Synopsis:
In a world where make believe is a multibillion dollar industry, it’s hard to know where the fantasy ends and real life begins. When Collette Stroud, an influential Hollywood actor and director, takes a chance on two young actors for her romantic teen movie, three lives converge in a complicated web of publicity, passion, lust, and lies.
The web is cast when Stroud, a woman with a few skeletons in her closet, hires two young artists in her low-budget film. She handpicks Liliana Addison and Devon Maddox to be Hollywood’s next big stars. Former child star Liliana has had limited success with her previous roles but hopes to take the world by storm under Collette’s tutelage. While Devon is an out of work actor, he never stops dreaming about making it big. The director’s interest in him assures Devon his dreams are about to become reality.
Sparks between Collette and Devon set their lives ablaze, but the studio has other plans. Executives concoct a fictitious romance in order to drive box office sales and launch careers between Devon and Liliana. When the studio offers to make the young actors into bona fide stars, will the price be too high to pay, or will the deal be too sweet to pass up?
Can the trio handle the pressure of a hidden romance coupled with a phony public relationship? Will love be enough to conquer the promise of fame, fortune, and a lasting legacy, or will it be an easy sacrifice?
All three will tread the thin line of Hollywood Lies and genuine passion on the most important red carpet walk of their lives.
The web is cast when Stroud, a woman with a few skeletons in her closet, hires two young artists in her low-budget film. She handpicks Liliana Addison and Devon Maddox to be Hollywood’s next big stars. Former child star Liliana has had limited success with her previous roles but hopes to take the world by storm under Collette’s tutelage. While Devon is an out of work actor, he never stops dreaming about making it big. The director’s interest in him assures Devon his dreams are about to become reality.
Sparks between Collette and Devon set their lives ablaze, but the studio has other plans. Executives concoct a fictitious romance in order to drive box office sales and launch careers between Devon and Liliana. When the studio offers to make the young actors into bona fide stars, will the price be too high to pay, or will the deal be too sweet to pass up?
Can the trio handle the pressure of a hidden romance coupled with a phony public relationship? Will love be enough to conquer the promise of fame, fortune, and a lasting legacy, or will it be an easy sacrifice?
All three will tread the thin line of Hollywood Lies and genuine passion on the most important red carpet walk of their lives.
Review
I really liked this book. It was so different from my first read of N.K. Smith's which was My Only (which was an awesome book also, grab that one if you haven't). It had an original story line, the writing was great, and it gave us a realistic look at what celebrities have to deal with as their lives and privacy are invaded. 3.5 stars!
In Hollywood Lies, Colette and Devon are stuck in a forbidden romance when the studio the work for plans a completely fictitious romance between Liliana and Devon in order to launch the careers of both these young stars and increase ticket sales. This is where things go wrong for Collette and Devon's relationship and things get very angsty and there is tons of drama involved! Can the three handle the pressure of the big tangled web of secrets, deceits and lies that have been spun? You have to read the story to find out yourself!
Overall, this was a good story, it kept my attention even though I did find some part of it predictable. My favorite things about the book were the originality of the story line and of course the sexy time ;)
Character Casting by N.K. Smith
Who could you see cast as authors for each character if this was made into a movie?
Ah, this is a difficult one! I tend to think of “older” actors in their youth, so this will be a challenge to find actors who COULD play them.
I would choose Nicholas Hoult for Devon. First off, he’s a great actor at the right age to play Devon. He’d be able to capture both the self-consciousness of a new actor catapulted to unimaginable fame and the drive of a young man ready for his life to start. Plus, he’s a cutie.
(image - http://www.imdb.com/media/
Kirsten Dunst would be a top choice for Cole. Although she’s a little younger than I imagined, she could definitely pull off the strong but wounded older woman. I have been a fan of Dunst for her entire career, and I think she has the right emotional range for the role
(image - http://www.imdb.com/media/
Liliana is a bit harder, but I think Vanessa Hudgens would be a good choice. She’s got a great look to her, like the girl next door who can also be a bit of a vixen. I think she could play the
innocence and strong will of Liliana.
(image - http://www.imdb.com/media/
There are so many amazing actors and actresses out there. I think looks are important, but not half as important as the ability to make the audience feel the complexity of the characters. I think the actors above all possess a beautiful face and amazing talent.
Thanks for the question. It’s fun to sift through pictures and imagine such talented folks bringing
my characters to life.
Ah, this is a difficult one! I tend to think of “older” actors in their youth, so this will be a challenge to find actors who COULD play them.
I would choose Nicholas Hoult for Devon. First off, he’s a great actor at the right age to play Devon. He’d be able to capture both the self-consciousness of a new actor catapulted to unimaginable fame and the drive of a young man ready for his life to start. Plus, he’s a cutie.
(image - http://www.imdb.com/media/
Kirsten Dunst would be a top choice for Cole. Although she’s a little younger than I imagined, she could definitely pull off the strong but wounded older woman. I have been a fan of Dunst for her entire career, and I think she has the right emotional range for the role
(image - http://www.imdb.com/media/
Liliana is a bit harder, but I think Vanessa Hudgens would be a good choice. She’s got a great look to her, like the girl next door who can also be a bit of a vixen. I think she could play the
innocence and strong will of Liliana.
(image - http://www.imdb.com/media/
There are so many amazing actors and actresses out there. I think looks are important, but not half as important as the ability to make the audience feel the complexity of the characters. I think the actors above all possess a beautiful face and amazing talent.
Thanks for the question. It’s fun to sift through pictures and imagine such talented folks bringing
my characters to life.
Author Bio:
Based in the American Midwest, N.K. Smith is a Technical Writer for a Fortune 100 company. The author of the Old Wounds Series, she is a mother of two who finds the time to write very early in the morning when the rest of the world is still fast asleep.
An avid lover of history, art, music, books, and people, she is interested in telling stories that speak to the human condition.
Based in the American Midwest, N.K. Smith is a Technical Writer for a Fortune 100 company. The author of the Old Wounds Series, she is a mother of two who finds the time to write very early in the morning when the rest of the world is still fast asleep.
An avid lover of history, art, music, books, and people, she is interested in telling stories that speak to the human condition.
im so excited to read this thanks for the giveaway denise smith denise226@verizon.net
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteWould love to read this! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteLove your giveaway, thank you very much.
ReplyDeletethis sounds like a really good book. I can't wait to read it. thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteLove finding a new book to read.
ReplyDeletelauratroxelatyahoodotcom
Thanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteJenn Elliott
Sounds like an interesting book
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway
Thank you for the great giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I'm hearing for this book. Thanks for the recommendation and the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting premise for a book. It has me intrigued. Thank you for bringing it to our attention and for reviewing it.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good book to read this summer. Thank you for the review & having the author & her book here.
ReplyDeleteLooks good, thanks for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteExcited to read Holloywood Lies....sounds like a good read...thanks for sharing and for the great giveaway...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThis is a totally different concept of reading.. for me.. I think it is very interesting to read about child stars..and to bring into a novel I think is cool.. Thank you for doing the giveaway.
ReplyDelete