Delusions of Grandeur

by Buck Winthrop

Reality and make-believe are blurred in this tale of obsession, revenge and murder.

One night in 1977, on the dance floor of Studio 54, an aspiring young writer, Byron Hanolan falls in love with Alexandra Bass, one of America's top models. Despite the machinations of Charlotte Bass--Alexandra's formidable mother, the two embark on a consuming love affair that threatens Charlotte's plan that her daughter marry the heir to one of New York's wealthiest banking families.

When the pair is torn apart by a ruthless web of deception, Alexandra flees for a brand new life and stardom in Hollywood. Byron sets out to write the great American novel, but instead, becomes head writer of Harbor Hills , a daytime soap opera on the brink of cancellation. He turns the show into a ratings phenomenon--with a cast of characters whose scandalous off screen lives prove fact is stranger than fiction.

Years later, when fate reunites the former lovers on the set of Harbor Hills, Byron's obsession to win back the great love of his life has tragic consequences...

Genres: Romance, Fiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2010

Reviews

[Clewis53 · Rating 1 out of 5]

kindle freebie. worth every penny

[Tawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of a Jackie Collins novel from the 1980s. It started out in 1970s NYC and the party scene. It talks of partying and nightlife, of a teen ingenue model Alexandra Bass(like Brooke Shields and her "Calvins") and her involvement with a young employee of the nightclub(Byron) that wanted to reach for the stars. He from the beginning could spot talent. We meet Maguerite (a future star) and the manager/agent Charlotte Bass. The convoluted life of indulgence in the 1970s. It is full of lies, tricks, love and desire. Some of the characters I likes, some I didn't. The story begins at a funeral and ends with a surprising twist. I am not sure how I felt about the ending, I wanted a happy ending but I am not sure if a novel like this should have one. I liked it, I found myself picking my kindle every chance that I got so I could finish the book.

[Ellie Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those frothy 80's page-turners I used to love back in the day but really do not exist today. I wasn't expecting much so imagine my surprise when I could not put this thing down. Wriiten in such a fast paced manner that I literally could not stop turning the pages and for me that is something. The story is as old as time. Beautiful Alexandra a model and actess and Byron the ambitious guy from the wrong side of the tracks. Add in Charlotte, Alexandra's awful mother and all her plans to break up the pair. It is pure soap opera but quite entertaining. The last quarter of the book turns rather dark with a twist ending I did not see coming. It stayed with me and so did the story. Nice debut.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Luckily another freebie as it was a pile of poop and I gave up after around a third of this nonsense. For a start the usual apostrophe and grammar errors so often in free ones from Amazon and then the whole tale ended up being totally unreal and pretty ridiculous. It was set in NY in 1977 to start with and featured a young couple meeting in Studio 54 and it all started well but just got way too far-fetched for my liking when it came to careers and people and money, etc.......
So a big thumbs down and deleted off my Kindle sharpish !!

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it reminded me of books I read in my youth. Some people compare it to early Jackie Collins; I am not sure it is 100% accurate but I can't refute it.

Reading this book is like being punched in the teeth with prose and plot. It is like a smash and grab fiction. Lots of chapters that are short and to the point. No excess here just story, motivation, story.
It is like jumping into the deep end end of pool- you swim or drown there is nothing else.

The result is a book that is impossible to put down.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about as shallow and saccharine as you can possibly get, which I am pretty sure was the author's point, that the industry is mostly made up of sharks and wannabes. Super fast-paced and sometimes entertaining, but I am glad it was free, I would never pay for it. The dialogue is stiff and the characters are paper doll cutouts of entertainment industry roles, kind of like a poor man's Judith Krantz.

[GW]

Read this a really long time ago (and I got it free on the kindle). All I remember is that, gosh, this was a long and multi part book.

[Martha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't even read through two chapters. It was definitely not my type.

[Lindsay]

Amazon Freebie 10/10/2012

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of characters, but also has a rich plot. It could be confusing at times, especially with how the story spans a range of time. The confusion is compounded by errors.

[Merri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is about a soap opera. I love soap operas and the characters. It was interesting and fun to read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good example of parents butting their nose in where it doesn't belong.

[JoAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

not for me