THE DECENT PROPOSAL is the debut offering of author Kemper
Donovan and I loved it! Filled with fun in the Hollywood
locale, with lots of laughs and heart The hero is movie
star handsome but he wants to be a producer. Richard
Baumbach is charming and people are always attracted to him,
especially woman. He loves them and leaves them and hangs
around with BFF Michaela, aka "Mike", who he has known since
college. He and his partner, Keith, sold a few screenplays,
a pilot script or two but nothing BIG is happening. He is
broke and hung over going over expenses. He needs to cancel
his Netflix streaming account as he can't afford it anymore.
That hurts as he adores watching movies. Something has got
to give and soon.
Attorney Elizabeth, 33, is gorgeous, bright and a loner. At
the law firm, she is known as "the machine", as she produces
more billable hours than anyone. No time for any personal
life, Elizabeth wants to be made a partner and she is close.
No time for love, but she does not believe in love so she is
content to work, work, work.
Richard and Elizabeth meet at Attorney Jonathan Hertzfeld's
office, after both being summoned there "for a personal
matter." It is a boutique law firm in Century City
specializing in estates planning and Hertzfeld explains his
duty at once. "I can not tell you who my client is but my
client is offering you both a half million dollars in cash
if you will agree to spend two hours together one time a
week for a year." No third parties can be involved. You
must remain together and talk for the two hours." Easy,
peasey, right? After asking questions, stunned but deciding
to go along with the proposal, they sign contracts and
begin, assuring one another, it is only for the money.
So begins their jouney together and I loved every moment.
From being uncomfortable at their first meeting, ill-at-ease
constantly watching their watches as the minutes painfully
and slowly pass. Conversation becomes stalled until they
discover they mutually love classic books. It's a start.
They chose a book to read and then discuss at their next
meeting. A beginning but one that became more interesting
with each encounter. Time passes. They become friends,
close friends.
Many unforgettable characters such as Beverly Chambers who
believes there are two kinds of people. One, who she
claims, "need to be loved by someone", or one,"who need to
love someone." Self-discovery is slow but sure. revealed
in this darling drama of finding true love with a finale
that is sweet. Her depiction of Mesquite Sand Dunes was
thrilling and is on my Bucket List. La La Land adds a great
deal to this story of Elizabeth and Richard. I look
forward to your next offering with joy and hope it is soon.
thanks for a luscious read!
An addictively readable debut romantic comedy, drama, and
mystery rolled into one, about two very different strangers
whose lives become intertwined when they receive an unusual
proposition. This is a funny, tender, and enchanting story
about love, attraction, and friendship: Jane Austen in Los
Angeles.
A struggling Hollywood producer, Richard Baumbach is
twenty-nine, hung-over, and broke. Ridiculously handsome
with an innate charm and an air of invincibility, he still
believes good things will come his way. For now he contents
himself with days at the Coffee Bean and nights with his
best friend Mike (that’s a woman, by the way).
At thirty-three, Elizabeth Santiago is on track to make
partner at her law firm. Known as “La Máquina” The
Machine—to her colleagues, she’s grown used to avoiding
anything that might derail her quiet, orderly life. And yet
recently she befriended a homeless man in her Venice
neighborhood, surprised to find how much she enjoys their
early-morning chats.
Richard and Elizabeth’s paths collide when they receive a
proposal from a mysterious, anonymous benefactor. They’ll
split a million dollars if they agree to spend at least two
hours together—just talking—every week for a year.
Astonished and more than a little suspicious, they each
nevertheless say yes. Richard needs the money and likes the
adventure of it. Elizabeth embraces the challenge of shaking
up her life a little more. Both agree the idea is
ridiculous, but why not?
What ensues is a delightful journey full of twists,
revelations, hamburgers, classic literature, poppy music,
and above all love, in its multitude of forms. The Decent
Proposal is a heartfelt and often hilarious look at the ties
that bind not just a guy and a girl but an entire, diverse
cast of characters situated within a modern-day Los Angeles
brought to full and irrepressible life.
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