Sidney Sheldon's gripping third novel, originally published in 1977, but reissued. From humble beginnings, Toby Temple becomes a superstar. He knows what he wants -- and he always makes sure he gets what he wants. He is the world's funniest comedian, loved by presidents, lusted after by women. But, deep down, he yearns for love and stability. Jill Castle has always been an outsider, desperate to be accepted. Despite her great beauty, she finds breaking into Hollywood as an actress impossible without auditioning on the Directors' infamous casting couches. But, with one glance, Toby falls for Jill's beauty and sweeps her out of obscurity to stardom by his side. Now, she can get the revenge she has always longed for! Glamour, glitz, sex and revenge combine in this classic Sidney Sheldon novel,

It was only when I registered this book that I realised it was an early story in a reissued cover. Which goes some way to explain the very much "sameness" of the story, an archetypal Sheldon story (as we know them now) which could well have been still fresh and new when first published.

At less than 400 pages, a shortish book, and one that packs a lot in, comparing favourably when compared to the bloated, inflated story epics from around the same period (I'm looking at *you* Judith Krantz, Barbara Taylor Bradford et al!).

Considering the main character is a comedian, Sheldon wisely avoids writing too many jokes, as looking back, many of those he does write simply get lost in the translation with 30 years of hindsight and are mildly amusing at best.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

At this month's meet