Tracey Bateman Catch a Rising Star

Catch a Rising Star

Tracey Bateman

Faith Words (Hatchette), Jul 2007, $12.99

ISBN: 9780446698931

Tabby Brockman worked for five years as a star of the number one soap opera Legacy of Life. She has an affair with her on-screen husband actor Trey O'Dell whom she thinks might be her Mr. Right until she learns he lied about his marital status as he is married to the soap's head writer Julie Foster. Julie has Tabby's character killed off. Now she spends time as Peter Cottontail being abused by children.

Following emergency appendicitis in which she thanks God for saving her life, her friend Freddie arranges for her return to the soap. She leaps at the opportunity although she fears the tension. However when she meets widower stage dad David Gray, the father of her preadolescent soap opera twins children, she finds herself attracted though wary of the kids. Still since she found the Lord, Tabby feels he will guide her to do the right thing with the three Grays.

The first Drama Queens tale is an amusing inspirational chick lit romance starring a likable though non-assertive lead female and a strong support cast. The story line is fun to follow as Tabby struggles with being "killed", an appendicitis, and much more until she turns to religion for solace. Fans will root for her as she brings her beliefs to the soaps even while the audience hopes she miraculously grows a spinal column.

Harriet Klausner