Even with the future of an Ivy League education ahead of him, Tommy Baxter feels called to serve, and declares to his parents that he would like to join the police force. His mother, Reagan, immediately tries to deter him, wanting to keep him safe and still feeling her own father's death in the 9/11 attacks. While Tommy works to assuage his mother, he faces another crisis as his girlfriend, Annalee, has received medical news that her life is at risk. Tommy and his family continually turn to their faith and together they grow and realize truths about themselves that only terrible circumstances can bring to light. This novel is the latest in the Baxter Family saga (after Someone Like You, 2020), and Kingsbury fans will enjoy her commitment to sharing her convictions throughout her works. She paints the police force as a righteous and almost holy calling, which may frustrate readers who are cognizant of the complicated social issues currently surrounding law enforcement, and leaves the characters feeling slightly flat and lacking introspection outside their religious beliefs.

Kingsbury's solid latest Baxter Family outing (following Someone Like You) focuses on the power of faith when hope is hard to find. Tommy Baxter and Annalee Miller are in their senior year of high school when their lives are forever altered. After returning from a mission trip to Thailand, where they meet an American ex-pat who runs an orphanage for victims of human trafficking, Annalee and Tommy feel God calling them to do something about it. When Tommy announces that he is gong to be a police officer, his mother doesn't take it well, but his dad, a lawyer, arranges for Tommy to go on ride alongs with local police so he can see what the life and job of a cop looks like. Then Annalee is diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, and she chooses to lean into her faith to find a peace that comes only from God. At first, Tommy keeps faith that God will heal Annalee, but when it appears God is not answering his prayers and a police friend is shot, Tommy begins to question God. Longtime fans of the Baxter family dramas will enjoy seeing the spiritual and physical growth in the younger characters. Kingsbury again delivers a touching, emotional tale about the strength of faith. (Oct.)