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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Book Review - A Kingbury Collection: Three Novels in One - Karen Kingsbury


A Kingsbury Collection: Three Novels in One: Where Yesterday Lives, When Joy Came to Stay, On Every Side
Title:  A Kingsbury Collection: Three Novels in One: Where Yesterday Lives, When Joy Comes to Stay, and On Every Side.


Review:  First off I have to say that this book is huge, over 750 pages.  It is hard to hold while reading and the print is small.   I found looking at this book to be daunting.  How was I going to get though it and how was I going to hold it without wearing my arms and hands out.  Well it took me quite awhile and I have to say that the stories moved slowly and so putting the book down had equal amounts to do with arm and hand strain and boredom.

The writing is top notch, but the stories are sad and left me in a sour mood.  I really prefer happy endings with lots of wonderful things happening to the characters.  I realize that is not reality…but I read to escape reality not to relive some of the worse of it.  I think the ending was flat and lacked imagination.  I know God works miracles in my life and I see new ones everyday in the small mercies that occur, but.....to each his own.

Now I know lots of people loved this set of books so go out and give it a try yourself.  

Sometimes things are not for me and sometimes I love things that others hate….to each its own.  This was not one of my favorite books or sets of stories and I wish I could get back the time I spent on this huge volume.   


Publisher: Published October 2nd 2012 by MultnomahBooks (first published April 11th 2005)
ISBN: 9781601424273
Copyright: 2005
Pages: 752
Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)-
Why I Read It:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis: Three Page-Turning Novels in One Volume!

Where Yesterday Lives

Ellen Barrett is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist with an uncertain marriage, a forgotten faith, and haunting memories of her picturesque hometown and the love she left behind. The eldest of five siblings, she longs for the time, long ago, when they were a happy family. Now Ellen’s beloved father is dead, and she returns to her childhood home to make peace–with the people who still live there, with the losses and changes that time has wrought, and with the future God has set before her.

When Joy Came to Stay

Maggie Stovall is one of the golden people. She has it all together...at least on the surface. Ben Stovall is a godly husband and successful attorney. He has no idea of the darkness about to overtake his life. Amanda Joy is a child of society–abused, broken, thrown away. But her trust in God is still alive. When Joy Came to Stay is the heart-wrenching story of one woman’s descent into the shadows of depression, her husband’s search for understanding, and a precious child’s unwavering faith.

On Every Side

Faith Evans is an up-and-coming newscaster, a woman of honor and integrity who must take a stand against the one man she never imagined would be her enemy. A beloved, hundred-year-old statue of Jesus stands in a small-town park–but some say it’s a clear violation of separation of church and state that must come down. Jordan Riley is a powerful attorney fighting for human rights and against God, but still reckoning with bitter boyhood losses. Amid political intrigue, social injustice, and personal conflicts, will love be enough when the battle rages on every side?
 Karen Kingsbury
Author Biography: USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America’s #1 inspirational novelist. There are more than 15 million copies of her award-winning books in print, including several million copies sold in the past year. Karen has written more than 40 novels, ten of which have hit #1 on national lists.

Karen has a true love for her readers, and she has nearly 100,000 friends on Facebook along with more than 7,500 followers on Twitter. The popular social networking sites have allowed Karen daily interaction with her reader friends.

Karen is best known for her Life-Changing Fiction (TM) and for creating unforgettable characters. When speaking before women's groups - some with more than 10,000 in attendance - Karen makes audiences laugh and cry with her compelling story-telling. She likes to tell attendees they have, "One chance to write the story of their lives," and her talk focuses on reminding women to live every day loving well, laughing often, and finding true life in Jesus Christ. Karen routinely speaks before more than 100,000 women each year.

Karen's latest novel, Above the Line, Take Three, released March 23rd, 2010. Take Three is the third in the Above the Line Series. Look for the final installment in this series, Above The Line, Take Four to hit stores June 22nd, 2010. Shades of Blue, Karen's latest stand alone title, hit stores in October, 2009. Karen's newest series, Above The Line Series began with Take One, which released in March, 2009. The second book in this series, Take Two released in June 2009.

Karen's recent title, This Side of Heaven landed in the #5 spot on the CBD Bestselling Fiction List. Also, Karen's novel, Sunset landed #2 on the New York Times Best Seller's List. Karen has also written many best selling series including The Redemption Series and the Firstborn Series. Her fiction has made her one of the country’s favorite storytellers. Several of Karen's novels are being considered for major motion picture movies. Her emotionally gripping titles include the 9-11 Series, Even Now, Ever After, and Between Sundays.

Karen is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest with their six children, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.

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