The Candidate

arc complicated-love friends-to-lovers

Would you give up your dreams for someone else?

This is a good book, and with this day and age and political climate, this book hits on a lot of it.
A Republican candidate that is in it for possibly all the wrong reason. And a "tree hugger" that wants to find dirt on him. But in the middle of that, they just might find a middle ground.

Pretty good book. I enjoyed the story and the characters💓

Lisa

653 reviews19 followers

April 11, 2018

5" I love Apollo" stars!! Love this author every book I read from her I love.. The story was great the sex Hot!! Falling in love with these two was top of my list of favorite couples . Read it you will love it! :)

deliteful-sexy-romance free-kindle-unlimet love-this-aurthor

Sara Oxton

3,806 reviews18 followers

The Candidate by Alice Ward a five-star read that will leave you with a winning feeling. This was such a refreshing read, Alice Ward always brings something extra but this time she brought a whole new world. In this crazy political climate this was a breath of fresh air, Cameron Brice could have been portrayed a certain way as he is from a rich and political family who have plans for him, but he was written in a manner that you saw all sides of him, not just the one his family want everyone to see. Brook was a complex character that I can’t delve into without giving spoilers. Not everyone will like the story as there are some cross over issues, but I don’t care consenting adults are free to choose. Well done on a great story.

Garbage McSmutly

60 reviews3 followers

February 10, 2018

2.5 stars. This was a tough one. Maybe read a different Alice Ward book instead.

⭐WHAT DID I THINK?
B+ if we ignore the political stuff;
C- if we take the political stuff into account.

In terms of the relationship between the two main characters and the events that occur/the drama they encounter, this was another entertaining, sexy, romantic-but-slightly-angsty read from Alice Ward. The political aspects gave me pause, though--I've written that up at the end, so anyone looking for a review purely based on the rest can get the idea without having to sit through my SJW-style issues.

⭐HIGHLIGHTS/WHAT I LIKED 🙌

🍆🍑Sexytimes🔥🔥🔥🔥
- Brooke is a "good girl" when we meet her in chapter one. She doesn't realize she's in a sex club until it's pretty much spelled out to her. She doesn't know what most sex toys are for when she comes across them. This is never stated, but it seems highly likely that she rarely gets herself off and would never use porn to do so.
- Cameron, comparatively, is kind of a big slut. He's been around. He's into some kinky stuff. When he sees Brooke, he is immediately attracted to her; it might start out as just interest in why the obvious "good girl" is at a sex club, but he quickly becomes enamored of her.
- When they come together, Cameron shows Brooke that sex can be... ~*~sex~*~! He opens the door to her learning about and becoming comfortable with her own sexuality, to enjoying sex without the confines of needing to "put in the time" dating someone before getting to it.
- I loved how empowered Brooke became after really letting herself go and try new things. That's the beauty of S/M⛓️, and I think Ms. Ward did a lovely job of showing Brooke's realistic (beginning of her?) journey into submission.

✅⌨️The writing
- Character development/POV: I had some issues with Cameron's character, see below. Both characters have some identity crisis-style issues, so there's some inconsistencies in their characters, but it makes sense in context.
- Do the voices/narration feel realistic/natural? Yes, as always. Cameron's got that spoiled rich kid semi-rebel vibe going. Brooke's got that pent-up good girl / SJW-lite thing.
- Themes etc.? There's this ongoing thing with the Greek gods that was cute. When they first meet in the sex club Cameron calls himself Apollo, so Brooke calls herself Cassandra in response. There are several moments, particularly in the sex club scenes, that draw on the mythology motif. It was a fun bit of writing flair and I really enjoyed it.
- Copyediting? Fine/as expected.

⭐WHAT ABOUT THE PLOT? (Wait, do we even care?)
Yes, we do care! Plot suuuuper mattered this time around. And I was kinda meh on it.

⭐ENDING: HEA all the way, baby! 💏
Definite HFN, followed by an epilogue that takes place 1.5 years later. The epilogue shows us what they're up to then, and gives us a peek at their plans for the future.

⭐WHAT DIDN'T I LIKE? 👎
- I hate being that nitpicky person, but a lot of the political stuff just didn't ring true. As someone who lived in Philadelphia for several years, I appreciated the details that Ms. Ward put in, which showed that she either had a good familiarity with the area, or she did her due diligence during her research for the book. But that definitely did NOT carry over into the political stuff. I'm not a wonk by most standards, but I do have a greater familiarity with politics than a lot of people who live in the U.S.
- Cameron's character was kind of all over the place. Especially the conservative-but-not-really-but-yeah-actually BS.
- I had this whole long thing I was going to get in to about the significance of releasing a book with a republican hero on almost the one-year anniversary of the 2017 Inauguration and the Women's March, and just a week before 45's first State of the Union speech. But honestly, I can't quite get my head around it enough to say what I think I want to say. it just seems like... either there's a point that was trying to be made, in which case I don't think it was well made (see next point). Or there wasn't a specific reason for it, in which case it seems like really poor timing/insensitive to release this particular story in January.
- It seems like there's this message or theme of the two political parties finding common ground somewhere in the middle, of politicians returning to the idea of working *for* their constituents to get things done. But the thing is, while that might be a nice idea in theory, it does NOT work. The theme is heavy-handed in the book. It's spelled out for us, in that it's repeated multiple times by the characters. But it's also not fleshed out enough: it's just a decent catchphrase with no substance, no real ideas, no explanation behind it. I appreciate the nod towards the idea, but it seems almost disrespectful towards the people whose lives and liberties the current administration has put under attack to pull a "why can't we all just get along" stance.
- ALLLLL the political stuff, basically. But in particular, our hero's stance on abortion. The most conservative view he has is being borderline anti choice in policy, and super anti abortion personally (I mean, is there an easier way to immediately turn your smart female readers against a male character than to have him waffling on whether women can have control over their own damn bodies? I think not.). So why, despite claiming he believes no one should tell a woman what to do with her body, is he anti abortion? Because he... befriended a little girl in a hospital who was... wait for it... a "failed abortion." Um, wut. I mean, seriously, WHAT?!?!?!?! I... I can't even get in to how ridiculously absurd this is on a basic medical level. So, this is where the book completely lost me. I finished reading it, and it wasn't a bad book overall, but I came very close to throwing my Kindle across the room. I could not take the story or the hero seriously from then on.

⭐FINAL VERDICT: SKIP THIS ONE AND READ SOMETHING ELSE BY THIS AUTHOR INSTEAD.❌
(Unless you can completely turn your brain off for it, or you just aren't phased at all by politics. Or if you like conservatives.)
There was a lot about this book that I liked. But there were some major things about it that actively turned me off (in both the "normal reader" and the "romance reader" ways). The good news is, Alice Ward is a prolific author, and she's written so many other books that I liked/loved. Pick up one of those instead! (Personally, despite its rather ridiculous name, my fave is The Dom vs. The Virgin.)

(I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Megan

1,469 reviews29 followers

January 24, 2018

A man drowning under the weight of disappointment and expectations of living someone else's dreams, a woman determined to achieve her dreams no matter the cost. Both of these people have something the other desperately needs, if only they'll open their eyes, and their hearts, to the freedom that comes with honesty, balance, and love.

Cameron is a senate hopeful trying to achieve what his father was shamed into leaving. He's also being forced into a life he doesn't want but can't find the strength to turn his back on. His only escape is to dark sex clubs where he can get his kink on in order to find a little freedom through control and release with anonymous partners.

Brooke is undercover working on Cameron's campaign team. Her hope is to find enough dirt on him so her real employer, Cameron's opponent and her best friend's father, will deem her worthy to put in a good word at the FBI for her. What she doesn't expect is the man behind the attitude and wealth. A man who brings out a confident, sexy side of herself that she didn't know she had.

So I think I'll start with my grievances and then end with the great stuff...

I'm getting increasingly tired of the sex-club themes of Alice's latest books. One reason is I keep expecting similar plots with each one. I know, I know, that's my own problem, I get it. It doesn't change the fact that I'd very much like to read something else from Alice. Her work is so good that I find this theme becoming pretty banal.

Then there are the similarities in the men. Rich, entitled men who feed the darker side of their desires with willing women they never seek to know beyond what it takes to find release. Yes, there's a more vulnerable reason behind their need for control and anonymity, but that doesn't change the fact that a lot of these men start of extremely similar to each other. Their proclivities are all starting to blur together so it takes almost half the book to find enough differences to draw me into their character.

And finally the women. Many of them begin as naive and innocent to a fault. Also stubborn and forgiving for slights that should be addressed directly. Some of them have had difficult lives and are awakened by the men's desires, which is fine, but the way they capitulate is wearing on me. This is oversimplifying the women's situation and sexual awakening by a whole heck of a lot so I know a lot of people might argue with those thoughts or just disagree, and that's totally okay. It's just how I'm feeling.

And here's the praise...

Now Brooke, though, is an improvement. I really like her by the end. In the beginning she's self-serving and has a narrow view. She's incredibly judgmental and foolish. But by the end, she's unwilling to back down from her beliefs and actually discusses them instead of just becoming irate and judgy. Her ability to apologize sincerely is commendable. She also learns to love the man inside and encourages him to be more, better, closer to the man who's hiding behind the douchey facade. She's the strongest female MC I've seen in these recent books since The Surprise.

At the point that Cameron finds his cojones and Brooke her remorse I was invested. The story finally felt good to me. Like all the slogging through the first 2/3 didn't feel so bad when all the awesome started happening. And the ending, Alice is the master at perfect endings. Big reveals, apologies, confessions, reconciliation, passion, combine all that with tenderness, forgiveness, healing, humor, and the brightest hope in their future and I'm sold.

So while I've rated the book 3.5 stars on my blog for the ending and character grown alone, it'll be rounded down to 3 stars on the review sites because the first 2/3 was quite difficult for me. Rounding up to 4 stars would be disingenuous to how I felt while reading most of the book.

Read and willingly reviewed this ARC from the author.

arc romantic sexy

BookAddict

2,084 reviews209 followers

Oh boy. Where do I start with this book? As with all Ms. Ward's works, this one has complex, larger than life characters who are easy to connect with and emotionally vest the reader in the outcome of their story. It’s well written and edited with an interesting storyline that’s well paced, steamy, dramatic, emotional and a little angsty.

I question the wisdom of writing a politically themed book in our current political climate unless the author treads carefully. It is possible to do (Marie Force's Fatal series) yet it takes extra care on the part of the author to not alienate politically minded readers. Also, I hope Ms. Ward's foray into the sex club element in her books has run it’s course and she’ll either return to highlighting important issues as she has previously or move on to something else. It’s great for an interesting change of pace but I’m quickly tiring of it after several books.

That said, I really enjoyed this book and adored the main characters! Brooke came across as a bit of a loose cannon, and someone who was still trying to find herself, yet an independent woman who knew her own mind. Or at least she thought she did, but Cameron caused her to see things in a different light. Her core values didn’t change, but her viewpoint and actions did. Cameron was a fascinating hero, doing all the right things for the wrong reasons. It was a delight to watch him learn and grow, finally standing up for himself, becoming true to himself and doing the right thing for the right reasons. If all politicians were like this one, the world would be a much different place. I also appreciate the message that, no matter one's stance on an issue, we can learn from each other, challenge each other in a positive way, help each other grow and be stronger when we come together.

Now, let’s talk about this cheating issue. In my mind, cheating in a romance novel involves one of the two main characters being intimate with someone other than the other main character after they’ve already been intimate together. I don’t think that happened here. Yes, the woman Cameron's parents wanted him to marry kissed him after he had hooked up with Brooke, but he didn’t initiate it, his heart (or any other part of his anatomy) wasn’t in it and he didn’t reciprocate. As for Brooke thinking of herself as “the other woman,” that was based on erroneous information obtained from other sources, rather than Cameron himself. Telling her his parents wanted him to marry Bernadette is not the same as him saying that he intended to propose.

So there you have the subjective issues – politics, sex club and cheating – and you can make the determination about this book. I really enjoyed it and I especially loved Cameron. I’m not sure the last time I read a hero with such a big heart, and when he made a decision and took a stand, he really did it in a great big, dramatic way, which made for a wildly entertaining read! If you’ve never read Ms. Ward's work, I suggest you read other reviews in order to decide if this book is for you. If you’re already a fan, you’ll love this one, too!

214 reviews

January 20, 2018

The Candidate – Alice Ward

Cameron Brice was part of the powerful Brice family, the richest and most influential family in Philadelphia. Power does not come without enemies, both known and unknown. So, who do you trust and how do you “let go” and find what you are missing in this life? Cameron’s answer was The Black Room, located just over the bridge in Camden at the end of a dark, narrow alley, strewn with garbage that opened to a square courtyard and a single door. His mask hides his identity and his money buys him anything he wants or needs. Tonight it’s the woman in the pink cashmere sweater with a string of pearls around her neck. Who is she? Why is she here? When he sees her, he wants her…he has to have her.

The FBI was Brooke Ellis’s life dream. She could make it happen but first she had to complete a task that tested her desire to achieve that dream. It all began at that door, the door to The Black Room and what follows is the real story of The Candidate.

As a reader I was conflicted on many levels when I read the story and not unlike Brooke (Cassandra/Violet) my emotions were all over the place. And on a number of occasions, I asked myself if I had been in her place, what I would have done. You might do the same. I trust Alice Ward so I powered forward and am glad I did.

There were many shifts, lots of shady characters, and way too few characters I felt I could trust! The potential future FLOTUS topped my list by a hair over Cameron’s father. If you are a fan of mystery, drama, spicy romance, and dirty politics you are in the right place. And don’t think you know where it’s going…because you will probably be surprised.

I received a reader copy of this book and in exchange I was rewarded with a fast-moving political thriller that had my blood pumping all the way to the end. I am pleased to recommend this book. Once again, Alice Ward earned her five stars.

Armenia

908 reviews17 followers

January 30, 2018

A wonderful romantic book that is sexy and unforgettable...5+stars!

Wearing three identities is not a usual thing for Brooke Ellis, but Owen Blakely dangles a carrot with a promise of a recommendation to the FBI if she digs up dirt on his opponent for Senate seat, Cameron Brice. In disguise as a mousy clerk, she’s Violet Wilkes in Cameron’s campaign office. It’s when she follows him to a sex club called The Black Room, does Cameron show a different side of himself, one that is seductive and alluring and Brook finds him fascinating. She decides to play along as Cassandra, the sexual temptress. Things get edgy, and oh, so sexy. As they spend time together, Brooke realizes there is more to Cameron and she is reluctant to expose this vulnerable side of him to the public.

Cameron Brice is the Republican hopeful and heir to the Brice dynasty. But mostly he feels the pressure of being groomed under his father’s machinations which includes playing a part of a politician and marrying his want-to-be girlfriend who is deceitful. Cameron soon develops feelings for Cassandra not knowing the truth about her. The plot unfurls beautifully and just leads you down the winding twists and turns, you won’t want to put this gem of a story down until the end.

Just when I thought these two would never get their chance because of an impossible situation. BOOM! Ms. Ward throws out a doozy. I loved the debate scene, I shook with laughter, it was so good. A perfect solution to all that “can of problems.” The Candidate has it all, great blend of story, edgy, sexy goodness, and all the feels. It is definitely one of my favorite books by this author. Wonderful job, Ms. Ward. I received and voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

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Maria

109 reviews1 follower

I received an ARC for my voluntary and honest review.

The Candidate is a wonderfully written story filled with politically and family motivated drama, deception, manipulation, greed, the struggle to grow into your own, 5 alarm sex, and love. It sounds like a lot but Alice Ward did a beautiful job weaving it all together!

Mr. Conservative, Cameron, meet Ms. Liberal, Brooke. Two complete opposites who meet at The Black Room, sex club. Cameron has to be very discreet about his sex life since he's running for Senate. At the Black Room, participants where masks. Brooke has been hired by his opponent to find and expose dirt on him.

Cameron is being controlled and groomed by his father who arranges the perfect wife for him. She, Bernadette, is just as greedy and manipulative as his father. Cameron loathes her but felt compelled to continue to give his father what he wants. Until Brooke. She ends up being his intern in her alter-ego life. Cameron knows who she is! In the process, she opens up his mind, heart, and soul to discover who he really is and what he really wants.

Brooke does find a conscience because she's seriously into the real Cameron that no-one else has seen. Cameron also ends up helping her find her true passions. Two polar opposites that are the perfect fit. This is an intelligent drama giving you a behind the scenes glimpse into the political machine. The reader learns what greed is capable of making a father do.

After all the deception will Cameron and Brooke continue to grow and love each other; will they continue to forge their own paths together. This story deserves to be downloaded and enjoyed!

Kathi

3,072 reviews17 followers

Completely Compelling and Scintillating read!!!

Brooke has wanted to join the FBI since she was a young girl. Her path to achieve that is to work for her best friend’s dad and find the dirt of the conservative candidate for President for 2024. Currently he is running for state senate as he is only 30. As a buttoned-up, rich snob surely Brooke can find some dirt in no time at all.

Cameron was raised in a high-profile family, though his father was caught in a scandal and is now “living the dream” through his son. Told what to think, who to speak to and who to marry Cameron is looking to let off some steam.

When Brooke follows Cameron into a club, she appears as a lamb to the wolves – as she has unknowingly entered an underground club. When she follows Cameron in the hopes he will remove his mask – she ends up introducing herself as “Cassandra” and having an encounter with him.

Then working as “Violet” she poses as a worker on his campaign dressed in frumpy clothes and sporting a wig. Only problem is; Cameron sees her even as a frumpy worker. He asks her opinion and seems to care about the issues. Perhaps he is not the enemy as her liberal friends assume.

A story of two completely diverse, yet likeable characters that cross paths in the most tantalizing manner. One who has to remember the role she is playing each moment – and each who are fighting against the pressures of family and society. Can these two possibly have more than a moment in this impossible situation?

Engaging, sexy, humorous and captivating!!

*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***

April Symes

5,013 reviews445 followers

What a fabulous story to be written. It is fresh, exciting and has an exciting twist that I didn’t expect to see. Cameron Brice was part of the powerful Brice family- the richest and most influential in Philadelphia. Yet he feels like something is missing in his life. But how do you find out what is missing and where do you go to find that “missing” piece? Cameron’s answer was The Black Room, located just over the bridge in Camden at the end of some dark alley that opened to a square courtyard and a single door. He wore a mask and in this place is where he found her-- the woman in the pink cashmere sweater with a string of pearls around her neck. Who is she and why does she bring him that peace and that missing piece he has been seeking. Her name is Brooke Ellis and she is following Cameron who wants to be a senator. She tries to have evidence of something dirty on him, whatever that may be. Her BFF’s dad is Cameron’s enemy and Brooke works for him to help her become an FBI agent. The more she looks for dirt on Cameron, the more she finds she is struggling because he is not the bad guy. She finds herself falling in love with him and doesn’t know if Cameron feels the same. This story has political intrigue, secrets, lies, blackmail, passion, and romance. Cameron and Brooke have intense chemistry together. I definitely do recommend this story for it is not the usual Alice Ward story.

My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."

arc arc-review bad-boys

2,297 reviews18 followers

January 25, 2018

What an amazing read by Alice Ward about a man, Cameron, who is running for the senate and the woman who is sent to spy on him, Brooke. Cameron is more than what others are saying about him and with a controlling father, an alcoholic mother and a woman his dad picked out to marry, his life is not all roses. Then there’s Brooke who is sent to spy on him and during one of her excursions she ends up meeting him in disguise. Now she has more than one personality she has to keep straight. He wears a mask when facing the public and now she is wearing many masks to keep close and a tab on him. Will they reveal their true selves to one another ?
A great read with oh my steamy sensual scenes and I loved how the author made me not like Cameron in the beginning but as the story went on his layers were pealed back, revealing who he truly is and not through the eyes of reporters or others...made him loveable. Brooke was a bit humorous at times when she was trying to remember who she was supposed to be at a certain time and I liked how she finally saw Cameron for who he truly was. The ending was perfect and I loved how it all ended and even had a chuckle with what she gave him as a present.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

Keri Loves Books

1,247 reviews205 followers

January 16, 2018

He’s running for office. She’s trying to help destroy his campaign in hopes of furthering her own dream. A story of chasing your dream but sometimes that dream changes when you meet your game changer.

Brooke’s been hired to dig up dirt on the republican senate candidate, Cameron Brice. Things aren’t always what they seem.

Cameron Brice has been bred for the White House. His father was a past VP and his family wants him to be president. He’s handsome, wealthy, successful and his whole life has been planned for him. Including the perfect stepford wife.

Brooke goes incognito to get close to Cameron but in doing so her heart gets involved and it gets very messy. Secrets, lies, blackmail, opposing political beliefs may be too many obstacles for them to overcome. Something’s aren’t for sale and can’t be bought.

These two, an likely match, find a feeling of being complete and happy when they are together. Get out your fan on this one, because these two are combustible. I loved their story.

Magali

4,145 reviews25 followers

January 18, 2018

Great hot book with intelligent debats about politic problems. The characters are great too, never dumb, naive, quiet aware of what happened around them even if they aren’t always react. They’re always questionning themself or try to stopping the manipulations around them.
Brooke is following Cameron who wants to be a senator. She tries to have evidences of something dirty, whatever it is.
Her best friend is Cameron's enemy' s daughter and Brooke works for him to help her becoming an FBI agent. But when she follows him, she finds herself in a sex club and submits to Cameron. During the day, she’s undercover as an help to his campaign and he doesn’t recognise her with her disguise (it must be an amazing disguise !...)
Brooke is struggling between her career, her ambition, her loyalty to Cameron an her growing love for him.
Cameron doesn’t know how to react to this attraction and what his family wants him to do, who to marry to.
It’s another different kind of story from Alice Ward, but it’s still great.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Patti

2,012 reviews10 followers

This is a tough one for me. Please allow me to explain. I am a fan of Alice Ward. I have read several of her books and she never disappoints with a very well written story with fully developed characters that stir up your emotions. This book is no different. The plot is intriguing and the characters make you love them and hate them. On that note, I give this book five stars. My issue is with the political storyline. I feel overwhelmed with our political climate in real life and I struggled to read about it. The cutthroat characters, the lack of morals and the manipulation saddens me greatly. The compensating factor is the connection and intimacy between Cameron and Cassandra/Brooke but, that is even overshadowed with secrets. It got to the point where I could not read fast enough to get to the HEA. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand all of the five star ratings - this is just a personal opinion for personal reasons.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

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Fallen Star Book Reviews

589 reviews39 followers

I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of The Candidate.

This was a wonderful and amazing story!! Once I started Cameron and Brooke, I couldn’t stop!! The story flowed so smoothly and seamlessly!! The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts!! I loved all the details and what they both endure throughout to lead up to the outcome between them!

Cameron is a strong male that is going for a bid in the upcoming election in the state and does everything that he’s supposed to but it doesn’t feel right to him things aren’t adding up to him and he feels suffocated.

Brooke is a strong female that wants to join the FBI but that’s almost impossible without recommendation and that comes from doing undercover work for the opposing candidate and means bringing Cameron Brice down by any means possible. However the longer she’s around him, she starts to catch glimpses of a different person than he’s supposed to be and not sure if she can do the job required after all.

Loved the story and the twists and turns throughout and the chemistry between the two along with way fate works.

Lilly

17 reviews

I received this book as an ARC and voluntarily give my honest review. The is an amazing story. There’s sex, politics, romance and suspense. Cameron Brice is running for Senator and hopefully continue to be the President in 2024. All he has to do is follow whatever his father has in stored for him including a wife, Bernadette. Brooke alias Cassandra/Violet wants to be a FBI agent with the help from the opponent Owen Blakely. All she has to do is find dirt on Cameron Brice. Brooke was hired as Violet working at Cameron office and she was Cassandra at night at the Black room, a sex club. Cassandra followed Cameron to the Black Room It was an instant attraction and both Cameron and Cassandra fell in love with each other. Both Cameron and Brooke realized their relationship can not go further than sex due to their obligation, Cameron to be a Senator and Brooke to work for the FBI. In the end Cameron chose to follow his conscience, his dream and his heart even risking his reputation as a squeaky clean candidate. I highly recommend this boo

Renee Williams

904 reviews4 followers

A political hotter-than-hot romance book. Cameron has entered into the political circle & is travelling around Philadelphia. He has a big secret & Brooke is secretly following him to find some dirt on him. She follows him into The Black Room (a sex club) late one night & accidentally bumps into him. As they use masks & alias names in there, she goes by Cassandra, he has no clue who she really is. She's introduced into the world of BDSM. She can't use this info against him as she may somehow be connected & exposed. She gets hired into his campaign office, dressed up (more like dressed down) as an unattractive clerk, named Violet. This is so entertaining to watch Brooke trying to keep her characters she's portraying straight. Brooke asks him questions where he inwardly searches his true self & what path does he want to take in life. He discovers who Cassandra is when his world crashes down around him by her betrayal.

A fantastic story that I could read over & over again. Another best seller for Alice Ward.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Linda

103 reviews

February 5, 2018

The Candidate! Holy 🔥 Hotness... A hot look into Politics!!!

Holy Moly... It’s another awesome new release for Alice Ward. I can’t think of one book by Ms. Ward that I haven’t loved. She has a wonderful way with words that wrap up into a beautiful story that only she can tell. Like most of her books, this is another “one-click” adventure in Ms. Ward’s library...

Revolving around the mine field world that is politics, we have a couple, Brooke & Cameron who meet each other while one is digging up dirt on the other. The chemistry between the two is off the charts even while they’re lying to themselves & others. Just like real life politics, “The Candidate” has many plots, that will keep you in constant suspense all through this story. If you are interested in finding out how their story unfolds, be sure to “one-click” & start enjoying this new release. I promise you won’t be disappointed at all!!!

I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this new release & am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Julie

279 reviews2 followers

Cameron Brice is part of the Brice family very rich and influential, under his fathers thumb who wants him in the White House whatever the cost no thought for what Cameron actually wants. Brooke wants to be an FBI agent her best friends father who is running against Cameron dangles a carrot in front of her if she rakes up dirt on Cameron he will ensure she gets into the FBI. Brooke ends up following Cameron they end up at the same place when they clash together and begin a very intense hot relationship the chemistry is so strong. Brooke's ideas about Cameron change and it becomes not as easy as she thought it would. Cameron knows what he should do to please his father and it isn't with Brooke, What will they do? Will they follow their hearts or careers? You will have to read it yourself to find out you won't be disappointed. I was given this as an ARC by the author for leaving a voluntary review.

Mindy

1,117 reviews

What an interesting take! Cameron has been raised to follow in his father's political foot steps, he's got a silver tongue, he's gorgeous and he's dating the perfect woman--just right to get elected but Cameron is not exactly ready to blindly follow his political party so easy. He blows of stem of by going to a secret sex club, using a mask to disguise his identity what he didn't expect was to find Cassandra, a woman who gets under his skin.
Brooke is hired by her best friend's father to spy on his rival, Cameron. She has no idea what she was getting into when she followed his into the sketchy neighborhood and when she finds herself in the middle of a sex club she's floored. But when she catches the eye of the suit man she was in pursuit of how far will she go to get information for her boss?
When the meetings become more Brooke has a hard time deciding to expose Cameron or is he not like the image that is projected.

Kristen Lewendon

8,429 reviews63 followers

This book highlights many of the reasons why I have become anti-political. There’s just so many ways for the unscrupulous to circumvent the system for their own benefit. Cameron and Brooke (AKA Cassandra/Violet) are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. To make matters worse, the key to her dream job could ruin his political career. Many of the secondary characters that Cameron and Brooke deal with on a regular basis made my blood boil, but I adored the pair of them. They’re both passionate and caring, and the dishonesty they’re living for the roles they’re playing goes against who they are at their cores. And the chemistry between them almost melted my reader. I really appreciated that this book comes out quite balanced between left or right political leanings. That one of the key themes is the search for common ground; finding the compromise to allow both sides to come out ahead.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.

Heidi

1,515 reviews15 followers

This was a fabulous read. It has politics, lies, secrets, hot and steamy sex, lust and love. Brooke/Cassandra is a spy for her best friend's father Owen. He wants dirt on Republican candidate Cameron Brice. Cameron's family is deep in politics and he has a dark secrets that no one knows about. He frequents sex clubs to fill his desires. His family expects him to do as they say and win the race and also marry Bernadette, a boring and bike person. While Brooke is following Cameron she finds herself in a sex club. They don't use their real names and now Cameron is wondering how he will find her afterwards. What starts out as lies and deceptions turns into more. The chemistry between Brooke and Cameron is so hot and Cameron has a real connection with Brooke that he doesn't have with anyone else. What will happen when all the lies and secrets are revealed? I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Cailin

316 reviews2 followers

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was highly entertaining, surprisingly so for a book where the male protagonist is a political candidate! I would have given this book a full five stars except for the fact that the male lead was in a relationship with someone besides the female lead and the two started a sex-based relationship anyway. They both rationalized the decision to engage in cheating for a variety of reasons, but the fact remains they were both cheaters. The female lead calls herself, several times, The Other Woman. That totally rubbed me the wrong way. Granted the relationship wasnt a love match, but still, cheating is cheating and I seriously and strongly hate that. The only reason I gave the book such a high rating was that the storyline, sans cheating, rocked hard and was pretty darn original.

Tammy44

767 reviews3 followers

Cameron is wealthy, handsome and a very successful man, he is also running for Senator. He is being controlled and groomed by his family especially his father (a past VP) who wants him to be president. They have even picked out the perfect stepford wife for him Bernadette. Brooke wants to join the FBI, that's almost impossible without recommendations. She is promised by the opposing party that if she finds information to bring Cameron down they will provide the recommendations she needs. This was a fantastic story filled with drama, lies, and passionate erotic sex scenes. Loved Cameron and Brooke together they had amazing chemistry. Extremely well written and all the characters were well developed. This is definitely a must read. I voluntarily received an advance arc copy for an honest review.

Peggy

2,275 reviews2 followers