The Proposition

I really appreciate self-published works, more so than those that are professionally edited and glossed because independent writers have to do twice the amount of work and be twice as good to lure in readers. The only caveat is that at times, self-published novels have too much or too little and don’t strike the perfect balance, even if they started on that path. In my humble opinion, such is the case with The Proposition.

The plot is interesting: Emma Harrison worries that her biological clock is ticking louder and that she is running of out time to have a family of her own. Her close friend Connor agrees to be the father, but his partner is upset with that decision and so Connor backs out (Connor is gay and his relationship with Emma is strictly platonic). Emma spurned the advances of her co-worker, Aiden Fitzgerald at an office Christmas party and since then, he’s lusted after her–so much to the point, that he makes the proposition of fathering Emma’s baby; and thus begins their relationship and the basis for the novel.

Of course, there are cliches; this is after all a romance novel: Emma is attractive and accomplished while Aiden is a handsome, wealthy womanizer with a close (large) family (and a few nephews that adore him). He doesn’t want to have kids, but decides to do so because of the wish of his late mother (even though he’s good father material, just a bit rough around the edges) and feels Emma’s plan will be the best of both worlds: he fulfills her dying wish, but doesn’t have to do anything outside of enjoy impregnating Emma.

The story was well written, but the over-the-top cursing and usage of exclamation points grated on my nerves after a while. I’m pretty sure Aiden never let a sentence out of his mouth with out f*** or a** or s*** in the mix. I don’t have delicate sensibilities, but I think I can get the point without the need for d*** and !!!! added. The dialogue was also a bit forced; when Aiden confronts Connor at the beginning of the story, I was confused as to why Connor felt the need to tell this person he’d only just met 5-seconds earlier his entire background with Emma. Also, everyone’s frustrations with the ending of the book are understandable. I didn’t have this problem as the whole series is now published and because I do not have any interest in continuing the story. However, I do think this is a good start, it just wasn’t my cup-of-tea.

Rating: *** (3) Stars

Author: Katie Ashley

Product Details (Courtesy of Amazon)

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 9, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1480114480
• ISBN-13: 978-1480114487
• ASIN: B009ZHT2DU
• Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 5.9 x 8.9 inches