The Goode Governor

Goode Girl #1

by J.J. Arias

A female governor. An ambitious exotic dancer. An unexpected love story about shattering icy barriers and pushing every boundary. Governor Georgia “George” Fernandez has just announced her re-election campaign when a scandal implicating Mila, a younger woman working as an exotic dancer, threatens to derail her run. Her quick-thinking chief-of-staff spins the disaster by having Mila, a recent graduate of George’s alma mater Goode College, join the staff. From the moment they meet, Mila and George’s interactions are fraught with tension. Mila’s direct manner and disregard for rules are anathema to George’s conservative nature and need for control. As they work together, the women find themselves drawn to each other and unable to resist the lure of a physical and emotional entanglement. Mila might be exactly what George needs to access the vulnerability she forgot existed. But George has never been one for risks, neither with her heart nor her career. Enemies turn to lovers as a fearless younger woman melts her boss’ icy exterior in this irresistible, and steamy, slow burn, lesbian romance. The Goode Governor is an entry in the Goode Girl lesbian romance series, telling the stories of women loving women in and around a small, all-women’s college in Northern Florida. Books can be read in any order.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Politics, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers, Lesbian Romance, Contemporary

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2019

About the author

Hello! And thank you for finding me!

I am an independent author writing about fictional lesbians of all varieties.

My writing journey began with fan faction, and as much as I LOVED being part of a community of super fans, I got tired of working with other people’s characters to tell my stories. I started asking myself: Why should we string together pieces of subtext when our community deserves well-developed main-text about LBGT people and those who love them! So, that is what I aim to deliver.

If you want to know a little more about me personally, J.J. Arias is my pen name. I do have a day job, and due to the industry I’m in, I can’t write under my given name. Although who knows, maybe one day I can write full-time and come out of the … office? I am a Scorpio woman (I know, I know, but I’m a nice one I PROMISE) happily married to a uniquely wonderful Cancer lady. Together we have several fur babies of the feline and canine varieties.

So, here I am, and I hope you enjoy my writing! I’m very open to thoughts, comments, critiques, and knock-knock jokes, so please feel free to message me with any of the above – or anything else you would like to say!

Reviews

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interning for the Governor.

This is the first book of the Goode Girl series. I don't love everything about this book but I have to admit that I enjoyed it a great deal. I was drawn to the storyline about a Governor romancing a stripper-turned-intern and since it's one of those ice queen, age gap stories I usually go for, it was a satisfying read for me. Plus, J.J. Arias managed to turn up the heat when the characters eventually fall into bed together so that really pulled me in.

There were things I thought could have been better. Like the transition from Governor George's mild annoyance towards Mila to attraction felt abrupt and I didn't think the way Mila, as an intern, came to be in George's private space was altogether realistic. I also thought George's resistance to the idea of taking a step forward with Mila got a bit stale after a while.

But somehow I still love it. I think it's because Arias' style of writing and type of books are right up my alley. I've only started discovering their books and I'm already a fan.

[JulesGP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Implausible, no way could this ever happen, a governor falls for a stripper story that I absolutely ate up. And wanted seconds. JJ Arias is now one of my favorite authors so I decided to go back to her early catalogue and start the Goode Girl series.

The main characters are graduates of the fictional all women’s Goode College in Florida and the alumni affectionally call each other Goode Girls. Governor George Fernandez is running for reelection and unfortunately her beard of a husband gets caught leaving a high end gentleman’s club with an exotic dancer. For some reason, the governor’s team decides the only way to quash the bad press is by hiring the young woman, Mila, to be a fellow. She’s smart and qualified but it’s also important to just go along with the flow of the story. All I know is that the book is incredibly satisfying and the heat index is a JJ Arias trademark scorcher. I had a great time and am moving on to the next Goode story.

[hubsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally started and finished on Jan. 1, 2021, so I'd say a 4.5/5 is a "goode" way to start a new year, amiright?

This was a first by this author for me and I was hooked. An intelligent, strong, sharp and dedicated Governor whose passion is to help others, being swept away by an equally intelligent, driven, challenging and irritating ex-stripper? Nice. The writing was good, the story steadily pulled me along, the burn slow but hot.

[Heinerway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Good story. Although we all know that politics and lesbianism don't mix well.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story that yook it's time reaching the nub - but a good little pot-boiler. Highly recommended.

[LesReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well done story by J.J. Arias!
If you like gorgeous, strong willed Ice Queens then this is a must read.
I know I couldn’t put it down

[Best Lesfic Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say never judge a book by its cover but we confess that we did just that with this one. We found the cover wholly uninspiring and dragged our feet on starting this one. We’re just glad we didn’t skip it altogether because this is indubitably one of best ice queen + age gap romances that we’ve ever read.

Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age gap workplace romance, the hardest trope for me to enjoy. Arias does it in a way that doesn’t raise all my flags of inappropriate behaviour and power imbalance.

[Netgyrl (Laura) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
I enjoyed this story and find JJ Arias to be a consistently good writer. I enjoy the language she uses to describe attraction and the growing feelings between characters.


I was, however, somewhat surprised with how many story beats match the book I just read from her previously called “Destination You”. For example, in both books, there is a Cuban American MC that has a beloved father, who is suffering from dementia. They’re very different stories, but having read them back to back the similarities were kind of blatant. I don’t know that that’s necessarily a bad thing. It just kind of made me go, “Huh.”

Anyway, I enjoyed the story and will continue to look for more in this series.

[Amy Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent romance that I read in two days.

What I liked:
All of the characters. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once I did, I flew through it. I liked George and loved Mila, and I especially loved Josephine.

The writing was solid throughout.

The whole plot with getting Mila into the internship, and eventually the house, was a bit far-fetched, but the author made it work.

What I didn't like so much:
Personal preference, but I don't like age gaps. Normally, I can just ignore it or change the ages a little and it doesn't make a difference, but with this, their 19 year age gap kept coming up.

IMO, they said their 'I love yous' too quickly. I understand they'd known each other for months at this point, but they'd only officially been together for what, a week?

I'm off to check out yet more books from Arias now!

[Lorraine Rusnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a long buildup as the main characters fight their growing attraction. George has sacrificed a lot for her political career. Mila is a brutally honest woman who challenges George at every turn. George’s best friend and chief of staff Josephine sees how Mila has had a positive impact on the George. All she needs to do is get them to act on their feelings. Once they do their chemistry is off the charts hot.

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great enemies to lovers age-gap romance. George was set on retaining her seat as Florida governor for her second term. Her faux husband being photographed with a high class stripper, Mila was not what she needed to kick off her campaign. So instead of writing it off and hoping the media frenzy would die down, they hired her to work in her office.

What followed was highly entertaining with Mila being ballsy and constantly pushing George’s buttons. Their chemistry was sizzling from the start and the flirtations were hot. When George finally let go and gave herself to Mila, complications for them still arose but they were able to work it out. This was just a really well written read and I look forward to reading more from JJ Arias!

[Len · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m officially a fan of this author.


4.5 stars

[Sky. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The slow burn that really BURN 🔥🔥.

[Lisa R Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book.

Three college friends let their adult lives be intertwined to support the political ambitions of one of them. Twenty five years in, the ambitious one is the Florida Governor, another one is her husband in name only, and the third is the Governor’s chief of staff. The Governor is a closeted Lesbian and her friend is her beard. A young, ambitious, exotic dancer is photographed with the husband and scandal ensues. The story goes from there. I liked all the MCs and some scenes are hot, but the book needs an editor as it has many word errors. This is the first in a lesbian romance series and I’m looking forward to the next book.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read J.J. Arias's The Goode News last year, I knew I needed to read more in the series. The Goode Governor is another exceptional novel, with a slow-burn and age gap romance within this novel. I really felt for George at numerous times when I was reading this - a closeted politician who has put their own wants to the side for their political career. Meanwhile, Mila was a force to be reckoned with - I absolutely loved the character development throughout.
Looking forward to reading more from J.J. Arias.

[LE · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.J. Arias is the age-gap queen and really does this very well. This Goode book is very similar to Goode News, we have an older, sexy MC who falls for the annoying, outspoken younger and also sexy MC but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I'm a sucker for women in power and George as govenor who also works out every morning on a rowing machine and speaks composed in front of the masses is just a dream character. Mila was her perfect counterpart and I rooted for them all the way to the end. Sweet and enjoyable read!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another ice queen story from this author sans the supernatural aspect. George is the governor of Florida, who married a college friend to help her political career. Their marriage is purely for show. To say she's closed off & repressed is an understatement.

Mila is a exotic dancer(stripper) by night & working on her college degree. She is caught leaving her job talking to the governor's husband. This creates a scandal that can only be solved by the current campaign offering her an internship to help her with her studies.

Slow burn romance with HEA, but worth it.

[Joharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estaba muy emocionado por este libro de romance para adultos porque todos necesitamos un romance Sapphic sexy en nuestras vidas, pero fue tristemente decepcionante. Esta historia trata sobre una bailarina exótica y una gobernadora que se enamoran y tenía un gran potencial. Sin embargo, ¡realmente no sentí nada por los personajes! Sentí que la autora constantemente nos decía cosas en lugar de mostrar y a pesar de que pasaron 2 años durante el libro, todavía se sentía apresurado y como si no hubiera desarrollo.
Aunque habían momentos lindos, sentí que el ritmo de la historia hacía que no pareciera real su relación.


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[Blanca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is enjoyable but nothing more. I think it’s personal, because I have realised that I don’t really like slow burns. However, that being said, I didn’t find this book boring and I read more than half of it in a day. My problem is that nothing happens between them until more than halfway of the book and then everything happens extremely fast. I wish the book was faster paced or longer, because the ending and everything feels rushed.

[XR · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good.

[Mummy's Naughty Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. I know George was very closed off but she had to be because of her job. I liked the way she thought until the last moment. I liked the visit with her dad which changed her outlook. I didn't like the way they came out. It was too official and seemed like too much of a jump for George. It seems like she was so closed off that she pretended to have a husband for 2 decades then out of no where she was a lesbian and bam she told the whole nation. These are my personal feelings and I know that some will dis agree. It was still a good story.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abandoned: As with some with this tag, I liked it pretty well but by about 85% I had what I wanted out of it. By that time, they were together and happy and had a solid-enough relationship I bought it as long-standing. The rest was just going to either double-down on that or be drama. I had a bit of a hard time with the governor's mansion bits because I couldn't picture the building. It seemed unlikely, but not enough that I wanted to hunt down a floorplan and see if it could work.

[Orcbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun and extremely slow burn with two of my favourite tropes: age-gap and ice queen.

The leads' personalities clashed well and there were a lot of sparks even when they were in the "enemy" phase. It had a lot of teasing / flirting bits, which I loved, where they tested out each other's limits while being unsure if the other one returned their affection.

My one complain is Mila being an exotic dancer was irrelevant to the story and served only as a plot device for them to meet. For the majority of the book, Mila was a peer to George.

It'd have been interesting if the story took advantage of Mila's background to explore the mistreatment and prejudices sex workers face in relation to them getting involved in politics.

[Alex Lfr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Mila was simply fantastic, the kind of character that belongs to an ice queen like George because she isn’t scared in the least to face the imposing governor and pursue her. I missed an epilogue, I did, but I love the story.

[CK529 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of the elements I like in a romance, well written and engaging.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant read, likable characters.

[Veda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a 2.5 star just like mid I think like I didn’t really feel strongly about it didn’t hate it didn’t like love it was pretty average story

[J. Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good, powerful romance with some fun scenes that I found myself giggling at. The characters seemed real and the tempo was easy and light. The real romance didn't kick in until well close to the end of the book and the author keeps you wondering if the two characters will EVER get together.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this age gap, ice queen romance. Both leads are strong willed women who clash a lot before they start to respect and like one another. The governor is running for re-election and doesn't need the distraction. This all takes place during a campaign season, culminating in the election. For a short book, it took awhile for me to finish reading this, but that could be due to current events. The push and pull between them takes up most of the book, and then once they work things out, the book ends pretty quickly. I did like the way the governor revealed the relationship to voters and how the scene went.