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

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.

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.

Disappointing: Not As Good As I Had Hope

My 3 stars may be too generous but I appreciate the Christ-focused aspect. One of the three performers made listening very hard. Her voice would be better cast for children's books. I sometimes got wrapped up in the tale but when it was her time to perform again, it abruptly yanked me out of the tale. I won't tell the ending but it ruined the story for me. The ending fell short because without an actual resolution it made the book feel plotless and more like rambling. This author has other books that are better.

BORING !! Struggling to finish .

What would have made Leaving better?

Add more spice to the story , remove the Baxter family

What do you think your next listen will be?

The seductive poison

What three words best describe the narrators’s performance?

Narrator is ok so far

What character would you cut from Leaving?

Baxter family , specially the little kid , forgot his name

For adolescent reading.

What would have made Leaving better?

It was like reading the diary of a junior high or highschooler, trying to figure out her adolescent years. Way too emotional in her dilemmas, even though it presents biblical values in decision making. "Overworked", as described by another reviewer. Not for me either.

Has Leaving turned you off from other books in this genre?

I enjoyed the "Tuesday morning" series. I won't finish this book or the series.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

One of the narrators had a very annoying and childlike voice and intonation - usually speaking for Bailey. This probably added to me impatience with the story line.

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

Ashley's story line was much more interesting and I don't know how it turns out unless I finish the book. It would be easy to recommend this to my junior high niece.

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!

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.

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

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!

Heart breaking

This first part of Bailey is so thought provoking and very emotional. I felt like I was in everysingal thoughts