Weekend Writing: Reviewing Karen Kingsbury's "Fame"

"But as she lay awake she wondered at herself. If she really was desiring God's will, then she'd have to listen carefully. Otherwise, she wouldn't hear Him above her own excitement." - Karen Kingsbury, "Fame" 

If you have been following my blog, you know I am a fan of Karen Kingsbury. Her "Life-Changing" fiction is comforting, inspirational, and impacts readers in ways we hardly expect. I loved reading her Redemption series, as part of her famous Baxter Family series, and so I was very excited to begin reading the Firstborn series--a continuation of the Baxters. I fell in love with the Baxters in the Redemption series and I couldn't wait to see what the family was up to now.

Karen Kingsbury's "Firstborn" series (photo/Amazon.com).

The series' first book, Fame, introduces two very important characters: Hollywood heartthrob Dayne Matthews (who we met in Reunion) and the charming Midwestern Christian Kids Theater [CKT] director Katy Hart. Dayne remembers watching Katy when he visited Bloomington, Indiana in Reunion, and he hasn't forgotten about her. When he is tasked to cast his opposite lead in an upcoming movie, he knows Katy is the perfect person for the "smalltown, innocent" role. He persuades the casting agent to contact Katy, who is busy in Bloomington directing Tom Sawyer for CKT. Her heart belongs there, but when she hears about the movie role, she can't help but feel excited. After all, before she began working for CKT, she once dreamed of becoming a famous actress.

Karen Kingsbury's "Fame."

But something in Katy's past (something heartbreaking) destroyed that dream. So, when Katy travels to Los Angeles, meets Dayne, and auditions for the movie, her head is spinning, not to mention her heart constantly fluttering with butterflies. But she still has questions: Is this the right path for her? Is this what God wants? Should she leave behind her life in Bloomington for a thrilling, unfamiliar life in Hollywood?

She receives her answer in the most troubling, frightening way--something you don't expect as the reader. The book definitely contains a plot twist, and while it's heartbreaking, the event has to happen for the characters' storylines. I'm not going to spoil the ending, but if you fall in love with Dayne and Katy like I did, you'll be happy with the book's conclusion. The conclusion plants seeds of what to expect in the five-volume series.

We already know Dayne has a deep, secret family link to Bloomington, and we assume this connection will be explored in subsequent books. We also expect to explore more of Katy's story: her struggle between Bloomington and the life she once dreamed about. But what about the Baxters? How do they fit into the story? Well, if you read Reunion (the last book in the Reunion series), then you know how the Baxters fit into Dayne's story. However, Ashley Baxter Blake decides to assist Katy by painting the backdrop sets for Tom Sawyer. This begins a unique friendship that I hope will grow in the subsequent books. 

Karen Kingsbury (photo/Facebook)

Overall, Fame has emotional highs and lows. It has secrets and poses questions, but it also continues Karen Kingsbury's writing style of being inspirational and writing about love and family. You can't help but love these characters. You only want the best for these characters. You don't want anything bad to happen to them--because while you're reading about their lives, they become your own family. You're drawn to their stories and you find yourself racing to the end of the book to read what happens next.

That's what I'll be doing next: finding out what happens next as I work my way through the Firstborn series. I fell in love with these characters. I have to find out what happens to them and if there will be more to add to Dayne and Katy's story. Hopefully, the little love story budding between them will be explored more...I can only hope.

Until next time...

-KJL-