In A Political Affair, Mary Whitney tells us the story of a young and brilliant senator, scion of a political dynasty, and of a young intern working in his office.
"Yeah," one could think, "same old, same old..." Well, not exactly. Suspend your judgment, please (and forget about the Oval Room). Are you ready to meet Stephen and Anne?
Senator Stephen McEvoy has inherited his seat from his father, but now he has to earn it, against an ultra conservative Republican opponent. And polls are not that good. Fortunately the McEvoy family is strong and loving; Stephen's two sisters help him to run his campaign, and he can count on his mother's support. She's a powerful political matriarch, and Washington DC has no secrets for her.
In his romantic life Stephen is not as lucky as in his political career. Still unmarried at 32, he's had a string of liaisons, from vapid starlets to lady parliamentarians, but as we get to know him better, thanks to the amazing way Mary Whitney introduces him, it becomes evident that he's not happy, nor satisfied. He probably had to start his political career too early – due to his father’s death – and the responsibilities stifled him, warping his sentimental growth. His adventures are more stress relief than anything else.
Enters Anne Norwood. She's the new intern, preparing for her history major and, interestingly, her thesis is about another forbidden relationship: the one between Thomas Jefferson and his slave.
Anne comes from a Republican family - her father is a local District Attorney in Colorado – but her parents are open minded and wouldn’t dream to coerce her politically. On the Senator’s side, they decide she doesn't pose a security risk, because her credentials are good. So she's hired. At the beginning, McEvoy is Anne’s political hero. But when she gets the chance to see him from a short distance, she notices how he's also charming and sexy. Without even realizing it at first, she falls for him. Stephen's attitude changes as well. On discovering that Anne is brilliant, sharp and very pretty, he's smitten too.
However, Stephen and Anne are too responsible just to give in to passion. They know how this kind of adventure can destroy political careers – should it be known. They both love their families and are aware of their duties toward them. Can they conceal their feelings? Could they content themselves with being just friends – and from a distance – until he is re-elected and she has concluded her internship?
Most of the plot is about this struggle, but nothing of it is cliché. Stephen's family takes a surprising role, and the main characters find an original way out. For these reasons the novel is so good to read.
But the UST of the first part of the story is not the only reason that makes A Political Affair so captivating; the political setting is quite interesting, too. Unless you're an expert of the inner workings of Washington DC, you'll find a lot to learn in this novel, thanks to Mary Whitney's extensive research about party politics, campaign financing, shady deals, compromises and even soft blackmailing. We bet you'll feel that Stephen deserve to win the day, both as lover and as a politician who has a streak of morality well above the average.
So, when Election day arrives you’ll be biting your nails.
Camilla & Raum
