Well, first of all, if you haven't read the Redemption Series....go back and read them first!!! Then read all of these and then move on to the Sunset Series!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE these books!! I have never read so fast in my life!!!
The stories are beautiful and moving...also tragic and hopeful!! They all take you through all of these emotions on a journey that leads you to a stronger faith!!!!! A Faith that takes your breath away!

I can only say you won't want to put them down!!!
Happy Reading!!

I am always shocked at how Karen Kingsbury receives such high reviews... but I am most shocked that her writing actually makes it to publication. This is BAD writing. It is objectively bad writing; it's the kind of writing any freshman comp teacher would scribble all over. This book is speckled with lines like "She did a shrug" (as opposed to "she shrugged"), and another of her books says "she made a low breathy noise" (as opposed to "she sighed")

This book is about Hollywood, it's about the movie industry and movie stars, and it reads like the author has done research by reading "US Weekly" and "Tiger Beat" and now feels like she can paint an accurate picture of what it must be like to be a movie star. If you want to suspend intelligent thinking and read for an escape from reality (and common sense, and believable characters) then this sure is the book for you!

I read this book about a month ago, but these are a few of the things I had a problem with:

-the dozens of references to "there was a sparkle in her eyes"-- which, of course, is supposed to be the light of Jesus! and "He looked into her soul!" and "she felt it in that quiet place in her heart" I promise, non-Christians don't look at Christians and think "There's something different about his eyes... the way they sparkle"

-the idea that A-list movie stars spend all their time by themselves, consumed with tabloids and never going out

-the idea that if Katie reaaalllly was passionate about acting... you act for the love of the craft, it's what drives you. Katie never says anything about loving to act. She is driven by fear ("What if I move to Hollywood? OH NO! There will be drugs and paparazzi!!"), when, if God is on her side, wouldn't she be able to avoid temptations? Furthermore, does she not realize the good she could do as a Christian in the limelight? How many people she could minister to? What a good role model she could be? No. She just runs home to Bloomington, where it is safe. (that might be a spoiler, but it's nothing a 9-year-old wouldn't have been able to figure out was going to happen after the first chapter)

-this is a romantic comedy that Katie is slated to star in with this 'leading man!' and she says there is nothing objectionable in it at all! riiiight... how many modern, box-office hit, romantic comedies have no swearing, no making out, and no pre-marital sex?

-actors do not hand-pick their co-stars. there are casting directors and panels

-A-list stars do not come in for auditions; they are offered the parts, begged to do the movies. no one turns them down.

-when it comes to the contract, Katie would have a lawyer and the contract/business side would not go through her potential co-star. are you kidding me?!

mostly, the writing is really, really, really bad. To the point that there are sentences that are just plain gramatically incorrect. The characters are all stereotypes (Sweet, quiet midwestern Christian girl who always does the right thing. Go Team Jesus!) and are not at all developed. Karen Kingsbury just writes about things she has no knowledge of, but she likes to imagine how they are... thus, her stories are based on stereotypes, misconceptions, and ignorance.

My favorite author is Jodi Picoult. Her writing is breathtaking, and her characters are so developed that reading about their heartaches makes your own chest tighten, and her storylines are complex, non-formulaic, and not predictable. My Sister's Keeper is my favorite book by her. There is zero comparison between authors like Picoult and Janet Finch (White Oleander) and Curtis Sittenfeld (Prep) and Karen Kingsbury.

I can't say enough what a bad writer Karen Kingsbury is. She writes series because that's where the money is, and she is in the Christian market, because there's no way her writing would cut it mainstream. I've read two and a half of her books (I couldn't get through the last one because the poor quality of writing always puts me in a bad mood), and in the world of literature, they're complete jokes

I bought this book by chance. When I started reading I could not put it down. Karen has the great talent in narrating to make me see clear picture as I was in the scene with the charactors. For example I cried
when Ashley made herself a cup of tea and made another one for her mom wishing she was there with her. It totally captured my heart I also lost my mom and what Ashley thought made me surprised ,it seemed real to me.
I stay in Bangkok , Thailand , here I cannot find Karen Kingsbury works even in big bookstores so I ordered redemption series and first born series from amazon.com. Thank you, without you I wouldn't have a chance to read such wonderful books.

I just loved the Redemption series and this first book in the Firstborn series looks like it's going to be great as well. I recommend starting with the Redemption books and moving on to this one!

Good clean reading. Makes you want to go on to the next one right away.

Karen Kingsbury has done it again. Everytime I read one book, I anticipate another episode to make me think twice and draws me closer to the love of God. My whole life started changing as I read the Redemption series. I am on my 14th book and each one makes me laugh, cry and think Oh how marvelous it is to have Christ in my life.

Karen Kingsbury has done it again. Everytime I read one book, I anticipate another episode to make me think twice and draws me closer to the love of God. My whole life started changing as I read the Redemption series. I am on my 14th book and each one makes me laugh, cry and think Oh how marvelous it is to have Christ in my life.

I have read the Redemption series and am now reading the Firstborn series. Each book is better than the last. I am anxiously looking forward to the next release. I would highly recommend these books!

I loved it. I was sad when she finished the series about the Baxter family. I picked up Forgiven and then realized I had missed the first in a new series. Of course, I had to go back and get Fame. My only complaint is that Katy Hart's name was Jami Hart in the original series!

I loved it. I was sad when she finished the series about the Baxter family. I picked up Forgiven and then realized I had missed the first in a new series. Of course, I had to go back and get Fame. My only complaint is that Katy Hart's name was Jami Hart in the original series!

Another AWESOME book from my favorite author, Karen Kingsbury. She never ceases to amaze me and she captures my attention from page 1. When I read her stories, I get so involved in them, it's like I know the characters personally!!! Strongly recommend...but you would do yourself justice to start with her Redemption series. Although, you don't need to read the previous ones in order to follow this book and fall in love with it!

Another AWESOME book from my favorite author, Karen Kingsbury. She never ceases to amaze me and she captures my attention from page 1. When I read her stories, I get so involved in them, it's like I know the characters personally!!! Strongly recommend...but you would do yourself justice to start with her Redemption series. Although, you don't need to read the previous ones in order to follow this book and fall in love with it!

Karen Kingsbury is an excellent writer. I have read her entire Redemption series, and passed each book onto friends. We all highly anticipated every issue and were always pleased with each one. I am sooooo happy she didn't stop with the Redemption series but allowed her readers to continue enjoying the lives of these characters with the firstborn series. I will continue to purchase whatever she writes.

Thank you!!!! Another book from Karen Kingsbury, who left us with "The Redemption Series" wondering what do we do now? Here it is. More answer's and then more question's added to this continuing "Baxter family" who we all cried with, lived with, and grieved with. I can't seem to get them read fast enough, for the rest of my family who are waiting in the wing's. The weave of morality through this book, is done in only the way Karen Kingsbury can do this. No hold's barred, she tell's it like it is, and you live though these people's live's with them. When you think you have it figured out, you don't. Waiting for the next one!!!!!!!

While I own quite a few of Karen Kingsbury's novels, this is the first I've read because the storyline drew me in. It was exciting from the first page. While getting to know the characters I discovered that some had their own stories, which resolved in earlier books, and that intrigued me. Now I feel like I need to backtrack and read the others as well. I really enjoyed getting to know Dayne and Katy. Even though Dayne is lost, he longs for real love. He just doesn't know what it is or where to find it. I experienced his struggles with him and found them to be very true-to-life. Her portrayal of temptation and a life involving casual sex was believable as well as Katy's struggle with wanting fame, but discovering that ultimately it wasn't what she really wanted. She stayed true to her faith and I think in the long run that will be what leads Dayne to the Lord. This book inspired me immensely and I can't wait for Forgiven to come out in the Fall. I'VE GOTTA GET IT!

Karen Kingsbury is truly an allstar in Christian fiction Series.
FAME, the first in the FIRSTBORN series is a great way of continuing the Baxter Family story from the REDEMPTION Series.
Dayne Matthews is truly a character that once you start reading FAME, you will be cheering him on to find the right diretion for his life.
FAME is a "you do not want to put the book down, till I am done"
read. I did not want to put it down!
I can not wait for the next book in the series.

this book continues the story of the Baxter family and their adopted son Dayne. there are alot of unanswered questions at the end of this book and we are left waiting for the next book. It helped to have read the Baxter series but is not necessary to understand most of what is happening in this book. I recommend this book and all of Kingsburys books, they are all good reading

If you loved the Redemption Series (how could you not?) then you will love Fame. It continues on with the story of the Baxter family. A story that could keep going forever!!!!!!!!

Building on the characters she created in her popular Redemption series, author Kingsbury introduces a new progression in the Baxter family drama, Firstborn.

As in her other stories, the latest clips along at a fast pace ably abetted by a fine reading by Sandra Burr. Although she first stepped on a stage as a child, it was in college that Burr discovered her liking for a microphone. Since then she has done numerous voice rolls from commercials to audio books. She's especially adept at romantic stories, and shines in the latest by Kingsbury.

With the initial offering in the Firstborn series, Fame, we meet Hollywood's No. 1 box office draw, Dayne Matthews. We never quite learn what his attraction is for the town of Bloomington, Indiana, but there he is and that's where he first sees Katy Hart, pretty young director of the local children's theatre.

Katy once had other aspirations - she wanted to be a famous actress, but she's found fulfillment and happiness in her work with the children's theatre. Then, she receives a surprising offer that could change her life forever, and perhaps make her old dreams come true.

The chance to star opposite Dayne in his next Hollywood film sounds too good to be true, but stardom with its attendant pitfalls may be more than the two of them have bargained for.

Romance listeners will throughly enjoy.

- Gail Cooke