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Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Christian Fiction. HTML:Book 1 in the 5-book Christian fiction series that has sold over 1.5 million copies A story of hope, healing, and God's divine leadingâ??even in the face of impossible circumstances, from Karen Kingsbury, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of "heart-tugging and emotional" (Romantic Times) life-changing fiction. A Dream Come True Dayne Matthews is at the top of the Hollywood listâ??a successful, popular actor with a bright future. He has everything a man could wantâ??fame, fortune, and friends. But his heart is pulling him toward a woman and a family who have no idea how their lives are tied to his. . . . A Wounded Past Katy Hart, the director of Christian Kids Theater, is immersed in her new life. Glad to move on and forget her past, she finally feels at home in Bloomington, Indiana. With a successful community theater and the love of many friends, she thinks she is content. But that changes in an instant when she meets Dayne Matthews and he promises a future she left in her past. A Painful Promise As Elizabeth Baxter lay dying, John made a promise that he must keep. A promise to reconnect the entire familyâ??including the one child they never spoke of. The Firstborn series is the second installment in the continuing Baxter Family Drama from America's number one inspirational novelist, Karen Kingsbury. Revisit the Baxter family in all their life-changing events, or share the series with someone who hasn't discovered it yet. In this first book, Hollywood A-lister Dayne Matthews returns to LA after his shocking discovery in Karen's bestselling novel Reunion. Though his life is filled with fame, fortune, and paparazzi, his heart is pulling him toward a woman and a family who have no idea how their lives are tied to his. Meanwhile, Katy Hart has finally found contentment as the director of Christian Kids Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. But that changes in an instant when she meets Dayne Matthews and he promises a future she left… (more)
User reviews
Kingsbury does an excellent job of sucking the reader in to this family saga. There is a suspense element that adds extra drama, a wacko who is stalking Dayne and who may want to do him harm. Kingsbury knows how to lay on the melodrama, and the plot is somewhat predictable. The characters at times seem like foils to explore the issues. But the story is compelling enough and ends on enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to read more.
How Good is it?
Nice for a quick escape or a light "beach read", plan to get sucked into the series.
Karen Kingsbury did a great job in this book, really showing the harsh side of fame, and Katy's reaction to it. I realy enjoyed this book, though I almost freaked out when that crazy lady attacked Katy and Dayne. This was one of the best books I've ever read.
Dane Matthews is a Hollywood playboy looking to help cast the perfect female lead in his next blockbuster. He remembers having seen Katy Hart, a young Christian theatre director in the midwest, who he thinks would be perfect for the part. It turns out that she is an actress who has stopped
Setting
Bloomington, IN and Hollywood.
Characters
The main characters Dane and Katy are likable, and the book does show that they are not perfect and deal with everyday troubles.
Pacing
A little long. Spends a lot of time rehashing the dilemma - should she or shouldn't she take the part? Can she handle the celebrity scrutiny?
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Language - G
Sex - none
Homosexuality - none
Violence - pretend fighting, self-inflicted injuries for Stalker, knife violence
The main character is offered a big break in a Hollywood film. She is living in a quiet rural community and was apparently headhunted
The storyline was a little unrealistic especially due to the fact that the main character had been involved in film in the past but had walked away due to a personal crisis. What are the chances that she would be headhunted by this man who knew nothing of her background?
I liked the way the author tried to demonstrate the dangers of power/money/fame within Hollywood and how this can corrupt a person. But, I would have liked to read more references to the faith of the main character. She felt God checking her on a number of occasions but proceeded anyway due to being caught up in the excitement. This was a more realistic scenario and something we all need to be aware of--just because it seems to be right, doesn't mean it is. We should proceed with caution and take advice from others.
There was no bad language in this book but there were some bedroom scenes that had a little too much detail and there is a violent scene which is quite graphic.
I wouldn't really recommend this book--it was too predictable with not enough of a Christian message.