Star Struck

Julian Karr (nee Julius Kaminsky) is an irresistible force sweeping the world before him. It makes no matter how many immovable objects he encounters in this venture, he'll just make everyone love him, and that will solve all the problems. It does seem to work that way, for the most part, in this terrific, engaging tsunami of a novel about power brokers in New York and Los Angeles, with a brief stopoff in Las Vegas. Obviously, this book was written by an insider, who willingly opens all the doors to bring you right inside along with her. Abby Tyler has a secret in her past, but who doesn't? She needs to find a place to live when she first arrives to NY, and is drawn by an ad for an apparently affordable studio apartment in the Village. The townhouse is owned by Peter Rossano, who is bowled over by Abby's innocence. He sweeps her off her feet, introducing her to a world she'd never even dreamed about, perviously. Abby wants to be a writer, and discovers-only after she's moved in to the studio-that Peter is an accomplished, produced playwright. Unwittingly, he destroys their enchanted world when he takes some of her writing to his own agent, who works for Julian. Under Abby's influence, Peter writes a stunning new play, but disaster strikes on the opening night, when he receives a message and leaves immediately for Las Vegas. Julian thus meets Abby for the first time, and is immediately smitten with her. Six weeks later, they marry. Of course, Julian has a secret as did Peter. In fact, I do believe that everyone in this book has at least one BIG secret. The story which began in New York, moves to Los Angeles after Julian and Abby are married, when he buys a controlling interest in a failing movie studio. It almost appears that a major rule in life is-think BIG!!! Certainly, this story is big in every way. It's very difficult to put the book down for any length of time, and it just engulfs you, zipping along toward the chaotic ending. It's full of big names and characters, each of whom are a fascinating blend of two or three folks who inhabited the headlines some thirty or so years ago. It's bigger-than-life. It's colossal! You'll be starstruck, too!