A PROPOSAL THEY CAN’T REFUSE – Natalie Cana
Mira
ISBN: 978-0-778-38609-4
June 7, 2022
Romantic Comedy

Chicago, Illinois – Present Day

The families of Kamilah Vega and Liam Kane are so close that they own and share the building where their businesses are. Kamilah’s family runs a Puerto Rican restaurant, while Liam is running the family Irish Whiskey distillery. But even as the two have known each other since they were children, they get along as well as fire and water. Their grandfathers are currently living together in an assisted living facility, and one day Kamilah and Liam are called to visit them for an emergency meeting. It seems Liam’s grandfather is dying of cancer and his only wish is that Liam marry Kamilah—or the two men will sell the building the family businesses are in. As much as Liam and Kamilah dislike each other, both don’t want to lose their livelihood, so they agree to the ruse. The only stipulation is that the rest of the family can’t be told what is going on.

Their families are delighted at Liam and Kamilah’s engagement. It’s a dream come true! Of course, her brothers are skeptical because they’re aware of the animosity the two have displayed toward each other through the years. Liam and Kamilah think they can outwit the forced engagement by waiting until after Liam’s grandfather’s cancer is treated, but once again, the two older men outwit them. They add to the blackmail and force Kamilah to move in with Liam—where there is only one bed to share. Meanwhile, they are each working on a couple of PR projects that will help bring business to them. Will living and working in such close quarters invite an attraction neither expected?

There are plenty of laughs in A PROPOSAL THEY CAN’T REFUSE as Liam and Kamilah try to hold onto their livelihood and please their grandfathers while falling in love with each other. Kamilah loves to cook but family always comes first. She had the chance to go to a top culinary school when she was eighteen but turned it down to work in the restaurant. She’s always looking for ways to improve the restaurant, while her parents are content with keeping things the way they are. Liam lost his parents (his father died, and his mother left when he was really young), so his grandfather is all he has—as is the distillery. Unfortunately, his grandfather is now gravely ill and wringing promises out of Liam and Kamilah that they’re not sure they can keep. They agree to the engagement, and it forces them to spend time together. They begin to see each other in a different light—and an attraction soon develops.

Coming from a big family, Kamilah gets all kinds of advice from her relatives in A PROPOSAL THEY CAN’T REFUSE. The funny moments come when Liam and Kamilah are forced into situations together that neither expects. This includes sleeping together. Readers know that it’s hard to sleep in the same bed and not have any contact. What will happen? The family around them also provides for some funny scenes as both Kamilah and Liam navigate the offered help from everyone. At the end of the book, will Liam and Kamilah make it down the wedding aisle?

A funny and engaging read, don’t miss A PROPOSAL THEY CAN’T REFUSE.

Patti Fischer