Scan barcode
giraffesandaudiobooks's review
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall it was pretty good but the end leaves you hanging. Was disappointed in not getting a real resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Grief
beyondevak's review against another edition
5.0
Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury was an absolutely sensational book! The writing flowed so perfectly that it was easy to get caught up in the story. The characters, the emotion, their personal stories, it was all so believable and incredibly touching. I found myself going from laughter to tears and back again.
What a great depiction of lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. It's all seen right here in this book.
I loved that the book gave a clear view of a Christian who was imperfect, but who also proved redeemable. I loved that the book showed several examples of when and how a teachable moment could occur. And I loved that there was a prodigal of sorts in every story.
By the end of the story, I guarantee you will be asking yourself who you are and what you stand for?
I would highly and unwaveringly recommend the book.
An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.
What a great depiction of lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. It's all seen right here in this book.
I loved that the book gave a clear view of a Christian who was imperfect, but who also proved redeemable. I loved that the book showed several examples of when and how a teachable moment could occur. And I loved that there was a prodigal of sorts in every story.
By the end of the story, I guarantee you will be asking yourself who you are and what you stand for?
I would highly and unwaveringly recommend the book.
An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.
pacezetter1920's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. The only thing I did not like that it was not really realistic. But the book does have a strong meaning and a lot of great morals that can be applied to anything in life.
chelsea_jack's review against another edition
2.0
I received this book via Goodreads First Reads.
I really wanted to like this story about a hometown boy trying to make it big on a reality-talent TV show to save his family farm and maybe give himself a bigger stage for his music and his faith.
Unfortunately, I got really bogged down in all the faith material. I've read Christian books before and while it's not an element that I'm really drawn to, I've never been put off by them in the past. I was simply not the right audience for this story.
I did like the concept of the story, the idea of exploring what happens when someone with a small town frame of reference is suddenly awash with fame - the temptations that they face, the challenges to their faith, the ways they have to try to balance new experience with old. Unfortunately, I couldn't past the style in which the book was written.
If you really love Christian-themed books and you're looking for something that places faith front and centre, try this book. If you don't mind Christian themes as flavour and nuance alongside other big themes... I'd suggest you avoid this one.
I really wanted to like this story about a hometown boy trying to make it big on a reality-talent TV show to save his family farm and maybe give himself a bigger stage for his music and his faith.
Unfortunately, I got really bogged down in all the faith material. I've read Christian books before and while it's not an element that I'm really drawn to, I've never been put off by them in the past. I was simply not the right audience for this story.
I did like the concept of the story, the idea of exploring what happens when someone with a small town frame of reference is suddenly awash with fame - the temptations that they face, the challenges to their faith, the ways they have to try to balance new experience with old. Unfortunately, I couldn't past the style in which the book was written.
If you really love Christian-themed books and you're looking for something that places faith front and centre, try this book. If you don't mind Christian themes as flavour and nuance alongside other big themes... I'd suggest you avoid this one.
amyma's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book, great story. It's definitely a Christian story.
timothysd's review against another edition
3.0
My favorite characters was
1.Chandra Olson
2.Kelly Morgan
3.Reese Weatherly
4.Zack Dylan
I wish this book in series or something
1.Chandra Olson
2.Kelly Morgan
3.Reese Weatherly
4.Zack Dylan
I wish this book in series or something
rkendylb's review against another edition
4.0
I love Karen Kingsbury and I really liked her portrayal of how fame affects people even when their intentions are pure. This book was really good, but I liked Unlocked and Like Dandelion Dust better.
gretchlins's review against another edition
3.0
"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?"
II thought that book had very strong characters, that were believable. I really liked seeing what celebrities really go through and kind of what their emotions are. I would have liked to know what happened between Zack and Reese in the end, because you got more closure with the other characters and you could kinda figure out what was going to happen with them. i would ave liked to see more from Reese's perspective. Al in All this was an ok book i'm honestly more into historical fiction, no so much contemporary, also I'm not a big fan of shows like Fifteen Minutes.
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?"
II thought that book had very strong characters, that were believable. I really liked seeing what celebrities really go through and kind of what their emotions are. I would have liked to know what happened between Zack and Reese in the end, because you got more closure with the other characters and you could kinda figure out what was going to happen with them. i would ave liked to see more from Reese's perspective. Al in All this was an ok book i'm honestly more into historical fiction, no so much contemporary, also I'm not a big fan of shows like Fifteen Minutes.
serene216's review against another edition
3.0
I was hesitant to read this book as I have felt Karen has gone downhill a bit with her writing (tying up series with a nice little bow and having unrealistic ends like the Baxter family and especially the Bailey Flannigan series) followed up a couple of stand alone books I couldn't get into at all.
This book, even though it closely resembled characters from American Idol, had a strong story line. It follows the story of Zach, pursuing his dream of becoming a singer in order to save the family farm, then come home and marry his long time girlfriend Reese; as well as the story of two of the judges Chandra (a former contestant who lost her parents and fiancé' as a result of fame) and Kelly who has walked away from her faith and is obsessed with staying young and maintaining her fame at the cost of her husband (whom she wants to divorce) and her children (whom she never sees.)
On the way temptation comes in the form of a fellow contestant, Zoey and the show turns them into a romantic item. Zoey continually comes onto Zach and talk and twitter blows up with the #ZachandZoey story. To make a long story short, Zach becomes a different person and ends up cheating on his girlfriend with Zoey despite warning of the cost of fame from talks with judge Chandra. Eventually the audience loses respect for him not standing up for his Christian values and he is voted off the show and Zoey is named the winner. (Kelly and Chandra refuse to do a Judge's save like the 15 minute producers want to keep Zach on the show). Reese takes a job offer in London and refuses to have contact with Zach.
I honestly found Zach's story to be a little flat. You see him busy and conforming to the standards of the show "15 minutes" but I found his emotional struggle to be lacking and even when he is sent home he seems to think everything is just supposed to magically fall back into place the way they were prior to him leaving home. The farm is saved through him getting a songwriting deal (which I did find to be believable as many former idols moving on to successful futures, like Mandisa and Clay Aitken).
The storylines I did find to be strong were the ones of Kelly and her struggles with her family and husband as well as the pressures of the media and fame. Her father's health becomes poor which makes her end up making some life changing decisions. Chandra has a file of photos that remind of her of everything she has lost due to fame. Her one mission is to help a contestant walk away and not get sucked into fame. She succeeds in helping Zach and they have a nice moment together debriefing at the finale of 15 minutes.
While I feel Karen is getting some of the spark back in her writing (that she had in earlier titles like Unlocked, the Earlier Baxter books and the September 11th Series). I don't feel she is fully there yet. These days I have found myself more drawn to Neta Jackson whose follow up series' from Yada Yada have remained strong and aren't taken from TV shows or her children's lives (e.g. The ending to the Bailey Flannigan series). Not her strongest work but I a good weekend read. I also like how she tie this up with a perfect unbelievable ending like past books. In fact the ending is a little up in the air, but I think it made the story stronger (hence the 3 out of 5 stars).
This book, even though it closely resembled characters from American Idol, had a strong story line. It follows the story of Zach, pursuing his dream of becoming a singer in order to save the family farm, then come home and marry his long time girlfriend Reese; as well as the story of two of the judges Chandra (a former contestant who lost her parents and fiancé' as a result of fame) and Kelly who has walked away from her faith and is obsessed with staying young and maintaining her fame at the cost of her husband (whom she wants to divorce) and her children (whom she never sees.)
On the way temptation comes in the form of a fellow contestant, Zoey and the show turns them into a romantic item. Zoey continually comes onto Zach and talk and twitter blows up with the #ZachandZoey story. To make a long story short, Zach becomes a different person and ends up cheating on his girlfriend with Zoey despite warning of the cost of fame from talks with judge Chandra. Eventually the audience loses respect for him not standing up for his Christian values and he is voted off the show and Zoey is named the winner. (Kelly and Chandra refuse to do a Judge's save like the 15 minute producers want to keep Zach on the show). Reese takes a job offer in London and refuses to have contact with Zach.
I honestly found Zach's story to be a little flat. You see him busy and conforming to the standards of the show "15 minutes" but I found his emotional struggle to be lacking and even when he is sent home he seems to think everything is just supposed to magically fall back into place the way they were prior to him leaving home. The farm is saved through him getting a songwriting deal (which I did find to be believable as many former idols moving on to successful futures, like Mandisa and Clay Aitken).
The storylines I did find to be strong were the ones of Kelly and her struggles with her family and husband as well as the pressures of the media and fame. Her father's health becomes poor which makes her end up making some life changing decisions. Chandra has a file of photos that remind of her of everything she has lost due to fame. Her one mission is to help a contestant walk away and not get sucked into fame. She succeeds in helping Zach and they have a nice moment together debriefing at the finale of 15 minutes.
While I feel Karen is getting some of the spark back in her writing (that she had in earlier titles like Unlocked, the Earlier Baxter books and the September 11th Series). I don't feel she is fully there yet. These days I have found myself more drawn to Neta Jackson whose follow up series' from Yada Yada have remained strong and aren't taken from TV shows or her children's lives (e.g. The ending to the Bailey Flannigan series). Not her strongest work but I a good weekend read. I also like how she tie this up with a perfect unbelievable ending like past books. In fact the ending is a little up in the air, but I think it made the story stronger (hence the 3 out of 5 stars).