Elizabeth Gage goes out with a bang with the last of
her five book deal with Simon & Schuster.
INTIMATE is one roller coaster ride of secrets and sins among the
rich. The main sufferers are three beautiful
specimens (aren’t they all?) whose interconnections end up destroying one of the
trio. Jordan Lazarus has come from
nothing and is now one of America’s richest men but he’s far from being happy,
especially in the matters of the heart.
That is until he meets Leslie Chamberlain, a blue color type who also
rises up to become one hot commodity in the advertising world. But she has secrets of her own, big ones that
will eventually destroy their relationship.
In comes Jill Fleming, a double-crossing sociopathic chameleon who uses
men and women to satisfy her every need. When she sets her eyes on Lazarus, fireworks,
until he realizes the evil of her ways; then it’s cuckoo time as she becomes
nuttier and nuttier for the sake of owning him.
Of course there’s more to the plot but since I don’t want to give away anything
major, I’d better leave it at that.
What’s safe to say is that, whatever lies between the
covers, you’ll end up devouring the book in no time—despite the sometimes flawed
approach taken. Because let’s be honest
here. I, being an
old pro, can find some predictability in any printed work, and it’s no
different with INTIMATE. Every
now and then I found myself guessing its outcome. But since the novel works aplenty already due
to its strong narration and characterization, not to mention a psychological
depth rarely used in a fluff piece such as this one, I scarcely minded. Besides, I’d rather focus on the positive when
it comes to a Gage. It makes the reading
experience all the more worthwhile. Especially
when the soap bubbles pop, and believe me they often do.
As in her previous work, sex abounds. So do well-thought-out plot twists in general. There’s nothing better than an erotica novel
with meat. It’s all about
effectiveness. And Elizabeth Gage knows
how to attain it. She is, in a way, the E
L James (Fifty Shades of Grey) of her
time but with a better outcome (but not income, for sure) because she at least can write. Or he can. If you’re a regular here or simply a Gage
fanatic you probably know of the debate regarding the author’s identity (Elizabeth
Gage is a pseudonym). I think she’s a
he, some think otherwise. But in the end
does it really matter?
So why did Gage never became a household name if she’s
such a talent? There’s a back story to
this, one I discussed in another post (along with her true identity). But in a gist, she was underappreciated by
her publishers, resulting in low sale of her work. It’s probably the reason why she moved to
Mira Books. I have yet to read those,
which I believe—if based on reviews—to be more toned down. But it’s all right. I’ll get to them eventually. I still have PANDORA'S BOX, which is another
big glittery door stopper, to get into.
You can be sure I will savour every moment of it—as I did with
INTIMATE. Find it, read it, love it.
Season four of
DYNASTY is all about Peter De Vilbis, the jet setting rogue. Well, not exactly but he does take center
stage in regards to Fallon’s storyline. She’s
madly in love with him. Or so she says. But we all know that it isn’t true. How
can it be? The guy’s a total ‘mo. But for the benefit of the plot, we’ll pretend
he isn’t. Of course, I don’t have any proof of this but I have a hunch that he
likes nothing better than hanging around West Hollywood when the itch beckons. Fallon
seems to be fooled, though, except for Claudia and Jeff who, like us, know
something’s wrong with him. OK, Jeff’s still enamored with Fallon and will do
anything to get her back, including butting heads with the competition. But that just doesn’t erase the fact that he
sees right through Mr. De Vilbis, whose last name, by the way, couldn’t be more…
devilish.
But moving
on… After rescuing Alexis and Krystle
from a flaming cabin Mark—Krystle’s ex—is accused of starting the fire in the
first place. Though the real culprit is
Joseph the major-domo, it takes a few episodes before Marky boy is off the
hook. He then becomes Alexis’s bodyguard before someone pushes him off a
balcony ledge to his death. As for Joseph,
well, after being discovered as the true firestarter (move over Drew Barrymore),
he offs himself with a handgun, turning his pregnant daughter into a vengeful wimp
when she discovers he’d been blackmailed by Alexis (over his wife’s—Kirby’s mom—rep).
Yes, wimp, because her conscience takes over before she’s able to pull the
trigger on Alexis even though the dragon lady deserves it so.
As if that wasn’t complicated enough, it turns out that the father of her
unborn child is none other than debonair but rapist Adam. But don’t tell husband Jeff that. Though he’s already back shacking up with
Fallon, he wants to be a good husband and father. Until he finds out the real
deal about Kirby and Adam, that is. Then it’s every man for himself as he fistfights Adam on the
rooftop of the Carrington plaza. Since it’s a double whammy for Adam, him being
a rapist and a poisoner (tried to
kill Jeff with it in season three and Jeff now knows) Adam is almost a goner but
not quite. The show needs him to raise more hell, not to mention to support
wimpy Kirby whose storyline has gone awry.
But the best reason
to watch season four, in my opinion, is to feast your eyes on newcomer Dex
Dexter whom I call Sex Sexter on account of his rugged virility. I mean the guy
oozes sex appeal even when he burps. “I
don’t bend for anyone”, he warns Blake in one episode. Oh I’ll just bet you
don’t. Where is Steven when we need him?
Oh yeah, he’s off fighting his dad and Sammy Jo for custody of his son,
which he finally obtains after marrying cuckoo Claudia. Although this union
doesn’t please mama Alexis she has other fishes to fry like bending for Sex
Sexter for instance. Their hook up is the best thing that could ever happen to
her. It makes her almost likable.
Since she got
remarried to Blake (first one was annulled), Krystle wants to be a better wife,
which means working for him as a publicist at Denver Carrington (why? Just
enjoy the wealth, honey). Enter Tracy who’s all sweet and doe-eyed as Krystle’s
secretary but is really a woman scorned. She wants Krystle’s position and will
stop at nothing to get it, even seducing Blake which he does not take very
kindly and fires her. Then she changes camp to Colbyco’s but quits when Alexis
wants her to bed a client. She is never seen again.
I could go on
and on about the plots and subplots but let just say that season four ends up
with Fallon as a runaway bride (bid adieu to Pamela Sue Martin who wants off
the series), Kirby running off to Europe for good (bye-bye), Alexis
getting arrested for the murder of Mark Jennings, and the revelation that a
black wealthy socialite singer could be Blake’s sis (oh the shade of it all!);
all in all, a strong season, even though the first Fallon will be greatly
missed (hint, hint!). And this goes even
for you, Mark Jennings. You were kind of
a hottie yourself.
