‘THE GARDINER WOMEN’ BY DAVIDYNE MAYLEAS

 

It has been a while since I ventured into a paperback original like this spotlighted novel here. Almost a year, I believe. I’ll go even further and state that it has been a long time since I ventured into anything trashy. Sure, I’ve read the obligatory novel for the obligatory review on my blog, but to really pick up something just for the fun of it, well, it seems like decades. That’s why Davidyne Mayleas’ THE GARDINER WOMEN (1993) feels like heaven-sent. Besides being quite good, it also reminds me how exhilarating these reads can overall be, and Mayleas next to last novel for Avon pushes all the right buttons.

 

As the title suggests, THE GARDINER WOMEN focuses on female protagonists, three of them. First there’s Millie, the aging screen legend now owner of an independent TV station. She is plagued with a future of uncertainty and needs to make sure that her fortune goes to the right kin. Enter Nora, the headstrong TV executive granddaughter caught between the past and the present. She wants it all: love and career, but at what cost? Following in her footsteps there’s Ali, the wild and scheming second granddaughter who’s an ace at getting what she wants. Until she is knocked out of her pedestal in a no holds barred confrontation that will leave her shaken to the core. All three women flourish and then fall but rise up again, amidst the hectic world of the entertainment industry.

 

Yes, I must admit, novels about the biz have always been my thing, and this one does it justice indeed, though the plot veers more on personal problems than on the ABC of the business. The most absorbing of those inner struggles are of Nora, the exec, and with good reasons since she is the story main focus.  She is what you call the good gal, the one the reader wants to root for. The author aptly does that via a tight-woven plot which also involves Wall Street. You see, Nora is linked to a rising power broker, so part of the story is centered on such terms as stocks, acquisitions, selling points...

 

If you have looked over at my additional blog entries regarding Mayleas’ work you probably know that the world of finance is a big part of the author’s territory. Other than her novel THE RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD the topic, however, is relatively toned down to make room for the more involving drama. Her narrative is always sharp, to the point, with enough character development and description of wealth and romance to quench fans thirst for the sex and shopping novel. I say grab THE GARDINER WOMEN if you ever see a copy in the wild or online. Until Davidyne Mayleas ends up going digital that is the only way you can read her stuff.

 

 

Until next post—Martin

 

‘NAKED CALL’ BY DAVIDYNE MAYLEAS

Along with Elizabeth Gage I would say Davidyne Saxon Mayleas is another writer who definitely should go digital. Her work is always fun and exciting, even her less than stellar titles like THE WOMAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING, which in hindsight is a lot better than some of the current bestsellers on the charts. Forgive me for saying that but I’ve come around some real clunkers lately and they only make me glad that I’ve decided to stick with vintage books. But moving on. This week is all about Mayleas’ NAKED CALL, her second to last 1991 paperback novel from Avon Books. 

Wall Street, the mafia and Hollywood go hand in hand in this fine tale of money embezzlement and the woman who suffers because of it. She is Christie Larsen, the president of United Cinema studio, a Sherry Lansing-like single mother who is one heck of a fighter despite adversities, like the inevitable downslide of her career when she’s accused of stealing studio cash. What a girl to do? Trust author Mayleas to shake it all up as she delivers a strong narrative of the business behind the business that includes colorful but extremely narcissistic characters. What really makes NAKED CALL stand out, however, is the way the reader gets caught up in the money laundering plot while learning the ABC's of the financial industry; not your typical fluffy Hollywood novel, per se, but a riveting one at that if you're in for something different. 

Many tried to follow Jackie Collins’ trail after her mega-hit HOLLYWOOD WIVES. Most failed miserably but some did turn out to be impressively good, like this Davidyne Mayleas person (probably a pseudodym). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, she’s just what the doctor ordered if you’re on the lookout for something quite unique. She may not be a household name but she sure as heck deserves to be.

 

 

Until next post—Martin

 

 

 

WITH 'BY APPOINTMENT ONLY', ALL IS FORGIVEN, DAVIDYNE SAXON MAYLEAS

Rejoice, people. After a slight bump with her lackluster THE WOMAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING, Davidyne Saxon Mayleas is back on track with BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, her follow-up novel. The 450-plus page romp sparkles with larger than life characters, sumptuous settings, steamy sex... The story revolves around Cella Taggard, the daughter of an eminent family, who—like her parents before her—is an ace at forging antique jewelry. Fool of her to ever think that what she’s doing is illegal. To her, greatness is all that matters and her pieces are nothing but. Enter hot foremost art sleuth Jason Lord who’ll turn her heart inside out, not to mention her conscience, when he sets out to seduce her. Will she succumb to his charm and finally surrender? 

　

Yes I agree, taken that way, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY reads like a tawdry Harlequin romance, but the novel is so much more. Miss Mayleas writes convincingly of the international diamond scene, the world of high finance, not to mention her description of the many exotic locations around the globe. There’s also double dealings, incestuous relationships, even murder, in the mix. I tell you, her piece of the opulent pie is as worthy as in any Krantzes, Conrans, Vincenzis… 

 

　

As you all know, Davidyne Saxon Mayleas never became a household name. Her paperback originals (six of them when not counting the work of her possible if unconfirmed pseudonym William Saxon) did have some form of success during the 80s and 90s, but she never really reached that superstardom zenith so eagerly coveted. Whatever became of her after that? Who really knows? She did release a true account tale called MY SECRET LIFE BY SARA WILLIS AS TOLD TO DAVIDYNE MAYLEAS in 2007 about—what else?—jewelry forgers. But after that one? Zilch. I’m sure she’s in the autumn of her years now and has other fish to fry, but wouldn’t it be just great to see a new novel of hers appear one of these days? Heck, I’d even settle for a resurgence of her backlist in e-book form. If Meredith Rich can do it, I‘m sure there’s a place for the likes of Davidyne Saxon Mayleas. In the meantime, give this lady a try. Buy her paperbacks and share the love.

 

 

 

　

Until next post—Martin

'THE WOMAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING' BY DAVIDYNE SAXON MAYLEAS

Anyone following this blog will agree that I dig the work of Davidyne Saxon Mayleas. She’s the epitome of ‘80s class trash, in my opinion. Her rich narrative plus the sure way she handles her characters always make for a fun read. Until recently, that is. I’ve never been attracted to Wall Street and I’ve never been that keen on reading about it in novels. And even though I know she incorporates the subject matter in almost everything she writes (those I have read anyway), it never really bothers me since it’s secondary to the main plot. But now in THE WOMAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING Wall Street takes the forefront, and I got to say it has been pure hell to even finish it.

The story revolves around Cameron Hightower, the queen of Wall Street, who starts out with almost nothing but quickly becomes the hit girl when courted by king of all trades, Timothy FitzGerald. When he dies and leaves her the business, she succeeds not only in bringing it to the top but also in landing her childhood beau. Her struggle from a poor kid to a force to be reckoned with is the best thing about THE WOMAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING. Mayleas once again proves that she has what it takes to be a good storyteller. It’s when she ventures out into the financial market ploy that the novel loses most of its steam. It isn’t anymore a story about a strong woman on the go but a how to survive among the Wall Street sharks guide. So much so that the reader feels cheated having invested any kind of energy into the novel. In fact, it almost killed my love for reading trash. But that’s another blog entry in itself. One that involves author J. J. Salem…
 

 

It’s the second time that I’ve tried to enjoy THE WOMAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING. I gave it another chance because I thought that I had missed something the first time around. Color me naive, but it had worked before with Penny Vincenzi’s OLD SINS or Shirley Conran’s SAVAGES. But I was way wrong on this one. It is as bad as I remembered it to be. Well, not bad; just a real doozie. Now that I’m done with it again (for good, I swear), I’m more than ready to move on to her next novel which I hope will give me the same thrill as her other work did before I encountered THE WOMAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING.

Until next post—Martin

DARLING, NO REGRETS by Davidyne Saxon Mayleas

Being a proud and longtime escapist fiction bookworm, I’ve come to realize that the trashy novel has three sub-genres. There’s the first, the all the way trash-fest where the author goes from point A to point B without any real fanfares (anything from the Zebra and Leisure lines during the ‘80’s fits the bill). Then there’s the better-structured trash, with sleazy plots galore but done with stronger narratives and fun situations (anything by Collins, Susann, Hirschfeld, Kastle). Then there’s the class-act trash where it’s all big and bold, from the narrative to the plot structure to the coloful characterization. Judith Krantz, Jacqueline Briskin, Michael French, Dominick Dunne deserve this spot. So does Davidyne Saxon Mayleas. Her DARLING, NO REGRETS is by far her strongest book. It’s her first as well. Published in 1981, it centers around a woman on the rise, sort of like the heroine of Krantz’s SCRUPLES, who suffers greatly in the name of love. Self love, that is; even though the world is her oyster.

The story begins with Franciejean arriving in New York City where she, like TVs Mary Richards, wants to make it after all. Problem is she barely has a plan, except using her little black book to phone past lovers. She eventually stays overnight with one, and the plot unravels from there. Indeed, from man to man and from job to job she climbs the ladder of success and finally finds love in Jamison Welsh, an international financier and famous economist. But her family skeletons eventually catch up with her, and what seems like such a privileged life soon becomes somewhat of a nightmare as she battles major inner demons.

I know what you may be thinking, and don’t worry, this is not “The More You Know” type of a book. The psychological depth is done to a minimum, just enough to flesh out the main character. Which is the strongest part of DARLING, NO REGRETS, the way the author succeeds in rendering her heroine authentic albeit the superficiality of her surroundings. Because in addition to her damsel in distress attitude, Franciejean has many flaws, one of them being unable to stay faithful to her man. Yes, you’ve read right. Finally a woman who cheats. One who’s also tenderhearted, fragile, business savvy, sometimes defeatist, but stronger than she thinks she is.

The narrative, while rich and sometimes poetic, is tight and  fast-paced, with a few typos and doubtful constructions here and there. But you just go over the line again and move on. And believe me, you’ll want to, for what happens to Franciejean will probably make you turn the pages even faster. I’m not giving anything away, but let’s just say that in DARLING, NO REGRETS rose-colored climaxes are far from being the author’s favorite cup of tea. This is a character study of a flawed woman whose past incidents have many consequences. It is as realistic a trashy novel can be, and I applaud the author for having had the guts to deliver this type of a gem. With all the novels going digital, I’m sure there’s a place for DARLING, NO REGRETS. There has to be. Are you reading this, ebook publishers?

Until next post—Martin

MAJESTIC DREAMS OR WILL THE REAL DAVIDYNE SAXON MAYLEAS PLEASE STAND UP?

Over the years I’ve come to love or hate the work of Davidyne Saxon Mayleas. Take her 1991 NAKED CALL, for example, about Hollywood and the mob. It was a fab read from beginning to end. Her previous work THE WOMAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING, on the other hand, I could have done without. It is a tepid account of a Wall Street queen who suffers and suffers just like its readers. Then there’s MAJESTIC DREAMS, supposedly written by her husband William Saxon. Which may or may not be true, since both are narratively similar in structure, style, even in plot twists. MAJESTIC DREAMS is about the rise and fall of a brother and sister team who makes it big in the real estate business. You know the drill, they love, they suffer, they loose everything, and one of them gets it all back and then some. Nothing new here. Except this one is well-written. So much so in fact that it’s almost a crime that it is not more compelling.

The main problem with MAJESTIC DREAMS is that it’s barely a woman’s novel. The book is more centered on the real estate aspect, putting the personal life of the female protagonist on the back burner which ultimately tarnishes the end product. Nothing in MAJESTIC DREAMS reminds the reader of, say, a novel like SCRUPLES, and therein lies the book’s biggest flaw: it being tagged as a Judith Krantz-type of a read (just take a look at that cover) when it’s actually far from it. But hey, novels like this one were a dime a dozen in those days. It’s just misleading to make it look like a female-oriented offering.

That said, if you like the work of Arthur Hailey or Jonathan Black, or even Harold Robbins for that matter, you may end up digging MAJESTIC DREAMS. It’s not a bad book; it’s just not as involving as it leads us to believe. Be conscious of that, plus the fact that sometimes book covers can be deceiving (as synopsis can) and you’ll be fine. Though, I agree, the only way sometimes to be sure if a novel rocks is to read part of the damn thing. And that’s where I come in, to help sort through the many trashy selections being offered. And based on what I have gathered so far from this Saxon fellow (that includes his perhaps “alter ego”, of course), you’ll be more satisfied with a novel like NAKED CALL or Mayleas’ first hit, DARLING, NO REGRETS which has the same MAJESTIC DREAMS account of poor girl on the rise but delivered with more panache.

Until next post—Martin

US hardcover edition