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The Real Deal
Quinn Star knew that she was the best agent in her section of the FBI. She also knew the old boys' network would always hold her back. So when she decided to leave the Bureau, she barely paused to say good-bye to her boss and former lover, Ezra "Puff" Lapufsky, who, she believed, had thwarted her desire to join the Secret Service. Eight years later, Quinn's a successful lawyer talking marriage and family with her high-powered boyfriend when Puff comes back into her life. He has an offer on behalf of Lettie Jaye, the wife of U. S. President Jimmy Jaye. Lettie wants Quinn to serve on her White House Secret Service detail. Against her better judgment, Quinn puts her life on hold and accepts. Soon Quinn realizes there are a few things amiss on Pennsylvania Avenue. First, Lettie claims the man in the Oval Office is not her husband. And second, Quinn believes her! As Quinn works with Puff to find the truth, they expose a shocking conspiracy that threatens the entire nation...and their still red-hot feelings for one another.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2004
599 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
429 books6,546 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
August 4, 2024
Oh my. what character names… Winnie (my favorite), Birdie, Puff, Sadie, Quinn and Lettie.
I laughed and cried in many places. The most memorable quote is “Where is my husband?”
My challenge question for this book was:
Did any parts of the book make you uncomfortable?
Well, there certainly was. This was published in 2004 and it’s now 2024 and I personally believe this fiction scenario has become non-fiction! Read it and let me know what you think!
I laughed and cried in many places. The most memorable quote is “Where is my husband?”
My challenge question for this book was:
Did any parts of the book make you uncomfortable?
Well, there certainly was. This was published in 2004 and it’s now 2024 and I personally believe this fiction scenario has become non-fiction! Read it and let me know what you think!
July 23, 2015
I read some reviews of this book before I read it. A lo of them stated they were disappointed in the book. Well I was not disappointed at all. I thought it was very good and wanted the story to continue.
March 19, 2019
Loved this story and couldn’t wait to find it how it ended.
March 13, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. Lots of strong female characters and a plot with plenty of twists and turns. Two female Secret Service Agents are hired to guard the First Lady who everyone thinks is a little off her rocker. But they soon find themselves in the midst of a consipracy that goes right to the top. I also loved Winnie the dog.
July 28, 2018
The Real Deal
Ok, the beginning was a bit slow, but once the action got started, this book took off, & I couldn’t put the book down, The characters were hilarious-my favorite was Winnie! I like dogs, & Winnie stole my heart! Lettie & Birdie & Star & Sadie & Puff were great, too. Good read.
Ok, the beginning was a bit slow, but once the action got started, this book took off, & I couldn’t put the book down, The characters were hilarious-my favorite was Winnie! I like dogs, & Winnie stole my heart! Lettie & Birdie & Star & Sadie & Puff were great, too. Good read.
February 11, 2024
The Real Deal
The Real Deal is another of Fern Michael's great books. If you read one, you'll read more. Her writings make you smile, laugh and sometimes cry. They are all fun to read. The Real Deal is about the President and First Lady and their Secret Servant agents. It is hard to put down. To say more would spoil the story.
The Real Deal is another of Fern Michael's great books. If you read one, you'll read more. Her writings make you smile, laugh and sometimes cry. They are all fun to read. The Real Deal is about the President and First Lady and their Secret Servant agents. It is hard to put down. To say more would spoil the story.
December 23, 2015
Fairly typical Fern Michaels; however, the underlying premise was a bit of a stretch. Story was a bit long, but I really enjoyed the ending. Just OK for me -- 4 out of 10.
January 26, 2019
Great story
The characters are full bodied and the story ebbs and flows naturally. The story is a very fast read and fun as well.
The characters are full bodied and the story ebbs and flows naturally. The story is a very fast read and fun as well.
June 28, 2019
I found this story very interesting, just enough mystery, humor and twists and turns to hold my attention. A very enjoyable read. :-)
November 6, 2018
Every once in awhile I find the need to read some fluff. The Real Deal fit that bill. Quinn Star is a former FBI agent who is asked to step back into service to guard the first lady. The person who asks her to to come back into service is a former lover. This only complicates matters as Quinn is engaged to man set to be her former lover's boss. Quinn and her best friend, also a former FBI agent, take the job on a trial basis . Although the first lady is portrayed to be in a fragile state emotionally, Quinn and her fellow agent soon suspect that isn't the case, and they begin to try and find the truth. What transpires is a totally unbelievable story that makes for a fun read for a lazy afternoon.
July 2, 2017
This is an excellent story that has been on my TBR stack for way too long! If I had known how good it was, I would hav e read it immediately. Though it has an earlier copyright date, the political shennanigans could be taking place today. In this story, there are two kick-ass former FBI agents who help to protect a fesity first lady, and help her solve the mystery of cover-ups in Washington. This is definitely a good read.
April 4, 2019
There was a lot to like in this book, but a lot that was simplistic.
The main character, Quinn, is suppose to be this really smart agent, but she comes across somewhat lame and a little like a deer in the headlights. The woman they are "protecting" has better plans and guts, but she talks on and on....
I liked the premise of the story which was kind of bold, but many of the things around the main story came off as silly and even laughable at times.
The main character, Quinn, is suppose to be this really smart agent, but she comes across somewhat lame and a little like a deer in the headlights. The woman they are "protecting" has better plans and guts, but she talks on and on....
I liked the premise of the story which was kind of bold, but many of the things around the main story came off as silly and even laughable at times.
December 15, 2024
Although this is considered a romance, it had plenty of suspense and mystery for me. The premise involving the White House and a President who isn’t well is a little far fetched but leads to an interesting plot.
The characters are well developed and engaging, especially the older ones. Most of the main characters are strong willed and intelligent women. They were a joy to read about.
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this engaging book.
The characters are well developed and engaging, especially the older ones. Most of the main characters are strong willed and intelligent women. They were a joy to read about.
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this engaging book.
November 1, 2017
I enjoyed this book - it was definitely a fun read, and I'm sure there was a glimpse of how the CIA and FBI truly work, but it was done in an enjoyable and fun kind of way. The characters were an interesting bunch, and I kept wanting to know what would happen in the next chapter - which is sign of an interesting story. I also liked the description of the characters - nicely done!
December 9, 2020
I've seen this author's books everywhere in bookstores, airports, etc. so I thought I would try one. I listened to the audio version. Did not care for the narrator whose voice and reading style was annoying to me, which dropped my rating down from 3 stars which I give for the overall book. The storyline was OK. Too much romantic fluff; just not my kind of book.
June 5, 2024
Great Book With Everything I like in a book! 💖💖
Full of laughter, tears, romance, and fun. One of the most enjoyable books I have read written by Fern Michaels. It has it all! I could hardly put it down. I would like to say there were no X rated pages in this book. just a clean well written book! 💯
Full of laughter, tears, romance, and fun. One of the most enjoyable books I have read written by Fern Michaels. It has it all! I could hardly put it down. I would like to say there were no X rated pages in this book. just a clean well written book! 💯
June 25, 2024
Overall a decent read. A slow start but then I’m engrossed in the book I finished the last 60% of the book in one day. Love the characters! Especially Winnie, who is soo cute! I wish there was more romance I like a little spice! Also felt action could’ve been more present, but that’s probably because I love thrillers!
September 12, 2019
Dialogue
I have read many books by this author and I have found that there is something strange with the dialogue. It seems stilted, as if someone who isn’t familiar with English is writing it. Her story line is amazing so I always finish the book.
I have read many books by this author and I have found that there is something strange with the dialogue. It seems stilted, as if someone who isn’t familiar with English is writing it. Her story line is amazing so I always finish the book.
October 1, 2019
The story was fine and I would have enjoyed it much better if I would have read it instead of listening on audio. The narrator was terrible and because of that it took away from the story unfortunately.
Suggestion: Read yourself, do not listen to the audio version!
Suggestion: Read yourself, do not listen to the audio version!
March 14, 2020
I had so much fun reading this book! It touches on some serious issues and wraps them in a sometimes humorous story all the while trying to figure out the mystery behind the US Presidency. Throw in some FBI agents and some intrigue and drama and that’s The Real Deal!
August 12, 2021
This book had me from page 1… I couldn’t put it down….Quinn..Puff…Sadie…Birdie and of course Lettie…..I could only hope there was a continuation…I’ll have to check and see…if you want a quick summer read…this is the book….❤️❤️❤️❤️
September 23, 2021
Great Story
I've read this book twice and it was great both times. Very well written and full of enough suspense to keep my interest. Characters were very believable and down to earth. Love to laugh while reading and the dog made me laugh!
I've read this book twice and it was great both times. Very well written and full of enough suspense to keep my interest. Characters were very believable and down to earth. Love to laugh while reading and the dog made me laugh!
January 22, 2022
The Real Deal - The best
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this novel: the characters, the animals, the adventures. Fern Michaels never fails to entertain. I have loved all her books and always look forward to her next volume!!
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this novel: the characters, the animals, the adventures. Fern Michaels never fails to entertain. I have loved all her books and always look forward to her next volume!!
November 12, 2023
The book was far too long for the plot. Too many run-on sentences and thoughts. The dialogue didn't flow as a real-life conversation would, and it was difficult to commit to reading the full tangents of Lettie.
February 8, 2024
The best love story I have EVER read!!
This is a must read. Lots of excitement! Loved the characters. Many a night I read into the wee hours. I will definitely read another book by this author.
This is a must read. Lots of excitement! Loved the characters. Many a night I read into the wee hours. I will definitely read another book by this author.
February 17, 2024
Quite a story
FBI, President, Agents galore and none of them could find the First Lady. She wanted to go home away from Washington DC and she found a way.
Loved the characters in this book. As usual Fern Michael’s pulled the book together from beginning to end.
FBI, President, Agents galore and none of them could find the First Lady. She wanted to go home away from Washington DC and she found a way.
Loved the characters in this book. As usual Fern Michael’s pulled the book together from beginning to end.
February 27, 2024
Very interesting.
This story was filled with twists and turns. It was not particularly believable, but was nonetheless fascinating. There were heroes and villains, and I enjoyed that. I didn’t put the book down until it was finished.
This story was filled with twists and turns. It was not particularly believable, but was nonetheless fascinating. There were heroes and villains, and I enjoyed that. I didn’t put the book down until it was finished.
March 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this story, although I saw a movie with a similar plot a very long time ago. I enjoyed the strong women characters. It started out slow and I wasn’t quite sure. It was a fun read with a great ending and a really good choice after reading a dark, heavy book.
July 14, 2024
Not worth your time. The dialogue rambles on and on and the story/plot is mediocre at best. Completely predictable yet so unrealistic at the same time. The only reason I finished it is because I’m incapable of a DNF.
January 18, 2026
excellent read
Fern Michaels keeps you on your toes the entire time you are reading this book. This one is hard to put down. It is full of excitement. I recommend reading it. It keeps your interest and it’s extremely entertaining
Fern Michaels keeps you on your toes the entire time you are reading this book. This one is hard to put down. It is full of excitement. I recommend reading it. It keeps your interest and it’s extremely entertaining
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews