Book Review: Premiere by Melody Carlson

 
Premiere by Melody Carlson (On The Runway #1)

Publisher: Zondervan

Publish Date: May 7, 2010

Paperback, 310 pages

My Review:
Why I read this:  I received a copy of this from the publisher (Zondervan) through FIRST Wild Card Tours. I have read other Melody Carlson books and really enjoyed them so I wanted to try out this new series.  I love sewing and fashion so I thought this series would be a perfect fit.

How is the novel driven:I think this first book is mainly character-driven.  There is a lot of getting to know Paige and Erin and some of their friends (and frenemies) around them.  There is a great plot as well that helps move the story along but I'll go with the characters being front and center in this one.

My thoughts:
A fun and thoughtful book.  I really enjoyed a look at two ordinary girls who are suddenly thrust into the spotlight.  I also loved that one had the looks and the other had the brains, but eventually the both found they had some of both.  The story is mainly told from Erin's  point of view, but Faith is the sister that seems to make things happen, and Erin has to come to terms with this.  Erin is the only Christian in the family but her mom and sister do have values at heart, her sister just has to learn from her mistakes. Faith loves to be in front of the camera and Erin wants to be behind it, but Erin has a very savvy way of making things work out for both sisters.

I enjoyed the aspects of the girls joining the reality show "Malibu Beach" to up the publicity and interest in their show and I love how Erin reacts to all that is going on around her.  It's a very interesting look at how reality is staged (like we didn't know that) to get viewers and interest.

It's a fun book and it reads quickly.  I am looking forward to starting Catwalk in the next few days and seeing what happens to Erin and Faith next.   There is romance, the chance to meet stars, lessons learned and so much more packed into this book.  I think fans of Melody Carlson will really enjoy it and look forward to learning more about Erin and Faith and their show On the Runway.

One thing I really loved:  The Barbie descriptions of the two sisters in the Prologue - it really did describe them and it was cute and funny.


My Rating:  4.0/5.0

About the Book:
A recipe for success or a design for disaster? Although they're sisters, Paige and Erin Forrester are like oil and water, night and day, denim and silk. Paige is an outgoing fashionista who loves to be the center of attention, while Erin is more comfortable sporting vintage garb and recording the action around her. When a near disaster turns into the opportunity of a lifetime, these two very-different sisters are given the chance to star in their own fashion-TV show. A guest spot on a hot teen-reality series and their first big red-carpet assignment give this unlikely partnership plenty of room for success---and even more for failure.

About the Author:
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. 'I think real-life experiences inspire the best fiction,' she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.


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For more information see my tour post here.

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher through FIRST Wild Card Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.