Lovers & Players

Take one vindictive aging tycoon and three charismatic, ambitious sons; add one naïve heiress, one aspiring R&B diva, one British (titled, natch) lady of the house; throw in a dash of Russian mafia, kinky sex, a pinch of rap mogul, fabulous locations and a sprinkling of murders, and you have the ingredients for a fast-paced, glamour-heavy Collins extravaganza. Billionaire Red Diamond summons his sons from around the globe to Las Vegas to make a stunning announcement about their inheritance. Each son—Max, a real estate entrepreneur; Chris, an entertainment lawyer for the likes of Tom Cruise and Britney Spears; and Jett, a hotshot model in Italy—is battling his own private demons: a huge business deal gone sour and a bitter ex-wife; a gambling debt that's gotten out of hand; and (what else?) drug and alcohol addiction. In the midst of all the mayhem, a biracial waitress named Liberty, who aspires to be the next Mariah Carey, gets the opportunity of a lifetime when a major hip-hop record label exec comes into her life. And then there's Jett's incredible (but not consequenceless) one-night stand with a nameless pickup at a club, and Max's ex-wife Mariska's ex-Mafia life. The ever-stylin' Collins manages to tie the scattered plot lines together into another page-turning tale packed with intrigue, revenge and romance for her St. Martin's debut. 350,000 announced first printing; $500,000 ad/promo. (Feb. 7)