Paperback Reader

Henry and Layla have gone along just fine for six years. They live together, are successful in their respective careers and obviously love each other. She is a lawyer. He is a writer. All is well...until Layla issues the ultimatum. The one guaranteed to make grown men squirm and females wince about the "what if" possibilities of the decision. Over breakfast one day, out of nowhere, Layla tells Henry he has until the bouquet toss at their friends' upcoming wedding to propose. That gives Henry a week to make a decision and Layla a week to panic.

Graziano earns huge kudos for his refusal to tread down a familiar Hollywood path and have Henry use the ultimatum as an excuse to equate marriage with one sex partner and then have Henry whine about that loss. Henry does not spend time waxing poetic about how a wedding ring will ruin his romantic options. Rather, he tries to figure out why he should propose when everything seems fine in the relationship as is.

Henry's confusion furthers his writer's block, a fact he blames on Layla's timing. To gain some perspective, he turns to and interesting combination of advice from male friends, liquor and golf. Again, Graziano could have taken the easy road at this point and introduced a series of marriage-bashing playboys as Henry's confidantes. Instead, after Henry looks to his divorced, beaten and bitter brother who provides the practical financial persepective, he looks elsewhere. Henry searches out his married friend, a stranger who happens to be a serial marrying type with a love of golf and, eventually, to his best friend, the groom in the wedding that will either signal the start of Henry's life as an engaged person or the end of his relationship with Layla. Along the line Henry even gets advice from Layla's absent-minded but well-meaning father.

Through the conversations and liquor, Henry learns how the other males in his life view marriage. What unfolds in a rare peek into a reality women sometimes miss form men: thoughtful conversations about the meaning of marriage as a totally separate issue from sex. There is not a great deal of action or even huge chunks of conflict here. No, this book does not depend on explosions, chases, boy-loses-girl situations or anything similar. It's revolves around conversations and revelations delivered in a light, sometimes humorous, but always very real manner.

While Henry's friends help him find his way, Layla's appear determined to help her derail her life. Gloria fits comfortably into the role of the disillusioned self-destructive relationship friend. She is annoying and sharp until it becomes clear her personal life resembles a trainwreck in waiting. She is a realistic character but a somewhat stereotypical one. With Gloria's help, Layla issues the ultimatum that then shapes her lilfe. While Henry spends his time during the interim week trying to find his way, Layla uses the time reminding herself how desirable and attractive she is. The move, at first, takes away from the sympathy for Layla's position in being stuck in perpetual bridesmaid mode. However, Graziano manages to rescue Layla before she switches to unlikeable territory. What at first appears to be a shallowness later shows itself as understandable insecurity and makes her all the more human.

Still, having started the to-get-married-or-not process, Layla's growth during the course of the book does ring more hollow than Henry's. Her motivation in making the potentially life-altering decision of changing the course of her relationship with Henry appears to be motivated by little more than peer pressure. That fact puts Henry in the more sympathetic role here. But, again, Graziano through thoughtful writing and smart dialog saves Layla from what could be an inevitable "bad guy" role.

At base, The Ultimatum is a big-hearted romance with a contemporary real-world feel. Henry and Layla's love for each other is never in question. The outcome of the book is not a big surprise either. This means the plot conflict is not the usual plot conflict. The meat here is in the journey. Specifically, in Henry's journey from satisfied guy to committed guy. And, frankly, the book is better off and more original thanks to that writing choice.

The Ultimatum avoids the usual pitfalls associated with a book where the love portion is not in question. Getting from one point to another, moving a deep relationship to the next level, is the whole point. The sex of the author does not matter. Graziano navigates the voyage with ease, delivering a happily ever after that makes this a romance worth reading.

You can visit Dan Graziano here and buy The Ultimatum here or here.