Take Two (Above the Line Series #2) [Paperback]

Karen Kingsbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2009

Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire rights to a novel that has all the ingredients they want for their next project. At the same time they cross paths with a well-connected player who introduces them to the right people, and suddenly every studio in town wants to talk to Chase and Keith. The producers' dreams are on the verge of coming true, but Chase's marriage is strained and Keith's daughter --- Andi Ellison --- is making questionable choices in her quest for stardom. The producers are gaining respect and are on the verge of truly changing culture through the power of film --- but is the change worth the cost?

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire rights to a novel that has all the ingredients they want for their next project. At the same time they cross paths with a well-connected player who introduces them to the right people, and suddenly every studio in town wants to talk to Chase and Keith. The producers’ dreams are on the verge of coming true, but Chase’s marriage is strained and Keith’s daughter — Andi Ellison — is making questionable choices in her quest for stardom. The producers are gaining respect and are on the verge of truly changing culture through the power of film — but is the change worth the cost? --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's favorite inspirational novelist, with nearly 20 million books in print. Her Life-Changing Fiction has produced multiple bestsellers, including Unlocked, Leaving, Take One, Between Sundays, Even Now, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, and Ever After, which was named the 2007 Christian Book of the Year. An award-winning author and newly published songwriter, Karen has several movies optioned for production, and her novel Like Dandelion Dust was made into a major motion picture, now available on DVD. Karen is also a nationally known speaker with several women's groups including Women of Faith. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, their daughter and five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti. SPANISH BIO: Karen Kingsbury es autora de mas de treinta titulos, incluyendo algunos EXITOS de venta, uno de los cuales se uso para la pelicula de la semana de CBS. Es una de las atoras favoritas de novelas inspiradoras.Se han impreso mas de dos millones de ejemplares de sus libros. Kingsbury reside en el estado de Washington con Don, su esposo, y sus seis hijos, tres de los cuales los adotatron en Haiti.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310266173
• ISBN-13: 978-0310266174
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's #1 inspirational novelist. There are nearly 20 million copies of her award-winning books in print, including several million copies sold in the past year. Karen has written more than 50 novels, ten of which have hit #1 on national lists.

Karen's newest novel, Unlocked, released Oct. 12 and has stayed in Amazon's top fifty for the past few weeks. Unlocked debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Another recent and popular title of Karen's is Shades of Blue - the story of a 28-year-old ad executive who is six weeks away from marrying the girl he loves. But as he prepares for his wedding, something brings up his past girlfriend - a girl he dated in high school. He realizes he can't go forward and say, "I do," until he goes back to Holden Beach, finds the girl he loved back then, and tell her he's sorry.

Karen's novel Like Dandelion Dust is the subject of a major motion picture currently in theaters. Like Dandelion Dust stars Academy Award winning Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper, along with Cole Hauser and Maxwell Perry Cotton. The film has received more than 30 awards in the Film Festival Circuit including numerous Best Picture awards. Several of Karen's books are currently under theatrical development.

Karen's most recent series - the Above the Line Series, which began with Take One, in March, 2009 and wrapped up in June, 2010 with Take Four. The series is about two producers looking to change the world with the power of film. The Above the Line series also includes Karen's popular characters from the fictitious Baxter Family. The Baxters were first introduced to readers through the five-book Redemption series, and then the five-book Firstborn series, and finally the four-book Sunrise series.

Dubbed by Time Magazine as the Queen of Christian Fiction, Karen has also been a featured guest on the Today Show, Fox News, USA Today, and numerous other television programs and magazines. Her fiction has made her one of the country's favorite storytellers. Others of her emotionally gripping titles include the 9-11 Series, Even Now, Ever After, and Between Sundays.

Karen is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest with their six children, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, the next installment..., June 26, 2009

By 

Iola (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Take Two (Above the Line Series #2) (Paperback)

For those who haven't read Karen Kingsbury before, this book follows on from the Redemption series (5 books), the Firstborn series (5 books) and the Sunrise series (4 books). Don't worry - you can still enjoy this without reading all the others. This offering will most appeal to those who have read Take One (first in the Above the Line series), as it follows directly on from that without covering a lot of the back story (Amazon buyers may like to order both, or to re-read Take One while they are waiting for Take Two to arrive).

So, what's happening? Missionaries-turned-film producers Keith and Chase have returned to LA to edit their film, but face professional and personal challenges as they try to get it ready in time for some prestigous film festivals, and work towards a theatrical release (rather than the less desirable straight-to-DVD). Meanwhile, they are also negotiating the production of their second film, based on a best-selling novel with Christian themes (ring any bells, anyone?).

Kelly is finding Chase's continuing absences from home to be difficult, as she struggles to run a household and look after two small children with no money and a husband who doesn't understand. Keith's family is managing better - their daughter, Andi, is at college in Bloomington, but Andi is facing her own challenges away from the Indonesian jungle where she grew up. She is rooming with Bailey Flanigan, and both girls want acting careers, as does Bailey's boyfriend, Tim. All three are involved in a campus musical, and have the opportunity to decide what they are prepared to do - or give up - to pursue their dreams.

I've no doubt this will be popular with Karen's many fans. I enjoyed it more than Take One (because it had more on the Bailey/Tim/Cody sub-plot which I have been watching since Cody left Bloomington). Take Two is typical Kingsbury, with enough predictability around the characters and their reactions to keep me happy, but enough suprises in the plot to keep it interesting. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful installment, June 29, 2009

By 

M. L. Chapman (Lexington, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Take Two (Above the Line Series #2) (Hardcover)

Anytime Karen Kingsbury realeases a new book, I set aside whatever other novel I am reading, and start reading her new book. Take Two was a wondereful installment for the series. I am loving reading about Cody and Bailey's relationship, and anxiously awaiting the day they finally get together. I also really like Andi Ellison, and while what happens with her in this book is heart-wretching, I know in the end Karen will redeem her, and that's something else I cannot wait to read. My only, very minor, complaint is there wasn't enough of the Baxter family in this one.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Might wait for the whole series to be complete...., August 28, 2009

By 

C. Bauerlein "CB Creative" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Take Two (Above the Line, Book 2) (Audio CD)

Let me start by saying I love Karen Kingsbury and I have read/listened to at least 90% of her work...

With that, I love where this series is going, but I have to say, I'm not loving how the BIG story seems to be just cut and is ended in odd places. It's like there is this really long story and it has be forced to find a stopping point. "Above The Line - Take One," had an okay "ending," but "Above The Line - Take Two," just stops... I was left pretty disappointed. There is a difference between being left with wanting more and feeling like there was a mistake. I felt like I had missed a whole other chapter or portion. I'm sure once the series is complete I'll be left with a wonderful story. This book is not a stand alone and you will most likely be left saying, "what," after this book. Now having to wait 7 months until the next is released.... Not sure this series was handled the best.