A Morning Affair - Hardcover

The author's five-year stint as a producer for ABC's Good Morning America has already prompted a guessing game in publishing and television circles concerning how closely her fictional characters are modeled after real TV morning personalities such as Kathy Lee Gifford, David Hartman et al. But readers of this fast-paced, albeit predictable, first novel need not be plugged into the gossip pages to enjoy the story of high-powered and very visible women whose glamorous jobs have a down side: the constant struggle to emanate the right balance of brains and sexuality in order to succeed according to the rules of the old boy's network. Among these women are beautiful reporter Jackie Rogers, who has a chance at the co-anchor position on the highest-rated national a.m. news show. She is involved with a dashing financier who seems to be moving toward illegally cornering the silver market. Dominique Lafarge, one of the show's favorite field reporters, knows she was hired for her sexy body; her battle against the network powers to continue working despite her blissful pregnant-but-single status involves a professional--and personal--relationship with a handsome senator who is sponsoring a utopian family support bill. While Kaplan does offer some interesting insights into the action behind the cameras, her character and plot treatments can only be characterized as breezy and lightweight. 50,000 first printing; major ad/promo.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Another novel cum soap opera, this one by Vogue contributor and former Good Morning America producer Kaplan. Smart, pretty Jackie Rogers steps up from local TV news reporter in Boston to AM Reports, a network morning show (what else?) in New York. In the book's short time span Jackie moves from new woman on the show to coanchor, and from a love affair with millionaire silver trader Julian Beardsley (whom she disposes of neatly in a TV expose) to romantic commitment with show producer Jeff Garth. A little insider background, lots of romance, and some pleasant (though a bit stiff) beautiful people make this enjoyable light reading, especially for those who want to guess at the real-life identities of Kaplan's fictional characters. Though not in a league with Krantz et al., this will be heavily promoted, so you may get some demand.
- Francine Fialkoff, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.