Lovers

Once again Krantz animates her trademark fantasies: power and wealth, sex scenes in which women dominate, designer names and glamorous locales. And as usual, characters from earlier books appear to spice up the plot; here Gigi Orsini takes center stage. Stepdaughter of the now remarried Billie Ikehorn ( Scruples ), friend of Sasha ( Scruples Two ) and natural daughter of movie producer Vito Orsini, rash, insensitive Gigi has torrid affairs, including one with movie director Zach Nevsky. Often transported--whether metaphorically in bed or literally in private planes--Gigi finds time to concoct clever marketing ideas for Victoria Frost, the back-stabbing head of the ad agency she joins. Other characters play musical beds, too, including some who were married or lovers in earlier volumes. One woman is involved in a liaison with her stepfather, another in a sordid triangle and an attempted murder. Sprinkled with touch-of-class names like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Barbara Jordan, the novel moves merrily along to its predictable conclusion, while Gigi savors the life of the rich and famous. First serial to Cosmopolitan; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club main selections; major ad/promo; author tour; TV and radio satellite author tour. (May)