The Proposition by Katie Ashley

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My rating: 3.5 stars

Book summary:

"With her thirtieth birthday looming, Emma Harrison finds her biological clock clanging and the elusive knight in shining armor yet to appear. She’s running out of options, especially after her gay best friend backs out from being her sperm donor. Of course, there’s always a sperm bank, but Emma fears a donor mix-up might impregnate her with the spawn of Satan.

Resident company womanizer, Aidan Fitzgerald, is used to always getting what he wants, especially in the bedroom. When Emma spurns his advances at the company Christmas party, he's determined to have her no matter what it takes. After Aidan learns of Emma's predicament, he is quick to offer a proposition that will benefit them both. He will father Emma's child, but she must conceive it with him naturally. Not one for hook-ups or casual sex, Emma is reluctant to take him up on his offer, but his charm, coupled with her intense desire for motherhood, wins out.

Soon their baby-making sessions become more than just physical. Aidan can't seem to walk away from her while Emma begins to wonder if Aidan could be the one. But can Aidan leave his past behind to become the man Emma needs him to be?"

     First - confession time. I had Music of the Heart on my wishlist since I saw it for the first time. Why wouldn't I? Good girl and womanizing rock god? Instant Kellan Kyle vibe. Hell yes! Somewhere around that time lot of my friends had been reading The Proposition. My reaction? Ticking clock? Babies? Keep that shit away from me! Now, I still haven't told you what was the problem in all that. I didn't have any idea that both books were written by the same author. I know what you're thinking - how the hell did I miss that. I have no clue. I just couldn't put those two stories together. Few friends who read Music of the Heart told me that it would be better if I don't read it - I have no patience for virgin characters and they knew what would annoy me. So, I put it away and forgot about all of it until two days ago when I started reading The Proposition out of pure boredom - I had it on my Kindle app, my boyfriend had some things to do and I just started reading it while I was waiting for him.

     My impressions? After first 20 or so pages I had mixed feelings - all that wanting to have baby, biological clock ticking and going that far to search for donor were little bit too melodramatic for my taste. I am not saying that there is something wrong with wanting to have a child, but the way that whole thing was represented put me off. I enjoyed that first hot and heavy scene between Aidan and Emma, but it felt rushed, everything happened fast and I didn't think it was very believable. As I continued to read, story got me hooked and not to mention all that smexyness. To the certain extent The Proposition reminded me of Claire Kent's Escorted (you can read my review here) - what started as simple deal with strict rules ends up being something completely different and more that both parties were initially looking for.

     Like or don't like? This is a typical romance novel, you know what will happen, characters are based on social archetypes - good girl who is loyal, wants family, totally vanilla, usually with one or two sexual partners behind her and bad boy - womanizer who has successful carrier and more money than he can spend, doesn't want commitment of any kind. Does that mean we don't want to read books like that? Quite opposed, we pick them up just because romantic cliche they are based on. Liking them is other matter. For me it's all about my current mood - if I'm overloaded with too serious topics or kink, I usually enjoy in this kind of books. This time, I liked it and when I finished reading it I thought that I'd give it 5 stars, but after sleeping on it, I realized that there were things that bothered me and that no matter how much I initially loved it, The Proposition is not 5 stars read.

      No matter how much I was worked up after all those hot scenes, swooned at the right places, this novel is actually one big stereotype. Thinking back, Emma is annoying goodie two shoes and Aidan is self-centered idiot. 

      Should you read it? Yes, but only if you understand that this is light, fluffy read. If you read it, tell us your thoughts. 

xoxo,