I can't express enough how much I enjoyed this book. Throw in a love triangle, a zany political crew, topped with a grumpy vs. sunshine aura and you have a wonderful romance that keeps you thinking, smiling, and hoping that no matter what, everything will work out in the end.
New to the world of Ashley Winstead, I was optimistic when I saw the review by Lynn Painter (one of my favorite authors) and was thrilled that it not only delivered, but overflowed with laughs, aww moments, and a ton of heart. The Boyfriend Candidate takes you behind the scenes of the insanity of the political life - from slimy politicians, to back room deals, to debates, to scandals, and all the insanity in between that it takes to create the perfect optics in the name of winning.
Alexis is the primary example of what happens when good girls try to go bad, and fail at it spectacularly! Celebrating the anniversary of her split from her ex (but still hearing and feeling the impact of his criticisms), Alexis is determined to prove once and for all that she can be desirable, spontaneous, passionate, and wild. Well she can fake it til she makes it. Entering the Fleur, dressed to kill, she snags the attention of the last fish she would want - an overly loud and aggressive man who can’t seem to take no for an answer. Lucky for her, this fish was perfect bait for the gorgeous specimen that decided to come to her rescue. After buying him a drink to show her gratitude, Alexis and Logan hit it off and agree after a passionate kiss in the lobby that the night is not over. Apparently mother nature had a different opinion as a lightening strike causes a fire, requiring immediate evacuation of the hotel. A stair mishap and a rush exit, Logan finds himself partially dressed carrying Alexis out of the hotel. Unfortunately his heroic endeavor is caught on camera. Unbeknownst to Alexis, her dashing knight is no other than gubernatorial candidate Logan Arthur. Quickly thrown into the limelight on the brink of a scandal, Logan’s team orchestrates a counter attack - present Logan and Alexis as a couple, casting the intimate moment caught on camera as a mere invasion of privacy between two people in a committed relationship. Still determined to break free of the “Old Alexis” shackles, Alexis agrees to play pretend as long as they are willing to make a deal. As the two are forced to date, the lines between fictional and reality (with a little dash of fantasy) start to blur, leaving two people who are already in over their heads drowning in a sea of unknowns and what ifs.
What I like about it: There is a lot I liked about this book. First, the relatability of the characters. I felt like the author wrote about people we could meet one day and situations that more probable than possible. The incidents didn’t seem so outlandish that the reminder of fiction was front and center. The good guys didn’t always win, hearts were broken, bad things happened.
I had no idea what was going to happen from this book from one page to the next. What kept tripping me up was Logan and how reserved he always came across in the moments where you were expecting him to be …well him. Those are the moments when you really saw the impact of the life he chose and the whispers that constantly screamed in his head "Behave. Play it cool. Stay reserved. Don’t lose control!" I swear every time he had to fight back and cage who he truly was, you saw him die a little inside.
What I love about it: I absolutely ADORED the supporting characters in this story. Zora was like Alexis’s fairy godmother. Nora was a powerhouse. Cary had me cracking up. Let's not forget her sister and her crazy antics. Her coworkers were just wonderful and prove that love is trans generational.
Overall, I enjoyed the depth and development of the characters. Logan was determined to be whatever everyone wanted him to be, despite knowing exactly who he was. The fire and fury, the honesty and in your face attitude did not bold well for his constituents. To play the game, he had to suppress his true self - emulate the image and persona of the ideal character. For Alexis, it was just the opposite. She had no idea who she was so she, in turn, tried to be the one person everyone idolized - her sister. She never believed she was worthy, that she was enough. Instead, she constantly gave herself away, molded her image, her ideas, her beliefs, chipping away at the essence of what made her - well her until she was what everyone around her wanted, needed, and expected.
While this book was not down and out sad, the missed moments, the unspoken feelings, the longing just broke your heart. Normally miscommunication moments are frustrating in a book but here, you knew the reason why certain things went unsaid and it just create a melancholy feeling.
I can't express enough how much I enjoyed this book. Throw in a love triangle, a zany political crew, topped with a grumpy vs. sunshine aura and you have a wonderful romance that keeps you thinking, smiling, and hoping that no matter what, everything will work out in the end.