Hello there, bookworms! Happy Tuesday! In my neck of the woods, a huge storm has been brewing, and just let loose, so I figured what better time than now to get my life together and bring you all a book review. Today, you’re in luck, because it’s a twofer! Keep your fingers crossed that I keep my power long enough to go about writing and posting all of this properly!
Also, quick side note, if you’ve joined The Blabbing Book Club, don’t forget, you can discuss our May selection for We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter in our pinned post in the Facebook group, or you can head to the Book Club menu option and click on the title for this month and chat! If you haven’t yet, and you’re looking for a book club, or a group of reading friends, come hang with us!
Okay, now that that’s announced, let’s get to tonight’s reviews, the Presidential Promises Duet by Rebecca Gallo! This is the first of her stories I’ve read, and I have to admit, I read them to gain some inspiration for my own political romance novel I’m writing (very slowly.. but still writing). However, I was captivated from the beginning with these two, and both installments had such a dramatic and fun mix of sexy and powerful, that I couldn’t help but devour this duo.
Things start off with Presidential Bargain. It’s election season and Jameson Martin is on the campaign trail and looking to bring up his poll numbers. As a leader, he ticks all the right boxes, except for one, and one the American people can’t seem to get on board with.. the fact that he’s a bachelor. When his campaign team approach a girl from his past who seems to be down on her luck, and also has the perfect name for the position (Georgie Washington), they bring her to Jameson’s attention to see if their fake fiancee scheme will fool the American people when they wander into a voting booth.
Georgie and Jameson agree to the terms of the deal and smartly play up their love story and engagement to the public. Not only do his poll numbers climb, but so does her popularity and the attention brought upon her. This has both good and bad effects. For one, us readers find out how strong-minded and smart Georgie is, and how much she has at stake in helping Jameson win a successful campaign, but on the downside, she’s thrown into the lion’s den and becomes the pawn in some cut throat mud-slinging and slander brought about by Jameson’s opposition.
Realizing that not only his campaign, but also his future bride are in jeopardy, Jameson strategizes and moves all his pawns into the perfect attack position, win his voters, and keep Georgie safe.
Like I said, I read this book to gain some inspiration and get me out of my writing slump for my own story, but Bargain sucked me in right from page one and was off the charts with plenty of drama and even more heat. What began as a ploy to win The White House became something so much more once Jameson and Georgie stopped fighting temptation and became a real team. Needless to say, I left this story with not only a strong desire to get back to my own writing, but also with a stronger desire to pick up book two.
Capitol Promises picks up right where Bargain leaves off, and enters us into the next big chapter of Georgie and Jameson’s lives. All of their hard work has paid off and Jameson has become the next leader of the free world. It seems that their battles might be over, and he and Georgie can plan their wedding and live in marital bliss, but sadly, that’s not the case. Now that they’ve come to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it seems like things are being thrown at them from all angles and they have different goals.
Georgie wants her end of their bargain fulfilled, and she wants her choice for Secretary of Education selected. She also wants to begin planning the wedding and have her happily ever after with Jameson. For him, he’d rather settle into life in the Oval Office and find someone less slimy than the man Georgie has picked for his Cabinet. Their disagreements paired with different schedules requiring them to be apart tries to lead them to disaster. Rather than working as a united front, the stress and solitude of their jobs threaten to tear them apart and run far away from each other.
Promises had my gut in a knot almost from beginning to end. While I loved the moments Georgie and Jameson connected and got on the same page, my heart ached for their differences. I flew through the pages so I can find out if they’d make it and have a happy life together as well as enjoy the fruits of their labor and bask in all of their success.
Gallo did a wonderful job with all the political insights, the fictional aspect of a tall, dark, and sexy president, and the sizzling chemistry between him and Georgie behind closed doors. I feel like I was not only completely enthralled by this pair, but also educated on the dynamic of the first couple. Jameson and Georgie were certainly a powerhouse duo who owned every room they entered.
Walking away from this journey, I was not only inspired to return to my own character, but also in need of a trip to my nation’s capital and really soak in that patriotic pride.
This will not be the last of Gallo’s books I read. I’m happy to say I’m hooked on her style. If you’re looking for a dramatic and sensual duet, go meet Jameson and Georgie in Presidential Promises!
My Final Rating: four out of five stars
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