STAR

by Danielle Steel ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 13, 1988

A star is most definitely not born in Steel's 24th novel--just a stereotypical California innocent who gets caught in the clutches of Hollywood. ""The birds were already calling to each other in the early morning stillness of the Alexander Valley as the sun rose slowly over the hills, stretching golden fingers into a sky that within moments was almost purple."" It's California, 1946, and romping through those golden fingers is Crystal Wyatt, part wood-nymph, part Cinderella, so beautiful at age 15 that grown men practically cry out and fall to the ground in the wake of her passing. Crystal is the daughter of an honest but dumb and poor rancher, and a horrible mother who is always yelling at her to do one thing or another. Who should arrive on the scene, then, but a handsome prince named Captain Spencer Hill, a newly returned war hero on his way back East to rich family, law school, and a career in politics. The two are smitten, but Crystal is too young; sighing wearily, Spencer heads back to New York, eventually to marry the ambitious and very proper Elizabeth Barclay. In the meantime, Crystal is raped by an evil brother-in-law and runs away to San Francisco, where she waits tables, becomes a singer, and eventually ends up a big movie star under the auspices of Svengali-like manager Ernie Salvatore, who is murdered under mysterious circumstances. Naturally, Crystal is accused of the crime, and Spencer gives up all--promising career and shrewish Elizabeth--to fly west and defend her. Clinch. Fade. Tepid stuff--a lackluster effort from a Romance Queen who is coasting on name alone.

Pub Date: March 13, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1988

Categories: FICTION