In Chris Kenry's Can't Buy Me Love, Jack Erikson's biggest daily challenges are working out and deciding which magazine to read—thanks to his wealthy, doting lover. But when his benefactor suddenly dies, Jack is tossed out on the street, with no way of supporting the lifestyle he has become accustomed to. Jack's half–hearted stints at minimum wage jobs barely cover the minimum payments on his credit cards, let alone his Sunday brunches with the boys.
Slipping into what he does best, Jack stumbles his way into a career running Harden Up, a male escort service, along with Ray, a professional hustler and aspiring artist. With business booming, Jack is back on top again, not to mention falling hard for his new business partner, but with everything going his way at last, Jack can't help wondering... Can a pair of entrepreneurial escorts really live happily ever after?
Meet Jack Thompson—26 years old, gay, unemployed and a spoiled brat. His lover, Paul, suddenly died and left his estate to Wendy, his homophobic sister. Jack was forced to leave the house that he and Paul shared and began to listen to his parents and various bill collectors and begins to look at minimum wage jobs. However he keeps getting fired and decides to become a hustler, something he knows nothing about. Yet, he makes money and he and his business partner, Ray open an agency, Harden Up, Inc. Soon Ray decides that he wants out so he can open an art gallery. Jack manages to do quite well until one client beats up one of Jack’s employees. Jack’s sister, Carey, also begins to think that things are not going real well and a client suddenly dies in the middle of having sex prompting the police to come into the scene.
For a first novel, this is a fun read. The plot is smart, the dialogue is catty and clever and the sex is very well portrayed, The characters are wonderfully developed. Kenry takes on every aspect of gay life and the book is a total good read.
There is a love story between Jack and Ray as well.
The story is well-crafted and Kenry writes exceptionally well. It is a light read and I had a great time reading it.
