The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
angie_stl's review
5.0
I received a copy of this book from netgalley for an honest review.
This is the first book of Ms Tretheway's that I've read. All I can say is "AMAZING"!! I'm not usually into politics of any kind, real or fictional, but the way it is approached in this book, it makes it seem realistic, entertaining, and like you are right there in the beginnings of a presidential race with Grace. I'm a pretty picky reader, noticing all the small errors and typos, but I don't believe I noticed even one throughout this book. The writing is superb, both technically and creatively. At times, it's hard to tell exactly who the bad guy is, who the trusted ally should be, or even which ticket Grace should be trying to jump on. I know somewhere I saw that this was supposed to be an erotica book, and while Grace and Jared definitely create some steam, I would personally say that this is a contemporary romance, because it had way more substance than I'm used to in erotica. The story pulls you in from the very beginning, when you're trying to figure out why Grace is so sad.
I would recommend this book to any fan of contemporary romance, as long as you don't mind some very steamy scenes throughout the book. I don't think you'd be disappointed in this book!!
This is the first book of Ms Tretheway's that I've read. All I can say is "AMAZING"!! I'm not usually into politics of any kind, real or fictional, but the way it is approached in this book, it makes it seem realistic, entertaining, and like you are right there in the beginnings of a presidential race with Grace. I'm a pretty picky reader, noticing all the small errors and typos, but I don't believe I noticed even one throughout this book. The writing is superb, both technically and creatively. At times, it's hard to tell exactly who the bad guy is, who the trusted ally should be, or even which ticket Grace should be trying to jump on. I know somewhere I saw that this was supposed to be an erotica book, and while Grace and Jared definitely create some steam, I would personally say that this is a contemporary romance, because it had way more substance than I'm used to in erotica. The story pulls you in from the very beginning, when you're trying to figure out why Grace is so sad.
I would recommend this book to any fan of contemporary romance, as long as you don't mind some very steamy scenes throughout the book. I don't think you'd be disappointed in this book!!
sarful's review
5.0
More 4.5. This was exactly what I wanted, sexy and political. It was a fun page turner. And the heroine was smart, articulate and fiercely independent but willing to jump into love. She was all sorts of awesome. I'm excited for book two!
stenaros's review
3.0
Perfect combination of politics, political consulting and hot sex. I cannot stop reading Heidi Joy Tretheway.
aflv_reads's review
5.0
The Phoenix Candidate is a spectacular book, with all the spicy ingredients!!
Sexy : Check.
Smart : Check.
Funny : Check.
Intriguing : Check.
Mysterious : Check.
Suspenseful : Check.
Emotional : Check.
Inspiring : Check.
Strong Woman as a Lead : Check.
The Phoenix Candidate is sinfully intelligent, with a complex plot and amazingly powerful characters. Every characters is extremely well developed and everyone plays a role in the story, from Tray to Lauren. Each and every one of them is special and significant, and the book wouldn’t be the same without them!
It felt like an effortless and beautiful choreography of movements and characters!
I enjoy sexy reads. I love the funny ones. I absolutely adore the ones with strong women, like Grace. But the smart ones? They are breathtaking.
The Phoenix Candidate has it all. It has the mind, the body and the soul.
It’s truly brilliant and I loved every second of it, even though it kept me up at night, because I couldn’t stop reading it!!
Lastly, I’d like to say that I didn’t know that it wasn’t a standalone, but a part of a series. But, for once, it didn’t bother me, because I really wanted more of Grace, Jared, Shep and Tray.
So, The Phoenix Candidate receives 5 Amazing Stars, because Grace Garcia Colton is the woman every woman should want to become. She’s an inspiration to all of us.
I can’t wait to see her kick more ass during the campaign!
Sexy : Check.
Smart : Check.
Funny : Check.
Intriguing : Check.
Mysterious : Check.
Suspenseful : Check.
Emotional : Check.
Inspiring : Check.
Strong Woman as a Lead : Check.
The Phoenix Candidate is sinfully intelligent, with a complex plot and amazingly powerful characters. Every characters is extremely well developed and everyone plays a role in the story, from Tray to Lauren. Each and every one of them is special and significant, and the book wouldn’t be the same without them!
It felt like an effortless and beautiful choreography of movements and characters!
I enjoy sexy reads. I love the funny ones. I absolutely adore the ones with strong women, like Grace. But the smart ones? They are breathtaking.
The Phoenix Candidate has it all. It has the mind, the body and the soul.
It’s truly brilliant and I loved every second of it, even though it kept me up at night, because I couldn’t stop reading it!!
Lastly, I’d like to say that I didn’t know that it wasn’t a standalone, but a part of a series. But, for once, it didn’t bother me, because I really wanted more of Grace, Jared, Shep and Tray.
So, The Phoenix Candidate receives 5 Amazing Stars, because Grace Garcia Colton is the woman every woman should want to become. She’s an inspiration to all of us.
I can’t wait to see her kick more ass during the campaign!
seeingnight's review
5.0
GENRE: Contemporary
THEME: Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
And to think I thought the TV show Scandal was hot and full of political drama, but Tretheway kicks it up ten notchs with smoking hot romance and political betrayal. I’ve only read a few political based novels, but after being introduced to the character Grace Colton, I’m definitely going to hunt for more tough political woman to read about.
The Phoenix Candidate follows Congresswoman Grace Colton aka code name Phoenix. Grace’s life is about to take an interesting turn when she is put on the short list as a potentially running mate for two sides. Grace is a true to her words woman, she has known great loss after her husband and child were taken from her and she sticks to her guns when it comes to her word and beliefs. But when she meets Senator Shep Conovers consultant Jared, she is shocked to see the face of her one night stand and a man she cant get out of her head.
Grace is a woman to admire; she is strong after the loss of her family and stays true to her voters and thoughts in politics. She also is lonely and when she meets Jared he doesn’t just sweep her off her feet he dominates and controls her in a way she’s always wanted. Grace is a little quirky and unsure of herself when it comes to Jared, he’s a bit of an unknown and surprise. I liked that she became more open and herself with Jared. With so much on her mind, being torn in two directions by two potential presidential candidates, I cant imagine how much my mind would be spinning. As a person she is down to earth and I was able to connect to her innocence and determination to stay true to herself.
Jared is an intense man at the beginning, I was a bit surprised in his controlled demeanor with Grace and wasn’t sure if he was to be trusted. I enjoyed watching his transformation once he meets Grace, her sweetness but also her no bull attitude, woke him up a bit. He deals with a load of political nonsense and works for a truly good candidate that he trusts. Grace is unexpected and he cant seems to keep himself away from her. Their moments are smoking hot and he knows how to push all of Graces’ buttons in all the right and wrong ways.
In the end I totally loved this new series, the romance was unbelievable, the characters have so much depth and emotion, and the political drama is so in your face real that it makes you think what really happens behind the scenes. This was my first by Tretheway and her fantastic hook line and sinker writing, definitely has me wanting to read more of her work. The betrayal and fake people that are introduced, I can tell are going to be a big problem for Grace in the future. She is going to have a lot challenges coming her way in the next book and I cant wait to see what happens next.
THEME: Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
And to think I thought the TV show Scandal was hot and full of political drama, but Tretheway kicks it up ten notchs with smoking hot romance and political betrayal. I’ve only read a few political based novels, but after being introduced to the character Grace Colton, I’m definitely going to hunt for more tough political woman to read about.
The Phoenix Candidate follows Congresswoman Grace Colton aka code name Phoenix. Grace’s life is about to take an interesting turn when she is put on the short list as a potentially running mate for two sides. Grace is a true to her words woman, she has known great loss after her husband and child were taken from her and she sticks to her guns when it comes to her word and beliefs. But when she meets Senator Shep Conovers consultant Jared, she is shocked to see the face of her one night stand and a man she cant get out of her head.
Grace is a woman to admire; she is strong after the loss of her family and stays true to her voters and thoughts in politics. She also is lonely and when she meets Jared he doesn’t just sweep her off her feet he dominates and controls her in a way she’s always wanted. Grace is a little quirky and unsure of herself when it comes to Jared, he’s a bit of an unknown and surprise. I liked that she became more open and herself with Jared. With so much on her mind, being torn in two directions by two potential presidential candidates, I cant imagine how much my mind would be spinning. As a person she is down to earth and I was able to connect to her innocence and determination to stay true to herself.
Jared is an intense man at the beginning, I was a bit surprised in his controlled demeanor with Grace and wasn’t sure if he was to be trusted. I enjoyed watching his transformation once he meets Grace, her sweetness but also her no bull attitude, woke him up a bit. He deals with a load of political nonsense and works for a truly good candidate that he trusts. Grace is unexpected and he cant seems to keep himself away from her. Their moments are smoking hot and he knows how to push all of Graces’ buttons in all the right and wrong ways.
In the end I totally loved this new series, the romance was unbelievable, the characters have so much depth and emotion, and the political drama is so in your face real that it makes you think what really happens behind the scenes. This was my first by Tretheway and her fantastic hook line and sinker writing, definitely has me wanting to read more of her work. The betrayal and fake people that are introduced, I can tell are going to be a big problem for Grace in the future. She is going to have a lot challenges coming her way in the next book and I cant wait to see what happens next.
autwills's review
3.0
Control. Control. Control.
*Spoiler Alert*
Backstory: Grace lost her husband and son three years ago in a gun massacre in a mall. She's pro-gun control.
The book starts out with Congresswoman Grace Colton in a bar. She hooks up with a stranger, who orders her to give up all of her control for a seemingly one night stand. The joke's on her when the stranger is introduced as Jared Rankin, the political consultant of Senator Conover, who is running for President.
There's a TON of sex in this, where Jared is the one in control at all times. He gives Grace almost everything she wants in bed, except kissing her. (I'm not sure how many times I would bed a guy if he insisted on not kissing me.) It took over 70% of the book to be read before they kiss.
Grace ends up as the VP running mate for Senator Conover, and she and Jared make up. Everything is mostly tied up at the end, except that Grace thinks she's pregnant. (In the time that Grace and Jared had unprotected sex, the story couldn't have made it any more obvious than printing it in bold and italics)
Senator Darrow (running against Senator Conover) has a bit part, but is overshadowed by his wife, Lauren. Lauren is written like a stereotypical political wife. All teeth and hair on the outside, but conniving and shady on the inside.
In last conversation that Lauren and Grace had, it's painfully obvious that Lauren has made Jared the way he is, and it takes even longer for Grace to realize this.
For being a Congresswoman, Grace is awfully dense at times, and wears her heart on her sleeve more than someone in politics should. Also, I got tired of the repetitive 1.2.3. ritual she mentioned Every. Single. Time. she entered her house. For these reasons I gave this book 3 stars.
(I am reviewing this for Kylie's Fiction Addiction)
*Spoiler Alert*
Backstory: Grace lost her husband and son three years ago in a gun massacre in a mall. She's pro-gun control.
The book starts out with Congresswoman Grace Colton in a bar. She hooks up with a stranger, who orders her to give up all of her control for a seemingly one night stand. The joke's on her when the stranger is introduced as Jared Rankin, the political consultant of Senator Conover, who is running for President.
There's a TON of sex in this, where Jared is the one in control at all times. He gives Grace almost everything she wants in bed, except kissing her. (I'm not sure how many times I would bed a guy if he insisted on not kissing me.) It took over 70% of the book to be read before they kiss.
Grace ends up as the VP running mate for Senator Conover, and she and Jared make up. Everything is mostly tied up at the end, except that Grace thinks she's pregnant. (In the time that Grace and Jared had unprotected sex, the story couldn't have made it any more obvious than printing it in bold and italics)
Senator Darrow (running against Senator Conover) has a bit part, but is overshadowed by his wife, Lauren. Lauren is written like a stereotypical political wife. All teeth and hair on the outside, but conniving and shady on the inside.
In last conversation that Lauren and Grace had, it's painfully obvious that Lauren has made Jared the way he is, and it takes even longer for Grace to realize this.
For being a Congresswoman, Grace is awfully dense at times, and wears her heart on her sleeve more than someone in politics should. Also, I got tired of the repetitive 1.2.3. ritual she mentioned Every. Single. Time. she entered her house. For these reasons I gave this book 3 stars.
(I am reviewing this for Kylie's Fiction Addiction)
beckymmoe's review
5.0
I literally could not stop reading this book. Thank goodness I had Friday off, because once I picked up my ereader that morning it wasn't getting turned off until I'd reached the end of the book. It. Was. A. Mazing.
(And now I have to wait for book 2 until APRIL.
Sigh.
But I digress...)
Grace Colton lost her husband and son to a mall shooting, so when she decided to enter politics (the the beginning of the book, she's a sophomore Congresswoman from Oregon) gun control became a major part of her platform, along with some environmental concerns. She's thrown herself into her causes and her work, but her personal life has pretty much been on hiatus.
Until she meets a guy in a bar...
And then her entire life gets a whole lot MORE.
The guy she had some crazy hot sex with? He's the political consultant for one of the Democrat contenders for the presidential nomination. The same contender who is considering Grace as his running mate...
But wait, there's actually TWO candidates looking seriously at Grace, and suddenly she's not sure who she can trust--including the guy she's having wild and secret sexytimes with and possibly falling for. Political intrigue and personal drama is everywhere, and public speaking, her former Kryptonite, is suddenly the least of her worries.
I loved Grace--she was so easy to identify with. She's strong, smart, and above all, human. Maybe she should have figured a few things out earlier than she does, but it's perfectly understandable why she doesn't. I cannot wait to read the next installment of her story.
And Jared? So frustratingly hot. You wanted Grace to be able to trust him, but should she, really?
God, I hope so.
April just can't come soon enough, and politics have never been so engrossing. Or sexy...
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
(And now I have to wait for book 2 until APRIL.
Sigh.
But I digress...)
Grace Colton lost her husband and son to a mall shooting, so when she decided to enter politics (the the beginning of the book, she's a sophomore Congresswoman from Oregon) gun control became a major part of her platform, along with some environmental concerns. She's thrown herself into her causes and her work, but her personal life has pretty much been on hiatus.
Until she meets a guy in a bar...
And then her entire life gets a whole lot MORE.
The guy she had some crazy hot sex with? He's the political consultant for one of the Democrat contenders for the presidential nomination. The same contender who is considering Grace as his running mate...
But wait, there's actually TWO candidates looking seriously at Grace, and suddenly she's not sure who she can trust--including the guy she's having wild and secret sexytimes with and possibly falling for. Political intrigue and personal drama is everywhere, and public speaking, her former Kryptonite, is suddenly the least of her worries.
I loved Grace--she was so easy to identify with. She's strong, smart, and above all, human. Maybe she should have figured a few things out earlier than she does, but it's perfectly understandable why she doesn't. I cannot wait to read the next installment of her story.
And Jared? So frustratingly hot. You wanted Grace to be able to trust him, but should she, really?
God, I hope so.
April just can't come soon enough, and politics have never been so engrossing. Or sexy...
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
simplynik's review
3.0
Thank you for allowing me to read the ARC of the Phoenix Candidate. I posted my original review months ago, but somehow it was deleted.
I am reposting again from my GR account.
I enjoyed the story. The political theme was a bit popular this year, but this take by Tretheway was original. I enjoyed how Grace was in the driver seat. I loved the sexy times. I loved how in control she was and yet she needed Jared at the same time. Overall a good read.
I am reposting again from my GR account.
I enjoyed the story. The political theme was a bit popular this year, but this take by Tretheway was original. I enjoyed how Grace was in the driver seat. I loved the sexy times. I loved how in control she was and yet she needed Jared at the same time. Overall a good read.
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