The details…
- Title: Presidential
- Author: Lola Keeley
- Publisher: Ylva Publishing
- Publication date: December 12, 2022
- Available formats: ebook, paperback
- Digital file size: 1970 KB
- Print length: 330 pages
- Genre: romance
- Themes: women loving women, bisexuality, the US presidency, politics, the secret service, family, gun violence, hospitals, doctors, heart surgery, widowhood, politicians, elected officials
- Tropes: women in power, age gap
The blurb from the publisher…
How can you find love when the whole world is watching?
High-flying pediatric surgeon Emily Lawrence is new to Washington DC. Her first week in her new job puts her on a collision course with the most powerful woman in America, President Calvin.
Constance “Connie” Calvin’s first term is proving turbulent thanks to trying to juggle work and life as a widowed single mother to a 12-year-old boy. Running for re-election is imminent, and the critics are gunning for her. Worse, her famed icy cool is in danger of melting in the face of Emily’s passion, commitment, and charm.
Admitting the rising sexual tension between the women is just the start. How can they act on it while in the public glare? Giving into temptation comes with such risk. In a world that lives and dies on opinion polls, what will the country make of them?
A charged, age-gap, lesbian romance that puts the power in power couple.
My thoughts…
This story has a bit of a history, and I find it’s changes interesting. It was originally written as a Supercat fanfic a few years back, paying homage to the movie The American President. Keeley made it no secret that she absolutely loves the movie, noting before her 2020 original version’s release that it was like a love letter to Aaron Sorkin. The book garnered some concerns over similarities to the 1995 screenplay, and Ylva decided at that time it was best to pull the 2020 version. Keeley fans were disappointed but understood Ylva’s desire to steer clear of any potential legal action. They shrugged, thought that was that and patiently awaited her next release.
However, that wasn’t that. Keeley was determined to tell this story. She reworked the narrative to Ylva’s satisfaction and the result is something any fan of queer romance would gobble up, especially those that love political drama. I am happy she stuck with this story and brought it to print. The end result is a glamorous, political romance very much worth reading.
Keeley is a seasoned writer and knows how to construct an engrossing tale. She’s known for her captivating characters, and she does a nice job with the characterization of these powerful and magnetic women. Connie and Emily are compelling characters. They’re strong, passionate and enterprising women. Readers can not help but be drawn to their spirited energy. Their story arc is equally as engaging. Readers are intrigued by their romance; it’s dramatically drawn out on the page and hard to resist. Presidential is as entertaining as it is thought provoking, dipping its feet into relevant issues that need more positive action. To say it’s content is timely would be an understatement.
Final thoughts…
The narrative of this romance completely pulled me into its pages; I absolutely enjoyed my time with Connie and Emily. The behind the scenes look at a president’s life is fascinating; anyone that loves politics will most likely be enthralled. My only caution would be that readers should prepare for a bit of a fast-tracked love affair. However, I suppose nothing on the president’s agenda moves slowly, so why should their love life be any different? Aside from that, rest assured that Presidential is a fast-paced, exciting romance well worth the read.
Strengths…
- Fantastic story world
- Intriguing storyline
- Dynamic and engaging characters
- Relevant and timely subject matter
- Fast-paced and highly entertaining
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A bit about the author…
Lola Keeley is a writer and coder. After moving to London to pursue her love of theatre, she later wound up living every five-year-old’s dream of being a train driver on the London Underground. She has since emerged, blinking into the sunlight, to find herself writing books. She now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with her wife and four cats.
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