Learning

Written by Karen Kingsbury

Narrated by Judy Young, Gabrielle de Cuir, Stefan Rudnicki, Amanda Carin, Judy Young, Gabrielle de Cuir and 2 more

Bailey struggles to find herself on Broadway and with her new cast members in New York City, while Cody coaches a small high school football team . . . on and off the field. But neither feels complete without the chance to share their dreams with each other.

Bailey and Cody’s desire to follow their individual dreams begins to cause confusion for the young couple. Bailey, now living in New York City, is an actress and dancer on Broadway, but soon her job is at risk. Cody continues to be a coach, mentor, and friend to a group of football players in Indiana.

Cody, whose mother's history as a drug addict has put his family in harm's way, takes matters into his own hands and cuts off all ties to the love of his life in order to protect her. Bailey, wounded from Cody's sudden disappearance, seeks solace in Brandon Paul, a famous actor who has fallen in love with her.

Can absence truly make the heart grow fonder, or will Cody turn to others to share in his happiness? And when tragedy strikes, who will be there to provide comfort in the face of loss? As Cody’s past catches up with him, he must learn to reach out for help or risk withdrawing permanently inside himself.

Both Bailey and Cody find themselves learning significant life lessons in this poignant love story. 

• Features members of the popular Baxter family from New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury’s beloved Redemption series, now streaming online
• Sweet, contemporary Christian romance 
• The second installment of The Baxters--Bailey Flanigan series 
  • Book 1: Leaving
  • Book 2: Learning
  • Book 3: Longing
  • Book 4: Loving

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jul 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9780310427568

Karen Kingsbury

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures. Karen recently opened her own film company called Kingsbury Productions. The company’s first theatrical movie, Someone Like You, is considered one of the most anticipated movies of the year. For more information visit SomeoneLikeYou.movie. Also, the first three seasons of Karen’s Baxter Family books are now an original series called The Baxters on Prime Video. Karen and her husband, Donald, live in Tennessee near their children and grandchildren.

Reviews for Learning

[Brenda Shealey Steele · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book. So full of love emotions and truth. I belong to support groups but now I see the great value in belonging or even starting a small Bible study. Gives others an opportunity to connect with others and work through personal issues. I love Karen Kingsbury?

[olivermagnus · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Bailey Flanigan is living a dream. She living in New York City, has a role in the Broadway musical ‘Hairspray’, and she has the attention of Brandon Paul, a popular movie star. But she can’t seem to forget Cody, the first man she has ever really loved.

Other than some innocent Facebook stalking, Cody and Bailey do not have any interaction with one another throughout the book. Both are aware of the other’s new romantic relationships and have decided to move on with their lives in spite of their lingering love for one another.

Bailey’s journey as a single Christian woman and her desire for fame on the Broadway stage at times seem at odds with one another, and she faces problems in trying to stay active in her faith with a group that finds her religion at odds with their own lives.

All the romantic elements in this book are very tame and appropriate for a younger audience. The Bailey Flanigan series is my first foray into Christian fiction and I have to commend Karen Kingsbury for the way this series reaches out to young people who enjoy Christian fiction with a YA focus.

[400mom · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book better than the first one in the series. It allows Bailey to suffer some adversity and makes the characters be more realistic in some of their behavior. Unlike some reviewers, I love the inclusion of some of the Baxter family storylines. I have read all the other books ands it feels like catching up with what some old friends are doing. I didn't like the ending, mostly because it doesn't really allow the book to stand alone.

[olegalca · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Karen Kingsbury continues to be probably the most-read and well-loved Christian fiction writer and you can tell why by reading this book - it's like ice cream - it's smooth and it just slides down your throat with minimal effort. I continue to read but luckily her books are available in the public library because they are not worth the $10.00 to buy them.

By the third page I was wincing a bit... she used the phrase "in addition" twice in the same paragraph. It's either poor writing or poor editing - whichever, perhaps publishing a book every three months is too much when you want to produce a quality product.

I gave up reading another one of her books because she preached about how wonderful and "right" it was that the US was fighting a war in Iraq... this one I almost tossed aside because she preaches about how true Christians would be vocal against homosexuality. I wouldn't mind it so much (although I don't agree) if she wouldn't use one dimensional characters (Gerald) and a really poor plot device (how in the world does Bailey have time to dance 8 times a week on Broadway and do all the other things, like lead a Bible study and run around New York with her boyfriend?) to advance her agenda. Apparently Kingsbury has never watched "The West Wing" and thus heard the argument that the Old Testament has a lot to say on a lot of issues (including touching pig skin) and you cannot pick and choose which ones you want to hold up as absolute. Her plot B, high school football, is lovely irony.

If you are looking for shiny, happy people and Christians who hardly ever struggle with anything significant (Cody is a marvelous character who becomes THE high school football coach - a la "Friday Night Lights - by ignoring religious freedom and overcoming PTSD and a mother in prison for drugs so easily and quickly) this is your book. If you prefer a little more depth and realism, check out Melody Carlson's older, stand-alone fiction or something by Jamie Langston Turner.

[jnut1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Karen is a great story teller. She has done another great job of sharing Bailey's life and struggles as she moves to New York to dance in Hair Spray. She touches on all our favorites from books past but makes sure if this is your very first KK book that you aren't lost. (not something to be taken lightly)

Bailey is struggling with life, love and growing up - haven't we all been there. She is lucky to be blessed with her mom being her best friend (not all are so lucky) and surrounded by Godly people that she can learn from.

I look forward to the next and hope that Bailey finds what we all want - belief that we are following God's path for our lives.

Thanks for another great book Karen.

[rebeccaroupp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Okay, I know many people are team Cody and while I think he's a great guy... I love Brandon for Bailey. Instead of worrying about how perfect he is, he's interested in what's going on with her, and instead of shutting her out he's finding ways to be with her.
I can't wait to read Longing and Loving!!

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is book 2 in the Bailey Flanigan series and it picks up right where book 1 leaves off. It has been several months since I read book one, but it didn't take me any time at all to remember the characters and the story line. It is like reading about a family that you feel you could meet someday, because they seem so real. I have to remind myself that they aren't. Karen Kingsbury does such a good job of making her stories very personal, down to earth and real. She also does a great job of sharing what makes her main characters the people that they are and that is because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a joy to see these people share their faith by just being themselves and the testimony they can and do have towards others. These people struggle, have hardships and disappointments, but they also have a strong faith which helps them through it all.Bailey Flanigan finds herself on Broadway, fulfilling her dream, but it doesn't come easy and she must constantly battle with her feelings as the cast members don't exactly make her feel welcome. But Hollywood star Brandon Paul is always showing up and helping her laugh, feel good and letting her know how important she is to him. I liked his spontenaity when it came to surprising Bailey. Then there is Cody Coleman and his new job as a high school football coach and trying to take a team with a losing record, to just a group of boys who beleive they are truly a team. He also must decide where his relationship is going with Cheyenne, who is fighting to recover from a near fatal car accident.Although this story line didn't go the way I thought it would, I must say I enjoyed the story very much and look forward to seeing where the next story in this series goes with these characters. There is still alot of unresolved issues between two people who must, I believe, come to terms with each other sooner or later. Looking forward to book 3!

[jdy_26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great book in the series. I am, however, getting a little tired of the flip-flop between both Cody and Brandon for Bailey's love. I wish it would just move on and actually get to the point at which there is a final decision about who Bailey is supposed to be with. I like how this books showed a little bit more of Bailey's independence and wasn't so stuck in the Bloomington "bubble". Overall, another wonderful book.