Fifteen Minutes

A Novel

By: Karen Kingsbury

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

#1 New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury shows why she is America’s favorite inspirational novelist with this dramatic story about character, compromise, and the cost of having it all.

Zack Dylan has a dream. He wants to sing on the biggest stages, for the biggest crowds, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make it come true. But Zack also made a promise to his college sweetheart when he left Kentucky to compete on the popular TV show Fifteen Minutes: If he made it, nothing would change him or his faith in God.

Overnight, Zack becomes the nation’s most popular contestant, a country singer comparable to a young Tim McGraw. As his star rises, Zack is often asked to compromise and quiet his beliefs. Just as he’s on the verge of winning it all, his choices lead him to the brink of personal disaster. Meanwhile, a former Fifteen Minutes winner is searching for meaning amidst her own private losses. Can she warn Zack about the real price of fame? Or will Zack lose everything he loves for his fifteen minutes of glory?

From the novelist dubbed the "Queen of Christian Fiction" by Time magazine, Fifteen Minutes explores the cost of fame and celebrity set against the backdrop of America’s favorite singing competition.

©2013 Karen Kingsbury (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Keeping True

A bit predictable, but a good story with an important message. Likeable characters who are nicely developed. A great way to make good use of a long ride.

Realistic and entertaining

I like that it is a work of fiction that could be reality on a TV program.

This should be in any collection

If you could sum up Fifteen Minutes in three words, what would they be?

Surprising,heart-breaking and well-written

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would let each chapter be told by a different character. This should be a series. The last filthy minutes tried to wrap it up too fast. This book should be required reading in this day and age.

Which scene was your favorite?

The heartbreaking song to the girl he loves

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes: When he saw what he lost

Any additional comments?

Do not let my rating hold you back. It is painfully true. Sadly too short.

Great story!

Karen Kingsbury never disappoints! I've listened to almost all of her books. I highly recommend any book written by her. This story was great. Kept you interested the entire time. I enjoyed it!

Good but Predictable

I love Karen Kingsbury books and I’ve read many of them. This is definitely a good book, but it was a little too predictable. I knew pretty much from the beginning what would happen.

Great story

The story of the book was great. The reader was great. I love Karen Kingsbury books. The only thing I did not like was the length of the book. It moved too slowly and drawn out.

Needed a woman's voice

Not real crazy about a guy's voice for narrator and thought the story jumped around too much with the characters.

Definitely Not the Ending I expected!

What made the experience of listening to Fifteen Minutes the most enjoyable?

It was so true and applied to many different things in life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course Zach! He tried hard to stay true but the temptation of life plays its part.

Have you listened to any of Kirby Heyborne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I really, really enjoyed this narrator. Good tone of voice and he had great emphasize over the material.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When he finally realizes what he has done and lost.

Any additional comments?

An excellent listen and I highly reccomend it.

A valuable lesson for us all.

Loved this story of faith, trials, success, failures, truth and family. Especially loved the storyline of God's calling, purpose and guidance in our daily lives.

Favorite Christian Fiction Author

Karen’s books are always a joy to read or listen to. So glad a friend introduced me to her novels a few years ago.
This book encourages us to self reflect on how easy to get caught up or tempted in today’s world instead of focusing on our walk with Jesus and protecting the relationships with those we hold most dear.