Kate Gosselin New Book: "I Just Want You to Know"

We've come a long way from Kate Gosselin's first book, Multiple Blessings, to her latest book I Just Want You to Know. After all, the reality diva has gone from humble beginnings and trusting in God to ... well, Kate's hopes and fears for her kids and her trust in God.

If you've missed out on her faith during the past year or so, we'd all understand. There was precious little faith displayed as she bickered with Jon, cohosted The View, or wined and dined in New York and other fancy schmancy locales.

Yet faith and down-home comfy mom themes are the focus of Kate's third book, which Zondervan plans to release in May.

The book's jacket claims: "The 9.8 million viewers of TLC's Jon and Kate Plus Eight recognize Kate as the perky and practical mom of eight who has come into their homes for over 100 episodes of her family's hit reality show. Although the show has made her face recognizable, there's another part of Kate the viewers haven't seen---her heart. In I Just Want You to Know, Kate reveals a less familiar spiritual side. She is a grateful and faith-filled mother who only wants the best for her children and is willing to sacrifice to make that happen. The book covers the three years her family lived in their Elizabethtown home, a period Kate considers one of the happiest of her life. It shows the parents of eight kids (all under the age of six) transitioning from the chaos of caring for infants to the structured days of a home filled with budding preschoolers. During that time, the family underwent major changes: * From diaper changing to potty-training the sextuplets * From only traveling a few miles for a rare meal out to flying to Hawaii to renew their wedding vows * From Kate's need for control, to learning how to be flexible * From watching a child who couldn't spell, singing B-I-B-I-B (the Bible song), to their first child growing in her faith and praying to ask Jesus into her heart * From Kate's first speaking engagement (she was afraid to fly) to her book tour * From a desire for a 'normal' family life that didn't include outside help, to a desire for a 'normal' day without public attention."

Fans of Kate will no doubt love this softer side; critics will be more skeptical. Is Kate grateful? It was hard to imagine for many who came out to see her at personal appearances promoting her earlier books, only to be brusquely moved through a long line and unceremoniously handed an autographed book by an unsmiling Kate. Was she grateful when she glanced at her watch at the 35-minute mark of her talk and remarked, "Okay, have I talked long enough?" to the crowd before flippantly shrugging and walking off stage?

The book purports to be letters Kate has written to her kids. One wonders if there are any letters in which Kate questions the wisdom of having her children's lives filmed and perpetually available to the general public - I recall scenes of a constipated Collin lying in the back of the van, scenes of Mady having yet another trademark meltdown, visions of quiet Cara finally being pushed to her breaking point - all eternally saved on film.

A smiling, fuzzy-focused Kate is featured on the book cover, sporting the long locks that make her almost unrecognizable to those of us more accustomed to her trademark spiky 'do. Those of you willing to part with the $22.99 cover price can report back on whether Kate's softer, "less familiar spiritual side" is believable or not.

SOURCES:
WOOD TV: Kate to Release Book with Zondervan
Zondervan: I Just Want You to Know