Limelight by Melody Carlson

Limelight tells the story of aging Hollywood actress, Claudette. Her husband passed away leaving her with an accountant who padded his own wallet with their money.

Now she has to move back to her mother's old rustic house and learn how to fend for herself.

Claudette and her sister haven't spoken in years and she isn't going to be the one to make new friends.

How will the fading starlett survive on her own?

I didn't know what to expect with this book. I would say it's written for women. I wasn't too thrilled with it.

About halfway through the story I thought it may turn into a twist-and-turn story where the main character only thought she was a Hollywood actress when, in reality, she was really just a woman dealing with dementia.

This is not the case.

The story isn't exactly the most fun to read (but I'm a guy so take this review as a grain of salt) but the ending is a gut-retching surprise...


This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Diary of a Teenage Girl: What Matters Most by Melody Carlson

Reading the last book of a 16 book series isn't the wisest of choices. Especially having not read any of the previous titles.

What Matters Most tells the story of teenager, Maya who is dealing with figuring out who she is and wants to be.

She has broken up with her boyfriend, yet remains friends. Maya is always having to put out friendship fires.

First a girl thinks Maya's trying to steal her ex-boyfriend. Then Maya's ex-boyfriend gets jealous of how much time she spends with this other guy.

It's quite confusing, being a teenage girl. Drama, drama, drama.

Maya has been learning guitar and decides to perform at an open mic night. Also playing is an all-girl band whose members are looking for a replacement. Maya is that person.

She joins the band and heads off on a tour.

Before all this happens, her mother gets out of jail and tries to mooch whatever she can from her starlet daughter.

But being in the band isn't exactly what Maya wants to do.

How in the world will she ever decide what to do?

This is the diary of a teenage girl.

Drama, drama, drama.

A bonus to the drama: after each chapter diary entry, you get a short tip on how to be environmentally minded with things you can do to keep the world clean.



This book was provided for review by WaterBrooke Multnomah Publishing Group