A Time to Dance

This is my first Karen Kingsbury novel and it may be my last. I have a number of issues with the story. One being that it goes on much too long. It would make a great short story. Don't get me wrong, I love long books, but this one seemed to drag on and on. John and Abby hear God's voice speaking to them and both of them ignore what He is asking them to do and trying to do it their own way. My second problem is with the supposition that their kids have no idea that things aren't right with their parents' marriage. Come on - kids know a lot more than we give them credit for. Third, the mother-in-law coming in to the family is Southern, but Kingsbury obviously doesn't know much about the Southern idioms since she gives Jo lines like "It show more must be harder than the steel trap over a sewer drain." and "I'm as wide open for suggestions as a great white at breakfast time." These were ridiculous to me.

My kIndle copy had many, many typos and was difficult to read. I decided I wanted to finish, so finally began skimming for the last 30% of the book.

Basically, I enjoyed the story line, I liked the Christian focus, but I really would not recommend to others unless they knew my reservations at the start. show less

I really enjoyed this book which clearly showed how complacency can set in when a couple have been maried for a long time. The protagonists are just about to announce they are getting a divorce when their daughter announces her engagement so they put off the divorce until after her wedding.

The story follows how they cope through this time while not leting the family know. They have in many ways come away from God and are suffering the consequences.

My only real problem was that it was very American with some things confusing for me such as Kade's graduation.

This book was terribly depressing. The main characters were more than just ugly the entire book - until the last two pages. I know that Kingsbury was trying to portray the ugly side of marital strife and divorce, but I don't want to hang out there so long.

In this novel, Karen Kingsbury introduces Abby and John Reynolds and their family. Almost 22 years of marriage under their belt John had started a little fooling around with another woman teacher at his school and Abby was beginning to email a little too much to her editor friend. She is a stay at home mom and writes for magazines. Abby and John have three children a 20 year old daughter, an 18 year old son and a 10 year old son, they had lost their second little girl when she was four months old with crib death. John and Abby find themselves so pulled apart that they both were ready to divorce but they wanted to wait until the perfect time to tell their children. John is a high school football coach and their son Kade was a senior and show more he played football, so they were waiting until after the championship that they won to tell the kids about the breakup. But, when they though they had found the perfect time and called a family meeting their daughter and her boy friend announced their engagement, so they could not ruin this time for her.

Through prayers and a series of divine interventions, the couple realizes that love is a choice, not a feeling. I really enjoyed reading this book; did not like all the football talk in it but that was what it was about a long line of football coaches and player, so what else would they talk about. I am just not a sports fan but the book was really good.



I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review blogger program. show less

This book is very well written and really keeps your attention so you don't want to put it down. 4Q4P The cover art was okay and I recommend this book for middle school and high school students. I chose this book because I love the author and have enjoyed other books by her in the past. JanaP

An insightful look at the kinds of issues that can divide couples and lead to divorce, and the remedies available when forgiveness and God's grace enter the picture.

This book was good, as usual; however I felt the conflict between John and Abby went on a little too long. Thank God for a happy ending.