First Born

Tracing the steps of four women named to honor a beloved matriarch, the author of the bestseller Circles serves up a bevy of beautiful, talented women, powerful men, and a few requisite dollops of human frailty. Young, headstrong Jinx makes a rapid ascension up the career ladder after marrying the owner of a string of deluxe hotels. When she meets Cissie, wife of a bedhopping politician and the manager of a chic clothing boutique, their striking resemblance leads Jinx to the father who abandoned her. Yet no one else in the familynot her social-climbing half-sister Becca, nor Frannie, the selfish top-flight modelwill admit the truth. While Jinx struggles to come to terms with her father's rejection, Becca vengefully tries to destroy the rival who seems to block her path at every turn. Frannie's insecurities and Becca's monstrous nature do set off some sparks, but not enough to make a tired, overblown formula seem fresh and exciting. 75,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo. (July)