The Understudy

Recently divorced actor Stephen C. McQueen no relation unfortunately seemsto have a knack for bad luck. But a failed marriage a stalled career ajudgmental exwif... » 

Recently divorced actor Stephen C. McQueen no relation unfortunately seemsto have a knack for bad luck. But a failed marriage a stalled career ajudgmental exwife a distant daughter a horrid little studio apartment in thefar reaches of the London suburbsall these pathetic elements seem to pale inthe chiseled face of his newest tormentor the Twelfth Sexiest Man in theWorld Josh Harper.Josh is the star of Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know a biographical play aboutLord Byronand Stephen is his understudy. Not only is Josh fantasticallyinfuriatingly goodlooking internationally renowned and remarkably talentedhes also frustratingly healthy. No matter how many allnight boozeandcokebenders Josh goes on he always shows up at the stage door for his call likeclockwork. Stephen doubts hell ever get his chance to slip on the puffy shirtand tight breeches of Byron and tread the boards in the role that wouldcertainly be the break hes always waited for.And just when Stephens sure he couldnt resent Josh more he meets Joshswitty restless American wife Nora . . . and discovers he likes her a littletoo much. Another man might curse his luck at finding that his potential dreamwoman is a rivals wife but at this point Stephen would expect nothing else.Caught between his stirring feelings for Nora the demands of an insistent andsecretive Josh and his lifelong desire for a real career in show businessStephen must make a terrible decision Will it be the girl or the fame?A hapless bumbling bloke in love an arrogant megastar with a potpourri ofaddictions a sexy married woman out of her element in the fast laneDavidNicholls brings them alltogether in this knockout romantic comedy.From the Hardcover edition. «