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 Money Can't Buy Love by Connie Briscoe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Money Can’t Buy Love by Connie Briscoe is the story of 37 year-old Lenora Stone. She’s living a humdrum life, barely making ends meet, when she hits the lottery. The book opens with Lenora poor and destitute after squandering her winnings. A reporter knocks on her door and she agrees to share her story. We travel back in time a year or so and the story begins.
I must say that I have read every book Connie Briscoe has published and this by far is the biggest disappointment. Although I believe Money Can’t Buy Love will find its niche amongst diehard lazy afternoon chick-lit lovers, it will not receive the acclaim of Briscoe’s earlier works. The storyline is there, she just never really captured me with it. Lenora was the most annoying character I have read in a while. She was very predictable with every decision ending with her fixation on being in a three year relationship with her boyfriend Gerald.
Before I go any further, I must acknowledge that I read an advance uncorrected proof, so perhaps there were significant changes to the actual book prior to mass release. With that said, I never really felt Briscoe gave the reader what they were anticipating from the first few pages. We never truly experience what caused Lenora to end up in the state of financial disaster that she spoke of in the opening. Yes, she bought a house, yes, she bought a car, but come on there was so much more that could have been told. Then there was Gerald, for the better part of the book we were led to believe he was a lying, cheating, snake, we were even baited with Robin the alleged co-worker (do partners in a firm have co-workers) and as quickly as she was introduced we never heard from her again. The relationship with Ray was simply unbelievable; and I would have liked more on her relationships with Monica and Alise—as well as what happened with The Girlfriends club since it was so important for her to be a member.
There was just so much that disappointed me about the book, but the biggest was its lack of development. When you know an author is capable of so much more it is just hard to accept anything less than their very best. This novel really read like Ms. Briscoe was attempting to cater to a new base of readers who are not really concerned with content, but just want a quick read full of drama. If this is the case, I would suggest she go back to those of us who expect quality, well-developed novels that take us on a journey and allow us to connect with the characters and have a vested interest in their outcome. Otherwise, she may begin to lose her true base that has supported her for over a decade.
My final rating for Money Can’t Buy Love is a generous 3 stars. BUY NOW
Much Love,
Tracy
Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. Her third novel, The Red Bear Society is scheduled for fall 2011 release. Fpr more information visit www.TracyLDarity.com.
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