Kate Mitchell is trying to carve out a successful career as a publicist within the struggling book publishing industry while also juggling a complicated love life. Kate is the Public Relations Director for Morris & Dean Publishing in New York City. She is a 34-year-old single woman whose career is a top priority. Kate helps authors promote their books by creating a marketing plan that includes television appearances, book signings, and other events that will help generate book sales.
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When Kate is in her office, she receives a call from a co-worker who informs her that one of the authors signed with Morris & Dean is threatening to jump off of a high-rise building and commit suicide. The author is upset because her appearance on Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network has been cancelled. Kate convinces the woman to step off the ledge of the building by promising to get her interviews on other television shows.
Kate is hailed as a hero by various media outlets, but she is more concerned about putting herself in a compromising position at work by giving in to MacDermott Ellis's sexual advances. Mac is a senior editor at Morris & Dean. He has been married for nearly thirty years to his high school sweetheart, Carolyn. Mac's marriage was irretrievably broken about twenty years ago when Carolyn gave birth to a premature baby girl who died. Mac and Carolyn were never able to recover from the loss of their baby, but they were still able to raise two healthy sons who are currently in college. In order to compensate for the lack of intimacy that exists between him and his wife, Mac has affairs with other women.
Kate and Mac are working on a book project involving a new-age guru named Michael Singer. Michael is writing a book about the law of attraction and they expect it to be a bestseller. When Kate meets Michael, she has serious reservations about working with him but can't pinpoint why.
Mac is strongly attracted to Kate and is determined to pursue a relationship with her. After attending the company's holiday party, Kate and Mac make love for the first time. Mac has strong feelings for Kate, but he lets her know that he has no intention of divorcing his wife. Kate agrees to continue seeing Mac even though she knows the relationship has an expiration date. Kate's best friend, Grace, tells her that she can't trust a married man and the affair will end badly.
Several years ago, Kate befriended a man named Allan Lavigne. Allan wrote a classic bestselling book called "The Fall" that was published by Morris & Dean in 1969. Allan signed a two-book deal with the publisher, but he never wrote the second book. He is a recluse who struggles with depression. Kate visits Allan on a regular basis and he has become a trusted confidante.
Edward Sherman, CEO of Morris & Dean, tells Kate that they are terminating Allan's contract. He asks her to have Allan sign the necessary paperwork. Kate is surprised by how well Allan handles the news. Allan admits that he hasn't liked doing business with Morris & Dean for years.
Allan tells Kate that she should go out with his nephew, Nick, when he visits for Christmas. After Nick arrives and meets Kate, he asks her out on a date. Kate agrees to see Nick since Mac is spending the holidays with his family.
Kate has a great time on her date with Nick. She thinks he is handsome and easy to talk to. While they are on the date, Nick receives a call from Allan's neighbor who tells him that Allan died of a heart attack.
As Nick and Kate make arrangements for Allan's funeral, they become very close and realize how much they like each other. On New Year's Eve, Nick stopped by Kate's apartment to surprise her and saw her kissing Nick. He was upset but knows that Kate has the right to date other people.
Nick finds a box and note addressed to Kate at Allan's apartment. The note revealed that Allan secretly finished a second book and left a copy for Kate to read. He didn't want her to publish it through Morris & Dean since he knew they wouldn't handle it properly.
Before Nick leaves town, he tells Kate that he really likes her and wants to start dating her. Even though Nick lives and works in Los Angeles, he believes they can sustain a long-distance relationship. Kate tells him that she needs to clear up some of the clutter in her personal life before she starts a new relationship. She plans on telling Mac that the affair is over.
Kate gave Mac a copy of Allan's book to read. They both agree that it is brilliant. Mac warns Kate that if Edwards finds out about the book, he will try to retain the rights to it and publish it through Morris & Dean.
Mac tells Kate that he saw her kissing Nick outside of her apartment. He knows that Nick is a more suitable partner for her, but he doesn't want their affair to end. Even though Kate promised Grace and herself that she would end the affair with Mac, she is not ready to do that yet.
Best part of story, including ending:
The story seemed like a realistic portrayal of a woman who is attempting to manage a stressful job in spite of all of the professional and personal obstacles that get in her way.
Best scene in story:
When Kate found out that Allan wrote a second book and trusted it in her possession, it was an emotional moment. It showed how much he cared about her.
Opinion about the main character:
Kate is a smart and savvy publicist. To a certain extent, she loves what she does but it is very difficult to deal with egotistical authors and the demands of a narcissistic boss. Kate is like a lot of woman who end up spending time with a man who can't give them everything they want in a relationship. I like Kate and want to find out what happens during the next stage of her journey.
