Customer Reviews

Vital Signs (The Baxter Series #3)

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

 

 

This is the third book in the Baxter series and I've read all of them right in a row. I enjoy medical fiction, so I think this one is my favorite. I love the suspense, and the medical details were fascinating. I like watching the changes in the characters' personalities as the book progresses. Especially interesting is the heart and mind of Dennis, as he cares for two newborns.

Kathy Herman does an excellent job of depicting the human condition - both with and without God.

I agree with Harriet Klausner, who reviewed "Day of Reckoning" - she said that the books are overpopulated with minor characters. I find all these people confusing, but I certainly wouldn't let that keep me from reading the rest of the series! I have one more to read "High Stakes" and then a couple months' wait til #5 comes out!

If you're interested in more medical fiction within the Christian context, check out my reviews of Hannah Alexander's books and Harry Kraus's.

VITAL SIGNS is the third book in The Baxter Series by Kathy Herman. A deadly epidemic has come to Baxter, threatening the lives of those who've come in contact with a visiting missionary couple. Jennifer has just delivered twin boys and struggles with the thought of adoption. When the babies are taken away due to the risk of the virus, she realizes being separated from them is more than she can handle. While the local hospital takes every precaution to insure the unknown virus does not infect others, an extremist group decides to take matters into their own hands, causing the National Guard to be called in to restore order.

The interesting storyline of VITAL SIGNS explores how people react to a situation that could prove to be deadly. My favorite part of the story was watching the change in Dennis (Jennifer's non-committal boyfriend) as he struggles with the idea of being a father. Your non-attachment for this character in the past is quickly put aside as you pull for him to make right decisions. VITAL SIGNS in an enjoyable read. With two more books to go in the series, I feel as if I have a stool reserved for me at Monty's Diner as I pick up HIGH STAKES, the fourth book in the series.

Melissa and Blake Thomas are missionaries who have come home after service in the Amazon. Melissa is pregnant with their first child and they wanted to be with family. What they don't know is that they had been exposed to a deadly virus before they left and have now brought it back to their friends and loved ones, who, it is feared, are exposed at their welcome home party. While Melissa and Blake are fighting for their lives in a protected isolation area of the hospital, those who were exposed are under quarantine in their homes.
Due to the hospital not being completely truthful about the disease there is fear and speculation in Baxter and the surrounding communities. This leads to violence by a vigilante group.
One of the people who is under quarantine is the daughter of Jed and Rhonda Wilson, who played a major role in book one and a supporting role in book two. She has given birth, but is unable to be with her children so they are watched by a others.

I enjoyed this book and had trouble once again putting it down, but as I read I felt there were some parts that didn't mesh together really well. The addition of the vigilante group seemed out of place and not quite believable. And the second half of the book, after the resolution of the conflict with the vigilante group, was devoted to restoring relationships between fathers and children. I classified the first two books in the series as suspense and had been looking for more suspense, but I don't think I will list this book as a suspense book for that reason. However, the author showed how single, seemingly isolated events in peoples lives can be used in the big picture that God is creating, even though we can't see it at the time. Focusing on how, as the Bible states, " ... we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
I would give this book 4 stars.

Vital Signs is the third book in the Baxter series. The story focuses on Jennifer, who is pregnant with twins. Her boyfriend, Dennis, has decided he wants no part of the babies lives, but when he hears that Jennifer has been quarantined he can't make himself leave. In order to see the twins he assumes an alias and becomes a caretaker for them. Dennis reveals himself to be a better man than he thinks, but when the house is held-up at gunpoint will he care enough to stand up for the children?

A missionary couple, Blake and Melissa, are the reason behind the quarantine. They came back from Amazon and their church hosts a party for them. That night both Blake and Melissa are violently ill and the CDC gets involved. Will Melissa, Blake, and their child survive?

While this book isn't my favorite of the series, it is still a good read. check it out!

I agree with other reviewers that the books have too many minor characters to keep up with, but the books are worth reading anyway. This was the best so far. I loved "seeing" Dennis change! I also enjoyed "visiting" with Rhonda and Jed from the first book. I can't wait to read the next two books in this series. I love the way Ms. Herman shows how faith works in the lives of her characters and how the Holy Spirit deals with lost souls.

I was very pleased with the speed of and order and the method it was sent. Will no doubt order from Amazon again.