Book Review: If You Just Say Yes

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

If You Just Say Yes     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Reon Laudat
Class/Genre:   Romance
St. Martin’s, Feb 2005, $6.99, 320 pp.

Katherine Chapelle threatens business reporter Michelle Michaels of the Manhattan Business Journal with the destruction of her career for having an affair with her spouse CEO millionaire Stanford. Michelle denies anything beyond friendship insisting to her editor Larry Morgan that Stanford is old enough to be her grandfather. Larry feels ethics was broken and arranges for Michelle to be reassigned to a sister paper, the Detroit Herald. This may be a homecoming for Michelle, but it feels like a major step backwards.

Though innocent of any ethical lapses, Michelle understands image is critical to a journalist and so vows to not end up remotely in any situation that gives the wrong impression because her goal is to return to New York City. However, investigative reporter Wesley Abbott pressures Michelle to play with him. Though she wants too, Michelle refuses even as Wesley dangles and ultimately persuades her to work with him on a case of official corruption in the court system.

Though the investigation takes a while to gel into an intriguing corruption based legal procedural investigation, fans of romantic suspense will appreciate this fine contemporary novel. The match-up between the lead characters is terrific with a player and a burned victim battling attraction in different ways. Readers will say yes to Rene Laudat’s quality tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner