Review: The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

About the book:

Now a Hallmark Channel movie event, The Bridge, along with prequel The Beginning, is a heartwarming story of two couples who find love in a bookstore and experience the sort of miracle that can only happen at Christmastime.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury has written a modern-day classic with this unforgettable love story set against the struggle of the American bookstore. Molly Allen lives alone in Portland, but she left her heart back in Tennessee when she walked away from Ryan five years ago. They had a rare sort of love she hasn’t found since.

Ryan Kelly lives in Nashville after a broken engagement and several years on the road touring with a country music duo. Sometimes when he’s lonely, he visits The Bridge—the oldest bookstore in historic downtown Franklin—and remembers the hours he and Molly once spent there.

For over four decades, Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, providing customers with coffee, conversation, and shelves of classics—even through dismal sales and the rise of digital books. Then the hundred-year flood sweeps through Franklin and destroys everything. The bank is about to pull the store’s lease when tragedy strikes. Can two generations of readers rally together to save The Bridge? And is it possible that an unforgettable love might lead to the miracle of a second chance?

My rating:
3 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

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*Beware of Spoilers* ~ Loving by Karen Kingsbury

**Forewarning... there will be spoilers below.**

You've been warned... LOL :)

My rating:

My thoughts - with spoilers:

Let me say, I thought I was going to hate this book or just not like it... that wasn't the case. I ended up really liking the story, but there were some things that annoyed/bothered me.

One thing I've never really liked in Karen Kingsbury's novels is that sometimes it almost seems like God is "talking" to the characters. It's like putting words in God's mouth. In most of her previous books, I overlooked it because I just loved the stories too much to give it anything less than five stars, but this one is really disappointing in many ways.

Originally, I had liked Bailey and thought she and Cody would be perfect for each other, but in Loving (and maybe even Longing) I sometimes found Bailey to be annoying...

I'm glad I read some spoiler reviews before I read Loving, because at least I knew where things were headed. I've always been Team Cody, and still am... but I am really happy that he didn't end up with Bailey.

I loved Cody and Andi's story, although I wish there would have been more of it in Loving. It ended without there being a definite answer, but I am really glad that he and Andi are together. :)

Oh, and I'm super glad that the series is finally over and it's known who Bailey marries - no more of the back-and-forth between Cody and Brandon! I think I cared more about who Cody ended up with than who Bailey did... 

I am disappointed in the series, though, because of how things went. It seems like Karen Kingsbury just changed her mind towards the end of the series about who she wanted Bailey to marry - and diminished Cody and Bailey's old feeling for each other in the process.

Suffice it to say, disappointing, but good - if that makes sense. :|

I got this book from the library and decided to share my thoughts about it. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 

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Waiting of Wednesday: Loving by Karen Kingsbury

For anybody who has been reading this blog for any length of time, it probably comes as no surprise that I choose 'Loving', book 4 in the Bailey Flanigan series, as my Waiting on Wednesday pick! I can hardly wait to see what is going to happen next in the lives of Bailey and Cody. 'Longing' ended leaving me wondering where Karen is going to take these characters...

If you haven't read this series (or any of Karen's series featuring the Baxters), why NOT??? I totally love these characters and am hoping Karen is going to write another series featuring them. I'm still Team Cody!

Release date: March 22, 2012

Publisher: Zondervan

About the book:


The answers Bailey Flanigan once longed and prayed for are finally becoming clear. In Loving, the fourth and final book in the Bailey Flanigan Series by New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, Bailey is planning a wedding and making decisions that will shape her future. Bailey enjoys the beginning of her new career and time spent with Brandon while Cody faithfully coaches his team on and off the field. Will she spend her life with Brandon Paul in Los Angeles, or will her heart draw her back to Bloomington, Indiana and Cody Coleman, 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. Featuring members from Karen Kingsbury's popular Baxter family, Loving completes Bailey and Cody's story --- the finale thousands of fans have been waiting for.


What book are you waiting for? Please let me know in a comment.

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Book Trailer of the Week! Longing: Bailey Flanigan Series (#3) by Karen Kingsbury

I'm trying something new. Each week I plan to choose a book trailer that I will "spotlight".

This week I'm "spotlighting" Longing - Karen Kingsbury's third book in the Bailey Flanigan Series (to be released in November). I absolutely love the song in the background ('Can't Get Over You' by Anthem Lights) and the video makes me wonder what is going to happen next in Bailey's life - I can hardly wait to read 'Longing'!

Watch it here.

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Book Review: Learning: Bailey Flanigan Series (Book 2) by Karen Kingsbury

Learning by Karen Kingsbury

My rating: 

Karen Kingsbury's Bailey Flanigan Series, though it features the Baxters, has blossomed into something of it's own.

Bailey Flanigan is living a dream. She has a role in the broadway musical 'Hairspray', she's living in N.Y., and she has the attention of a big movie star - Brandon Paul. But she can't seem to forget Cody - the first man she has ever really loved...and loves still - even though he seems to have forgotten her.

Cody Coleman still loves Bailey, but he thinks she's dating Brandon Paul, and that she deserves someone better than him. Then there's Cheyenne. The woman who on the way to see him coach a football practice got in a terrible car crash and is now fighting for her life. The woman that he promised never to leave.

Wow! I LOVE how Karen Kingsbury writes novels. They capture my attention and make me feel like I'm there living though the story. I loved how Bailey's story continued on from 'Leaving' and as usual, I can hardly wait to read 'Longing'!

I will say that I feel a little confused after finishing 'Learning'. I keep trying to figure out how Karen Kingsbury is going to continue Bailey's story - is she going to end up with Brandon or Cody...or neither. I'm rooting for Cody because they have so much history and I really like his character.

I find Brandon's character really nice too, and as the story continues, I like him more - but I'm still hoping for Cody...

I loved this book. It was GREAT and now I'm longing to read 'Longing! I highly recommend 'Learning'!

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Karen Kingsbury's 9/11 Series Book Giveaway

I'm giving away the following to one (random) winner:

• 1 copy of 'One Tuesday Morning' by Karen Kingsbury
• 1 handmade flower bookmark to match 'One Tuesday Morning'
• 1 copy of 'Beyond Tuesday Morning' by Karen Kingsbury
• 1 handmade flower bookmark to match 'Beyond Tuesday Morning'
• 1 copy of 'Every Now and Then' by Karen Kingsbury
• 1 handmade flower bookmark to match 'Every Now and Then'

Considering it's been almost 10 years since that horrible day of the 9/11 attacks, I've decided to give away Karen Kingsbury's '9/11 series' in memory of all the people that lost their lives that day.

When I read 'One Tuesday Morning', the attacks of 9/11 became more real to me. Considering I was young when it happened, this book helped open my eyes to the tragedy of that day.

The books I'm giving away are used, but are in good condition. Plus, with each book, I will be giving a handmade flower bookmark (that I made) to match that book's cover. I will be using 'Random.org' to pick a winner. Therefore, this will be a random winner and completely non-biased.

Giveaway Rules:

For each entry you complete, leave a comment telling me that you completed it with the URL (if applicable) and your e-mail address.

Mandatory entry:

• 1 entry - Subscribe to 'Christian Bookshelf Reviews' via e-mail (leave email address in comment)

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• +1 entry - Each time you rate one of my reviews - click here
• +1 entry - Answer the following question: Where were you during the 9/11 attacks?
• +1 entry - Post about this giveaway on your site (leave URL)
• +1 entry - Vote for my blog on Picket Fences (once per day)
• +1 entry - Each time you tweet this (leave URL): 

Want to #win @KarenKingsbury #9/11 series? @LoveBeingVegan is having a #giveaway! To enter, go here - http://goo.gl/AnVCF

• +3 entries - Grab my blog button (found on right sidebar) [leave URL]
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Note: You MUST leave a valid e-mail address in your comments (or have it available in profile), so I can reach you if you win. Anyone who doesn't, will be ineligible and excluded from this giveaway.

Giveaway begins July 21, 2011 and ends September 11, 2011 at 11:59 pm CT.   I will announce the winner by September 13th - at which time, they will have 48 hours to respond. If I don't get a response from them within that time-frame, I will choose another winner.


Contest is only open to the Continental U.S. and void where prohibited.

Giveaway is now closed!

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Leaving: Bailey Flanigan Series (Book 1) - Karen Kingsbury

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

My rating: 


It's been awhile since I read 'Take Four' so I didn't remember where that book had left off, but once I started 'Leaving' I was captivated again by Bailey and Cody's relationship.

Bailey auditions for a Broadway Musical and Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis to be closer to his mother who is in jail. Also, Ashley worries about her husband's, Landon's, cough. He's a firefighter and volunteered at Ground Zero and now Ashley worries that may be the reason for his cough.

Be prepared to tear up when reading 'Leaving'... it made me cry. The story is well written and I anticipate the future release of the rest of the Bailey Flanigan Series.

View all my reviews

• Author's Website: www.karenkingsbury.com
• Author's Twitter: Twitter.com/karenkingsbury
• Author's Facebook: Karen Kingsbury
• Publisher's Website: Zondervan

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury, Excerpt

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