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Book 3 in the bestselling 5-book Christian fiction series that has sold nearly 2 million copies!A story of tenacious love and longing for a lost son, from Karen Kingsbury, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of "heart-tugging and emotional" (Romantic Times) life-changing fiction, co-authored with Gary Smalley.
Return is the third book in the original Baxter Family Series, which has gone on to captivate tens of millions of readers and is currently being made into an original television show more series, produced by Roma Downey and Will Packer.
A Shattered Relationship
Luke, the Baxter family's golden boy and only son, has walked away from everything that mattered most to him: his faith, his family, and Reagan, his only love. Devastated by the events of September 11, 2001, Luke decides that life is random, faith a fraud, and God a fantasy.
A Secret
A baby is about to be born, but with Reagan a thousand miles away in New York City, Luke has no idea he's the father. Now, though, someone in his family learns the truth. But she has a secret of her own, one that will change the Baxters' lives forever.
A Revelation
What will it take for Luke to return to the family who loves and aches for him? And what extremes will a certain young firefighter take to help bring the Baxters together again, and in the process, find his place in the family?
Winner of Christian Retailing's Retailer's Choice Award for Best Series!
This touching novel reunites readers with the Baxter family and focuses on the only Baxter son, Luke. He is determined to leave his faith and his past behind and embrace a new, free-thinking future. But what he doesn't realize is that his past holds a secret even he doesn't know. When Luke finds out, his comfortable new life is turned upside-down, and he must turn back to his roots.
Fans will enjoy a personal note from Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley as well as discussion questions for book group use. show less
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Member Reviews
Mhmm, this was a surprise . . . It was all right but felt slightly like one of the Firstborn books, like the Firstborn book was a repeat of Return. The plot was different enough that it wasn’t a complete copy but too much duo for my taste. Disappointing really, but still somewhat enjoyable. While it was repetitive it was still a nice read through murder the best in the series. Luke’s mistakes were cliche to me and I wish that the author hasn’t made them what they were but that may just be me.
The writing was a little weak and some parts could have been reworked to be stronger in all it was a timid book. Lukewarm between good and bad.
The writing was a little weak and some parts could have been reworked to be stronger in all it was a timid book. Lukewarm between good and bad.
I would highly recommend this book. It made me laugh, but most of all it was very heartwarming, and if I’m honest it sent me on a two hour crying spree. It was just a great book about a family coming together with help from God in life’s hardest trials. This was a story of unfaithfulness, hard decisions, and finding hope.
Installment 3 of the Baxter family. A great story of forgiveness and understanding!
Dayne Matthews returns to Bloomington, Indiana to be with Katy Hart and his biological family.
July 2006
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212+ Works 64,472 Members
Karen Kingsbury was born in Fairfax, Virginia on June 8, 1963. She received a B.A. in journalism from California State University, Northridge in 1986. After graduation, she became a full-time reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Her first book, Missy's Murder, was published in 1992. She wrote three more true crime novels and four collections of show more answered prayers and miracle stories before transitioning to inspirational fiction in 1998. Her first inspirational fiction novel was Where Yesterday Lives. Popular series she has penned include the Redemption, Firstborn, Sunrise, and Angels Walking series, and she has also written the nonfiction Miracle Books collection, gift books, and children's books. She has won several Retailer's Choice Awards, plus 2005 and 2007 Gold Medallions for Oceans Apart and Ever After, respectively. Her other books include Longing, Coming Home - The Baxter Family: A Story of Undying Hope, Fiteen Minutes, The Family of Jesus, The Friends of Jesus, In This Moment, and To The Moon and Back. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
248+ Works 20,474 Members
Gary Smalley, president of Today's Family in Branson, Missouri, holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and has a master's degree from Bethel Seminary. John Trent, president of Encouraging Words Ministry, holds a master's degree in New Testament Greek from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in marriage and family counseling from Texas State show more University. show less
Some Editions
Series
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Return
- Original publication date
- 2003
- Important places
- Indiana, USA
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,417
- Popularity
- 16,611
- Reviews
- 6
- Rating
- (4.45)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, German, Norwegian (Bokmål)
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 26
- UPCs
- 2
- ASINs
- 5