I’ve made far too many promises that are impossible to keep.
I assured the country a leader they could depend on and trust.
I vowed everything and then some to the woman I love.
Someone is bound to be disappointed.
Poised to become the next leader of the United States of America, I’m bound by oath of office to make good on every campaign pledge. Which means giving Georgie back something she sacrificed – the platform to make a difference.
But my stubborn pride may cost me everything – both the dream and the girl.
In the end, I may just have to break a few promises to keep what matters most.
Rebecca Gallo was first indoctrinated into the romance genre by her babysitter who watched hours upon hours of daytime soap operas. She harbored many inappropriate crushes on fictional characters such as John Black from “Days of Our Lives,” Orry Main from the mini-series “North & South,” and Edward Fairfax Rochester from Jane Eyre. She is still in love with Davy Jones from The Monkees.
Rebecca currently lives in the Southwest with her husband, tiny four-year-old terror, and a tuxedo cat with a limp. When she isn’t swooning over book boyfriends or dreaming up romances, she can be found educating the youth of America. Or eating tacos.
Forever Valentine PR and More is proud to present the release blitz for Presidential Bargain by Rebecca Gallo.
Presidential Bargain
Author: Rebecca Gallo
Release Date: Aug 14 2017
Cover Design:
Jameson Martin was the presidential candidate who needed a wife. I needed a way out of debt.
The moment I agreed to be his pretend fiancée, all our problems should have been solved. Instead, things got complicated.
Publicly, we were the picture of patriotic perfection.
Privately, we struggled with the one thing that wasn’t in our plan – more.
I didn’t realize how lonely my life was until Jameson filled it with everything I was missing. His passionate commitment to public service earned my vote; his icy blue gaze and the way he gave me a purpose stole my heart. But I wanted to be his partner, not his secret. And I wanted the one thing that Jameson struggled to give me – his heart.
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Rebecca Gallo was first indoctrinated into the romance genre by her babysitter who watched hours upon hours of daytime soap operas. She harbored many inappropriate crushes on fictional characters such as John Black from “Days of Our Lives,” Orry Main from the mini-series “North & South,” and Edward Fairfax Rochester from Jane Eyre. She is still in love with Davy Jones from The Monkees.
Rebecca currently lives in the Southwest with her husband, tiny four-year-old terror, and a tuxedo cat with a limp. When she isn’t swooning over book boyfriends or dreaming up romances, she can be found educating the youth of America. Or eating tacos.
All Eden Bancroft has ever been to her high-profile politician husband is a trophy wife, born and bred for the part. She believes she has no choice but to play it—until she meets a talented chef and restaurant heir who shows her the real meaning of love.
The more her husband uses and belittles her, the more deeply Eden falls for Kaleb. Even with Mitchell’s congressional campaign in full swing, the lovers manage to find brief stolen moments together. When her husband is wounded by a bullet from an angry lobbyist, Eden must stay by his side. What she learns can set her free, if she has the courage to take a stand.
“The beautiful wife of a would-be congressman falls for a sexy chef in this steamy debut novel . . . A spicy outing that should feed readers’ hunger for romance.” ~ Kirkus Reviews
“The Congressman’s Wife is a thrilling roller-coaster ride from beginning to end: fast-paced, sizzling with sex, yet constantly balanced on the edge of disaster . . . This is unquestionably one of the best books I have read . . .” ~ ReadersFavorite.com
“Your husband is an inconsiderate ass,” Sybil said over dirty martinis after their drive up the mountain. “Why do you put up with it?”
“Like I have a choice?” Eden had just told Sybil about her birthday dinner with the Romano brothers. “If I left, where would I go? Mom’s still living in Texas, in a little two-bedroom house, with another woman. There’s no room for me and the kids. I guess I could take them to my dad’s—and they can get to know their thirty-year-old step-grandma.”
Sybil laughed. “It would serve him right if you showed up.”
“Yeah,” Eden agreed. “But seriously, I can’t do that to the kids. It would rip their world apart, if I left their father just because I’m . . .”
She paused, searching for the right word.
“Unhappy?” Sybil supplied.
“Not really,” Eden said. “It’s just . . . when I’m not angry with Mitchell I’m bored out of my mind.”
“Even with the campaign in full swing?”
“Especially with that,” Eden said. “It’s nothing I haven’t done before, just on a bigger scale. I don’t think Mitchell can win and he’s spending so much money. At this rate, we’ll never get out of debt.” She blinked back the sudden, hot dart of tears before Sybil could see. “Still no reason to end a marriage.”
“Maybe when the kids are older.”
Eden finished her martini and signaled the bartender for another. “In ten more years, Rosie will be sixteen,” she said. “I’ll be almost forty-five. All the men my age will be looking for a younger woman.”
“So get a younger man. You need a secret boy toy. Be a cougar—it’s all the rage.”
A quick image of Kaleb Stavros flashed through Eden’s mind. “Yeah, right,” she said.
“What about that hot young cook you met at the fundraiser?”
“Chef.”
“Whatever. Did you call him?”
“No point. Mitchell and his campaign need my full attention, twenty-four-seven. Any time I have to myself, I plan to sleep.”
“All the more reason you should have a little som’n-som’n on the side,” Sybil said.
“Oh, come on—you know that’s not me. I may flirt a little here and there, but when it’s time to deliver—I don’t.”
“Well, that’s depressing.”
“Mitchell’s my husband. I took vows, you know. For better or worse—”
“Blah, blah, blah,” Sybil interrupted. “So let’s just forget him, at least for the weekend. Tonight—starting in twenty minutes—full spa treatment followed by hot chocolate in front of the fire. Tomorrow we’ll get your silly antiquing done in the morning and your blasted autumn leaves out of the way in the afternoon, and then little Sybil’s going on the prowl. You can come along and watch.”
Review
Politics is never easy, but having to pretend you're in a happy marriage only compounds the situation.
Eden's marriage is less than desirable and as the years have passed it seems to have gotten even more lack luster. She never wanted a love match but she did expect her husband to respect her. However it wasn't long after the nuptials she learned exactly why Mitchell married her. Being the strong woman she is, she sucked it up and made the most of it. The last thing she expected was the sexy chef that took her breath away.
Everything she never thought she needed was found in the arms of Kaleb. The love and intense passion was off the charts.
But she's a woman of her word and vows, she giving up Kaleb is what she thinks she must do. But when new information about her husband comes to light, will this be the push she needs to grab at the life she wants? Or will it be too late and she'll stay with Mitchell since Kaleb has already moved on?
The Congressman's Wife is an intriguing story filled with passion, love, and hope. I admired Eden and how she handles situations that come her way. Kaleb was sexy and he's desire to love Eden no matter the consequences.
Although I enjoyed this book, I felt it was a bit wordy in certain areas that if they had been cut the book would have flowed a little more smoothly. The sudden change of scenes were a little jarring, be it doesn't take away from the story.
Overall, I am glad I picked up this book. It's fun, exciting, passionate, and intense. Eden and Kaleb are a perfect match, bringing out the best in each other.
After reading The Congressman's Wife, I look forward to seeing what is in story for the rest of this series.
About The Authors
Charlene Keel has written over a dozen novels and how-to books as well as multiple episodes of popular TV shows such as Days of our Lives. Her Dell book, Rituals, was the basis for the first made-for-syndication soap opera. Recently she co-authored The Tracks, a YA supernatural trilogy. Shadow Train, the final installment, won a Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Award. Keel has also written screen adaptations of novels by bestselling authors, and has worked as editor or managing editor for a few international magazines. In her spare time she ghostwrites books and screenplays for celebrities, doctors, corporate moguls, spies, strippers and anyone who has an interesting story to tell.
Arie Pavlou is a popular chef who attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and then perfected his craft at some of the top-rated Michelin restaurants in France and New York. He has lived and worked in France, Cyprus and the U. S. and is an avid world traveler who speaks five languages. He enjoys all sports and has a talent for knife-throwing, which he perfected at Le Cordon Bleu. Currently Chef de Cuisine at the renowned Bridgehampton Inn in New York, his specialties include Caramelized Baked Alaska, Winter Salad, Roast Lamb Fondue, Wild Game and Poached Pears with Mint Ice Cream. The Congressman’s Wife is his first novel, and he’s currently writing a cookbook.
Today is release day for POTUSby Selena Laurence, a sexy political romance!
Grab your copy today and snuggle up wit a great new love story!
And be sure to enter Selena’s giveaway!!
A President beloved by her nation.
Jessica Hampton is the heir to a political dynasty. For nearly ten years she has given up everything in order to fulfill her late husband's legacy. But now, as her first, and she hopes only, presidential term draws to a close, she wants nothing more than to finish with the dignity her family demands. But when Jessica begins to negotiate an important Middle East accord with the sexy Egyptian Ambassador, being President takes a back seat to being a woman, and she will be forced to choose between the Ambassador she might love, the nation she's sworn to serve, and the family who's given her everything.
A son trapped by his father.
Kamal Masri knows all about being an heir. He's not only Egypt's Ambassador to the U.S., he's the first-born son of one of the world's wealthiest men. His father has controlled his fortune, his career, and now possibly his life. Because when the Egyptian parliament instructs Kamal to negotiate an accord that threatens his father's illegal business dealings, all hell is about to break loose, and Kamal will be forced to choose between the American President he might love, the nation he's sworn to serve, and the father who's given him everything.
Selena Laurence is a USA Today Bestselling author who loves Putting the Heat in Happily Ever After. In 2014 she was awarded the Reader’s Crown Award for Contemporary Romance of the Year. In 2015 her rock star romance A Lush Betrayal was a finalist in three national contests.
Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her kids, Mr. L, “Goldendoodle” and “Demon Cat.” When she’s not writing she can be found at soccer games and tennis matches, or one of her favorite coffee shops.
Political strategist, Elizabeth McNeal has been called a lot of things throughout her career—bitch being at the top of the list—but she doesn’t let it get to her. She’s bold, she’s blunt, and she takes orders from no one. This is how she’s survived working in a man’s world. She’s the master of diversion, and her specialty is winning an election—no matter the cost.
That is, until she meets her new client, Democratic candidate, Congressman William Baxter. Kind, considerate, insanely handsome, honest, and ten years her junior, he’s a unicorn among politicians. He infuriates her. He challenges her. Most of all, he makes her see past the scandalous world of politics and helps her to discover the heart of the woman inside her.
With sparks flying between them and the election rapidly approaching, the last thing either of them need is to be caught in a compromising position. Some lines are meant to be crossed and some rules broken, but for Elizabeth and Liam is it worth the cost of being politically incorrect?
Dark garnet liquid reverberated in the wineglass as I circled my finger around the rim. With every swirl, the motion of the wine increased. The effect was almost hypnotic.
“Elizabeth?”
The flicker of fingers snapping in my face drew me from my entranced state.
“Elizabeth, are you even listening to me?”
Truthfully, I’d tuned out the conversation a while back, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. There was only so much a girl could listen to when it came to what it took to make ugly people beautiful.
For the most part, this date had been a complete and total failure. At least he had good taste in restaurants, however, with the location being inside one of the most elegant hotels in Dallas, I was sure he had more than dinner on his mind. He could think again.
“Of course I am,” I schmoozed, gracing him with my most polished smile.
Dr. Jack Gamble had met all my criteria on his dating profile. First and foremost, I needed a professional man. Having been out of the dating game for far too many years, gainful employment was pretty much my main criteria. I didn’t have time to babysit a man who didn’t have a job and I certainly wasn’t going to become someone’s sugar mama. Work took up a lot of my time and I would never apologize for loving my job. If a man couldn’t understand that then he wasn’t the one for me.
My second criteria – he had to be good looking, and Jack fit the bill there. He was handsome with his ocean green eyes, wavy black hair, and perfect smile. While the black suit and red button-down shirt hid his body, it was easy to see he spent many hours at the gym ensuring he stayed fit.
And my third criteria, which was probably the most important of all, was he had to be a Democrat. There was no way in hell I’d be caught out on a date with a Republican. I’d never hear the end of it. I worked too long and too hard to make a name for myself as the political strategist of the Democratic Party. I might’ve enjoyed the occasional tryst with a Republican, but dating one, nope. Not gonna do it.
“Oh, really?” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. The luxurious white linen table cloth bunched beneath the Italian silk of his well-tailored jacket. His dark brow lifted and his lip curled into a half grin.
“Yeah, really.” I batted my eyelashes and widened my grin. Another tactic I’d learned while working with politicians. Lie all you want, but do it with a smile on your face.
Taking my wineglass by the bowl, I swirled the alcohol twice and took a sip, savoring the rustic flavor on my tongue. Up to this point there had been food sitting in front of me, which allowed me to keep busy. Now, the only place to direct my focus was on Jack and my wine.
This wasn’t the first date I’d been on since my daughter, Jordyn, persuaded me to get out there again, but this might very well be my last for a while. Men my age were full of themselves. They wanted a little thing, more like my daughter's age, that they could dangle on their arm as a trophy, not a successful woman who spent her life raising a child and making a career for herself.
Yep. It’s certain. Perpetual bachelorette life for me.
And why couldn’t I remain alone? What was wrong with it? I was happy. I had a full life. Just because I didn’t have a man didn’t mean I was incomplete. No. Dr. Jack Gamble had officially made me realize that finding Mr. Right wasn’t in the cards for me. Mr. Good for Right Now was all I needed. At least with him, I could toss him back when I was done. No harm, no foul.
Jack stroked the stem of his wineglass between his thumb and index finger. It took all the self-control I had not to roll my eyes at his unconscious sexual suggestion. He leaned back in his seat, continuing to tease the stem of the glass. As if to challenge me, he lifted an eyebrow and rolled his tongue along his bottom lip. “Okay. What did I just say then?”
Dammit! He had to ask that.
I had no clue what he’d said. For most of the date I’d been off in La-La land. He talked so much that I really didn’t need to worry about doing anything more than nod and ask the occasional appropriate question. This man was dull and entirely full of himself. He even had the audacity to mention his last girlfriend was only thirty. Who gives a fuck? I sure didn’t. It was right about then when I completely tuned him out.
I positioned myself so that my cleavage would draw in his attention. Just because the guy wasn’t getting any, didn’t mean I couldn’t use the gifts the good Lord gave me. I might be forty-five, but I still had a great rack. Pursing my lips, I peered over the rim of my wineglass as I took a sip. “You were talking about a patient,” I guessed.
He didn’t waver. His eyes flickered down to my breasts, but only for a moment. Those blue-green eyes remained locked on mine as a smirk curled the corners of his mouth. “Which one?”
I gulped down the last of my wine without so much as enjoying it. My gaze dropped to the black screen of my cell phone. If only it could give me the correct answer. “The one who had a facelift.” It was a viable answer, and I had a fifty/fifty chance of being right.
“Wrong,” he snapped. “I was talking about the penial extension I performed last week. You haven’t heard a word I’ve said all night, have you?”
Every inch of my skin crawled at him admitting to discussing such a terrible topic. In my line of work, it was customary for me to go to places no one else wanted to go. Dark, dirty, sweaty, smelly, seedy, or forbidden. I’d seen it all and did it all in the name of a win, but for him to discuss this, well, that was too much for even me.
My fingers drummed against the screen of my cell phone. The one night I wished it would ring, it was silent.
“Okay. You caught me.” I released a sigh. “I’m sorry. I just have a lot on my mind.”
Jack leaned forward and took my hand in his. “I can tell by the way you stare at that phone; you’re anticipating it to ring. Trust me. I know the feeling. My life is a constant on call fiasco.”
On call? Who was this guy kidding? He’s a plastic surgeon not a heart surgeon. Good grief!
His thumb rubbed along the outer shell of my index finger. “I turned mine off to be with you. So, how about you put it away for the night?” His thumb continued to rub along my fingers. “We can get a room and I can help you relax a little.”
I slipped my hand from his, resting it in my lap, creating distance. “It’s a sweet offer, Jack, but we’ve only just met.”
“But I feel as if I’ve known you all my life.”
Face meet palm. Of all the pick-up lines he could choose from, he went with that one?
I scratched the back of my neck looking for the waiter. It was time for me to make my exit and fast. “That’s sweet, but I think we need to get to know one another a little better first. Besides, I told you when I agreed to this date that I’m leaving town in the morning. I have to get back to DC for work.”
Jack ran his fingers through his perfectly coiffed hair. “I know what you said, which is why I want to spend the night with you,” he stated in a slight huff. “And quite honestly, you’re making me feel like a sleaze here. I only want to help you relax. You seem so tense.”
Nope. Just bored.
“Thanks, but really, I’m fine.”
“Okay. Fine. I understand and I’d never take advantage of a lady.”
I nodded, my eyes searching the room for the waiter.
Jack reached into the pocket of his jacket, retrieving his wallet. He pulled out a little black card and handed it to me. “How about you stop by my office tomorrow before you leave for some Botox.”
My smile dropped and my brow furrowed. “I beg your pardon?”
“Many of my patients tell me it’s very relaxing, and it’ll take about ten years off your face. It’s only an hour of your time and you’ll feel like a million bucks afterward.”
This asshole was serious!
My perfected persona dropped. It was a rare person who could cause me to break my polished demeanor, but somehow, Jack Gamble had managed it.
“Listen here, buddy, I don’t know who you think you are…”
Just as I was about to tell this prick what I really thought of his offer, my cell phone started playing the Star-Spangled Banner and flashing the name Guy Harper across the screen.
Saved by the bell, dickwad!
“Hold that thought.” I paused and took in a deep breath. “I need to take this.”
Without giving Jack a chance to respond, I grabbed the phone from the table, slid my finger across the screen, and answered, “McNeal.”
“My, my. So professional,” came Harper’s jovial tone.
“How can I help you?”
“Oh, right. I forgot. Tonight’s date night! I take it’s not going very well.” Harper’s chuckle only added to my bad mood. He was taking too much pleasure in my torture.
“You might say that.”
“Wow! This guy must really be a doozy.” Harper chuckled low.
I glanced up at my date. A look of frustration brightened his tanned skin. Served him right after insulting me like he did.
“You don’t know the half of it…”
“Well, then, ditch him, Bet, and get over here. We have business to discuss.”
Harper and I had known each other since high school. He was my ex-husband’s best man and Jordyn’s godfather. It was safe to say, he was pretty much family. I trusted Harper with just about everything, which was saying a lot. Trust was a high commodity in politics, and was never given freely. While I worked my way through college, Harper coasted through life on his family’s dime. He came from a long line of old money, but no one would suspect it if they’d seen him on the street. When I entered the realm of politics, he joined me by donating to campaigns for many of my most promising candidates. He always said his donations weren’t wagers on the candidates, but on me, because I was the safe bet. Hence, the nickname. Over the years, he’d developed a good eye for finding the right person for the job, so when he said we needed to talk business, I knew exactly what he meant.
I didn’t have to look up this time to know I was being stared down by the man across the table. Frankly, I didn’t care. Harper had given me the out I needed. “I’ll be there in forty minutes or so.”
“Perfect. See ya then.”
I ended the call and slipped my phone into my clutch.
“So that’s it? I try to help you by offering my services and you’re going to give me the brush off?” Jack sneered.
My eyes jolted up to meet his death stare. I stood up and leaned over the table, coming nose to nose with him. “My dear, Jack, your services are not necessary.”
“I beg to differ. Not only do you need some work on those crow’s feet, but I can help you get rid of those extra ten pounds you can’t seem to run off in the gym.” His mouth bowed and his thick brows lifted as if he’d actually one-upped me.
He didn’t.
I took in a deep, cleansing breath and plastered a smile on my face. “I’ll have you know I look damn good for my age. Now, if you’re interested in spending your time with a twenty-year-old blonde bimbo, go find one, but don’t you dare try to Dr. Frankenstein a woman to meet your stereotypical idea of perfection.”
“At least a twenty-year-old woman would know how to be engaging on a date. She’d listen to me.”
“Jack, if you’d had anything interesting to say, I might’ve listened to you.” I let out a half-hearted laugh. “But from what I did hear, I can tell you this. You and I are on the same side of the coin. We both tell people how to look, but the difference between us is I tell them how to act. So, the next time you try to tell a woman how she should look or what standard she should try to achieve, think of me and what I do. Because no matter how pretty you make her, she’ll never be what I turn my clients into. You see, Jack, I create power.” I moved in a little closer to him. “I create legends…” I paused for dramatic effect, “I create gods!”
I reached into my purse, pulled out a one-hundred-dollar bill from my wallet and dropped it on the table. “Don’t say I never paid for your services.” I dusted my hand over his shoulder, pretending to remove lint from his jacket. “It was nice meeting you, Jack.”
With a flick of my blonde locks, I grabbed my belongings and started to walk away. “Oh, and Jack,” I called out without so much as a glance back to see the baffled expression on his smug face, “the next time you want to implant something, how about you implant some brains in that head of yours, because you’re thinking with the wrong one, buddy.”
Throes of laughter reverberated behind me as I slipped into my frock coat and exited the building with my pride intact.
About the Author
Jeanne McDonald is an author, a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love. When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, chatting with friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.
Jeanne McDonald is an author, a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love. When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, chatting with friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.
Nothing gets by Elizabeth McNeal. As a forty-five year old
divorcee and a nationally renowned political strategist, she can claim to have
seen it all. Most of her adult life she’s focused on two important things ─ her
daughter and her career. Now, challenged by a new campaign and a new candidate,
Elizabeth is forced to reevaluate the things she most values and make some
major decisions that could impact her future.
William Baxter is a thirty-four year old Democratic
Congressman for the great state of Texas who’s vying for an empty seat in the
U.S. Senate. Accustomed to standing out in a crowd, Liam takes pride in being
true to himself and the people he serves. He refuses to fall in line with the
stereotypical persona of a politician. Backed by one of the richest men in
Texas, Liam is offered the chance to work with D.C.’s most elite political
strategist. With the odds already against him because of his party affiliation
and age, it’s an offer he can’t refuse.
Apprehensive about their age differences and driven by
politics, Elizabeth finds herself keeping score of their sensual game for
control. For the woman who thought she’d seen it all, the man in the eccentric
ties and a dashing smile teaches her a new game to play. Rules are made to be
broken. Lines are meant to be crossed. But in the high stakes sport of
politics, where one bad decision can destroy a campaign, can they afford to
rewrite the rules to meet their desires or will they choose to remain
politically incorrect?
