LOVE AND MONEY

....backbone a romantic chase for author Roderick Sutter when, between books, he finds cocktail girl Tess Dameron in Florida. Her loneliness appeals to him but, although she responds, she runs away, with Rick following her to New Orleans, Houston, Galveston Island and Colorado Springs. Along the way he gets all types of advice from his publisher, a critic, and his agent as they lay it on the line that this affair is not different, that a new book equals a new woman. Even Tess offers him a substitute, her friend Laverne, until he persuades everyone he means marriage and then when Tess gives him an adamant brush-off, desire can give way to duty. Mr. Caldwell's comments on the literary field have more spit and polish than his pursuit of I'amour. Unimpressive.