Perfect (1993) (Pocket Books)Judith McNaught
Grade: B+
Genre: 'contemporary' romance
Sex scenes: mild
Source: own
Second Opportunities: (1) Paradise, (2) Perfect
Actor Zach Benedict’s childhood wasn’t
as exciting or torrid as the media makes it out to be, but he doesn’t bother to
correct them. Aged seventeen, Zachary Benedict Stanhope III was cut off from the
family fortune and thrown onto the streets by his formidable grandmother. Unable
to return to school, he hitches a ride to Los Angeles and when he lands his first
role as an extra, he doesn’t look back.
Now an award-winning actor and
director, Zach’s latest film Destiny
is expected to land him yet another trophy. On top of the stress about the film
being over-budget and overtime, Zach walks into his hotel room on the
penultimate day of shooting to find his two main characters in bed together – that
is, his wife in bed with another man. The air on set the next day is electric.
Their last scene is a steamy standoff between the lovers and a gun filled with
blanks. At the last minute, Zach uses his director’s prerogative to have Tony
shoot at Rachel. The blanks aren’t blanks.
