Book 1 in the Above the Line series.
Can filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison manage to make a movie that could change the world for Christ without succumbing to the temptations of Hollywood?
For Chase and Keith, leaving the mission field of Indonesia to produce their movie is an answer to prayer. But more prayer is needed if the movie has a hope of being completed. What with financial troubles, union issues, and a leading actress who’s not only temperamental but inappropriately flirtatious, it will take a miracle for this project to make it to the big screen.
But worse problems await them on the homefront. Keith’s daughter Andi, who’s just started college, is beginning to question her Christian faith. Chase’s wife, Kelly, is home with the couple’s two young daughters and is feeling more and more despondent and detached from her husband. The question for both men becomes one of priorities. Which is more important, seeing the movie they feel God has called them to produce to completion, or going home to take care of their families? This is an issue that anyone can relate to.
I’m going to be honest. I’m a connoisseur of Christian fiction, but this is the first book I’ve read by Karen Kingsbury. Nothing against Karen, it’s just that I tend to read books that are either in the specific genre in which I’m writing, or pertain to the subject matter of my own current book. This one came up in my research for my book “Lights, Cowboy, Action” because it’s also a book about movie making. It was very helpful to me in my research, and I enjoyed it.
It’s easy to see why Karen Kingsbury is such a popular writer. She creates compelling characters and places them in interesting situations that are quite relatable. I felt for these people, and the choices they had to make. I even related to them when the choices they were making weren’t the best ones, because I recognized that as part of the human journey. We’re all fallible, even those of us who want to do the right thing.
This isn’t a lightweight book. It will make readers think, but it’s a quick read. One word of warning; if you like this book, be prepared to launch right into book 2 of the series, “Take Two”. You might not want to wait.
Click Here to find Take One by Karen Kingsbury in paperback.
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O.K. Now I want to read it. Great review, Lesley. Interesting that a female author would write a male protagonist’s story — and there are TWO of them! Fascinating!
I like Karen’s books, but I haven’t read this series yet. Will have to get to it! Thanks for the great review!