Fifteen Minutes - A Review

Zack Dylan can sing and sing well. When he seizes an opportunity to audition for the hit show, Fifteen Minutes, he takes it. He is determined that he can win and save his family's horse farm. Despite misgivings from those who love him - his family and girlfriend - they do offer him their support. Zack is determined to live out his Christian faith in front of the cameras. But when the producers keep trying to push him towards another contestant and to silence his outspokenness of his faith, will he let it happen? Will a taste of fame cause him to lose sight of who he is?

What can I say about this book? True to classic Karen Kingsbury style, she has written a story that will engross her readers. But like her last several books, this one also deals with fame and fortune. I miss the days when she would write stories that had me in tears. Stories that changed lives. I'm not saying that for some people that this book may be life-changing. I'm saying that for me, the story seemed the same as several of her other books. Just change the names and the settings.

Things I liked about this book -
1. The realness of Chandra, one of the judges.
2. Seeing one of the other judges, Kelly, realize the direction her life was taking.
3. Reese - Zack's girlfriend.

Things I didn't like about this book -
1. That Zack found the little things ok to compromise on. For me it made him seem like he was conforming.
2. The entire storyline of seeking fame. Yeah that didn't sit well with me. It seems that she's been so focused in her last several books in talking about the Hollywood lifestyle that I feel she's lost a connection with her readers.
3. I'm not a fan of the singing shows, so I don't know if this really happens or not. But I found that the scenes set on the show were harsh to the contestants and to the readers. It was like the judges/producers didn't care that they'd just crushed someone's dreams.

I had little to no expectations for this book when I started it. So in that aspect, I wasn't disappointed. But I was disappointed in the fact that this book didn't feel as deep as her others. It felt very much like a formula. I'm sure that there will be readers who love this book and it will be the best one they've ever read. I'm not one of them. I'm sorry.

As a longtime fan of Karen's, I'm sorry, but I'm done. I'll reread the ones of hers I've loved over the years, but I will not read her new releases anymore.

I received the Kindle version of this book for free from Howard Books via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to like the book or to write a positive review, just to give my honest opinion.

Recommended to (I don't have a problem recommending Karen's books) fans of contemporary fiction, Karen Kingsbury, Katie Ganshert, JoAnne Bischof

Rating - 2 stars. I debated about this a lot. I went back and forth in my head. It's not a 3 star. It's more of a 2.5 star.

First Date - A Review

Addy Davidson doesn't want to be on TV. Let alone a reality TV show that the prize is being the prom date for the President's son. But she is. And then she meets Jonathon, the President's son, and sure he's cute, and now she only halfway doesn't want to be there. But evidently she's exactly where God wants her and the sooner she figures out that, the happier she'll be.

Let me just say that I loved this book. I got it in yesterday and started reading it about 3 hours ago. The story is a loose re-telling of the story of Esther. Once Addy accepts that she's where God wants her to be, she starts showing grace to the other contestants and being a genuine sweetheart. Her roommate, Kara, is such a likeable girl. Kara's the one that gets Addy to talk about her parents and their deaths on the mission field. Kara's also first one that Addy lets know she's a Christian. Jonathon is an amazing guy that has liked Addy from the first time that he saw her and she tells him that she doesn't want to be there. I love the fact that even though he didn't want to do the show either, he's doing it because he loves his family and that's important to him. Addy's Uncle Mike is the one that keeps telling Addy that God has a plan. The producer, Hank, is not a guy I liked. That's the way that it's supposed to be. I loved the way that Addy shared her faith with not only the President's son but also the producer who had been trying to get her off of the show from the start. While Addy wasn't the winner, she found that she was in God's eyes. He had placed her there at that time in order to be a light for Him. That made me think. Have I been in places that I normally wouldn't have been at just to glorify God? I can't honestly say that I have.

I am so happy to know that this is the first in a series or at least that there will be a sequel to it due out this next summer. I can't wait to read it.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze.com program to review. I was only asked to give my honest opinion. The fact that I loved the book is a bonus!