Loving

Written by Karen Kingsbury

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

In Loving, the fourth and final book in the Bailey Flanigan Series by bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, Bailey is planning her wedding . . . but did she choose her new flame or 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. As she enjoys the beginning of her new career and time spent with Brandon, Cody faithfully coaches his team on and off the field. Torn between her feelings for both of them, she has a difficult decision to make.

Has she agreed to marry the right man? Will she spend her life with Hollywood actor Brandon Paul in Los Angeles, or will her heart draw her back to small-town Bloomington, Indiana, and Cody Coleman, her first love?

• 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 final 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: Apr 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9780310427605

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. Her Baxter Family books have been developed into a TV series now available everywhere. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near four of their adult children.

Reviews for Loving

[theindigoquill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

******SPOILERS*******

First and foremost, I have to say that I absolutely adore Karen Kingsbury and I have been reading her books for years. As I'm getting ready to start a family, and as I myself am an aspiring Christian writer, Karen has shown me through her writing the standards that I desire to raise my family in. She is incredibly inspiring and I truly look up to her as a Christian woman, writer, wife, and parent.

I, like many others, have grown with the Baxters and Flanigans since the beginning. And I, like many others, went through the series hoping for a happily ever after for Bailey and Cody. When I went to purchase this book for my kindle, I was still believing that there was going to be some miracle of a turnaround for Bailey and Cody and everything was going to be "okay." But as I got to the Amazon page and saw that there were over 100 people that rated this book as 1 star, my heart sank. No. It couldn't be. Bailey and Cody HAD to find a way! ...right????

I began to scroll down and read the reviews. This wasn't going to end the way I had hope it would all these years. I actually debated whether or not I should even purchase it because I was so upset about it. But, I couldn't do that to Karen. She had her reasons, and I was going to show my support either way.

Normally, I read through a Karen Kingsbury book in a day. A day and a half at most. Knowing how this was going to end, it seriously took me over a month to get through this book. I would lay my kindle down on my lap, look at my husband in desperation and say, "this isn't how it's supposed to be! I just don't know if I can finish it!" Yes, I am one of those that feel like these are real people.

I'm glad that I knew the ending beforehand, because although it took time, eventually I started becoming more accepting of the fact that Bailey was going to choose Brandon. And because Karen decided to minimize the character of Cody and maximize the character of Brandon, it became more bearable.

The thing is, with everything Cody had gone through between almost losing his life overseas, losing Cheyenne, and even losing Bailey for a while...you would think he would've had some epiphany that life was too short, keep those you love close....fight for them and never let go, especially Bailey. He wouldn't just shrug his shoulders and move on with his life...that's not the Cody Coleman we all knew! Andi was a bit random, but even making her and Brandon a couple would've made more sense.

I'm still really torn about this series...by the end of it I was able to like the character of Brandon a lot more, but if I didn't know she was going to pick him the whole time, I probably would've been a lot more devastated.

I give three stars because I still think that Karen wrote within the same context we all love her for: Faith, Family, and Love. However, I think the storyline throughout the Bailey Flanigan series started off strong, but slowly became weaker as Karen was trying to decide which direction to take Bailey. I feel like it became too much like a repeat of Katy and Dayne's story. Although it worked for them...and although I know you don't always end up with your first love, I think Bailey Flanigan and Cody Coleman could have easily had a successful "first love" story that could've been one of the sweetest of them all.

[sherylhendrix · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The final installment in the Bailey Flanagan series, with an ending that meets everyone's expectations. For some reason this particular book seemed a little bit "preachy" to me compared to Karen Kingsbury's other books - but I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to buying a copy for my daughter.

[judyg54 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As always, Karen Kingsbury writes another story that captures your heart. This was the last book in the Bailey Flannigan Series and although all through this series I wasn't sure if she would be able to pull out a happily ever after ending for Bailey that would make me happy, I must say I was very satisfied with the way she ended this series.There are challenges, joys and heartaches for Bailey as she seeks to make the right decisions for her life. There was passion, but it was with purity. Brandon Paul is a guy who loves Bailey the way any parent would want their daughter to be loved. But there are obstacles that stand in the way of this love. Cody and Bailey still have issues they need to come to terms with and there was alot of closure to the end of the series, but also alot of beginnings for various people from this series.One of the things I appreciate the most about Karen Kingsbury's books is the solid testimony her characters give of the way the Lord can and will work in the lifes of people who put their trust in Him and keep Him first in their lifes. The solid convictions that Bailey and others in the book held to and the way the Lord worked all things out for His glory and their best was just refreshing to read about. Are there reall challenges and struggles a believer will experience in their lifes? You bet! But He always proves Himself faithful. I am always encouraged after reading a Karen Kingsbury book and highly recommend this Baily Flanigan Series!Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Zondervan (March 27, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0310276357 ISBN-13: 978-0310276357