I am a HUGE fan of Karen Kingsbury! I have read all of The Baxter books and Bailey Flanigan along with the others like Unlocked, Like Dandelion Dust, Every Now & Then, etc. No book has ever been a let down for me.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the final book of The Baxter Family: Coming Home: A Story of Undying Hope. I waited several weeks before I actually purchased the book, and was so excited to read it!! I started it one afternoon and stayed up until midnight because I couldn't put it down, that's just how good her books are. But around Chapter 8, I was totally bummed. Erin, John Baxter's youngest daughter, and the rest of her family including: husband Sam, and daughters Clarissa, Chloe, Heidi Jo, and Amy Elizabeth were only minutes away from being with her family for John's 70th surprise birthday party. They came to stand still traffic when they realized they would be late for the party. Erin picks her cell phone up to call her sister Ashley when Sam cried out for God to be with them. The driver of an 18 wheeler fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the families vehicle without ever hitting the breaks, he was killed instantly. The entire family was rushed to the hospital.
John knew something was going on, he had a feeling his family had gathered for a surprise party. But when he drove up to Ashley's house, he received a phone call that he needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible because his daughter and her family were in a terrible accident and it wasn't looking good. John, along side his 2nd wife, Elaine go inside to see the family. When entering he counted 5 out of 6 of his children, thinking it was a mistake about the phone call, because he knew there was no way Erin could make it to Indiana from Texas, he had just spoke to her the day before. When his 1st son, Dayne, spoke up and told him that Erin was on her way, she was running late for the party. The family gathered in a circle for prayer, John & Elaine, Dayne & Katie, Brooke & Peter, Kari & Ryan, Ashley & Landon, and Luke & Reagan. Everyone was accounted for, all the grand children, accept Erin & her family.
I was so upset about this book. This is the FINAL book of The Baxter Family, and this is how KK ends it? WHAT!?! I am bummed.
When they get to the hospital they find that Sam & Erin are both in extreme critical condition and in surgery. Clarissa & Heidi Jo are on life support with possible brain damage, Amy Elizabeth suffered a broken arm, minimum head trauma, and some internal bleeding. Chloe, unfortunately, has already passed away. Eventually, after several chapters pass, Sam, Clarissa and Heidi Jo pass and join sweet Chloe in Heaven. Erin is hanging on by a thread.
What I forgot to mention about these daughters, is that they are all 4 adopted. Clarissa, Chloe and Amy Elizabeth all from the same birth mother, who was in prison for murder and also tried to sell her daughters for drugs. Sam & Erin have had an open adoption for almost 10 years, and never once her from the biological mother, Candy. Now that Candy is out of prison, she is showing sudden interest in the girls. But Erin has a feeling from the very beginning that Candy only wants money. After she hears of the wreck, and realizes that Sam has already died, and it's not looking likely that Erin will live, she wants custody of Amy Elizabeth. Her head is thinking $$$$, she realizes they probably have life insurance, and whoever gets the child, gets the cash.
Erin fights as long as she can, but eventually, she joins the rest of her family and goes to be with Jesus. The funeral of 5 was something the Baxter family never thought they would have to do. The Baxter family, was ready to fight to keep Amy Elizabeth in there life.
Luke, the youngest Baxter, also a lawyer and Ashley fly to Texas for the hearing concerning the custody of Amy Elizabeth. The judge is starting to look like she is giving favor to give Amy to Candy. Luke finds in Erin's cell phone a text to the case manager that she has proof that Candy has other motives, but they have NO actual proof. They have a 10 minute recess to get it together and see if they can figure it out.
This is where I'm going to leave you hanging. Who got custody? Will Amy Elizabeth end up with her crack head/murder birth mother? Will she end up in an orphanage? Will someone in the Baxter family adopt her? As much as I was disappointed with the outcome of this book, I encourage everyone to read it. KK is one of the most inspiration Christian Fictional authors. I will support her no matter if I didn't like the ending of one of her books! Find out how it ends! I posted links to wear you can order it off of Amazon. But, if you are reading this, and live in Monroeville, please get it from Our Time Christian Bookstore! I'm all about supporting locally!
Also, if you have never ready any of the Baxter books, I suggest you start from the beginning. Read Coming Home LAST! I will post the order of the books below! I may have some or most of them, so if interested, I'm willing to let you borrow. :)
Redemption Series:
- Redemption
- Remember
- Return
- Rejoice
- Reunion
First Born Series:
- Fame
- Forgiven
- Found
- Family
- Forever
Sunrise Series:
- Sunrise
- Summer
- Someday
- Sunset
Above the Line Series:
- Take One
- Take Two
- Take Three
- Take Four
Bailey Flanigan Series:
- Leaving
- Learning
- Longing
- Loving
The final book of this whole series is of course:
COMING HOME
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