Customer Reviews

Shades of Blue (Center Point Christian Fiction (Large Print))

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I love to read. I like books of all stripes. There is not one particular genre that I favor. I just love the written word. I love reading Christian fiction and Karen Kingsbury has long been one of my favorite authors. Her stories are real. She is not afraid to deal with difficult issues like depression, drunk driving, cancer and addiction. The characters in her books could be real people. They have real and complex problems. For the most part, Karen refrains from offering pat answers and easy solutions.

This novel tells the story of Emma, Brad, and Laura. Brad and Emma were in a relationship 10 years ago, and Laura is Brad's fiancee. Brad comes to realize that he has a lot of unresolved issues with Emma and can't move forward in his life with Laura until they are resolved.

The people in this novel suffer deeply and are hurting. They all react differently to the situation. Ultimately, this is a book about forgiveness, redemption, and healing. But those things do not come easily. All 3 characters are surprised at how the story turns out. Karen Kingsbury's books have a way of grabbing your heart and refuse to let go until the last page is turned. I read this book in one sitting. I just couldn't wait to find out how the story would end. Her stories are well-written with engaging, realistic characters.

If I have one complaint about Kingbury's writing it is this: A lot of the time, I think things end up resolved a little too neatly at the end of her books. This book is no exception. I just don't think it's possible for such profound pain, anger, and shame to be faced and processed in a single weekend. Real life doesn't work that way. Healing and restoration take time. Can God heal completely in a single weekend? Absolutely! He is all powerful and can do anything! But I have found that often, healing is not that quick. I have come to realize that healing is a process, not an event. It's kind of like peeling an onion. The layers might be thin, but there are a lot of them. God brings healing one layer at a time.

But that said, this is a truly wonderful book. I highly recommend it and others by Karen Kingsbury. I especially recommend "The Redemption Series" by this author. This book is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I think that it also has the potential to be life-changing. I know my life has been changed by her books.

I usually love Karen Kingsbury's stand-alone books, and that is why I was so excited to read her latest book. With beautiful stories such as A Thousand Tomorrows and Between Sundays, I couldn't wait for my copy of Shades of Blue! The book deals with the abortion issue very sympathetically, and I applaud her treatment thereof. However, the book itself was a disappointment -more so because I actually bought it as opposed to getting it from the library. Other than the crisis issue - Brad coming home to apologize to Emma for their mistakes of a decade ago - everything else was too neat and tidy. Brad's parents are loving and understanding, Laura's parents are loving and understanding, Laura (after her initial shock) is loving and understanding, Brad's counselor is available (for free!) and loving and understanding. Who in life could possibly receive so much support? That would be more than ideal, but I suspect that the majority of readers could only dream of such a supportive scenario. And, as a Christian book, I think this depiction makes the book flawed. Yes, God often uses the encouragement and support of others to get us through difficulties, but how many times do we find ourselves in situations where people fail us and God is truly our ONLY Counselor and Confidant? I will continue to read Karen's books, but I'll make sure that the next one is from the library!

This is my first Karen Kingsbury book, and it might well be my last. I'm usually not a negative person, though you might not know it to read some of my reviews. This book was downright unbelievable in many regards. I am a Christian, and I do believe in the basic premise she was promoting in the book. Several things irked me (spoilers ahead)...

1. The characters are flat - Brad is Mr. Wonderful, handsome, charming, successful; Laura is Ms. Reese Witherspoon lookalike, Christian Bible study princess; Emma is Ms. gorgeous, alluring, untouchable, teacher lady; Gavin is low-key Mr. super-Christian who will go out of his way to befriend the lonely teacher lady; Mom and Pop James are rich doting parents who totally support the young princess and spared no expense on her wedding

2. The story's not realistic - Brad and Emma grow up together, date in high school, become sexually active soon after he graduates high school, she ends up pregnant; things get weird b/t them; he takes her an abortion clinic and even pays for the procedure. Her mom dies soon after; he shows up for funeral then leaves her life for 9 years. Why does he return? Because he's about to get married and now he's feeling guilty and needs to apologize in person; Brad returns; Emma who pretty much gave up on God is swept up again by Brad but this time she finds her way back to God and peace. Did I mention, her miraculous heart-healing took place in the space of 3 days? Let me run that by you again - 9 years of running from her pain; 3 days - boom, heart on the way to healing. I'm not saying a miracle couldn't happen, but I highly doubt having the guy who abandoned her so soon after 2 traumatic life experiences would send her sailing down the river of peace. And another thing, Laura's supposed to be Ms. SuperChristian and all we get to see her do is pine over Brad, attend Bible study, and go to a play. Maybe I'm just used to books where the heroine actually does something. For that matter, all we see Brad do is pine after Laura, hold Emma, apologize, and cry. Oy, where's Dee Henderson when you need her?

3. Did we ever find out the name of Randy James's company?

4. Preaching to the choir - I almost feel sorry for anyone who is not a Christian who happens to pick up the book and think that Christians might actually be like this. We're not! Promise. This is equivalent to using a fire hose to blow out a birthday candle.

5. I'm having doubts the author has ever stepped foot in an elementary school. Each time we see these darling children, they're quietly doing their work that "teacher" asked them to. Not saying kids can't be good, but every time?

Get it from a library if you must read it. Some will actually like it, obviously, judging by the reviews. But you might just regret dropping money on it.

I am not a huge Karen Kingsbury fan, but the subject matter intrigued me- a young couple that decided to have an abortion instead of keeping and raising their child. Although they had purposed to avoid a sexual relationship, the young couple in the book get emotionally and physically involved. The book retraces their past and the steps that led them to a physical relationship- isolating themselves, deep emotional involvement, even small details that set them up to go further than they wanted to. The book also shows the sadness and emptiness of a physical relationship without the commitment of marriage and, of course, the deep pain caused by an abortion, for both Brad and Emma. The author's notes at the end are particularly personal as well. I think teen girls should read this book, not as a warning, but as a glimpse into the pain going "too far"- not just physically, but emotionally as well. Kingsbury included this important piece- even after finding forgiveness from God for their past, they still have a lifelong connection to one another because of their past. Becoming "one flesh" with anyone besides your future spouse means giving a piece of yourself away to that person forever. Highly recommended.

Book release date was today - I went to Barnes and Noble at 10:30 am and spent the day absorbed - finished the entire book by 7 pm! BRAVO! Another Karen Kingsbury work that deals with real pain, hurt, anger and frustration while ministering the awesome healing power of God. I can't wiat to read the next one and give this one away!

Karen Kingsbury is an extremely prolific writer and I have enjoyed most of her books but with this one I have mixed feelings.

As is with all of Karen Kingsbury's books, this one is deep and emotional. Karen Kingsbury is not afraid to embark on difficult topics nor show consequences of misguided choices. "Shades of Blue" is no exception.

However, Shades of Blue is a little difficult to follow at times. Not only does the writer switch points of views but within those points of views she switches years. Readers can easily identify which character's eyes we are seeing through but not so easily identify which period of life the characters are in, teenage or adult. Without knowing this at the onset of a scene made the reading a challenge to keep up with.

*I received this book free for review from Zondervan publishers*

I've read most of Karen Kingsbury's novels. I love the real life topics she covers in a fictional way....hense why her books are "neat and tidy" as some critics have said....isn't that what makes it FICTION? Anyway, this is one I stayed up and cried my way through until after 3 a.m. to finish. I couldn't put it down to see how it would end. But then there was my huge let down. I found myself so excited and emotionally involved in Brad and Emma's past and their love for one another. I REALLY wanted Brad and Emma to find their way back to each other. I felt that Karen really spent most of the book building the reader's passion for that relationship, leaving the passion for Laura and what Brad and Laura's relationship stood for, a bit flat. There was no excitement in me for Brad and Laura's relationship...boring actually. The very same lack of emotion was built in the story for the "could be/would be" relationship between Emma and Gavin (was that his name? I've already forgotten!). He and Laura belonged together, and Emma and Brad belonged together. The whole ending for me was a tragic crash ending...awkward. I was so disappointed with the ending that had I known it would wind up that way, I would have closed the book at my normal bed time and gotten a good night sleep. The finish would have waited until the next day for me had I known.

For my own satisfaction, I will pretend this one was a "choose your own adventure" and choose the ending where Brad and Emma wind up together....I'll write my own ending to it in my head.

Excellent read, but beware of a huge and almost irritating let down at the end.

This book really hit me hard. I was able to relate. Karen makes the book very heart warming and how God can help you through if you allow him to. I read this book in two days. Couldn' put it down and it brought me to tears. Very emotional and touching. You can't go wrong reading any of her book & how God is right there with her wen she write. Thanks Karen for such God warming felt books.

This book was definitely a well thought out and touching treatment of abortion, pre-marital sex, guilt and healing. Karen Kingsbury is a gifted writer who is honest and thoughtful in dealing with the consequences of abortion for everyone involved. I couldn't help but shed some tears at the this one. It is worth the read and would be an excellent book for an older teenager to read to understand how lives can be torn apart for many years by a quick, passionate decision.

A relationship that once burned with the many colors of love has faded into the shades of blue. As new love begins, there is a realization that the old relationship was left unresolved. We follow Brad as he travels back in time and revisits his first love, Emma, before he is to marry his new love. We relive their good and bad moments with them as he searches for a way to resolve the past before he steps into his future.

I find Karen Kingsbury to be a very flowery yet fascinating author. She pulls you into the story and makes you care about the characters as you read their stories. Shades of Blue deals with difficult subjects: remorse, forgiveness, past loves, pre-marital sex and abortion. These tough subjects are written through a Christian's perspective.

While I enjoyed the book I found it to be depressing as well. The ending was what I had hoped for, yet, this was a situation that didn't feel completely resolved. This is a reflection of real life. Not everything in life will fit into a neat package. It was worth the read and it does make you think about how the decisions you make can color the rest of your life.