"fabulous realistic character study"
Stacey Sommers keeps thinking of Peggy Lee's line "Is That
All There Is? as she finds life is no fun because her
spouse Brad is worse than Silas Marnor hording every penny
as if he can take it with him. When he fails to
acknowledge their anniversary, she wonders if her forgot
or refused to spend money. Thus when her uncle passes
away, Brad is euphoric as she inherits a tidy sum that he
expects to add to their already endowed retirement. He is
not as elated over the canine Dog that comes with the cash. However, her uncle's will contains a stipulation that
Stacey waste the money on something she wants or forfeit
it. While her husband is chagrined at tossing away the
cash that he feels should join their investments and tries
to persuade her that is what she wants, Stacey decides to
renovate their house without asking Brad. He is shocked
even if their house needs repair, but is he stunned enough
to end their relationship after all these years? The key to this fabulous realistic character study is not
the heroine deciding to take a chance, but her clueless
husband who cares and wants to do right by them, but fails
to comprehend what Stacey is telling him. The story line
is driven by their relationship as she turns assertive and
he bewildered. Contemporary fans will appreciate this
deep honest character study. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 18, 2006
SummaryConsider carefully before that first call to the local
contractor: Can your marriage take it?
Stacey Sommers certainly hoped so...but it was looking a
little questionable. After the stunning news that her uncle
had passed away and left her his dog (aptly named Dog) and a
quarter of a million dollars, her penny-pinching, fiscally
responsible husband was practically gloating at how their
already amply funded golden years would be further enhanced.
They'd saved for that rainy day, and now it was
here—literally with their 1950s-style house falling
down around their ears. Was it better to live for now or be
a gazillionaire at your funeral? Stacey wanted to remodel;
Brad wanted to save. What was a woman to do?
Make the call. After all, it was her money. Then watch, as
the walls came tumbling down, how things started to
rearrange themselves....
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