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Superstar
A secret kept can be like a poison, destroying love, life, and passion. In Superstar , Victoria Gotti -- author of two sensational thrillers, The Senator's Daughter and I'll Be Watching You -- reaches chilling new heights as she offers the story of Cassidy and Chelsea, two baby girls born ten minutes apart, who grow up in different worlds but are victims of the same horrible crime.
Cassidy is Hollywood royalty and a top Hollywood executive. Beautiful and radiantly healthy, Cassidy is producing the film of her lifetime, a film that will either make her career or ruin her father's studio.
Chelsea has dreams of being an actress. Living on the brink of poverty, she gets the break of her life. She is finally going to be discovered, but what price is she willing to pay for fame?
Now these two women's lives are about to collide, and when they do decades-old secrets, secrets kept despite scandal, heartbreak, and murder, will finally be revealed. Neither Cassidy nor Chelsea could ever have imagined what passions or treachery could be exposed, and how both of their lives will be changed forever.
Superstar is a smart, fast-paced Hollywood thriller unlike any you've ever read before. It's a delicious treat for anyone who's been looking for the next author in the tradition of Sidney Sheldon and Mary Higgins Clark.
Cassidy is Hollywood royalty and a top Hollywood executive. Beautiful and radiantly healthy, Cassidy is producing the film of her lifetime, a film that will either make her career or ruin her father's studio.
Chelsea has dreams of being an actress. Living on the brink of poverty, she gets the break of her life. She is finally going to be discovered, but what price is she willing to pay for fame?
Now these two women's lives are about to collide, and when they do decades-old secrets, secrets kept despite scandal, heartbreak, and murder, will finally be revealed. Neither Cassidy nor Chelsea could ever have imagined what passions or treachery could be exposed, and how both of their lives will be changed forever.
Superstar is a smart, fast-paced Hollywood thriller unlike any you've ever read before. It's a delicious treat for anyone who's been looking for the next author in the tradition of Sidney Sheldon and Mary Higgins Clark.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 19, 2012
The night film legend Lana Turmaine gave birth to a baby girl, a pediatric nurse was paid handsomely to switch the sickly child’s ankle bracelet with another baby’s, altering the destinies of the two girls born that day. The baby Lana and Roger Turmaine brought home was raised a princess in a Beverly Hills mansion and lived a fairy tale life until she was 10, when her mother was brutally murdered and her father went to prison for the crime. Cassidy grew up feeling responsible for sending her father to prison with her testimony from that night, and when he is later exonerated, he deepens those feelings by refusing any contact with her. She changes her last name to English and moves to New York, where she does very well as a television producer until, one day, she receives a summons from her father.
Meanwhile, Lana Turmaine’s real baby was raised in squalor by a single mother. Chelsea Hutton had a number of both medical and psychological issues, which only served to make her mother more bitter. When she goes in for life-saving surgery, the doctor discovers that she is not Maria Hutton’s biological child, and they find out that her real father is Roger Turmaine, a famous Hollywood producer. Roger, however, coldly will not acknowledge her, so after her mother’s death, Chelsea gathers the evidence her mother had hidden away and sets out on a plan of vengeance. She’s off her meds, and the voices are calling.
As luck would have it, Chelsea was an actress, sleeping her way into bit parts, when finally her chance to right the wrongs arrives. Roger Turmaine summons his son Jonathan and daughter Cassidy after he has a heart attack. With his failing health, he can no longer produce his movie, Dangerous Intentions, destined to be a blockbuster if they can get it filmed. Jonathan is dismayed when Roger chooses Cassidy to take over his production company, refusing to see how his alcohol and drug abuse contributed to his father’s decision. Despite their history, Cass finds she cannot say no to her father, and she soon finds herself at the helm of a movie that’s about to start shooting.
Chelsea uses her influence with the head and owner of Colossal Studios, Jack Cavelli, and gets herself the lead role in Dangerous Intentions by promising to spy on the production. She gets insanely jealous when Jack loses interest in her because he appears to be falling for Cassidy. Cass isn’t sure what to make of Jack Cavelli. There is definitely chemistry between them, but since a bad experience in her youth, she has let no man too close. Besides, she has been warned away from him by his most bitter enemy, her father.
Meanwhile, the specter of Lana Turmaine’s murderer is still out there somewhere, and someone is playing nasty tricks on Cass, going as far as sabotaging production of the movie. Is it her grudge-holding elder brother who has always resented her? Is it Chelsea Hutton, who seems to have an unhealthy fixation on Cass’ dead mother? Is it Jack Cavelli, whose attempts at romance might only be part of a bigger, devious plan? Even Roger looks suspicious, as well as Cass’ sometime lover Rudolpho, whom she hired to direct the film. While they all somehow take part in the filming of Dangerous Intentions, Chelsea gets ready to reveal her secret at just the right moment to destroy her usurper, and someone else plans the demise of Lana Turmaine’s daughter.
Though she’s not Jackie Collins, Victoria Gotti still writes a good glam thriller, and these days, they’re pretty thin on the ground. There were a few sloppy detail mix-ups and inconsistencies a good editor should have caught, and the plot could have been a little tighter, but those things did not detract from a compelling read. Cass was a trifle too perfect, but she was still a likeable character, devoid of ego. Chelsea is an off-the-charts lunatic, a slut, and a horrible mother, but because of the way she was wronged and her mental condition, she does earn a drop of sympathy, but no more. I can’t say I cared too much for the men. Roger Turmaine and Jack Cavelli are both too hard and cold, objectifying women and tossing them aside. They were the alpha males. The others were weak. Even so, it was easy to get caught up in the drama of these characters’ lives, and of course, try to figure out who killed Lana Turmaine. Victoria Gotti definitely has more going for her than a notorious name and a reality show. She can write, too.
Meanwhile, Lana Turmaine’s real baby was raised in squalor by a single mother. Chelsea Hutton had a number of both medical and psychological issues, which only served to make her mother more bitter. When she goes in for life-saving surgery, the doctor discovers that she is not Maria Hutton’s biological child, and they find out that her real father is Roger Turmaine, a famous Hollywood producer. Roger, however, coldly will not acknowledge her, so after her mother’s death, Chelsea gathers the evidence her mother had hidden away and sets out on a plan of vengeance. She’s off her meds, and the voices are calling.
As luck would have it, Chelsea was an actress, sleeping her way into bit parts, when finally her chance to right the wrongs arrives. Roger Turmaine summons his son Jonathan and daughter Cassidy after he has a heart attack. With his failing health, he can no longer produce his movie, Dangerous Intentions, destined to be a blockbuster if they can get it filmed. Jonathan is dismayed when Roger chooses Cassidy to take over his production company, refusing to see how his alcohol and drug abuse contributed to his father’s decision. Despite their history, Cass finds she cannot say no to her father, and she soon finds herself at the helm of a movie that’s about to start shooting.
Chelsea uses her influence with the head and owner of Colossal Studios, Jack Cavelli, and gets herself the lead role in Dangerous Intentions by promising to spy on the production. She gets insanely jealous when Jack loses interest in her because he appears to be falling for Cassidy. Cass isn’t sure what to make of Jack Cavelli. There is definitely chemistry between them, but since a bad experience in her youth, she has let no man too close. Besides, she has been warned away from him by his most bitter enemy, her father.
Meanwhile, the specter of Lana Turmaine’s murderer is still out there somewhere, and someone is playing nasty tricks on Cass, going as far as sabotaging production of the movie. Is it her grudge-holding elder brother who has always resented her? Is it Chelsea Hutton, who seems to have an unhealthy fixation on Cass’ dead mother? Is it Jack Cavelli, whose attempts at romance might only be part of a bigger, devious plan? Even Roger looks suspicious, as well as Cass’ sometime lover Rudolpho, whom she hired to direct the film. While they all somehow take part in the filming of Dangerous Intentions, Chelsea gets ready to reveal her secret at just the right moment to destroy her usurper, and someone else plans the demise of Lana Turmaine’s daughter.
Though she’s not Jackie Collins, Victoria Gotti still writes a good glam thriller, and these days, they’re pretty thin on the ground. There were a few sloppy detail mix-ups and inconsistencies a good editor should have caught, and the plot could have been a little tighter, but those things did not detract from a compelling read. Cass was a trifle too perfect, but she was still a likeable character, devoid of ego. Chelsea is an off-the-charts lunatic, a slut, and a horrible mother, but because of the way she was wronged and her mental condition, she does earn a drop of sympathy, but no more. I can’t say I cared too much for the men. Roger Turmaine and Jack Cavelli are both too hard and cold, objectifying women and tossing them aside. They were the alpha males. The others were weak. Even so, it was easy to get caught up in the drama of these characters’ lives, and of course, try to figure out who killed Lana Turmaine. Victoria Gotti definitely has more going for her than a notorious name and a reality show. She can write, too.
August 5, 2009
This is the 1st book I have read by this author. The Characters are well put together. I am now looking for her other books. GOOD READ
February 7, 2011
Switched at birth, neither Chelsea Hutton nor Cassidy English ended up having a happy childhood. Thirty-three years later they meet and find out the truth. Total chick-lit beach read!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews