I absolutely love this series. It is just a compelling storyline about a family who has all kinds of things happen to it and the only way they all get through it is with God's help. I cried while reading everyone of the books in this series. I recommend though that you start at the beginning of the series. This is actually the third series about this family.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful as always when Karen Kingsbury writes a book. I love the inspriational writings and I have enjoyed reading about the Baxter's. I always buy her books and many are waiting to borrow when I am through reading. Again this is, as always, very good reading.

Sunset is the fourth book in the Sunrise Series and the last of 14 books about the Baxter family. I immensely enjoyed the first 13 books and had looked forward to this final book with much anticipation and even a little sadness. After finishing it, however, I only felt disappointment.

Knowing that this was to be the "end" of the Baxter story, Kingsbury tries to wrap up ALL of the loose ends from the previous books...many of which did not need wrapping up. Happy endings are enjoyable, but when every single ending is picture perfect, the story loses a lot of the realism that makes the rest of the series so easy to relate to. There was less depth in this book, and too many easy answers.

Finally, the thing that bothered me most in this book was the way that Angela Manning (from the very first Baxter book, Redemption) is reintroduced. How would she not have recognized Kari?!? They spoke face-to-face in Redemption! And under the circumstances, neither would ever forget the other. The fact that the author forgot -- as well as her editors and the many other people who read her books before they go to print -- is hard to comprehend. That entire storyline felt forced and untrue.

The series is an excellent one, and Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors, but Sunset left much to be desired.

The Baxter family saga concludes with this fourth book of the Sunrise Series although the author promises to use them as background characters in future novels. This is a stand-alone novel, but if the reader has kept up through the Redemption Series and then the Firstborn Series, this book brings back all of the characters and ties up all loose ends in a satisfying conclusion. There's a good bit of repeating, but perhaps this comes with the fourteenth book in a series.

Kingsbury has a way of telling a good story while allowing her readers to know the people who live in her books. Though varied personalities, they all are believable. Children's voices are especially well written such that I can see his head nod as he explains about dinosaurs or hear her plaintive wail when she wants her pacifier.

Warning: read it with tissues close at hand. Any Kingsbury fan will love this one. Discussion questions are included.

Like many, I have followed the Baxter family from their beginnings in Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series. I fell in love with them and with Karen's writing style. Sunset is the last of her books with the Baxters as the central characters and it did not disappoint. True to her style Karen Kingsbury made me laugh and cry and cheer before I closed the cover.

One of the things I love about her style of writing is that she has brought to life characters who reflect real life. She uses everyday situations, many that we all face or know people who have faced them, and she shows us how we can live and love and sometimes suffer with grace because of God in us, showing us how to live. She doesn't back away from the important truth that to live in victory we need the Lord in our lives.

In Sunset she brings resolution to volumes of storylines that I felt I lived through with good friends. It wasn't totally predictable, but then again, the parts that are somewhat predictable I feel are in a good way, because they show us what is right, what should happen in a family like this. It gives me hope for my own family and a sense that at least in one corner of a fictional world there are answers and there is hope that a family can live through difficult, trying situations and come out loving one another and doing what is right. There is also hope for individuals who have 'messed up' and have to face their failings and learn to rise above them. I recommend this book, but please don't start here. Meet the Baxters from the beginning, but don't miss this wonderful ending.

Karen Kingsbury again does a wonderful job bringing us into the lives of the Baxter family. If you have read the whole series, you might feel like you know the characters in the book better than you know your own family. Knowing that this is the last book in the series is a little sad since we don't know what will happen to them exept though the Baxter's being mentioned in the background of her next series. I was thrilled with the ending, it seemed fitting for all that the family had been through. It seems as the the S series wrapped up we were more focused on the lives of Ashley and Dayne, where as I would have liked to have gotten to know Erin and Brooke's families a little more. Overall, any Kingsbury book is a winner with me, she strengthens my faith even more in a higher power!

This final book, Sunset, in the series by Karen Kingsbury brought the family issues to resolution and satisfied the "what's coming next?" questions the author so skillfully builds into her work. I enjoyed all three series dealing with the Baxter family, and I am already looking forward to reading more of Kingsbury's work!

This was another great book by Karen Kingsbury. The Baxter clan comes through many difficult situations with the grace that only comes from God.

My wife dug into this book this week and loves it. She finished book 3 and pleaded with me to get her the next book (which I had bought her for Christmas). Oh well, there is always Book 5!
This is really a great series that my wife is wholy into lock, stock and barrel. Karen, you have another fan!

If you've not read the 13 books leading up to this one, but enjoy emotional, character-driven dramas, you'll LOVE this book! If you have read all the previous Baxter tales, you have no choice but to read this one too!

So why the lower rating? Oh, Karen, I hate to say this, but ... I felt like I was reading a novelized re-cap of my favorite TV show. You know how they always have "the best of" episodes in which they show you glimpses of everything you've already watched? That's what this book was like. Yes, there were a few new plot developments, but not enough to keep me interested. I was hoping for a little more action, a little more plot. Instead I got a lot of memories -- great memories!! Tear-jerker memories! But since I already have the other books, I'm a bit disappointed in paying for another book that, for the most part, echoes what was already sitting on my shelf.

That said, I LOVE the Baxters! I miss them already and would love to follow their stories further. This book continued the series' strong themes of redemption and forgiveness, both things we could all use more of. Great story. Great family. Great author. Just too much repetition for avid fans.

Karen Kingsbury has delivered once again. It is going to be so sad to say goodbye to the wonderful Baxter Family!!! I feel as if they are "MY FAMILY". Karen truly has a GOD GIVEN GIFT of bringing God's word to her readers and applying it to her character's lives in a way that everyone, both old and young can relate and grow from spiritually.

I would encourage you to read her books!!! Your life will truly be changed!!

THis book was a fitting end to her series, but I feel as if I knew the characters so well I hate to say goodbye. All of Ms Kingsbury books are wonderful and well written. The truths learned within her books stay with me and give me insight into the scriptures that I may have not noticed before. Karen Kingsbury is faithful in her life and writings - a true Christian witness.

First of all, all of Karen kingsbury books are amazing. I have almost every single one, they move me to tears and really touch me. Her books are for so many audiences, I'm 21 and in college and am hooked. I even got my fiance reading her stories!

I was bittersweet about Sunset. Devastated to have the series end, but also happy at the way things turned out for all the characters. This book ties up all the loose hands in a great way. I was happy at how the ending turned out for each and every one of the characters I've come to know and love. They all got an ending they deserved.

This books takes a close look at marriage as well in many aspects. I enjoyed the focus on Luke and Regean's relationship and deteriorating marriage because it's so true of what happens today in society. When we do handle things right away and let things build up and grow inside of us...it's bound to catch up. For Luke and Reagan it does, but thankfully everything works out for them. As a college student who reads I felt I could relate to them.

Anyway, Sunset is a great ending to the series. I finished it in a day. I only hope that Kingsbury will further explore Cody and Bailey's possible relationship.

- also, what happened with Ashley was predictable. But i was still happy.

)"Sunset" is a beautifully written novel by an incredible author. Karen Kingsbury brings the Baxter Family saga to a close in this fourth novel in the series. Although it is sad to say goodbye to these beloved characters, I have read that they will make up part of the background cast in another of Kingsbury's book serieses. In this novel, Dayne and Katy are building their family - not without complications. John Baxter is moving on with his life after the death of his beloved wife - again, not without complications.

This novel reads okay as a standalone, but is so much better if you are already invested in the characters from previous stories in this series. There are some wonderful discussion questions in the back of the book for the reader to ponder or share with a reading group.

I have to admit, this book was the first Karen Kingsbury book I've ever read. And BOY, now I know why she's a bestselling author!

She writes with so much emotion, with so many emotionally vibrant pictures, with such exquisite word choices! I was crying left and right--and I enjoyed it!

Very uplifting, hopeful book. It shows God's grace and love practiced by fallen Christians during trying periods of life, through hard choices.

There are a LOT of characters in this book, and since I haven't followed the Baxter series, I was a bit confused at times and couldn't always remember who was who. But she does a good job giving subtle hints so I could figure it out within a few paragraphs.

People who have followed the Baxters will find it a very satisfying ending, pulling lots of story threads full circle. I thought she did a good job, considering how many characters and stories were involved in the series.

Overall, a very entertaining book, hard to put down. Kingsbury fans will love it, and it made a new Kingsbury fan out of me!

Dayne and Katy Matthews leave the bright lights of Hollywood to begin anew their life in Bloomington, Indiana where they plan to raise a family and to run the local Christian Kid's Theater; their first production is coming soon. While Cody Coleman fights in Iraq, Bailey Flanagan tries out for a role at the CKT while struggling with her feelings for the deployed soldier.

The family patriarch widower John Baxter and Elaine Denning are getting married. He knows he must sell the family home that ahs meant so much to everyone. However as endings occur with new beginnings, faith, love and friendship guide everyone through the dramatic upheavals of radical change.

As with the previous books in the Baxter family saga (see SOMEDAY, SUMMER and SUNRISE), redemption and faith are recurring themes inside an engaging character driven tale. The Baxters are moving on but it is not easy to leave behind the evidence of their memories though they each know the time is right to do so. Sub-genre fans will want to read Karen Kingsbury's Baxter family tales as love and faith are powerful twin engines in the hands of this superb author.

Harriet Klausner

Sunset by Karen Kingsbury is the final book in the Baxter series, tying up ongoing story lines and giving a kick-off for a new series in which the Baxters will be in the background. There are many storylines in this book, but most of them revolve around the family patriarch, John, selling the family home and remarrying. I was thoroughly impressed with how Kingbury manages to give just enough character history to make new readers feel comfortable without overwhelming previous readers. I was a new reader to this series, but after reading Sunset, even knowing how everything turns out, I absolutely can't wait to read the rest of the series. Kingsbury puts Christians into tough situations to show how God can work even in the darkest nights. One couple is struggling through adultery, another is facing a possibly dangerous pregnancy, another is still working through past trauma. In each, the love of and for God is shown beautifully. This is a family you want to be part of for life!

With the support of their faith and family, Sunset details the trails and tribulations of a family who has lost their mother/wife. With a heavy heart John Baxter realizes that he must sell the family home. The home where with his wife they raised their children and had many happy memories. John asks each of his children if they would like to buy the house but they all decline the offer for various reasons. I don't want to say too much and give away any parts of the story. But I will say that there are a lot of twists and turns in the story to keep it interesting.
My regret is that this is the first book of the Baxter family series that I have read. Now I need to go back to the very first story. I look forward to it.

This is the 14th book that Karen Kingsbury has written in which have the Baxter clan in them. I suggest starting with the first novel reading them all. If I could title this book any other name it would be Forgiveness. Kari has to deal with forgiving someone from her past and helping that person heal. To fully understand Kari's story you have to start reading from the beginning although Karen does offer a Cliff notes version of what happened. Also, Luke and Reagon have to deal with forgiving her other from the incident that started all their problems.

There are some nice unexpected surprises that happen to one of the Baxter siblings at the end of the book. Often I am tempted to flip to the back of the book and read the last few pages. Don't do that. It will ruin the twists and surprises. You will not regret reading this book. I am thrilled to hear that this is not the last we will hear from the Baxters. She is writing a new series of books about a different family who will be moving to Bloomington, the town where the Baxters live which means we will get updates on what is happening in thier lives. You won't regret reading this novel if you have come to love the Baxters like they were real people.