Star Quality

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Tales review
Review: By TT reviewer Teresa Bushek

Move over, Jackie Collins. There is a new star in the world of suspenseful stories about Hollywood. Denise Tyrrell dives headfirst into the mysterious, fascinating, and sometimes seedy world of the Hollywood film and television industry with her new novel titled "Star Quality".

Isabel Taylor, a writer known to friends as Izzy, has been trying for eight long years to "break in" to show business. With a mounting stack of bills and rent due in under a week, she accepts a position with the Corporate Special Projects division of Mirabelle Studios.

Before long, Izzy realizes the job is not what she expected.

After a particularly stressful day, a co-worker by the name of Judy Ross offers friendship and a "long, cool one". At the bar, Judy introduces her to a man Izzy describes as a "repulsive little man", who is none other than Arthur Franco.

Arthur Franco's claim to Executive Producer fame is the long running, wildly popular game show "Bingo Fever".

During a drugged stupor from yet another bout of plastic surgery, his mistress, the show's hostess Valentine Hart (yes, she is as cheesy as her name suggests), demands Franco produce a movie, in which she will star in the leading role. As Franco struggles to find funding for the movie, Judy Ross arranges financing from a wealthy businessman, Carlos Luna, in exchange for an associate producer's credit in the movie.

Whenever situations get tough, Izzy finds her friend Judy willing to dispense pearls of wisdom about surviving the Hollywood scene. But is Judy really her friend, or is she setting up Izzy while looking out for her own interests?

Ms. Tyrrell kept this reader on the edge of her seat with intense, fast-paced plot twists and turns. Vivid character descriptions lift the story's cast off the pages, and the author's sense of satirical humor shines through with tongue-in-cheek dialogue and analogies that are delightfully funny. Chock-full of insinuated sex, drug use, backstabbing friendships, and people who will do anything for money and titles, the story is a fast-paced, enjoyable read.

"Star Quality" will make readers wonder about what really goes on behind the scenes in real Hollywood television and movie production.

Rating:
Summary: FINE FIRST NOVEL IS A FUN READ!
Review: Denise Tyrrell has used her insider's knowledge of the Hollywood cesspool to craft a fine first novel. The book is well-written, fast-paced, and grabs your attention from beginning to end. One wonders if some of the characters are actually based on real people. But, surely no one in a position of power in Hollywood could be as vile as some of the characters in this book. Right?!?

Rating:
Summary: Wickedly Cynical Fun
Review: This book is a wickedly cynical, quick and fun read. Denise Tyrrell has obviously been around Hollywood and seems to write from personal, first-hand experience. The book should be read by everyone who likes to laugh, enjoys a mystery, loves gossip, and understands Hollywood's superficiality. It makes the reader think about the important things in life: integrity and morality. I enjoyed it from cover to cover and look forward to a sequel.