Paper Star

by Mary-Rose Hayes

Fast-paced, seductive and thoroughly engrossing story of four friends who set out to conquer Hollywood with youthful gutsiness and raw talent - and nearly lose their dreams on the dark side of the glamorous town.

--Hardbound with Dust Cover--

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1991

About the author

I lived in a remote English country rectory during and after World War II with limited radio, obviously no TV, and frequent power outages. Entertainment was story-telling, play-acting, reading aloud. I began to write stories when I was six years old, and never stopped.

My new novel, WHAT SHE HAD TO DO, draws to some extent on this background. It concerns a young woman’s desperate choice in post-war England, and its catastrophic effects through three generations of a family. It was fifteen years in the writing, with several lengthy interruptions including two 'time-outs' for political thrillers written with Senator Barbara Boxer. These 'time-outs', however, proved to be blessings and let in the light. I realized I’d broken a major rule of story-telling and the characters, drawn far too close to real people, seemed lifeless. They are now created from whole cloth and hopefully are credible and sympathetic.

Other matters: I'm married and live in Northern California, love choral singing, theater, off-the-grid travel, and especially sailing in a small boat far from land!

Reviews

[Tevilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite kind of no-brainer format--the coming together of friends (Vera, Saint and JB) and what happens to them. This wasn't a story that required concentration --I read it in two days. Always a happy ending, girl gets her boy who finally opened his eyes to her.

[Antzo Leta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book,one of my favorites. It's not entirely easy to read. Or maybe if you start it you need to finish it soon so you won't forget the details of a character. Since it's a book that gives you the lives of 4 people, and their side characters, to see them all end up happy together in the end.

[NatalyaVqs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great fast read, really grabs you. Having read two Hayes books already and liking her style, I found this one stretched reality a bit more than others to make for quickly evolving plot.