Karen Kingsbury Books in Order: The Complete Life-Changing Fiction Guide

Known as America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, Karen Kingsbury has sold over 25 million copies of her emotion-packed, faith-filled novels. Her writing blends high-stakes family drama, deep romance, personal tragedy, and spiritual redemption.

Whether you are looking to binge the multi-generational Baxter family saga—which has been adapted into a television series on Prime Video—or explore her heartwarming Christmas stories and standalone thrillers, here is your complete reading guide with full story overviews for every book.

1. The Baxter Family Saga

The Baxter family universe is a massive, multi-series epic following John and Elizabeth Baxter, their five adult children (Kari, Ashley, Brooke, Vance, and Luke), and their grandchildren in Bloomington, Indiana.

A. The Redemption Series (Co-Authored with Gary Smalley)

The original five-book series that introduced the world to the Baxter family, focusing heavily on faith, marriage restoration, and family ties.

1. Redemption (2002) — Kari Baxter discovers her husband Tim is having an affair with a student, testing her faith and forcing her tight-knit family to rally around her as she decides whether to fight for her broken marriage.
2. Remember (2003) — Ashley Baxter struggles to move past a secret trauma from her Paris past while managing new career and personal crossroads, resisting the love of Landon Blake because she feels unworthy.
3. Return (2003) — Luke Baxter turns his back on his family’s faith and moves to New York to pursue law, leading to a desperate family effort to bring him back into the fold after tragedy strikes on September 11.
4. Rejoice (2004) — Brooke Baxter faces a devastating personal crisis when a family tragedy tests her medical knowledge and spiritual foundation, forcing her to confront her anger toward God.
5. Reunion (2004) — The family gathers for a milestone anniversary celebration, but hidden health struggles and secret diagnoses threaten to change the Baxter family landscape forever.

B. The Firstborn Series

Focusing on the next generation, Hollywood fame, and the choices faced by young adults pursuing big dreams.

1. Fame (2005) — Dayne Matthews, a famous Hollywood actor, secretly searches for his biological family while dealing with the shallow nature of celebrity life.
2. Forgiven (2005) — Dayne’s search leads him toward the Baxters, while Katy Hart works to protect a local theater in Bloomington and deal with her growing feelings for Dayne.
3. Found (2006) — The connection between Dayne and the Baxter family is finally uncovered, sending shockwaves through Hollywood and Bloomington alike.
4. Family (2006) — Dayne attempts to integrate into the warm, grounded world of the Baxter family while paparazzi threaten to destroy his newfound peace.
5. Forever (2007) — Katy and Dayne plan their future together, but a terrifying tragedy tests their faith and bond right before their wedding day.

C. The Sunrise Series

Spiritual battles, new romances, and unexpected losses take center stage as the family handles major life transitions.

1. Sunrise (2007) — Dayne and Katy settle into marriage while managing a production company, as tragedy strikes another branch of the Baxter family, testing their collective strength.
2. Summer (2007) — Hollywood actor Chase Ryan and his friend Keith Flynn attempt to make a faith-based movie, crossing paths with the Baxters and testing long-held feelings.
3. Someday (2008) — Pressures mount on the set of the new film, while Ashley and Landon prepare for a life-altering medical report regarding their daughter.
4. Sunset (2008) — A emotional season of change comes to the Baxter family as they prepare to bid farewell to a patriarch while welcoming new life into the family.

D. The Above the Line Series

Centering on Christian filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Flynn, integrating the entertainment industry with the Baxter family backdrop.

1. Take One (2009) — Chase and Keith head to Bloomington to start filming their dream movie, but creative interference and personal relationships test their resolve.
2. Take Two (2009) — Production faces severe budget setbacks and relationship drama as the team fights to keep the film’s faith-focused vision alive.
3. Take Three (2010) — Unforeseen accidents on set and press scrutiny threaten to derail the film right before its major release.
4. Take Four (2010) — As the film hits theaters, the team discovers whether their sacrifice was worth the price, while long-term romantic relationships reach a turning point.

E. The Bailey Flanigan Series

Follows fan-favorite Bailey Flanigan as she moves from Indiana to New York and Hollywood to pursue a performing arts career while navigating a long-distance romance.

1. Leaving (2011) — Bailey leaves Bloomington to audition for a Broadway show in New York City, leaving behind her high school sweetheart, Cody Coleman.
2. Learning (2011) — As Bailey adjusts to the fast-paced world of New York theater and a new co-star, Cody faces dangerous military deployments overseas.
3. Longing (2011) — Bailey navigates movie offers in Los Angeles and a charming co-star, while Cody struggles to heal from the trauma of war.
4. Loving (2012) — Bailey makes her final decision about her career path and chooses between two men who hold distinct places in her heart.

F. The Culminating Novel & Prequel

• Coming Home (2012) — Serves as the emotional milestone culmination of the first 22 Baxter books, gathering the entire family for John Baxter’s milestone 70th birthday, which is interrupted by a life-altering emergency.
• The Baxters: A Prequel (2022) — Takes readers back to the very beginning before Kari’s marriage, revealing the family secrets, young love, and quiet prayers that shaped the Baxter household.

G. The Modern Baxter Family Standalone Novels

Following the original 22-book run, Kingsbury continued the family’s journey through self-contained feature-length novels:

1. A Baxter Family Christmas (2016) — Two years after a heartbreaking loss, John Baxter invites the recipient of his daughter’s donated heart to Christmas dinner, causing mixed feelings among the siblings.
2. Love Story (2017) — John and Alexandra Baxter share the story of how they first met and fell in love decades ago, inspiring their grandchildren to fight for true love.
3. In This Moment (2017) — Luke Baxter takes a stand for religious freedom as a high school principal when legal action is taken against him for praying with a student.
4. To the Moon and Back (2018) — Two survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing meet decades later as adults, finding healing and unexpected romance through shared history.
5. When We Were Young (2018) — A social-media-obsessed couple on the verge of divorce is granted a supernatural vision of what their future looks like if they break their vows.
6. Two Weeks (2019) — A pregnant high school student considers adoption, connecting with a grieving family who has been praying for a miracle child.
7. Someone Like You (2020) — An architect discovers a secret about his late best friend that leads him to a woman who looks eerily like the girl he lost.
8. Truly, Madly, Deeply (2020) — Tommy Baxter falls in love with a woman carrying a complex past, forcing him to choose between his career aspirations and his heart.
9. Forgiving Paris (2021) — Ashley Baxter Blake travels to France to confront painful memories from her youth and find complete spiritual healing.

H. The Baxter Family Children Series (Middle Grade)

Co-written with her son, Tyler Russell, this series follows the Baxter kids growing up.

1. Best Family Ever (2019) — Young Brooke, Kari, Ashley, Luke, and Vance navigate moving to a new home, school challenges, and growing up in the Baxter household.
2. Finding Home (2020) — The Baxter kids adapt to life in Bloomington, finding ways to help neighbors and build strong friendships.
3. Never Grow Up (2021) — A summer of adventure tests the siblings’ problem-solving skills and brings them closer together.
4. Adventure Awaits (2022) — The children go on a memorable family camping trip filled with unexpected mishaps and lessons in faith.
5. Being Baxters (2023) — The kids learn important lessons about honesty, teamwork, and standing up for what is right at school.

2. Other Popular Multi-Book Series

Beyond the Baxters, Karen Kingsbury has written several standalone series that explore distinct themes:

A. Forever Faithful Series

1. Waiting for Morning (1999) — A woman’s life is shattered when a drunk driver kills her daughter, sending her on a hard path toward forgiveness.
2. A Moment of Weakness (2000) — Childhood sweethearts separated by lies meet years later, forced to confront the secret child that connects them.
3. Halfway to Forever (2002) — A couple battling infertility and a woman facing a terminal illness find their lives intertwined in a story of adoption and sacrifice.

B. Timeless Love Series

1. A Time to Dance (2001) — On the brink of signing divorce papers, a couple attends their daughter’s wedding and reflects on the memories that brought them together.
2. A Time to Embrace (2002) — John and Abby Reynolds face a high-stakes medical emergency that tests the strength of their newly restored marriage.

C. Red Gloves Series (Holiday Collection)

1. Gideon’s Gift (2002) — A terminally ill little girl asks for a special Christmas miracle that changes the heart of a bitter, cynical man.
2. Maggie’s Miracle (2003) — A lonely single mother and her young son find unexpected joy and healing through a compassionate stranger during the holidays.
3. Sarah’s Song (2004) — An elderly woman in a nursing home shares her wartime love story with a young nurse who has given up on romance.
4. Hannah’s Hope (2005) — A young girl embarks on a quest to find her birth father, leading to a miraculous holiday reunion.

D. September 11 / 9/11 Series

1. One Tuesday Morning (2003) — Two firefighters who look remarkably alike cross paths in NYC on September 11, altering two families forever when one is brought home in place of the other.
2. Beyond Tuesday Morning (2004) — A widow rebuilding her life after 9/11 discovers a shocking truth about the man she has been grieving.
3. Remember Tuesday Morning (2008) — Years after the tragedy, a firefighter’s family confronts long-held secrets and finds a way to move forward in faith.

E. Cody Gunner Series

1. A Thousand Tomorrows (2005) — A bull rider with a guarded heart falls for a barrel racer carrying a fatal illness, leading to a race against time.
2. Just Beyond the Clouds (2007) — Cody Gunner struggles to raise his brother with Down syndrome while learning to open his heart to a devoted local teacher.
3. This Side of Heaven (2009) — Secret history and unexpected medical diagnoses force two families to confront their pasts and lean on divine mercy.

F. Angels Walking Series

1. Angels Walking (2014) — Heavenly envoys are dispatched to Earth to help a former baseball star repair broken relationships and regain his purpose.
2. Chasing Sunsets (2015) — A woman guarding a wounded heart receives quiet, heavenly guidance as she learns to trust again.
3. A Brush of Wings (2016) — The heavenly team works against time to save a young woman in need of a heart transplant and bring two lovers together.

G. The Bridge Duology

1. The Beginning (2012) (Prequel Novella) — Explores the early days of Charlie and Donna Barton as they build their dream independent bookstore in Franklin, Tennessee.
2. The Bridge (2012) — A cherished local bookstore brings together two estranged college sweethearts after a devastating local flood threatens to destroy the store forever.

3. Notable Standalone Novels

If you want a single, complete story without committing to a multi-book series, Kingsbury has penned several bestselling standalones:

• Where Yesterday Lives (1998) — A investigative reporter returns to her hometown following her father’s death, uncovering family secrets and revisiting her first love.
• When Joy Came to Stay (2000) — A woman struggling with severe depression uncovers a long-buried secret that threatens her marriage and peace of mind.
• Oceans Apart (2004) — A pilot’s past mistake resurfaces when he discovers he has a child from a brief affair, testing his current marriage and integrity.
• Like Dandelion Dust (2006) — A wealthy couple fights to keep their adopted son when his biological father is released from prison and demands custody.
• Between Sundays (2007) — A professional football player, a dedicated foster mother, and a young boy are brought together by faith and athletics.
• Shades of Blue (2009) — A man haunted by a decision he made in his youth embarks on a journey to find the woman he left behind.
• Unlocked (2010) — A high school boy with autism finds a sudden connection and voice through a reunion with a childhood friend.
• The Chance (2013) — Two childhood friends who buried a time capsule under an old oak tree reunite eleven years later to see if their love survived.
• Fifteen Minutes (2013) — A talented young singer faces the seductive pressures and spiritual pitfalls of instant reality-TV fame.
• A Distant Shore (2021) — A former secret operative and a human trafficking survivor find safety and healing together in a remote coastal town.
• Just Once (2023) — During World War II, a young woman working for the war effort makes a choice between two brothers serving overseas.
• The Christmas Ring (2025) — An antique ring passed down through generations helps two grieving people find hope and romance during the holiday season.

Roadmaps to Bloomington: Picking Your Ideal Reading Route

With dozens of interconnected books, choosing where to start depends on your preferred reading style:

Route 1: The Classic Release Order (Start with Redemption)

• Best For: Readers who want to experience the Baxter family the exact way long-time fans did over twenty years.
• Why Choose This: Starting with Redemption (2002) lets you watch Kingsbury’s writing and character developments unfold naturally. You experience major family plot points as surprises rather than knowing them ahead of time.

Route 2: The Timeline Path (Start with The Baxters: A Prequel)

• Best For: Chronological purists who want to read events in the exact order they happened historically.
• Why Choose This: Starting with The Baxters (2022) gives you an intimate look at John and Elizabeth Baxter’s home life right before their adult children face their biggest life tests.

Route 3: The Short-Series Gateway (Start with The Bridge or Angels Walking)

• Best For: Readers who feel intimidated by a 20+ book saga and want a quick test of Kingsbury’s writing style.
• Why Choose This: The Bridge is a heartwarming two-book story focused on a beloved bookstore, while Angels Walking offers a three-book arc blending human drama with angelic intervention.

About the Author

Karen Kingsbury is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist. Before becoming a full-time fiction writer, she worked as a sports journalist for the Los Angeles Times. Her background in journalism gave her a sharp eye for pacing and real-world emotional stakes, which she brought to her early true-crime books before transitioning into Christian fiction.

Kingsbury’s signature style—often described as “Life-Changing Fiction”—focuses on themes of forgiveness, unconditional love, prayer, and second chances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to read the Baxter Family books in order?

It is strongly recommended. Because the Baxter family members age, marry, have children, and navigate life-changing tragedies in real time, reading out of order will result in major character spoilers.

Can I watch the TV show without reading the books?

Yes! The Prime Video series The Baxters adapts the events of the early Redemption series books. However, reading the novels provides significantly more internal character depth and backstory.

What was Karen Kingsbury’s first novel?

Her first fiction novel was Where Yesterday Lives, published in 1998, after she transitioned away from writing true-crime non-fiction.

Final Verdict

Karen Kingsbury’s novels have touched millions of lives by combining relatable, high-stakes human struggles with unwavering messages of hope and redemption.

If you are ready to commit to a rich, sweeping family saga, grab Redemption and meet the Baxters. If you want a quick, heartwarming standalone story, pick up The Bridge. Grab some tissues, get comfortable, and enjoy the journey!

Written by

Emon Anam

Hi, I’m Emon. I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you. When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.