The Illusion of Power: Passion and Politics #1

Passion and Politics #1

by J.L. Seegars

For fans of the New Camelot series by Sierra Simone and Kennedy Ryan’s All the King’s Men duet, comes The Illusion of Power. A spicy, contemporary romance that follows future First Lady, Selene Taylor, during the integral months of her husband's campaign for the Oval where she finds herself navigating the embarrassment of his infidelity, the dangers of being a Black woman in proximity to political power, and perhaps worst of all, falling for the two men tasked with protecting her.

Genres: Romance, Why Choose, Forced Proximity, African American Romance, African American, M M Romance, Workplace Romance

426 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2025

About the author

J.L. Seegars is a dedicated smut peddler and lifelong nerd who’s always had a love of words, storytelling and drama. When she isn’t writing messy and emotionally complex characters like the ones she grew up around, she’s watching reality TV, supporting her fellow authors by devouring their work or spending time with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Jahda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, I did not anticipate the book taking this turn. Who would have thought that you could spin a throuple in this style?

This was like a movie, with all of the foreshadowing, tests, twists, lies, and secrets, and the battle for power and control. In a political sense, I like how realistic it was. I have no idea who is running the show anymore, but you have the master and the puppet.

The way that Selene, Cal, and Beck's love balanced each other in this chaotic environment was so exciting. However, AUBREYYY, YOU SOB. I hope you are respectfully in the dirt in book two. As the plot develops, it becomes evident how politics and power can fuel a man's ego and cause him to reveal his actual nature. After everything they've gone through, I wonder whether he ever loved Selene or if she was only a pawn in his political scheme. And we have yet to get an apology.

With that ending, what are we to do? With all eyes on them, how will the throuple find their way back to each other? Given her new role as First Lady, what exactly will Selene do?

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every minute of this book! The drama and spice (ohhh the spice 🥵) gave me Scandal vibes. But Aubrey isn’t no Fitz! That man is infuriating. He’s the character you love to hate…and hate I did!

Cal & Beck…I love those men. Their backstories were sad and heartbreaking. Them finding love in each other was beautiful and adding Selene made them whole.

I can’t wait for the 2nd book in this series!

[Tanira · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some editorial misses that kept pulling me out of the story and I hate that for me 😩

[readingsprints_and_chaisips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished my live discussing this book.

This book irked my nerves so bad. I felt like I was reading several books at once. Everything felt disjointed. I liked the romance but not in this book. The political plot, interesting but not with the villain husband who was a villain for no reason. There were topics that were brought up that were never expounded upon. This was Scandal if Scandal were to be a book.

[Camryn O'Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up and i’m being generous because i love janill😔

[Pookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selene x Cal x Beck

“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” - Malcom X

I must admit, I went into this book blindly because J. L. Seegars is one of my auto-buy authors. I thought it was going to be a swoon worthy read similar to the New Haven series. No ma’am!!! She switched gears and really showed us the depth of her pen! She didn’t shy away from hot topics surrounding our nation: a strained political climate, gun control, mass shootings, extremist groups and racism. She also kept us intrigued by lacing in the affairs, the action, the mystery, and the slow-burning MMF why choose element (after all…she is the self proclaimed smut peddler). This book had so many layers and it could EASILY be adapted for the big screen or a mini series. The action and suspense kept me edge and had my nerves fried!!!

There were parts of the book that had my blood boiling! I hate seeing women settle and tolerate disrespect. Selene is a Boss! She’s smart, successful and a force to be reckoned with. So to see her dimming her light all for her husband’s success was bothering me. Cal (he’s Hunter’s brother from the New Haven series) and Beck were the epitome of knights in shining armor. They were two very intense men who loved and protected HARD! Their gentleness, their care and their covering is what the book girlies dream of.

Thank you J. L. For blessing me with this ARC. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an intense slow burn with a powerful storyline.

4.5 ⭐️

[Melise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

My biggest gripe was Selene’s ignorance toward her husband like sorry he never gave anything but power hungry and conniving. Like the fact that she never picked up on anything was irritating to me. Overall this was a STORY a great one too but I just don’t see it ending well for her when she should’ve just got the damn divorce lmao.

[Ash Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to know what the ultimate forbidden romance is? Imagine the future First Lady of the United States getting involved with her two secret service agents—talk about a plot twist!

Our FMC, Selene, is a tech-savvy business owner who’s been through a lot. You won’t have to read long before you discover the tragedy that struck her family. Her husband, who’s running for president, is an absolute jerk. He dismisses her at every turn and truly believes the world revolves around him.

But it’s not just about the romance. JL Seegars delivers the drama, suspense, action, and—of course—mind-blowing spice. Be prepared for a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that will have you eager for the next book.

This book is a wild ride, and I loved every second of it!

[KarynReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm, well. Selene and Aubrey. A match made in marital hell. When you dive in to this read expect to gasp and be ready to throw hands. Expect political animals, assumed love and affection. No APOLOGY (Read and see what I mean).

The drama went from the first page to the very end. There most definitely will be a book 2. Politics is already messy, but Selene and Aubrey in The White House is even messier. My goodness. Stay tuned..

I do have to add the flow of the book was a bit off sometimes. It made me feel like I was missing something. Like things happened before, but conversations weren’t really told to the reader what really unfolded.

['The Book Queen' · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was too much for me. 3.25 stars though....

[AlexTRBG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omfggggg that ending was a lot 😮‍💨 But damn I hate Aubrey so much! JL knew exactly how to piss us off w that ending

[ShaTorey · Rating 5 out of 5]

JL does it again. A cliff hanger hates to see her coming. This book was everything … drama & mess (from chapter 1), romance, smut (talk about BLUSHING!) and a freaking cliff hanger. I absolutely loved this, even given our political climate I was able to enjoy it.

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 4 out of 5]

🥹

The book reads like it was written for a television series, and I honestly would not mind. So let’s manifest that because the storyline was strong! I enjoyed the scandalous behavior and the things that were happening behind closed doors. I feel like Selene’s character represented so many things that black women endure - being the closer or fixer, the strong one, not able to live out many dreams because of other responsibilities. I can go on and on. Whew 😩

[Khari · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first J.L. Seegars book and it did not disappoint. I honestly started reading the book based on the title alone not knowing what I was getting myself into. But I’m glad I stuck with it! When I say my jaw was on the floor for most of the book… 🤭 The 🌶️ and the plot were done so well. I can’t wait for part 2 to come out in December!!

[Darcy J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ 3🌶️

I enjoyed "The Illusion of Power." It kept me wanting to know more. The build up was very slow but intentional. Ngl, I was ready for the poly/why choose to arrive and when it did...Yes, JL, yes. It was a slowwww burn but wow.
The end of this book was a little wild and I can see how the people were up in arms because that...was a lot.

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Long Game

If Selena doesn’t get her lick back in blood I promise ima start a riot!!! Seegars has always layered her stories with complex emotions and difficult situations and this is probably the best of the ones I’ve read. There was a balance here of them knowing and seeing so much but missing things that lended itself to a sense of realism. She gave you glimpses of the happiness and wins you wanted and then snatched them from you in the most engaging and frustrating ways. So much so that once I started there was absolutely no way I could stop. The love, the betrayal, the scheming, the layers of the political, the personal, and the privileged are Shonda Rhimes level captivating. Seegars like to take you down through there and I can’t even be mad at it. But I can’t wait to see what she does next and in what ways Selena’s character develops. This is the stuff best sellers are made of.

[EscapethrupageswithWhit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the writing and concept of Illusions of Power, but I was really disappointed with how the story ended. Selene never seemed to gain any real control over her situation she was constantly manipulated, and that really irked me. It left me unsure about continuing the series. Unless book two gives her more control , I’m not sure I can keep reading.

[Kam C · Rating 5 out of 5]

JL…. You’ve done it again! The fact that this is book one of a new series is the only reason I’m not mad about the ending lol now I need the next books released. Her way to always capture the duality of characters will never get old to me and will also make me more connected to the people she writes. 10/10.

[nosha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spicy , political, twisted, and fun 🙂‍↕️ let’s get to book 2 🤭

[Nynerddd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. However, its ending has me a little mad. Like I need this situation (the ending) to be fixed ASAP in book 2. God I could strangle Aubrey 🥲…

[Mely Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🧳 🙂‍↔️
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Something about this book just felt a little off? The book definitely could’ve been a little shorter and I almost wish there was more focus on Cal, Beck, and Selene emotional connection. I do believe they have a connection but I just feel like a lot wasn’t discussed?
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I enjoyed the main story line but I felt like there where alot of sub plot line where you got taken out of the main book and then brought back in and it was hard to follow the direction of where the book was going . The ending of the book was a good twist but I think Aubrey just pissed me off so much that I was like whatever!
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A lot of great topics discussed and brought up in book and address well so I do give props to that.
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“We don’t talk enough about how exhausting anxiety is. How it steals your ability to reason, leaving your brain free to run a mental marathon your body didn’t agree to or train for. How, once that marathon is over, fatigue sets in, sending you plummeting into paralysis, a numb kind of relaxation that costs too much to bring so little relief”.

[Mouri]

Not my cup of tea. I just read it because I love Jl. Seegars. Not a bad book per say I am just not a trouple kinda girl… had to skip some parts.
And the nickname (pet) just grinds my gears. 🫠

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An uneven start to an intriguing premise!

Selene Taylor’s high-profile marriage is in crisis. Following the tragic death of their son, the political career of her husband, Aubrey, skyrockets. Now the Democratic presidential nominee and with Election Day fast approaching, we open on the reckoning of Aubrey’s affair with a campaign staffer going public. Bound to her husband by more than marital vows, Selene finds herself drawn to members of her Secret Service detail, Agents Callan Drake and Lance Beckham, best friends who are hiding secrets of their own. As threats to Selene’s safety escalate, the trio find themselves navigating ever murkier waters of betrayal and intrigue.

I love every single theme of this work, but at times it buckles under the weight of balancing them all. Race, politics, neurodivergence, misogyny, fidelity, school shootings, grief, and a romantic connection between not two, but three people, is a hefty list to carry. Seegars is a skilled writer, so nothing entirely founders, but the pacing and connection do suffer.

The story starts strong, but with a bit of a slog in the middle and a rushed ending, it’s a rollercoaster. Selene, Cal, and Beck are all well-drawn characters with interesting backstories, and the struggle of any poly romance is having the space to establish the connection between them all. The logic for this group is there, but at times I didn’t feel the emotional hits as hard as I’d expected. The spicy scenes are definitely fantastic, though, full marks for that!

If you’re looking for romance with diverse representation and hefty plot, I’d recommend giving this a try. There is a lot of promise, and I do plan to try the next book in the series!

[Dana Blu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way this ended, I need book 2 ASAP! Perfect for fans of Scandal!

[Cristina del Rosario · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love/hate this book. I love a why-choose and the premise of this story was interesting but there were definitely some misses for me. I will be reading book 2 though.

[danabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selene …. Welcome to elite employee status. Godspeed my My Sister First Lady, I’ll see you soon.

Agent Beckham and Agent Drake *eagle cawing noise*…. Thank You For Your Services, Gentleman. She’ll understand in due time.

AUBREY YOU STUPID PUNK BITCH ILL SEE YOU IN YOUR CASKET PUSSY NIGGA YOU BETTER HOPE JOHN WILKS DONT GOT GREAT GRANDCHILDEN

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing about Miss JL, she is going to shake the table and make you a liar about what you say you won’t read! Luckily for me, everybody’s red flags look green to me. Because the cheating trope, polyamorous, forbidden bodyguard romance was exactly what drew me in. Gimme all dat!

It’s important I preface that you should disassociate what you know about her writing. This series doesn’t feel like the New Haven series although it may or may not have a connection! (That was a treat to see!) The illusion of power is all together a different body of work. One that I’m still trying to determine my feeling on.

I loved Cal and Beck’s relationship. I even started to see the sparks developing between Beck and Selene. However I was never really sold on the connection between Cal and Selene. Don’t get me wrong, that first scene where all three of them were intimate was a work of art. However their romance wasn’t picture perfect.

The last 20% where the mystery started kicking in felt a little chaotic and almost like an afterthought. I wished the pacing had been better. But for a shift in genre I know her writing is only going to improve.

[Stephanie Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow. What an outstanding start to 2026. The drama, the politics, the scandal, the smut, the cliff hanger that has me wanting to immediately start the 2nd book… J.L. killed it with this book! She drew me in from the 1st chapter and never lost my attention (hence why I finished reading this in a day).

I could have easily given this book 5 stars if the editing was better because the plot is THAT GOOD. However, there are obvious grammatical errors and a few times where it almost seems like part of the story are missing so I had to reduce my rating. I’m hoping that her new publisher helps to correct this because J.L. is an outstanding storyteller!

[Tonya Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first J.L. Seegars book. It did not disappoint. Now I have to wait for book 2. This was also my introduction to 2mmc and 1 fmc. It was written so well. I went into this blind not knowing what to expect and I couldn’t put it down.

Aubrey is the devil. Beck and Cal just welcoming and inviting Sel needed them and they learned her as they knew each other. I want one of those hugs.

The subject matters were written so well and it was engaging. Highly recommend.

[Natarsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

This story was everything, this is completely different from the stories we usually get from J.L. This was my first why choose/MMF romance and it was so good! The suspense and thriller aspects along with the presidential election kept my attention the entire time. I cannot wait for the next book.