"Spotlight" and "Glamour"

“Spotlight” (October 2010) is Book 4 in Melody Carlson’s On the Runway series. “Glamour” is Book 5 (February 2011). The teen fiction series spotlights sisters Paige and Erin Forrester. It is told from the viewpoint of Erin, recently out of high school. She finds herself in the bustling world of fashion thanks to her very fashion-conscious sister, Paige, who is a year older.

            Paige is a fashionista and self-proclaimed fashion expert. She is the host of her own popular reality show: “On the Runway.” Tall, with blond hair and blue eyes, Paige looks like a model herself and studies fashion as diligently as students attending Juilliard practice their talents. She thrives on being in the spotlight so much so that if she feels focus on her is becoming stagnant, she will do something to stir chatter up. Erin has determined her sister to be an attention addict. And, with all the attention going to her head, Paige can be a hoity toity, spoiled young brat.

            Erin, in some ways, is a complete opposite of Paige. She’s brunette and petite and would rather be behind the camera than in front of it. Unlike her sister, news of the fashion world is not of much interest. She avoids blogs, fashion chats and reality TV. She is a Christian-centered girl, though she admits that her faith is ever a work in progress. This is especially true in dealings with her sister, who is quite the prima donna.

            In “Spotlight,” the show is off to London to take in British fashion. Their trip begins on a sour note outside the May Fair Hotel with an encounter with the British paparazzi, many of whom are assumptive, supercilious and downright rude. Suddenly the British tabloids are targeting Paige in a libelous way. Do their untruths affect Paige’s outlook that any publicity is just publicity? What can Erin do to help?

            [SPOILER ALERT] Paige’s engagement has gotten the fashion world buzzing in “Glamour.” She is over-the-moon happy. The girls are also celebrating with their mom, who is newly remarried. Erin; however, feels like the odd girl out. She is struggling with her feelings for her friend, Blake. She is uncertain whether she wants to be more than friends

            The two girls, as different as night and day, but always sisters, find themselves in the Bahamas this time around for their TV show “On the Runway.” Erin is going to find that she really enjoys eco fashion and steps up in front of the camera to conduct those interviews. Is she finally finding her niche since she deferred her time at film school to help with the show?

            I chose these books not knowing anything about the series or author. I was surprised to learn of their Christian theme. Yes, Erin does pray, goes to church and works to live a faith-filled life, but she also struggles. Carlson does a nice job meshing the busy, high octane world of fashion with Erin’s Christian values and ideals.

            The first books in this series are: “Premiere,” “Catwalk” and “Rendezvous.” The sixth and concluding book in the series is “Ciao.” In addition, I did not feel frustratingly lost not having read the first three books, but I would encourage others to start from the beginning if they have an interest in this series.