Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury | Review @KarenKingsbury

Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury

Publisher: Howard Books

Published: October 29, 2013

Pages: 353

Received: originally via Netgalley but listened to audio via library

Find Online: Goodreads | Amazon

Overnight, Zack is the nation’s most popular contestant, a country singer with the looks and voice of a young Elvis. As his star rises, Zack is asked to compromise and quiet his beliefs, and also something more. Just as America is falling in love with Zack, just as he’s on the verge of winning it all, his choices lead him to the brink of personal disaster.

At the same time, Reese Weatherly, a therapeutic horse instructor, is no longer sure about her relationship with Zack, or the wedding they had dreamed about. While Zack advances from one round of the competition to the next, an offer comes to Reese--one that will take her to a home halfway around the world.

Then Chandra Olson--reigning diva pop star and one of the Fifteen Minutes judges--intervenes. Chandra has suffered so much public pain and private agony since her days as a Fifteen Minutes contestant. Now she wants just one thing: meaning.

Can Chandra's private losses help Zack find his way, or will his fifteen minutes of fame cause him to lose the life he once loved? Fifteen Minutes is a story of character, compromise, and the cost of having it all. A story that raises the question: Who are the real winners?

This is one of my Blogger Shame books for this year. You know the ones you are to review, but somehow never made the time for it. Hence why it was an audiobook listen now.

Honestly, I wish I had taken the time to read this back when it was releasing. It's a great heart warming story. It is a Christian fiction book so be aware that there is much talk to God and Jesus, but it's more about finding yourself, making amends and understanding your path in life. So don't let the faith talk throw you off this one. I'll probably pick up more of Karen Kingsbury's audiobooks from the library as I enjoyed the writing style.

Zack's motives for trying out for the reality show Fifteen Minutes are commendable - to save his family's horse farm and to help his little sister get better medial care, but everyone is worried that the possibility of fame would change him. He's determined that his faith will guide him and he would use this opportunity to spread the word of his faith. You root for Zack to stay true to himself even given the different things thrown his way. Sadly, he starts to let the fame get to his head, he begins enjoying the rush and forgetting who he is and what his mission was in the first place.

Chandra, one of the judges, is determined to help guide a contestant or two in the right direction because she is all too familiar with what fame can take away from you. It's her goal to help someone or to guide them to leave the show so it doesn't ruin them. I love her motives and I love that she doesn't just help a contestant, but she helps others along the way and finally finds meaning in her shattered life.

I loved that the Fifteen Minutes reality show is similar to an American Idol style show and you feel the excitement for the contestants while they are singing for the judges. You get the chance to have a behind the scenes look at their hectic lives and you get a viewpoint of the judges.

Also, the last POV in the book is from Zack's girlfriend, Reese, who wants to support him and pray for him to make it through (with his faith intact), but she's terrified that he will change and become someone she doesn't recognize.
I think Chandra is the saving grace in this story. A little guardian angel sent to help Zack before it's completely too late. And she is by far my favourite character in this story.
Go check it out - it's worth the read!

About the Author:
Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. In addition, it was recently announced that Roma Downey and MGM Studios are developing a TV series out of Karen's popular Baxter Family books. Karen is also a visiting professor at Liberty University. -source

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