Fame

by Susan X. Meagher

Piper Campbell has spent the last fifteen years of her life raising her younger sister. Charlie is now an adult—and on the brink of stardom. Piper has done her very best to keep Charlie’s feet firmly planted on the ground, but she worries the temptation to become a diva will be too strong to resist.

Haley Dillon could give Charlie an earful. When she was a young woman, she got involved with a break-out star and was quickly swept up into the maelstrom of her celebrity. Vowing to keep her distance from anyone connected to the spotlight, she finds herself once again enmeshed when Charlie’s world sucks her into its orbit.

Piper swears she can keep her head even as she’s recruited into Charlie’s retinue, but Haley has been burned too many times to believe the vow of a woman who hasn’t yet experienced the seductive, entrancing power of Fame.

Genres: LGBT, Romance, Celebrity, Lesbian, Lesbian Romance

458 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 2017

About the author

Susan X Meagher was born in southern Illinois and grew up in East St Louis. She attended college in Chicago and started her working career there. She and her partner moved to the Los Angeles area in the late 80's. It was there that she started to write. Her first few books were simply posted on the web and became the I Found My Heart in San Francisco series. In 2002 she moved to New York and divides her time between Manhattan and the Jersey Shore. She has published thirteen books in the series and has gone on to write many individual books as well. She has partnered with other authors on two short story books and has written many stories that have been published in other mainstream anthologies. Susan is active in the lesbian author community and loves to attend Women's week at Provincetown and the GCLS annual conventions. Her stories revolve around the relationships that two women can build when given a chance and how those relationships can strengthen the individual and the partnership. Her genre is lesbian romance/fiction and she believes strongly in the happy ending that we all so deserve. Susan X Meagher was awarded a 2011 Lesbian Fiction Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite Lesbian Fiction Writer. She is the recipient of the 2014 Alice B. Medal for her body of work.

From the author's website: I live in New York with my spouse, Carrie. We've lived in Chicago and Los Angeles for significant periods, but New York fits us very well. I love to discuss my work and fiction in general. My goal in writing is to explore feelings. I want to entertain, but I also want to make people think. I've heard that life is all about finding out who we are. To me, life if about finding out who other people are. I'm interested in the small details of life, that's how a story about two young women in college is slowly becoming a 26 book series. The joke in Seinfield was that it was about nothing. I feel the same about most of my books. They are about the many things that happen when nothing is happening. The small joys and sorrows of everyday life can be fascinating, especially if you care about the people involved. I try to create characters that will make a reader care deeply. I'm always interested in hearing how close I am to that goal. So please drop me a line whenever you have a comment or a question about a story. Writing is a pretty solitary pursuit and it's great to know that I'm not alone.

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is only the second book I’ve read by this author and there’s no doubt about it, she’s a gifted story teller.

Fame took off in many different directions yet never lost its flow. The three main characters, Piper, Charlie, and Haley, are fully fleshed out heroines and each of them likeable for various different reasons.

My heart went out to Piper for taking on the role of parent and the sacrifices that involved. Charlie, her younger sister and up and coming star, is very intelligent in one sense yet incredibly naive in others. The love between the sisters, even when they clashed, was palpable.

Haley, be still my heart. Gosh, the woman endured a lot. I loved her handling of animals and totally got her aloofness toward Charlie when she first arrived on the island. For a long time, I didn’t know if the rift between the two leads would mend.

There’s a huge focus of film sets and I found myself intrigued but the inner workings, and politics that involved. The author either has a working knowledge of such or has done an impressive amount of research. The scandal that ensued was more than believable and I can firmly state acting is not a career I’d ever want to pursue or be envious of.

Readers who are fans of Susan X Meagher, or well-written lesfic in general, are bound to enjoy this story.

[Les Rêveur · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, as with most of Susan X Meagher novels, it is written very eloquently and she must spend a lot of time researching topics because there is always a wealth of knowledge in her novels, ergo I learn something new every time I read her books- in fact if she ever needs a research assistant I'd be the first in line to hand over my resume.
Secondly the length of the novels that Susan writes are longer than the norm for Lesbian Fiction books but why is this a positive for me when I can't stand long books in main stream? Well for one, the books never drag and normally I feel like the story is done right with all avenues explored but not to the detriment of the book. Also, when I finish one of Susan's novel I always feel like it's complete and I don't need anymore from the story for the happy ending to appease me. All that included, the pace and eloquent writing that takes place makes her one of the best authors in Lesbian Fiction todayand one of my favourites without a doubt.

The two main protagonists in this books really charmed me from the beginning. Both from humble backgrounds but forced into the spotlight of fame and fortune. It's a story about realising that sometimes you don't have to choose between love and obligation. The story had it's usually angst filled moments but also some of the most tender and loving moments that really captured my heart.

I must also mention that the secondary characters really stood out for me in this novel, especially Charlie's little dog.

Very excited to see what's coming next.
5 stars

[Pippa D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally love Meagher's work, but I struggled with this one. I wasn't that interested in the characters, and for the first time in Meagher's work, I wanted her to get to the point. It felt too long. I know Meagher does a huge amount of research, and this did feel like a different take on the hollywood romance sub-genre, but it didn't work well for me at all.

I hate to say it, but try any of her other books. 'Chef's Special' was a 5 star rating from me, and I'll definitely be reading it again, so try that one.

[Val · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here comes a review that I feel a bit guilty about. I did not connect with these characters at all and I didn't finish the book. I LOVE Susan X. Meagher books and I was sorely disappointed. Thank goodness this wasn't the first book I read by her. Sorry Susan but I have to be honest. On the up side I'll continue to read her books because they're typically excellent.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest Susan X. Meagher was good, not her absolute best but very enjoyable. Bookclub buddie D. and me had a great time reading about hairstylist Piper, her younger sister Charlie the actress and animal trainer Haley. Susan Meagher always keeps you entertained but sometimes I think she tortures her readers a bit too long as was the case here. At some point I really wanted to shake some sense into Haley :-) 4.5 stars for the great story (life on set of a Hollywood movie is always interesting to read about).

[Heinerway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great novel by Susan X Meagher. Nothing more and nothing less.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always get to the end of a Susan X Meagher book wishing there was a little more in the story. I really loved the tidal pool scene. Having been to Hawaii a couple of times, this scene really made me want to go back again. Exploring the beauty of the islands is the best part of being there.

[~ * K E L L I E * ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Eugenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must be reading another book based on the reviews. I like Meagher's books, in fact, one of my favorite, Chef's Special, was the reason I bought Fame. I found it so boring that I just skipped whole chapters. Charlie is a spoiled brat, Piper a total idiot and Haley a puppet. I couldn't wait to be done with it. I hope Ms. Meagher gets back to writing better books such as Inside Out.

[Melomaniac · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am in love with piper campbell . best sister , kinda best mother too . haley seemed good in beginning , her reasoning was justified but till end she started irritating me . charlie seems sweet sometimes , sometimes selfish but in the end her love for piper wins me over . the ending is good , the book was long but wasn't boring at all

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

I loved Fame. Wow! Excellent book. Once again Susan X Meagher takes us on a fabulous journey. The inside look at the movie industry combined with a beautiful love story makes for another great book.

[anne jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointed with this one from SXM .and was so looking forward to it ,definitely not up to par but that said still a pleasant read .

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the reviews I didn't want to read the book, but I'm glad I did. I liked it enough to leave a review, kind of lame (the review, not the book) but I made an effort

[Coldwonderland · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this was a story written by the author in 2007, I would be forgiving, but 2017? the whole storyline is so confusing