Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
At fifteen, JT Pierce was the star of a hit TV show and had the world in his hands. Every teenybopper magazine had his face on it; every teenage girl had his poster on her wall. But then the show went on hiatus, and JT wouldn’t lower himself to bit parts or commercials. Slowly, his star faded from view.

Seven years later, JT is Johnny Thomas, who hopes to jumpstart his career by hiring his former manager, Lou Merrin. He wants to do serious movies, a huge blockbuster or two, and claim one of those coveted Oscars for himself. But Lou cautions Johnny about the paparazzi, who can make or break a star, and he’s heard rumors of Johnny’s sexuality that might prevent him from landing those desired leading roles.

Still, Johnny’s nothing if not persistent, and he swears he’ll play it straight. Until he meets Brett, a photographer who turns his life ~ and his heart ~ upside down.

Suddenly the celebrity gossip website Z-23 seems to have exclusive pictures of Johnny, and someone close to him leaks information about an audition that was supposed to be kept quiet. When the photographs surface that Johnny thought were taken in confidence, he realizes he must choose between the career path Lou offers him and the love he wants to share with Brett.

BOOK REVIEW:
What Johnny Thomas wants most is to distance himself from his “child star” persona, JT Pierce. He wants to be seen as a serious actor, with leading roles in blockbuster films. He is looking for “something more, something bigger” and enlists the help of his former manager to restart his career. Johnny, however, hasn’t yet recognized the difference between being an actor in serious films and simply wanting to be famous. Is he willing to deny who he is, to convince the public that he is a straight man, for fame and fortune?

When Johnny meets photographer Brett Cary at a club, it seems like a perfect match. Johnny enjoys “being objectified through the lens of Brett’s camera. He loves being watched, being seen ...” Brett provides him an opportunity to feed on the importance he feels at being the subject of photos, with all eyes centered on him. As their relationship deepens, and their emotions become more complex, Johnny is forced to face his own hopes and desires head on.

Johnny struggles to reconcile what he wants with what he is willing to give up. He feels he is too good for television, and is insistent that he must be in films. From the beginning, Johnny exudes a sense of entitlement and superiority. “VIP is where he belongs, and he’ll do anything to gain access.” He wants to be a famous actor, one that everyone wants to follow, but he doesn’t necessarily want to give up his privacy.

Beautiful Liar is an enjoyable story that looks at what price a person is willing to pay for what they want most in life. The relationship between Johnny and Brett takes off quickly and has an emotional grasp on both Johnny and the reader. Snyder has an amazing ability to convey the raw emotions of her characters and this story is an excellent example. “He won’t cry over this, he tells himself, but his heart isn’t listening. It feels bruised and his chest hurts.”

The character of Johnny is engaging and it is interesting to watch how he handles the direction his life is going. He starts out as slightly spoiled and not necessarily a completely likable character, but by the end of the story he has most definitely redeemed himself. Snyder successfully presents a slightly flawed character that is both endearing and realistic. This is a relatively short story, but it includes a wealth of emotional intensity and a very interesting plot. This is another excellent, and most definitely recommended, story from Snyder!

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