"Fantastic teen amateur sleuth tale"

Fearless Productions arranges to shoot a movie starring teen heartthrob Shane Rockett at Fairmont Academy for Girls. The film Reckless Summer will use students as extras, but one lucky female will stars as Shane's romantic interest. Several are selected, but shocking everyone, especially herself, Jessie Phillips gets the part.

Anyone can see the attraction between Jessie and Shane though both are seeing others. Jessie struggles to remain faithful to her boyfriend Marc, who was away at school but arrived on the set while Shane is seeing starlet Heidi Hopkins. However, things start turning ugly when someone tells all to the tabloids. Shane, his manager and the filmmakers angrily assume Jessie and her best friend Tracy did the deed. Jessie and Tracy try to prove otherwise as they believe jealous student Alexis Bright blabbed, but set it up so that Jessie takes the fall. Things turn even uglier when an arson fire occurs and a robbery happens with Jessie and Tracy once again in the middle.

CONFESSIONS OF AN ALMOST MOVIE STAR is a fantastic teen amateur sleuth tale that fans especially high school age will enjoy though older readers like this geriatric reviewer loved the novel too. The story line is fast- paced as Jessie accompanied by her sidekick seems to land in one frying pan after another besides dealing with typical high school woes. Readers will appreciate Mary Kennedy's fine thriller that avoids dumbing down; instead the author assumes her audience can think, chew gum (sugar- free for us older fans) and read at the same time.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 22, 2005

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Summary

Get a grip, Jessie Phillips!

Okay, I admit it, I'm starstruck. Who wouldn't be? Not only is Hollywood shooting a movie at my school, but I edged out drama queen Alexis Bright for a role -- opposite the Shane Rockett, my biggest fantasy since Brad Pitt. Sure, I play his girlfriend in the movie, but Shane's after more than a pretend romance. And I'm guessing that won't be okay with starlet Heidi Hopkins...or my long-distance boyfriend, Marc. Then, just when I thought things couldn't get any juicier around here, someone gabs to the tabloids in the hopes of shutting us down -- events take a dangerous turn. And somehow my best friend, Tracy, and I are the prime suspects...

Get a clue, Jessie Phillips!

I'm starting to get freaked. Marc just flew in for a surprise visit and there might be an arsonist loose on the set. Could things get any weirder? Who would want to pull the plug on this movie? Is Heidi Hopkins that jealous of Shane's attention? What about the stuntman and his constant battles with nasty actress Crystal Hall? Tracy and I aren't out of the picture yet. And unless we figure out what's going on, somebody's going to get hurt.