Lives Changed by Life-Changing Fiction™

Hi, I am a new fan of yours, I just completed Longing and Loving. My entire life I have been tested. I am only 20 years old, I will be 21 in May. But anyways I was born in a not so great situation. My biological mother was a prostitute and drug addict. She chose those things over her children. I have a twin sister and a little brother. We had to grow up at a young age and take care of our brother because no one else would. He has fetal alcohol syndrom and baby shaking syndrome therefore making normal every day tasks difficult for him. We were all removed from our biological mothers home and bounced from foster home to foster home, none of the homes we were in were good to us. Things got very difficult for the 3 of us but we finally made it. When I was 7 years old we were adopted by my heros. William and Patty. We had been in their foster home for about a year when they decided they wanted us forever. We were the happiest we had ever been. My dad was my rock. He was a good christian man, he loved unconditionally, raised us in church, and gave everything he had to God. I remember being a little girl and he would read Bible stories to us before bed. He wanted us to know how special we were and that God would always take care of us. We were a big part of church all my life. My dad is the reason I am who I am today. He taught me forgiveness and trust and he taught me to always lean on God. My parents moved to Illinois where we are from when me and Renee graduated high school. I decided to stay because my life was here. I also had a boyfriend that I could not believe. His family was different from mine. He was not raised in church and knew almost nothing about religion. We both learn about new things everyday. We have been together for 3 years now and he is my unconditional love like Brandon is for Bailey. I have been tested here lately and I am ashamed to admit I turned from God. I got the phone call in January, 2012. It was my cousin calling to tell me my dad had passed away.... he had been in the hospital with some heart problems but we did not know they where this serious... I still live in Alabama so I was heart broken and sickened at the thought I was not there to tell him goodbye. I then had the difficult task of telling my twin sister and little brother. You may be wondering why I did not get the phone call from my mom Patty, the reason is because in September we had a disagreement. Anyways, the task of telling them was the most difficult thing I had to do. The days to come were the most difficult because I had to live with the realization that I would never get to talk to or see my daddy again. I became angry at myself for not being there and not finding a way to make my mother forgive me. Most of all though I became angry at God for taking my dad from me. I did not want to live in this world without him and I was not sure if I would be able to. I was put through the most difficult test yet. Until I started reading your books I had put all of my religion and faith behind me. I stopped attending church, stopped reading my Bible, and stopped praying. I just did not care anymore. After I started reading Longing I attended my first church session in months. Your books helped me get back on track with my faith and made me realize I would see my dad again. He was in a better place away from this world looking down on us. From then on I decided I needed to be the woman he would want me to be. I am determined to make him proud and I look forward to the day when I am at those pearly gates and I see my dad with his arms open waiting on me. I wanted to tell you all of this to tell you thank you. Thank you for sharing the word and helping me out of the dark hole I was trapped in. I am looking forward to reading all of your books.
~Your reader friend

Dear Karen,
I love reading your books and I learn so much. I grew up going to church every Sunday in the Catholic church and I stopped attending when I went to college. Well, my soon-to-be husband had a traumatic brain injury 10 years ago that left the left side of his body basically paralyzed. We married two years later. I have been taking care of him mostly on my own which has been very hard. He cannot work. Last April I bought a bible at a bookstore because I wanted to learn more about God. I didn't have anybody close to me who attended church and I felt awkward going alone for the first time in years. Well, a couple months later, I was at the library, and I "stumbled" upon your books, and having never read a Christian book in my life, I decided to check out a couple. Ever since, I have been hooked on them.  Now, I have a relationship with the Lord like I never could have imagined. Soon after I started reading your books, a girl who I didn't get to talk to very much invited me to attend church with her at a wonderful church. I just want to add that my husband never believed in God but I pray everyday for a miracle that will bring him close to Jesus.

I just wanted to share my story with you because your books have helped me to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Missy

Hi. I just turned twelve, but I am a huge reader. I'm so glad you write books. I first got introduced to your books by my sister. We had gone to our library, and she found your books. She found something familiar about you. Later we found out she found you familiar because her friend had been reading your books too. She read many of your books, and finally, I started to get some. With the first book, I was hooked. I have read the 9/11 series, the Above the Line series, the Women of Faith Fiction series, Sunrise series, and more. I actually just barely finished A Time to Embrace. I have a weird thing were I yell, talk and scream at the books I'm reading. Well, John made me so mad in A Time to Dance. Every chapter he would change his mind. I also feel like the characters are right there in front of me, and I wanted to smack John and Abby and tell them, YOU'RE IN LOVE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!!!! I was so happy when they got back together. When John got in the accident I wanted to smack Jake and Casey for getting in the street race. My sister even put my yelling on Facebook. It went something like, 'If you haven't ever seen anyone scream at a book, come watch my sister read' I was sorta embarrassed, but it's true so... Anyway in the Sunrise series I cried sooooo hard when Sarah died. I just remembered more books I've read of yours. Even Now and Ever After. In Ever After I cried when Justin died, at the funeral, and it was so sad. Then at the end when Emily and Joe got together, I knew in my heart that Joe would ask Emily to marry her someday. I could go on forever about your books, so I should stop now. Just know I'm young, and your books inspire me so much. I just want to say thanks. One more thing!! When I got done reading the Above the Line series, my first thought was 'What about Bailey and Cody!!' When I heard you were writing Leaving, I was sooooo excited. I still haven't read it yet. I can't wait to know what happens to them!!!! Well, Thanks for writing, and I hope you will write many more books!!!

Oh where to start.... I guess with the beginning right?! So I think I have finally found healing after reading Shades Of Blue this weekend..I myself had an abortion years ago and have never forgot that. The guilt that pours through you is unbearable..

My name is Lexie I'm 16 years old and in 10th grade. My mom listens to your books all the time while I'm in the car and I usually only get pieces of your stories, or enough to know the story line, but once she was finished I would never go back to the book and listen to it myself. But this time was different, I was in the car when my mom started Shades of Blue and somehow this book struck a chord in my heart.

I am new to reading your books. I have been seeing a therapist (who is a Christian) for about a year and she mentioned your books to me when I had told her that I was going away for a weekend to refresh, relax and be by myself. She thought your books would provide inspiration for me as I dealt with all that was going on in my life. So, I went to a library and picked up “Someday.” She couldn’t have been more right…the book was just what I needed. I have been a Christian for a long time, but the story delivered a dose of inspiration, motivation and spiritual re-awakening.

My name is Becca and I am a 21 year old college student at Eastern Kentucky University. I have been meaning to send you an email for a while now to thank you for using your gift of writing to impact thousands of lives! Your books have given me so much hope and the Lord has used them to teach me so much!

I don't really know how to begin this e-mail or how to put what I feel and think into words. I have read several of your books. The last being Ever After, which I have read two times.

I have been wanting to write to you for awhile now. My name is Rachel and I live in Galway, on the West of Ireland. I am 21 years old. I have never been a big reader much to my mother's disappointment. However, when I was 18, I spent two months in India volunteering in a children's home.

Dear Karen, I am writing to thank you for sharing your wonderful God given gift with the world. I have thanked God for sending your inspiring books to my life. I've always felt I was a Christian, but your books and the friendship of a strong Christian mom in our neighborhood have brought me so much deeper in faith.

I started reading your books about two years ago and I am now waiting for Take Three. I wanted to let you know that your books have really helped me make some strong decisions in my life to the point of looking for a new church home which I have found.

Karen, I felt led to write and tell you what a difference your stories have made in my walk with Christ and my relationships within my own family.

Dear Karen, I want to thank you for your books. The first book I read was Even Now. I had picked it up, and didn't read it. It sat here for a few months. Then I had a passing of a friend back in September. I had picked up the book, I believe a few months after his passing. I was at a total lost with Bobby being gone. He was very close friend of mine who I could turn to for anything and everything. I did email you after I read the book thanking you then. But I need to thank you again and even more.

Dear Karen, My name is Breanne, I am 16 years old and just finished my sophomore year at high school. I started reading your books halfway through the school year and I became hooked. I have read the Baxter Family Drama series and I loved it. My favorite character was Bailey Flanigan. I just read the whole Sunrise series in two weeks on a family trip out west (lots of time in the car) and I loved it. I love Bailey because I can relate to her. She reminds me a lot of myself. I also love to act and sing. I have gone through a lot of the same things that Bailey has gone through, with her friends having sex, doing drugs, drinking alcohol. I've been through all of that and it's nice to have someone to relate to in your books. You have helped me so much by writing about the things Bailey goes through and because of the way she reacts to situations I have followed her lead. And it has helped me get through my sophomore year. Another thing I can relate to with Bailey is, of course, the boys. Sneaking out to see Bryan Smythe, I know what that's like. I haven't yet had my first kiss and I used to feel bad about that, but after reading about Bailey's first kiss with Bryan I'm very glad that I have waited and am still waiting for the right guy.

My name is Jennifer, and I just finished reading your book, Even Now. I have never written to an author, but I am feeling very led to share with you what your story has meant to me today.

Dear Karen, I just want to thank you for the way you are allowing God to use you to touch our sometimes hardened hearts. I have been like a milder case of Jordan in your book, On Every Side, things have not been going so well for me and though I have been coming to church and praying at church, I had put God in the back seat of my life because I felt like it was better for me to get no results and know that I haven't asked Him than to ask and be disappointed.

I have seen my wife read your books off and on and was wondering what she was reading and often see tears in her eyes. We went to a marriage conference over the Valentine's weekend and it was great and I learned a lot. I told my wife I wanted to read some of your books and she said I needed to read the 9-11 series first. I have never really enjoyed reading I guess I never found the right topic or the right author but God seemed to be pushing me to read your books.

Miss Karen, My name is Abby, I am 12 years old, and I live in San Angelo, TX. Normally I would only write a letter to an author for a school project, but this is of my own free will. I have heard my big sister talk about all of your books for years, and the other day I picked up the first book of yours that I've ever read, A Moment of Weakness. As soon as I realized that it was a series, I read all of your "Forever Faithful" books. Those are some of the best books I've ever read. At this point I've only read three books by you, and I'm sure the best are yet to come.

I have never written to an author before but felt compelled to write to you now. I have just finished reading Every Now and Then, and I must tell you what it has meant to me.

Dear Karen, I just finished reading Sunsert the other night (with the most tears ever!) and after going through the journey of reading all your books to date, I have had so much to reflect upon, and I cannot be more thankful or verbalize how deeply your books have touched my heart and transformed my life. I know you have heard this many times, but I feel that you are 100% anointed by the Lord to write in such a way that drastically changes lives and uniquely glorifies Him - it truly is your gift from God.

Dear Karen, I want to thank you for writing Sunset. I had a powerful “awakening and Aha moment” when I read Chapter 22 with Luke sharing his deep regret and taking personal responsibility for hurting Reagan by having sex with her, getting her pregnant and having her miss the opportunity to talk to her Dad on the day before 9/11/01.

Dear Karen, I have been reading Christian fiction since my grandmother gave me a Janet Oake series when I was in high school twenty years ago. In that time, I have read many of your books. I have laughed and cried and done much soul searching and character building along the way, but none have touched me as deeply as Between Sundays. I have never posted on a website or written to an author, but felt compelled to do so now.

Dear Karen, I am writing to extend my heartfelt thanks for the beautiful book you donated to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke in August 2007. You sent this book at the request of Fran Hanley whose son Brian was a patient here. Brian died at the age of 21 years from a brain tumor. Fran, her husband Jim, and son Tim have donated books to Duke Children's Health Center in memory of Brian many times over the past several years.

Karen, I have to let you know how much your books have meant to me, but one, in particular, has changed my life. I give glory to my Father for showing it to me in my local library.

If being a Christian means I am nuts, well at least I am screwed to the right bolt!!!!

Hi, my name is Chris and I am a 16 year old boy with a second chance. For years now I've been struggling with pornography addiction. Looking for the answers, but only getting frustrated. Then I read Ocean's Apart and the part where Connor realizes what the preacher said about "it will start with you" and how he was to blame. For years I blamed God for allowing it to cross my path, then I blamed the devil, then I blamed my brother (it started on his computer), then the world. But Connor (the character in your book) helped me to realize that it was all my fault.

I just wanted to tell you about my wife. Brenda works for Boys and Girls Town here in Omaha, Nebraska as a Behavior Technician/Teachers Aide.

After reading A Time To Dance, I spontaneously flew to Japan, surprising my husband during his business trip, to tell him that I chose us and committed myself to saving our marriage. I suggested that he MUST read your book; you wrote it specifically for us.

My sister-in-law gave me One Tuesday Morning and it changed my life. I had turned my back on God for many years due to beliefs I had from a former religion. I believed that if I were not part of their religion I would not ever have Gods favor again. After reading One Tuesday Morning I started questioning what I believed in my heart all those years. By the time I was done with the book I sat down and prayed to God for the first time, honestly knowing he was really with me. She knew what your books would do for me. You have given me my faith and my love of God back and I can not thank you and my sister-in-law enough no matter how long I live. -Cheryl H.