The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold is a 2022 Revell publication.

Finally, folks, we have a winner! The 2024 reading year has gotten off to a very, very bumpy start. But this book is hopefully a sign that things are finally looking up!

I love inspirational stories like this one. Mrs. Kip is the real deal and Sara Brunsvold is too. This book is a genuine faith-based novel loaded with life lessons, but presented with a gentle, heartwarming touch.

Mrs. Kip never takes her eye off her goal- following where the Lord leads, though her life didn't turn out the way she had planned. Naturally, Mrs. Kip’s life, though she’s not famous or wealthy, turns out to have been quite extraordinary- living a full adventurous, courageous life...

Something journalist Aidyn Kelly comes to learn when she is commissioned to write Mrs. Kip’s obituary. She and Mrs. Kip, despite the brevity of time they have together, are a real blessing to each other. The lessons Aidyn will learn from Mrs. Kip will stay with her for the rest of her life, and the gifts Aidyn gives Mrs. Kip, showing her the fruits of her labor, which is quite plentiful, will fill your heart with joy and inspire you to trust God and whatever plans he might have for you

Overall, this is one of those emotional, feel-good stories that will stay with you for a long time! We need more people like Mrs. Kip and more books like this one!

I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author!

4.5 stars ( )

This is a highly acclaimed book and greatly deserved award winner! However, it was a DNF for me, even though I had marked the paperback with multiple tabs of important quotes. Personally, this book was just too painful for me to read at this point in my life, as we had just put my folks in assisted living. My mother’s attitude was nothing like Mrs. Kip’s, and I couldn’t handle the acceptance ( even though much of the book is life out of the home) when we were dealing with the opposite. So, in summary, obviously great book, just not for me at this time. ( )

If you love heartwarming and inspiring Christian fiction, this is the book for you! This book will cause you to take a deeper look at your life, to reach out to others and to be thankful for the time you have left to live. Warning- you may shed some tears, I did.
Mrs. Kip is in the last stages of stomach cancer. She decides to move into a hospice facility. Aidyn is an eager journalist who's trying to move up the ladder quickly at the "Kansas City Star". Instead she gets the assignment of writing the obituary for Mrs. Kip. In exchange for ideas of extraordinary deaths, Mrs. Kip would answer three questions about her life. What Aidyn didn't count on was a journey into the past that would change her life and the final days of Mrs. Kips. - " You represent something far more meaningful to her. Something far more craved by her soul. You represent a world beyond her limitations. A world where stories have life." ( )

This is a good, clean, historical fiction book. It is listed as Christian but that seemed to be a bit of a stretch.

I enjoyed the book but the title doesn't fit until past the halfway mark. The main characters are pretty well-developed. The story flowed well and kept my interest. I enjoyed the setting as it is close to where my in-laws live so I know the scenery quite well. The story kept my interest and the editing was well done. Very few editing errors, a missing word once or twice.

What I did not like was the way the chapters started. The large, beginning letter was not aligned well at all and covered a word below it and made it hard to read that sentence. I also did not like the fact of combining Christianity and the ability to be a seer.

Overall I give this a resounding 4 out of 5-stars. I was gifted this book through Revell Reads. I am not required to give a positive review and all thoughts are ( )

I have loved many novels, but this novel is by far the BEST I have ever read. It stole away inside me, it broke me down, it lifted me up, it has changed me. This story of Mrs. Kip is extraordinary! It made me chuckle, laugh, think, cry…I mean the deep soul sobbing that just can’t be controlled.

I find it hard to believe that this is the authors debut novel. Her writing is perfect, the story is astounding, the characters are human, and God is great! Oh my, what a story! What an incredible, extraordinary story that will change lives. Read it and let it soak in and change you. Let it lead you to the Lord, the One who can make all our lives, no matter how ordinary…extraordinary.

I can only give this book a 5 Star rating…but if I could I would give it 10 Stars! This is a book I’ll read again and again.

“My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.” Psalm 63:3

“I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 ( )