From Publishers Weekly
This frolic by Heller (Female Intelligence) may be the spiritual descendant of Freaky Friday, but she delivers her story in fresh language, with singular energy. Stacey Reiser comes to Hollywood to become an actress. It also doesn't hurt that L.A. is far both from her native Cleveland and from Helen Reiser, a feisty, 66-year-old know-it-all widow who's marvelous as a walk-on in your life but impossible as a mother. But Helen ups and moves to L.A., too, the better to nag 34-year-old Stacey about her split ends and unmarried state. Through a cascade of events that begins with a bone in a can of tuna and one of Helen's legendary complaint letters to the corporate office, Helen ends up where Stacey always wanted to be: the rich and famous star of a commercial and the darling of the talk-show circuit. She even has a dashing suitor, Victor Chellis, with a fully staffed estate in Beverly Hills. Naturally, Helen's whirlwind ascendancy takes place just as Stacey's career tanks. Reviewing her performance opposite Jim Carrey in Pet Peeve, almighty movie critic Jack Rawlins tells his TV audience that Stacey has the "subtlety of a sledgehammer." Stacey rapidly becomes the old Helen, nagging Mom about her wardrobe and the dubious Victor. Only Stacey's acting talent and a nail-biting car chase can restore mother and daughter to their proper roles. It's spirited, effortless entertainment with a winning premise and plenty of references to Hollywood stars and the latest TV shows.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Heller writes the kind of uncomplicated and popular novels that make it onto lists like "People's Beach Book of the Week." Here, in the former book publicist's tenth novel, we meet Stacey Reiser, a struggling Hollywood actress. Nearly 35 years old, Stacey is still plugging away waiting for her big break, in the meantime making do with commercials and part-time retail jobs. Her love life is sorely lacking, and on top of all that, her nosey, loud-mouthed, interfering mother, Helen, has just moved to Hollywood to be closer to her. Things only grow worse when Helen finds a bone in a can of tuna and writes a nasty letter to the tuna fish company. The company invites her to their cannery for a visit, and the abrasive and plainspoken Helen is soon offered a starring role in the company's new ad campaign. Meanwhile, Stacey's career continues to tank. What's more, Helen now has a boyfriend, while Stacey continues to have man troubles. This is light reading at its finest. Kathleen Hughes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"Wildly inventive...Heller's prose is quite funny and always engaging...Stars shines."--People

"Fresh language, with singular energy...spirited, effortless entertainment."--Publishers Weekly

"A first class dramatic comedy...Jane Heller is a talented writer." -Midwest Book Review

"Jane Heller's winning novel is one no grown-up daughter should miss." -Woman's Own

"Funny, fast-moving."-Boston Globe

"Brims with romance, intrigue, and loads of laughter."-Romantic Times

"Light reading at its finest." -Booklist



Book Description
Stacey Reiser left Cleveland for Hollywood to pursue an acting career—and to escape her lovable but meddlesome mother, Helen. But her plan backfires when the widowed Helen sells her house and follows Stacey to tinsel town, invades every aspect of her daughter’s world and drives her crazy. As in eye twitch crazy. Insomnia crazy. Acid reflux crazy. “If only Mom would get a life,” Stacey wishes after her mother has called for the zillionth time that day to nag her about her clothes, her hair, her lack of a wedding ring. “If only she’d get a life and stay out of mine.”

How could Stacey ever imagine that Helen would get a life – the very life Stacey craves? Just as Stacey's career takes a dive, a twist of fate lands Helen in a television commercial that catapults her to stardom. Now it’s Helen who’s the media darling and Stacey who’s the meddler. And while Stacey is hoping for a commitment from her boyfriend, it’s Helen who snares the catch of the century. Or does she? Helen’s new beau isn’t what he seems, and it’s up to Stacey to expose his shady past before it's too late. But it’ll take the acting job of a lifetime to do it, not to mention a whole lot of heart. Lucky Stars is a novel that’s as keenly observed as it is entertaining, and it will have mothers and daughters laughing out loud and nodding in recognition.



About the Author
Jane Heller promoted dozens of bestselling authors before becoming one herself. She is the author of Cha Cha Cha, The Club, Infernal Affairs, Princess Charming, Crystal Clear, Sis Boom Bah, Name Dropping, Female Intelligence and The Secret Ingredient. She lives in Los Angeles, California, where she is at work on her next book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Stacey Reiser left Cleveland for Hollywood to pursue an acting career--and to escape her lovable but meddlesome mother, Helen. But her plan backfires when the widowed Helen sells her house and follows Stacey to tinsel town, invades every aspect of her daughter's world and drives her crazy. As in eye twitch crazy. Insomnia crazy. Acid reflux crazy. "If only Mom would get a life," Stacey wishes after her mother has called for the zillionth time that day to nag her about her clothes, her hair, her lack of a wedding ring. "If only she'd get a life and stay out of mine."

How could Stacey ever imagine that Helen would get a life - the very life Stacey craves? Just as Stacey's career takes a dive, a twist of fate lands Helen in a television commercial that catapults her to stardom. Now it's Helen who's the media darling and Stacey who's the meddler. And while Stacey is hoping for a commitment from her boyfriend, it's Helen who snares the catch of the century. Or does she? Helen's new beau isn't what he seems, and it's up to Stacey to expose his shady past before it's too late. But it'll take the acting job of a lifetime to do it, not to mention a whole lot of heart. Lucky Stars is a novel that's as keenly observed as it is entertaining, and it will have mothers and daughters laughing out loud and nodding in recognition.

SYNOPSIS

Stacey Reiser left Cleveland for Hollywood to pursue an acting career￯﾿ﾽand to escape her lovable but meddlesome mother, Helen. But her plan backfires when the widowed Helen sells her house and follows Stacey to tinsel town, invades every aspect of her daughter￯﾿ﾽs world and drives her crazy. As in eye twitch crazy. Insomnia crazy. Acid reflux crazy. ￯﾿ﾽIf only Mom would get a life,￯﾿ﾽ Stacey wishes after her mother has called for the zillionth time that day to nag her about her clothes, her hair, her lack of a wedding ring. ￯﾿ﾽIf only she￯﾿ﾽd get a life and stay out of mine.￯﾿ﾽ

How could Stacey ever imagine that Helen would get a life ￯﾿ﾽ the very life Stacey craves? Just as Stacey's career takes a dive, a twist of fate lands Helen in a television commercial that catapults her to stardom. Now it￯﾿ﾽs Helen who￯﾿ﾽs the media darling and Stacey who￯﾿ﾽs the meddler. And while Stacey is hoping for a commitment from her boyfriend, it￯﾿ﾽs Helen who snares the catch of the century. Or does she? Helen￯﾿ﾽs new beau isn￯﾿ﾽt what he seems, and it￯﾿ﾽs up to Stacey to expose his shady past before it's too late. But it￯﾿ﾽll take the acting job of a lifetime to do it, not to mention a whole lot of heart. Lucky Stars is a novel that￯﾿ﾽs as keenly observed as it is entertaining, and it will have mothers and daughters laughing out loud and nodding in recognition.

About the Author

Jane Heller promoted dozens of bestselling authors before becoming one herself. She is the author of Cha Cha Cha, The Club, Infernal Affairs, Princess Charming, Crystal Clear, Sis Boom Bah, Name Dropping, Female Intelligence and The Secret Ingredient. She lives in Los Angeles, California, where she is at work on her next book.

FROM THE CRITICS

Dallas Morning News

The supremely talented Ms. Heller delivers snappy wit, lush romance, and plenty of surprises￯﾿ﾽjust the thing to spark a romantic adventure of your own.

People

As much Sex and the City as I Love Lucy...saucy heroine and screwball plot add up to a romp.

Boston Globe

Jane Heller is feisty, funny, and fully in control￯﾿ﾽa great story.

Newark Star-Ledger

If you loved DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD, pick up SIS BOOM BAH!

Women's Own on The Secret Ingredients