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Loving (Bailey Flanigan #4)

4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 · rating details · 2,199 ratings · 247 reviews

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 faithful...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published March 27th 2012 by Zondervan

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Mar 24, 2013 Venus rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Well, I didn't expect this.

By the middle of this book, I felt sick. I couldn't properly finish it for both impatience and irritation, so I skimmed the remainder. Karen Kingsbury draws a 'realistic' picture with the outcome of these four novels, and ultimately, the story of Cody and Bailey. That's a problem in fiction. Here's what she does: Spends countless (dozens?) of novels building up the relationship between Cody and Bailey, intriguing readers, giving them something to root for and hope for....more Well, I didn't expect this.

By the middle of this book, I felt sick. I couldn't properly finish it for both impatience and irritation, so I skimmed the remainder. Karen Kingsbury draws a 'realistic' picture with the outcome of these four novels, and ultimately, the story of Cody and Bailey. That's a problem in fiction. Here's what she does: Spends countless (dozens?) of novels building up the relationship between Cody and Bailey, intriguing readers, giving them something to root for and hope for.

Then yanks the rug out from under them. In, what, a righteous fictional telling of reality? Partially. The realistic portion was the fact that fairytale romance like the spark that Cody and Bailey had hardly exists. People change, grow apart, there's a season for everything, like Kingsbury reiterates in her novels. It's 'realistic' that Bailey would meet someone else and she and Cody would fall to pieces.

But as a fiction lover and writer myself, I have impossible difficulty figuring how an author can build so deeply on a relationship, work so intimately with it, pour so much time into it, so many years... only to trash it in the end. I really felt like that's what she did with Cody and Bailey. The shift of both their feelings felt artificial, inane. Suddenly, the depth of Cody's love for Bailey amounts to a chilly brotherhood? Randomly, a favourite character of mine from the Above the Line series, Andi, is reintroduced in a way I could hardly imagine more tasteless - to ignite some absolutely random flare of love and purpose in Cody's heart.

Yippee. Forgive me if I'm sardonic, but this book was an incredible disappointment. I had high expectations, and honestly... Cody's devotion to Bailey was the main reason I bothered with these books (I'm not good with sappy stuff, generally speaking). That devotion, upon finishing, was cheap and fairly worthless, as far as I was concerned. Cody basically convinced himself his love for Bailey was childish, and he's grown up.

Wow. If this is Kingsbury's idea of fiction - something you curl up with after a long day, something you intend to enjoy... well, she's pretty far off the mark. Unless you enjoy heaps of senseless mush that barely caters to intellect in any form. And is riddled with mistakes. The reader in me wishes she could overlook these, but the editor can't very easily. I remember reading repeat paragraphs in one of the books. Finding easy mistakes, for example - Cody's mother's name changed from one series to another. That's a mistake an accomplished author should not afford, let alone her editors... if there are any. And these copies were published for retail.

...I'm not much of a ranter, but look at this review. I don't mean to offend with it, but I'm very honest - this series had a lot of potential, but cheapened characterization, poor plot pacing and an over-abundance of sappy, cavity-inducing romance led to its downfall in my opinion.

And again, both the romantic and the writer in me needed to see Kingsbury's lengthy work through to a proper conclusion. Proper I didn't receive. How can someone put so much into two characters only to let them drop in the end? Give up on them? Paint them a plastic 'happy ending'? It's a mystery to me. (less)

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May 28, 2012 Kat rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christianfiction

It probably deserves a four but my "Team Cody" glasses are so thick it will have to settle with three. Not satisfied but enjoyed it nonetheless.

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Apr 12, 2012 A. R. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall, I found the Bailey Flanigan series a disappointment. I have loved the other Karen Kingsbury books, found the stories of the Baxter clan compelling and uplifting. Bailey's story just left me flat.

I wish more time and development had been spent on other characters and their stories. I got tired of Brandon and Bailey "falling into each others eyes." And I couldn't help but feel bad for people who are in marriages that don't "Look like love." Even though there is a great deal of love in a m...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me just say that I am an avid reader of Karen's books! She writes in a way that ministers to me, and this is such a blessing! With that being said, I have of course read, the Redemption series, Firstborn series, Sunrise series, Above the Line and finally the Bailey Flanigan series. Loved, loved, LOVED them all! Although I have to say that as we got into the Bailey Flanigan series I was NOT happy about the relationship, or lack thereof, between Cody and Bailey. It had seemed like all along in...more Let me just say that I am an avid reader of Karen's books! She writes in a way that ministers to me, and this is such a blessing! With that being said, I have of course read, the Redemption series, Firstborn series, Sunrise series, Above the Line and finally the Bailey Flanigan series. Loved, loved, LOVED them all! Although I have to say that as we got into the Bailey Flanigan series I was NOT happy about the relationship, or lack thereof, between Cody and Bailey. It had seemed like all along in previous books that Cody and Bailey truly were meant to be together, and I held onto that as I started reading the Bailey Flanigan series. I even gave less then 5 stars on the first couple of book reviews because I SO wanted Cody and Bailey to be together. However, I have to say that this final book, "Loving", although there is still a tiny little bit of disappointment with Cody and Bailey not finally working things out to get together, I am happy with the ending. What a LOVE story in this book! How could I NOT start to cheer for Brandon and Bailey?! And when you think about it, real life is like that many times. We think we KNOW who we love and who we need to be with, but when we step back and let God lead (and I learned this from personal experience many years ago), He will bring the person into our life who is perfect for us! And that is what I saw in this final book about Bailey Flanigan. Both Bailey and Cody really thought they loved each other and would be together eventually, and both of them held on to that for a long time, Cody even longer then Bailey. But when they both gave their wants and desires over to God in this area of their life, God had a much better plan for them! So, yes, I loved this love story that was God-ordained. And now I can give this final book of the Bailey Flanigan series a definite 5-star rating! Thank you, Karen, for staying true to what God was telling you to write! Can't wait for "Coming Home" in June! And then I'm going to have to start all over again with Redemption, otherwise, I will really miss the Baxters and the Flanigans WAY too much! :) (less)

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Mar 28, 2012 Rebecca Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-books

Who will Bailey choose? Wanting to have this series end the way I want it to, may or may not be the reality that will be. Within the first six chapters of Loving I see turmoil in Bailey and see so many twists and turns to this story. Is Bailey with Brandon only because she has to have someone. OR ...Who will Bailey choose.

I so want to write about this book and how it ended, but I guess all I can say right now is I feel as if it ended the way it should have. To quote a line from the book "And jus...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Sarah rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: waste-of-reading-time

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It's been months since the release of the last Bailey Flanigan series book, and I still can't calm the disappointment ( a very serene word for my real feelings) in the waste of time and money I spent on these books. I got hooked on the Redemption series, and pulled into the Fame series because I loved the idea of a small town theater director and a popular actor finding their way to each other. Throughout the Fame series, I was a little surprised how Kingsbury's writing tone seem to change. Fri...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Ganise rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

When reading a novel, each story can tell you a bit about the person behind it. Karen Kingsbury, from what I've been reading, has such a lovely spirit, which flows beautifully through what she writes. (Her dedications to her family member are just so uniquely touching). You find great messages related to God, family and the beautifulness of life in general. That said, my not-really-liking the story has to do with a couple of things I've remarked in this series.
There's no other way to put it, the...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Tamara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: karen-kingsbury

I have just finished, LOVING, the final installment in the Bailey Flanigan series. I am glad I stuck it out (even though I skipped UNLOCKED, and the Above the Line series) just to say I completed the series. But, like many other reviewers, my thoughts are not completely positive.

My two biggest problems with this series are, One- the constant back story that I had to constantly skim through to get to the new story. And Two – Bailey & Brandon was just a rehashing of Katie & Dayne. I also b...more I have just finished, LOVING, the final installment in the Bailey Flanigan series. I am glad I stuck it out (even though I skipped UNLOCKED, and the Above the Line series) just to say I completed the series. But, like many other reviewers, my thoughts are not completely positive.

My two biggest problems with this series are, One- the constant back story that I had to constantly skim through to get to the new story. And Two – Bailey & Brandon was just a rehashing of Katie & Dayne. I also began to lose a connection to Bailey because I could not relate to her near perfect life. This girl would be every parents dream, and maybe Kelsey Kingsbury really is this perfect, humble, always make the right decision, never makes a bad choice person, but I feel her faultlessness made it difficult for me to relate, as it would with most girls her age. I also had a hard time believing the flawlessness of Brandon. Now granted, I didn’t read UNLOCKED where Brandon & Bailey were introduced–and by hints of his history was far from a stand-up guy–but to say a young adult of his age and his background would think kissing was too big a step to take in the early stages of their relationship seems a bit antiquated to me. And again, maybe Kyle Kopecky was just that perfect. But, I think Ms. Kingsbury could have easily written a more realistic picture if she wasn’t so close to the perfection of her own family. Now, I am not saying I would’ve enjoyed the book more if she ended up with Cody, and I do like that Ms. Kingsbury gave some closure to his story, I just didn’t like having to read about all the trappings, struggles, and dilemmas of a Hollywood lifestyle when I already read about them in Katy & Dayne’s struggle.

I know this sounds like a lot of bashing, and maybe since I live in the real world I am just a little bit more realistic, but I definitely felt these were major flaws in the series. But, Karen Kingsbury is a best-selling author with an incredible following. And at one time, I would’ve put her at the top of my list of favorite authors. I even got a chance to meet her at a convention I attended. I just feel her earlier stand alone novels like WHEN JOY CAME TO STAY, A THOUSAND TOMORROWS, and A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS, held my interest more because they had more realistic storylines.
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Aug 05, 2012 Kim Holdiman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Love Karen Kingsbury! Everything she writes touches my heart. There's always love and family issues that need resolution. God is always the center of that resolution. She has a way of sharing scripture that brings it to a new light for me. I just plain feel good when I read her books. They are an easy read...a curl up in your favorite chair and just enjoy! While I was reading this book, my own daughter got married to the man that we have been praying for. For years we have prayed for her husband...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Regina Spiker rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction, bailey-flanagan, faith, marriage, integrity

The fourth and final book in the Bailey Flanagan Series ties up loose ends, reports the power of prayer, ending on a happy note. After a short stint in Los Angles, Bailey is too uncomfortable and hates dealing with the constant daily interruption of paparazzi. When Katy presents her with an offer to take over the Christian Kids Theater, Bailey accepts, but uncertain with her decision. Broken-hearted about leaving Brandon, she flies back home to Bloomington, Indiana and prays for a way for them t...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-fiction

I took my sweet time in getting around to reading this novel. The reviews on Amazon have been polarizing from the moment it was released: some loved it, some hated it. I wasn't in a hurry to be disappointed, and while Karen rarely does, I did recognize there was plenty of potential for my reading experience to go either way.

I was only as far as Chapter 2 when I began to see that something was off. Storylines started to take contrived turns and, honestly, they never recovered. One of my least fav...more I took my sweet time in getting around to reading this novel. The reviews on Amazon have been polarizing from the moment it was released: some loved it, some hated it. I wasn't in a hurry to be disappointed, and while Karen rarely does, I did recognize there was plenty of potential for my reading experience to go either way.

I was only as far as Chapter 2 when I began to see that something was off. Storylines started to take contrived turns and, honestly, they never recovered. One of my least favorite plot devices is when a writer lays something out and then jerks it all back and says it means nothing. I call it the yo-yo effect and some authors have it perfected (I'm looking at you, Julian Fellowes). Unfortunately, the whole Bailey-Cody-Brandon triagle turned out to be one big yo-yo.

You'll have to read it to see if I'm referring to Bailey deciding Cody wasn't the one for her after years of loving him, or Bailey deciding that even though she's been seeing Brandon and he wants to marry her that she goes back to Cody after all.

I've defended Bailey in the past. She has lived a charmed life, so if anyone has the right to freak out over first world problems, it's her. But just a few books ago we could see Bailey being a bold witness for Christ in whatever situations she found herself in. Now she is reacting to everything out of fear. She runs. She cuts people out of her life. She's nothing close to a role model.

Let's count the ways Brandon Paul is similar to another Kingsbury leading man, Dayne Matthews. Hollywood heartthrob? Check. Falls in love with a girl from Indiana? Check. Finds Jesus? Check. Lives in a Malibu beach house? Check. Has problems with paparazzi? Check. In "Loving" the parallels reached ridiculous levels.

Cody seemed poised at the end of "Longing" to accept his dream job. Enter a new dream job out of nowhere to shake things up. Does it come as a package deal with a girlfriend he's known for a long time? One who has long held affection for him? Is this too good to be true, or too contrived to hold water? Hmmm...

By the end I wasn't sure if I was reading Karen Kingsbury or Stephenie Meyer. I've never read Meyer but many of the detracting points in "Twilight" seemed present in "Loving". I hope I never have to say that about another Kingsbury book ever again! And yes, I plan to keep reading. Surely the woman who brought us "Redemption" and "Remember" can find herself again and bring us more stories that we can recommend to our friends. My best advice to you would be to treat this book like one treats "Rocky V": pretend it never happened.

This review originated at http://www.reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com (less)

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May 05, 2012 Leigh rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hmmm... I'm having a tough time writing this review as I really do love Karen's writing and her books. To be honest, I started out loving the series about Bailey and really liking her as a character. However, by the time I got about 100 pages into this final book I was annoyed at the changes in her character and disappointed with where her story was surely headed.

Spoilers ahead***

By reading other reviews on here I know the opinions are mixed about whether or not bailey ended up with the right g...more Hmmm... I'm having a tough time writing this review as I really do love Karen's writing and her books. To be honest, I started out loving the series about Bailey and really liking her as a character. However, by the time I got about 100 pages into this final book I was annoyed at the changes in her character and disappointed with where her story was surely headed.

Spoilers ahead***

By reading other reviews on here I know the opinions are mixed about whether or not bailey ended up with the right guy. For me it came down to who was genuine. I had a hard time from day 1 believing whether or not Brandon was genuine. That never changed for me the entire series, so I felt like bailey ended up with the wrong guy. I really felt like Cody got the short end of the stick In this story and was almost treated as a villain. Clearly her life would have matched with Cody's so much better. As a reader, I felt cheated out of a character I've been reading about and pulling for for years. I felt robbed out of the story that should have been.

As for bailey, I started out reading about her years ago and found her a character I could relate to. She was a lot like I was in high school. However, by the end of this series I just felt like she was kind of a spoiled brat who had changed and not for the better.

I think my biggest concern in this book and this series was something I've seen others mention here: the unrealistic view of relationships and life expectations this can give to young Christian women. I don't know many 20 somethings who could have enough money to buy their own place, purchase their own business, and have the perfect wedding of their dreams, especially in today's economy. I also thought the constant dramatic gestures by Brandon were way over the top and set up normal (non Hollywood billionaires) guys for failure in the eyes of the young women they're trying to show love to. I could see a teenaged girl walking away from this book with way higher expectations of guys, her wedding, her dream home, and her dream life... Than are often reality. Not to say that God can't do these things, because he can. But real life is much harder (even when you have a wonderful, loving, believing husband by your side) than these books showed.

All in all, I'm glad bailey's story is finished, but highly disappointed in the ending. (less)

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Apr 08, 2012 Mtn021889 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Aside from “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers (WHICH I LOVED), I have never laid a hand on another Christian romance until my friend forced the Bailey Flanigan series onto me last year. I started with “Leaving” only days after its publishing date and fell in love with the tender romance between B&C. Because I felt like I was lacking a great deal of history to an otherwise promising romance, shortly thereafter, I started reading all the Baxter series in order. As I (and many before me) went...more Aside from “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers (WHICH I LOVED), I have never laid a hand on another Christian romance until my friend forced the Bailey Flanigan series onto me last year. I started with “Leaving” only days after its publishing date and fell in love with the tender romance between B&C. Because I felt like I was lacking a great deal of history to an otherwise promising romance, shortly thereafter, I started reading all the Baxter series in order. As I (and many before me) went through each of the books, I’ve developed a definite attachment to its characters, including and most especially to Bailey and Cody – who’s story has been building up for books and books. It is without a doubt that by midway through all those 18 books leading to the Bailey Flanigan series, we have all (fans of B&C or not) predicted that B&C’s story was coming up. And doubtless, that it would end with Baily and Cody professing their love towards one another and bonding their love in holy matrimony.

But by the time “Longing” came around, though, the story (the very same story that legions of fans has been following for over 18 books) took a turn for the worst. After finishing the last pages of “Longing” I could have guessed where the B&C romance was going to end (…SPLIT). And quite frankly, I was sort of routing for such an ending, because though the soulful Cody has grown into a better and much more loving man, the charismatic girl that I have fell in love with has vanished within a few short months. In her place, is someone who’s ideals and ‘love’ I put into questions time and time again (“would she love Brandon so much if he didn’t have the wealth the maintain his habit of visiting her on the whim or showering her with gifts that he wouldn’t have otherwise gotten?)! I am not saying that being rich is bad, I cannot fault Brandon for that; he remained who he is from the beginning, but what changed was Bailey’s personality and the whole ‘picture’ of what she has professed to want all her life… So much with wanting a life just like her parents! *roll eyes* Mind you, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with changing dreams, but boy was that change hard to stomach… For long-time readers (or fans of the Baxter series) who’ve watched the progressive relationship and growth of Bailey and Cody, I think the equation in “Longing” just doesn’t sit well. Too much change in Bailey’s character + so little time passed = HARD TO BELIEVE!

Overall, I didn’t hate the B&B pairing, I personally thought that their FANTASY HOLLYWOOD STARLET COUPLE thing was tolerable, OK even, if a bit too hard to believe, but hey, it is a fiction for a reason. So yes, by the end of “Longing” I was like, “go ahead KK, do tell the story like you want (though not intented from the first – we all know how the story was supposed to end originally)!” And I was open and curious enough to see how KK would be able to convince both the CODY and BRANDON TEAM that Bailey and Brandon would make the better match than she with Cody.

And this fellow readers, is where KK disappointed me beyond compared. I took offense as a fan, as an avid reader, and by goolie as an intelligent human being, when she turned the sweet and loving story of two young souls into a puppy (cliché) teenage love that is nothing but a fleeting fancy. I find IMPOSSIBLE TO FATHOM that KK would think us gullible enough to swallow that pack of NONSENSE!

After all that’s say and done; I TRULY didn’t mind that B&B ended up together, I’ve known that since reading “Longing” but I took affront (and the reason for the 1 star) that KK (despite her previous brilliance) has taken us for fools! That mistake made the entire series REDUNDENT and INFINITELY UNSATISFYING!

My message to Karen is that: “you took a gamble and you’ve lost a good chunk of your fans!”
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Apr 04, 2012 Rachel Sides rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm Karen Kingsbury's #1 fan and count among my friends many who are friends simply because we love the Baxter family series and Karen Kingsbury. The Bailey Flanagan series (aka Baxter Family series #5) has caused some division among my KK Friends. Karen promoted the books with a Team Cody/Team Brandon competition on who Bailey should choose in the end. In an effort to unite the fan base Karen created Team Bailey hoping readers would look at which guy was best for Bailey and move from their pers...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In the third book of the series, one sentence stood out to me: Your first love isn't always your forever love. Although Kingsbury had invested years in the Cody and Bailey relationship and fans had grown to love them both as they read about their growth from teenagers finding their way to adults fulfilling their God directed destiny, I could buy that after so many missed chances for happiness, it was just too late for them. (Although, it could be argued that they had so many missed opportunities...more In the third book of the series, one sentence stood out to me: Your first love isn't always your forever love. Although Kingsbury had invested years in the Cody and Bailey relationship and fans had grown to love them both as they read about their growth from teenagers finding their way to adults fulfilling their God directed destiny, I could buy that after so many missed chances for happiness, it was just too late for them. (Although, it could be argued that they had so many missed opportunities for love so that the publisher could drag out more books on the same people.) At the end of the third book, I knew I would be happy with whichever guy Bailey ended up marrying.

However, this series could have been wrapped up in two books. Because it was a four-book series, I felt the author was dragging out the story lines and ended up giving us the same story from a few years ago. This book could have been called Dayne and Katy Part Two. It was the same plot, and at Bailey's wedding, they even played the same song from Dayne and Katy's wedding. I skimmed through most of the Bailey and Brandon scenes because I felt like I was rereading the Fame series.

I'm a character-driven reader. Bailey was one of my favorite characters in the Baxter series, but she became stagnant and boring. I grew tired of hearing her thoughts, going back and forth between loving Brandon and not wanting to live in LA. Readers heard all that before in Katy. I felt she never struggled and therefore never grew. She was a flat character. I liked Brandon in the third book, but he became tedious in this book. Too perfect. Too predictable. I don't know if that's because Kingsbury based them on her family and therefore didn't want to write about their flaws, but it made for a boring read.

Cody is an amazing character. He struggled, he messed up, and he grew. I loved the Cody and Andi scene at the beach, and I love the redemption in both their lives. I didn't like how fast they "fell" for each other, but at least they seem real. The most touching scene was when Andi was able to see the little boy she gave away for adoption. Kingsbury should stick to stories like that instead of celebrity-driven plots based on her family.

Kingsbury's books have always been about real life experiences. Sometimes they are too real and I long for a happy ending. :) But, this series was too unbelievable and far-fetched to be life-changing fiction.
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Mar 28, 2012 Jessica Miller rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

SO SO SO disappointed. I feel duped!

I've been a Karen Kingsbury fan for so long. I've read every book of hers that includes the Baxter family and have felt like I've invested myself in so much of this story.

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

I am saddened that she had trouble separating her real life from fiction. The Bailey series feels like Dayne and Katy Part II, aka Kelsey and Kyle's real life. All along we've been set up that Cody and Bailey are meant for each other. It was pretty obvious from t...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Ibjoy1953 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loving by Karen Kingsbury

**************BEWARE SPOILERS********

I have never been so disappointed or letdown by an author as I am with Karen Kingsbury. The Bailey series was by far Not my favorite, but I hung in there because I wanted to see Bailey and Cody get together in the end. Isn’t that what is suppose to happen in the writing world? Karen made an extremely bad error in the writing world by taking two series and lifting up her hero, Cody, building up that relationship with Cody and Bailey an...more Loving by Karen Kingsbury

**************BEWARE SPOILERS********

I have never been so disappointed or letdown by an author as I am with Karen Kingsbury. The Bailey series was by far Not my favorite, but I hung in there because I wanted to see Bailey and Cody get together in the end. Isn’t that what is suppose to happen in the writing world? Karen made an extremely bad error in the writing world by taking two series and lifting up her hero, Cody, building up that relationship with Cody and Bailey and more importantly Cody and the Lord, then dumping him, kicking him to the curb.

And she changed her mind at the last minute for family reasons??? That sure tells us where all of us fans, those of us who have purchased all of Karen’s books, been faithful readers and followers where we stand. Loving is the worst book I have ever read and the worst ending to a series I’ve read, and I am a book reviewer, so I read hundreds of books a year.

I know I get too involved in characters, but Karen did this to us in the last two series about Bailey and Cody. I just can’t see how she can create a character like Cody, put him in a family that will love him and raise him, and then try her best to politely toss him from the family as an outcast. Now he will no longer feel secure with this family that he loves so much. Sorry Karen but you blew it with this.

The sad thing is, a huge percentage of teens and young adults who read this series and especially Longing will get a misled message. Wonder how many will go out there trying to find a rich kid that has all the money in the world to woo them literally any way they want. I’m afraid a lot of guys may be treated just like Karen treated Cody just because they are looking for those riches and the fake relationship that comes with it. Karen is leading a lot of young ladies on the wrong road and for that, I would want any of my family to read her books.

That said, I do not recommend this book, nor do I recommend this series for anyone to read because it is critically leading our young ladies in the wrong direction when it comes to dating and marrying. And yes I know this is ‘just’ a book. But how many people out there actually take the Baxter’s and Flannigan’s for real people. I’ve heard Karen speak in person, and I have seen how adult ladies act at those conferences about her books. How much more will teens and young ladies idolize her enough to listen to this incorrect advice?

This book was provided by the publisher, Zondervan in exchange for an honest review. I was not required or expected to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.
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Apr 29, 2013 Lis Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ******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 beginn...more ******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.(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 Casey Tuminello rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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This book was so far removed from some of Kingsbury's older books that I really began to wonder if she actually wrote it. I was stunned at the number of opportunities for "life-changing fiction" were skipped over so that more detail could be given to trite issues and wedding details. For example:

1. Brandon and his parents haven't talked in years and years. Yet, all that was given to the reconciliation between them was one simple paragraph. His parents simply drove up his driveway and got out of...more
This book was so far removed from some of Kingsbury's older books that I really began to wonder if she actually wrote it. I was stunned at the number of opportunities for "life-changing fiction" were skipped over so that more detail could be given to trite issues and wedding details. For example:

1. Brandon and his parents haven't talked in years and years. Yet, all that was given to the reconciliation between them was one simple paragraph. His parents simply drove up his driveway and got out of the car and all was well. Can you imagine how many readers could have benefited from a more detailed explanation of the process of forgiveness and how Brandon got to that point with his parents. Instead we read this book thinking that nothing ever has to be discussed with estranged loved ones and that we should just act as if the situation never happened. I realize that once Brandon became a Christian he never had another struggle, outside of his distance from Bailey, but this just leads Christians to believe that reconciliation should happen this way, while it isn't a realistic or a healthy view of forgiveness at all.

2. After so many novels about these characters, I feel like I really know them and their character. But the Jim Flanigan that I have come to know would have never so readily given his blessing for a marriage that his daughter was so obviously conflicted about. Just weeks before, Bailey ended her relationship with Brandon, yet when Brandon comes in to ask for Jim's blessing in marriage, he gives it right away. This seemed so forced to me... like Karen just needed this to happen to get to the conclusion that she wanted, regardless of how out of character it was. I feel like, at best, Jim Flanigan would have talked Brandon into waiting the time it took to get everything straightened out between he and Bailey before jumping into marriage. Even though Jim Flanigan's marriage is easy and perfect, I think he is a wise enough man to know that when you are having problems in a relationship, marriage doesn't solve those problems. Yet, once again, instead of the "life-changing fiction" that Karen Kingsbury would have used at one time to show the importance of a right relationship before jumping into a marriage, now she writes in favor of parallelism to her own life, regardless of how ill these two fit together.

3. The first 3rd of the book goes into great detail about how Brandon is fine with the paparazzi, he has grown up with it and it doesn't bother him at all. He even gets to the point of frustration with Bailey because she lets it affect her so much. However, in one or two paragraphs all of a sudden Brandon hates the paparazzi and can't live like that any longer. He sees exactly why Bailey has been so upset about it and is willing to give it all up right then and there. I'm sorry, Karen, but we can't get there that fast, and to expect us to makes the entire story unbelievable and difficult to relate to. People don't change their minds about an issue that big that quickly. I would have much rather had less wedding detail and more time spent given to this change of heart that Brandon experienced instead of it all happening at once.

Not only was the writing different from past novels, but I barely got a glimpse of the character that Bailey once was. Her character has changed so much through these novels that she isn't even recognizable in the Bailey Flanigan series. The character that I first got to know in the Baxter series books was selfless and loving to others and put ministry above pretty much everything else. When we met Bailey in high school, she had friends that she prayed with and prayed for and sought to minister to them where they were in life. The Bailey Flanigan that this character became was self-absobed and consumed with her relationship and didn't spend her time ministering to anyone. I think the parts of this book that were most indicative of who Bailey had become were those that showed how Bailey didn't have any friends her own age. The only person that she had to be her maid of honor was Andi Ellison, who may have have been a good friend of hers 4 or 5 years before this novel takes place, but at this point they have little more than a "talk on the phone" relationship. And after spending an entire year in New York, outside of the Kellers, who are senior adults, Bailey barely has1 friend. And the saddest part is that anytime Bailey thinks back to her time in New York, we hear about skype dates, visits to the Empire State building after hours and a private prom on the Kellers roof. Not one time during this entire novel does Bailey think or speak about the 1 friend that she made in New York who died. That is reflective of a very shallow person. I also find it sad that guests of Bailey's wedding shower, and members of her bridal party for that matter, consisted of Andi Ellison and the Baxter sisters, who are all 35-45 years old at this point. When Bailey has issues in her life, she talks about it with Katy Matthews or Ashley Blake, who are both around 35+ years old. She doesn't have a single friend her age who she spends personal time with, outside of Brandon Paul. Ministering to others comes best through building relationships with others, and Bailey no longer takes the time to do this. However, in this "life-changing fiction" we seem to hear more details than we want to about the white silk bows that run down the end of the pews and how Bailey pins a few strands of her hair up for the wedding but leaves the rest down. And in the end, as rings true with her other novels starring the Flanigans, everything worked out exactly as Bailey wanted it to without her having to sacrifice one thing. I was almost angry when, at her wedding, she was saying that she was so in love with Brandon that she would follow him anywhere, even LA. It is really easy to say that after Brandon gave up everything so that Bailey could have her dream exactly the way she wanted it. But when it came to her actions, we all saw that statement was the furthest thing from truth.

More than anything I felt that what this book lacked most was creativity. Aside from the very obvious fact that this story line was already used with Katy and Dayne's story, there were parts of this book that made me roll my eyes and audibly groan they were so bad. For instance, the first time we meet Molly Anderson on the set of the Montana movie she is described with this sentence, "Anyone who would listen had heard her explain how she was born for the part - what with her real name being Molly, same as the real-life girl." Really? That is as creative as you can get? That sounds like something that one of Ashley Blake's children would say, not a 19 year old actress who is described later as having great professionalism. I don't think a 19 year old would feel that she was born for a part just because she and the character share a very common name.

I used to love the plots that Karen Kingsbury could work up and how realistic and truly life-changing they were. She drug the poor Baxters through the mud and back, but it spoke straight to people's hearts because they continued to cling to God in the midst of so many trials. Yet, for the Flanigans, life continues to remain easy and untouchable. They get the jobs that they want, the life they want, the perfect kids, and the perfect house, and while that may be the writer's life, it isn't the reader's life and we can't relate to that. I really hope that this experiment of writing fiction that mirrors the writer's life is over, because it did not turn out very well. I miss the truly "life-changing" novels of Karen Kingsbury.
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Mar 27, 2012 Happy Lumasag rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is one whole Karen Kingsbury series I would seriously NOT RECOMMEND.

First of all, I think this series proved to be a weak spot of Karen in that she mixes up biography with fiction.

She allows too much liberty of her daughter's real life happenings to influence the story's direction when the story began years before her daughter met her current fiance!

It is sad that Kingsbury's maternal emotions over her own daughter's love life gets all worked up in a fictional story she had long establish...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Katie added it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2013

This series of books is a tricky one for me to review. On the one hand, they are kind of cheesy with sweeping and dramatic story lines (every crisis under the sun seems to find its way to these characters) and Kingsbury writes about these families with the same epic drama usually reserved for Old Testament patriarchs.

And yet . . .

I read all 4 in a week.

So obviously they weren't that bad :)

The best way to describe them is probably "Christian soap opera." There is nothing inappropriate in the book...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Lizzy Norris rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While the first two books in the series left me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for Bailey and Cody to get back together, the last two books have been dry and seemed as if the author was just trying to finish writing the books quickly. I also believe that in between getting the third book published and the last book published she did a total rewrite of the last book. I believe this because the chapter from loving that is in the book before it lead me to believe that Cody would be the one...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Trinity Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well in the fourth and last book Loving of the Bailey Flanigan series we find out who Bailey marries and why. I really love the characters in this series because you get glimpses of the Flanigan and Baxter families and they are loved.
I thought that the Bailey series went on to long and feel we could have found all of this out in a book or two. Everyone loves Bailey, but to much of a good thing is not good.
I think Bailey made the right choice and I was hoping she would see things my way. It is...more

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May 24, 2012 Jay rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I found the whole Bailey Flanigan series to drawn out and frankly, disappointing. When I first started reading about Bailey, I thought she was a wonderful role model for teenage girls/young women, but as this series progressed I found her very annoying. She suddenly became self centered and everything seemed to revolve around her. What sacrifices did she make for the "love of her life"? She came across more as a taker then a giver. The whole relationship with Brandon was unrealistic and I found...more

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Jun 16, 2012 LadyS rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pls note that I have not read all the rest of the Bailey series so the romance was alright for me. I gather if I had read the other books I'd be very disappointed. I just know I'd be.

This book was alright, not outstanding. I wouldn't give it anymore than 3 out of 5 The romance was somewhat convincing, I really like the idea of a man fighting for the woman he loves. However, I found it overly sappy too many instances where people were 'lost in each other's eyes' it became rather stale and uneffe...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Denise Romero rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Spoiler******
I enjoy Karen Kingsbury's writing. I think she is a very good story telling and her books are quick to read because the characters are so engaging. One of the specific problems I have with her is that she makes her characters too perfect. In this particular series, the main character is based on her own daugther and family. They seem too good to be true - always respectful, loving, patient, kind. There is no way that her family is that perfect and it seems almost egotistical to writ...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Danae rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is probably the book I enjoyed most out of the series. I enjoyed the storyline more thannal V the previous books in the series, and did not notice quite as much of Kingsbury's "Christian bubble" style of writing, which I appreciated. Something that didn't quite work for me, though was how quickly Bailey gave up on her longtime dream. Performing on Brodway was a life-long goal, so it felt odd to give it up so quick. Not only that, but Kingsbury made quite a point of explaining/showing h...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Sarah Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC NOVEL!!!! :-). This fourth novel in the Bailey Flanigan Series, "Loving," was the PERFECT way to conclude the entire journey that Karen Kingsbury invited readers to take with the Baxter family and the Flanigan family in the small, close-knit town of Bloomington, Indiana!!!! :-). I COULD NOT have imagined the plot ending ANY other way than Bailey FINALLY embracing the true, right plans that God had for her life: completely giving her heart to to man she loved and becoming Mrs...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Tracy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Jun 05, 2012 Meredith rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who has read the other books about Bailey Flanigan

Shelves: read-in-2012

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Christian Book Lo...: * Loving (Bailey Flanigan Series #4)	1	3	Mar 28, 2013 11:46pm
Thoughts on Bailey and Cody with an opinion question	14	38	Mar 10, 2013 11:15pm
Team Cody or Brandon	9	53	Nov 18, 2012 10:49am
Loving	2	19	Jun 04, 2012 11:36pm

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About Karen Kingsbury

FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

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 1...more FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

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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Loving (Bailey Flanigan #4)

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