April 23, 2007
Welcome back to Bloomington, Ind., where some of Kingsbury's most popular Christian novels are set. Kingsbury's latest feel-good offering launches a new four-book series to follow the Baxter Family Dramas, which have nearly two million copies in print. She introduces a few new faces and follows familiar characters like the Baxters through their mostly sunny lives. Unfortunately, the plot is all but nonexistent. Hunky actor Dayne Matthews and the lovely Katy Hart are engaged to be married, but they face a dilemma: how to plan a private wedding that won't be overrun by reporters desperate for a shot of the Hollywood heartthrob tying the knot. Dayne hires a Tinseltown wedding planner who specializes in secret star nuptials, although Katy frets that keeping the wedding hush-hush may necessitate deceiving some close friends and relatives. Meanwhile, Jim Flanigan, football coach at Clear Creek High, suspects his players are drinking and tries to crack down. Inspirational platitudes litter the pages ("Jim already knew the possibilities. Now it was a matter of trusting God for the outcome"). Readers new to Kingsbury will have a little trouble keeping the characters straight and figuring out the backstory, but her many fans will relish this visit with old and new friends, despite the cliches.
June 1, 2007
Kingsbury continues the saga of the Baxter family from the "Redemption" and "Firstborn" series in this new series launch. The famous Dayne Matthews and his fiancée are trying to keep their wedding out of the press, but they will need the Baxters' assistance to pull it off. Meanwhile, Coach Flanigan tries to help an ailing football star as well as take care of his three adopted children.
Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.