Customer Reviews

Take One (Above the Line Series #1)

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Take One is the first of a new series by Kingsbury. We're introduced to a couple missionaries, Chase and Keith, who have returned from Indonesia to produce a movie. It is to have a strong Christian message and yet appeal to a wide audience. Their idea and plan are sound, but their limited budget threatens to end their film-making careers before they can get started. The book's main theme is the struggle to complete the filming amid show-stopping obstacles.

I found the beginning to be a bit slow as I tried to get into the new characters. As soon as the book started focusing on Bailey Flannigan and her relationships with Tim and Cody (from the Sunrise Series), I found it very engaging. This series will bring new stories and people while continuing the Baxter saga.

Of all Kingsbury's novels, the Baxter stories are the most popular, and with good reason. This author develops multi-dimensional characters who practically live in the minds and hearts of readers. While one could start with Take One, I recommend reading the entire saga for maximum enjoyment. It teaches how a family should care about one another and live in Christ. I'll list the entire line of books below, in order, because it's hard to figure out the right order by looking through Amazon.

1. Redemption 2. Remember 3. Return 4. Rejoice 5. Reunion 6. Fame 7. Forgiven 8. Found 9. Family 10. Forever 11. Sunrise 12. Summer 13. Someday 14. Sunset 15. Take One 16. Take Two (available for pre-order as I write this).

If this number of books seems daunting, don't worry. You'll love each one so much that you'll soar through them. These are my favorites of all the series' in the Christian Fiction genre. I wish I had them all to read for the first time still ahead of me!

Anyone who has read Karen Kingsbury know what a great author she is...her books still bring cover price at the closest used book store. This book is no exception. Characters struggle with finances, family and faith - and learn lessons on the way.

I enjoyed this book - read it on a plane and it kept me from watching the movie; an encouraging story of hope and change and not too emotionally threatening or distressing as some of these stories can be ; with enough action, character depth and engagement -

I am a big Kingsbury fan; and it's so great that this book takes place in Hollywood, with her leading characters struggling to balance basic Christian family values with the pitfalls of Tinsletown. The characters are all believable, and each dealing in different ways with their faith.

I really enjoyed the multi-voiced production of this book; it made it so interesting and easy to follow, switching from each characters point of view. I kept having to stay in my car after getting home to listen to the end of each chapter!

I must say I enjoyed this presentation better than the woman who previously read Kingsbury's books.

These Cds were very enjoyable, and I was sad to come to the last one.

Karen Kingsbury did it again! Take One is a another great book with a wonderful message. It was fun to meet some new people as well as go back and check in with the Baxters at the same time! I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in Karen's Above the Line series - Take Two!

Karen Kingsbury can't write the next book fast enough. This book was excellent! She continues some well loved characters, adds new and keeps you interested from beginning to end. Lots of positive reinforcement of the scriptures--Loved it

This was my first Kingsbury book and I loved it. I liked it b/c it was not about romance, or a family dealing with cancer and death, or some chick finding herself after a major tragedy or any of the other worn-out storylines. How refreshing!

If you want something that's diffferent from all the rest, this is a great novel.

I always gauge a good book by the sound I make when I read the last word and close the cover.
I give this book a resounding. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."
Great plot, great characters, great Christian inspiration.

Karen Kingsbury is one of the most popular authors in this genre for good reason. I am looking forward to the entire series.[...]

I could not wait for the book to be out. I adore the Baxter family and feel like I know the characters personally. I was not disappointed with the new book and am looking in the mail everyday for the next one. They are such an encouraging series that reminds us Christians that the road is not promised to be easy and straight but that we have the perfect navigator to guide us on our journey.

This was my first foray into Karen Kingsbury's fiction. I am not normally a "Christian fiction" fan (though I am a Christian and a reader) as most of the CF I have come across is very dull, poorly written and dumbed-down. I keep trying to find CF authors I like, because I really do want to support the industry. Also, it is so refreshing to be able to read a book that isn't trashy and smutty!

I actually found Take One to be interesting and hard to put down. My big complaint is that typos/grammatical errors do abound in this book. Here are a few examples:

"Jeckyl and Hyde" (should be JEKYLL and Hyde)

"the crowd disbursed" (should be "the crowd dispersed")

Also, there was a section which involved a conversation between two of the characters, and they kept ending their sentences with "okay" but it was in the form of a question, so there should have been question marks at the end of those sentences, not periods.

Mistakes like this just help to give Christian fiction a bad name...let's not give anyone even more reasons to criticize it!