Baxter Family Books In Order

Baxter Family Reading Order:

1. Redemption Series
2. Firstborn Series
3. Sunrise Series
4. Above The Line Series
5. Bailey Flanigan Series
6. Coming Home Book

(“The Baxter Family” books can be read after that and are all standalone)

Publication Order of Redemption Books

Publication Order of Firstborn Books

Publication Order of Sunrise Books

Publication Order of Above the Line Books

Publication Order of Bailey Flanigan Books

Publication Order of Coming Home Books

Publication Order of The Baxter Family Books

American author Karen Kingsbury has been creating her Baxter family series for some time now charting the saga that surrounds them. With her warm style she’s been providing easy-going stories that have delighted audiences bringing in readers for a number of years. As her appeal grows, she’s managed to find international attention due to her warmly funny and often poignant stories. Dealing with issues of faith, it is Karen’s Christianity that informs much of her work as it carries a lot of the narrative throughout. Using themes of religion, she charts the Baxter family with all their lives loves and losses, as they deal with all the problems of a modern world whilst holding onto their faith. Incorporating some very real and powerful drama into her plots, she navigates their daily issues and how they overcome them.

In talks to produce a television series derived from the novels, Karen Kingsbury has been talking to producers who’ve expressed an interest in adapting them. As their format is somewhat episodic, they’re ideally suited for putting on the television for a regular show. With more and more people coming to the franchise everyday, it appears that Karen Kingsbury is going to be writing these books for some time yet.

Redemption

Initially released on the 1st of July, 2002, this was the book that was to start the series overall providing much of the structure that was to come. Also introducing many of the characters for the first time too, it sets up their internal politics and what their personalities are as well. Creating the general tone too, it really works in building the style and the tone letting the readers know what to expect.

Starting Keri Baxter Jacobs, it shows how she’s dealing with the trouble in her life as a strong-willed individual of faith. Seemingly up against the elements when new challenges pose themselves to her within her domestic life, she turns to religion to find out what she should do. This is what informs a lot of the characters key decisions, acting as a strong moral compass throughout the novel. Dealing with her husband who provides much of the dramatic tension throughout, it tells of how she deals of the new revelations presented to her. Whilst his action may not be good, they provide Keri with the help she needs to make some important decisions. Using religion as they main guiding force, the Christian teachings of Karen Kingsbury and her co-author Gary Smalley are prevalent through the entire narrative of the book. Basing themselves on the idea that ‘love is a decision’, they work to inspire Keri and how she handles the situation.

It’s upon discovering that her husband has been cheating on her that Keri Baxter Jacobs finds she has some soul-searching to do. This leads to her learning that she wants to remain faithful to him, as she feels she loves him and must remain with him despite what he’s done and continues to do. She comes to the belief that ‘love is a decision’ and she must follow the teachings of Christ and remain true to her marriage. Using her religion she is guided towards staying with him and remaining true to her marriage and their commitment, despite his misdeeds. Whilst the relationship may appear hopeless, she feels it’s her love that wins through thanks to her Christianity. Although this may contain a lot of different ideas for those not of faith, it provides an insight into it, which is what many outside of the religion have turned towards the book for. Setting up the ‘redemption’ portion of the Baxter family series, this is the ideal introduction to the work of Karen Kingsbury overall.

Remember

First published on 23rd of January, 2003, this was the second book in the series, as well as being the second part in the ‘Redemption’ series as well. Following on from the first, it now delves deeper into the lives of the Baxter family, further examining their relationships and internal struggles. Continuing from the previous novel, it follows in much the same vein, in that it already has a lot of the framework to build upon.

This time looking into the life of one Ashley Baxter, it seeks to examine her introverted nature and how she came to be that way. Shying away from the world, she keeps her feelings hidden as she remains closed off to all those around her. Something drastic needs to happen if she’s ever to become whole again and open up to both life and love. In an attempt to forget all her troubles, Ashley Baxter has tried to put her past behind her, but to no avail. That is when she comes into contact with a group of four Alzheimer’s patients who work together to help her remember and get through the pain she’s feeling inside. Finding where the cracks are and where she is broken, they all aim to cure her and return her back to normal, giving her a new lease on life. They’re interrupted though when the event of September the 11th come and all their lives are irrevocably changed forever, as the entire Baxter family are put to the test learning what’s important in life. With much heartbreak and emotion thrown into their lives, they soon learn what it is to love and to lose and, finally, the true pain of what it is like to truly remember.

The Baxter Series

As the television series is said to be in the pipeline, there’s a lot of potential for this line of books to be expanded upon as a show. With a whole cast of varied characters, there’s no end to the amount of different people who can create new story-lines. Due to its high-end soap-opera quality, it’s got a lot of appeal for returning readers who can relate to what’s going on. Always keeping her audience turn the page, Karen Kingsbury has produced a much beloved franchise whose legacy will continue for years to come and this success should carry on into the foreseeable future.

11 Responses to “Baxter Family”

1. Cathy: 8 months ago

   I love The Baxter Family series. I am reading Love Story now. So well written with every detail and the faith the family has as they pray together. I read one book and can’t wait to get the next book to see what happened next. Thank you for this wonderful series The Baxter Family.

   Reply
2. Kathy: 1 year ago

   Potential spoilers ahead:

   After reading The Baxters: A Prequel before reading Redemption, which was recommended, I do not understand why Ashley’s story is different. In the Prequel, she decides to go to Paris after receiving a settlement following a serious car accident she was in that also resulted in the death of a 10-year-old friend of Luke’s, and while in Paris she has an affair with a married man and becomes pregnant. After returning home, having Cole, her sweetheart, Lance, ends up saving the baby, and she even reconciles with Luke.

   In the Redemption, she returns from Paris, pregnant, has a serious accident, in which she was the only one in the car, has the baby, purchases a home with the settlement from the accident, there’s no mention of Lance saving her baby, and she and Luke are at odds with each other.

   If the Prequel was to explain the Baxters’ lives before the series beginning with the Redemption book, it sadly was more confusing that helpful.

   Reply
3. Aleshia: 2 years ago

   This is missing the 3 books based on September 11. One Tuesday morning, beyond Tuesday morning and remembering Tuesday morning

   Reply
   • Graeme: 2 years ago

     Hi Aleshia – as far as I know, they are not part of the Baxter Family series? So they wouldn’t be listed on this page. They’re listed on Karen’s page: http://bookseriesinorder.com/karen-kingsbury/

     Reply
4. Sharen Clarke: 2 years ago

   After reading The Baxters: A Prequel, I had to go back and read all of The Baxter Family series. I’m currently on the Bailey Flanigan series and am sad that there are only 8 books left before I will have to say goodbye to the Baxters once again 😪. I love Karen Kingsbury’s books!!

   Reply
5. Marci Balocik: 2 years ago

   This is my second time around reading all the Baxter books I am picking up things again pertaining to my lufe at the moment. They are amazing books. Everyone and u mean everyone needs to read them. Love th Karen Kingsbury books. And meeting her in person is amazing.
   Thank you, Karen

   Reply
6. Judy: 2 years ago

   Sadly waiting for the last book. Really love the Baxter series, but only so much you can do with one family.
   thanks,

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7. Joyce Daehler: 2 years ago

   I have read all of the series books that Karen K. has written and love them all. The Baxter’s feel like part of my family! At nearly 90 years old, I can’t hardly wait to read “A Prequel”. I wish I could remember the Baxter’s favorite Hymn as I would love to have it sung at my funeral. God Bless you Karen as you continue to write wonderful Christen books.

   Reply
   • Laurie Shanks: 2 years ago

     The song that the children sang at the CKT program is Great is Thy Faithfulness. I just read Forever and Tim Reed played it on his guitar and they sang it as the people helping fix up Dayne and Katy’s house re praying the the backyard waiting for them to show up!
     These books are amazing. makes you feel you are part of the family.

     Reply
8. Linda griggs: 3 years ago

   Love the Baxter Family stories. Please keep writing.

   Reply
9. susan du preez: 3 years ago

   please keep writing the Baxter family story.

   Reply