EIGHTEEN ACRES: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED
EIGHTEEN ACRES

BY NICOLLE WALLACE

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the former Communications Director for the White House and current political media strategist comes a suspenseful and smart commercial novel about the first female president and all dramas and deceptions she faces both in politics and in love.

Eighteen Acres, a description used by political insiders when referring to the White House complex, follows the first female President of the United States, Charlotte Kramer, and her staff as they take on dangerous threats from abroad and within her very own cabinet.

Charlotte Kramer, the 45th US President, Melanie Kingston, the White House chief of staff, and Dale Smith, a White House correspondent for one of the networks are all working tirelessly on Charlotte's campaign for re-election. At the very moment when they should have been securing success, though, Kramer's White House implodes under rumors of her husband's infidelity and grave errors of judgment on the part of her closest national security advisor. In an upheaval that threatens not only the presidency, but the safety of the American people, Charlotte must fight to regain her footing and protect the the country she has given her life to serving.

Eighteen Acres combines political and family drama into one un-put-downable novel. It is a smart, juicy and fast-paced read that we're sure fans of commercial women's fiction will fall in total love with.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicolle Wallace is a bestselling author and political commentator who appears regularly on news programs such as ABC’s Good Morning America, Fox News’ Sean Hannity and Morning Joe on MSNBC.  She is also a contributor to the Daily Beast.

Wallace, who served as communications chief for George W. Bush’s White House and re-election campaign, was credited with “injecting a tremendous amount of realism” into White House deliberations.  According to the Washington Post, she served as “a voice for more openness with reporters” (Washington Post, June 28, 2006).  The New York Times story announcing her presidential appointment carried the headline: “New Aide Aims to Defrost the Press Room” (January 10, 2005). Wallace was described by former colleagues as “very persuasive in the halls of the West Wing.”

Wallace also served as senior advisor for the McCain-Palin campaign in 2008.  She appeared frequently on network and cable news programs as the campaign’s top spokesman and defender.

Wallace is a California native and graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She lives in New York City and Connecticut with her husband, Mark, a former Ambassador to the United Nations, and their vizsla, Lilly.
Eighteen Acres is her first novel.

Here are some interesting facts about Author Nicolle Wallace:

• What is your birthdate?: 2/4
• Previous occupations: White House Communications Director for George W. Bush, Press Secretary for Governor Jeb Bush, advisor to John McCain and Sarah Palin
• Favorite job:This one!
• High school and/or college: Miramonte High School, UC Berkeley, Northwestern University
• Name of your favorite composer or music artist?: U2
• Favorite movie: Rain Man
• Favorite television show: Entourage
  To read more interesting facts about Nicolle Wallace, go HERE.

READING GROUP GUIDE AND BOOK CLUB TIPS:

This reading group guide for Eighteen Acres includes an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Nicolle Wallace. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book. 

INTRODUCTION
Eighteen Acres follows three powerful women in Washington, D.C.: Charlotte Kramer, the first female President of the United States; Melanie Kingston, the White House Chief of Staff; and Dale Smith, a White House correspondent for one of the top national networks. 

To avoid any "spoilers" that might be in the rest of this introduction and the discussion questions, the Reading Group Guide can be found HERE when you are ready for it with your book club (and this would make a really, REALLY good book club book!)

MY REVIEW:
“Eighteen Acres” is the area that the White House complex sits on and thus how it is referred to by those “in the know“. I thoroughly enjoyed EIGHTEEN ACRES by Nicolle Wallace because it gives the reader a real accounting of what could go on at the White House. With Nicolle Wallace’s credentials and background, the story rang true and I could feel myself walking the halls of the West Wing with the characters. Wallace is a former Communications Director for President Bush and also a media strategist for McCain/Palin. Her background allows readers inside the White House, Camp David, and the lives of those who run our country and gives the book a true sense of realism. I also was pleased that the story had no political slant to it despite Wallace’s former employment and possible loyalties.

The story centers around three strong women. Charlotte Kramer is the 45th President of the United States and nearing the time when re-election starts to play a bigger part than usual. President Kramer’s polling numbers are down when the book starts out. Between rumors of some kind of infidelity within the White house and an attack on the President’s helicopter which was poorly handled, the communications room is abuzz with doubts for Kramer’s reelection. On the personal side, the First husband, Peter, a great father and man Charlotte was once very much in love with, is having an affair. Does Charlotte know of this? The way this character is written gives new meaning to the term “a strong woman”. As the story goes on, the poll numbers begin to climb and the election Charlotte thought she couldn’t win, is now a strong possibility and one she changes her mind and decides to go after. How she does it, is one of just a few surprising twists and turns in EIGHTEEN ACRES.

Enter the second strong woman and that is the President’s White House Chief of Staff, Melanie Kingston. She has been with Charlotte forever and her loyalty is evident as she puts her personal life on hold and keeps the press in their place. Melanie is Charlotte’s number one speech writer but they also can sit back with a glass of wine and talk as friends in the wee hours up in the family quarters. However, with Melanie, as the story goes on, I respected her more than I thought I would as she makes some very serious decisions and shows the kind of person she really is.

Last but not least is Dale Smith, who is a TV network White House Correspondent. As hard as she worked to get to this position, she is not one to lose it. Yet, few people know much about Dale outside of her work. Some wonder how this single woman who turns heads when she enters a room can not have something she is hiding. Hiding is her strong suit as Dale Smith is having an affair with the First Husband, Peter Kramer. 

Knowing about these three women is important but how Nicolle Wallace created them is what counts as she has written characters you care about from all angles. They are real and as much as they show their strengths, we also get to see their weaknesses. The sacrifices they make, the stress of their jobs, the lack of a personal life, and handling all that their jobs involve was fascinating for me to read. Put that together into a wonderful plot, and you have a very satisfying story. I hated to see this book end as I was captivated by being an insider to all that goes on within EIGHTEEN ACRES. With a great story line, wonderfully written characters, and the bonus of the expertise of Nicolle Wallace to add to the authenticity, this is a book that will not disappoint!

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO LISA AND MY GOOD FRIENDS

AT SIMON & SCHUSTER, I HAVE TWO 

HARDBACK COPIES OF THIS WONDERFUL

BOOK FOR YOU TO WIN AND ENJOY

 

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE, AND THE VIDEO YOU LISTENED TO, THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK AND IF YOU THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR A BOOK CLUB

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK THAT I CAN FOLLOW

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO NICOLLE WALLACE'S WEBSITE HERE AND FIND SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT HER IN THIS FASCINATING WEBSITE

+1 (or +?) MORE ENTRIES: COMMENT IF YOU ENTERED ANY OF THE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAYS. IF YOU DID, PLEASE COMMENT SEPARATELY ON EACH ONE YOU HAVE ENTERED. 

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT

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GOOD LUCK!