Like Dandelion Dust

Very typical Karen Kingsbury. She nailed it. A very tough topic - adoption, and the idea of having your well loved child taken from you. What all parents fear, dealt with in a thorough, straight forward Godly manner. LOVE Karen Kingsbury.

This book was wonderful. I couldn't put it down. It's wonderful to read a book about how christians handle bad events that happens in everyone life. I have read every one of Karen's books. I recomend each and every one of them. They inspire and strengthen my faith.

This was a amazing story that brought tears to my eyes on and off to the end. If people could only love and think positively about each other - what a wonderful world it would be.. We were designed by God to be different - no two alike. Our lives were planned by God - we just have to believe and trust in Him. He has our best interests at heart!

Karen Kingsbury has done it once again; this is an amazing book packed with so much emotion it is difficult to put down. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys any kind of fiction reading. It will live up to your expectations and more!

I have read all of Karen Kingsbury books. Waiting for the next new one to come. Like Dandelion Dust was about an abusive family and an adoption. Once I started reading I didn't want to set it down. It was sad but the best worked out.

This book was excellent. I enjoyed it very much. I like the way the writer uses real life situations. You feel like you can relate on some level. It's also nice the lessons you learn about our amazing God. Very enjoyable book

I like all of karen kingsbury stories. They always have such wonderful Christian themes and it is hard to put them down once you start reading. This one especially says to the reader. A little child shall lead them thank you god

This book had me full of emotions for both mothers. I would recommend this book to any Karen Kingsbury fan. As always, she didn't disappoint in her ability to put the perfect words together to create a powerful book.

A trailer for the movie looked interesting so I made the mistake of buying the book without researching the author. "Inspirational author" is an understatement. I was pulled in by Jack Campbell's realistic, non-religious viewpoint and I thought it would run throughout the book as they faced the awful dilemma of losing their son. But the religious preaching overwhelmed the story and Jack proved to be weak and simple-minded. The book is cheap propaganda. Stating that "all children need to go to church" is pathetic. The story is implausible and undeveloped, with a blatant implication that a god saved them all. And the scene in the movie trailer which caused me to buy the book never occurred. The book was very disappointing and a waste of money.

There are already thorough reviews about the plot, so I won't go into that. Just adding my comments about Kingsbury's writing.

At first, I thought, this is a 4, because I couldn't really think of anything that wrong with it. It kept my attention, produced characters that are interesting as well as a storyline. I've said before, I think Kingsbury is a good writer, not a brilliant writer. As another reviewer her for this book (Samuel B Tuttle), stated that she is "a simple writer and a great storyteller" (but not a great writer.) I think this is aptly put, and that's exactly why I like Kingsbury novels. The writing doesn't really have to be of the highest caliber to make good reading; I have to remind myself how hard it would be to write a novel like this, be it that or not.

If you're not into Christian fiction or similar genre you might say this is not a good book. It all depends on what you're interested in. Looking at it strictly on whether or not it's a good story, I think it is. If you're looking at it for highest caliber of writing, then I would give it a 3.

I would like to see her write about characters that don't always have to be rich, beautiful or powerful. Her characters often seem stereotypical. Example in the book being Rip. I know he was a drunken hothead, but still, would he really not try harder to behave himself for a couple of visits not amounting to more than an overnight stay? To abuse the boy physically and verbally the first time he saw him I don't find believable. But I think the emotions and feelings and everything about how the parents felt about their son being taken from them were very well conveyed.

I enjoy reading fiction with a Christian theme, but don't like to be hit over the head with the message. What I enjoy about Ms. Kingsbury is that she is able to weave the message through the story in a way that is effective, but not so strident that she loses the average reader. This book is no exception.

I found nothing contrived about the storyline - people do lose custody of children as old as Joey, and it's heartbreaking for all concerned. I particularly liked the character of Allyson, the social worker, who while being forced by the "system" to follow the letter of the law also exhibited a sense of what was right and wrong. So many times the social workers are portrayed as non-caring bureaucrats.

I found every element of this story to be plausible, up to and including the ending. I enjoyed how Ms. Kingsbury built up to the conclusion, although it was certainly not a huge surprise. There is nothing that I would change about this book (big of me, I know!), and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good summer read with a nice, gentle Christian message.

Jack and Molly Campbell adopt newborn Joey whose biological mother Wendy Porter, fearing for the infant's life, forged her abusive husband's signature while he did prison time for beating her up. For the next four years Jack, Molly and Joey live a delightful loving life together in Palm Beach that includes her sister Beth, her brother-in-law Bill and their son Jonah, who is Joey's best friend.

Feeling guilt Wendy informs Rip after his release from prison what she did. He persuades her he has changed and they demand custody of Joey claiming fraud. Social worker Allyson Bower agrees with the Porters and a court rules they have custody. Joey is removed from the nurturing of the Campbells to the Ohio home of the Porters where Wendy sees first hand her mistake as Rip remains an angry raging person. Joey though in fear prays to God just like his cousin taught him and finds comfort with the Lord's presence even in the violent Porter home.

Using complex social issues involving parental rights, Karen Kingsbury provides a deep inspirational family drama with a strong cast of characters whose moral dilemmas seem very real. Readers will appreciate little Joey as he comforts his adopted mom, his biological mom, and even his aunt with his youthful belief that God will take care of him and them. Rip is abusive and violent and obviously bad for his son but despite this angry man, fans who appreciate a well written exciting inspirational tale based on realistic social values and issues will want to read LIKE DANDELION DUST, a sort of religious take on Taking Isaiah.

Harriet Klausner

Honestly, the plot was the only thing that kept me reading, I needed to see what happened to Joey. I didn't enjoy this ebook as well as Karen Kingsbury's other books. It was filled with too many cliches, repeated words and sentences. In fact I found myself skimming through paragraphs since the content was already written in previous chapters.
Overall it was a quick read. Suspense held me. Last few chapters made up for it.

This book is wonderful. I couldn't figure where it was going at first. It is a good read for anyone who loves happy endings. There are a lot of turns along the way that leave you guessing, but the end leaves you with a tearfully happy smile! Enjoy!

Molly and Jack Campbell lead an idyllic life - they enjoy a loving, compassionate marriage; Jack has a great job, they've enjoyed the perks of his business success without being swallowed by the "corporate monster", they drive an Acura SUV, and have a loving son in Joey - a gift from heaven above, an adoption that's allowed them to have everything they've ever wanted in life.

The icing on the cake: they've just moved to Florida to live with Molly's sister and life-long friend Beth and her family. Though Beth has gotten a little "preachy" in the last couple years as she and her husband Bill get more and more serious about their "God Thing", Molly is looking forward to meshing their families - a bright future of walks in the park, weekend picnics and family adventures on the lake.

If only she could get Beth to stop harping about church and an intimate relationship with God and enjoy the ride. After all, they have the best life could possibly give them - what more could God possibly give?

Several states away in Ohio, however, Wendy Porter - abused, victimized birth mother of Joey - trembles in both excitement and fearful anticipation at the release of her husband Rick from prison, after his arrest for assaulting her several years before. She has good reason to be excited: Rick claims to have found "religion", given up the booze, and has taken anger management classes, promising her a whole new world and a brand new Rick.

She has good reason to be fearful, though, for she's hid both her pregnancy and adoption from Rick these past years. What will be his reaction when he realizes she not only kept the truth from him, but forged his name on the adoption papers - what will happen to the "brand new Rick" then?

Along the way, she begins to rethink her decision to give up her only son - what would she do for a chance to have him back in her life again, and at what cost? Her prayers are miraculously answered when a judge renders the adoption invalid, ruling that permanent custody of Joey must revert back to she and Rick.

However - doubt plagues her heart. Has Rick really changed? Will he be a danger to Joey, and is the boy - who loves his adoptive parents fiercely, with utter devotion - truly be better off with them?

And what about the Campbells? They are devastated, their perfect lives destroyed in an instant. No ruling can change the fact that in their hearts, Joey belongs to them.

What will they do? What lengths will they go to keep Joey by their side, how low will they sink before the finally approach the God they've ignored for so long?

Like Dandelion Dust, by Karen Kingsbury, is a well-told, emotional tale that is heart-wrenching, especially for any parent or anyone who has worked in child protective services. Kingsbury pulls all the right strings, and the plot - thought somewhat standard - is one you can't help but be engaged by. It's like an experienced bowler setting up a 7-10 split - a can't miss in the sentimental department.

There are few plot holes in the Campbell's scheme to keep Joey from their birth parents - who themselves faded from the limelight over the course of the novel - and Rick Porter is too firmly placed in the "accepted role" of an alcoholic, abusive husband who is just a bad person, and not someone struggling against terrible inner demons, which would've been a little more interesting and realistic.

Also, while the set-up of the emotional tone is one that can't miss, the "set-up" for the "no matter how good our lives are, we'll need God someday" plot-line is a little too obvious for my tastes. The Campbell's lives are just a little too good, presenting the obvious foil that something "bad" is going to happen to them, making them want to turn to Christ. It works, but there are just tons of Lifetime Channel and Pax movies that read just like this.

Though the ending is somewhat anti-climactic, the writing is good and transcends certain stale plot points. Like Dandelion Dust is a novel best read with tissue box near, and after finishing, the first thing you'll want to do is grab that dear "little one" in your life, give them a big hug, tell them that you love them, and thank God for the big AND small things He's done in your life.

4 out of 5 stars

Anger. Love. Hope. A faith tested. Trust in God. Family. That is what this book is about. It is an adoption story that really captures your heart. Ms. Kingsbury brings a little bit of her life(the adoption process) to her story. She brings the love and trusting in God.
In this story, it is a battle between two mothers: one biological, one adoptive. The biological mother is an abusive relationship and that is why she gave her baby up for adoption in the first place. While the biological father is in jail she has the baby and gives him up for adoption. The new family is in love with this child and loves him with all their being, as if he was born to them naturally. The biological father is outraged when he is released from jail and since the biological mother forged the fathers signature on the adoption papers they try to get the boy back. The adoptive parents are heartbroken,wondering why God would allow this, but they only want what is best for the child so they reluctantly hand the child over. They are devastated but they but it in gods hands, knowing that if they put it is His hands the outcome will be what it should be.
This story will make you smile, it will make you cry, but more importantly it will teach you the meaning of FAMILY and TRUSTING IN GOD! It will really make you feel like you are in the story, holding the little boys hands, blowing on the Dandelion and making wishes, and hugging all the characters!
Good work, Ms. Kingsbury!

Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury is a fabulously written story. Jack and Molly Campbell have the perfect life with their adopted son Joey. Until Joey's biological father Rip decides he wants his son back, and the courts agree with him. How far will Jack and Molly go to protect their son from his abusive father? I hadn't read anything by Kingsbury before, and I now sincerely regret that decision. She knows how to craft a story filled with emotion and drama without going into melodrama or stereotypical characters. Her descriptions of characters' actions make each scene come alive in a way few authors can. I was moved to tears at least twice during the book. And while the book has a Christian message, it's never pounded down the reader's throat, but the way God affects each person by the end of the story is profound. This is a deep emotional novel with the message that God is in control, and we need to have the faith of a child to trust him.