A Time to Embrace (A Time to Dance Series #2) (Women of Faith Fiction) [Paperback]

Karen Kingsbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2002

Their whole life was a series of miracles. Can they really hope for one more? And as tragedy pulls their lives apart, can they somehow find that all-important time to embrace?

After twenty-one years, John and Abby Reynolds are back together and feeling like newlyweds. Together they are convinced they can handle the issues of their past, the questions from their children, and even the high-school politics that drain the joy from John's coaching career. But then disaster strikes...the type of tragedy John and Abby never expected.

The squeal of brakes and the crunch of metal changes everything. Suddenly devastation tears at the heart of their family, and the depth of their existence. In the process, their children falter in their faith and guilt colors everything about the future. Fumbling for forgiveness and hoping for a miracle, John and Abby must remember what is important and cling to that above all else.

Together, they're determined to move on with their lives. but is "together" enough for a future they never expected?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this sequel to A Time to Dance, beloved evangelical Christian novelist Kingsbury brings readers up to date on the trials and tribulations of Abby and John Reynolds, who, after 20-plus years of marriage, are enjoying something of a second honeymoon. Then John's career comes under attack when anonymous letters smearing his reputation are sent to the high school where he coaches. Worse still, he is in a car accident (a well-worn device of evangelical fiction), which he survives but which paralyzes him from the waist down. Abby and John's new challenges sit at the center of this novel, but there are several engaging subplots keeping the narrative moving at a fast clip: their newly married daughter learns she's pregnant, even though she had planned to wait four years before starting a family; a divorced couple is thrown back together and must work out their anger and mistrust; and Jake Daniels, the student whose car hit Coach Reynolds, must try to forgive himself for injuring his mentor. Religiously inclined readers will appreciate Kingsbury's deft and sophisticated treatment of prayer, as characters struggle to understand how and when God answers prayers. Less satisfying is Kingsbury's unsubtle insertion of hot-button evangelical social issues: a son delving into Internet porn, a mother-in-law repenting for a long-past abortion. There's even a passing potshot at sexual education in schools. Still, Kingsbury's hallmarks are in evidence: readers can expect lively dialogue, likable characters and a passionate witness to the commitments and obligations of marriage.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this sequel to A Time To Dance, high school football coach John Reynolds and his wife, Abby, are behaving like newlyweds after their reconciliation following a near-divorce. Their happiness is tempered, however, by John's problems at work. In particular, three boys trouble John--Nathan Pike (the "Goth"), who scribbles "death to jocks" in his notebook, and Jake Daniels and Casey Parker, the two football players who make Nathan's life miserable. When Jake and Casey challenge each other to a drag race, they cause an accident in which John is paralyzed from the waist down. As they try to come to terms with this tragedy, the struggles of each character, especially those of John's daughter, who previously held an unshakeable belief in God, are depicted in a believable and sympathetic manner. High school life and the real-world problems faced by the students, such as a brush with cyberporn, are also realistically rendered. Recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849943477
• ISBN-13: 978-0849943478
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,385,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's #1 inspirational novelist. There are nearly 20 million copies of her award-winning books in print, including several million copies sold in the past year. Karen has written more than 50 novels, ten of which have hit #1 on national lists.

Karen's newest novel, Unlocked, released Oct. 12 and has stayed in Amazon's top fifty for the past few weeks. Unlocked debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Another recent and popular title of Karen's is Shades of Blue - the story of a 28-year-old ad executive who is six weeks away from marrying the girl he loves. But as he prepares for his wedding, something brings up his past girlfriend - a girl he dated in high school. He realizes he can't go forward and say, "I do," until he goes back to Holden Beach, finds the girl he loved back then, and tell her he's sorry.

Karen's novel Like Dandelion Dust is the subject of a major motion picture currently in theaters. Like Dandelion Dust stars Academy Award winning Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper, along with Cole Hauser and Maxwell Perry Cotton. The film has received more than 30 awards in the Film Festival Circuit including numerous Best Picture awards. Several of Karen's books are currently under theatrical development.

Karen's most recent series - the Above the Line Series, which began with Take One, in March, 2009 and wrapped up in June, 2010 with Take Four. The series is about two producers looking to change the world with the power of film. The Above the Line series also includes Karen's popular characters from the fictitious Baxter Family. The Baxters were first introduced to readers through the five-book Redemption series, and then the five-book Firstborn series, and finally the four-book Sunrise series.

Dubbed by Time Magazine as the Queen of Christian Fiction, Karen has also been a featured guest on the Today Show, Fox News, USA Today, and numerous other television programs and magazines. Her fiction has made her one of the country's favorite storytellers. Others of 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching, December 31, 2002

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Time to Embrace (A Time to Dance Series #2) (Women of Faith Fiction) (Paperback)

Coach John Reynolds cares deeply about every student he encounters, so it is ironic that one of them is responsible for nearly destroying his life. Although he had been considering retirement, John did not want to be forced to leave his job. First, accrimonious parents begin spreading malicious lies about his moral character, then, one fateful night, he is caught in the middle of a drag race, and paralyzed by a careless student's recklessness.

The months ahead of John will prove a test of both his faith and his newly restored marriage to Abby. As they await the trial to determine the fate of those who harmed him, John struggles to adapt, and his daughter embarks on a difficult, unplanned pregnancy. In the days ahead, choices that will forever alter many lives will have to be made, and more than just a few tears shed. Yet, faith and God are working to see them through each crisis.

*** It is difficult, as always, to sum up Ms. Kingsbury's work in just a few words. There is so much depth and emotion to each of her novels, and the characters are so very real, that you want to tell everything about the book, but still not spoil it for the coming reader. You will come away from this one feeling renewed and touched by the power of faith and forgiveness. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully inspiring book!, May 8, 2006

By 

Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Time to Embrace (A Time to Dance Series #2) (Women of Faith Fiction) (Paperback)

I have never heard of Karen Kingsbury till I found this book on my bookcase. I know that I got it at the library rummage sale last summer (I get three or four big boxes of books every summer there and I usually just grab the ones I figure would have good story lines even if I have never heard of the author before) and the other day, I needed a break from my other reading ~~ so I picked this up. I read it in one day as I couldn't put it down. It was beautifully written and yes, it made me cry. John and Abby's story is wonderful, sad, poignant and inspiring.

I do have to point out though that while I believe in miracles, and that God has a plan for each of us, this book has a way of having everything work out beautifully and perfectly ~~ just believe in God and it will all work out. Sometimes, in real life though, things just don't work out the way you hope ~~ and this book is a little bit misleading in that regards. Not everything comes up peachy keen. And Kade's story is really irrelevant to this whole novel ~~ it was also glossed over. I hope Kingsbury writes another book focusing on Kade's story more. It really is a good story but not relevant ...

John and Abby have finally gotten back together after struggling for three years of whether or not to stay married. They have rediscovered their love for one another. Nicole, their oldest daughter is happily married and has a secret of her own. John is fighting pressure to remain as the high school's football coach ~~ parents are putting the pressure on him to get their sons out in the fields. Life was getting tense again when tragedy strikes. John and Abby face another difficult challenge in their lives and in their faith.

My personal favorite is the story of the star quarterback on John's team ~~ he really struggled with issues and was becoming close to the coach again when tragedy struck. His story is another one I'd like to see continued in Kingsbury's future works.

I will admit that I really enjoyed this book ~~ cried and laughed and wondered ~~ in spite of the two misgivings I have. Kingsbury really is a talented writer and she really knows how to draw the reader into the story and won't let her go till she has turned the last page. It is a book about life and about faith. Sometimes, faith is all that you have left in life ...

It really is a wonderful book ~~ one that I plan to give to my friends. It just touches the heart in a wonderful way!

5-8-06

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A worthy sequel, but don't expect equal impact, July 29, 2006

By 

Melissa J. Reed "melissajreed" (Benton, KY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Time to Embrace (A Time to Dance Series #2) (Women of Faith Fiction) (Paperback)

Our first "dance" with John and Abby Reynolds in "A Time To Dance" may be the most important book I've ever read. Of course, different stories hit different folks, well, differently.

We continue their story with "A Time To Embrace," and it was worth the time. Inspirational and enlightening, it is solid Kingsbury, but don't expect the same emotional wallop and life-changing characteristic of "Dance." If you haven't read either, please read "A Time To Dance" first.