*Note that this review was written based on a personal book purchase.

Tommy Baxter’s future is bright and within reach until he is thrown into desperation for his first and only true love, Annalee. The unthinkable has happened. Will he lose her forever? And where is God? Why would a good God allow something so terrible to happen to such a good and godly girl, like Annalee?

As the days and months continue on, Tommy Baxter finds that he is meant to be a police officer. This is his calling. Tommy’s news of his decision throws his mother, Regan, into a downward spiral of fear: fear of the unknown, fear for her grown child’s safety. Will she ever come to accept her oldest son’s life-altering decision? Or will fear overtake her, her faith and widen an ever growing chasm between her and her son?

Truly, Madly, Deeply written by a #1 New York Times and USA Today best selling Christian novelist, Karen Kingsbury, was so gripping. In this touching novel, the Baxter family continues to grow and age in a present time setting, focusing on eighteen year old high school senior, Tommy Baxter, and a secondary focus on his mother, Reagan Baxter. 

You cannot help but feel like you are walking alongside each character as their stories develop, ebbing and flowing between each character focus from chapter to chapter. From the stress and unknowns of health challenges to the reverence and remembrance of a tragedy of the past, one cannot help getting emotionally involved throughout this storyline. 

I was quite surprised and even caught off guard with Tommy Baxter’s side of this story: he walks through a very difficult season in life considering his young age of a highschool senior. I couldn’t help but feel strong empathy for the faith struggle in which he found himself. The hard and difficult questions he asked of God.

What I found endearing was the honesty and depth found within Tommy’s struggle. The understandable doubt makes him very personable on many levels.

During this chaotic season Tommy finds himself in, his mother is blindsided with fear from her son’s shocking career decision. 

Be warned: have a tissue ready, fellow readers, for this one is a strong read on the soul. 

Despite the emotional heaviness and faith challenges found in this storyline, I found this quote caught me by surprise: “Gratitude changes everything.” That quote continues to play across my mind even days after completing this book. It’s not just the quote, but the background in which it was spoken: in the face of possible death. No matter the circumstances you may find yourself in, gratitude really does and can change everything.

Even in death Karen reminds us that “God knew the number of their days.”

I personally rate this book high on a rating list based on the following:

1. I could NOT put this book down!
2. The author’s ability to write in such a way to connect you emotionally to the characters and the circumstances.
3. The author’s ability to write about real-life circumstances and not just a fairytale type storyline.

Here’s the short of it:

Genre: inspirational Christian fiction for ages young adult to ninety-nine.

One-line review: Karen Kingsbury has a fascinating way of creating space for her readers to laugh, wrestle and grapple alongside her characters in the ups, downs and challenges that life brings. 

Initial gut-reaction: I could not put this one down!

If you haven’t checked out Karen Kingsbury and her beloved Baxter family series, then you must! And you must start from the beginning.

You can find Karen Kingsbury books and a list of her books based on series and storyline at her website: http://www.karenkingsbury.com