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Nashville Spicy #1
Winning His Vote
Joe is a campaign manager who just helped elect the first Latino Mayor of Nashville. He was riding victory’s high when a call came from the state party chair inviting him to join a gubernatorial race, his first statewide campaign. This was his
chance to step into the big leagues, and he couldn’t wait.
David is former Navy SEAL, now popular Congressman representing Middle Tennessee–and candidate for Governor. He’s smart, suave, sexy–and just cocky enough to make Joe’s blood boil.
When Joe is assigned debate prep and starts grilling his candidate, the campaign takes unexpected turns.
Winning His Vote is a classic Enemies-to-Lovers tale steeped in the heat of political battle. If you love snarky humor and good, old-fashioned cat-and-mouse love stories, this is the book for you!
chance to step into the big leagues, and he couldn’t wait.
David is former Navy SEAL, now popular Congressman representing Middle Tennessee–and candidate for Governor. He’s smart, suave, sexy–and just cocky enough to make Joe’s blood boil.
When Joe is assigned debate prep and starts grilling his candidate, the campaign takes unexpected turns.
Winning His Vote is a classic Enemies-to-Lovers tale steeped in the heat of political battle. If you love snarky humor and good, old-fashioned cat-and-mouse love stories, this is the book for you!
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
220 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Casey Morales
51 books409 followersCasey Morales is an LGBT storyteller and the author of multiple bestselling MM romance novels. Born in the Southern United States, Casey is an avid tennis player, aspiring chef, dog lover, and ravenous consumer of gummy bears.
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May 1, 2024
RATING 4.5 STARS
Winning His Vote is book one in the Nashville Spicy series by Casey Morales. In true Carol fashion, I read the fifth book in this series first, Buckeye. I fell in love with it and decided I needed to start back at the beginning so here I am. This is a MM political romance and I enjoyed it so much!
Joe is twenty eight years old and just spent the last several months of his life as a campaign manager for the very first Latino mayor of Nashville. A candidate he truly believed in. With the publicity, he was quickly approached by the team for the upcoming Governor’s race. This will be his first state wide race.
Congressman David Reese is forty two years old and loves the life as a public servant. He truly wants to get things done for the people of Tennessee. Joe is hired as a researcher for both the upcoming debate and for the opposition. They want to make sure there are no skeletons in David’s closet that the opponent can use against him.
At first, David and Joe seem to dislike each other. Joe has many colorful names he privately uses for the Congressman. But the more time they spend together, the more Joe digs into Davids life, the more he sees the man beneath the political smile. There are secrets in David’s past, and Joe is determined to uncover them. But what will this mean for the election?
I loved these two together. This is a slow burn, but it needs to be as these two slowly uncover the layers of each other. And the ending was so sweet. These two had to work hard for their HEA. Now I am looking forward to starting the next book soon, Wrenched. It will be Sam’s book who is a small secondary character in this book. This one looks like it will be completely different, more suspenseful. I can’t wait!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish Worl.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Winning His Vote is book one in the Nashville Spicy series by Casey Morales. In true Carol fashion, I read the fifth book in this series first, Buckeye. I fell in love with it and decided I needed to start back at the beginning so here I am. This is a MM political romance and I enjoyed it so much!
Joe is twenty eight years old and just spent the last several months of his life as a campaign manager for the very first Latino mayor of Nashville. A candidate he truly believed in. With the publicity, he was quickly approached by the team for the upcoming Governor’s race. This will be his first state wide race.
Congressman David Reese is forty two years old and loves the life as a public servant. He truly wants to get things done for the people of Tennessee. Joe is hired as a researcher for both the upcoming debate and for the opposition. They want to make sure there are no skeletons in David’s closet that the opponent can use against him.
At first, David and Joe seem to dislike each other. Joe has many colorful names he privately uses for the Congressman. But the more time they spend together, the more Joe digs into Davids life, the more he sees the man beneath the political smile. There are secrets in David’s past, and Joe is determined to uncover them. But what will this mean for the election?
I loved these two together. This is a slow burn, but it needs to be as these two slowly uncover the layers of each other. And the ending was so sweet. These two had to work hard for their HEA. Now I am looking forward to starting the next book soon, Wrenched. It will be Sam’s book who is a small secondary character in this book. This one looks like it will be completely different, more suspenseful. I can’t wait!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish Worl.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
August 12, 2025
All I will say is that it took me a ridiculous amount of time I'll never get back to realize that Casey Morales is a very different person from K. D. Casey.
And thank fuck. Because this was not it.
Also, I *wanted* to say that this book is a product of it's time but turns out it was written in 2022 so......hmmm.
So. We have a closeted pro-life Republican MC(David), who for all intents and purposes is okay with this status quo until he's outed by his opponent.
Then Joe, the other MC is an openly gay man who's somehow okay with working for David(without knowing he's closeted) idk it was giving 'Gays for Trump' vibes.
Very one dimensional queer characters who just feel like caricatures. All of Joe's friends are very loud and flamboyant.
There's a joke made at some point by David's campaign manager after David gets outed that the only way they can win now is if his opponent Sally is pictured in bed with a small child.
Anyway. Did not work for me.
And thank fuck. Because this was not it.
Also, I *wanted* to say that this book is a product of it's time but turns out it was written in 2022 so......hmmm.
So. We have a closeted pro-life Republican MC(David), who for all intents and purposes is okay with this status quo until he's outed by his opponent.
Then Joe, the other MC is an openly gay man who's somehow okay with working for David(without knowing he's closeted) idk it was giving 'Gays for Trump' vibes.
Very one dimensional queer characters who just feel like caricatures. All of Joe's friends are very loud and flamboyant.
There's a joke made at some point by David's campaign manager after David gets outed that the only way they can win now is if his opponent Sally is pictured in bed with a small child.
Anyway. Did not work for me.
March 10, 2023
I started this hoping it'd be a bit like Red, White and Royal Blue but this was flat to extent that I skipped the last quarter. Let's start with what's wrong with this
1. The queer representation in this is outrageous to the point of being offending. Other than the MC, every single gay guy is flamboyant or everly feminine. The use of "mom" in every sentence and the no. of times they have "giggled" is annoying tbh.
2. There were so many characters who were introduced with (I think) to be a part of the story but there was no mention of them at all at the later stage. I think even the author forgot them lol.
3. The sex. Ridiculously flat. Sex between Joe and Sam (not MC) was this rough mild d/s sort of thing and between the MCs was so bland. Where did the passion go?? The angst??
4. The banter felt like it was written by a 16 year old tbh.. It was so stupid and cringey.. There was NO enemy to lover thingy going on.
Overall= meh.
1. The queer representation in this is outrageous to the point of being offending. Other than the MC, every single gay guy is flamboyant or everly feminine. The use of "mom" in every sentence and the no. of times they have "giggled" is annoying tbh.
2. There were so many characters who were introduced with (I think) to be a part of the story but there was no mention of them at all at the later stage. I think even the author forgot them lol.
3. The sex. Ridiculously flat. Sex between Joe and Sam (not MC) was this rough mild d/s sort of thing and between the MCs was so bland. Where did the passion go?? The angst??
4. The banter felt like it was written by a 16 year old tbh.. It was so stupid and cringey.. There was NO enemy to lover thingy going on.
Overall= meh.
November 10, 2022
5- Stars
Whether or not you’ve every worked on a political campaign, or as a staff member to an elected official, Winning His Vote by Casey Morales could not be a better read.
Getting to know and care for David, the Republican Member of Congress and former Navy SEAL who is running for Governor of Tennessee, and Joe, an openly gay campaign manager who is brought into David’s campaign to head the research division, is a pure delight.
Because the United States is still in the midst of our own mid-term election process to determine which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives, and which party will control the U.S. Senate, Winning His Vote could not be more timely.
Bottom line: Winning His Vote is an absolute must-read for anyone who cares for well written M/M romance novels, politics, or love.
Whether or not you’ve every worked on a political campaign, or as a staff member to an elected official, Winning His Vote by Casey Morales could not be a better read.
Getting to know and care for David, the Republican Member of Congress and former Navy SEAL who is running for Governor of Tennessee, and Joe, an openly gay campaign manager who is brought into David’s campaign to head the research division, is a pure delight.
Because the United States is still in the midst of our own mid-term election process to determine which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives, and which party will control the U.S. Senate, Winning His Vote could not be more timely.
Bottom line: Winning His Vote is an absolute must-read for anyone who cares for well written M/M romance novels, politics, or love.
December 27, 2022
Lately, I have seen a lot of talk about problematic AI art, so while reading this, I had a thought that perfectly describes this story: "This feels like a book written by an AI after being given the prompt "campaign worker and candidade romance" and the model's photo on the cover." That is also the only explanation I have for the author's obsession with light blue shirts with the sleeves rolled up; it was really weird how often this detail was referenced.
This story is, at best, underdeveloped and, at worst, shallow. Every single aspect feels undercooked and plastic: the romance, the character backgrounds, the American politics side (I still don't know if David is supposed to be pro-life or not, and if he is, then how the hell am I supposed to like him?) and even the ending.
Lastly, there are some very annoying side characters. The biggest example is Joe's best friend Pete, who reads as the living embodiment of how uninformed straight people think a gay person acts.
This story is, at best, underdeveloped and, at worst, shallow. Every single aspect feels undercooked and plastic: the romance, the character backgrounds, the American politics side (I still don't know if David is supposed to be pro-life or not, and if he is, then how the hell am I supposed to like him?) and even the ending.
Lastly, there are some very annoying side characters. The biggest example is Joe's best friend Pete, who reads as the living embodiment of how uninformed straight people think a gay person acts.
November 5, 2022
This gets the stars because it was very hard to put down.
If you don't love this trope as much as I do you'd probably say it only deserved 3. And that's fair because it's definitely by-the-numbers and the mush factor was a bit much.
I actually would have preferred a little more angst. After all, there's supposed to be a lot at stake here; that's what makes the trope work.
However, this definitely hit the spot for me and if you like the-politician's-secret-boyfriend stories I think you will enjoy.
If you don't love this trope as much as I do you'd probably say it only deserved 3. And that's fair because it's definitely by-the-numbers and the mush factor was a bit much.
I actually would have preferred a little more angst. After all, there's supposed to be a lot at stake here; that's what makes the trope work.
However, this definitely hit the spot for me and if you like the-politician's-secret-boyfriend stories I think you will enjoy.
January 2, 2023
The relationship between the MCs is underdeveloped, but my biggest issues with this book involve consent. Despite us knowing about Joe's attraction from his chapters, all of his actions at the beginning are about backing away and telling David "no." However, David keeps pushing. Later, he initiates sex without a condom for the first time, and they'd never talked about it.
November 12, 2022
Not perfect by any stretch but I couldn’t really put it down and read it in one day.
August 22, 2023
After getting Nashville's first Latinx mayor of Nashville elected, Joe has his sights set on his next campaign, but when an opportunity comes knocking, it's one he can never turn down. When now-congressman David decides to run for Governor of Tennessee, he chooses Joe to assist on his gubernatorial race. David doesn't make the greatest first impression on Joe, and Joe has mixed feelings about being on this team. But when debate prep questions turn personal and Joe begins learning more about the Congressman, Joe's feelings begin to shift...and so does David's.
I've had this one on my TBR for years but just never got around to it. In the middle of prepping for a move, I decided it was time to finally read it. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it also didn't really grab me like I had hoped. However, once the romance started to ramp up, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. Joe and David made a cute couple, and there is a lot of healing in their relationship. I found myself rooting for them the whole time, even when they hadn't figured out their feelings yet. This ended up being a very sweet read, and I'm glad I finally decided to pick it up.
I've had this one on my TBR for years but just never got around to it. In the middle of prepping for a move, I decided it was time to finally read it. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it also didn't really grab me like I had hoped. However, once the romance started to ramp up, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. Joe and David made a cute couple, and there is a lot of healing in their relationship. I found myself rooting for them the whole time, even when they hadn't figured out their feelings yet. This ended up being a very sweet read, and I'm glad I finally decided to pick it up.
January 2, 2023
2.75⭐
This story didn't hold my interest.
It's a story of a congressman's (R) political race to hold office as a governor with his (closeted gay) past being looked into and him consequently losing the race.
The characters weren't that interesting, well, I liked David, the congressman, but there was much more depth to him than what was written and his relationship with Joe, his staff member, wasn't explored as much as it could have been.
The story wants to touch the "closeted, but now openly gay congressman" topic, but for me, it didn't deliver.
The writing was a bit scattered, what was the point of the chapter with Sam? Or Joe's friends in the club? 🤔
As for the enemies-to-lovers trope, it held through their first meeting and that was that.
This is a Hallmark-y 3⭐ (strictly) romance read, it's a bit too everyday for my taste, but I guess for an average reader it could work.
This story didn't hold my interest.
It's a story of a congressman's (R) political race to hold office as a governor with his (closeted gay) past being looked into and him consequently losing the race.
The characters weren't that interesting, well, I liked David, the congressman, but there was much more depth to him than what was written and his relationship with Joe, his staff member, wasn't explored as much as it could have been.
The story wants to touch the "closeted, but now openly gay congressman" topic, but for me, it didn't deliver.
The writing was a bit scattered, what was the point of the chapter with Sam? Or Joe's friends in the club? 🤔
As for the enemies-to-lovers trope, it held through their first meeting and that was that.
This is a Hallmark-y 3⭐ (strictly) romance read, it's a bit too everyday for my taste, but I guess for an average reader it could work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2025
Needs another 200 pages to flesh out back stories and it’d be excellent.
October 20, 2022
Winning His Vote by Casey Morales was especially interesting for a non-American, as it allowed the reader to eavesdrop on the American state political system. It showed how the campaigns are run and the importance and influence of the donors who finance them.
Running to be the next governor for the state of Tennessee is Congressman David Reese. Ex-military and a widower, he appears on the surface to be a perfect candidate for the GOP.
Joe, flying high after being the campaign manager for their successful candidate in the Nashville Mayoral race, agrees to join the David Reese team to win him the republican primary selection.
Part of Joe's brief is for him to prepare Reese for what he will encounter in a race that could get personal and dirty. As their one-on-one sessions progress, they both feel the chemistry between them, and it's only a matter of time before they succumb to temptation.
I really enjoyed this gay romance. The protagonists were likable, the writing was good, and it was an enjoyable read. If I had any criticism, it would be that there was an inevitability about it. You knew from the start that gay attraction + GOP = disaster.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Running to be the next governor for the state of Tennessee is Congressman David Reese. Ex-military and a widower, he appears on the surface to be a perfect candidate for the GOP.
Joe, flying high after being the campaign manager for their successful candidate in the Nashville Mayoral race, agrees to join the David Reese team to win him the republican primary selection.
Part of Joe's brief is for him to prepare Reese for what he will encounter in a race that could get personal and dirty. As their one-on-one sessions progress, they both feel the chemistry between them, and it's only a matter of time before they succumb to temptation.
I really enjoyed this gay romance. The protagonists were likable, the writing was good, and it was an enjoyable read. If I had any criticism, it would be that there was an inevitability about it. You knew from the start that gay attraction + GOP = disaster.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 29, 2023
Some of the chapters built to a moment or conflict and then would abruptly end and move on to a completely different time/scene in the next chapter. I really don’t like that as a reader, I think seeing how characters deal with things (like an unrequited love interest) is really helpful in getting to know the character.
I also don’t like how Joe was super confident and competent in his job but then he’s attracted to someone and it turns him into a complete bumbling idiot (who scares really easily).
I wanted there to be a lot more conflict when it came to coming out. They are both working for the Republican Party and it didn’t seem like a big deal to come out publicly?? What?
I wanted to like it, but it didn’t feel finished to me. But the tension between the two was well written.
I also don’t like how Joe was super confident and competent in his job but then he’s attracted to someone and it turns him into a complete bumbling idiot (who scares really easily).
I wanted there to be a lot more conflict when it came to coming out. They are both working for the Republican Party and it didn’t seem like a big deal to come out publicly?? What?
I wanted to like it, but it didn’t feel finished to me. But the tension between the two was well written.
May 25, 2024
I enjoyed the romance. I just wish David wasn’t a slimy politician with a history of keeping his partners in the closet and denying them, lying about his political position to get votes, and being a part of a party who hates him and people like him. The author wants us to feel outrage at his political adversary for trying to out him for votes but who can respect a politician who doesn’t stand up for women’s rights or LGBTQ rights? He even says this nasty woman hating, gay hating opponent will be a good governor. WTF? And Joe spends his entire career trying to put people into office from a political party that would like to strip his rights from him.
Why make the characters so unrespectable? All the political stuff really soured my view of the romance and the characters.
Why make the characters so unrespectable? All the political stuff really soured my view of the romance and the characters.
March 27, 2023
I really enjoyed this story which is not surprising since I seem to enjoy all of the books I read from Casey Morales. This another one that is worth reading and the audiobook makes it even more enjoyable.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
November 8, 2022
I like this more than I thought I would, especially considering it's politics which I don't normally want to read about. But there was just something really nice about these two together.
January 12, 2024
not good
I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to believe that these were Republicans. There’s no way any of this would make sense.
I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to believe that these were Republicans. There’s no way any of this would make sense.
March 15, 2024
Something about this book called out to me. I've enjoyed political thrillers in the past, so I thought, ok, maybe a bit of politics in romance should be ok. Well, it was also on sale when I got it.
While it wasn't perfect, I did finish it quickly. Which tells me I'm vested in the MCs and their story. But was I ecstatic about it? Not quite. I don't know if I even fully bought into them as a couple. Very strange feelings indeed.
And given the current political climate in US right now, this did make me nervous going in. Maybe I was just dense or I just happen to be one of those who doesn't fully understand American politics but I didn't catch onto David's political party til more towards the end, doh...
In the end, like mentioned earlier, it was a quick read, so I guess my brain liked it enough.
While it wasn't perfect, I did finish it quickly. Which tells me I'm vested in the MCs and their story. But was I ecstatic about it? Not quite. I don't know if I even fully bought into them as a couple. Very strange feelings indeed.
And given the current political climate in US right now, this did make me nervous going in. Maybe I was just dense or I just happen to be one of those who doesn't fully understand American politics but I didn't catch onto David's political party til more towards the end, doh...
In the end, like mentioned earlier, it was a quick read, so I guess my brain liked it enough.
May 22, 2025
This was my first book by Casey Morales and I enjoyed it. It was interesting to understand some of the political environment as a non USA citizen.
I did struggle with the fact that David had been hiding his true feelings for most of his life, but then suddenly was okay with displaying his sexuality with Joe.
The story is well written, not too graphic or smutty.
I did struggle with the fact that David had been hiding his true feelings for most of his life, but then suddenly was okay with displaying his sexuality with Joe.
The story is well written, not too graphic or smutty.
October 26, 2025
This was a ridiculously silly book. I enjoyed reading it, and love the world they live in with a Latino mayor for Nashville and a democratic gay congressman. The writing was light. I don’t see how this was enemies to lovers at all, but it was an easy read. Not great, not bad, just….a quick gay read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2025
I didn’t realise I just committed myself to a series of male on male romances; not that I’m complaining. I really enjoyed the political side of this book, gave me a little more insight into American politics
April 18, 2023
I hate politics, must have sucked to research. Nice hate to love.
November 5, 2022
This political campaign is the only one to endorse!
Campaign preparation has never been so hot once the candidate and one of his staff start spending a lot of time preparing. David is running for governor of Tennessee and his confidence, intelligence and good looks make everyone want to vote for him!
Joe is the campaign researcher in charge of learning everything about David. It’s his job to ask the tough questions and craft answers to anything their opponent may ask. He is the best at his job even though he really doesn’t like David. He has to find out if there is something in David’s past that can upend his candidacy.
The main characters are so well developed and the story moves along much faster than an actual campaign! Thank goodness! Joe and David are wary of each other but that starts to change with their forced proximity. It leads to them becoming close and the heat they generate can keep Minnesota warm in winter.
I loved this book and I know I will be rereading it often. I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Campaign preparation has never been so hot once the candidate and one of his staff start spending a lot of time preparing. David is running for governor of Tennessee and his confidence, intelligence and good looks make everyone want to vote for him!
Joe is the campaign researcher in charge of learning everything about David. It’s his job to ask the tough questions and craft answers to anything their opponent may ask. He is the best at his job even though he really doesn’t like David. He has to find out if there is something in David’s past that can upend his candidacy.
The main characters are so well developed and the story moves along much faster than an actual campaign! Thank goodness! Joe and David are wary of each other but that starts to change with their forced proximity. It leads to them becoming close and the heat they generate can keep Minnesota warm in winter.
I loved this book and I know I will be rereading it often. I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 22, 2022
As someone who has always been fascinated by the political machine, having that combined with my fondness for LGBTQ+ romance was a perfect match in a lot of ways. I'm all too used to romances treating their leads' careers and industries as nothing but window-dressing though and was trying not to get my hopes up too much. I shouldn't have worried ultimately because 'Winning His Vote' very much serves up a novel where politics is integral to the plot. And the main characters are extremely competent at what they do.
The description and humor are some of the highest selling points of the story. Shifting first person point of view between David and Joe (most of the novel is in Joe's), both characters still have distinct voices for the most part. Humor and interests being the bulk of how that was done. While I enjoyed both, Joe was by far my favorite for phrases like: "his butt gave me a vertical smile." The dialogue was also very strong throughout the novel.
However, despite the above praise, I ultimately gave the novel 4 stars. There were a few inconsistencies within the characters that made some of their actions feel less believable or the gains feel less earned in some ways. At certain parts, I also feel like the reader would have gotten a stronger attachment to the characters if the other point of view had been used instead to approach the scene.
The novel also fell prey to what I call secondary character syndrome. A character not to be heard from or seen again was fleshed out too much to just be a plot point and only offhandedly mentioned again when it's convenient to create artificial tension. I also think that two chapters were mixed up somehow (19 and 20) which led to quite a bit of confusion surrounding what is one of the most important developments of the two characters.
I did highly enjoy reading my copy of 'Winning His Vote' and recommend it to anyone who likes their m/m romances with a little bit of extra drama in the form of politics. And despite not rating this one full stars, the author is clearly a talented writer whose work I'd like to see more of.
The description and humor are some of the highest selling points of the story. Shifting first person point of view between David and Joe (most of the novel is in Joe's), both characters still have distinct voices for the most part. Humor and interests being the bulk of how that was done. While I enjoyed both, Joe was by far my favorite for phrases like: "his butt gave me a vertical smile." The dialogue was also very strong throughout the novel.
However, despite the above praise, I ultimately gave the novel 4 stars. There were a few inconsistencies within the characters that made some of their actions feel less believable or the gains feel less earned in some ways. At certain parts, I also feel like the reader would have gotten a stronger attachment to the characters if the other point of view had been used instead to approach the scene.
The novel also fell prey to what I call secondary character syndrome. A character not to be heard from or seen again was fleshed out too much to just be a plot point and only offhandedly mentioned again when it's convenient to create artificial tension. I also think that two chapters were mixed up somehow (19 and 20) which led to quite a bit of confusion surrounding what is one of the most important developments of the two characters.
I did highly enjoy reading my copy of 'Winning His Vote' and recommend it to anyone who likes their m/m romances with a little bit of extra drama in the form of politics. And despite not rating this one full stars, the author is clearly a talented writer whose work I'd like to see more of.
October 18, 2022
I became a fan of Casey Morales since I read his Raised by Wolves Complete Box Set series, and that hasn't changed at all after reading this book!
I have to say, I don't know much about the political goings-on of the United States, since I'm from Argentina, but I was able to follow and understand the main points in the political campaigns that Casey describes in Winning His Vote, and the decisions and situations that must be taken and faced by those involved. And its consequences. Though that is not very different from what is lived here in my country and in many others.
In this case we have Joe, a skilled political winner-maker, openly gay, something that I understand is quite unusual within the political party for which he works. On the other, we have David, a Congressman, aspiring Governor, and with a couple of painful secrets that he believes are well kept.
Joe has a particular dislike for David, something that begins to change when he starts working for him and begins to delve into his life and his past, discovering that beneath his arrogant facade there is a vulnerable man with much to lose. lose. And David feels that Joe brings out those feelings, those impulses that he buried long ago, making it almost impossible for him to ever ignore them again.
Finally, when the fight reaches its climax, everything begins to be revealed, causing David to decide what is really important. His career, or being true to himself for the first time.
Once again, I find this author's way of writing refreshing. A topic that should probably be heavier and more tangled, he somehow keeps it simple and entertaining. The scenes between the MCs flow, although maybe, I would have thought that David would hesitate more before kissing or even having sex with Joe, because initially, he had denied his sexuality to him, but somehow, it also goes with his personality . And the secondary characters? Incredible. I hope Pete has his own story!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
I have to say, I don't know much about the political goings-on of the United States, since I'm from Argentina, but I was able to follow and understand the main points in the political campaigns that Casey describes in Winning His Vote, and the decisions and situations that must be taken and faced by those involved. And its consequences. Though that is not very different from what is lived here in my country and in many others.
In this case we have Joe, a skilled political winner-maker, openly gay, something that I understand is quite unusual within the political party for which he works. On the other, we have David, a Congressman, aspiring Governor, and with a couple of painful secrets that he believes are well kept.
Joe has a particular dislike for David, something that begins to change when he starts working for him and begins to delve into his life and his past, discovering that beneath his arrogant facade there is a vulnerable man with much to lose. lose. And David feels that Joe brings out those feelings, those impulses that he buried long ago, making it almost impossible for him to ever ignore them again.
Finally, when the fight reaches its climax, everything begins to be revealed, causing David to decide what is really important. His career, or being true to himself for the first time.
Once again, I find this author's way of writing refreshing. A topic that should probably be heavier and more tangled, he somehow keeps it simple and entertaining. The scenes between the MCs flow, although maybe, I would have thought that David would hesitate more before kissing or even having sex with Joe, because initially, he had denied his sexuality to him, but somehow, it also goes with his personality . And the secondary characters? Incredible. I hope Pete has his own story!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
November 7, 2022
Nice story with an HEA. The dynamic between David and Joe was well written. The plot was good. The pacing was okay. Some parts dragged a bit. I enjoyed the character depth of David. His emotions were very well written. Overall a nice read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 24, 2022
Very interesting campaign romance
My first book by Casey Morales and I'm impressed. I thought this would be a romance set against an election campaign but that wasn't the case at all. Joe and David meet through politics and the story is absolutely all about David's campaign and Joe's job as part of his campaign staff.
American politics are probably a mystery to anyone not American, myself included, but I absolutely adored The West Wing so there's that! Casey drew me in with both the everyday slog that candidates endure and the relationship that develops between Joe and David.
I felt the connection between the two men but thought they were very reckless in their behaviour as they became closer. It was clear they were becoming besotted but it didn't ring completely true with how indiscreet they could be and at the very least, they could have kept the constant glancing and the affectionate looks under control.
I was impressed with the way the story played out and that Casey managed to surprise me. I hope that the bright and shiny Pete gets his own story because he deserves his moment in the spotlight.
My first book by Casey Morales and I'm impressed. I thought this would be a romance set against an election campaign but that wasn't the case at all. Joe and David meet through politics and the story is absolutely all about David's campaign and Joe's job as part of his campaign staff.
American politics are probably a mystery to anyone not American, myself included, but I absolutely adored The West Wing so there's that! Casey drew me in with both the everyday slog that candidates endure and the relationship that develops between Joe and David.
I felt the connection between the two men but thought they were very reckless in their behaviour as they became closer. It was clear they were becoming besotted but it didn't ring completely true with how indiscreet they could be and at the very least, they could have kept the constant glancing and the affectionate looks under control.
I was impressed with the way the story played out and that Casey managed to surprise me. I hope that the bright and shiny Pete gets his own story because he deserves his moment in the spotlight.
September 24, 2022
Winning His Vote by Casey Morales takes an intriguing look at politics and campaigning for office while also being a love story. Joe works in campaigns mostly doing research on the opposition and helping his candidate be ready for whatever is thrown at him/her. Later he generally moves up the ranks into other jobs as the election gets closer. When this story starts he has just helped the first Latino become mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. Now that that job is done he is ready to move on to another campaign and is asked to help Congressman David Reese win the election for governor of that state. At first Joe finds David to be arrogant and a jerk, hiding behind a mask and not showing who he truly is. Joe has to quiz him on his life and political positions and anything the opposition might find out about him so he can be prepared to defend himself. It is during this time, and on campaign stops, that Joe starts to see glimpses of the real David behind his mask and slowly finds things to like about him. In fact, he begins to like him so much that he becomes very attracted to him. David has gone through some trials. He was a Navy SEAL that had dealt with some hard issues and his wife had died in an accident. He was also hiding that he was bi as that would mean death to his campaign because he was a Republican and also the state is very conservative. However, he soon becomes attracted to Joe and eventually they act on it. The story continues with its political ups and downs and the consequences of their relationship and has an ending you don’t see coming. This is the second book I have ready by Casey Morales and I have thoroughly enjoyed both books. He has an easy writing style that keeps you interested and wanting to read more. His characters, both main and side, are very well written and believable. They are also very snarky toward each other and I often found myself laughing out loud at what was being said and by their actions. I also learned a lot about the behind the scenes workings of a high level government campaign and what it means for both the candidate and his/her staff. Mr. Morales has a way of working this in while keeping the love story in the forefront and showing how it affected and challenged both of the main characters. I also liked how he worked in political topics that are current today. This was a story that I kept thinking about after I finished reading it so you know it is a good one. I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
October 15, 2022
What are charming romance!
Based on his success in winning the mayoral contest in Nashville, Joe has been tapped to join Congressman David Reece's campaign for Governor of Tennessee. It is interesting that Joe, who is openly gay, has found a home in running Republican races. Joe thinks working on David's campaign will be an easy victory: David is a handsome, former SEAL, who has tons of charisma with the wide range of voters included within Tennessee. What a feather in Joe's cap this will be!
Except, there is more beneath the surface that David tries hard to suppress, and it's Joe's job to find out what that is. Joe is stunned when he discovers that the recently widowed David, who clearly loved his wife, is in fact gay. And David definitely has feelings for Joe.
The reasons I'm giving this book a 4 star, rather than a 5 star is twofold:
1. When Joe is suspicious, but has not confirmed that David is gay, David makes it very clear by kissing Joe, not tentatively as a deeply closeted gay who has NOT confirmed that Joe is really into him, but thoroughly, without much preamble.
And not too much later, after Joe says, "Hey, wait a minute. We might want to consider the consequences here, " David strips down naked to make it clear that he is VERY interested in Joe, dam the consequences. This came as a surprise to me, especially in today's consent culture. It was very aggressive.
2. While I appreciated that David DOES have to face the consequences of his affair with Joe, they are too mild in my opinion. At least there is some acknowledgement of the real world.
Overall, this was a decent romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Based on his success in winning the mayoral contest in Nashville, Joe has been tapped to join Congressman David Reece's campaign for Governor of Tennessee. It is interesting that Joe, who is openly gay, has found a home in running Republican races. Joe thinks working on David's campaign will be an easy victory: David is a handsome, former SEAL, who has tons of charisma with the wide range of voters included within Tennessee. What a feather in Joe's cap this will be!
Except, there is more beneath the surface that David tries hard to suppress, and it's Joe's job to find out what that is. Joe is stunned when he discovers that the recently widowed David, who clearly loved his wife, is in fact gay. And David definitely has feelings for Joe.
The reasons I'm giving this book a 4 star, rather than a 5 star is twofold:
1. When Joe is suspicious, but has not confirmed that David is gay, David makes it very clear by kissing Joe, not tentatively as a deeply closeted gay who has NOT confirmed that Joe is really into him, but thoroughly, without much preamble.
And not too much later, after Joe says, "Hey, wait a minute. We might want to consider the consequences here, " David strips down naked to make it clear that he is VERY interested in Joe, dam the consequences. This came as a surprise to me, especially in today's consent culture. It was very aggressive.
2. While I appreciated that David DOES have to face the consequences of his affair with Joe, they are too mild in my opinion. At least there is some acknowledgement of the real world.
Overall, this was a decent romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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October 26, 2022Well written and developed story. Interesting characters and relationships among them plus lots of emotions flying around. Interesting reality and background that adds to the story. Good plot. Definitely Enjoyable read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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