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!
Rating: 8/10