Book Talk Review; More Than Money

What are money and love really worth?

Ryan McMillan believes hard work and perseverance are the keys to success, not games of chance. When he receives an instant lottery ticket, he never expects to win a dime, much less walk away with the grand prize.

Collette Russo is no stranger to hardship. Loss has taught her valuable lessons in grace and modesty, traits Ryan can’t help but notice on the winner’s cruise. Collette is the only other passenger not obsessed with material things and their mutual humility sparks an attraction neither of them anticipates.

As good fortune continues to favor Ryan, his relationship with Collette turns into a romance filled with affection and laughter, and his career begins to take off. Yet when his loyalty is tested, an old friendship turns sour.

Ryan chalks it up to greed and arrogance, and finds comfort in Collette’s experience with both. But an unthinkable event reveals that nothing is as simple as it seems. Envy and greed threaten to ruin everything.

Has Ryan’s luck finally run out? Can he take back control? Will Collette stand by him in the aftermath?

Only time will tell if love is worth more than money.

* Due to adult language and sexual content, this book is intended for readers 18 and over. 

Words that come to mind when I think of this book: unique, emotional, refreshing, sexy,  and at times, surprising. 

When I first learned about More Than Money I was intrigued. The premise is so unique and I wanted to see the authors take on someone who unexpectedly wins the lottery. 

Allison Michaels is the author I want to learn from. Her take on romance is so different than the cookie-cutter version we are used to. It's so refreshing. When romance is your go-to genre and you read as much as I do, you have a hard time swallowing book after book after book that recycles the same old story-line with different character names and different settings. 

Her characters are real, they understand the world in the same way that we do. Her characters are emotional, they feel as much as we do and it makes us feel with them. They're flawed, to the point where you see them as perfect. 

More Than Money starts off with us meeting Ryan, just your average guy doing his average job. Until pushed by a friend he does something he never thought, he plays the lottery. With one scratch off Ryan's life is changed forever.

Collette never expected to be on the winner's cruise, let alone meet a guy. She's had her share of heartbreak. All she wanted was to do something good for the people in her life. 

When Ryan and Collette meet, they find something that is deeply unique. The love they manage to discover is beautiful. Collette is flawed, she comes from a dark past, Ryan is caring. Together they figure out the balance of it all. 

Of course with new money comes new enemies. Unfortunately for Ryan, greed comes from those you least expect it. 

They say that love conquers all, but does it? Can they love each other enough to fight against everything that comes at them? 

All in all I have to say yes, yes they can. 

Allison Michaels brought us a beautiful story, and while it might not be everyone's definition of romance, I cannot wait until she writes her next book. I was crying within twenty minutes of opening the book. 

More Than Money made me shed tears three separate times. There was a time where my heart was in my throat. I was not expecting the little twists that Michaels threw in. It brought the story up a level. 

For those who do not like this version of romance, I have to say, I'm shocked. Because while romance has been clearly defined, I think amendments can always be made. More Than Money is so much more than just a romance. It's a story that focuses on some of the real issues within human nature. 

Greed isn't something that Michaels just made up for her book. It's real and people deal with it on a daily basis. I believe More Than Money takes this topic and tries to help explain it. It shows us readers just how real it is, and you never know who can be greedy until you have something they want. 

So what if it doesn't hit hard on the romance factor in the "normal" ways, normal is overrated anyway. 

If you are looking for a real, unique story, then be sure to pick this one up. 

*Quote- "She was a bright light, and I was the moth skittering around her, naturally drawn to her radiance and warmth." -Ryan

"Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and navigating them with a copilot is better than doing it alone." 

"I'd never been a big believer of fate and serendipity... Everything happened for a reason." -Collette     

-Abri