Found

Firstborn #3

by Karen Kingsbury

A Desperate Search
Driven by his wife’s dying wish to find their firstborn son, John Baxter sets about the search. His prayer? That Elizabeth’s wish would be fulfilled before the upcoming Baxter family reunion. One strange turn follows another, but when the answers finally come, they shake John to his core. Will he agree to walk away and keep the secret of a lifetime, or will he let the truth come to light, no matter the cost?

A Tragic Loss
Dayne Matthews is questioning his adoptive parents’ faith when he receives crushing news. He was ready to take on the responsibility of having a family, but now the future is drastically altered and Dayne is desperate for answers. Wisdom and comfort come from visits with a long-lost friend and then from Katy Hart, the girl Dayne can’t seem to forget. But will he find the strength he needs to face a future laced with loss, and will that strength lead him to the greatest love of all?

A Terrible Storm
As the Baxters come together, the reunion is overshadowed by a miracle in their midst. But just as quickly, tragedy comes to Bloomington. Ashley is eight months pregnant and in the early stages of labor when a tornado rips through the community, leaving one family missing. What will Dayne do when he hears about the storm? Will he finally find peace in a God he has been running from all his life?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Romance, Christian Romance, Adult Fiction, Inspirational

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

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 with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. 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 five of their adult children.

See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...

Reviews

[Honeypie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be a fictional story, but nothing is fictional about the power of the Holy Spirit. I love, love the street ministry scene. Surreal, but I believe it happens.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them... When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment. Each one heard their own language being spoken!
Acts 2:4,6

[Vasilka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars, I loved it. And I cried sooo much during this book. I also stayed up till after 12 every night this week because I was THAT addicted to this book! I love Karen Kingsbury's books!

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found, the third book in the Firstborn series, continues the story of Dayne, Katy Hart and the beloved Baxter family.
These characters become a part of you. You are right there with them in their pain and sorrow, in their joys and triumphs. It’s heartwarming to read and the emotions I experienced while reading this third installment were so real. I love the Baxter family and to see their story unraveling alongside Dayne and Katy’s stories is so wonderful.
I highly recommend any of Karen Kingsbury’s books, as I’ve said many times before, but the all the series she writes about the Baxter family and the families tied to them are extra special!

[Smutty~ Vibes · Rating 5 out of 5]

it really don't get better then the baxter family ❤❤❤ cant wait to read family:)

[Ana Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved reading this book and continuing this series!
I loved seeing the progression of Dayne and how he starts to disconnect from his Hollywood life and how he starts to find his faith in God.
I still absolutely love the chemistry between Dayne and Katy and I can't wait until they finally find their way to one another for the long term.
The encounter between Dayne and John was such a long time coming and it definitely made me super emotional and I loved it so much!
I can't wait to see what will happen next.

[Christine Indorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continued with the Karen Kingsbury firstborn novel and it’s my by far a 5 star series dealing with John and Elizabeth Baxter firstborn famous son Dayne Matthew. This book dealt with his faith journey and finally searching out his biological family. This book had me in tears and loved going back to the beloved family, the Baxters. The romance is pure and just a delight and out of the 5 books so far this one is my favorite. If you want to tackle the Baxters books do. This family is amazingly flawed but wonderful!! Highly recommend!!

[Melissa (So Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd in second Baxter series. Very good installment. Dayne finally meets his father and finds the Lord as well.

Disillusioned actor Dayne Matthews would love to leave Hollywood and join the woman he loves in Indiana, but that isn't realistic. The issue of his birth family must be resolved, and he has to deal with an unwelcome surprise in his relationship with an actress.

When John Baxter's daughter discovers the existence of his firstborn son, he hires a private investigator to find the man. Can John face his fears and tell the rest of his family? Will God lead Dayne to the Baxters?

Dayne undergoes a great deal of growth and change, which keeps the plot of this latest Firstborn series installment moving quickly. Kingsbury's deft handling of the faith message is superb -- God's redemptive power is clearly shown throughout the story.
Review originally appeared in RT BookReviews

[Kristy]

I LOVED THE ENDING.

[Corryn Geheb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book by her BY far. I know this is a fake story but it felt so real and the way God moved just felt like idk it actually happened. I read the last page and was so sad it was over. I was very excited that things are coming together and I can’t wait to read the final two books!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one in the series. Such a beautiful ending to this one!

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorites in the series so far. I love the idea of found family and I was so happy for John and Dane at the end of this book. I can't wait to see how the family takes the news.

[Autumn Slaght · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so bored with this series.
I'm so bored with the Katy-Dayne saga. It has been dragged out painfully long, and I've still got two more books to go.
I can't really connect with any of the characters in this series. Katy is so perfect, she literally has no faults and barely a personality. Honestly, I don't see why Dayne is infatuated with her. He's crippled and unable to function because he loves her so much, but what's to be infatuated with? Katy is a Mary-Sue, Nancy-Drew combined. Absolutely perfect and unattainable.
Something that is grating on my nerves like a cheese grater is the constant need to remind us of the characters' last names. "Katy Hart" literally every page instead of just Katy. "John Baxter" like there's another John in the series. And one that I hate is "Ashley Baxter Blake." The hyphenated name is really getting to me. Once is understandable to let everyone know who hasn't read the series that Ashley was once a Baxter, but every time she's mentioned in a new chapter or another character is thinking of her? Ugh.
Tell the siblings already.
Dayne acted like a baby during a thunderstorm in Bloomington Indiana. "Ahhh! Should we run? Is there gonna be a tornado? How long till the power comes back on?" A grown man who's never seen a thunderstorm? Really?
Everyone lost their cool when a tornado watch...not a warning...was issued. Everyone acted like they wanted to evacuate until the watch lifted. Um, watches happen every year from April-September, sometimes beyond that. A watch is not as scary as a warning, so why was everyone scared to death when a watch was issued. It's like they had never seen a tornado watch before. It's like they were issued a watch about a volcano, not something as common as a thunderstorm or tornado watch.
And also a little tid-bit. During the tornado, they were listening to a weather report about "An F4 tornado is headed right for Bloomington." Tornadoes are not rated until after they've hit, not during so the NWSS would not say "An F4 is headed your way!" Maybe they were back in the day (I was young back then) but the inaccuracy in that kind of got to me.
I've been waiting for three books. This is being dragged out, again, painfully long.
One thing I really don't like about this series is the miracles. Yes, Elizabeth died but ever since then, every prayer is answered. The Baxter's house was spared. Dayne understood a message in English that was spoken in Spanish and it was a miracle. (By the way...didn't he commit to Christ in the last book? Is he going to have another conversion in the next book...and the next one?) Ashley almost died but everyone prayed and she was spared. I'm scared, give me peace, instant peace descends upon the character. I really wish that the series was more accurate in how a Christian's life really is. I don't know what it is about the Baxter family, but I don't know a single family with as many "miracles" as they have happen to them. There have been times that I'm begging God for a way out, but He gives me a way through it with no miracle, just Him. I do not recommend this series for young Christians or recent converts. The Christian life is not as easy as portrayed in these books. I also really wish that someone would come to Christ without a miracle. "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign." "Blessed are they who have not seen, yet have believed." Luke and now Dayne have all come to Christ because of a miracle, not a slow progression of God drawing them. And God speaking audibly? I wish He'd do that to me...and everyone else. I can have Bible verses come to my heart and mind when I need them, but never have I heard a startling "where did that come from" voice.
All in all, I will be read to be done with this series. The characters are all sooooo perfect, even Dayne. He has a "fault," but it's just kind of thrown in there. And Ashley is completely out of character, so are all of the Baxter family. Ready to get this series behind me and onto the next one.
I am glad that Dayne finally met up with John, though. That scene was powerful and moving. And can I say...Tornadoes!!!
Again, I hate leaving bad reviews but...I don't recommend this series. Overall I give the series a one and a half star. Not horrible but definitely not good.

[Mindi]

I am not sure why I read a book of this nature from time to time. I am hypercritical in analysis, but secretly enjoy the marshmallow part of it. It is like a plant-based vegan eating junk food and then complaining about it. Based on that, I have no right to complain. And I will go back to studying Biochemistry tonight when I have a break.

This book is Twinkies for the soul. Make of that what you will.

I do find that I do not like it when people create a novel which develops into a series and all the characters get married and have kids and grand kids and a backstory. All the names of everyone's children just turns to mush in my brain. It might be better to do what they do on The Umbrella School and just number the children.

"Number five, your breakfast is getting cold. Get in here and eat your French toast." How silly. No one makes French toast for breakfast for their kids anymore. Except in novels. Not in this novel. I was speaking hypothetically.

There you have it.
Number your children.
Let them make their own breakfasts.
Don't read novels that come in a series if the characters procreate.
Occasionally, go to a really nice restaurant, like in downtown Seattle and order French toast for breakfast without any kids.
Just to be clear, the novel happens in Indiana and L.A. and there is no French toast in it. Anywhere.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a instense book. Normally I can read throughout the day while my family is watching tv, but this time I had to focus to really understand all that was happening. Dayne is finally coming to terms with his past and discovering how to fill the emptiness in his life. He has done well in the entertainment business but never really felt happy. Ever since he met Katy Hart he has been looking for a simplier life one that is more normal. He has been thinking about the Baxter family alot and wondering what his life would have been like if he had grown up in that family. He goes to Mexico City to see his missionary friend from boarding school. He gets saved and now all he can think about is leaving acting and moving to Indiana. John and the Baxter family are still healing from Elizabeth's death. Ashley found a letter to the firstborn and latter learned her parents dark secret. John is dating again but not telling the kids yet. Alot his happening with the Baxter family and it is exciting to read.

[Reagan Soper · Rating 5 out of 5]

boy, this book was super intense and super exciting and just everything anybody would ever want in a book. finishing the book, I was supper happy with all the progress made in it by many of the characters. for example, dayne and his adventure to Mexico, john Baxter finding his firstborn ((and talking to him!! eek!!)) Ashely's baby boy being born, and the relationship with dayne and Katy. although I do wish that the dayty (yes, I just made that up) relationship would move faster because everyone knows that they are going to end up with each other and they obviously love each other as well. anyway, I'm glad Kelly Parker is done (hopefully) with dayne. but this is a fantastic book and a for sure read! 5 stars! ⭐️

[Beth Bacon · Rating 2 out of 5]

One review for the series:

When I pick up a Christian fiction novel, the goal is to be able to relax some and not scrutinize the media I'm consuming. However, that doesn't work when the entire "faith-based" part misrepresents the Christian faith. I ended up skimming and skipping every prayer or reflective moment, because they were all so cringe-worthy. Stop pulling verses out of context. Stop saying that God audibly answers prayers. Stop saying that God wants his people to have perfect lives. And please, Stop pretending that all of Bloomington are believers.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many ways to be found. Another in this series that I cannot put down and have a hard time waiting for our library to send the next one of! Fast, clean and emotional read.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so engrossed in the lives of the Baxter family, their friends & Dayne that I can not wait to begin the next book in this series!! Highly addicting!!

[Laura Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Hard topics, adoption and abortion, pain of making wrong choices. God can take a mess and make it a message! Her. 29:11

[Caroline Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I said about book 2…….

[Jack Vasen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is mostly one long story which is built upon characters developed in a previous series (The Redemption Collection). This book has a huge climax, but once again the reader is left hanging by artificial contrivances. This is definitely a series to be read in order. As to characters from the previous series, the author fills us in on the important details, but as I was reading, I frequently felt I was missing something since I had not read the earlier books.

I said in my previous review that the author is a tease. The teasing continues big time. There are just too many artificial contrivances. The Baxter family continues to suffer near tragedies and hardships even as hope springs out of previous tragedies. If you tally them up, the list is huge, far more than any family deserves. I also mentioned previously something about Christian authors playing god, but I only hinted at how much I dislike it being done so obviously. It is almost ruthless. In the second book, I thought it was at least done with some skill. In this book, it was just too much, perhaps because of the cumulative affect from the previous books.

Many of the overall plot lines are predictable. It is very frustrating to watch the artifices that mean that several major threads will apparently not be resolved until the end of the last, the fifth book. Then I read in the author's note that she suspended this series because the publisher asked for a story not related to this series prior to this book. Publishers are cruel to readers. They don't care if readers wait years to see stories resolved. I guess they consider it good drama. Sometimes, as in a series by another author I began recently, the series is never completed for some reason. For me this generates ill will toward publisher and author. In this case, I have too much invested to give up and fortunately I didn't pick it up until many years after it was completed.

Once again the climax is compelling. But as I've said, you reach a point where it is simply too much.

The author paints the paparazzi in a very bad light. They appear as heartless and greedy with no apparent self control. One can almost envision locusts. In this book, Dayne's agent also appears in a very negative and stereotypical way.

This is a Christian book, which for me makes the teasing all that much more frustrating. But more to my point, I usually comment hear about preaching which some people, especially non-Christians, find distasteful. In many of Kingsbury's books, including the first in this series, much of the preaching occurs through the circumstances and not as much through speeches or monologues. In the second book, the preaching occurs both ways. In this book, there is a lot of verbal explanation or preaching.

But before you avoid it, wait. The preaching in this book is both central and relevant to the story. It also does a pretty good job of summarizing the Christian message, especially when taken together with the second book. If you have questions about the Christian message, don't avoid this book, or this series. The people in this series are flawed, but ultimately they often act to God's glory and to further his message. In that sense, they may even be a little too idealized. Every human being, every Christian, is flawed. But there are so many out there who are doing selfless things like many of the characters in this series. Some like Dayne's adopted parents put their priorities in places that many would consider wrong, but even then they are trying to act selflessly to put God first. I'll repeat it. Every one and every Christian is flawed. This book, this series, this writer, tries to show how God uses flawed people. The Gospel message is Good News that God has redeemed flawed people.

The author frequently uses scenes where God speaks verbally but inaudibly to more than one major character. Frequently. Does that mean that those of us who don't experience that are not Christians? (Rhetorical question.)

The author says in a note at the end that one of the more amazing miracles in the book is based on a true story she came across first hand.

Mature themes: there are unmarried people living together and obviously sleeping together, but no sex is described. One woman gets pregnant which presents a dilemma where the option of abortion is weighed against right to life. There is another situation in the climax where lives are seriously endangered.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Baxter is finally able to reunite with his firstborn son, Dayne Matthews. It was a long journey to get to this point. John decides to hire his own private investigator to find his firstborn. He knows Elizabeth would want John to do this. Since Ashley found out about “the secret”, John has to try. The investigator finds some startling news. Not only who Dayne is, the big movie star, but he’s been to Bloomington twice before. The first visit is the time Elizabeth passed away, and the second time was to film the movie Dream On. The investigator gives John the phone number of Dayne’s agent, whom John calls. But the agent is no help...he tells John that Dayne never visited Elizabeth in the hospital and Dayne has no time to reconnect with his biological family, and doesn’t want to meet them. Also, it would seem that John just wants to contact Dayne for his money. John is devastated. He decides to try one last time to contact Dayne. He sends a letter and photo album of family pictures to Dayne’s director from the Dream On movie. But unfortunately, the director will be gone for a few weeks and Dayne goes to Mexico City to visit his friend from boarding school who is now a missionary, Bob Asher. During the visit, through many talks and a street mission miracle, Dayne finds God.
Weeks later, when Dayne’s director calls him about the package he received, Dayne rushes to his office, then finds a quiet place on Pepperdine University to open and read what’s inside. Dayne is shocked at what his agent told John Baxter. He immediately arranged a flight to Bloomington to meet John and fires his agent. The next day, Dayne and John meet. Dayne explains how he started to search for his biological family, starting from the time he saw the picture of the Baxter family on Luke Baxter’s desk in the law office. The meeting is nothing but miraculous.
Dayne and Katy Hart are still friends. It was a rocky time when Dayne found out during the start of the crazed fan trial with Katy that his ex-live-in girlfriend, Kelly Parker, was pregnant. Dayne made a special trip to Bloomington to tell Katy in person about the pregnancy, and that he was going to do the right thing by getting back with Kelly and being a good father. Katy is devastated, but she knows that Dayne is doing the right thing. Katy continues to think about Dayne and even tries to go out on a blind date..let’s just say she’ll be laughing about the date for a long time! In the meantime, Dayne sees Kelly for the first time in a while at the movie premiere. She apparently got back together with another actor from the movie, and strangely, does not look pregnant. When Kelly and Dayne are alone, Kelly tells him that she had an abortion. Dayne is devastated, and makes another special trip to Bloomington to tell Katy. Katy wants Dayne to find God, which he eventually will.
Ashley and Landon have their baby, Devin, but under life-threatening circumstances. Ashley is in labor during a tornado which damages the Baxter home, but destroys others, including a home belonging to a CKT family, the Reeds. The birth also happens during the Baxter family reunion. So the entire family can meet the newest member!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has a great way of making the story come alive so much that you can't put the book down once you start. It is a great series so far. Dayne and Katy's story is one of romance that pulls them together but they lead such different lives will they be able to become one? I found myself ro0ting for them and then Dayne gets the news that Kelly is pregnant. That was devastating for Katy. After two months of wondering if Kelly is going to try to make it work with Dayne, she tells him she has had an abortion. That rocks Dayne's world. First thing he does - he turns to Katy for solace. Katy hurts for Dayne but wants Dayne to find Jesus. She encourages him to go to Mexico City and see a former friend that was in the boarding school he was in and he is a missionary. Dayne goes and his world is forever changed. A miracle happens when he hears the cry to accept Christ coming from his friend - only his friend was speaking in Spanish but Dayne heard it all in English. He can't wait to come home and tell Katy. On the other side of the story - the Baxter's are all getting together for a family reunion where John has promised Ashley he will tell the other kids about their older brother who was put up for adoption. John has made several attempts to contact Dayne but his dishonest agent tells him Dayne has no interest in getting to know his adoptive family. Of course he never passes on the message to Dayne that John has called three times. John doesn't give up though. He makes a photo album and mails it and a letter to Dayne through his movie director that filmed Dream On. The package doesn't get to Dayne in enough time for him to respond before the family reunion. But the reunion takes an interesting turn - Ashley goes into labor in the mist of a tornado watch and is rushed to the hospital for a c-section to deliver the baby. The tornado scene left you on the edge of your seat wondering if everyone was going to make it through alive. So all is forgotten about the older brother with the arrival of Landon and Ashley's new baby Devin. On the flip side of that, Dayne has finally received his package from John. He learns that they do want a relationship with him. Dayne fires his agent and leaves John a message to meet him in the park in Bloomington the day John takes family back to the airport from the reunion. It's a tenderhearted reunion. Dayne explains how he doesn't want them to be followed by paparazzi and so wishes to stay anonymous. Will Dayne find the family he's been searching for or will his life in the spotlight deny him of that privilege? Will Katy and Dayne ever be able to be with each other? I can't wait to read the next book in the series and follow the story. Great Christian book about finding God and surrendering your life over to him. Many prayers are offered throughout this book and peace comes to those that pray. They feel the presence of peace from Christ when faced with situations that seem hard to bear or the outcome looks bleak. Just so inspiring.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found is the 3rd book in the Firstborn series. The 8th book in the Baxter series.

Dayne Matthews is still in love with Katy Hart, but Kelly Parker has other plans for Dayne. Kelly Parker calls and drops a bomb on Dayne that he was not expecting. Katy is still in love with Dayne but knows there is no way that they can be together.

Ashley keeps asking her Dad if he has found their older brother. John had hired a PI to find him and the PI did, but they had not expected to find that his son would be the celebrity that he is.

The Baxters are planning their summer family reunion. All the siblings are coming in for it. On the night that John Baxter is ready to tell them that they have an older brother, a huge tornado hits Bloomington. All the Baxters were in the basement and Ashley goes into labor. By the time the tornado is over, Ashley is in bad shape.

Katy and the Flanigans were in the basement during the tornado. Afterwards, they find out that the Reed family was missing and their house was flattened.

One of my favorite parts of the book. Dayne goes to Mexico to meet up with an old friend from boarding school days. Bob is speaking on the street and Dayne is hearing every word. It moves him to the point where he goes forward and accepts God into his heart. After it is all over, Bob's wife, Rosa, told Dayne that he was surprised he was able to make out what he was saying. She said she didn't think he was able to speak Spanish. Dayne was shocked b/c he heard every word that Bob spoke and he spoke it all in English. God is the God of miracles!!

In the end, Dayne finds out that his biological Dad does want to be a part of his life. His agent lied to John Baxter every time he called him. Thankfully God moved things into His timeline for things to fall into place for John and Dayne to finally meet each other.

I am very much enjoying the Baxter series. I can't wait to continue the series would Family. Karen is truly a gifted writer that God has granted a wonderful talent of writing.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book from the Firstborn series, which is a subset of the Baxter Family series.

This book kind of drug for the first 2/3 of the book. However, the ending brought tears to my eyes and gave separate meaning to the title of the book-Found. Most importantly Dayne was found by God when he gave his life to Christ. This was the most important event of the book. Dayne had a life that anyone looking from the outside would want. He was a movie star, was rich, hung out with celebrities, and was with a different beautiful woman on a regular basis. However, Dayne had a hole in his heart. He knew he was missing something and that hole could not be filled by Katy Hart or the Baxter family. It could only be filled by God. God used Katy and his boyhood friend Bob to bring Dayne to God. Hearing Bob's testimony in English when he was actually speaking Spanish was a miracle which God does. I had heard of this taking place before.

The second Found was Dayne and John Baxter finding each other. Dayne was given away for adoption before John and Elizabeth were married. Dayne's adoptive missionary parents were killed in a plane crash when Dayne was young. There were many obstacles that came up that prevented John and Dayne from the meeting but God worked another miracle by overcoming these obstacles to bring them together.

I am looking forward to the rest of the Baxter family meeting Dayne in the upcoming books.

[Steve W · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a touching and inspirational story! It was quite a tear jerker for me. The sadness of multiple "separations" between Dayne and Katy, without hope of being able to come together long-term. The grief Dayne experiences, when he finds out he will be (is) a father to the child Kelly Parker is carrying from their illicit relationship. But Kelly realizes Dayne never really loved her and wanted to marry her, so in her effort to be free again, she goes behind his back and has an abortion, depriving Dayne of the opportunity to ever even hold his baby.

Dayne has been resisting God for most of his life, though through the influence of Katy, and his childhood friend Bob, and the working of God in Dayne's heart, he seems to be softening toward God. And John Baxter has been praying for Dayne, even before knowing his name, that they would be able to meet, and, more importantly, that Dayne would meet Jesus. As the title "Found" suggests... Dayne is finally found by Jesus (or Dayne responds to God's offer of salvation).
And John finally finds out his son's identity and is able to to make contact with him, so that they are now found to each other.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wouldn’t be a Baxter story without a tragedy, and this book is no exception. This time it is a cluster of tornados hitting Bloomington during a Baxter family reunion, and Ashley goes into labor during the storm.

John Baxter discovers the identity of the son he gave up for adoption and attempts to make contact. This storyline has a sweet ending within this book.

The Katy and Dayne romance is still stopping and starting and going in circles. This time Dayne’s past throws a wrench into the relationship.

And lastly, Dayne faces his faith journey head on.

I’m not a big fan of this Firstborn series. I don’t have any interest in the Hollywood or theater storylines. I find the constant talk of paparazzi to be tedious and I’m finding the romance to be increasingly boring as it inches forward at a snail’s pace. However, I do still like almost all of the characters and I do feel invested in this family’s story.

[Taryn Spearey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing 3rd book! John Baxter is determined to find his first-born son, the one he and Elizabeth gave up a long time ago. He tries to go through Dayne's agent, who decides that it's not worth it.

There is going to be a Baxter family reunion, and John originally plans to tell his kids about Dayne then, but, due to a sudden tornado heads their way, John decides to hold off in telling his kids.

What made me so happy towards the end of the book is when Dayne finally got the nerve up and fired his agent. His agent was my least favorite character. Dayne also finally turns his life over to the Lord; that also made me really happy.

Ashley and Landon have their new baby, and Cole is so happy to have a baby brother. Loved this book!!

[Megan Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Man…moms really do know best. My mom was totally right, I am loving Karen Kingsbury and this entire series!
This book and the last one have been my favorites so far. I absolutely adore the Baxters, and Katy, and the Flanigans and everything about Bloomington! And to be reminded of the truths of the gospel all along the journey…that’s truly just incredible.

“Wholeness is always and only found in finding that relationship with Jesus.”

“When your life here on earth is done, all that will matter is whether you heard the knock of Christ on your heart. And whether you took this chance to open the door and ask Him in.”

“Jim and Jenny were more concerned with loving and leading people to the Lord than about anything else. That alone was the heartbeat of their home.”

[Rachel Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this either in college or in high school, so it has been a while. Yet the series was enjoyable to read—it takes you into the challenges and struggles of the characters and brings you through realistic situations. There are parts, looking back, that I cannot find as realistic though: like Landon “waiting” for Ashley since high school; most guys just move on with life and find another girl to marry—or famous Dane Matthews going after small-town Katie. And all of the characters seem good-looking as well (my brother always made fun of me for reading these books—especially when there’s an attractive male on the front cover—haha). There also is a bit of a melodramatic element to these stories, but overall enjoyable and helpful for me when I was younger.