The female protagonists in these novels face tough situations – death, betrayal, abuse, financial ruin – yet they never give up. On the other hand, they don’t stay poor for long, either. Billie grows up poor but marries a rich husband. Francesca is divorced and doesn’t receive alimony, but has a collection of Faberge to sell to support herself. Daisy loses her inheritance, but in the nick of time is offered a lucrative modeling contract.