PW Publishers Weekly

Review Source: Publishers Weekly

Review Date: 1989-08-11

Copyright: (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Bewitching, calculating TV reporter Alexandra Waring (who appeared in the author's spicy novel, Riverside Drive ) becomes America's sweetheart when a madman shoots her on camera. Wealthy Southerner Jackson Darenbrook promptly makes her anchorwoman for the national news empire he's creating in Manhattan. The over-padded, meandering novel that follows this dramatic opening is relieved but not salvaged by snappy tongue-in-cheek dialogue and the welcome addition of Jessica Wright, an engagingly wild, if self-destructive, talk-show host. While Jessica ferrets out Alexandra's dark secret (she's bisexual), their boss Jackson scrambles to cover up illegal financial footwork that could encourage his greedy relatives to launch a coup at Darenbrook Communications. Although romances wax and wane among the major characters with the regularity of moon cycles, almost everyone ends up happy in the sugary wrap-up. Van Wormer creates memorable, quirky cameos for the Southern Gothic Darenbrook clan, but fails to sustain the plot's momentum by repeatedly wandering off on tangents. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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