Dan Graziano The Ultimatum

The Ultimatum

Dan Graziano

Avon, Jul 2007, $13.95

ISBN: 9780060847975

In New Jersey, Henry feels he is living a great life. He loves his girlfriend associate lawyer Layla and believes she feels the same way about him. He is making decent money and he has had some success as a novelist.

His world crashes when Layla gives him until the bride at a wedding they will attend in Maine tosses her bouquet to propose or she is moving out. Stunned Henry cannot comprehend why she wants to change their relationship. As Layla expects her beloved to fail her, she flirts with attorney Ben. He turns to his buds like Big John the golf junkie, Pete the model for Peter Pan on adult childhood, and his brother Jake the divorcee for advice; Layla discusses THE ULTIMATUM with cut out his heart Gloria and Mother Theresa reincarnation Susan, whose respective advice pulls her in opposite directions. What will he choose as the one week ultimatum ticks away?

The premise behind THE ULTIMATUM makes for a delightful relationship drama as the audience will know from the onset that the lead couple are in love. Henry has commitment issues somewhat caused by his being in a comfort zone that he does not want to alter while Layla believes it is time to move on either as a couple or separately. Although there is no action, fans of modern day contemporary tales will appreciate this character driven tale starring two likable protagonists supported by purposely hyperbolic stereotypical secondary players who bring out the best and worst in THE ULTIMATUM.

Harriet Klausner