The Candidate

Kincaid/Warner #1

by Tracey Richardson

Presidential candidate Jane Kincaid--gorgeous, dynamic and extremely driven--is taking the country by storm, passionately outlining her blueprint for America. Voters quickly fall in love with her... and so, unwittingly, does Secret Service Agent Alexandria Warner.

Their mutual attraction begins to take on a fiery life of its own, and soon Jane fears that their intense feelings for each other are a tinder box that could destroy the landscape of her career... and alter the history of the country.

Jane had always expected the road to the White House would exact a high personal toll. She just never knew how high... until she's forced to choose between her heart and her political destiny.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Politics, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Audiobook, Lesbian Fiction

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2008

About the author

I'm the author of several lesbian romance novels published by Bella Books, including the Lambda Literary Award finalists "Last Salute" and "No Rules of Engagement". I'm a voracious reader, even more so now that I've retired from a 27-year career as a daily newspaper journalist.

Reviews

[Tere · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been eyeing this one for a while. I so wanted to like it. Love the premise but gosh, the execution was a total miss for me. The connection between the mains seemed promising but all of a sudden, forever love strikes about a month in while these two characters are in incredibly difficult positions. One of them has not even been with a woman before. The political speeches were the best part here, as expected for an author like Richardson. This book was first published 13 yrs ago so a lot has happened since then. I tried to remember that but found the issues I had were independent of the 2008 climate. In fact, back then would have been more realistic for these two to have taken things slow and had a slow burn romance.
I listened to this one through my Scribd membership and Lori Prince's southern accent for Alex, as well as how she read the intimate scenes (not just the explicit ones) was like nails scratching the chalkboard. The pauses and dialog were extended. Everything was like 'ohh, Aaaaleeexx, I neeeed youuu'. This was unfortunately not one I would recommend.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful, but puzzling in that there were such bright moments of excellent writing, notably the snippets of speeches "the candidate" gives at her rallies, but the chemistry between the leads was non existent and the dialogue, other than the speeches, juvenile at best. It was almost like there were two completely different writers. However, what annoyed me the most was that literally every line of dialogue was addressing the other character by name. Ex "You mean so much to me, Alex. Do you know that, Alex?" "Yes, Jane" "I'm happy to hear that, Alex." Was there no editor? I was immediately taken out of the story and instead completely fixated on the fact that literally EVERY line of dialogue addressed the other character by name.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the story and the plot... And what’s not to like about Not-so-Straight Dr. Jane Kincaid and Alex Warner? I’ve got one or two traits which I didn’t fancy but not going to dwell too much. I didn’t feel the chemistry and connection between the 2 MCs initially and I thought I missed a chapter or 2. Story got better as you move along though.

Ratings: High 3+

[Alena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Romance novel by Tracey Richardson about a fictitious woman running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 who battles her growing feelings for one of her (female) secret service agents.

This premise, I think, has a lot of potential to explore lots of issues, and it attempts to, but it is very much confined in the romance genre and thus doesn't take the opportunity to really tell more than a romance.

It's a solid romance, I can't really complain, the main characters are a bit cliché and follow the cookie cutter formula but are likable. It was a fun read while taking a hot bath, but I'm pretty certain it won't cross my mind again.

[Ty · Rating 2 out of 5]

The dialogue is overwrought and full of cliches, the Big Deep Feelings come quickly and inexplicably, and the series of events inserted to add drama are erratic and don't connect well with the feelings we're supposed to believe the characters have. Neither Jane nor Alex are written to have the strength of character to be a Presidential candidate or secret service agent, respectively. They're immature and reckless, and it makes the entire premise of the book seem unreasonable.

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

A troubling review - loved the first half of the book seemingly dominated by Alex, and loved the second half dominated by Jane - as if the two really interesting & strong characters were from different books brought together more in the Author's mind than on the page. I will read book 2.... eventually!

[Scoobyfan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first chapter of this book is pretty good. The novel goes downhill after that, although there are a few bright spots of tension. What struck me most as I was reading was the woodenness of the story and the characters. The heroines, Jane and Alex, do not come alive on the page, and so neither does their romance. Their journey to their relationship seems hollow. The novel is a good example of why authors should show and not tell. I don't really care what happens to the characters. We aren't allowed into their minds much. We're told what they're feeling, but we don't FEEL what they're feeling. That's unfortunate, because the plot idea, if done correctly, could have sizzled.

A few spots of tension sprinkled throughout the book make it worth reading, if barely. Other issues are the characters going back and forth/on and off (they must like ping pong), repetitive dialogue, unnecessary dramatics, overuse of exclamation marks, a contrived plot device to bring the characters together in the end and unrealistic voter responses to gay issues. I also don't really understand the character of the candidate. What are her motivations, her histories for falling in love with a woman? She seems to have little inner conflict over this. What conflict she has is simply about having an external, public relationship with a woman. She experiences little shock or surprise at actually being in love with a woman. Little background information is given on her dating or sexual history. We never find out if she even identifies as lesbian, bisexual, queer or whatever.

My understanding is that this is a debut book. Hopefully future efforts by this author will be better.

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read and got through it in a single sitting. I liked the main characters and their interactions. The only problem I had was with the trope - straight woman falls for handsome lesbian and suddenly has the most mind blowing sex she's ever had in her life, and has probably never really loved the way love is supposed to be before. I can't help but be reminded of what some men say about lesbians just not having found the right man yet and lesbians getting all freaked out about it, but we accept it the other way around? It just feels a bit hypocritical to me. But I suppose this is fiction and every straight girl is a spaghetti girl.

If you like strong women with a powerful voice, and forbidden love/attraction stories, you will most likely enjoy this.

[Alex Lfr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gonna start with my “but” because the rest was simply great and kept me reading till 5am. They kinda jump from meeting each other to barely get to talk to feel attraction. That’s all, that’s my only complaint.
The pros? Jane Kincaid and if this excellent character isn’t enough to make you read the book, the amazing chemistry she and Alex have, how mature Alex is, how Jane is such a mess and the hotter-than-hell sexy scenes.
Loved it!

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like about 1/3 of the first book but the chemistry is not there. There's little interaction between the main characters and suddenly "Ohh I love her so much, can't stop thinking about her etc"
It is just not believable

And between all those I'm falling in love and hurting etc etc the main character still sleeping with other people

[Dorothy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed THE CANDIDATE! Set in the 2008 American election, with a woman candidate running for the Democratic nomination for President. Certain parallels to not only the 2008 election but also the 2016 election in terms of party positions and philosophy. And during a campaign, who would fall in love with a beautiful woman candidate but her personal lesbian bodyguard? It's a challenging concept for a novel, because the attraction is easily understood but it's hard to figure out how the two worlds could intersect for the long haul. Tracey Richardson has done a good job of creating interesting and complex women as her main characters. The plot has some twists, there is passion, and also some degree of believability. My attention was captured from the get-go and I didn't want to put this one down. Enjoy!

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my kind of book. strong women as main characters. Jane Kincaid is an unattainable woman, beautiful, powerful and intelligent. Alex Warner is a woman who is strong, honest and professional. The situation is not easy, but that only makes it more fun. Good chemistry and romance, as it should be in the genre! The intimate moments were wonderful set, which I think is not a luxury, but an interest for a completely satisfying book. I enjoyed it, on to Part 2.

[Whoopy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot. Strong women, attraction versus pushing away, .... A nice one

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic audio book. I loved it even more than the book version. I'll be listening again.

[Gayer Than Fiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many things that I like about Tracey Richardson's writing. They include characterization, story, depth, and many other things, big and small, that I find generally enjoyable in lesbian fiction. Obviously, her books are also pretty well researched with regard to subject matters.

However, and that's really the reason why I'm rating this three stars (also because it's something that's repeating in other stories of hers), I absolutely cannot stand all the over-sharing (or, really, babbling) during the sex scenes. I may be alone in this, but this much talking during sex in such an almost teenager-like fashion is a seriously distracting, silly and ill-fitting use of words in otherwise well-written stories. I had hoped that this was a one-time thing in her novels, but unfortunately, it isn't. So I kept mentally screaming at the ladies to please shuddup. Yes, expressing what you like or dislike in bed is, of course, an important thing to do in a healthy relationship. But both ladies in all of Ms. Richardson's books practically overdoing the adolescent speech patterns absolutely poisoned my enjoyment, especially because none of that "sexual" dialog is anywhere near the rest of the ladies' characterizations. I honestly don't mean to offend the author with this, but I don't understand why she thinks that this is necessary (or why she would think that every lesbian lady would be this wordy in bed, or why, on top of the perceived necessity, it would have to be both ladies expressing themselves like this).

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m mad at this book, and a little traumatized by the detailed albeit brief penetration scene between Jane and the male judge during which she revoked consent but it took him three times to hear her yell stop before he did, and stormed out yelling so that could be triggering for some readers. Alex (described as butch and stud) and Jane (seems like a femme but that’s never actually clarified) fall in love in what seems at a very early juncture but the story simultaneously seems to indicate it’s over a period of time…perhaps a year or less. Whatever, I’m OK enough with that. I audibly protested when Jane rejected Alex and declarations of love after they have very one-sided sex before which Jane aggressively pursues her, and subsequently flees the scene. Toward the end of the book, when they finally decide to be together after Alex is severely wounded in a car crash which is the catalyst that helps Jane realize she doesn’t want to do life without her, they do plan-fully and leisurely consummate their love. Jane, as it turns out, is very much a pillow queen, and that pisses me off so much! I think this story had so much potential, and it emotionally pulls at you, so I guess I feel like I’m thinking what Alex should be saying: “wtf, Jane!” because neither of us got the happy ending we wanted.

[Georgia Hawkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so bad. There was zero chemistry or connection between the main characters, and there were no moments where we got to see them develop any sort of bond between them. Alex just randomly declared she loved Jane and then a few scenes later, Jane loves Alex so much she’s willing to sacrifice her career? Also the way they say each others names in every sentence is so frustrating. Even the plot of her presidential candidacy was lacklustre and the speeches felt juvenile

[Greta · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was such a disappointment. It has the best premises but the execution is very poor. No slow burn, bidimensional characters with no personality, they are just their job and they fall in love for no reason. This book is the opposite of show don’t tell. You are told what it is happening but you don’t actually see it. You don’t see them falling in love, at a certain page they are just in love and you don’t know when or why it happened

[Tempe Luvs Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was pretty good, but it was a struggle listening to Lori Prince. I’m sorry, but some of her voices annoy me.
Jane Kincaid was the candidate and Alexandria Warner was her Secret Service agent. In listening to this, it was difficult to imagine Alex as a female because of the voice used for her by the narrator. Alex may have possibly been a butch, but she sounded like a husky male.

[Sharon Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Lately I've been looking for political fiction and this story did not disappoint! I enjoyed tagging along with the main characters as they got to know one another and felt their emotions throughout the book. Off to read the sequel.

[Zach Strassburger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly, a little predictable, but an altogether terrific piece of lesbian fiction. A little weird to read in the wake of Warren dropping out of the 2020 race, just insofar as it is painful to read about how hard it is for any good female presidential candidate.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and amazing, a beautiful intense story about so many emotiona and feelings. Plus a detailed description of US politics. I am planning to read all the books of the series. Wonderful and very interested plot

[Jacqsom71 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book and with the recent political minefield in America it was extra relatable. I loved the first half of the book but not so much the second and it was solely the coupling was not right for me with how it came and went and came and went and came.

[Debbie Hoskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book that captures interest. Secret Service agent, Alex Warner, becomes infatuated with candidate Jane Kincaid, who she is guarding. Gifted reader Lori Prince uses an appropriately husky voice with Southern drawl enhancing the sexual appeal of Alex depicted in the text.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5.

Just lacked some depth I would've liked. Also clear lines as to whose pov it really was. Also thought the first ~2/3 was way better.

[Leo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went into this expecting a romance heavy with political themes, and maybe I did wrong in that sense. The political subplot wasn't interesting and the romance was meh.

[Rey Hawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Lindsey Sanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Mica Anaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reading. Main characters have push pull relationship's. Lots of political drama.