If you've read any of the Redemption series, Sunrise series, Firstborn series, Bailey Flanigan series, or the Above the Line series, you're familiar with the Baxter family and the other characters that fill out their lives. This book is described as being the Love Story of John and Elizabeth Baxter, the heads of the Baxter clan, as told through John's memories as a class project for his grandson Cole. However, their story is only a piece of this novel, and readers will catch up with several characters from throughout the Baxter Family Series, including Cody and Andi, Bailey and Brandon, and Ashley and Landon. As Ashley listens to her parents' story, that was far from perfect, she is forced to revisit the past that led to Cole, and how her story led her back to Landon. Bailey and Brandon are about to have a baby, and Bailey is keeping in touch with Andi as Cody and Andi try to figure out how to move forward with their lives. This novel will dip you back into the Baxter family as if you'd never left them.

As part of Cole's project, he hears the tale of the man who prayed for John and Elizabeth that one day "God [would] give [them] a marriage and family so beautiful all the world [would] want to know [their] secret." The early Baxter books conveyed that family so well that I think most readers probably wanted to be a Baxter; I know I wanted to come home to that cozy house and enjoy the family picnics and camaraderie. The Baxter past hasn't been an easy one, and while I do feel that some of the trials get glossed over in these books, if you look, the story of grace and redemption is still there. Several of the main characters in this installment are forced to confront their previous mistakes, and learn from them to live more godly lives, and to begin a legacy that will live on in the faith of future generations.

While this book lacked some of the depth and faith searching of the early series, it was a good step forward for the Baxter family, with a good review of their past. It did a good job reminding readers of the characters' connections, without rehashing too much of the previous series. A reader new to the family might be drawn in enough to go back and live with them throughout the earlier series.

I give this book 3 stars; I enjoyed checking in with a favorite fictional family, but I felt that it both tried to cover too many stories at once, and yet didn't catch up with enough of the family to feel like coming home. I also felt that it was a little light on how the consequences of past choices affected the characters' lives; everything always seems to work out perfectly for the Baxter families, and while I know it's fiction, it would be nice to see that there are always ramifications to mistakes, even where there is grace and forgiveness.

You can find Love Story HERE.
You can find the author, Karen Kingsbury, HERE.
There have been articles for awhile now that they're making the Baxter Family into a TV Series.


I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

I love all things Baxter from Karen Kingsbury. Reminiscing in John and Elizabeth's love story was sentimental and brings the Baxter family full circle seeing their struggle at the beginning but determination to rely on their faith.

Loved that we got to find out what Cody and Andi had been up to. Cody has always been a favorite character of mine.

I just loved how the love story from the past connected with the current love story. I also really liked how the person that John met and then became a Christian was able to see what a difference he had made in his life and though that,the lives of his family and their families as well.

This is a book that lives up the expectations of the author. Obviously this is a book in a long line of the Baxter Family books. And it is every bit as good as one would expect after reading so many of the other books. This is a great "going back to the beginning" story. It definitely has you feeling the emotional roller coaster that so often is a part of the Baxter family life. So many of us have grown to love these characters and I love how they have become a part of my "book family".

I loved this book because it brought me back to the world of the Baxters.
Always life lessons and an easy inspirational read.

What is it about Karen Kingsbury’s Baxter family that draws me in again and again?

From the day they met, John and Elizabeth were destined to fall in love. When John Baxter is asked to relive his love story with Elizabeth for his grandson Cole’s heritage project, he’s not sure he can do it. But over a few weeks, he tells Cole everything. If you’ve read all of the Baxter books, particularly the Redemption series, this part of the book will be familiar to you. There were parts of John’s telling of the story to Cole that read like a repeat of previous books. And other parts that felt new and fresh. Either way, I enjoyed this look back at John and Elizabeth’s courtship.

Cody Coleman is working through the breakup of his complicated relationship with Andi Ellison. Can Cody and Andi work through what is keeping them apart? I enjoyed this part of the story. While John and Elizabeth’s story was a look back, this was an update on the continuing story of Cody and Andi. However, I didn’t like how their story ended. It was too fast. If there had been one conversation between the two prior to the ending, I would have been happy.

To answer the question I began this review with … What draws me to the Baxter family? It’s the emotion. It’s that these people feel like real people to me. However, unlike the other books, this one didn’t make me cry. Not even once! And that’s rare! I did get a bit teary eyed in one place but that was over a puppy. I’m not sure why this book didn’t grab like previous books have?!

There are brief updates throughout the book about the rest of the Baxters and the Flanigans but there isn’t much here with the family as a whole. Haven’t read any of the Baxter books? You can jump in right here without feeling lost. Not only does Karen do a good job of giving you some details without a complete rehash of the story, but the books begins with an introduction to the family … Who is who, how old they are, who their kids are etc.

Finally, this moment stands out to me. Ashley and Landon are talking after finding in their garage an old pitcher of Elizabeth’s that had been broken and glued back together.

“She told us the repaired pitcher was an illustration of God’s grace. The way he saw us. We would have broken times in life. Times when we threw a ball where we shouldn’t and the next thing you knew something very precious was lying on the ground in pieces. She told us God would always put the pieces back together if we were willing. The end result might not look exactly as it did before, but it would be beautiful all the same. Beautifully broken. That’s what she called it.”

Friends, you know I love Kingsbury and I always will. Was this one of her best Baxter books? No. But that won’t stop me from anxiously awaiting the next update on the Baxters. They feel like real people, real friends and I need to know what they’re up to.

Karen Kingsbury's new book, Love Story, is a must read, especially if you love the Baxter family.
John Baxter relives his love story with his first wife, Elizabeth, who died of cancer. John tells this story to his daughter, Ashley, and his grandson, Cole for a very important school project. John and Elizabeth's story will make you laugh and cry and you will truly feel how strong their love was for each other and how hard they had to fight to keep it.
I also loved reconnecting with Cody and Andi, trying to forget each other and move on after two broken engagements.
And, my favorite is, Brandon and Bailey, preparing to become parents.
Love Story is a book full of love, grace and forgiveness.
This book stirs up so many memories and makes me want to go back read the Baxter Series again!
Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read Love Story and give my honest opinion.

Love Story is the story of the origin of John and Elizabeth Baxter’s family. It is the twenty-fifth book Karen Kingsbury has written about the Baxters. Love Story is wonderful tale for long-time Baxter fans, as John reflects back on his and Elizabeth’s story. It is also a suitable introduction for readers like me who are new to this family.
In addition to learning about how John and Elizabeth met and fell in love, readers of Love Story will also follow the somewhat turbulent, on again-off again, relationship of Cody Coleman and Andi Ellison. Throughout both relationships, we see how God works in the lives of those who seek His will and put their trust in Him, even when, or maybe especially when, they have made a mess of things when trying to make a go of it on their own.
As a reader, I am usually pretty in touch with what attributes of a story or writing style do or do not appeal to me as I read. I found my reading experience with Love Story to be the exception of that rule. As I read I was very aware that my level of engagement with the story and its characters waxed and waned more frequently and to a greater degree than is normal for me, but I could never pinpoint the cause. This detracted from my enjoyment of this book. It will not keep me from picking up another book by this author as the story did unfold with a meaningful lesson, something I value in Christian fiction.
I wish to thank the publisher for providing this book to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

The positives :-
I love the friendly, welcoming way she opens her books -
updating readers on her family news, via messages
written to each member.
As it's been a while since I have read a Baxter series
book, it was most helpful to have my memory refreshed
with a recap at the beginning of 'Love Story'.
It is good to learn about the New Orleans floods from a
different perspective
I like the way readers are challenged, without it seeming
'preachy'.
This is a book about consequences, & how God can
take the worst mistakes & still make them into blessings....

The negatives :-
I have loved every other Karen Kingsbury book I have read,
but have serious misgivings over this one. It does not seem
appropriate to be sharing such information with a teenage
boy about his grandmother, especially when she is no
longer here to give her permission. As a reader, I myself
do not feel comfortable learning such private things about
a hitherto respected character.
There are two separate story-lines, & I am not convinced
they belong in the same book.
All-in-all not the smooth-flowing read I am used to from
this author.
I had very high expectations, but have finished the book
disappointed.

Finished this book in record time. One of those you thought about the characters through the day and couldn't wait to finish the story. I have read some of this series several years ago so could remember a few of the characters. But the author explains enough the history so that it is a stand alone book without ever reading the previous books. Several storylines going on at the same time.
You really didn't want it to be over. But isn't one of those that you felt like the author just stopped. It has a good beginning and completed the storyline, yet left room if there are additional books. Loved it.

The Family--Baxter, 22 books and more to come!! A top favorite of mine, with faith, family, and love.

John and Elizabeth Baxter were in love with each other for 30 years, until cancer took her. This is their story!
Goes back to Fall 1967. Their story begins with a little Twist, Jitterbug, and Swing.
Catch up on the entire family. Stays enjoyable with scripture throughout and an Adele lyric.

I was thrilled to read this ARC. An inspiring read! A true joy of mine. Highly recommend.
Looking forward to more books with Karen Kingsbury and the Baxter Family..

This is the Love Story of John and Elizabeth Baxter. Cody is John's grandson ask his papa for a favor. He has a project at school and wants to write about John and Elizabeth how they meet and fell in Love. John tells his story to his grandson and his daughter. Tells them that they were so much in love but Elizabeth's parents would not let her date. They sneak to see each other and fall in love. When Elizabeth becomes pregnant her father sends her away to have the baby. John does not know where she is. He wants to marry her and have the child. As he rushes to see her his car breaks down. A old vet Wilson Gage helps him and gives him advice. He told John that faith would see him through every hard thing ahead of him..And that God would give him a marriage ant family so beautiful all the world want to know the secret. It is a story of faith and Love and Hardships.It is a story not only about John and Elizabeth but Andi and Cody. Brandon and Bailey and Cody's mother. and her mistakes in her life.

I think with this book, the Baxter family series has finally jumped the shark.

In an effort to bring conclusions to stories, without enough pages to do it in, implausibility arises. For example, how is it that poor Cole is 17 years old and still has not been told who his birth father was? And then when he does sit down to hear the story, he somehow doesn’t care who his birth father is, he wants to hear about Landon. How is it that Grandpa Baxter got drunk on 4 cans of beer? There are NO baby bears in Ann Arbor wandering by the side of a lake. Luke is taking on a case because it’s becoming a “crime to pray in public.” The whole Cody and Andi story is just wrapped up in a nice neat implausible bow.

My biggest complaint is that there seem to consistently be so many product placements in these books. She mentions Liberty University, where she teaches, over and over again. She drops in her son-in-law, his song and the song’s lyrics. The characters don’t just watch the news, they watch Fox News. The movie being made is the title of one of her books. Characters with no need to have their name mentioned are given names, probably due to a donation being made. The list goes on and on.

These inconsistencies and apparent advertisements detract from the message of the book.

I might give the Baxters one more chance, but the way these last few books have been written, I feel I’m about done with them.

I received this advanced reader copy via NetGalley.

This book was Karen's best yet! It was simple to read, yet engaging. I appreciated how tasteful even the raw parts of the story were.