A Cycle of Greed

by Jill Province

The healthcare industry is out of control! Ever wonder what would happen if we fought back? Cait Milner did. In Cait’s distorted plan for justice, the CEO of America’s largest insurance company, Medwin Insurance, becomes the target. In the ultimate irony, she decides the best revenge is a taste of their own medicine. Carol Freeman and Dr. George Donovan extend their facility to accommodate healthcare casualties, and Cait becomes their ward. As Cait weaves in and out of her manic cycles, Carol works to control the fall, however, Cait manages to stay one step ahead of reason. The antics of a frenzied woman go on un-noticed by the big players of the healthcare empire remaining organized and focused on the upcoming and potentially damaging presidential election. They are not about to see their massive profits invaded by an unauthorized entity who refuses to play the game. They seek the aid of a very private, elite organization to find anything scandalous that will guarantee a win for the incumbent. But when Cait stumbles unknowing into the middle of their devious plan, worlds collide. Through her single minded obsession for justice and revenge, one woman plants a seed that will ultimately change the world.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2009

Reviews

[Jennifer B]

Jill Province's "A Cycle of Greed" is a novel that fails on every conceivable level, leaving readers with a bitter taste of regret and an overwhelming urge to demand a refund for their time spent enduring its pages. From its uninspired prose to its shallow characters, this book is a testament to mediocrity at its finest.

First and foremost, Province's writing style is as dull as dishwater. Her sentences meander aimlessly, devoid of any semblance of rhythm or grace. It's as if she's attempting to drown her readers in a sea of words, hoping they'll somehow stumble upon a coherent narrative amidst the wreckage of her prose. Spoiler alert: they won't.

But even more egregious than Province's lackluster writing is her complete disregard for character development. The protagonists are little more than cardboard cutouts, devoid of personality or motivation. They stumble through the plot like zombies, sleepwalking their way towards a conclusion that feels both contrived and unsatisfying.

And don't even get me started on the plot—or lack thereof. "A Cycle of Greed" purports to be a gripping tale of ambition and betrayal, but in reality, it's little more than a series of disjointed events strung together with all the finesse of a child playing with Lego blocks. There's no tension, no drama, no sense of urgency—it's as if Province is simply going through the motions, ticking off boxes on a checklist of clichés.

To make matters worse, Province seems utterly incapable of exploring the themes she introduces. Greed, ambition, betrayal—all are treated with all the depth of a kiddie pool. It's as if she's afraid to delve beneath the surface, content to skim along the shallow waters of her own imagination.

In conclusion, "A Cycle of Greed" is a literary travesty that should serve as a cautionary tale for aspiring authors everywhere. It's a prime example of what happens when a writer prioritizes quantity over quality, sacrificing substance for the sake of padding out a word count. Save yourself the agony and steer clear of this abomination of a novel. Your brain—and your sanity—will thank you.