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Can't Buy Forever
In the early 1950s, Odessa Drake (Dessa) is rescued from a bleak existence with a single mother. She takes a chance on the unknown to work in a boarding house owned by a widowed great aunt in Mineville, New York. Dessa is devoted to Aunt Flo and especially a young man, Nicholas, who appears and takes shelter in the attic, the only available space. Four years pass. She looks forward to each day because of his presence, in spite of the tedious work. Dessa is now eighteen and knows little more of Nicholas than the day he arrived to work the mines. She knows only he is a remarkable man who has a limp and she trusts Nicholas explicitly. There is a familiarity both recognize and an unshakeable bond develops. Nicholas has reasons to keep his past buried. Dangers loom and become evident when Nicholas gets too close and exposes their bond. What is the mystery behind this threat? To discover the answer, they escape by railway heading West, colliding with treachery and uncovering secrets, mile by mile. Their journey is impossible, but, they are supported by friends who risk their lives to make sure a great love and lineage is preserved. Or is it? None will forget their odyssey as they proceed to their destiny farther than they imagined.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 13, 2017
DNF- Full review will be up on my blog soon.
This book was written and edited poorly. Many grammar mistakes, sentences have no flow, and there is no overall plot.
This book was written and edited poorly. Many grammar mistakes, sentences have no flow, and there is no overall plot.
March 6, 2017
(Actual star rating: 1.5 stars)
I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Goodreads synopsis:
"In the early 1950s, Odessa Drake (Dessa) is rescued from a bleak existence with a single mother. She takes a chance on the unknown to work in a boarding house owned by a widowed great aunt in Mineville, New York. Dessa is devoted to Aunt Flo and especially a young man, Nicholas, who appears and takes shelter in the attic, the only available space. Four years pass. She looks forward to each day because of his presence, in spite of the tedious work. Dessa is now eighteen and knows little more of Nicholas than the day he arrived to work the mines. She knows only he is a remarkable man who has a limp and she trusts Nicholas explicitly. There is a familiarity both recognize and an unshakeable bond develops. Nicholas has reasons to keep his past buried. Dangers loom and become evident when Nicholas gets too close and exposes their bond. What is the mystery behind this threat? To discover the answer, they escape by railway heading West, colliding with treachery and uncovering secrets, mile by mile. Their journey is impossible, but, they are supported by friends who risk their lives to make sure a great love and lineage is preserved. Or is it? None will forget their odyssey as they proceed to their destiny farther than they imagined."
This is the closest I have ever come to not finishing a book... However, I live by the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" (or, in this case, its synopsis) and I can't in good conscience rate a book without finishing it. While there were elements of this book that I enjoyed, the overall execution was extremely poor.
What I liked about this book:
The best feature of Can't Buy Forever is undoubtedly the good morals. It's rare these days to read a book that isn't filled with sex, lust, bad language, etc. I truly appreciate that Susan Laffoon took the effort to write such a clean book!
This book really is a sweet love story. The connection between Dessa and Nicholas is beautiful and there are some excellent plot twists relating to it in this book. With the proper editing and "fleshing out," this book could have a lot of potential.
The "cons" behind the star rating:
Despite the positive aspects of this book, it was a huge disappointment for me. I was offered a book that I "won't be able to put down!" but instead I had to put it down every couple pages because I simply couldn't stomach the writing.
Since I don't enjoy tearing a book apart, I'll keep this brief... The writing style of Can't Buy Forever is poor (cheesy to the extreme), the grammar terrible, the typography lacking, and the characters shallow. Nicholas is basically a Morman, non-vampire Edward Cullen (Twilight) and Dessa--although her name implies a certain uniqueness--is dull and ordinary. There is basically no character growth (that makes sense...) throughout this story and the scattered writing style is difficult to follow. All things considered, I had to literally force myself to finish reading this book.
* * *
I appreciate the work the author put into this book, but it would greatly benefit from some serious editing and rewriting.
Content (10= extremely high focus; 0=non existent):
Adventure content: 4
Creepiness content: 1
Grief content: 1
Language content: 0
Religion content: 3
Romance content: 3
Sexual content: 0
Violence content: 2
I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Goodreads synopsis:
"In the early 1950s, Odessa Drake (Dessa) is rescued from a bleak existence with a single mother. She takes a chance on the unknown to work in a boarding house owned by a widowed great aunt in Mineville, New York. Dessa is devoted to Aunt Flo and especially a young man, Nicholas, who appears and takes shelter in the attic, the only available space. Four years pass. She looks forward to each day because of his presence, in spite of the tedious work. Dessa is now eighteen and knows little more of Nicholas than the day he arrived to work the mines. She knows only he is a remarkable man who has a limp and she trusts Nicholas explicitly. There is a familiarity both recognize and an unshakeable bond develops. Nicholas has reasons to keep his past buried. Dangers loom and become evident when Nicholas gets too close and exposes their bond. What is the mystery behind this threat? To discover the answer, they escape by railway heading West, colliding with treachery and uncovering secrets, mile by mile. Their journey is impossible, but, they are supported by friends who risk their lives to make sure a great love and lineage is preserved. Or is it? None will forget their odyssey as they proceed to their destiny farther than they imagined."
This is the closest I have ever come to not finishing a book... However, I live by the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" (or, in this case, its synopsis) and I can't in good conscience rate a book without finishing it. While there were elements of this book that I enjoyed, the overall execution was extremely poor.
What I liked about this book:
The best feature of Can't Buy Forever is undoubtedly the good morals. It's rare these days to read a book that isn't filled with sex, lust, bad language, etc. I truly appreciate that Susan Laffoon took the effort to write such a clean book!
This book really is a sweet love story. The connection between Dessa and Nicholas is beautiful and there are some excellent plot twists relating to it in this book. With the proper editing and "fleshing out," this book could have a lot of potential.
The "cons" behind the star rating:
Despite the positive aspects of this book, it was a huge disappointment for me. I was offered a book that I "won't be able to put down!" but instead I had to put it down every couple pages because I simply couldn't stomach the writing.
Since I don't enjoy tearing a book apart, I'll keep this brief... The writing style of Can't Buy Forever is poor (cheesy to the extreme), the grammar terrible, the typography lacking, and the characters shallow. Nicholas is basically a Morman, non-vampire Edward Cullen (Twilight) and Dessa--although her name implies a certain uniqueness--is dull and ordinary. There is basically no character growth (that makes sense...) throughout this story and the scattered writing style is difficult to follow. All things considered, I had to literally force myself to finish reading this book.
* * *
I appreciate the work the author put into this book, but it would greatly benefit from some serious editing and rewriting.
Content (10= extremely high focus; 0=non existent):
Adventure content: 4
Creepiness content: 1
Grief content: 1
Language content: 0
Religion content: 3
Romance content: 3
Sexual content: 0
Violence content: 2
April 3, 2017
A view weeks ago I received ‘Can’t Buy Forever’ in exchange for my review. This book sounded like an interesting read so I was super excited to start reading as soon as I could.
In ‘Can’t Buy Forever’ we meet Odessa Drake. Odessa lives in a boarding house owned by her widowed aunt. Years ago Nicholas started living in the attic of the boarding house. And ever since Odessa and Nicholas had a special bond. But since Nicholas is older, nothing ever happened more than friendship. And Odessa really wants to change that. But there is a lot of mystery surrounding Nicholas, and he has a lot of secrets.
Although I definitely enjoyed several parts of this book, I also had a view issues with it. For one I found this book beginning rather abruptly. I felt like I was missing the first view chapters. There wasn’t much of an intro and I think the beginning should have had more of an introduction.
The main characters Odessa and Nicolas were very different. Odessa was head over heels in love with Nicholas, and it was really obvious. Especially in the beginning there didn’t seem to be more about her character. And I would have liked her much more if she had a little strength of her own.
Nicholas was mysterious and kind, and I definitely think he was the best thing about this book. There was such mystery about his character, which made me want to keep on reading.
Reading this review, it sounds like I didn’t like this book at all, which isn’t true. I definitely enjoyed some moments, and the mystery about Nicholas’s character really made up for most other problems I had about this book. I really wanted to keep on reading till I knew what was going on.
In ‘Can’t Buy Forever’ we meet Odessa Drake. Odessa lives in a boarding house owned by her widowed aunt. Years ago Nicholas started living in the attic of the boarding house. And ever since Odessa and Nicholas had a special bond. But since Nicholas is older, nothing ever happened more than friendship. And Odessa really wants to change that. But there is a lot of mystery surrounding Nicholas, and he has a lot of secrets.
Although I definitely enjoyed several parts of this book, I also had a view issues with it. For one I found this book beginning rather abruptly. I felt like I was missing the first view chapters. There wasn’t much of an intro and I think the beginning should have had more of an introduction.
The main characters Odessa and Nicolas were very different. Odessa was head over heels in love with Nicholas, and it was really obvious. Especially in the beginning there didn’t seem to be more about her character. And I would have liked her much more if she had a little strength of her own.
Nicholas was mysterious and kind, and I definitely think he was the best thing about this book. There was such mystery about his character, which made me want to keep on reading.
Reading this review, it sounds like I didn’t like this book at all, which isn’t true. I definitely enjoyed some moments, and the mystery about Nicholas’s character really made up for most other problems I had about this book. I really wanted to keep on reading till I knew what was going on.
June 17, 2017
Finished reading: June 16th 2017
"Coincidences don't add up, choices do. We build our life one choice at a time for better or for worse."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 24, 2017
Odessa is a young girl when she meets Nicholas at her Aunts boarding house. He is older than her and for 4 years they tiptoe around each other and the bond between them that is undeniable. Soon they find themselves on the run so as to protect their love. The past that is best left buried and a bond that cannot be forgotten lead these two on an amazing journey.
This book was really well written. It was a book that was full of mystery. It took me a bit to understand some of what was going on, but as the book continued the truth came to light. The characters were complex and colorful and easy to love. The mystery that is Nicholas lends this book a great story-line. This book is filled with family, friendship, and love. All around it was a very good read.
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This book was really well written. It was a book that was full of mystery. It took me a bit to understand some of what was going on, but as the book continued the truth came to light. The characters were complex and colorful and easy to love. The mystery that is Nicholas lends this book a great story-line. This book is filled with family, friendship, and love. All around it was a very good read.
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
March 25, 2017
A Magical World of Words(Thank you to the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review).
1.5 stars.
I love thrillers. And seeing as this particular thriller is blended with historical romance, I thought it sounded amazing.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't love this book. Or even go as far as to say I liked it...
The grammar was horrendous. I have never before seen such typos and grammatical errors. From the blurb on the back, to the author info, to the story itself, the sentences and spelling were a mess. The sentences were choppy, in passive voice, and the words were frequently in the wrong order. In addition, the tenses were constantly changing; leaping from present to past and then back again.
It was a mess.
The overuse of exclamation marks might have been bearable if they didn't constantly kill the drama and force me to roll my eyes at the story incidents. As it was, they were ill-used and misplaced.
The story was so confusing. It started without proper set-up, without background or setting to let me get my bearings, and the scenes were jumbled and sloppy. The writing did nothing to evoke my senses, and the landscape/setting (which had great historical potential) was flat and one-dimensional. The description of physical setting in all of the scenes was also incredibly sparse.
I was confused and lost, and the story never once redeemed itself. The writing was also cheesy, and the scenes jumped all over the place with no sense of logic or structure.
I felt like the story began in the wrong place. The plot was threadbare, and the way the story began left no room for character development or plausible plot twists - at least the kind that was realistic. As it was, the story began with Dessa already having known Nicholas for years and didn't show her relationship background with any of the other characters. I also found it hard to believe that only now was she questioning his past and only now were they being threatened by external forces.
It became obvious about halfway through the book that there was some magical, paranormal element at play; specifically to do with Nicholas. However, it was never fully explained, and felt unrealistic considering the historical "setting" and the events preceding the paranormal revelation. I wasn't allowed time to absorb the shock of there being some magic at play, because it was glossed over and poorly revealed. It was just badly done, and came across like the author had only thought of it halfway through writing the novel.
The ending of the book was also bizarre. Just bizarre.
The characters were flat and cliched. Dessa was your Bella Swan with even less personality and in need of even more saving, and Nicholas definitely fit the sexist, brooding, and in this story Mormon-version of Edward Cullen. The romance was incredibly Twilighty, and in fear of giving spoilers, I'll just say that the age of the characters had something to do with it...
And the sexism. If you know me, then you'll know that sexist romances or sexist dialogue literally makes my blood boil. I actually exclaimed out loud more than once while reading through sections of this book - in shock.
Here are some of the things that passed between Nicholas and Dessa, which will illustrate my point:
- Nicholas insists on choosing Dessa's prom date for her and "interviews" each guy.
- Nicholas is constantly carrying Dessa around like she's a puppy and she's constantly in need of rescuing.
- More than once, Nicholas says to her:
"Now, Dessa, don't make me hurt you." as if it's a threat WHICH IT IS.
- Now for the most horrifying part of the book: Nicholas marries Dessa while she's unconscious. No lie: she faints, and deduced from their conversation after she's woken up, it comes across like Nicholas purposefully wanted it that way.
Here's a paragraph from Dessa's friend's point of view (I've cut parts to shorten it, but kept it all in context).
Nicholas married you".........."I didn't know what was going on until you passed out in Nicholas's arms.....Nicholas had to coax you to say the words on your own........."..........." Nicholas said he needed to marry you, so he could feel your thoughts closer and clearer while he's apart from you. {Part of the paranormal element, by the way} Being his wife makes it that much easier. He could protect you."......... "I knew you would have married Nicholas even if you had known. He was jubilant, hoping you'd feel the same when you discovered you were Mrs. Nicholas Westley."
I'm sorry, but call me a independent female if I disagree with this occurrence. Personally, I'd like to have a say whether I marry a guy or not, and I would greatly appreciate it if he actually waited till I was fully conscious before getting me to say "I do." And I'd like to believe that most women would expect that, too.
But the book wasn't all bad. It was a very unique story idea, and had a very sweet, heartfelt undertone. Relationships played a big role in the story, and I could tell the author cared about each of her characters.
I'm sorry to say it, but I thought Can't Buy Forever was badly written with flat characters, a sexist romance, sparse description, horrendous typos and cheesy writing. It had great potential, but I was disappointed.
March 21, 2017
I was provided a free copy of this in exchange for a review from the author. Thank you to Susan for the copy. This in no way affects how I felt about the book.
I ususally don't write spoilery reviews, but I felt like I couldn't write this review without mentioning some important parts to the book, so do read at your own risk. So, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
While reading this book, I knew I was going to have a difficult time reviewing. This was because I both enjoyed, but also did not like this story. How can it be possible to not like but also like a book? I've never really had this happen to me before so, I knew this review was going to be extremely confusing because I did like the story, but at the same time, I had a lot of issues with it.
First things first I'd like to discuss something I think is important to mention, but can't expand on further because it's not my place to judge/discuss. This novel is about a love story between a woman named Nicholas & Dessa, quite a tragic love story actually. I wasn't had no knowledge about this before reading but, Nicholas is named (and calls himself) a Gypsy, as in the mythological one. Now I'm fully aware that this term is often used as a slur for the Romani people (more about that in this article) so as soon as this part of the plot was mentioned, I knew I couldn't review this book without mentioning something. I tried reaching out on twitter to speak with someone who is of Romani culture so that way I could discuss this aspect of the novel and find out how to approach the topic in my review, but no one replied. Therefore, I feel as if it is not my place to really touch on this subject and I very much am open to speaking with someone so that I can review this part of the novel better, and educate myself further that way if I come across this again in other novels, I know what to do.
With that said, I'll be reviewing the book critically on other parts of it, and if I can further educate myself on the matter of Nicholas being a Gypsy, I will edit my review.
Writing Style
The writing style of this novel was very difficult for me to read. I think the reasoning was because the novel still needs a lot of editing. Many of the sentences didn't make very sense to me and there was something off about the way sentences were worded/structured that made it difficult for me to understand what was going on in a scene. There were often flashbacks in the middle of scenes where it took me a few reads to understand that it was a flashback and not the same scene. I just feel the writing could have been worked on a little bit, but the last one hundred or so pages were much easier to read and understand.
Other than the strange style, there are a lot of beautiful metaphors and other descriptive writing that I really liked and made the story come alive.
Plot (Major Spoiler in here)
Here is where some of the spoilers come in. Because the writing style was so confusing, so was the plot. It was hard to tell what was going on at one point in time in the book because everything jumped so quickly. All the little plot twists/reveals were revealed in an odd way. I honestly can't describe what I mean by that, but they were revealed as if you should have already known them? If that makes any sense.
Despite it being confusing, I managed to follow it all, and everything came together a little bit more at the end. However, I feel personally as if the book should have ended at a different place. Nicholas's curse was broken, ending him from his immortality, and then he passes away from aging quickly. I felt as if the novel should have ended here, with Odessa then proceeding to go out and live her life. Instead, Nicholas's great grandson, his doppleganger, appears and tells Dessa an elaborate story of how sometimes Nicholas switched himself out for his doppleganger, and that the doppleganger was in love with her and it was meant to be the two of them all along. Confusing, I know. And then the book ends with the two of them together basically. That part of the novel had me frowning. It all felt a little off and I really, really wish that it had just ended at the death.
However, I actually did enjoy the story up until that point. I liked the romance between Nicholas and Dessa. I liked the little adventure they went on - it had many twists and turns, and a lot of side characters that I found to be very lovable. Supporting side characters are my favorite part. Out of all the things in this book, I enjoyed the characters more than anything. It's what kept me going.
Overall
I feel like this novel has a lot of potential to be great. It just needs some editing regarding the writing and plot building and I think it could be really amazing. I suppose I'd recommend this to anyone who needs a quick, easy read. And again, I wish I was more educated to discuss the Gypsy aspect, but I am not Romani. I'm open to discussion about the events of this book, as stated above however, in order to better educate myself.
Again, thank you to the author for reaching out to me for a review.
I ususally don't write spoilery reviews, but I felt like I couldn't write this review without mentioning some important parts to the book, so do read at your own risk. So, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
While reading this book, I knew I was going to have a difficult time reviewing. This was because I both enjoyed, but also did not like this story. How can it be possible to not like but also like a book? I've never really had this happen to me before so, I knew this review was going to be extremely confusing because I did like the story, but at the same time, I had a lot of issues with it.
First things first I'd like to discuss something I think is important to mention, but can't expand on further because it's not my place to judge/discuss. This novel is about a love story between a woman named Nicholas & Dessa, quite a tragic love story actually. I wasn't had no knowledge about this before reading but, Nicholas is named (and calls himself) a Gypsy, as in the mythological one. Now I'm fully aware that this term is often used as a slur for the Romani people (more about that in this article) so as soon as this part of the plot was mentioned, I knew I couldn't review this book without mentioning something. I tried reaching out on twitter to speak with someone who is of Romani culture so that way I could discuss this aspect of the novel and find out how to approach the topic in my review, but no one replied. Therefore, I feel as if it is not my place to really touch on this subject and I very much am open to speaking with someone so that I can review this part of the novel better, and educate myself further that way if I come across this again in other novels, I know what to do.
With that said, I'll be reviewing the book critically on other parts of it, and if I can further educate myself on the matter of Nicholas being a Gypsy, I will edit my review.
Writing Style
The writing style of this novel was very difficult for me to read. I think the reasoning was because the novel still needs a lot of editing. Many of the sentences didn't make very sense to me and there was something off about the way sentences were worded/structured that made it difficult for me to understand what was going on in a scene. There were often flashbacks in the middle of scenes where it took me a few reads to understand that it was a flashback and not the same scene. I just feel the writing could have been worked on a little bit, but the last one hundred or so pages were much easier to read and understand.
Other than the strange style, there are a lot of beautiful metaphors and other descriptive writing that I really liked and made the story come alive.
Plot (Major Spoiler in here)
Here is where some of the spoilers come in. Because the writing style was so confusing, so was the plot. It was hard to tell what was going on at one point in time in the book because everything jumped so quickly. All the little plot twists/reveals were revealed in an odd way. I honestly can't describe what I mean by that, but they were revealed as if you should have already known them? If that makes any sense.
Despite it being confusing, I managed to follow it all, and everything came together a little bit more at the end. However, I feel personally as if the book should have ended at a different place. Nicholas's curse was broken, ending him from his immortality, and then he passes away from aging quickly. I felt as if the novel should have ended here, with Odessa then proceeding to go out and live her life. Instead, Nicholas's great grandson, his doppleganger, appears and tells Dessa an elaborate story of how sometimes Nicholas switched himself out for his doppleganger, and that the doppleganger was in love with her and it was meant to be the two of them all along. Confusing, I know. And then the book ends with the two of them together basically. That part of the novel had me frowning. It all felt a little off and I really, really wish that it had just ended at the death.
However, I actually did enjoy the story up until that point. I liked the romance between Nicholas and Dessa. I liked the little adventure they went on - it had many twists and turns, and a lot of side characters that I found to be very lovable. Supporting side characters are my favorite part. Out of all the things in this book, I enjoyed the characters more than anything. It's what kept me going.
Overall
I feel like this novel has a lot of potential to be great. It just needs some editing regarding the writing and plot building and I think it could be really amazing. I suppose I'd recommend this to anyone who needs a quick, easy read. And again, I wish I was more educated to discuss the Gypsy aspect, but I am not Romani. I'm open to discussion about the events of this book, as stated above however, in order to better educate myself.
Again, thank you to the author for reaching out to me for a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 26, 2017This has to be the first time I'm quite certain I have no clue how to feel about this book. There were some things that I did really like and there were some parts I was super unsure about it. Let's just discuss the things I did enjoy first before I get into my rambling confused mess.
First off, I really enjoyed Laffoon's writing. I'm not sure what it was about the way she wrote, but I really liked her voice. It was something like a storyteller telling a story that had that kind of quality to it.Her descriptions were great as well. Her writing style was definitely my favorite part of the story.
I was also impressed by the ending. I didn't really expect it, and I thought it was a super nice touch.
I thought the romance was sweet although I didn't get super into the ship. They were a lot dependent on each other, but I kind of understood it from a psychological perspective. Laffoon definitely kept the tension there that gave me will-they-won't-they vibes, which was great.
The confusion for me kind of came from the disconnect. I really didn't feel much for things - the character, the plot, etc. This is kind of book where it's very character driven and focuses on the romance and dynamics of the characters. I kind of got a bit lost in that, and since I didn't fully get into the ship, I kind of lost the draw into the story. And I did get kind of confused at different parts, especially with some of the opening scenes so I might have checked out at different parts, which made the disconnect worse.
There were some grammatical mistakes, which didn't really deter or distract me from the reading too much, but they were there.
As I said in the beginning, I really don't know how to feel about this book. I did really enjoy Laffoon's writing, but there was so much of a disconnect for me with this book that I really can't judge it fairly, which is why I will be leaving a rating off. I think this is the fault of a character driven novel - if you're not super involved from the start and invested, you may lose the reader. I really don't think it's the fault of Laffoon, but I think there was a disconnect on my part for just wanting a bit more action very soon into the story - and that desire just colored the rest of it. Plus, I totally did just finish ACOMAF at the time, and the book hangover could have totally messed me up for sure.
No crowns because I don't think it would be an accurate rating due to my confusion on what to think and an Elsa rating - my very first!
First off, I really enjoyed Laffoon's writing. I'm not sure what it was about the way she wrote, but I really liked her voice. It was something like a storyteller telling a story that had that kind of quality to it.Her descriptions were great as well. Her writing style was definitely my favorite part of the story.
I was also impressed by the ending. I didn't really expect it, and I thought it was a super nice touch.
I thought the romance was sweet although I didn't get super into the ship. They were a lot dependent on each other, but I kind of understood it from a psychological perspective. Laffoon definitely kept the tension there that gave me will-they-won't-they vibes, which was great.
The confusion for me kind of came from the disconnect. I really didn't feel much for things - the character, the plot, etc. This is kind of book where it's very character driven and focuses on the romance and dynamics of the characters. I kind of got a bit lost in that, and since I didn't fully get into the ship, I kind of lost the draw into the story. And I did get kind of confused at different parts, especially with some of the opening scenes so I might have checked out at different parts, which made the disconnect worse.
There were some grammatical mistakes, which didn't really deter or distract me from the reading too much, but they were there.
As I said in the beginning, I really don't know how to feel about this book. I did really enjoy Laffoon's writing, but there was so much of a disconnect for me with this book that I really can't judge it fairly, which is why I will be leaving a rating off. I think this is the fault of a character driven novel - if you're not super involved from the start and invested, you may lose the reader. I really don't think it's the fault of Laffoon, but I think there was a disconnect on my part for just wanting a bit more action very soon into the story - and that desire just colored the rest of it. Plus, I totally did just finish ACOMAF at the time, and the book hangover could have totally messed me up for sure.
No crowns because I don't think it would be an accurate rating due to my confusion on what to think and an Elsa rating - my very first!
gave-up-on
May 29, 2017DNF: I tried. Honestly I really did.
A few months ago I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The author had stated that this would be a book that "I wouldn't be able to put down." It turned out to be a book that I had to force myself to pick up and continue reading. Until I couldn't do it anymore.
I received this book at the end of February 2017 and 3 months later, I was only able to get to about 50% of the book. First, the writing. It is not good. Poor grammar with poorly constructed sentences that sometimes made absolutely no sense. Second, the plot. Honestly, I don't even know if this book even had a plot. It was confusing and all over the place. And third, the characters. The characters were very one dimensional with absolutely no character development or growth and I just couldn't connect with any of them.
I do feel that the author gave it her all with this book. From the way she talked about it, she very much cares about this story and her characters. However, this book is in a serious need of heavy editing because the potential is there but until then, this one is just a disappointment.
A few months ago I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The author had stated that this would be a book that "I wouldn't be able to put down." It turned out to be a book that I had to force myself to pick up and continue reading. Until I couldn't do it anymore.
I received this book at the end of February 2017 and 3 months later, I was only able to get to about 50% of the book. First, the writing. It is not good. Poor grammar with poorly constructed sentences that sometimes made absolutely no sense. Second, the plot. Honestly, I don't even know if this book even had a plot. It was confusing and all over the place. And third, the characters. The characters were very one dimensional with absolutely no character development or growth and I just couldn't connect with any of them.
I do feel that the author gave it her all with this book. From the way she talked about it, she very much cares about this story and her characters. However, this book is in a serious need of heavy editing because the potential is there but until then, this one is just a disappointment.
October 20, 2017
I received this book from the author in ex-change for an honest review. So here it goes...
Thoroughly I enjoyed this book, but not the beginning or the end. I'm not saying it was all bad because it wasn't. I found that the writing style was very choppy feeling and had quite a few grammar errors, which made me have to take several look backs to figure out what certain sentences were saying. Some of the other things about the writing I had qualms about such as the aspects of adding the French language into an English written book without fully saying what, they were actually saying in English. Which took away some of the enjoyment of the book as I had to go look up the translations to some of the phrases. Other things, I wish there was more of an explanation to certain things in further detail, such as the spell and the gypsies which I found at times confusing, due to there not being enough back story to these things. As wells as I found some parts random, which could have been left out, As well as being some loose ends I wish were tied up.
But on the good side i really did enjoy the thriller aspect to the book, such as the parts that made me not want to put the book down! With that being said I really enjoyed the middle of the book where we got to learn more of the back story on Nicholas such as his family. I also liked the fact that there were twists to the story (even if some where confusing at times.)
All in all the enjoyment of the story was entertaining but it was some of the writing that caught me up in which the rating I have gave, being a 3. (also might I add the spelling error on the spine of the book, being forevear instead of forever)
Thoroughly I enjoyed this book, but not the beginning or the end. I'm not saying it was all bad because it wasn't. I found that the writing style was very choppy feeling and had quite a few grammar errors, which made me have to take several look backs to figure out what certain sentences were saying. Some of the other things about the writing I had qualms about such as the aspects of adding the French language into an English written book without fully saying what, they were actually saying in English. Which took away some of the enjoyment of the book as I had to go look up the translations to some of the phrases. Other things, I wish there was more of an explanation to certain things in further detail, such as the spell and the gypsies which I found at times confusing, due to there not being enough back story to these things. As wells as I found some parts random, which could have been left out, As well as being some loose ends I wish were tied up.
But on the good side i really did enjoy the thriller aspect to the book, such as the parts that made me not want to put the book down! With that being said I really enjoyed the middle of the book where we got to learn more of the back story on Nicholas such as his family. I also liked the fact that there were twists to the story (even if some where confusing at times.)
All in all the enjoyment of the story was entertaining but it was some of the writing that caught me up in which the rating I have gave, being a 3. (also might I add the spelling error on the spine of the book, being forevear instead of forever)
June 12, 2017
Well, where do I start? This book had potential. I was semi-enjoying it until about halfway through when it just got WEIRD! There was such a great love story between Dessa and Nicolas, but the way Nicholas' character was taken...it made no sense. It was confusing and I just didn't enjoy it at all. He was a gypsy/Mormon/immortal??? The time period was a bit confusing too because the way it was written made me think it was set long ago, when it was actually set in the 1950s. But the characters' mannerisms and behaviors and language seemed more old fashioned. Dessa also had a weird habit of fainting a lot. A lot. That was annoying. There were also many grammatical errors that drove me nuts, it just needed better editing. Overall I unfortunately didn't enjoy this one.
*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2017
I will be reviewing this soon
February 18, 2017
If you’re judging by the title and a few first chapters you could easily say this is a romance novel set in 1950s America. However it’s not at all that simple.
The story is told by the protagonist, a girl called Odessa Drake who lives with her aunt. She describes her life as boring and uneventful except for one thing: there is a man called Nicholas who makes her days more interesting. This is a man with a limp and unknown origin, never in a mood to reveal more about himself. They fall in love and after an incident they are forced to run away on a train and travel trough America.
Much of the conflict is derived from the fact that Nicholas has an interesting origin. He’s actually a part of minority that’s not talked about enough and although he’s not very different from the stereotype it was interesting to read about his life before he met Dessa. There’s something unrealistic about him from the beginning and the reveal brings even a magic element to the story.
Dessa is introduced to whole world of customs she knows nothing about and, being as young as she is she can’t always be considerate as you’d probably expect from someone who knows more about the world. There’s something in the way that she forms her sentences that makes you wonder if she’s used to talking aloud that much. Her speech and thoughts even sometimes feel like an unusual string of words, connected in a strange way. In fact, she has a very idealized image of her love in her mind and that’s what drives her to continue on her path.
As almost always, there’s much more to the story than just romance. This is also a novel about growing up in isolation and finally getting a chance to know about the world. The main character being a minority rarely talked about ads even more to the story. The story of how he lived is the most interesting one and it’s quite a plot twist.
Lovers of romance will probably enjoy this story.
blog
*I got a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank them for sharing it with me.
The story is told by the protagonist, a girl called Odessa Drake who lives with her aunt. She describes her life as boring and uneventful except for one thing: there is a man called Nicholas who makes her days more interesting. This is a man with a limp and unknown origin, never in a mood to reveal more about himself. They fall in love and after an incident they are forced to run away on a train and travel trough America.
Much of the conflict is derived from the fact that Nicholas has an interesting origin. He’s actually a part of minority that’s not talked about enough and although he’s not very different from the stereotype it was interesting to read about his life before he met Dessa. There’s something unrealistic about him from the beginning and the reveal brings even a magic element to the story.
Dessa is introduced to whole world of customs she knows nothing about and, being as young as she is she can’t always be considerate as you’d probably expect from someone who knows more about the world. There’s something in the way that she forms her sentences that makes you wonder if she’s used to talking aloud that much. Her speech and thoughts even sometimes feel like an unusual string of words, connected in a strange way. In fact, she has a very idealized image of her love in her mind and that’s what drives her to continue on her path.
As almost always, there’s much more to the story than just romance. This is also a novel about growing up in isolation and finally getting a chance to know about the world. The main character being a minority rarely talked about ads even more to the story. The story of how he lived is the most interesting one and it’s quite a plot twist.
Lovers of romance will probably enjoy this story.
blog
*I got a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank them for sharing it with me.
February 22, 2017
What a delightful book. It's very different to my usual reads but it turned out to be a little gem. It's what I can only describe as part love story and part thriller with an excellent twist.
Odessa Drake meets and falls hopelessly in love with a mysterious man called Nicholas who rents a room in her Aunt Flo's boarding house. Nicholas discloses little about his past and when events take an unpleasant turn, Odessa and Nicholas are forced to flee across the country to safety.
This book is beautifully and skillfully written. I feel as if I've lived, loved, laughed and lost. When a book conveys such strong emotions I know I've read something special.
Thanks to author Susan Laffoon for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://barnseybooks.blogspot.co.uk/20...
Odessa Drake meets and falls hopelessly in love with a mysterious man called Nicholas who rents a room in her Aunt Flo's boarding house. Nicholas discloses little about his past and when events take an unpleasant turn, Odessa and Nicholas are forced to flee across the country to safety.
This book is beautifully and skillfully written. I feel as if I've lived, loved, laughed and lost. When a book conveys such strong emotions I know I've read something special.
Thanks to author Susan Laffoon for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://barnseybooks.blogspot.co.uk/20...
February 12, 2017
We’re kicking off the February reviews with ‘Can’t Buy Forever’ by Susan Laffoon, an historical romance meets thriller. This book was different from my usual genre, so I was very excited to read it – and I wasn’t disappointed. I completed this book in two sittings, I honestly couldn’t put it down. Something I really enjoyed about this narrative is the way Susan’s writing constantly kept you on your toes. You open this book expecting a romance and leave with something much more.
Full review can be read at - https://wanderingthroughbooksandwords...
Full review can be read at - https://wanderingthroughbooksandwords...
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October 17, 2017Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and ramblings are my own.
Can't Buy Forever is the story of nineteen Odessa Drake (who hates her name: one part Swan Princess, other part ugly duckling), living in 1950's upper New York state, with her aunt who runs a lodging house mostly occupied by workers from the nearby mine. Odessa, despite thinking herself an ugly duckling, from her description and the way other male characters act around her, seems to be just as beautiful as the Swan Princess. At her Aunt Flo's lodge a few years before, she meets the mysterious dark haired Nicholas, with piercing blue eyes that seem to change shades as his mood changes. Everyone seems to love and trust him, pronouncing him a good guy and perfect for Odessa, despite the pretty substantial age gap of being four years older than her. Making friends with everyone and always being kind and helpful, Nicholas seems wise beyond his years, but hesitant to start a relationship with Odessa (even though the way they act and touch each other seems like they're in a relationship, but it's made very clear that they are not, despite everyone's approval by way of knowing glances). Things start changing though when Roark, a local boy in town seems to be obsessed with Odessa and his hellbent on having her all to himself. From there, secrets are revealed about Nicholas and the love between him and Odessa as they must go on the run, and the history between Nicholas' and Roark's feuding families.
The premise for the book going in was somewhat unclear to me and even more unclear as I was actually reading it. I knew it was a love story between the innocent and lovely Odessa, and the older, perfect Nicholas. But the author threw in numerous story-lines and plot points including an immortality and gypsy curse story-line, along with the history of the newly founded Mormon Church moving to Utah in the 1800's, that I'm not at all quite sure how to exactly describe the book. Is this book strictly romance, or is a mix of magic and fantasy with not-so-subtle religious undertones? Or all of the above?
While I didn't mind Odessa and Nicholas as a couple, I just felt like despite all of the history and obvious multiple descriptions of their pure love and yearning for one another (their intense love for each other is the only way I could imagine that Nicholas could sense where Odessa was when she was scared or hurt. Or maybe it was part of the Gypsy curse...?), those two characters and their love story weren't compelling at all and just fell flat for me. Despite thinking of herself as insecure, Odessa was still pretty much perfect and everyone found her pretty and lovely, and Nicholas, with his worldly, but generous heart, seemed to just be so overprotective of Odessa that instead of trusting her with information about himself and the danger he was in, kept it to himself to protect her (oh, but he did tell other people so they could protect her when he wasn't there. Makes sense). So overprotective of her that a twist (more like a familial switcheroo) that comes at the end of the book seems downright bizarre and not at all romantic like it was described, and almost somehow cancels out the love story that we took with Nicholas and Odessa.
The story itself (or multiple backstories) seems to meander in many aimless directions throughout he book. The author throws in so much information, history, and characters (So. Many. Characters! And of course, they all love Odessa and Nicholas. Well, most of them), that it all seems a bit too jumbled and confused and we never truly get a good payoff for a lot of the dramatic plots. What could have been an interesting story line of trying to remove a Gypsy curse is instead almost forgotten until the end when it resolved without anyone truly knowing. Instead we get multiple story changes and breaks with newly introduced characters that are either friends or foes of Nicholas and Odessa, nowhere in-between. And pretty much every character introduced finds or has a romantic partner, as if almost every character has to have a happy ending, just like the perfect couple Odessa and Nicholas hopefully will.
I felt like Can't Buy Forever was too all over the place for my taste, and the writing, while not the greatest, was descriptive (sometimes a little too descriptive) and made the story move along in a choppy sort of way. I think if you're into clean (no bad language or sexual references at all), somewhat religious (the Mormon undertones were fairly obvious) romance novels, then you'll probably love this book. I think the novel could have had a lot of potential to actually be a story I would have liked (maybe if they had explored the actual Gypsy story-line and went back to Europe, and brought more of that magic and fantasy quality to it), but in all honestly wasn't my type of book. There were just too many pieces to the puzzle and not all of them fit to make a cohesive and entertaining story for me.
Review originally posted on: http://thatweirdgirllife.com
Can't Buy Forever is the story of nineteen Odessa Drake (who hates her name: one part Swan Princess, other part ugly duckling), living in 1950's upper New York state, with her aunt who runs a lodging house mostly occupied by workers from the nearby mine. Odessa, despite thinking herself an ugly duckling, from her description and the way other male characters act around her, seems to be just as beautiful as the Swan Princess. At her Aunt Flo's lodge a few years before, she meets the mysterious dark haired Nicholas, with piercing blue eyes that seem to change shades as his mood changes. Everyone seems to love and trust him, pronouncing him a good guy and perfect for Odessa, despite the pretty substantial age gap of being four years older than her. Making friends with everyone and always being kind and helpful, Nicholas seems wise beyond his years, but hesitant to start a relationship with Odessa (even though the way they act and touch each other seems like they're in a relationship, but it's made very clear that they are not, despite everyone's approval by way of knowing glances). Things start changing though when Roark, a local boy in town seems to be obsessed with Odessa and his hellbent on having her all to himself. From there, secrets are revealed about Nicholas and the love between him and Odessa as they must go on the run, and the history between Nicholas' and Roark's feuding families.
The premise for the book going in was somewhat unclear to me and even more unclear as I was actually reading it. I knew it was a love story between the innocent and lovely Odessa, and the older, perfect Nicholas. But the author threw in numerous story-lines and plot points including an immortality and gypsy curse story-line, along with the history of the newly founded Mormon Church moving to Utah in the 1800's, that I'm not at all quite sure how to exactly describe the book. Is this book strictly romance, or is a mix of magic and fantasy with not-so-subtle religious undertones? Or all of the above?
While I didn't mind Odessa and Nicholas as a couple, I just felt like despite all of the history and obvious multiple descriptions of their pure love and yearning for one another (their intense love for each other is the only way I could imagine that Nicholas could sense where Odessa was when she was scared or hurt. Or maybe it was part of the Gypsy curse...?), those two characters and their love story weren't compelling at all and just fell flat for me. Despite thinking of herself as insecure, Odessa was still pretty much perfect and everyone found her pretty and lovely, and Nicholas, with his worldly, but generous heart, seemed to just be so overprotective of Odessa that instead of trusting her with information about himself and the danger he was in, kept it to himself to protect her (oh, but he did tell other people so they could protect her when he wasn't there. Makes sense). So overprotective of her that a twist (more like a familial switcheroo) that comes at the end of the book seems downright bizarre and not at all romantic like it was described, and almost somehow cancels out the love story that we took with Nicholas and Odessa.
The story itself (or multiple backstories) seems to meander in many aimless directions throughout he book. The author throws in so much information, history, and characters (So. Many. Characters! And of course, they all love Odessa and Nicholas. Well, most of them), that it all seems a bit too jumbled and confused and we never truly get a good payoff for a lot of the dramatic plots. What could have been an interesting story line of trying to remove a Gypsy curse is instead almost forgotten until the end when it resolved without anyone truly knowing. Instead we get multiple story changes and breaks with newly introduced characters that are either friends or foes of Nicholas and Odessa, nowhere in-between. And pretty much every character introduced finds or has a romantic partner, as if almost every character has to have a happy ending, just like the perfect couple Odessa and Nicholas hopefully will.
I felt like Can't Buy Forever was too all over the place for my taste, and the writing, while not the greatest, was descriptive (sometimes a little too descriptive) and made the story move along in a choppy sort of way. I think if you're into clean (no bad language or sexual references at all), somewhat religious (the Mormon undertones were fairly obvious) romance novels, then you'll probably love this book. I think the novel could have had a lot of potential to actually be a story I would have liked (maybe if they had explored the actual Gypsy story-line and went back to Europe, and brought more of that magic and fantasy quality to it), but in all honestly wasn't my type of book. There were just too many pieces to the puzzle and not all of them fit to make a cohesive and entertaining story for me.
Review originally posted on: http://thatweirdgirllife.com
March 17, 2017
I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. Make sure to read more reviews at Katherine's Book Reviews.
Can’t Buy Forever is a young-adult romance novel by Susan Laffoon. It stars Odessa Drake, who is known as Dessa. She is a teenage girl who is surviving a tough home life during the 1950s. Dessa takes a chance and moves away from home to work in a boarding house and be with her aunt. In her aunt’s home, there is a miner named Nicholas who ends up staying in the attic due to his financial status. He does not reveal much about himself, but it is easy to figure out that he has nowhere else to stay. Without even realizing it, Dessa falls in love with Nicholas despite not knowing much about his past. Four years goes by and Dessa and Nicholas’ relationship continues to grow deeper and deeper. As more of his secrets are revealed, it seems like things are getting much worse around them. In order to survive, they must escape their home where Nicholas’ reveals his past, and both Odessa and Nicholas travel through a journey that neither of them will ever be able to forget.
Can’t Buy Forever is filled twists and turns that will make you beg for more. The biggest twist to me is that this book was so much more than I expected it to be. During the first couple of chapters I believed I was just reading another ordinary historical romance, but soon this book incorporated elements such as fantasy and religion that really kept my attention. I really liked that it went much deeper than the ordinary young adult novel and managed to incorporate themes that really enhanced the story. I thought it was great since most general young adult novels tend to only focus on the relationship but this story also focuses on isolation, family and survival. Dessa is probably my favorite character in the novel due to her mature and thoughtful ways, but Nicholas is also an admirable character even though he has a mysterious past. It is obvious from the beginning that they work well together, despite their hardships. I felt that their relationship had grown and developed very well by the end of the story.
All in all, I liked this book because of the fact that it kept me on the tip of my toes. I read it in only a few sittings because I needed to know where these characters would end up. Susan’s Laffoon’s writing is good; I do think there could be some improvement due to the fact that some parts of the plot go on for a little too long. There are also a few grammatical issues that could potentially bother readers. Otherwise, she manages to keep me hooked to the story and also manages to make me feel for these characters until the very end. I also think she did a very good job of making it seem like you were involved in the average life during the 1950s; the imagery works well and she even manages to add interesting dialogue that matches up with the time period. I enjoyed the fact that after I read this story, I felt like I gained more insight of the time period and of the people who lived during that time period. This story has a lot of potential and I would love to see it continue somehow. I suggest this book to any young woman or man who is looking to read a fast-paced, adventurous story about love. This story teaches you that there is more than meets the eye and that sometimes you must go beyond the obvious to reach or discover the most meaningful things in life.
March 29, 2017
Blog: https://thelogophile.wixsite.com/blog
* I received a free ebook copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review *
I started this not knowing where it would lead. I was thinking, "this isn't usually the type of book I would go for". Well, what did I know?!
Do not be fooled. If you were to judge this book on its first few chapters, you would be forgiven for believing it to be an historical romance. However, you will be far from correct.
The book opens in 1950s America with the story of two young people who are hiding their love for one another. Odessa AKA Dessa, and Nicholas. It was at this point I thought to myself that it is refreshing to read a genre I wouldn't usually. It turns out that this is not a cliché historical romance, but a tale of survivorship, friendship, and faith.
I must admit, I took a liking to Dessa from the outset. Her tenacity and her maturity beyond her years was comendable. For me, she is the bravest character out of them all. Her belief in love to the point of self-sacrifice was, at times, frustrating. However, as I continued to read, I could see her train of thought and understand why she took the actions she did. I would happily welcome an Odessa Drake into my life as a friend.
Nicholas on the other hand, I'm not too sure how I feel about him. I see the romance of his story and his actions, but it does not outweigh my seeing his as controlling. Again, as I reach the end of the book and the gaps begin to be filled, I see why he did what he did. Yet I cannot shake the uncomfortable feeling that he could have reciprocated Dessa's trust and confided in her. Instead, for me, his actions made me worry for Dessa at times - was she being controlled and too in love to see? For this reason, I found it dificult to both connect with and care about Nicholas.
The peripheral characters I loved. Each so unique and very believable. Susan Laffoon successfully brings together all the characters - there was no resistance where I felt that something was too far-fetched, or that I doesn't connect. In fact, throughout the entire story I forgot I was reading a story. Laffoon has been brilliant in drawing the reader into the lives of the characters and bringing them along on the journey.
I've found that some authors overuse description, which has the opposite effect of what was intended. Laffoon however, uses the perfectly balanced concoction of description, dialogue, and reader imagination to create a wonderful, flowing read.
I don't want to give too much away, but the plot twist at the end was brilliant. I was not expecting it. I couldn't have even imagined that to happen. As I mentioned before, do not be fooled by the romance. This is not your traditional romance. It is a tale of twists and turns - a romantic thriller if you will.
I will definitely be reading Susan Laffoon's book again. Wonderfully refreshing.
* I received a free ebook copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review *
I started this not knowing where it would lead. I was thinking, "this isn't usually the type of book I would go for". Well, what did I know?!
Do not be fooled. If you were to judge this book on its first few chapters, you would be forgiven for believing it to be an historical romance. However, you will be far from correct.
The book opens in 1950s America with the story of two young people who are hiding their love for one another. Odessa AKA Dessa, and Nicholas. It was at this point I thought to myself that it is refreshing to read a genre I wouldn't usually. It turns out that this is not a cliché historical romance, but a tale of survivorship, friendship, and faith.
I must admit, I took a liking to Dessa from the outset. Her tenacity and her maturity beyond her years was comendable. For me, she is the bravest character out of them all. Her belief in love to the point of self-sacrifice was, at times, frustrating. However, as I continued to read, I could see her train of thought and understand why she took the actions she did. I would happily welcome an Odessa Drake into my life as a friend.
Nicholas on the other hand, I'm not too sure how I feel about him. I see the romance of his story and his actions, but it does not outweigh my seeing his as controlling. Again, as I reach the end of the book and the gaps begin to be filled, I see why he did what he did. Yet I cannot shake the uncomfortable feeling that he could have reciprocated Dessa's trust and confided in her. Instead, for me, his actions made me worry for Dessa at times - was she being controlled and too in love to see? For this reason, I found it dificult to both connect with and care about Nicholas.
The peripheral characters I loved. Each so unique and very believable. Susan Laffoon successfully brings together all the characters - there was no resistance where I felt that something was too far-fetched, or that I doesn't connect. In fact, throughout the entire story I forgot I was reading a story. Laffoon has been brilliant in drawing the reader into the lives of the characters and bringing them along on the journey.
I've found that some authors overuse description, which has the opposite effect of what was intended. Laffoon however, uses the perfectly balanced concoction of description, dialogue, and reader imagination to create a wonderful, flowing read.
I don't want to give too much away, but the plot twist at the end was brilliant. I was not expecting it. I couldn't have even imagined that to happen. As I mentioned before, do not be fooled by the romance. This is not your traditional romance. It is a tale of twists and turns - a romantic thriller if you will.
I will definitely be reading Susan Laffoon's book again. Wonderfully refreshing.
October 11, 2017
Can't Buy Forever by Susan Laffoon
Love and fate go hand in hand in the romantic period drama Can't Buy Forever by Susan Laffoon. A tale of romance, family feuds and unexplainable
power, this incredible story takes readers through the post World War II mid-west American setting to tell the story of two star crossed lovers
that must fight to be together. Here is the official synopsis:
In the early 1950s, Odessa Drake (Dessa) is rescued from a bleak existence with a single mother. She takes a chance on the unknown to work in a boarding house owned by a widowed great aunt in Mineville, New York. Dessa is devoted to Aunt Flo and especially a young man, Nicholas, who appears and takes shelter in the attic, the only available space. Four years pass. She looks forward to each day because of his presence, in spite of the tedious work. Dessa is now eighteen and knows little more of Nicholas than the day he arrived to work the mines. She knows only he is a remarkable man who has a limp and she trusts Nicholas explicitly. There is a familiarity both recognize and an unshakable bond develops. Nicholas has reasons to keep his past buried. Dangers loom and become evident when Nicholas gets too close and exposes their bond. What is the mystery behind this threat? To discover the answer, they escape by railway heading West, colliding with treachery and uncovering secrets, mile by mile. Their journey is impossible, but, they are supported by friends who risk their lives to make sure a great love and lineage is preserved. Or is it? None will forget their odyssey as they proceed to their destiny farther than they imagined.
The story of Odessa and Nicholas is a blend of Romeo and Juliet with a splash of the supernatural. The mystery behind Nicholas spans the entire
novel, with twists and turns that no one will see coming. The bond between these two lovers is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Its a whirlwind
romance that takes the reader through a roller-coaster of emotions.
The writing was fantastic, with a wonderful attention to detail that made me feel as if I were living in the early 1950s. I could almost feel
the biting cold of winter and smell the sawdust on the small farm Odessa lives in. The imagery of the midwest setting was breathtakingly beautiful
in it's description, and the emotions felt throughout the novel were evident in every page of every chapter. It's a wonderful read that's full of
heart that everyone should read, so if you haven't yet please be sure to pick up your copy of Can't Buy Forever by Susan Laffoon today!
Love and fate go hand in hand in the romantic period drama Can't Buy Forever by Susan Laffoon. A tale of romance, family feuds and unexplainable
power, this incredible story takes readers through the post World War II mid-west American setting to tell the story of two star crossed lovers
that must fight to be together. Here is the official synopsis:
In the early 1950s, Odessa Drake (Dessa) is rescued from a bleak existence with a single mother. She takes a chance on the unknown to work in a boarding house owned by a widowed great aunt in Mineville, New York. Dessa is devoted to Aunt Flo and especially a young man, Nicholas, who appears and takes shelter in the attic, the only available space. Four years pass. She looks forward to each day because of his presence, in spite of the tedious work. Dessa is now eighteen and knows little more of Nicholas than the day he arrived to work the mines. She knows only he is a remarkable man who has a limp and she trusts Nicholas explicitly. There is a familiarity both recognize and an unshakable bond develops. Nicholas has reasons to keep his past buried. Dangers loom and become evident when Nicholas gets too close and exposes their bond. What is the mystery behind this threat? To discover the answer, they escape by railway heading West, colliding with treachery and uncovering secrets, mile by mile. Their journey is impossible, but, they are supported by friends who risk their lives to make sure a great love and lineage is preserved. Or is it? None will forget their odyssey as they proceed to their destiny farther than they imagined.
The story of Odessa and Nicholas is a blend of Romeo and Juliet with a splash of the supernatural. The mystery behind Nicholas spans the entire
novel, with twists and turns that no one will see coming. The bond between these two lovers is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Its a whirlwind
romance that takes the reader through a roller-coaster of emotions.
The writing was fantastic, with a wonderful attention to detail that made me feel as if I were living in the early 1950s. I could almost feel
the biting cold of winter and smell the sawdust on the small farm Odessa lives in. The imagery of the midwest setting was breathtakingly beautiful
in it's description, and the emotions felt throughout the novel were evident in every page of every chapter. It's a wonderful read that's full of
heart that everyone should read, so if you haven't yet please be sure to pick up your copy of Can't Buy Forever by Susan Laffoon today!
May 27, 2017
Title: Can’t Buy Forever
Author: Susan Laffoon
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Thank you so much Susan Laffoon for sending me a copy of your novel for review!
This is a spoiler free review ☺
Summary:
Odessa Drake, a.k.a. Dessa, is a young woman living in the 1950’s at a boarding home full of an eclectic group of people. Dessa takes interest in one resident in particular, Nicholas, who has been a mystery to her for the past four years. Suddenly, there lives are entangled together and they form a bond stronger than Dessa understands. This bond takes her on a journey where she learns a lot about herself, Nicholas, and forgiveness.
Review:
This novel took some time to get into the rhythm of. The reader is not given explanation to the weird happenings around Nicholas and Dessa. It creates a vague tone around them that is interesting and enjoyable for lovers of mystery. It was purposeful and effective in creating the desired tone, however created confusion for me as a reader. I did enjoy how the author inserted clues about the truth behind Nicholas. It isn’t until the end when the reader discovers what these clues add up to and it is fun to go back through the story and understand what they all meant. I do recommend reading to the end if you are confused because it all eventually ties together.
Throughout the story, a lot of characters are introduced with little explanation. I would have loved to dive deeper into these characters and understand them and their connections. I was sometimes confused as to why characters were in the story and how they were connected to Nicholas and Dessa. Aside from the main characters, I appreciated the arc that Roark took because it was thoughtfully developed.
I did begin to appreciate the relationship that was formed between Dessa and Nicholas. It is so strong and pure. Throughout the four years it took for them to realize their feelings, their connection was continuing to grow into something uncommon and special. I do wish Dessa had more of a say in the happenings of the relationship because I couldn’t get into how some of the things went down (That is super vague because I don’t want to spoil lol). The plot twist at the end was also a bit difficult to get behind because it was so different from the norm. I commend the author for being original in the plot throughout the entire novel as it was very different from what I have previously read.
Author: Susan Laffoon
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Thank you so much Susan Laffoon for sending me a copy of your novel for review!
This is a spoiler free review ☺
Summary:
Odessa Drake, a.k.a. Dessa, is a young woman living in the 1950’s at a boarding home full of an eclectic group of people. Dessa takes interest in one resident in particular, Nicholas, who has been a mystery to her for the past four years. Suddenly, there lives are entangled together and they form a bond stronger than Dessa understands. This bond takes her on a journey where she learns a lot about herself, Nicholas, and forgiveness.
Review:
This novel took some time to get into the rhythm of. The reader is not given explanation to the weird happenings around Nicholas and Dessa. It creates a vague tone around them that is interesting and enjoyable for lovers of mystery. It was purposeful and effective in creating the desired tone, however created confusion for me as a reader. I did enjoy how the author inserted clues about the truth behind Nicholas. It isn’t until the end when the reader discovers what these clues add up to and it is fun to go back through the story and understand what they all meant. I do recommend reading to the end if you are confused because it all eventually ties together.
Throughout the story, a lot of characters are introduced with little explanation. I would have loved to dive deeper into these characters and understand them and their connections. I was sometimes confused as to why characters were in the story and how they were connected to Nicholas and Dessa. Aside from the main characters, I appreciated the arc that Roark took because it was thoughtfully developed.
I did begin to appreciate the relationship that was formed between Dessa and Nicholas. It is so strong and pure. Throughout the four years it took for them to realize their feelings, their connection was continuing to grow into something uncommon and special. I do wish Dessa had more of a say in the happenings of the relationship because I couldn’t get into how some of the things went down (That is super vague because I don’t want to spoil lol). The plot twist at the end was also a bit difficult to get behind because it was so different from the norm. I commend the author for being original in the plot throughout the entire novel as it was very different from what I have previously read.
September 3, 2017
The summary of this book sounds wonderful. The cover looks great too! I was immediately intrigued and excited to read this book. I jumped into the first chapter and liked it pretty well, although when you read this book you are kind of thrown into the story without much of a backstory.
As I continued reading, a few things started to bother me. First of all, the writing style was a bit hard to follow. It was pretty choppy and it jumped around to the point that I would feel like I missed something so I would go back a bit to see if I accidentally skipped something.
Then the way Odessa loved Nick... without even knowing much about him or his life! It was kind of weird. And the way he basically took ownership of her rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn't a fan of that at all.
Things became more and more confusing with every chapter. Actually, probably with every page! I still don't think I fully understand the book. I'm pretty disappointed, to be perfectly honest. Can't Buy Forever became harder and harder to read the further I got into it. I really wanted to just quit but I had already gone so far I wanted to see it through.
I hate when I'm not able to give a good review but sometimes it just happens. In my opinion, this is a 2 (maybe 2.5) star book. I feel so bad but I have to be honest!
*Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
As I continued reading, a few things started to bother me. First of all, the writing style was a bit hard to follow. It was pretty choppy and it jumped around to the point that I would feel like I missed something so I would go back a bit to see if I accidentally skipped something.
Then the way Odessa loved Nick... without even knowing much about him or his life! It was kind of weird. And the way he basically took ownership of her rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn't a fan of that at all.
Things became more and more confusing with every chapter. Actually, probably with every page! I still don't think I fully understand the book. I'm pretty disappointed, to be perfectly honest. Can't Buy Forever became harder and harder to read the further I got into it. I really wanted to just quit but I had already gone so far I wanted to see it through.
I hate when I'm not able to give a good review but sometimes it just happens. In my opinion, this is a 2 (maybe 2.5) star book. I feel so bad but I have to be honest!
*Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2017
The Blurb
In the early 1950s, Odessa Drake (Dessa) is rescued from a bleak existence with a single mother. She takes a chance on the unknown to work in a boarding house owned by a widowed great aunt in Mineville, New York. Dessa is devoted to Aunt Flo and especially a young man, Nicholas, who appears and takes shelter in the attic, the only available space. Four years pass. She looks forward to each day because of his presence, in spite of the tedious work. Dessa is now eighteen and knows little more of Nicholas than the day he arrived to work the mines. She knows only he is a remarkable man who has a limp and she trusts Nicholas explicitly. There is a familiarity both recognize and an unshakeable bond develops. Nicholas has reasons to keep his past buried. Dangers loom and become evident when Nicholas gets too close and exposes their bond. What is the mystery behind this threat? To discover the answer, they escape by railway heading West, colliding with treachery and uncovering secrets, mile by mile. Their journey is impossible, but, they are supported by friends who risk their lives to make sure a great love and lineage is preserved. Or is it? None will forget their odyssey as they proceed to their destiny farther than they imagined.
My thoughts
I've read some reviews on this book and I have to agree basically it's a romance and this is not a genre I read. However Susan Laffoon approached me and asked me to read her book which she provided in exchange for an honest review. So I will do my best to do just that taking into consideration that I never read these sort of books.
The story is based around two characters Odessa and Nicholas who eventually fall in love. Dessa knows very little of Nicholas' past and he keeps it well buried. Eventually things take a turn for the worst forcing them to flee across the country to safety.
On a whole the story is well written, it has its twists and turns but beneath all that it is a love story with a little added thriller mixed in.
At times the book wasn't easy to follow which then found me drifting off course. It needed to flow a little more at times to keep the reader interested. The character of Nicholas was excellent but Dessa was a little boring.
All in all definitely a book for readers of romance. However it's not for me sadly.
I'd like to thank Susan Laffoon for asking me to read and review her book, something I always feel privileged about when an author approaches me.
I gave this 3/5 stars on Goodreads as it was slow at times .
March 12, 2017
This story starts out like a simple Young Adult romance: Girl meets Boy, Girl loses Boy, Girl gets Boy. But very early we get hints that all is not as it seems. We are gradually eased into realizing that there are deeper waters flowing, here. This author has a deft touch with the supernatural, and uses restraint in allowing the story to be about the feelings of the characters, not about playing with magic.
Other strengths of the story are the likeable and interesting characters, who keep us enthralled and connected throughout, and plenty of action interspersed with introspection.
However, there are problems.
To say that the plot wanders is an understatement. A common complaint about poorly structured novels is that they start too early and end too late. This one comes to a reasonable conclusion twice, but each time is forced onwards, trying to tie up loose plot threads. The author should have had the courage to end it the first time, heart-wrenching though that may have been.
The emotion of the story is enhanced by coming intensely from the point of view of the main character, Odessa, a needy teenager in love with someone who seems to care, but keeps her at arm’s length. Our connection with her increases throughout the story but is broken suddenly when, for the sole purpose of giving us plot information, the POV switches to that of another character. Then we are expected to jump back into Dessa’s emotions again. This happens few enough times that each one is a shock to our connection with the story.
Another problem is a plot that requires introducing random characters at the very end who suddenly play crucial roles in the story. This sounds like an author who doesn’t have control of her material. Not to mention the grammar mistakes, mixed–up sentences and misused words.
Recommended for fans of mild paranormal romances. Recommended for the author: an editor. This could so easily be a 5-star book.
Other strengths of the story are the likeable and interesting characters, who keep us enthralled and connected throughout, and plenty of action interspersed with introspection.
However, there are problems.
To say that the plot wanders is an understatement. A common complaint about poorly structured novels is that they start too early and end too late. This one comes to a reasonable conclusion twice, but each time is forced onwards, trying to tie up loose plot threads. The author should have had the courage to end it the first time, heart-wrenching though that may have been.
The emotion of the story is enhanced by coming intensely from the point of view of the main character, Odessa, a needy teenager in love with someone who seems to care, but keeps her at arm’s length. Our connection with her increases throughout the story but is broken suddenly when, for the sole purpose of giving us plot information, the POV switches to that of another character. Then we are expected to jump back into Dessa’s emotions again. This happens few enough times that each one is a shock to our connection with the story.
Another problem is a plot that requires introducing random characters at the very end who suddenly play crucial roles in the story. This sounds like an author who doesn’t have control of her material. Not to mention the grammar mistakes, mixed–up sentences and misused words.
Recommended for fans of mild paranormal romances. Recommended for the author: an editor. This could so easily be a 5-star book.
March 21, 2017
I was sent a copy for review by the author.
I found myself skip-reading this a great deal. Whilst I liked Odessa and some of the side characters (Elise was a great one) I didn't fully connect with them - much of which I feel was down to the writing style which I just did not enjoy.
I wanted to like this a lot because there was potential for a good story in there and the romance was sweet but ultimately I struggled with it. It was hard to follow the writing at times and I found myself going back over passages and dialogue trying to make sense of them.
I found myself skip-reading this a great deal. Whilst I liked Odessa and some of the side characters (Elise was a great one) I didn't fully connect with them - much of which I feel was down to the writing style which I just did not enjoy.
I wanted to like this a lot because there was potential for a good story in there and the romance was sweet but ultimately I struggled with it. It was hard to follow the writing at times and I found myself going back over passages and dialogue trying to make sense of them.
December 7, 2020
Wonderful story
I didnt realize the story involved a sort of mystical lore, but I enjoyed it that much more as it surfaced. The characters grew in depth and questions were answered as the story wove its tale. The ending was confusing until she stops to take stock and puts on the brakes. Makes the ending more believable even as I know it isn't true.
I didnt realize the story involved a sort of mystical lore, but I enjoyed it that much more as it surfaced. The characters grew in depth and questions were answered as the story wove its tale. The ending was confusing until she stops to take stock and puts on the brakes. Makes the ending more believable even as I know it isn't true.
February 20, 2017
An Adirondack Tale
So many unexpected twists and turns throughout this story..
Brings back wonderful childhood memories of growing up in the Adirondacks.
So many unexpected twists and turns throughout this story..
Brings back wonderful childhood memories of growing up in the Adirondacks.
December 7, 2020
Not my type of book.
March 12, 2017
Listed as Teen/YA romance and mystery, this is a book in a genre I wouldn’t normally read. However, I was approached by the author for a review, read the blurb, and decided to give it a chance.
I’d actually classify it as fantasy romance, but that’s a personal judgment based on how I view the content. That it was written for a younger readership is clear from the innocence of the main relationship and the avoidance of sexual references. However, the book does cover some of the darker side of human interactions. The basic pairing is romantic and charming, if sometimes a little confusing until the situation becomes apparent.
If I have a criticism of this cleverly constructed and intriguing story, it’s that, in common with so many contemporary books, it needs a good editor. Verb tense changes often, sometimes mid-sentence. There are sentences without endings. And there are apparent non sequiturs, which do occasionally confuse.
Nevertheless, the characters and their situations are engaging. This is a lengthy book, and both story and cast had me reading to the end. Fortunately, the allusions to religion were few and widely spread, so I didn’t feel I was preached at, though I admit to finding such references a little irritating when presented as factual information.
This is a fascinating story, with many twists and turns before the satisfying conclusion is reached. This author has real promise; some of her language is quite exquisite. I enjoyed it.
I’d actually classify it as fantasy romance, but that’s a personal judgment based on how I view the content. That it was written for a younger readership is clear from the innocence of the main relationship and the avoidance of sexual references. However, the book does cover some of the darker side of human interactions. The basic pairing is romantic and charming, if sometimes a little confusing until the situation becomes apparent.
If I have a criticism of this cleverly constructed and intriguing story, it’s that, in common with so many contemporary books, it needs a good editor. Verb tense changes often, sometimes mid-sentence. There are sentences without endings. And there are apparent non sequiturs, which do occasionally confuse.
Nevertheless, the characters and their situations are engaging. This is a lengthy book, and both story and cast had me reading to the end. Fortunately, the allusions to religion were few and widely spread, so I didn’t feel I was preached at, though I admit to finding such references a little irritating when presented as factual information.
This is a fascinating story, with many twists and turns before the satisfying conclusion is reached. This author has real promise; some of her language is quite exquisite. I enjoyed it.
June 4, 2017
** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. **
I agreed to read and review this book because the description intrigued me. I was doing well reading and following the plot until approximately page 80. Things started to get confusing and I hate to say it, weird, and I just couldn’t follow. I hate to DNF (did not finish) books so I plodded along until Chapter 9 (pg. 132). I left my bookmark wedged between the pages, indicating that I would make another attempt at finishing the book. I tried, but I couldn’t. This book was a DNF for me.
Things I Liked
1. From the beginning I was intrigued about Nicholas – where did he come from, who is he, what does he do? I wanted to know more.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Grammar & Sentence Structure: There were numerous grammatical errors throughout the portion I read. At times the sentence structure seemed very odd and choppy. I encountered a few sentences that simply did not make sense… almost as if the author left off mid thought.
2. I couldn’t follow the storyline once the author started to reveal things about Nicholas, Nicholas’ past, and Nicholas and Odessa’s relationship. Things were just too confusing.
Overall I think this book needed several more rounds of editing both by the author and others. Without the grammatical errors the book would likely have been much easier to follow and comprehend.
I agreed to read and review this book because the description intrigued me. I was doing well reading and following the plot until approximately page 80. Things started to get confusing and I hate to say it, weird, and I just couldn’t follow. I hate to DNF (did not finish) books so I plodded along until Chapter 9 (pg. 132). I left my bookmark wedged between the pages, indicating that I would make another attempt at finishing the book. I tried, but I couldn’t. This book was a DNF for me.
Things I Liked
1. From the beginning I was intrigued about Nicholas – where did he come from, who is he, what does he do? I wanted to know more.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Grammar & Sentence Structure: There were numerous grammatical errors throughout the portion I read. At times the sentence structure seemed very odd and choppy. I encountered a few sentences that simply did not make sense… almost as if the author left off mid thought.
2. I couldn’t follow the storyline once the author started to reveal things about Nicholas, Nicholas’ past, and Nicholas and Odessa’s relationship. Things were just too confusing.
Overall I think this book needed several more rounds of editing both by the author and others. Without the grammatical errors the book would likely have been much easier to follow and comprehend.
March 14, 2017
Dessa has a tough start in life and moves to NY to work in a boarding house owned by her great aunt. There, she meets Nicholas (he lives in the attic of the boarding house). It is because of Nicholas that Dessa begins to look forward to her days, despite the hard work. Four years pass and the bond between Nicholas and Dessa grows stronger. But the closer they get, the more secrets emerge.
There are lots of unexpected twists and turns in this love story. The story is well-written and holds the readers attention from cover to cover. An enjoyable read with a great twist at the end!
There are lots of unexpected twists and turns in this love story. The story is well-written and holds the readers attention from cover to cover. An enjoyable read with a great twist at the end!
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