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!