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Manhook

by Ken Ratcliffe



      Is Bob Lutz delusional or is he smarter than the rest of the world? Lutz quits his lucrative job to undertake the new Internet business, iCare. His wife, friends, and psychiatrist worry about his mental health in light of such rash decisions. But Lutz knows the payoff will be huge. His strategic efforts will secure his financial future.

However, Lutz finds himself stumbling through the start up operations. He touts the iCare company as the latest and greatest because of its partnership with health care agencies. But he discovers roadblocks in finding investors and health care partners. His only investor manipulates Lutz into a nervous pushover desperate to land any deal. Lutz's obsession of the company's success spirals uncontrollably within both his professional and personal life. His wife leaves Lutz as his deceit becomes unbearable. Lutz's psychiatrist medicates him because of mounting irritability and rash decisions. Lutz finds a personal obsession in Valerie, a hot woman who sexually tangled with his best friend. Lutz stays convinced that his great leadership and sales ability would save iCare and skyrocket its success. Instead, Lutz finds himself in a web of keeping employees unaware of finances, preventing a takeover from his investor, convincing his wife to return, bedding the untouchable Valerie, and proving his sanity to his psychiatrist. Every one has an agenda. Or so it would seem. As deceptions abound, can Lutz trust anyone to help him? Will Lutz be able to repair the torn relationships caused by his obsessions?

In Manhook, author Ken Ratcliffe paints a picture of a man struggling for respect, power, and money. The setting of the Internet business shows a cutthroat mentality where the smartest and fastest make their claim. Mr. Ratcliffe carries the reader through a heartbreaking spiral of a man's deceit. Though I would have enjoyed the twists sooner, I like that the ending wrapped its characters in a surprise climax. I recommend Manhook as an interesting read.

The Book

BookSurge Publishing
2005
Paperback
1-4196-0807-X
Fiction Contemporary
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE: explicit content - language, sex

The Reviewer

Jennifer Akers
Reviewed 2005
NOTE:
© 2005 MyShelf.com