Sunrise (Sunrise Series-Baxter 3, Book 1) (Paperback)

by Karen Kingsbury (Author)
Key Phrases: Dayne Matthews, Cody Coleman, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Welcome back to Bloomington, Ind., where some of Kingsbury's most popular Christian novels are set. Kingsbury's latest feel-good offering launches a new four-book series to follow the Baxter Family Dramas, which have nearly two million copies in print. She introduces a few new faces and follows familiar characters like the Baxters through their mostly sunny lives. Unfortunately, the plot is all but nonexistent. Hunky actor Dayne Matthews and the lovely Katy Hart are engaged to be married, but they face a dilemma: how to plan a private wedding that won't be overrun by reporters desperate for a shot of the Hollywood heartthrob tying the knot. Dayne hires a Tinseltown wedding planner who specializes in secret star nuptials, although Katy frets that keeping the wedding hush-hush may necessitate deceiving some close friends and relatives. Meanwhile, Jim Flanigan, football coach at Clear Creek High, suspects his players are drinking and tries to crack down. Inspirational platitudes litter the pages ("Jim already knew the possibilities. Now it was a matter of trusting God for the outcome"). Readers new to Kingsbury will have a little trouble keeping the characters straight and figuring out the backstory, but her many fans will relish this visit with old and new friends, despite the clichés.
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Product Description
2008 Retailer's Choice Award winner!
In preparation for their long-awaited wedding day, Dayne and Katy are determined to keep the ceremony a secret from the paparazzi. Their relationship grows closer and stronger as they plan together, but in the end it takes the help of the Baxter family and many of the CKT kids so that they'll even have a chance at a private wedding. John Baxter is thrilled that his oldest son will be settling down a few miles away, but he isn't sure how any of his kids will handle a situation he can no longer run from--the feelings he is having for his friend Elaine. In the meantime, the Flanigan family is struggling with their young boarder, Cody Coleman, Jim Flanigan's star receiver. After an alcohol overdose, Cody fights for his life. Only God's grace and a miracle can bring him back from the brink of death--physically and spiritually.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842387471
• ISBN-13: 978-0842387477
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,344 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Kingsbury book, May 17, 2007

By	B. Hardy "clay60" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I don't get tired of reading Karens' books. They are very inspiring and hit home to me. I don't believe Raingirl has read any of the books at all if she thinks the Baxter family is "perfect". Reread them Raingirl, every one in that family is flawed. Two kids born out of wedlock, addiction to drugs, adultery and murder, infertility, handicapped kids, etc... These are everyday people struggling with life's problems that only God can help!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you are a Kingsbury fan, this is for you, May 11, 2007

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart are planning their wedding. Trying to keep the wedding of the hottest Hollywood heartthrob a secret from the paparazzi could undo everything they've come to cherish. Can they pull it off? Or will the glaring reality of the differences between life in the spotlight, and life in Bloomington pull them apart?

John Baxter is beginning to see the promise of a future after the death of his wife Elizabeth. He must learn how to take the past with him as he steps into a new phase of his life. Will his family finally accept his friendship with Elaine? Will he?

Alcohol overdose and the ramifications of teen drinking have impacted the Flanigan family, and their young border, Cody Coleman, must make a choice. If he drinks again, he loses their support.

Kingsbury hits another homerun with Sunrise. Characters that are real--flawed and imperfect--make their way through daily uncertainties because God's faithfulness is unending. Her writing is simple and layered and always leaves you with more than you started.

Armchair Interviews says: Kingsbury has written more than 20 books, so if you like her writing, you will not be disappointed in her newest offering.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome story with a romantic ending..., October 22, 2007

By	Michelle Sutton (Arizona) - See all my reviews

I enjoyed Sunrise immensely, probably because I became familiar with Dayne and Katy in Kingsbury's book Fame. While Kingsbury does a great job slipping in the back story a little bit at a time, sometimes it's just not as good as reading it for yourself. I loved Fame and I loved Sunrise. (Nothing like going straight to the wedding.) Actually, there were four books after Fame that led up to this point, so if you like soap opera drama in the sense that every book makes you crave the next "episode" then you'll love Sunrise as a prelude to the exciting things yet to come.

The wedding scene was also the most beautiful and romantic that I've ever read. You can't help but love Dayne and Katy and want great things to happen in their lives. Especially after getting a feel for all that they went through even without reading the previous books. Their love is rich and deep and based on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Kingsbury is unabashedly Christian in that respect. She always emphasizes the importance of salvation in the lives of her characters. I love that. The subplot regarding the perils of drinking and driving was well done as was the budding romance between the senior Baxter, John, and his long-time friend, Elaine.

Kingsbury is also the queen of secondary characters and subplots. Just like in the soaps, there are always several stories going at once. Of course that makes me crave the next book in the series--which I thankfully have--so I can immediately continue on. Kingsbury writes fast enough to make it possible to go from one story to the next. I've probably done myself a disservice by not reading everything in order (I plan to jump back to read Forgiven (which comes after Fame) and I still need to read Redemption, which was the book that started the last two series. But no matter which way you slice it, each series containing the Baxter family is addicting. I'm glad to be getting my next fix.