Customer Reviews

Halfway to Forever

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Halfway To Forever is another of Karen Kingsbury's beautifully-written stories of faith and love. In this emotion-packed novel, Kingsbury takes the leading characters from two of her former books and weaves a beautiful saga of faith under trial.
Hannah and Matt Bronzan (from `Waiting For Morning') and Tanner and Jade Eastman (from `A Moment of Weakness') are good friends who attend the same church. Tanner and Matt are high-powered Christian lawyers who run a prestigious law firm specializing in religious freedom cases. Both men are happily married with successful careers and loving families. The two couples have struggled with their own issues from the past but now they are entering a new chapter of their lives. Hannah has come to the place where she feels it is time to move on after the loss of her former husband and young daughter. She and Matt decide to adopt a little four-year-old girl, trusting the Lord for the adoption to go through without any hitches and to bring healing to their hearts. Tanner and Jade, after almost giving up hope of having another child, discover they are to be parents. They trust God for a safe pregnancy and a healthy child. However both families soon find their faith under trial. Matt and Hannah encounter problems with the adoption and Jade develops a cancerous brain tumor that threatens her own life as well as the life of her baby. Troubles snowball and each character must individually face their worst fears as they struggle to overcome their doubts in the goodness and sovereignty of God.
This book addresses the question: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It also deals with the subject of loss and the death of loved ones. I found the author's answers satisfying and realistic, and she brought her message across without resorting to preachy sermonizing or sentimentality. Kingsbury dealt with the subject of past sin in a manner that never justified its serious consequences, showing how anger can rob us of joy and peace and how fear can immobilize and cripple us in relating to others. However she also revealed how God's grace can heal and deliver and bring good out of evil in the lives of His children. The story ended on a note of victory and I truly enjoyed this reading experience.
I felt the author exercised sensitivity and wisdom in handling her subject matter and developed her characters with empathetic realism. I found I could relate to many of the issues and situations she wrote about and I was especially grateful for the way in which she pointed to God's unfailing grace and love despite our problems and imperfections.
I've always enjoyed books by Kingsbury and I wasn't disappointed in this one. I hear she is writing a new series with Gary Smalley. Should be good.
This is a really good book for anyone struggling in their faith after the loss of a loved one or after a major disappointment in life; also for the person who needs a reminder of God's faithful love and powerful deliverance in the midst of confusing and oppressive circumstances.

I have read In A Moment of Weakness, Waiting For Morning and then placed an order for Halfway to Forever before it was released. Karen Kingsbury saved the best of this series of books for last. She stated that we were saying goodbye to Tanner and Jade, Matt and Hannah in Halfway to Forever. I don't believe I have ever enjoyed a series of books any more than I did these. Superb in every way. Karen Kingsbury is one of the best writers of this time.

I loved this book. This book was about how one couple, Jade and Tanner, dealt with Jade's pregnancy and brain cancer, and about another couple, Hannah and Matt, who were trying to adopt a little girl. This book was a sequel to 2 other books. I liked how this book integrated the events from the other books into this book.

This was an emotion-packed book, with Tanner struggling over the possibility of losing his true love Jade, and with little Grace, who Matt and Hannah tried to adopt, but lost her. I was moved to tears at their loss and at how Grace went through so much with her mother. I was moved to tears when Hannah and Matt got to adopt Kody.

This was a fine Christian book that dealt with Biblical principals with getting preachy. Kingsbury has a knack for doing that in her books. This book discussed Jade's struggles with whether she committed adultery by remarrying after divorcing (and if God was punishing her by giving her brain cancer), and with anger & bearing grudges, like with Hannah after her loss of Grace. These issues were resolved in a very sensitive manner. And then there was the struggle that Tanner had in why bad things happen to good people. I think we can all relate to these struggles.

It is good to have characters who are Christians, yet, are flawed. It makes it so much easier to relate to these characters, to know that God loves us, despite are problems and imperfections.

I look forward to reading more from Kingsbury. I can't wait for her series with Gary Smalley.

Please understand that I'm not down on Karen Kingsbury as an author. When I first started reading her work I found her an incredibly refreshing addition to the genre of Christian fiction. She was writing about real people with real difficulties and trials. Followers of Christ know that the life is not all a bed of roses nor did Jesus say it would be. For this reason, Ms. Kingsbury's work was greatly welcomed. However, the more I read of her novels, the harder I find I'm able to get through them. They are becoming formulaic and predictable. I could honestly tell you after finishing one chapter of HALFWAY TO FOREVER exactly what was going to happen and this isn't the first time I've predicted correctly when reading one of her novels. I'm also getting a bit annoyed at the amazing coincidences that solve the problems of the main characters. There's a glaring one in this book - SPOILER ALERT! How often does a person yearning to adopt a child in the foster-adopt system have a newborn infant literally drop into her lap? Please. Especially one who's mother conveniently dies and has no blood connections whatsoever. Then she gives us hundreds of possibilies where a father is concerned so that no one person can be pinned down to be a problem when it comes time to adopt. This turn in the story literally made me laugh out loud. The storyline of the woman fighting cancer was more believable but couldn't make up for the predictability and fantastical coincidences that solve difficult problems. I think the problem with Ms. Kingsbury's work is that she's expected to crank out too many books in one year. For that, her publisher is to blame. They've obviously found a cash cow and are going to milk it for all it's worth. I'd far rather see her cut down the quantity and get back to quality.

Halfway To Forever is another of Karen Kingsburys beautifully-written stories of faith and love. In this emotion-packed novel, Kingsbury takes the leading characters from two of her former books and weaves a beautiful saga of faith under trial.
Hannah and Matt Bronzan (from Waiting For Morning) and Tanner and Jade Eastman (from A Moment of Weakness) are good friends who attend the same church. Tanner and Matt are high-powered Christian lawyers who run a prestigious law firm specializing in religious freedom cases. Both men are happily married with successful careers and loving families. The two couples have struggled with their own issues from the past but now they are entering a new chapter of their lives. Hannah has come to the place where she feels it is time to move on after the loss of her former husband and young daughter. She and Matt decide to adopt a little four-year-old girl, trusting the Lord for the adoption to go through without any hitches and to bring healing to their hearts. Tanner and Jade, after almost giving up hope of having another child, discover they are to be parents. They trust God for a safe pregnancy and a healthy child. However both families soon find their faith under trial. Matt and Hannah encounter problems with the adoption and Jade develops a cancerous brain tumor that threatens her own life as well as the life of her baby. Troubles snowball and each character must individually face their worst fears as they struggle to overcome their doubts in the goodness and sovereignty of God.
This book addresses the question: Why do bad things happen to good people? It also deals with the subject of loss and the death of loved ones. I found the authors answers satisfying and realistic, and she brought her message across without resorting to preachy sermonizing or sentimentality. Kingsbury dealt with the subject of past sin in a manner that never justified its serious consequences, showing how anger can rob us of joy and peace and how fear can immobilize and cripple us in relating to others. However she also revealed how Gods grace can heal and deliver and bring good out of evil in the lives of His children. The story ended on a note of victory and I truly enjoyed this reading experience.
I felt the author exercised sensitivity and wisdom in handling her subject matter and developed her characters with empathetic realism. I found I could relate to many of the issues and situations she wrote about and I was especially grateful for the way in which she pointed to Gods unfailing grace and love despite our problems and imperfections.
Ive always enjoyed books by Kingsbury and I wasnt disappointed in this one. I hear she is writing a new series with Gary Smalley. Should be good.
This is a really good book for anyone struggling in their faith after the loss of a loved one or after a major disappointment in life; also for the person who needs a reminder of Gods faithful love and powerful deliverance in the midst of confusing and oppressive circumstances.

In 1998 the drunk driver killed her husband Thomas and their little girl Alicia leaving Hannah Ryan to grieve not only her losses, but also wonders how she will go on without them though her youngest child desperately needs her. Eventually Hannah meets and falls in love with the kindly Matt Bronzan. They marry and after a while Hannah agrees to adopt a little girl. Though she fears the loss of any loved one, as Hannah explains to Alicia at the cemetery, she will have three daughters, two here and one in heaven, but what will happen to her if she loses another child?

The Bronzan's friends and business partners Tanner and Jade Eastman are excited, as she is pregnant with their first child. However, the rest of the story from the doctor leaves the couple stunned and frightened and wondering about their future.

HALFWAY TO HEAVEN is a deep look at families and people in crisis due to bad things happening to good people. Both story lines are well written and each could have served as its own novel (and probably should have). The richness and complexity of the characters make each tale work because the audience will believe in what these individuals confront. Readers observe Hannah struggle with her faith even as she tries to move on with her life while the Eastmans have their own crippling difficulty that makes them question a God that can allow malevolent things to occur. Fans of powerful insightful human dramas will enjoy HALFWAY TO FOREVER and pray for more inspiring tales from Karen Kingsbury who makes believers out of all of us.

Harriet Klausner

Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors. I have loved all her books. I received the book in a timely manner. I love that there is a good Christian author out there writing about morals that this country doesn't appear to have much of anymore. Can't wait until her next book comes out in March. I would consider buying from this seller again.

Karen Kingsbury brings characters alive with her writings. I always feel as if I've known them--lived next door to them for years. This series amplifies her talent. Each character is flawed--just as you and I are. Each one struggles with faith in a fallen world. Why does God allow things to happen to His people?

I have a couple of caveats. I know that it's the author's style of writing, but I cringe with each sentence fragment. The third title, "Halfway to Forever," covered a good bit of the earlier material. I suppose some of that is necessary for those who hadn't read the first two titles.

However, Kingsbury's compelling plots beg for attention. Her fans will delight in this trilogy which is bound into one large volume.

Thank you to Laura Tucker at WaterBrook Multnomah Publicity for my copy.

This book was so good. I love all Karen Kingsbury books. I didn't want to put it down. Its a must have .

Took a little longer then I thought it would but book was in great shape