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$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal

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Will you marry me for $10,000,000?

I am a creative, open-minded businessman with limited time and desire to play the field. This is a serious proposal.

A mysterious billboard intrigues three single women in LA. But who is this Mr. Right? And is he the perfect match for the lucky winner?


BookShots

LIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON
Novels you can devour in a few hours Impossible to stop reading All original content from James Patterson

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2016

542 people are currently reading
2022 people want to read

About the author

Hilary Liftin

21 books58 followers
Hilary Liftin is a ghostwriter/collaborator specializing in celebrity memoir. Since 2006 she has worked on fifteen books, ten of which hit the New York Times bestseller list.

Hilary has also written three books under her own name. The first, Dear Exile, is letters that she exchanged with her co-author, Kate Montgomery, when Kate was in the Peace Corps in Kenya and Hilary was in New York. It was published by Vintage in 1999 and is still in print. Candy and Me: A Love Story is Hilary’s memoir told through different kinds of candy.

Hilary Liftin grew up in Washington, DC. She is a graduate of Yale University, where she was the editor of the Yale Literary Magazine. Before becoming a full-time writer in 2006, Hilary worked in the publishing industry for ten years, She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.

MOVIE STAR BY LIZZIE PEPPER, which Library Journal called “the beach read of the summer,” is her debut novel.

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5 stars
622 (16%)
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914 (24%)
3 stars
1,411 (37%)
2 stars
671 (17%)
1 star
184 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews
Profile Image for Bibi.
1,287 reviews136 followers
February 9, 2017
Will you marry me for $10,000,000?

And so the story begins with a billboard that asks the above question. Hundreds of women audition and only 3 get picked. Suze, Caroline, and Janey. I thought this seemed pretty much like a "Reality TV" concept and could absolutely visualize it as part of the E! network lineup.

The story provides little insight into the mysterious billionaire although we do get to know more about these 3 women as we follow them through the 3 stages of interviewing and vetting. They were all pretty likable and you can't help but root that, instead of one, all three would find love through this crazy scheme. Well, we eventually meet the mystery man as he finally makes his choice.

This was a fun and fast read and felt like watching a TV series. There was minimal depth to the plot, the characters, though quite developed, were all placements on a chess board who moved as the authors wanted. Nothing ever felt organic. Still, for 100+ pages, one would be foolish to expect more.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,872 reviews6,702 followers
December 20, 2016
$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal is a standalone contemporary romance written under James Patterson's BOOKSHOTS imprint (fast reads for fast times). At 145 pages/2 hours, 40 minutes via audio, this is a quick and easy read, as the BOOKSHOTS selections are intended to be.

The authors James Patterson and Hilary Liftin may have been trying to keep readers on their toes with a bit of fun mystery but I just found it incredibly confusing. It was like watching someone spend their last dollar gambling on a shell-game scam. By the time the ending came, I still don't think I had entirely processed the who and what of everything but I didn't waste too much time so I can't really complain. There are definitely some winning bookshots out there so if you come across one then consider checking it out.

My favorite quote:
"I’ve always said—kids hate school and adults hate work. That’s where we go wrong—making work into a chore. We need to find our passions.”
Profile Image for Jason.
243 reviews76 followers
February 17, 2017
BookShots are an amazing idea. I'd recommend these for people who are intimidated by full-length novels or reading in general. BookShots are short, you can read them in an hour or two, and they're entertaining.

As for this particular BookShot, it was decent. I was definitely turning the pages to see what was going to happen, but the ending fell flat for me. It had so much promise to surprise the hell out of me, but I was let down. Oh well, good entertainment for a couple hours!
Profile Image for Wendy.
564 reviews18 followers
October 13, 2016
$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal

What??? What happened here? I did not like the way this book ended at all. In the first place it was a really simple book and seemed like it would have been better suited for YA or something. I guess I know that you can't like everything you read but I was expecting a little better than this.
Profile Image for Matt.
4,834 reviews13.1k followers
October 9, 2016
James Patterson joins forces with Hilary Liftin for this quasi-romance BookShot that remains at least somewhat digestible for the reader who does not fancy the gushy genre with Adonis-like men affixed to the cover. A billboard appears in Los Angeles, sporting the following message: “WILL YOU MARRY ME FOR $10,000,000? CREATIVE, OPEN-MINDED BUSINESSMAN WITH LIMITED TIME AND DESIRE TO PLAY THE FIELD. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROPOSAL.” The story focusses Suze Lee, Caroline Fried-Miller and Janey Ellis, exploring their individual interpretations of the proposal and roles they play upon agreeing to participate in the process. Cynical, they each bring their own flavour and perspective as the screening moves forward, none of whom are sure they have what it takes. When all is said and done, surprisingly, they end up as finalists vying for the heart (and wallet) of this mystery man, which has helped them all boost their egos, while remaining true to their own beliefs. The final process moves away from a competition and towards a heightened degree of honesty as the reader can only watch until the final 'rose' is handed out. Perhaps a winner for some, but I would not propose anything like this for someone looking for a thrill-filled BookShot. The only use your left hand will have is to strike your forehead repeatedly or wave to speed-up finishing the story.

Truth be told, I knew what I was getting into when I read the title of the book. I did not expect anything high-impact or thrilling, nor did I feel I would leave this book feeling uplifted or enthralled to look for more Patterson-Liftin collaborations. I needed something to bridge my time between novels and this fit the bill. The story has 'reality show' reeking from it and even one of the characters posits that the idea would be perfect for the small screen. The three 'main' characters had enough of a backstory to give them a little depth, but I was not drawn to any of them, nor was the collection of secretive antics enough to make me want to know too much about this 'Mr. Moneybags'. The narrative was decent, though when I compare it to many of the Patterson BookShots I have read up to now, it dragged and got tiresome quickly. What started out as something full of curiosity turned into a sappy mess the further I read. By the final chapters, I think Patterson and Liftin expected the reader to have an epiphany about the importance of finding that person to love. Alas, it got too hokey for me, but, as I mentioned above, it served the purpose I knew it would going into this experience. For that, I cannot fault the writers too heavily.

Well done, Mr. Patterson and Madam Liftin for succeeding in what your sought to do. Not my kind of story, but I hope there are those out there who love this kind of thing. The entire BookShot Flame genre attracts a certain type of reader, which may be the demographic that flocks to this.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for Laura Wonderchick.
1,611 reviews184 followers
October 7, 2016
This started out with a good premise but completely went to drivel at the end
Profile Image for Christine D.
2,721 reviews7 followers
October 25, 2016
Oh my 'bookshots' might as well be called 'crapshots.' This was my first 'bookshot 'by' James Patterson (I use that term loosely because I know he has ghost writers for his ghost writers).
We can all agree the quality of James Patterson books has been going down and has been hit or miss (depending on which author he co writes with).
Maybe I'll try reading one of the suspense bookshots but this one was so blah. What is trying to be Nicholas Sparks or Harlequin? There's also going to be 'Bookshots flames,' seriously?
I don't know, I guess if you are going on vacation and you need something slim and mindless to read, grab a few bookshots but this first one I picked up definitely was not worth my time.
Profile Image for Stacey.
1,090 reviews154 followers
March 30, 2017
I've been curious about these bookshots from Patterson. I didn't have any expectations, but a shocking one liner at the end would have been awesome. That didn't happen so not much happens and predictable. This is an episode from the Bachelor.
340 reviews27 followers
October 30, 2016
A Bookshot that grabbed me in the beginning. Who wouldn't be fascinated by a billboard promising $100,000,000 to the woman chosen as a mystery man's bride? The Staples Center housed the initial interviews, followed by a few dozen, and narrowed down to 3. The middle of the book was somewhat a drag with characters' personal philosophies and little action. The ending didn't leave me hanging but it didn't tie up loose ends. I find that the biggest problem of the Bookshots, and I have read at least a dozen.
Profile Image for Christy.
10 reviews1 follower
October 21, 2016
I agree there wasn't a lot of depth but it was a fun read. It would be difficult to put as much into this story since it is meant to be a shorter, quick read. I felt he did well giving us a cute story. If I want depth and more, I will read a full book instead. I enjoyed this for what it was: a short, easy to read story.
Profile Image for Carol Jones-Campbell.
2,027 reviews
September 25, 2025
(First Read) I'm for the fairy tale. How fun to read such a book that lets the fairy tale come true. Turning a story into this dream was always a wish/dream of mine. I have a wonderful husband, but I'm a hopeless romantic, and this fits the way my head and heart think. For a story that only lasts two or three hours and is very tender and sweet was one I really enjoyed. The megabucks were a fun part of it too. I liked the interview part of it, and how wonderful both the girls and guys were. Something of that really appealed to me. If you want to read a short happily ever after, read and enjoy!!!!

(Second Read) When I read this the first time several years ago, I thought it was quite a delightful story. It was clean, decent language, fun plot, and just a darn good story. Written by James Patterson and Hilary Liftin. Might not appeal to all, but I really liked it. Was laying in bed the other night and my memory of the story came back, so I thought I'd read it again. I did and really enjoyed it very much.

So, "Will you marry me for $10,000,000? A creative, open minded businessman with limited time and desire to play the field. This is a serious proposal. This billboard shows up one morning (real deal) and it causes crazy pandemonium. Three very different, very smart women, make the cut. Suze, the tech leader, Caroline, who runs non profit schools, and Janie the television brains. She sees this as unmined reality TV Gold. Suze is interested... but Caroline, she dreams. As the three meet with interviewer after interviewer, it becomes more and more mysterious. Not even Suze can find anything on this guy!

Letters are sent to each of the three woman explaining the benefits of their meeting, and why this relationship might or might not work. Well, Caroline received a second letter which contained a check for $250,000. All three women received a gift bag with some lovely gifts inside that would have been delightful to receive.

This story was one that was fun and well done. Yes, it was over the top... but look at the premise. We all knew what it was going to be. The characters were well developed and likeable, and the authors created a wonderful dynamic between not only the three women but the interviewers, support characters, and family as well. Fun dialogue, and very much enjoyed the playfulness seen in what could be a very competitive atmosphere. The ending the great, I loved it. Don't want to be a spoiler so not sharing specifics. A funny, sweet, thoughtful, half crazy book. Really a great read. Loved it as much or more this time than the first. Recommend if you like this type of writing!!!! Rated 5*****
Profile Image for Melenia.
2,731 reviews6 followers
February 6, 2017
I really enjoyed the book, but not the ending. It wrapped up much to quickly. I want to know more.
Profile Image for Marcia.
1,288 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2017
Kind of cheesy but I was entertained. It would make a good Lifetime movie.
Profile Image for Samantha.
294 reviews22 followers
March 1, 2017
It has taken me a while to get this review out because I truly didn't care for it. I picked it up with the intrigue that it was about 100 pages long and romance, hoping that I could get my romance kick, which I occasionally have, fulfilled within a couple of hours. Ironically, I think that was one of the reasons I didn't really like this book. I felt like I had no time at all to get to know these characters at all and by the end, I didn't really care who the guy ended up with (even though I pretty much knew who it would be). The whole point of reading a romance book is to enjoy the relationship that develops between the two characters and there's none of it here. The only time the "winner" and the guy actually talk to each other is in the last chapter or two of the book! No joke!

Secondly, I didn't like the stereotypical, bland character stories for the three women in the first place. One is made out to be extremely smart with technology and shows a complete disinterest in getting attached. So...she's obviously not an option. The second is a TV producer who's show just flopped and can see the potential of making this same scenario into a TV show that could put her back on top. She's written in a way as if she's just in the running to scam the guy and make money off of him. There are a couple of times where it seems she genuinely wants to find a guy, but the author makes it BLATANTLY in your face that she's all about her job, as if it's a bad thing.

Then, we've got the social worker who still lives with her mom and has huge problem with her self-esteem.

-.- *deep breath*

When describing her job, she states that all the kids she works with are so happy to talk with her and feel like their voice is heard in the midst of the foster care system. Now, I worked with social workers and I've worked with at-risk youth and I can tell you now that most of those kids didn't have a good relationship with their social worker. There would be some days that they want to talk to them and some days that they don't. Every social worker I worked with was extremely pleasant, but overly exhausted. These people are overworked, underpaid, and under appreciated. There's no way that this character would get satisfaction from the kids alone because sometimes their reactions to life are the most heart-breaking of all. I'm not saying that social workers don't get some reward from their kids. Sometimes they are glad to see them and sometimes the social worker is able to pull through for their kiddo and make things work. Those moments DO happen, but not often enough. I'm glad her job title doesn't take too much of a spotlight in the story because it's one of the character developments that pissed me off the most. It also irks me that she's still living with her mom, as if someone with her personality couldn't live on her own. The story does state that she's having financial and previous roommate problems, but still. They make her out to be incredibly needy instead of having her be a strong woman. Because believe me, if you're a social worker, you have to have some backbone in you.

Okay, off my soapbox there. Like I mentioned earlier, not much of the story actually has interaction between the millionaire and the ladies in the story. There's multiple stages they have to get through and there's a few times where the ladies are talking to a man, so we "wonder" if that's the millionaire or not. I closed the book not feeling satisfied with it at all. The relationship wasn't there, the romance wasn't there, and I couldn't relate to any of the characters at all. I do have to say that one positive aspect of it was that I did keep turning the page to find out how things ended. I was curious about how they would reveal the millionaire and if there would be side romances with the other two ladies who didn't get the guy. So, I didn't put the book down and I did keep turning the page, but it had no payout at the end.

To check out more of my reviews, go to: https://missymaysreadingnook.blogspot...
Profile Image for Marnie.
469 reviews2 followers
June 14, 2017
I've always wanted to try one of these James Patterson's Bookshots, but I should have known it wouldn't be great, 'cause, you know - James Patterson... The idea is OK... a slim novel/book that can be read in a couple of hours. Something quick I can listen to on the commute to work. That's about the only thing it had going for it - the length. The premise of the novel itself was ridiculous, and was not executed very well. You can definitely skip this one.

Profile Image for Pati.
587 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2018
Love the idea of a short novel but it left me wanting for more. I guess I expected the ending to have a bit more depth- it felt flat.
Profile Image for Elaine.
980 reviews15 followers
March 11, 2018
Intriguing, fast-paced, quick read. No nonsense in the story. Enjoyed the suspenseful mystery, BUT the ending is extremely weak. 2.5
Profile Image for RedVillainxREADS.
230 reviews9 followers
February 6, 2017
First off book starts off with an ad with WILL YOU MARRY ME FOR 10,000,000 ? Women go to this cattle call interview process.. Lol okay it wasn't that bad, but they had to answer questions, and go through various tests. Before meeting various males, who could or not be him... The process was draining, but I was interested. I did not like how this ended!! Caroline was more than deserving to win, but wtf James? What happens next... Guess I got all I could get out of this short.. :( oddly I thought the whole thing was some kind of sick prank, but it turned out to be a otherwise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for January.
2,861 reviews129 followers
January 4, 2023
$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal by James Patterson and Hilary Liftin
132-page Kindle Ebook story ends on 117


Genre: Women's Fiction > Chick Lit; Romance > Contemporary Romance; Adult Fiction, Mystery, Novella, Short Stories

Featuring: Los Angeles, California; Contest, Multiple POVs, Relationships, Book Preview - The Trial by James Patterson with Max Paetro

Rating as a movie: PG-13

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾

My thoughts: This is why I hate fiction ebooks. I was loving the story. I had several more pages to go, and then my awesome story just abruptly ends on page 117. So it immediately dropped from 5 stars to 4. I was left with questions and no real closure.

Recommend to others?: I don't know. The story is really good, but it should have been longer, so it might just tick you off.
Profile Image for Loraine Nunley.
Author 27 books102 followers
July 15, 2019
I enjoyed this bite sized read. The only warning I would give is that there is some minor swearing and I did think it ended a tad abruptly.
Profile Image for Beth.
1,627 reviews26 followers
March 31, 2017
Congratulations, James Patterson. You've managed to do what I swore I'd never let you do: you got me to read one of your books. I blame momentary weakness on my part, and an intriguing premise on yours. Of course, I know you didn't really write it, as you have a room full of typing monkeys to do your bidding, but still, you got me. I've disliked you for YEARS (although my husband says it's ridiculous to hate someone you've never met, but this comes from the man who can't stand Wil Wheaton, who, in my opinion, is actually a pretty decent guy) and I don't see that changing. I hate the way you "write" (read: your monkeys write) a book a month. Obviously you've never worked at a library when a patron comes in and asks for the latest James Patterson book. Um, which one? There's like a gazillion of them, and the new Book Shots don't help. I mean, it's great and all that you want people to read, but couldn't you give them something WORTH reading?! Ok, rant over, let's get to the book:

Like I said, it was a moment of weakness that made me pick it up. I was shelving at the library I work at when I saw the title. I read the first chapter and it was interesting enough to get me to take it home (I figured it would only cost an hour of my life, so what was the harm?). At first, I felt the writing was very simplistic, something at like a 5th grade level. I had trouble distinguishing two of the three main characters, as there wasn't much character development. The plot was easy to figure out - I guessed who the "winner" would be by page 30 (for those who don't want to read the book, it's ). But there's some things that just don't make sense. Like $10,000,000? That's a LOT of money. Why so much? And for that much, only 2,000 women in LA decided to show up for the "audition"? I could see only 2,000 showing up for $1,000,000 - but come on, this is LA. Every single woman (and probably some married ones) would vie for a chance at that kind of money. And obviously the real writer of this book has watched too many episodes of The Bachelor. I mean, the phrase "trust in the process" was used a couple of times - that's a phrase lifted straight from The Bachelor handbook. And maybe I'm just cynical, but this is a stupid way to get a wife (both The Bachelor way and the way described in this book). I mean, how does he really know she's not just there for the money? Plus, most couples from The Bachelor eventually break up, because they don't really know each other - how would this scenario be any different? There was no epilogue to answer this burning question, which I think would have helped.

All-in-all, it wasn't a bad book. It wasn't great, either. I don't regret the time I spent reading it, but I really do wish it had been better written and better thought out.

Oh, and James Patterson? I still dislike you.
Profile Image for Vicki.
2,721 reviews112 followers
January 19, 2018
I thought this short book was pretty good. It's a novel idea, I guess, to think that someone would pay another person that kind of money to marry him, a stranger. A billboard offered $10,000,000 to the right woman. Thousands applied, 3 were finalists, and 1 woman won. Interesting thing is that the man who picked the winner
So not ever going to happen, I wouldn't think.
Profile Image for Barb.
444 reviews
February 21, 2017
I read my sister's review of this one. I trust her taste, it sounded good. I downloaded the audio version to listen to in the car. The only problem... my trip was 9 hours, and the book was just over two. I didn't check that out in advance. I'm not sure how Patterson covered 29 chapters in just over two hours, but he did. It was a cute premise.
Profile Image for Elle.
1,936 reviews
October 27, 2016
An interesting premise and the focus on 3 narrators allows the reader to choose amongst candidates themselves. My pick as it turns out was incorrect and I wish the ending had been much less open for the characters by adding an epilogue.
Profile Image for Rose.
3,106 reviews73 followers
October 25, 2016
Quick romance about a mystery man who offers $10 million for marriage. 3 women are intrigued and make it to the final round, but will one of them be chosen?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews

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