Pot of Gold [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Judith Michael (Author), Margaret Whitton (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1993

Struggling single mother Faith Goddard has passively accepted her lot in life, yet she cannot help dreaming of something better.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although this book's central message is a monumental platitude ("Money can't buy happiness," intones the protagonist), the point is made with clarity and considerable suspense. Claire Goddard is a hard-working, 35-year-old divorcee who has a close and loving relationship with her 17-year-old daughter Emma. When Claire wins $60 million in the lottery, they set out on their new life with sybaritic abandon: Claire quits her job, hires a money manager and begins buying luxury goods. But if they now have leisure and power, Claire and Emma also have too many choices. While on a cruise that is emblematic of their emotional displacement, the vulnerable women fall under the spell of an unscrupulous duo: Quentin Eiger, director of Eiger Cosmetics, and his son Brix. They are both immediately caught up in whirlwind relationships that are as self-destructive as they are sexually charged. The powerful and manipulative Eigers are much more sinister--and dangerous--than they appear. A cast of secondary characters (an enigmatic aunt; a perceptive writer; a lesbian friend) help both Emma and Claire reexamine their values. The husband-and-wife team of Judith Barnard and Michael Faine ( Sleeping Beauty ) has woven a contemporary tale that should please romance addicts, if not readers interested in stylish prose. 300,000 first printing; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club main selections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Another novel from the PC of Judith Michael--really a husband a wife writing team based in Aspen and Chicago, known for their popular, plumped-up category-style romances (Sleeping Beauty, A Ruling Passion, etc.). And guess what happens on page one? The hard-working, divorced, beautiful-but-unaware-of-it, 35-year-old heroine, Claire Goddard, of Danbury, Connecticut, wins $60 million in the lottery- -which poses the book's ber-issue: Will money ruin her and her knockout 17-year-old daughter, Emma? Not surprisingly, shopping follows the windfall; indeed, Claire ``could not stop buying,'' beginning with two Mercedes, a million-dollar home, and a makeover. The new ``look'' stands her in good stead when she takes Emma on a cruise to Alaska, where the Goddard girls meet the Eiger boys. ``You're a cool breeze over the dung of the people I spend my time with,'' is how Quentin Eiger, head of a cosmetics company, romances Claire. His son, Brix, woos Emma with cocaine and an offer to be the Eiger girl, modeling a special new line of makeup called PK-20. The problem is just that PK-20 causes rashes and blindness-- information the Eigers are trying to suppress. Emma will make a big mistake by confronting Brix about it, since he cares more for PK-20 than he does for her. Meanwhile, Claire figures out that Quentin is more a part of the dung heap than separate from it. Fortunately, though, there's a handsome journalist waiting in the wings to console her. This is what it is: cherry Jell-O, with a dollop of fake whipped cream in the form of awful writing. (Literary Guild Dual Selection for November) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Audioworks; abridged edition edition (November 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671875868
• ISBN-13: 978-0671875862
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,338,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rich but gullible., June 25, 2003

By 

Beverley Strong (Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pot of Gold (Mass Market Paperback)

Claire Goddard, a beautiful young divorcee, raising a teenaged daughter Emma, wins the lottery- a staggering $60 million! They both go slightly beserk,spending thousands on clothes and a huge amount for a beautiful house.From out of the blue appears an elderly woman,Hannah, claiming to be a distant cousin who appoints herself their housekeeper and gaurdian.When Claire and Emma take a cruise to Alaska, they meet father and son,Quentin and Brix Eiger who proceed to charm and seduce them. Emma becomes totally infatuated with Brix who introduces her to drink and drugs and suggests that she abandons her plans to go to college and becomes a model instead.Meanwhile Claire falls into a dangerous,subservient way of life with Quentin who dominates her sexually. Quentins laboratories are manufacturing a line of cosmetics which promises to be hugely lucrative but which in actuality, are extremely dangerous, to the point of causing blindness.I enjoyed the book as a good read but while I can understand a 17 year old being infatuated to the point of unquestioning obedience, I find it difficult to understand how a mature, intelligent woman who has her own huge financial security, could go along with this dominating monster,even for a while!Another point that wasn't explained was how they took a stranger into their lives, not even questioning the relationship--no one could be a trusting as that !

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice, easy read!, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pot of Gold (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm glad to have discovered Judith Michael's books. I've read two and enjoyed both of them. There were a few parts in the book a little hard to believe! A virtual stranger, Hannah arrives at their doorstep shortly after Claire wins the lottery. She is welcomed into the home that same day and immediately becomes cook, counselor, and confidant for this mother and daughter. This was stretching it a bit... nowadays, would someone actually allow a stranger to become their housekeeper, caregiver, and confidant?? I don't think so!! But overlooking that, I thought the book was nicely written, with other characters quite believeable. Judith Michael is a good writer who keeps the story moving. It was an easy and enjoyable read. I find myself looking for other Judith Michael's books now. I would definately recommend this book to others.

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet read, December 23, 2011

By 

Candice "Candice" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pot of Gold (Paperback)

Claire's biggest problem isn't managing her lottery winnings, but dealing with rich parasites who want to prey on her and lure in her gorgeous, underage daughter with fame, fashion and drugs.

The protagonist is a 34-year-old introvert who isn't particularly take-charge, but deals with the dramatic changes in her life anyway. I liked that a lot. These days, books claiming to be about introverts almost always turn out to be about extroverts having a couple of quiet days.