Halfway to Forever (Forever Faithful, Book 3) (Paperback)

by Karen Kingsbury (Author) "Hannah Bronzan rarely visited the cemetery..." (more)
Key Phrases: jade leaned, jade stared, Benson City Council, Pastor Steve, Patsy Landers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Kingsbury brings back characters from her inspirational novels Waiting for Morning and A Moment of Weakness in this rushed sob story rife with clich‚s. It opens as Hannah Bronzan sits beside the gravestones of her former husband, Tom, and daughter Alicia, telling her dead loved ones of her decision with new husband Matt to adopt a little girl, four-year-old Grace Landers. "`One more thing, honey. When we bring her home and... people ask me how many girls I have...' Hannah wiped at her tears again. `I'll always tell them three. Two who live here with me... and one who lives in heaven.'" She's not the only one who grieves. Her friend, Jade Eastman, has learned she's finally pregnant, but a cancerous brain tumor forces her to make a decision about carrying her pregnancy to term. Their "good-looking, powerful husbands" (yes, this is an actual quote) run the nation's most prominent religious freedom law firm and take on a groundbreaking case. Troubles for the two couples snowball right through the final pages. The novel is permeated with contrived situations, gushy hospital bedside scenes and sweeping stereotypes. For example, people who are "liberal, artsy... in entertainment or academia" are presented as opponents of God. Characters sob, cry or are teary-eyed on almost every other page, but the reader's eyes remain resolutely dry. As Jade's husband reflects at one point, "The whole scene felt like a poorly scripted TV drama." Enough said.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Halfway to Forever brings back two of Karen Kingsbury's favorite couples -- Waiting for Morning's Matt and Hannah, and Jade and Tanner from A Moment of Weakness -- who once again face traumatic issues. Matt and Hannah risk losing another daughter as they invest their emotions in a risky adoption, and Tanner dreads losing Jade when brain cancer threatens her first pregnancy. Kingsbury's latest heart-wringing novel tells of two familiar, beloved couples learning to depend on God daily, regardless of trials and troubles that mark the path halfway to forever.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (April 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157673899X
• ISBN-13: 978-1576738993
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,664 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 3 in The Forever Faithful Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Reminder of God's Grace, September 14, 2002

By A Customer

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Halfway to Forever, April 24, 2002

By	Anne Louise Newbern (Nashville, Tn.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Reminder of God's Grace, September 14, 2002

By	Lorri (Canada) - See all my reviews

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.