I went into this not knowing what to expect. Diamondback Playgirls disappointed me and I was afraid A Rich Man’s Baby would be More Of The Same. After all: how many Gold Digger tales can one read before they all start sounding the same, right?
I’m glad to say I was wrong. A Rich Man’s Baby really showcased Ms Poole’s writing talent. The characters, while familiar, had enough depth and unpredictability to draw me in and keep me interested right up ‘til the end.
Tanisha Butler, a thirty-something mother of three, divorced her older husband Tyrone even though he took good care of her financially. Their life together led made Tanisha feel Old Before Her Time. The emotional freedom she attained far outweighs the monetary hardship the divorce thrust upon her.
Still in her twenties, Adrienne Sheppard has the uncanny ability of falling in love with every deadbeat/playa/loser that crosses her path. In the blink of an eye she goes from the personal trainer who clearly is sleeping with many of his clients to Jeremy, a man in Tanisha’s department who also has Playa Issues. One big fight and a few of her naked pictures passed around later, and Adrienne is pregnant, all alone and at the abortionists. If she was pregnant by a rich man, she theorizes, at least she’d be Paid.
Dionne Matthews has everything a girl could ask for: a law degree, a fiancé with a good job who adores her and even a man on the side. Kevin broke up with Dionne when she wouldn’t drop out of law school to follow him to Italy where he plays basketball. Now they’re just “benefriends,” or “friends with benefits.” Kevin wants more but Dionne isn’t about to let go of Terrence and all he represents.
Adrienne’s Big Plan is to get pregnant by a Baller and thus be Set For Life. NBA or NFL, like The Rock said: It Doesn’t Matter, as long as his cash ain’t short. Tanisha goes along for a while, even though the last thing she wants is another baby. Rather quickly Tanisha discovers the life of a groupie isn’t for her yet she enjoys the parties, and the attention these eligible bachelors pay her. While Adrienne hops from bed to bed, Tanisha wins Kevin over by not being impressed with who he is. Problem: Tanisha isn’t as Upfront about who SHE is. Another problem:
Dionne has a $#!t Fit when she learns “her” Kevin has Moved On.
Does Adrienne Get Her Man? Will Tanisha’s lies catch up to her? Where will that leave her and Kevin, since Dionne is Waiting In The Wings to Scoop “Her” Man back up? And will Dionne finally give up Terrance for that True Love she feels she has in Kevin? The answers, and the ultimate outcome, may surprise you. I thought for a second that I knew EXACTLY where this story was headed, but there were enough twists at the end for me to say “Wow…” Did I buy all of it? Unfortunately not. Some of the ending was a little farfetched for me. Another reviewer complained that the ending didn’t answer enough questions yet there wasn’t enough left for a sequel. Well I was satisfied with it. Good writing isn’t supposed to wrap everything up in a Neat Little Bow. In some stories you hafta Fill In The Blanks and write your OWN ending. Just like in life, you’re not always sure what will happen next, but you hope for the best.