanted her to, and who a lot of other dedicated readers that she was going to, and that it seemed like two different books in one. I do recommend this book, but I would read the series from the beginning! That is really the only reason I give it 4 stars out of 5. 

If you've read this book, or will, let me know so we can discuss it! 




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