'HOLLYWOOD DREAMERS' BY JUDY SPENCER

This one, though I have fond memories of it, came with a price.  Again I got called out for loving trash, this time by a bunch of gay guys. I barely knew them since I was accompanying my future husband driving to Toronto’s pride. I made the mistake of taking the book out, thinking I was safe around my peers. How wrong I was. Anyway, to make a long story short, I still didn’t have the courage to assert myself. I only blushed and, yes, slid the book back in my backpack’s front pocket. I remember glancing shyly at my new boyfriend whose green eyes seemed to say forget those jerks, so I did. Besides, I was already on cloud nine—being in love and all—so only he mattered.  

That’s what HOLLYWOOD DREAMERS (Paperjacks, 1987) eventually ended up becoming, a sweet page-turner I barely could live without. The lives of these two fast friends while trying to break into show business and juggling love and happiness is as compelling as any Jackie Collins novel. Well, almost, if you can take some parts with a grain of salt (the climax about the possible murder of one of the two main characters leaves something to be desired in my opinion). But on second thought the same applies to most of Collins efforts, so there. Judy Spencer weaves a fine tale of secrets and sins that’ll make you want to read some of her other stuff. To date only REDHEADS exists besides this featured title. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Judy Spencer was a pseudonym for an established author, like Elizabeth Gage is supposed to be. Though I tried to find out, nothing on the net validates that belief so far.  

Still, Judy Spencer’s HOLLYWOOD DREAMERS crackles with spunk and sure is worthy of a wider readership. I don’t recall it being a huge best-seller but I guess it did find its way since we’re still talking about it after 30 years. One thing’s for sure, though, even if it’s been overlooked for some reason or another, the most obvious being the overflow of genre books at the time, the fact of the matter is the novel is still worth a second look. Yes, I don’t know squat about this release except the fact that I enjoyed it but in the end, who gives a flying whoop. The important thing is that you discover it and perhaps, given half a chance, you’ll love it too.

  

Until next post—Martin 

UK