MARRIED LOVERS
Jackie Collins
St. Martin's Press
Romantic Suspense
ISBN: 9780312341817

Seduction, lust, insatiable liaisons --- anticipation smolders between sizzling page after sizzling page of New York Times bestselling author Jackie Collins’s 26th novel. The Queen of romance and lust claims her throne as the reigning diva of divorce Hollywood-style, a world where "prenuptials were God's gift to rich people," and divorce is not such a disgrace. It's more a rite of passage, especially there. In Hollywood, "You're either a star or you're not. There's no such thing as a former movie star." Oh, but watch out for the plethora of powerful former wives who live to tell the tales of nasty divorces and married lovers.

Cameron Paradise flees Hawaii and an abusive husband and becomes a personal trainer at a "members only" fitness club in star-studded L.A. Her clients include legendary lovers and players, movie moguls and married Malibu-tanned trophy wives and starlets. Cameron's one goal is to have her own club, and in true Hollywood style she connects with single late-night talk show host Don Verona. Don's sexy banter and hot pursuit of Cameron is a fantasy to savor. The money flows and, voilá, her new fitness club "Paradise" is hosting a grand opening red carpet event catered by Spago and adorned by "ab inspected" waiters in "tight black pants and nothing else." Hollywood and handsome men are synonymous. Don's best friend is independent film producer Ryan Lambert, who is married to Mandy, the spoiled daughter of a rich mogul. One look between Cameron and blue-eyed Ryan, and "It was instant attraction."

A steamy love triangle is Collins's signature formula for success. Don and Ryan vie for the attentions of Cameron while friends Phil and Lucy bicker over reviving Lucy's movie career. Phil's philandering is the leverage that Lucy needs to convince him that he either helps her or he prepares for divorce Hollywood-style, sexploits splashed across the tabloids.

When Collins writes, we drool with envy and excitement. "Women descended on Don as if he was a rare steak at a barbecue. Mandy was at the forefront, sparkling in a silver sequined Valentino cocktail dress, diamonds dripping, her hair swept in a chic chignon…" We get the impression we are privy to a scene Collins has personally observed countless times. She captures every lustful glance that weakens the lovers until they succumb to desire. Down Sunset Boulevard in a Ferrari, speeding along the Pacific Coast Highway to a Malibu beach house with a deck overlooking the ocean, we are swept into the fantasy.

The reader is caught up in the glitz and glamour and romance of MARRIED LOVERS until Collins snatches it all away and shares the tabloid-style details of the loveless, sexless relationships that abound in Hollywood. She also injects the tragic story of a young Russian woman, Anya, into the book. Anya is forced to become a sex slave, and her life is one tragic situation after another. Just when the novel begins to climax into rich relationships between characters, Collins inserts a depressing chapter about Anya. Raunchy, tawdry scenes detract from her reputation as a Lady who specializes in lust.

Collins knows blue-eyed lovers are irresistible. They are an anticipated, significant cornerstone in her formula for a successful novel. Women cannot resist a man with intense blue eyes, lover or player. Many are heartbreakers, but at that tantalizing moment when you meet a man with intense blue eyes who takes your breath away, take a chance Jackie Collins-style. He could be the one.

    --- Reviewed by Hillary Wagy

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