Leaving

By: Karen Kingsbury

Narrated by: Judy Young, Gabrielle de Cuir, Stefan Rudnicki, Amanda Carin

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The Bailey Flanigan series begins with Bailey leaving Bloomington for the adventure of a lifetime. She has won an audition for the ensemble of a Broadway musical in New York City. She's determined to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but is she really ready to leave family and friends for the loneliness of the city? And what of Cody? His disappearance has her worried about their future and praying that their love can survive.

In order to be closer to his mother in jail, Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis. New friends, distance, and circumstances expose cracks in his relationship with Bailey Flanigan. Love, loneliness, big opportunities, and even bigger decisions highlight the first book in the new Bailey Flanigan series that features members of the popular Baxter family and finally completes the Bailey Flanigan/Cody Coleman story.

©2011 Karen Kingsbury (P)2011 Zondervan

Great Book!!!!!

I can't wait to start her next book. I really enjoy how God works through their lives in her books. Great lesson for everyone too!!!

Leaving

Like all of Karen's books can't put down or turn off... And the long wait till the next one comes out. Although Unlocked is a awesome way to wait.

It's Real Life

Great Book. If only people would look to God with everyday struggles. it's much easier.

the readers have grown-up with the series!

I wasn't as sure of the readers when I started the above the line series, especially Bailey...but she has grown a lot in her skill and is engaging! She is delightful and brings tears too! Well done to All!

Love, love, LOVE the series, but…

I absolutely LOVE this series and the Baxter Family Series overall. I read the first few sets in the series yearrrrs ago when they first came out. Now, I decided to purchase them all on Audible and listen to them from the beginning.

I love doing this, but in doing so you easily pick up on errors. There are just a few, but they stick out like a sore thumb: the gentleman reading now pronounces Kari’s name like Car—ee and in the later books, Tara like Tar—uh sometimes and Tara other times. Consistency should have been key. The one that really stood out was in the beginning of book 1 and, I think, book 3 (maybe book 4?) they say the same incorrect line, “Kari, the oldest Baxter daughter.” Brooke is the oldest Baxter daughter. The second time they say this line, later in the book they then talk about Brooke being the oldest daughter.

These criticisms should not deter anyone from reading these fabulous books. Again, they probably stand out a lot more to me because I’m reading all 30 books straight through.

I LOVE the way the author wraps up each story line she has going and doesn’t leave anything undone. Other than the tiny Baxter daughter error, there is great attention to detail given to every character and every storyline —which is quite impressive!

Love this author and Bailey

I have been a big fan of the Baxter family story. This book series focuses more on Bailey Flanagan‘s life. But it does bring in some of the baxters here and there. It mainly focuses on her story with Brandon and Kody, along with her exploring career options in the musical theatre world. This book particularly frustrated me with regard to her love interests, as I was always rooting for her to get together with one of the characters and that never happened at least in this book

Summary does not say this is Christian literature

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The summary gave no hint that this story focuses on people's relationship with the Christian God. If I had known, I would not have bought it.

I love Karen Kingsbury but…

This wasn’t my favorite. I wouldn’t suggest skipping it, but know it’s probably not going to give you the same feeling the normal Baxter books give you. The Bailey and Brandon story feels like a repeat of Katie and Dane. Also, I don’t know if it was just me but the voices of the children parts drove me nuts. I just found it very annoying. With all that said if I was going through the whole series again I wouldn’t skip this one I would listen to it again.

over-worked

This could've been a sweet story but the internal dialogues are so over-worked, over-done, too long! I wanted to like it but I just didn't and wanted the characters to just make a choice!

Not for Me!

What would have made Leaving better?

It was just too simple. I think it was meant for a young adult.

What do you think your next listen will be?

A mystery.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator was fine -- it just wasn't for me.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Like I said, probably a good story for someone much younger than me.

Any additional comments?

I do like Karen Kingsbury -- I have read a lot of her books/series and have enjoyed most of them. This is the first one that I actually didn't finish.