The Candidate

by Josie Brown

Seduction and intrigue are rampant on the campaign trail when a political campaign adviser discovers that Washington's power broker elite have embroiled his presidential candidate in a plot involving an act of terrorism on US soil...

SYNOPSIS

Democratic political campaign consultant Ben Brinker can’t remember the last time he was excited by a candidate’s vision. He feels he’s lost his way, both emotionally and professionally. Worst yet, his show-me-the-money policy seems to have finally caught up with him. Two of his recent clients have been disgraced in one way or another: a senator is caught in lurid sex scandal, and a congressman is indicted in a kickback scheme. In no time at all the political pundits are calling Ben a "candidate cooler." Now Ben is desperate for any campaign gig he can get.

As luck would have it, Andrew Harris Mansfield, the charismatic junior senator from North Carolina and former Marine pilot, asks Ben if he wants to run his soon-to-be-announced campaign for president.

Little does Ben know what's in store for Andrew, or their country--

Nor does he realize that the key to saving both have been placed in his hands...

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Politics, Mystery

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2013

About the author

Josie Brown's forty-two novels are now in the hands of over two million readers.

She has been published by St. Martin's Press, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins Publishers, Penguin Books.

Read Josie’s books. You’ll get a good idea of her sense of humor. https://www.JosieBrown.com

You'll also find Josie on
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JosieBrownCA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josiebrownau...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiebrownn...

Visit her podcast, where she discusses writing with other authors:
http://bit.ly/AuthorProvocateurApple

Josie is the author of these novels:

The Housewife Assassin Novel Series, including
- Handbook (Book 1)
- Guide to Gracious Killing (Book 2)
- Killer Christmas Tips (Book 3)
- Relationship Survival Guide (Book 4)
- Vacation to Die For (Book 5)
- Recipes for Disaster (Book 6)
- Hollywood Scream Play (Book 7) [2014, Signal Press]
- Killer App (Book 8) [August 2014, Signal Press]
- Hostage Hosting Tips (Book 9)
- Garden of Deadly Delights (Book 10)
- Tips for Weddings, Weapons, and Warfare Hosting Tips (Book 11)
- Husband Hunting Hints (Book 12)
- Ghost Protocol (Book 13)
- Terrorist TV Guide (Book 14)
- Deadly Dossier (Book 15 - SERIES PREQUEL)
- Greatest Hits (Book 16 )
- Fourth Estate Sale (Book 17 )
- Horrorscope (Book 18 )
- White House Keeping Seal of Approval (Book 19)
- Assassination Vacation Tips (Book 20)
- Antisocial Media Tips (Book 21)
- Manners, Missiles & Mayhem (Book 22)
- Gambit (Book 23)
- Underwater Assets (Book 24)

The Candidate (Steamy Political Thriller)

Extracurricular - 3 episodic Novels (2020; Signal Press)

Totlandia - 8 episodic Novels (2014-2017; Signal Press)

The Baby Planner
[2011, Simon & Schuster]

The Housewife Assassin Gets Lucky (written with Deborah Coonts)

Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives
[2010, Simon & Schuster 2014 Signal Press]]

Hollywood Hunk (Book 1 - True Hollywood Lies)
[2005, HarperCollins; 2010 Signal Press]

Her novel, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives (Simon & Schuster), is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer as a dramatic series for NBC-TV.

She is also the author of three non-fiction books: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Finding Mr. Right [Penguin/Alpha]; Marriage Confidential: 102 Honest Answers to the Questions Every Husband Wants to Ask, and Every Wife Needs to Know [Signal Press]; and Last Night I Dreamt of Cosmopolitans: A Modern Girl's Dream Dictionary [St. Martin's Press]

Before becoming a full-time novelist, Josie also worked in advertising (JWT, DDB/Needham, BBM&B) and radio (WPLO-AM, Atlanta; WZGC-FM, Atlanta).

As a journalist, Josie has interviewed Maya Angelou, Brenda Blethyn, Julian Bond, Kenneth Branagh, Jackie Collins, Costa-Gavras, Craig Ferguson, John Gray, Derek Jacobi, Debbie Reynolds, and John Woo. Her celebrity interviews and relationships trends articles have been featured in Los Angeles Times Syndicate International, Redbook, and Complete Woman, as well as AOL, Yahoo, AskMen.com, Divorce360.com, and SingleMindedWomen.com, where she serves as the Relationships Channel editor.

Josie's interviews for her podcast, Author Provocateur, and for the International Thriller Writers magazine THE BIG THRILL include such notable authors as David Baldacci, Samantha M. Bailey, C.J. Box, Allison Brennan, Lee Child, Deborah Coonts, Robert Dugoni, Barry Eisler, JT Ellison, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, Tess Gerritsen, Andrew Gross, Kristan Higgins, Jon Land, John Lescroart, John Lutz, James Rollins, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Brad Thor, and Debra Webb.

Although born and raised (a Southern expression) in and around Atlanta, Georgia, Josie is proudly one-hundred percent Puerto Rican: her father was born in Ponce, and her mother was from Humacao. Does this make Josie a Georgiarican? She thinks so, and proudly claims that title.

She now lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild! Didn't care much for it at first, must be due to my lack of fondness for politicians. And this bk will REALLY mess with your trust issues with that crowd. Such a nasty group of players. So I'm reading along kinda feeling ho-hum on this one and WHAM!! I hit the 57% mark and WOW did this story take off on a wild roller coaster ride I never saw coming. I'm talking a total WTF kinda thing!!! Exciting and fast paced at the point. No spoilers. You've got to read this one for yourself. More focus on the suspense/thriller than romance but yes there's still an HEA. Have to say the romance was a turn off for me. Parts of the story were totally unbelievable (especially the ending) but suspenseful, often a bit creepy and very entertaining. This was a free read and I'm just so incredibly surprised at how it all turned out. Talk about a thrill ride. Whew!

Gonna have to go with 3.5 for the suspense/thriller part of the story and the element of total surprise.

[Barbara Conrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Political subterfuge of the highest order, Brown weaves a tailspin of a story that leaves you breathless, hungry for every last twist.

The twists come fast and furious, and some of them are heartbreaking. The Candidate is a flawlessly developed story that will hold its own against the best of political thrillers.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 yr.-earlier 12/30, NH. Tilt’n Diner. Congressman Richard Calder (46, D, presidential hopeful, Senate Arms Services Committee, retired USMC Checkerboards Squadron 312 piolet) & Ben Brinker (D campaign strategist, kingmaker, Berkeley) were discussing their next move/strategy.
Sarah is Richard’s wife.

Benjamin “Ben” Brinker later spoke with Abigail “Abby” Jane Vandergalen Mansfield (Andy’s wife).
Annapolis, MD. Subway. Kenny Lafferty informed Ben there was no dirt on Senator Andrew “Andy” Jackson Mansfield (R, Yale; JD, UNC, USMC F4S piolet, JROTC, FB captain), the other presidential hopeful.
Tasha Sullivan (Washington Post reporter) was interviewing Ben.

AZ. Operation Flamingo was put into place.
Clyde Dooley had dropped out of the presidential candidate race.
Minneapolis (AP) 5 Venezuelan nationals suspected of plotting to blow up Minnesota’s Mall of America were shot/killed by HS in a shootout in Richfield Hennepin County, MN.
What did Ben & Paul get into it about?
While Ben listened, Abby tried calling CIA Agent Fred Hanover someone told her he had died in a car accident.
Capitol South Metro Station. Ben stopped off to see Norm Phister (Two Bits shoeshine stand proprietor).

12/31, Las Vegas, NV. Father Smith distributed his drugged up boys at each of the resorts: Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd), MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd), Circus Circus Hotel & Casino (2880 S. Las Vegas Blvd), Treasure Island Hotel & Casino (3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd), Venetian Hotel & Casino (3355 S. Venetian Blvd), Bellagio Hotel & Casino (3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd), Stratosphere Hotel & Casino & Tower (2000 S. Venetian Blvd).
Carlos “14” Suarez Rodriguez (Venezuelan) & “13” (Hispanic boy) were dropped off at the Bellagio.
5,4,3,2,1…

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Warning: This book contains descriptive accounts of extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader. If you are especially sensitive to this type of material, it is strongly advised not to read any further.

An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written political thriller book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great political thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Mobi Signal Press; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky

Josie Brown never disappoints! The Canidate is a story about a political campaign manager, Ben. When Ben handles a clean candidate, things go arwy. This story keeps you guessing!

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Ben is a Democratic political consultant, with his career quickly unraveling, when he gets a phone call from a Republican candidate. After seeing himself on all the cable news shows as essentially a loser, he takes the position with Andrew Harris Mansfield, directing the young, superstar senator's quest for the presidency. Andrew's wife, Abby, has a trust fund equivalent to a small nation. Abby is actually the one who wants Ben on their side and with wise counsel to her husband, they are the perfect political couple with no known skeletons. As Ben becomes closer to the couple, he discovers the girl he is lusting after is actually Abby's twin sister, Maddy.

Ben is told to leave Maddy alone, both by Abby and Ben, although he can't figure out why. Maddy has a bad girl past and even she doesn't want a serious relationship. He also finds that she has an old boyfriend lurking in the wings. As the pair become closer, he also becomes the victim of a hacking scandal by the current Vice President (think evil Cheney), also on the campaign trail. Ok, I just gave away a bit of the plot detail here but the twists and turns of this one will make you want to read this one quickly. The hacking scandal is only the tip of the iceberg. Everything seems so true to life, especially with what is happening with all of the leaks in the news right now.

This is amazing. I always think I know where a plot like this is going, you know, identical twins, evil Vice President, but this caught me way off guard. I was surprised by the turns this one took. If you have never read a book by Brown before, you need to and this would be an excellent start. I adore all of her books and she can take characters to places most authors only dream about. I am really glad that she seems to put something out every three months or so since I would really have withdrawals.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Brinker has made his career being a Democratic campaign strategist. His history has been that of bad luck - he is usually aligned with candidates who have some sort of dirty laundry that is aired publicly while campaigning. That is, until what appears to be squeaky clean Replubican Senator Andy Mansfield declares his bid to be the next US President. After Ben’s candidate’s laundry is aired to Katie Couric on national TV, Ben is offered the opportunity to jump the democratic ship and befriends Mansfield and his wife, Abby. The Candidate is the story of what happens on the campaign trail, filled with lies, deceit, politics, scandal, love and murder, just to name a few. Ben falls for Abby’s twin sister - who happens to be the black sheep of the family. The Mansfield’s have the perfect marriage from the outside, but secrets come to light as the voting draws nearer. How will these secrets affect the campaign, and how will it affect Ben’s life, both personally & professionally?

Josie captured my attention with this story from the very beginning. I got mad at myself because I had to put this book down to sleep at night. I wanted to finish it all - without taking a break! I am not a political person, and I was afraid that this would be more political jargon and less of a good story...but I was SO wrong. I enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to reading more Josie Brown in the future!!

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally awesome!

This is a wonderfully well written thrilling journey regarding the American Political system. It may be fictional, but you can well believe that it could quite possibly be true. I recommend this great story for absolutely anyone who enjoys reading!!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Josie Brown and I have been hooked on her Totlandia series, so I was very excited to read something a bit more mysterious and dark from this author. The Candidate had twists and turns that I certainly didn't see coming and it kept me reading on the edge of my seat the entire time. If you are looking for a book that is packed full of romance, suspense, and mystery, than I promise you, you won't be disappointed with this book. I absolutely LOVED it!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of Josie Brown's books and have yet to be disappointed. I really enjoyed the blend of suspense, corruption and romance wrapped up in politics. The characters are all well developed and relatable. I felt that the plot probably isn't too unlikely in today's political environment either. I was engrossed in the book right from the start. In fact, I would say that I did not read this one, but devoured it!

[Sharisse Coulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a great political suspense story and The Candidate didn't let me down. Josie Brown blends politics, sex and corruption into a twisting narrative that contains just the right blend of suspense and intelligent storytelling that kept me reading way past my bedtime. If you love the show Scandal, you'll love this book.

[Kay Hagan-Haller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting political thriller

Twins, politics, murder, espionage—what could be more exciting? I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced Washington thriller. A man falls in love with the wrong woman while helping her honest, straightforward brother-in-law attempt to win the party’s nomination for president against the sitting VP. What could go wrong?

[GINGER DEVINE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun drama, sex, murder

All of the above. Josie Brown keeps on giving. Masterful plot keeps you guessing. The story takes political back stabbing and greed to a new. Lowdown level. Family and blood can create monsters that should die.

[Heather Lecus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I enjoy Josie Brown's books and love political thrillers. This book combines both and I could not put it down. I received and read this book in only a few hours and was sad that it ended because I wanted to keep reading about Ben and Abby

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book even though I am not a big politics fan. Lots of twists and turns. More please

[Gail Chianese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at http://www.gailchianese.com/blog

[liirogue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fine for what it is - a good beach or airport book. The plot moves quickly, particularly the last third. Just don't look too closely at the plot because there are tons of holes. The Republican presidential candidate runs on a platform a lot of Democrats would consider to be liberal; perhaps Brown felt that would make the character more likable for some reason, or her own politics showing? Regardless, it was distracting. The love story ends up so thin that it's outright distracting (Ben and Abby discover they're madly in love hours after his lover/her twin and her husband die in a plane crash, and they've never had more than superficial interactions up to this point). And the ending is just too pat.

[Linda]

With the country the way it is with the candidates for president, this rings so true. It depicts what could be happening in all elections. Experts are hired to help you win. They control your life, you candidacy and those around you. In this story there are identical twins as different as night and day. One is married to a senator who wants to be president. The other has many problems. Suspense, murder people being followed and being killed and made to look like an accident or suicide. It will hold you attention and keep you flipping pages. The ending is not what you will expect the story leading to. Recommend reading it as it is now major election time and dirty things can be happening. Makes you wonder if any election win is on merits alone. The media is no help.

[Sapthagiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Politicians remain Politicians as Men are Men!

Ben is a political consultant for candidate running for US President's post. The hot candidate's dreams are shattered due to his own romantic traits. Ben is appointed by Mr. Andy, another candidate aiming for the post. The 3rd one is Mr. Talbot.
Ben is on his job perfectly well and the chances of Andy winning over Talbot is just a matter of time.
Then all hell breaks loose. What's it that Ben has to do to save himself from being killed whilst also bringing the conspirators to justice.
Find out from this political thriller.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Candidate is a political thriller that lives up to Josie Brown's usual exciting books. A candidate hoping to be nominated by his party to run for president of the US hires a rather cynical campaign adviser. What follows is a plot with many twists and surprises and a thrilling end where the reader is wondering if the bad guys are going to win in the end. I enjoyed this book so much it was hard to put down.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining and quick read thriller. Take it to the beach with you

Fast-moving thriller with plenty of suspense trying to figure our who are the good guys vs. the bad guys. Josie can rope you into her stories and give you the satisfaction of reading her stories.

[Geoff Hunton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome

Great read that has me waiting for the release of the second book in the series with great anticipation for sure;

[Alexis N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josie Brown delivers again with a fun, suspenseful political thrilled. I really enjoyed this book and the ending left me with shivers.

[Linda Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced political thriller with some steamy romance. Great for a TV mini series. I'll definitely be reading more of Josie Brown.

[Patricia Mccammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with both good and bad characters with a plot that was quite believable.

[Mary Sheriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a juicy book. Full of political intrigue, hot sex, and high-stakes action. I stayed up late into the night determined to discover the identity of the puppet master. This is a fun read!

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Potentially, there are some good things in here, and I read the first part with interest.

After a bit, though, the multiple plot lines get in the way - there's reviving a failing career, running an underdog's election campaign, a love affair with a woman who won't be tied down, falling in love with the boss's wife, twin substitution, corrupt politicians, international terrorism etc etc etc. Because there isn't room for any one line to be fully developed, the result is that each feels rushed and skimped.

Josie Brown writes competently, and if she'd developed just one or two plot lines, the book would have flowed well. All of them together unfortunately gave me indigestion.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the plot twists but the writing was not up to the standards of Josie Brown's earlier books such as Secrets Lives of Husbands and Wives. A weak 3 stars (more like 2 1/2).

[Julie Williamson]

Not my usual genre but totally enthralled by dirty politicians. Good story.