Contemporary fiction at its best! "Fading Starlight" by Kathryn Cushman

about the book....

When Her Big Shot Blows Up on Her, 

How Far Will One Woman Go to Regain Her Dream?

Lauren Summers is in hiding. Her fashion house internship was supposed to launch her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she can find comes with little pay, but at least it offers a free place to live--a rundown cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Planning to live on savings until she figures out what's next, she's unprepared to be contacted by a reporter.

Kendall Joiner is researching Charlotte Montgomery, a former Hollywood ingénue who lives a reclusive life in the cliff-side mansion. Rumors have swirled for decades about Charlotte, and now Kendall wants to find the real story. In return, she may just have the key to getting Lauren back into the fashion world. Desperate to get her life back on track, Lauren's not sure she can turn down the offer--but as she and Miss Montgomery get to know more about each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.

my review....

Kathryn Cushman continues to be one of my favourite authors of contemporary fiction, with "Fading Starlight" providing another solid addition to her repertoire of novels. Lauren Summers is a remarkable character, and I was immediately caught up in her story as her fashion house internship mishap destroys her career dreams and she has to forge a new path. Lauren is a compelling character with deep strength, and I loved watching her tackle a new adventure in redefining her dreams. The unlikely friendship she ends up striking with the reclusive elderly Charlotte makes for some highly entertaining reading, and one that ends up being all the more sweeter for the bumps they experience along with the way. As secrets begin to come to light, I found myself racing through the pages of this well-plotted novel to see how everything would resolve. I especially appreciate the sure hand Cushman uses in developing Lauren's relationship with Cody, as she deftly draws them closer together without any over-the-top romance. Rather than Lauren being a character who needs rescuing from a man, Lauren finds her strength and healing in a place of surrender in her relationship with God, and then is able to discover the love that Cody offers from the place of wholeness she has started towards. I greatly enjoyed how Cushman effortlessly wove spiritual themes into this story and challenged me in my own walk with God. And I must say that, though I usually have no interest in fashion of any kind, I greatly enjoyed watching Lauren use the gifts God had given her to bring beauty and blessing into the lives of others.

"Fading Starlight" is, quite simply, contemporary fiction at its best. Fans of Kathryn Cushman are going to love her latest novel, and will be eagerly waiting for what she will offer up next! I award this novel 4.5 out of 5 novels.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 about the author....

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the acclaimed author of over a half-dozen novels, including  Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. Kathryn and her family make their home in Santa Barbara, California.

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