The Proposition

The Proposition #1

by Katie Ashley

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?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Chick Lit, Erotica, New Adult

316 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Top Three Best-Selling author of both Indie and Traditionally published books. She's written rockers, bikers, manwhores with hearts of gold, New Adult, and Young Adult. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Olivia, her rescue mutts, Belle and Elsa, and her two cats, Mama Kitty and Luna. She has a slight obsession with The Golden Girls, Shakespeare, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.

With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education, she spent eleven years teaching both middle and high school English, as well as a few adjunct college English classes. As of January 2013, she became a full-time writer.

Although she is a life-long Georgia peach, she loves traveling the country and world meeting readers. Most days, you can find her being a hermit, styling leggings, and binging on Netflix whenever her toddler daughter isn't monopolizing the TV with Paw Patrol or Frozen.

CONNECT WITH KATIE

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Reviews

[Seena Seena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was going smoothly. I was so proud of Aidan for truly trying and manning up.

Then at 91%.....



Then at 92%.....



Then at 93%.....



Then at 94%.....











WooooooSaahhhhhhh




NO I AM NOT FINE! That dirty little thing who calls himself a man did the unimagnible (in my opinion) and the WORST part is I still fucking love him!



I just want to rip him to shreads! HOW COULD YOU!!!!







And now I have to wait?!?!?! I have to wait to see how he begs and redeems himself to us all?!?!?!?



Ashley.... Please..... for the love of all things chocolate.... give me the next book..... PLEASE!

[V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Grrrr! I'm so angry. Another one to cheating shelf. Or in this case disloyal, weak hero wants to hurt the person he claims he loves. Careful with this one my safety gang!!



I'm so upset that I wasted time on this book. It was free and I asked a friend from a smut reads club if there was cheating in this book and she told me no. That's why I read it. It's not like my club-friend lied to me, it's just that I'm extremely sensitive to disloyalty and weakness and most romance readers aren't. "Technically" Aidan the hero "did not have sexual relationships with that woman"
*sighs

As I said in my Paper Princess review: After hero and heroine have kissed any kind of physical contact with another woman is 100% unacceptable. That only makes the hero weak and flickery and speaks volumes of the lack of ability of a huge majority of self-published erotica authors to create drama that doesn't involve a separation from the couple.


UPCOMING RANT!

You must know that I became addicted to romance when I discovered the twilight books in my eleventh birthday. I was 15 when I read Master of the Universe nowadays known as FSOG and later I fell in love with Gideon Cross from the Crossfire series and Travis Maddox from Beautiful disaster. Yes, I know that these books portray manipulative, unhealthy relationships that in real life would have ended in restraining orders, divorce, and physical violence, IN THE FICTIONAL REALM thESE couples work. Imperfect, flawed, stalkery people fall in love too and usually a good hero changes for / with the love of the heroine and we get our happy endings as we should.


But how the hell would Katie Ashley fix this mess in the sequel of this train-wreck? Not after he treated her so badly. I didn't like Emma much, she was, as a huge bunch contemporary erotica heroines are, disgustingly agreeable to the point of weakness and a slut-shamer. But I at least could understand where she came from and was interested enough in seeing her succeed to end the story. Now, after that twist at the end, the sequels are ruined for me. If she forgives that kind of conduct she doesn't deserve to have a happy ending. Not after the very pregnant heroine caught the father of her baby trying to fuck another woman, the very day he failed to be there with her for an ultrasound. The dog is more loyal than the hero.


Seriously self-published erotica authors, can't you think of another way to bring drama that doesn't involve cheating? Haven't you noticed that for all the shit they receive in goodreads Edward, Christian Grey and Gideon CroSs NEVER CHEATED, NEVER SLUTSHAMED OTHER WOMEN AND ONCE THEY MET THEIR HEROINES DIDN'T HAVE EYES FOR ANOTHER WOMAN? That's what makes them so likeable, that's why these books have cross-over appeal. CHEATING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND MAKES YOUR HERO UNLIKEABLE AND WEAK and overall FORGETTABLE. Thrown to the bad-bookboyfriends pile.

I don't care if they were on a break, in this case they weren't. I don't care if the hero has been drugged, drunk, depressed, confused, weakened by a disease, abducted by aliens, imperiused, bewitched, tortured into submission, blackmailed, deceived or "trying to protect the heroine". That's just stupid, unbelievable and again, if your hero can't fight against the urges of his dick (and if he's in love why would he have to have urges for another woman?) then he doesn't deserve the heroine. He doesn't even deserve to be called A MAN. He can go with the other boys pretending to be grown ups that abound in New adult/erotica fiction.

Let's get this straight. Romance is a genre that should be all about swooning, fangirling, laughing, having fun and finding unrealistic, strong, flawed, charming MEN; emphasis in men. I'm not into boys in romance unless they are super-mature and cute, (I'm looking at you Will Herondale), I'm into men that you wouldn't find in real life, or at least you wouldn't find them often. So what's the point of reading a "romance" book if the hero will act like any cliched TV Manwhore?

Slutshaming is starting to become a deal-breaker for me because it's becoming so cliche even if in the past I've rated 5 stars slutshame-fests like Beautiful disaster in which Abby slut-shames not only every female around, but also acts like Travis deserves to be punished for sleeping around, therefore slutshaming him too. Slut-shaming is a form of discrimination not different than homophobia. All people should be treated equally and with respect disregarding, creed, fashion choices, race, economical status, physical apperance, and sexual decisions . A woman's or man's worth is not based on how many times or with whom they have sex. Sex isn't a sin, sex is not a taboo and people who sleeps around could be as moral and worthy as people who don't. But see? In Beautiful disaster both Abby and Travis are young, they are in their school years so they can grow up into open-minded people who don't slut shame and anyway Travis is just adorable (although he also almost cheated, but they were on a "real", we'll-never-ever-ever -be-back-together separation. In this book the couple is supposedly near their thirties so why they don't have more maturity than plenty of YA, even middle-grade books couples?

I honestly should stick to classic romance written by authors that have been writing romance for decades (case in point Susan Elizabeth Philips or Lisa Kleypas) or good New adult authors like Colleen Hoover. "Adult" erotica is full of immature MC's. I think I might give up the adult (characters over 22) self-published contemporary romance for good. I just end up pissed-off and having no fun from those reads. I want to read a good steamy romance in which adults act like adults. Update October 8th. I was just being dramatic. I found a good New adult/Erotica read called The deal by Elle Kennedy and a couple of short stories that made me remember that comtemporary erotica is fun when it's well done.

Now, I think that the first sex scenes of this book are good and steamy, and anyone who doesn't mind slutshaming, separated couple, disloyal hero, adults acting like teens, might enjoy the book. Most romances on KU are like this one and still get good ratings so I'm perhaps too much into unrealistic heroes, to understand why this book has such high rating. So don't take me too seriously. The book is free so you might like it more than I did.

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I. NEED. BOOK. TWO. RIGHT. FREAKING. NOW.



Gah! Ok, so I knew there was a cliffhanger when I went into this book and early on in the book there is a big "hint" at what its about that I picked up on, so on all accounts, I was ready for it but holy hell my heart was in knots by the end!!!!

*falls down on knees and begs Katie Ashley for an early release of The Proposal*

I have to say, the synopsis of this book was what grabbed me. The minute I read it, I just knew that I had to read this book!!

With her 30th birthday looming over her, Emma feels her biological ticking. Loudly. But unfortunately, there is no sign of Mr. Right anywhere even near the horizon. So she decided to give single motherhood a shot but when her gay best friend backs out of his promise to donate sperm to her cause, she is devastated.

And then in swoops her gorgeous, commitment phobic, serial womanizer, coworker Aidan with a proposition. *waggles eyebrows* He will father her child with the catch of it being conceived naturally.

"Look... Emma wanted the baby, so I agreed to help her."...
"Ah, you're like her stud horse or something?"
"Not funny."

And despite her early misgivings, Emma's desire for a child wins out and she takes him up on his offer.

"A MWF sex schedule? How efficient," he mused.
"Please be serious."
A wicked grin flashed on his face. "Fine, pencil me in. I"ll be ready and erect whenever you need me."

But Aidan was a man with serious commitment issues - who balked at any hint of being tied down to something permanent - no matter how much fullness it could bring to his life. And we are left to find out whether or not what he is beginning to feel for Emma will grow strong enough to overcome the man he is....

"...Aidan Fitzgerald is not husband material. But he's sure as hell stud material."

I really liked seeing these two people trying to take something so personal so seriously. And adorable watching their real feelings develop even while trying to maintain a "professional" (hmm, wrong word, but you know what I mean) attitude about the whole thing.

There were a few times where I found things a little rushed, and a moment or two that I wasn't sure about but overall, I just enjoyed the story.

Aidan... I kind of went back and forth on him. I started out grinning from ear to ear and loving where everything was going, totally looking forward to his character's growth and change and, especially once those started, my heart started to feel whole, but his commitment issues really tore at my heart and frustrated me.

At 90% I was ready to slap him.
At 94% I just wanted to throttle him.
At 95% I was ready to throw my kindle at him and tell him to go fuck himself.
At 96% I just wanted to hug Emma and geld him (and no, trust me, I'm not being too harsh, just read it, you'll want to do the same thing)

But..... then *holds up one finger* ... by 98% despite everything, I saw a spark that gave me hope for him being truly redeemable.

HOWEVER.....

Please please PLEASE may The Proposal have one of the most epic freaking grovels in book history!!!!!!!!!!

I love stories of characters who are able to catch themselves before they go too far, realize they are on the wrong path and do everything in their power to make things right again so I'm very, very, VERY much looking forward to book #2.

With MUCH. EPIC. GROVELING. (yes, its worth mentioning twice)

So yeah, you should know before you read it that the ending is a cliffhanger (clearly, lol)...
But. Big BUT here. --> Its not the kind where it just ends in the middle of a scene, but rather just ends at a point where it gives you the feeling like things will be fixed in the end but right at the moment you finish, you'll be willing to barter your everloving soul for the sequel.

This book was a fun read. The story is not too long - I read it in one evening. There is humor, banter, a good plot (this book isn't just about the sex!) and leaves you desperate to see where the characters will end up.

And book 2, The Proposal, has thankfully be bumped up to a January release instead of the original March by popular demand *wipes brow*

I.NEED. THAT. BOOK.

NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW



That is all.

CASTING (these are Katie Ashley's choices):

Click HERE for Katie Ashley's casting of her characters.





oh, and a big thank you to the author for sending me a copy <3

For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog

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[Baba]

DNF at 50 %. I will refrain from rating this book.



Although I was looking forward to reading The Proposition, I ended up disappointed once again. Sadly, the book could not live up to my high expectations.

What did not work for me
I was aware that The Proposition dealt with Em’s ticking biological clock. In addition, I was also aware of the fact that it was not quite believable. Yet I was sure that I could have dealt with it. Having said this, there are just too many issues that ruined the book for me, though.

The beginning was very rushed, not really well developed. I love smexy times like every other reader but there was just plenty of bland sex that I was skimming pretty soon because I was bored. In fact, there was no chemistry, no sexual tension at all. That said, how can there be sexual tension or chemistry when you have scheduled sex? I mean there is nothing thrilling about that. Then again, it could have been very exciting if it would have been written differently. After all, some authors have the ability to write great chemistry ad libitum.

Aidan comes across as immature, rather shallow and boring. It goes without saying that he wants to get into Em’s pants as soon as possible. His jokes may have been entertaining now and then, but too many times they were simply cheap, cheesy and insensitive. An example:

„I bet she spoiled you rotten,” Emma mused.
“She did and my four sisters.” He shook his head. “Jesus, it’s a wonder I’m not gay growing up around all that estrogen.”

WTF? That’s not funny. What a heedless moron.

Emma is inconsiderate, weepy, whiny, overly melodramatic, and selfish. Wanting to make up for sadness and disappointment in her life by getting pregnant sounds pretty darn selfish and shallow if you ask me. And I didn’t count how many times Em had tears in her eyes, was sobbing, crying, weeping, whining or…whatever.

Aidan opened his mouth, but Emma kept barreling on, her voice raising an octave. “Or what if I just have this huge mental block that becomes a physical one where I can’t conceive? What if I wasted all my fertile years and now I’m just going to be barren and alone for the rest of my life?”

After the first failed attempt at getting pregnant she has a major breakdown and is sobbing and blabbering dumb stuff like that?? Granted, it’s also the two year anniversary of her mother passing away. But. I don’t get it why she had to freak out like that. After all, she is not even thirty yet. What about all those (married) couples who are trying very hard to conceive for years? And what about all those (married) couples who conceive multiple times and lose the embryo (or baby) time and again? Em’s behavior has to feel like a slap to their face! Incredible. What a drama queen.

Emma finds kitchen counters offensive for conceiving. *scratches head* This woman would seriously kill my mood. :/

Emma tossed her bag on the floorboard and then slid across the leather seat. Besides the fact it cost twice as much as her Honda, it was impeccably clean on the inside. Not a crumb or spec of dust could be found while in her car a small village could have been fed by leftover food of grabbing breakfast or dinner on the run.

Disgusting. A pigsty? I’d strongly advise you to clean up your nasty mess, Em! Babies should not be exposed to that filth.

Constant ’widening eyes’ and ‘giggling’
I have noticed numerous times by now that fictional characters widen their eyes all the time and they have the tendency to giggle too much as well. I tried it out myself but I never widen my eyes. I’m clueless why anyone would do that because it’s very odd. And excessively giggling women don’t do anything for me either.

Huge interrogation mark
Honestly, it’s a mystery to me why Aidan and Em’s story would need a sequel. Oh, wait, the only reason is… $__$ Naturally it goes without saying that I won’t be reading the next installment.

Overall verdict
Emma, get your act together and if you are in need of some company then just buy a dog and spare me your histrionics. Thank you.


As a side note
Everyone loved this book. Maybe this is another case of “It’s not the book it’s me.”



**Review at request of author, Katie Ashley**

[Rachel (BAVR) · Rating 2 out of 5]

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead! I'm not kidding. I'm going to spoil the ending. Also: GIFs because some emotions are beyond words.

Basically, The Proposition is a baby fantasy Harley with more pages and 80% more orgasms. If that kind of book skeeves you out the way it does me, then this book probably isn't for you.

The heroine in The Proposition doesn't understand female biology in the slightest. If that kind of trope pisses you off, then this book probably isn't for you.

The ending of The Proposition is a FUCKING CLIFFHANGER, leaving the reader at the mercy of one or god forbid TWO sequels to get to a Happily Ever After. If that kind of shameless money-grubbing bullshit makes you want to pull your hair out, then this book probably isn't for you.

A Visual Illustration of How This Book Made Me Feel


An Intentionally Brief Summary of The Proposition
Emotionally unstable Mary Sue decides to heal all of her personal problems with a baby. Emotionally immature playboy agrees to make a baby with her because he wants to get in her panties. SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX! Nothing happens. They conceive. Nothing happens but SEX SEX SEX SEX, etc. Emotionally unstable Mary Sue does the emotionally unstable Mary Sue thing and falls in love. Emotionally immature playboy fears all the feelings he's feeling. Spectacular douche move in the last pages of the book that would have made for a very satisfying ending if you're like me and didn't care about the characters. Then BAM! Cliffhanger. Buy the next book, bitches!

There is nothing about Emma and Aidan's story that warrants a sequel. This isn't Lord of the Rings. It's just a story about two hot people fucking a lot that could potentially fill women over the age of 30 with the heroine's bullshit neurosis. I think the story should end as it did in this book. It struck me as both the most realistic part of the story and fucking hilarious. Seriously, I just laughed and laughed the whole way through the heart-breaking scene in which Aidan destroys everything just by being the guy he says he's been along. Who needs weapons in modern warfare when poor puppies like Aidan can destroy entire lives simply through the weight of their emotional baggage?

Guys Like Aidan:


In a big shift from my usual feelings about heroes in contemporary romance, I didn't mind Aidan all that much. Sure, the wealthy, drop-dead gorgeous, sex god character is totally overdone these days, but Aidan has the advantage of not being a possessive asshole. He's really quite sweet when he isn't whinging inexplicably about commitment and destroying everything. Despite coming from a good family and leading a pretty standard life devoid of most forms of asshattery, Aidan fears emotional commitments like marriage and children above all else. I'm still not sure why. I can see a man in his thirties not wanting to settle down and have children because he just isn't into that stuff, but Aidan contradicts that by launching his peen into Emma's baby-crazy vagina and deciding that he wants "more" with her. All the while, he cowers in terror at the thought of love, marriage, and the baby that he totally makes with Emma and can't take back even with all the wishes in the world.

Basically, Aidan's an irrational dick. And in the end, he does exactly what an irrational dick would do. After realizing that he's in love with Emma, Aidan totally freaks out, withdraws, and attempts to have sex with the first woman who expresses interest in his love stick. He takes the woman back to his house, a place where Emma frequents because she's the clingy girlfriend of his worst nightmares, and they try to have sex. Note my use of the word try. Naturally, because the poor lady isn't his TWU LUV Emma, he can't even get it up. And just when he's about to cut out the foreplay because he totally isn't feeling it ... Emma arrives! It's the most pathetic scene ever. The poor woman even picked up his dog from doggy daycare because she's the type of lady who will take care of Aidan forever and probably knit him socks in the winter, but he just can't deal.

While I should have been pissed at Aidan for his behavior, I had to appreciate Katie Ashley's willingness to go there. Aidan ends up doing exactly what he's said he would do all along, even despite their TWU LUV. Sometimes, great sex and mushy feelings aren't enough to keep a man-boy from acting like a man-boy. I was thrilled with this bittersweet ending for all of, like, 30 seconds before I realized that the sickly sweet story I'd been reading up until that point wasn't going to end without a Happily Ever After.

Then I got cliffhangered.

And why? Because Emma sucks.

From the beginning, Emma grated on my nerves. Self-absorbed, overly emotional, and insecure, this woman is horrible from the opening scene when she throws a baby shower for a co-worker and uses that as an opportunity to cry about being 29 and childless to the ending when she decides to fight for her man because a shit-tastic wreck like Aidan is SO WORTH HAVING. Following in the Mary Sue tradition of being an orphan, Emma spends a lot of time whining about her dead parents, her dead fiance, and all the babies she isn't having. She feels the biological clock ticking down to her 30th birthday, and she just can't take it anymore.

You have to understand, my friends, that aside from being 18 kind of wacka-doodle-doo, Emma also seems to possess the same understanding of female biology as that Congressman who claimed that women can shut down their reproductive systems in the case of "legitimate" rape. Unless they're 30, in which case shutting down a reproductive system isn't even necessary because Emma thinks they CAN'T HAVE BABIES. Sure, she doesn't outright say that, but from the way she switches from emotional breakdown to emotional breakdown because she's just so goddamn OLD and BARREN, I'm pretty sure that's what she really thinks. How insulting. I know plenty of women who have conceived after the age of 30, even into their 40s. This isn't the first time I've seen this trope in contemporary romance, and it needs to stop already. Women do not become worthless, dried-out husks after their 20s. They just don't. Stop writing that, authors. Stop it.

Emma decides she MUST HAVE BABY NOW for probably the worst reason anyone could have a baby. Like, this rates right up there with people who conceive to save their marriages. Emma wants a baby because she wants to replace all the dead people in her life. She wants to basically force a person into existence who has no choice but to love her and fill her emotional voids. Getting professional help for her grief issues before making a baby isn't a priority to Emma, nor is actually finding a person to create a family with. Oh, no. Emma want baby. Emma want baby NOW. At first, she sets her baby-making sights on her gay best friend. She basically puts a claim out on his sperm and then has a total meltdown when his boyfriend doesn't want to share all of those valuable swimmer in her unhealthy little scheme.

Fortunately for Emma, Aidan steps in to do the job. Unfortunately for Emma, her emotional cray-cray level pretty much guarantees that she'll become attached to Aidan through hundreds of flowery orgasms and get her heart broken. All of this comes to pass.

So, Emma goes all-in emotionally with Aidan. He cheats on her while she's pregnant with his child. Then, proving that she's learned NOTHING about self-respect and emotional stability for the sake of her child, she agrees to team up with Aidan's sister (?) to win her man. And this is done by adding another book to the series.

My dreams have imploded, and all that's left is dust, dust, dust ...

On the bright side, this book isn't as poorly written as On Dublin Street. Granted, there are still plenty of typos, missing words, and misused punctuation. Katie Ashley seems to have a grasp on the written word, though, so I'll give her credit. Without the entertainment of Aidan's spectacular douche move at the end, this probably would have been one star. Sadly, I doubt I'll be buying the next book in the series. I have no desire to read another verbose description of why Emma and Aidan really shouldn't procreate. That poor baby.

[Georgia ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 because-I-loved-you-and-you-broke-my freaking-heart-you-bastard STARS
WARNING: This review contains pain, swearing, tears and LOTS of GIFs...



A woman who needs everything and a man that he thinks that he has nothing to give. Will they have their HEA?



This book represents love in the 00's. Relationships have changed. As the women gained independence, they became determined not to take any bullshit from men. But sometimes there is more between them, than a sperm and an egg to fertilize. And the man has the "nuts", but the woman has the GUTS!!

Emma Harrison
She can't take any more heartbreak. She lost the most important people in her life and her biological clock isn't just ticking


it's screaming at her to move her pretty ass and get pregnant, NOW!!


Desperate, she takes the only option she has, aside sperm bank. Sleep with the office's resident womanizer for reproduction. Contract and all. Afraid to put her heart in the line she cautiously accepts but she falls...


Aidan Fitzgerald
Why are all the good ones so messed up?? No family issues, he has the perfect supporting family but he is the take 'em and leave 'em kind of guy. No strings, no relationships. He wants Emma in his bed and he agrees to lend a penis emm... sorry... HAND, determined to pull away easily, but how the great ones fall and so hard......


And the fool, arrogant asshole f***ked it all up! He broke every promise...
He destroyed everything...


Coward self-sabotaging bastard, I completely hate you...

And by village I mean your nuts, because you don't deserve them!!! ASSHOLE!!

BASTARD!!!!!!


And by people I mean YOU, Aidan Fitzgerald..... You broke my heart..



The worst of all....


Yeah, you thickheaded......... male! I adore you!! And Emma worshiped the ground you walked upon...

You'd better spent the next book grovelling!!!!!!!!!


*RUNNING OFF TO READ THE NEXT AND THANK GOD I WAITED FOR IT TO COME OUT TO READ THE SERIES*

Almost forgot! Katie Ashley

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★]

FREE on Amazon US today (10/29/2014)

BLURB:
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?

http://www.amazon.com/Party-Propositi...

[Michelle Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um, WOW!! Aidan is all the things I love.

COCKY
SEXY
SEX-GOD
HEART OF GOLD




I devoured this novel. It was so, so good! It was emotional and steamy. Gah!! Katie weaves erotic magic in this book.

This is a must read!!!

[Kim Person · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I found out that Katie was going to provide me the ARC of The Proposition I was like......






This is the story of Emma & Aidan. Emma's a kind hearted, sweet, and strong as hell woman and I loved her character! She has been through some very rough times in the past 5 years and all she wants is a baby! She is desperate to have a baby and have a "family" of her own .....someone to love her! Well after her best friend since middle school Connor backs out of "donating" to the cause Emma is not happy and Connor, well, he hates that Emma is ignoring him.

Aidan Fitzgerald just happens to be in the right place at the right time and witnesses the exchange between Emma and Connor but mistakes it for something else. But Connnor will set him straight and Aidan being the hot, sexy as hell, player (according to office place gossip) now has the solution to get what he wants. Aidan wants Emma and has since the office Christmas party where she shot him down after she was told he was a "womanizer".

Over drinks at O'Malley's the proposition is made and Emma is stunned but she's right about Aidan he is going to get something out of this and that is Emma.. He's not "donating" he is "participating" So begins the baby making journey..

How could Emma resist Aidan?



There are some very hot scenes between the sheets, shower well I'm sure you get the picture and once Emma gets pregnant well the ride is too much fun for either of the to get off, just yet, see they never expected or at least tried to keep their hearts out of it but come on we all know how that goes...

Aidan well for all he supposedly is really has a heart of gold but boy there was a point in the book where I was like this because of him



There are some wonderful secondary characters in the book and I adored Carli & Connor who were there for Emma. Aidan has his four sisters and "Pop's". We get to enjoy Emma & Aidan meeting each others families and there are some great laughs but there is something about Aidan who has had his share of heartbreak in the past, self created I might add, that made me:



Aidan is afraid of committment becoming the ultimate bachelor but will he let Emma & his baby become a permanent part of his life? or will he be Aidan well that my friends you will hae just read to see!!

Katie has given us a 5 star awesome read!! I cannot wait for the second book and I will anxiously await the announcement for when that is coming hint hint Katie :) This is a AWESOME first book and I can guarantee you wil be hooked just as I am! So come November 1st buy this book and start the journey with Emma & Aidan you won't be disappointed I sure the heck wasn't I've read the book twice already since last night :)

Thanks for sharing Katie love ya doll!!!

[*TANYA* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, I did but....GRRRR....I HATE what Aidan did to Emma in order to push her away. Angry, is what I am. He better redeem himself in the next book of the series.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4 stars!



This book has been on my TBR for over a year and I'm so glad I finally decided to give it a try! It was fun, engaging, steamy, original and at times, hilarious. Once I started it, I could not put it down until I knew how it would end and well, after that ending I immediately had to start The Proposal. The fact that the MC's where in their thirties and trying to conceive gave them a more mature feel and the content was a nice change from the usual twenty something/college main characters.


Emma -


Emma Harrison is a 30 year old single woman who's biological clock has been ticking for years. She's an easy to like, independent heroine with a great sense of humor and I was really rooting for her to get her happy ending. Ever since her late fiancé died in a car accident four years ago, she's been single and patiently waiting for the right husband/father material to come along but so far, she's had no such luck. Her desire to become a mother is so great, she's even willing to ask her gay best friend to donate his sperm. But then comes the perfect solution in the form of Aidan Fitzgerald.

Aidan -


Aidan Fitzgerald is a 32 year old handsome bachelor who's had a thing for Emma ever since seeing her at the company's Christmas party a few months ago. His player-reputation prevented him from ever having a chance at seducing her, but now that he knows she's looking for someone to father her baby and nothing more, he comes up with a proposition: He will father Emma's child, but she must conceive it with him naturally.

After a while their baby-making sessions become more than just physical and they both start to reevaluate the nature of their arrangement. At first, I wasn't sure I liked Aidan, but throughout the story, he really grew on me. He won me over with his sweet and considerate behavior and after a while it seemed as if he might be willing to change his playboy ways for Emma and his future child.

So, as the story went on, it remained fairly drama-less and with very little angst, but then the last 10% of the story, my feelings went from:

Slightly agitated and highly suspicious...

To upset and slightly shocked...

To even more upset and angry.


But despite his asshole behavior, I have a feeling Aidan will make me like him again in no time. Although, he'll have some serieus groveling to do first...


Moving on to the next book right away!

[~ Becs ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite simply a fantastic debut novel by Katie Ashley. If love, laughter and passion are the hallmarks of a truly great romance, then The Proposition ticks every box. With a central duo to really believe in and cherish and also to despair with, a great host of secondary characters that are well crafted and feel real and an intriguing premise for a plot, this is quite the accomplished debut and Katie Ashley has proved herself a consummate storyteller. It’s very engaging and captivating; it caught my attention right from the first page and, with the witty dialogue, I was engrossed right through to the very end.

Basic Synopsis – Emma’s 30th birthday is looming large on the horizon and her biological clock is ticking so loud it’s deafening her and everyone around her. After her gay best friend refuses to be a sperm donor, Aidan Fitzgerald, known manwhore and womanizer, offers to jump into the breach with just one condition – the baby must be conceived naturally. He’s been attracted to Emma for a long time and, blinded by his easy charm and desperate to conceive, she agrees.

Aidan was a great hero – he’s cocky, charming and more than a little misunderstood but he is commitment-shy and has a bit of a reputation with the ladies. I was leery of how their first night of babymaking would go but I needn’t have worried. Aidan, sensible of the strangeness of their situation, made it very romantic and the writing builds the anticipation well until the pyrotechnics go off. Seriously HOT! There’s some great humour in here too as they work out their sex schedule.

“A MWF sex schedule? How efficient,” he mused.
“Please be serious.”
A wicked grin flashed on his face. “Fine, pencil me in. I’ll be ready and erect whenever you need me.”

Emma is a sweetheart of a heroine – completely honest, without guile and a little bit heartbroken by losses in her past, I very much identified with her. She never really ever seemed desperate, just sad and lonely. She has great friends too and both she and Aidan have loving families which we get to know and – a quick word about the secondary characters. So often in novels, these aren’t fully developed and feel like cardboard cutouts but that’s quite simply not the case here – they jumped instantly to life off the pages and it all felt very real.

But, the course of true love never did run smooth and there are some bumps in the road ahead as Emma finds herself falling for Aidan who is in complete denial of his emotions and scared to death of commitment.

It’s a fantastic debut novel but I will warn you all – MAJOR WICKED CLIFFHANGER ALERT!



This is happening with increasing frequency in romance novels lately and I guess it’s a ploy to leave you salivating for more. Well, IT WORKED! Now I can’t wait for the sequel – The Proposal.

4.5 stars contemporary romance

ARC courtesy of the lovely Katie Ashley

For more reviews, please visit Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Here’s my proposition. I offer to father your child, and you in turn, promise to conceive it with me naturally.”

Just when I thought another romance novel couldn’t possibly surprise me - Ladies and Gentlemen, lo and behold, The Proposition!! A perfect ratio of sweet and romantic, a super-sized amount of scorching hot lovin’ and convincing sexual chemistry, with just a dash of angst, this is the perfect recipe for the type of story that will please anyone looking for a book to curl up with and escape into, all the while having a goofy grin plastered all over your satisfied face. Piece of advice though - do NOT forget to have an industrial-sized fan handy because it’s gonna get hot!!

“Have you ever wanted something so bad you think you’d die if you didn’t have it? That the mere thought of it keeps you up at night. You can’t sleep, you can’t eat, you can’t drink. You are so consumed by that desire nothing else matters, and you’re not sure life is worth living if you can’t have it.”

Emma is a thirty-year-old single woman who wishes nothing more than to have a baby of her own. Her dreams of becoming a mother have almost become a physical need for her, making her willing to do almost anything to make that happen, desperate enough to even ask her gay best friend to father her child. But when everything falls through with that arrangement, the answer to all her prayers comes in the form of Aidan, a man whose womanizing reputation precedes him by a mile.

Aidan is a player. Aidan doesn’t do relationships. Aidan equates the responsibility of being a husband and father to choking. Emma is also the only woman who has ever rejected his advances and he is willing to do just about anything to get her into his bed. But that is not the only reason Aidan offers his ‘stud services’ to Emma - he is no stranger to the kind of comforting feeling that the love of a family can give you so he understands Emma’s need to become a mother. His motives might be primarily fueled by his raging libido, but there is a part of him that connects with Emma and desires nothing more than to make her happy.

“You’ve had so much death and loss that you just want a little life in you.”

At this point I recommend bringing that industrial-sized fan out of storage and turning it on at full blast because Ms Ashley writes good sex scenes like nobody’s business. Emma and Aidan engage in a commitment-free physical relationship aimed at one thing and one thing only - making a baby for Emma. Let me tell you, as a reader, it has never been so much fun reaping the benefits of a fictional arrangement like this before! The chemistry between our lead characters is unquestionable, the connection created by their toe-curling sexual encounters slowly bleeding into other areas of their lives, making them fall for each other for all the right reasons and fighting to stay emotionally unattached for all the wrong ones. They don’t reach that point at the same time, or rather they don’t realize the depth of their feelings for each other simultaneously, but once their emotional bond is forged, all they can do is deny it to themselves and to each other.

This is in so many ways Emma’s story, and a very personal one at that. Unless you’ve ever been ‘an Emma' in your life, it might be difficult to imagine what it is like to face the unwanted prospect of never holding your own baby in your arms. So many of Emma’s emotions in this book felt very familiar, identifiable, real. Her hopeless desire to become a mother took central stage even in her relationship with Aidan, making her willing to suppress her growing feelings for him in order to fulfill her dream of having a baby. She threads so very carefully with him, always aware of his commitment phobias and trying not to push him into anything he is not ready for.

“Their entire relationship was such a fragile balloon that she was afraid would pop at any moment.”

Aidan is a much more complicated character than Emma. This might be Emma’s story but it is Aidan’s journey to travel. His ‘conversion’ from incorrigible bachelor to man owning up to his feelings is a slowly progressing one, laced with doubt, inner conflict and a desperate want to avoid commitment at all costs. I hope we get to delve into the reasons behind this urge to form no lasting ties with a woman in the sequel as I found that part of his personality as fascinating as it was infuriating.

“Love like he had never known entered him that day, and instead of embracing it, he kept railing against it. … In the end, maybe it didn’t matter if he loved her. He could not imagine giving up the entirety of his life to being all she would need.”

Ms Ashley’s writing style is a force to be reckoned with. Apart from the spectacular dialogues which, in my opinion, can make or break a story, this book is flawlessly written in its entirety, leaving me with no objections other than having to wait to have the sequel, The Proposal, in my greedy little hands. This is a story you will love from the very first page and will want to re-read right after you finished it. It will leave the romance junkie in you well sated but also craving for more. More of everything.

~ N ♥

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[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler Free Review
4 STARS out of 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Love love loved this book!!!

TICK
TOCK
TICK
TOCK
That's the sound of Emma's biological clock.

Emma Harrison is approaching her 30th birthday and wants nothing more in this world than to have a family. Unfortunately she is not currently dating anyone. Finding a good man to marry and procreate with may take years. But it only takes 9 months to have a baby via the sperm bank. Emma realizes that she may not have the man of her dreams yet; but she could still find love with a child of her own.
Loss has plagued her life for the past five years and all Emma wants is to fill the emptiness left behind by the ones she loved. When plans start to fall through Emma is upset and gets in to an argument with her close friend, Conner. This leads to her crying hysterically and bringing the last person she would ever expect to her rescue.... Aiden Fitzgerald.

Not him, not NOW!
Aiden is known as the company playboy and he makes sure to live up to that name. He exudes sex appeal, he displays his arrogance, is above and beyond egotistical, and can be a little impetuous. When Aiden takes an upset Emma out for a drink to help ease her nerves she gives him more than he bargained for... He get's her raw emotions in heart felt words.

“Have you ever wanted something so bad you think you’d die if you don’t have it? That the mere thought of it keeps you up at night. You can’t sleep, you can’t eat, you can’t drink. You are so consumed by that desire nothing else matters, and you’re not sure life is worth living if you can’t have it.” ~Emma

This causes him to open up as well. Then he comes up with a plan that will fulfill both of their needs.

Oh baby I like it RAW!
Aiden ends the night with a proposition... Clearly thinking with his little head and not the big one; Aiden agrees to be Emma's sperm donor. All Emma has to do is conceive the child naturally. Meaning he wants raw, hot, passionate SEX! **Grinning**

What starts off as a clear business deal with a signed contract ends in a SHOCKINGLY HEARTBREAKING CLIFFHANGER.
Yes, I said CLIFFHANGER and YES, I F**KING HATE that word too.

I am definitely feeling your style Katie Ashley. You gave me a nice dose of just about everything I need in a Contemporary romance. I got the hilarious, fun, loving and vivacious best friend, in Casey. The Gay best friend, in Conner. A pet dog that takes the spotlight whenever he is around, in Beau. Heartwarming family moments. And a breath taking, heart stopping man who falls for a gorgeous woman that is 'the total package.' Needless to say I LOVED IT!!!

Fave Lines

"A MWF sex schedule? How efficient," he mused
"Please be serious."
"Fine, pencil me in. I'll be ready and erect whenever you need me."
~Aiden and Emma

"Baby, you're so sexy when you spout that medical jargon." ~Casey

Fave phrase

'Big Poppa' - Term of endearment used by Casey and Connor when referring to Aiden

Best text EVAH sent

'Good. I'm looking forward to kissing and licking every square inch of that fabulous body tonight.' ~Aiden

Fave new word

'Gunkel' - Meaning "gay uncle"

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable
Writing Style- Witty, Sexy and Solid
Plot/Storyline- Fun and Savory
Steam Factor- High/Very Steamy
Overall- I loved it!! READ IT!!!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!

[Elle (Ligia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

[This review will be gif-filled in honor of Katie, my fellow Gif whore. And yes, I’m talking about the author. By the way, thank you Katie for the ARC!]

Holy mother!



If you asked me what I thought of The Proposition, that’s what I would say. Okay, no. Maybe I would say something way stronger, but on the off chance that there are kids reading this I won’t say it. And by the way, if you’re a kid, don’t read this.

Where shall I begin?

Emma Harrison wants a family and she wants it now. Tired of waiting for the right guy to start a family with she decides it’s time to take matters into her own hands. But getting a sperm donor might not be as easy as she thought it would be, especially when her best guy-friend refuses to cooperate. But what if… What if Connor is not her only option after all? What if there’s someone else willing to go along with her plans, as long as she agrees to a few conditions? How far will Emma go to have her dream of being a mom fulfilled?

Enter Aidan. Aidan Fitzgerald is cocky, arrogant, egotistical, self-centered, bigheaded, conceited, am I missing anything?… Okay, okay! I’m only kidding. I’m just a little mad at him, but we’ll get to that soon enough. Aidan is a little cocky yes, he’s way too hot for his own good, but you know how men are. Stoke his ego a little and you’ll only help to make it bigger… Let’s just say Aidan had a lot of stroking going on… and… stuff.



Okay, I’m getting carried away. He’s good-looking and he knows it, so he uses it to his advantage to get whatever –and whoever –he wants. Aidan is not used to getting rejected, so when Emma wants nothing to do with him and his womanizing ways, well… it strucks a nerve, and makes him want her all that much. When the perfect opportunity to get what he wants is right in front of him, he will not hesitate to take it. No matter the cost. But did he stop to think about the consequences?

Against her better judgment Emma takes up Aidan’s proposition. But when emotions get in the way, is she really willing to risk her heart for a chance at motherhood? Is he even capable of changing his ways for her and his soon-to-be-born child?



Just kidding. I’m not telling! You’ll have to read to find out.

The Proposition made me feel all kinds of things. I understood Emma’s need to be a mother, her desire that run deeper than anything else, and I felt for her. Her pain and her love. And I got Aidan too, a little. After a difficult relationship in the past he closed off, he said no more to the pain and heartbreak, and I can go with that. What I can’t go with is him being an asshole because of it, and here lays the reason for my anger with him.

There was also a moment there that I really wanted to kick Aidan and make it impossible to be a father again. Yes, I was that angry at him. My heart was seriously beating out of my chest! All the time I kept thinking: “he can’t do this to her, he can’t do this to her, damn it!” but he was doing it and it was driving me crazy and I wanted to kill him.



I mean… he could be so sweet and caring, even loving, one moment and then it was like he snapped out of it and was back to being his cold detached self. It irritated me a little. Mostly because he was threatening my happily ever after. Yes, my happily ever after.

Then there was Emma’s insecurities, too. I think some people will find this a little irritating, her need for constant reassurance, but I’ll give her credit. It’s not easy when you’re falling in love with someone that might just run away at the mere mention of commitment.

Overall The Proposition was seriously steamy, and sweet and nice and heartbreaking and shocking!

Yup, this is the moment I talk about the ending. So, get ready for some ranting (assuming you don’t consider all the rest ranting, that is).

I was really glad as I read on to find that there were no major twists that broke my heart completely, and as I neared the end I was beaming. I’m going to have my happy ending! I though, and well…

I should have known how it was going to end, really. Especially when I saw I only had two pages left and it was nowhere close to an ending, unless it was super rushed in… which it wasn’t. Let me tell you that I actually went around screaming and then begged Katie to give me my last missing pages asked Kaite if I was missing the ending of my copy. You can ask her. It’s the total truth. One word (okay, three): OH. MY. GOD!

That’s my ending reaction. Like…







So yes, I think I need to be fair to the people that will read this when it’s released in like three days, so I’ll warn you now, there’s a cliffhanger. And I’ll warn you again, it will make you want to pull all your hair out and then maybe, just maybe stalk Katie until she tells you what will happen next. Not that I did. Not that I won’t.

On a last note, and this goes to Katie: write fast, dude! I need the next book now! Or you’ll be responsible for my therapy sessions after this.



And no, don’t try that with authors that you don’t know or they can sue you. Maybe?



Katie, can I get a sneak peak? Something? Anything? Pretty please? Will do it for your gif-twin? Yes? Maybe I should mention that my birthday is the 5th. *cough*


Yes, I totally used that gif on purpose!

For more reviews, please visit My Life Through a Book

[SHOMPA · Rating 1 out of 5]

*** 𝟏.𝟓⭐️ 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ***

Well, the writing style was good, though. Other than that, there wasn't anything likable here. At least I did not find anything special, as many people highly praised it in reviews.

On the contrary, it seemed very foreseeable to me. Which is why I had to skip a lot to get through the boring parts (including the cringe-worthy sex parts). And of course that annoying, self-righteous, dull heroine was much worse than those tedious things. You can say I had a hard time with this book. Still, I could not give up. Maybe I was a little bit hopeful about the last few chapter.

And guess what? despite all suffering I still didn't get my happy ending because it had a fucking cliffhanger. Ahgrrr..... I always dislike this kind of strategy, like if you want to see the end of the story, then you have to buy and read the second book. As if I care about this shit-show and its dumbass-worthless characters at all.

If any author's work is truly good, has great content, and enjoyable to read them, then readers will surely gonna read the second book of any series like crazy. It doesn't require so much manipulation, believe me.

[Kristen Proby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is FANTASTIC! I absolutely love the premise, and let's be honest, I absolutely LOVE Aidan. Hello, hot stuff. He's sexy. He's confident. He knows his way around a woman's body. And it's an absolute delight to watch him fall (reluctantly) in love with our Emma.

There are so many wonderful, tender moments between these two characters. Aidan can be sweet. But I love how Ms. Ashley shows us that he's human and he can be an ass too. He's believable.

And have I mentioned that he's sexy? Yowza.

The secondary characters are very well written as well. Emma's friends, including her gay best friend, are so funny. Emma and Aidan's families are both fun and loving and relatable. They are so well-integrated into the story that they don't feel like secondary characters at all, and that is not an easy thing to accomplish as a writer!

I highly recommend this book. You'll smile, laugh, yell at your ereader (do NOT throw it across the room!) and fall in love with these people.

Aidan is SEXY! :-)

[Emily Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book? This book was fan-freaking-tastic.



I was lucky enough to read an ARC of The Proposition, and WOW-WOW-WEE-WOW! Katie’s been one of my crit partners for a few years, but DAMN she can write romance. I fell in love with this book, and I bet you will, too. Here’s why:

1.The plot is damn good. Basically you have a strong, smart, and likeable heroine who wants a baby and a sexy, irritating, and irresistible hero who’s willing to give her one—if they can conceive the old fashion way. Um, yes, please!



2.Romance. There are many steamy sex scenes in The Proposition, but it was also romantic. I sighed. A lot.

3.Emma’s family. I come from a really great family and it was fantastic to see the love she had for her grandparents and the rest of her family. The same with Aidan—I adored the scenes with his dad.

4.Aidan. Holy hell that man is hot. Katie, can Aidan be my baby’s daddy?



I could go on and on, but if I do, that’ll keep you from reading. And you need to read this book! Wonderful book, Katie. Write on, you talented woman. Write on. You already know how I feel about The Proposal's early release in January, but I just felt the world should know too . . .

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wrote a long friggin review for this book and LOST THE FECKIN thing - not writing it again and even if I say so myself it was quite good. SHITE.

[KristenReviews]

DNF at 20%

I've put this book down for the time being. I'm having a very difficult time with Emma's over-the-top need to have a baby. The fact she feels her biological clock is "clanking" not just ticking at such a young age (she's not even 30 yet) is too much for me. For some reason, and I'm not sure why, I'm not emotionally able to move pass her desperate behavior and enjoy the rest of the story.

[Mei · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted a fluffy, funny, easy book, but instead I got a book that get on my nerves in a big way!!!

Let’s see…

Emma… beautiful, sweet, successful, wounded, insecure (when necessary), fantastic Emma. She’s so strong, she’s suffered so much… Poor Emma!

Pssstt.. can you hear my sarcasm here?

Since the very beginning, we get what Emma wants, needs…

Being husbandless and childless was all the more painful after her parents’ deaths. After losing her mother two years ago, she had sworn she would replace the love she had lost by finding a husband and having a child.

That’s such a mature desire!!! Ohhhh, Emma has suffered sooooo much… poor her… I’m crying here!!!

So what’s her wonderful, intelligent, clever idea??? She torment her gay friend to donate his sperm!! And she’s irked when he refuses!!! Oh, sweet Emma!!!

Her friend Casey is not much better:
“You just need to tell him to man-up, grow a pair and give you some sperm.” .

Ok, since Connor is such a bad person and doesn’t want to father her child, she accept Aidan “proposition” to have sex with him and get pregnant!!! Such a mature and intelligent thing!!!

I can understand Aidan, he’s a man-whore and he’ll get a lot of sex. But Emma? She’s less than 30 years old, but her fertility clock is ticking??? What??? Nowdays 30 years old women are considered young. I’m feeling almost insulted on behalf of all the women who start planning children after their 30th birthday!

Ok, I say to myself, this is chick-lit, erotic fiction, so you have to forgive some inaccuracies, but as I read on things get worse and worse…

Emma, being such a sweet girl, makes a contract for Aidan to sign where she’s protecting herself and Aidan too. Ohhhh, such a wonderful way to be happy and complete after having suffered soooo much (see above)!!!

And they get going at it!!! Aidan is such a callous womanizer that he books a honeymoon suite, rose petals, candles, champagne, strawberries… Such an awful, awful thing to do!!!

And so they f*ck and, obviously she’s falling for him and he’s falling for her. That’s OK, this is chick-lit, erotic romance.

But… Aidan constantly “complains” about Emma’s mouth. And not is that way!
She’s so clever and funny… Hmmm, here are some examples:

“Of course. I mean, we can’t have anything happening to that fabulous ass of yours now can we?”
“That mouth of yours is trouble,”
--------------------------------
“I can’t believe Mr. Aidan Fitzgerald—Sex God Extraordinaire—is doubting his bedroom abilities.”
At her taunting, Aidan’s expressed flipped over from anxious to smoldering in barely a second.
“There goes that mouth of yours again,”
--------------------------------
“Of course, I
wasn’t an All State Swim Champion, so what do I know?”
Aidan shook his head as he threw off the quilt. “There goes that mouth of yours again.” .

Am I the only one who doesn’t find anything fun there??? OK, maybe it is an American kind of humor that I don’t get…

And I continued reading, hoping things will get better…

So we get to know why Aidan is a womanizer. He’s a broken man. He’s wounded too. He’s aver 30, but he’s still suffering from abandonment when he was 20. Poor baby… He has been tricked and he reiterated by cheating. Sooo mature!

But their falling in love goes on and more it goes on more I get annoyed by both of them, but mostly by Emma.

Aidan’s voice came muffled from under the pillow. “Em, would you mind taking him and the screaming somewhere else?”
Rage burned through Emma. How dare he treat her that way? Shifting Mason onto her shoulder, she used her free hand to smack Aidan’s naked back. Hard.
He flung back the pillow and glared up at her. “What the hell was that for?”
“Why are you being such an insensitive asshole?”
“Because I’m overworked, jet-lagged, and just want to sleep,” he growled.
Emma shook her head. “Your behavior tonight is seriously giving me something to think about.”
Aidan rose up in the bed and rubbed his eyes. “What are you bitching about now?”
“Is this how it’s going to be with our baby? You only thinking of your own selfish needs, resenting the baby when it comes between us and sex, and most of all, making it seem like I’m a single parent when you’re in the same room with me?”
With a roll of his eyes, Aidan jerked off the sheet. “Fine. I’ll go fix his fucking bottle. Will that make you happy?”
“Maybe,” she replied. Even though he stomped bare-assed out of the room, Emma grinned that her speech had affected him enough to react. Every little battle was a victory in her favor. .

Oh, how dare he treat her like that???! Bad, bad Aidan!!!

Hey, Emma, I know that you’re in love with him, but he’s still just a sperm donor, not your insanely in love sweetheart!!! What did you expect?

We know that Aidan is falling in love too, but he’s still fighting it. He’s so immature that’s incredible!

All the characters in this book are so immature and sketchy at best. Emma, Aidan, Casey, Emma’s grandparents, Aidan’s family… They act like a stereotype characters: the BF, they loving grannies, the perfect siblings… It’s so saccharine that I almost got diabetes!

And the ending? Yes, it does have a cliffhanger… of sorts…

The strange thing that I’m reading the sequel!!! I must have some masochistic tenedencies!!!

[Henz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Friends-with-benefits book that I liked, this story is one of those cliché, I've seen movies with the some plot either way I like it because it’s a guilty pleasure chick-lit that can also be a guilty pleasure chick-flick if adapted.

Meet Emma who wants to have a child badly but she doesn’t have a man with her to do that anymore when her fiancée died in an accident and since then she’s devastated to start a relationship so she wants to be clinically conceived and wants her gay friend’s seeds that way she won’t risk spawning a serial killer but you see her friend backed out for the reason that his partner was against the idea.

Okay I was really cracking up reading this because I have a gay friend that propositioned something like this to another friend of mine so that he could have a child too. Guys these things are so normal! Just saying!

Then meet Aidan who is the manwhore (I know, I know … cliché but I don’t care!) he is sweet but has his moments of being an asshole. He likes Emma and since he knows about her dilemma.

He made a proposition to offer his seeds along with his excellent DNA (the way he brags it) only if she had to conceive it naturally … that means SEX right?! .. That’s where the fun begins!


He did this because he hates commitments and it’s a chance of fulfilling his late mother’s wish of him having kids without being tied up in a relationship. The whole idea is like a business deal, and there a contract for Pete’s sake! But I get why it’s needed.

I swooned a lot in this book, I find the whole being pregnant thing adorable, it was enjoyable and fast paced and funny, I liked how the story developed, I was devastated at the ending but good thing there’s a book 2 to make up for that …

Warning though, it's a steamy romance .. *wink*

[Denisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, nope.
*Spoilers ahead, btw*

So, let's see.
We have a girl (can't get myself to call her woman) who is reaaaaly desperate to get a kid because her biological clock is ticking. She's not even 30 yet. But she's so old! It's not like most females these days have a kid when they're over 30, because that's just way too old!

Ok, let's say I'd overlook that part if she was a cool chick. But no luck there either. She's so damn needy and annoying and idiotic most of the times!

She gets mad at her gay best friend because he doesn't want to give her his sperm. Like that's what any normal guy would do, just father a child because someone else wants that.

She meets a co-worker at one point who so generously offers to have sex with her so that she can become a mum. Yup, another typical, normal, smart guy. Let's make a baby together, who cares what happens next with the kid!
*kids and irresponsible, idiotic parents are my weak point, in case you haven't noticed yet*

God, and the way they talk and act!
People really should get an IQ test or something before they can have a kid.

Anyway, I expected a nice, fun, relaxing story yet I got this. I just couldn't not DNF this book. I don't wanna waste any more of my time on this kinds of reads.

If anyone actually got to this part of my review, I'm, as they say it, strongly advising you against reading this thing. Definitely not worth the (OMG!!!) over 4-stars rating.

[Duchess Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the blurb for this, I expected a fairly erotic little romance. And it was, for sure. But there was a lot more depth to it than I was prepared for.

The setup...the Proposition...takes place fairly quickly. Emma is an almost thirty year old woman with no romantic prospects. She's fairly successful financially. But she's alone in the world family wise, after her Mom passes away. She's also VERY innocent. Not virginal, but the woman has only slept with one man in her life, her fiancee, who also died over four years ago. So she's not very experienced in matters of love or sex. But her intentions are honorable. She wants to be a Mom. She wants someone to live for, love beyond all reason...she wants someone who NEEDS her. And I can totally relate to that. I was so impressed with how the author made me empathize with Emma. I was hurting for her and that empty womb and those empty arms.

Aiden has lusted after Emma since she spurned him at the company Christmas party. He's a big ole player, but I actually loved him! He's funny and sweet and quite the thoughtful man slut, actually. He doesn't try to decieve Emma into thinking that he wants anything more than to sleep with her. In fact, he makes it very clear that he will want nothing to do with the baby. This is a trade that they're making and when the deal is done, so is he. Emma, while nervous as hell, finally agrees to the trade off. Instead of a cold, sterile clinic for conception, she also gets to feel passion again...something she hasn't felt since the death of her fiancee.

As I said earlier, I really liked Aiden! Though their setup is sort of clandestine, he tries to make it as good as possible for Emma. He's not a coldhearted player. Just a horny guy. And he knows how special this is for her. So what does Emma do? Yep, she starts to fall for him. This is where I started to get a wee bit frustrated with Emma. I mean, the rules are laid out...they even draw up a contract! (A la Fify Shades without the whips and chains, which Aiden alludes to and made me literally laugh out loud) So Emma just acts like such a girl in regards to their relationship. Her proprietary actions toward Aiden started to rub me the wrong way. He's not a bad guy, and she starts acting like he's doing bad things.

To be quite honest, even I fell a little in love with Aiden. He's just such a great guy! And when one thing leads to another and they start spending more and more time together, we get to the heart of them both. We meet both of their families and begin to learn what makes both Emma and Aiden tick. Aiden, while professing to revel in his single status, has much more to him than what he shows the world. By no means is he perfect. He makes some pretty rockin' mistakes and there is a major point of contention that I see popping up with some readers. However, people make mistakes, and Aiden is about as redeemable a hero as I can imagine.

If there is one thing that I would change, I would want more descriptive writing. While the point is always made, often I felt as if I needed juuuust a little more of the scene. The first time I noticed it was after a sex scene. They go from orgasm to post-coital chatting in one sentence. No heavy breathing or lightheaded come downs. Just 'Oh yes, Aiden!' and moving on.... After that, I started to notice how a lot of details were left out, things that, to me, could have pulled me into the scene and made it more real. It wasn't bad writing by any means, but I do think that I could have connected with the entire story as a whole if I'd felt more aware of the people, how they looked, sounded, felt, etc. Lots of dialogue, which I normally love, but I wanted to LOOK at Aiden while he was talking instead of just listening to him. If that makes sense.

The end.....AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!! I KNEW it was coming, I was warned from previous reviews. But I couldn't help myself. And I think being prepared for it was a good thing, because while I still cried and ranted, I could handle it. Had I NOT known...I'd have been hunting someone DOWN!!! Just kidding, not a stalker here. Let me just say that January can't possibly come fast enough!! I'm so very glad that this is a romance and I (hopefully) know how it all will end.

[Tala · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before you read this I want to say sorry in advance for the rant below.

If I had to use one word that would describe this book then it would have to be predictable or unrealistic.

First of all, if Aiden was really a player who never wants to be tied down, he would have never agree to have a child with a women he would have to see day in and day out at work! That in itself would be to much of a commitment for him, because he would have to see her all the time, and in turn, ask about the baby.

Secondly, the dialog in this book pissed me off. Unrealistic. It's like the author thought of a bunch of cleaver innuendos, some encounters she wanted to use and some banter and then threw them together without much thought. I feel bad saying that because I know how hard it is to write, but honestly this book got on my nerves. I wanted to tell the guy to be a man and I wanted to tell Emma to grow a lady pair and open her freaking eyes!

If it wasn't for the fact that I rarely ever start a book without finishing it, I would have put this book down after the first three chapters.

And to top it all off I have to read a squeal just because there is one and I will want it to be better than this one even though I know it won't be.

[Smitten's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

What?! Whaaaaat?! You have got to be kidding me?! Ok, once again, my lack of research before diving, blind, into a book, gets the better of me. I did not know there was a second book and that this did not end in a HEA. And now I have to wait until March! MARCH!!! To find out what happens. Gah, torture!

However, that aside, I loved The Proposition. It was original, emotional, sweet, steamy, well paced, witty, fantastically written... just brilliant!

"Is this one of those contracts like in that kinky book where we outline what we're willing to do or not do during sex? Like our hard limits and safe words?"

Emma was a great character. She knew what she wanted and she was determined to have it. She wasn't afraid of life or of hurt, despite having been through more than her share of heartache.

"Have you ever wanted something so bad you think you’d die if you don’t have it? That the mere thought of it keeps you up at night. You can’t sleep, you can’t eat, you can’t drink. You are so consumed by that desire nothing else matters, and you’re not sure life is worth living if you can’t have it."

Aidan Fitzgerald I hate you! Oh but I love you! But right now I hate you! (And love you a little bit)! Aidan had moments of brilliance although I think I'd have kicked his ass into touch before now. He was super cute at times, very sexy but infuriatingly detached. But who can resist a man with a naughty, sexy mouth. The dialogue in this book is just great and had the butterflies in my stomach performing somersaults!

“How much plainer can I make it for you? You were so damn sexy in that green dress. Your hair was down and fell in waves around your shoulders. And you kept giving me those innocent little smiles from across the room. I’ve never wanted to fuck someone so much as I wanted to you.”

The sex is fantastic! Katie Ashley can write the shit out of a sex scene and there are some seriously steamy parts to this book. I love how the relationship between Emma and Aidan develops. It doesn't feel forced or unnatural in any way. The book isn't particularly short but I felt like it flew by, the story really drew me in.

Absolutely can't wait for The Proposal. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to sulk until it is released.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to start by saying I had high hopes for this book... And it exceeded my expectations! I loved it! Definitely my kind if read.

Emma is such a sweet lovable character. She has lost a lot of important people in her life the last few years, and with her biological clock ticking, she realizes she wants her own family and doesn't want to wait for the perfect timing or husband. Aidan... Well he is smoking hot, but also the known player of the office. He's got the hots for Emma, but after hearing of his reputation she turns him down at the company Christmas party. Months later, he overhears Emma arguing with one of her best friends Conner about her situation. This gives Aidan an idea... He gives Emma a proposition that he thinks would work out perfectly for the both of them. He will be Emma's sperm donor, if the can conceive the baby the natural way... It's a win win, right???

It is- until feelings and families get involved. I'm pretty sure it's safe to say Aidan has some pretty serious commitment issues. When he starts to develop feelings for Emma I think it really freaks him out. He doesn't know what to do and I really believe he doesn't want to hurt Emma or break her heart.

Emma and Aidan were great together! There were some really HOT scenes too! Both Emma and Aidan were great mc's. Aidan wasn't perfect, but I loved him anyway! At least the first 90%... The last 10% I wanted to throw something at him! By the end of the book, I had really high hopes he could redeem himself, I can't wait to read the second book to find out if he does!

This book was funny, frustrating, charming and sexy! There wasn't much about it I didn't love!!!

[Laura Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dear Katie Ashley,
I ask with love, what the f*ck was that? I'm a little angry at you for the ending, but if I'm being honest I'm really still angry with Aidan. I don't know how I'm going to wait till March! Anyhow, let's talk about this book of yours I just finished....
Holy hell I feel like my heart aches and my gut is just now settling down. Emotions. A good book is one that makes you experience many of them from laughing out loud to gut wrenching sadness and dissapointment. I experienced them all from start to finish with this one. Aidan & Emma are very realistic characters. I cheered for them the entire time. Even when Aidan clearly had his head up his ass. Emma is a little nieve but it's a nice contrast to Adain. The story starts out a little choppy but progressivley gets smoother as it continues. The sex also improves as the book continues. In the beginning it felt mechanical. As the chemistry between the characters progresses I think it helps to improve it dramatically.

There is something else I wanted to address in this review that gets personal. I have heard people say that Emma's desire to have a child, and the way she reacts when she doesn't get pregnant right away is unrealistic and childish. While I completley understand their thinking and have no disrespect for their opinions, I want to say that I actually understood her feelings. Yes, it's not fair to expect to get pregnant right away, and some struggle much longer, while some never succeed. However, I think the author captured her feelings perfectly. I personaly have experienced the gut wrenching jealousy(no matter how guilty or wrong I felt about those feelings) towards friends that were pregnant before I had my son. I also have a best friend in the same boat as Emma and just wishes for a baby, no matter that she hasn't met that special man yet(and has joked about doing the same thing. And is 27, a little younger than Emma). It's insane the level of resentment you feel at times, and the heartbreak every month when you get your hopes up only to have them shot down when it's negative. Again, I think the author captured her feelings perfectly, IMO. Not saying everyone feels the same way, but I think it's a valid perspective for some woman who find themselves not in the place they thought they would be.
*getting off my soapbox now*
So I say in all sincerity...all in all I think this series has so much potential, and even with a rocky start, ended up leaving me wanting more. Looking forward to book #2!

[Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing: An editor would be helpful. 3rd person narration. 2 POV.

Characters: Emma and Aidan are the MCs. They both have issues that cause them to hurt each other.

Storyline: Emma desperately wants a child but wants to know the person who is to father her child. Aidan has been wanting to sleep with Emma for years. So, bippity boppity boop – you have The Proposition.

I felt confused throughout this whole book. Emma bothered me a lot. I was confused about her expectations of Aidan. I was also wondering, how could she expect anything from him? Aidan was quite clear about what he wanted.

Then in the beginning, Katie Ashley wrote Emma as if she had no one in the world. Like she was alone. Then later in the book we find out she has a family that could populate a small country. This was very confusing.

The Proposition Retold
Emma: I have issues with men. Even though I don’t know you, Aidan be my baby daddy.
Chan: That was quick

Aidan: Yes, let’s have a baby together even though we just met and do it the natural way. But let’s take things slow.
Chan: Bipolar much? Abilify, Paxil and Seroquel can help with that

Aidan: I don’t want love or a relationship, Emma. Stop trying to make me your boyfriend. But I want you.
Emma: I’m so confused
Chan: Me too, Honey!

Emma: Aidan, we’ve just met and I know you don’t want a relationship but I love you. Crap, I think I told him too soon.
Chan: Ya think

Emma: How did I get myself in this mess
Chan: Really??????

Emma: Aidan, Tell me you love me!
Aidan: {blinking}
Chan: {blinking}

Intimacy Scenes: Nothing lacking here. Aidan was like a horny teenager, but Emma loved it.

Overall: It was an okay read. I really liked the idea for the story. The premise was good but the execution missed the mark. I’ll give book 2 a shot and cross my fingers.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! What an awesome book!!! Katie you totally rock!!! I just finished reading and this book has me in such an emotional headspin right now, I don't know whether I'm coming or going!!! My family think I'm nuts because I have been yelling at my Kindle and then at the end of the book, I was yelling "NO!!!,it can't be finished!!!" I seriously NEED to know what is going to happen and quickly!!*Looks at Katie, hint hint*
This book begins with Emma, who is a woman that has had some really emotional hard times in the past few years. She desperately wants to become a mom, and has realized she is willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen. Enter Aidan, the office "playboy" who is always up for a good time but does not want anything to do with commitment. These two have their paths cross and surprisingly each of them decide that they can get from one another something they both want. Emma will have his baby, and Aidan get to have Emma. He has had his eye on her since an office party; but in the past Emma rejected him; but now he will get to have her in exchange for donating his sperm for a great cause!
The baby making attempts begin (and believe me, they are HOT!!)When Emma becomes pregnant, some bonds begin to form and feelings start to develop. As the story progresses we get to meet each of their families and they become even closer yet. Emma is falling in love and so is Aidan; unfortunately Aidan begins to panic...Will he sabotage his happiness or will he grab onto love and family with both hands?!
This story was an emotional ride for me in so many ways. I became so invested in these characters and their friends and families. Katie has an ability to write wonderful, endearing characters whom I was able to relate to and like. I was pleasantly surprised with the sex in this book. It was scorching hot and gave me butterflies and had me squirming in my chair!!The interactions with the family members had me laughing out loud in several spots, and then their were times when my heart ached for one of the characters and I was choking up ready to cry. Katie was able to reach inside of me and drag out my emotions as I was reading this story..Towards the end, I was so involved that at one part I felt like I might physically be sick, that was how absorbed I was into the story. The ending is my only complaint. It cut off and I am so badly wanting to read the next book. I am cringing with dread wondering how long I have to wait for the next installment. I will be reading it though, and this book was a wonderful read and will be on my keeper shelf for good. Bravo Katie on a wonderful book that is a must read for romance lovers everywhere!
This book was giving to me in exchange for an honest review.