Private Politics

Reviews

“The final resolution fit quite well with who Liam and Alyse are shown to be in the story … I liked Private Politics very much, and heartily recommend it.” – Cooking Up Romance

“After all, who isn’t for literacy, nerdy boy bloggers, pretty girls, and love winning out? Curmudgeons, obviously but for the rest of us, Private Politics is a good escape.” – Dear Author

“I loved the dynamic between the two of them, because they seem like such the odd couple, but in reality I think they compliment each other so well. … If you like political mysteries wrapped up in a romance, I would highly recommend this book for you.” – Home. Love. Books.

“I just loved them together, how they surprise each other, and how hard it is for them to negotiate their relationship. I loved the romance[.]” – Immersed in Books

“In a word, [Miss Bates] loved Barry’s novel. In this her third, Barry’s hand shows growth and confidence; her pacing is better, her writing coming across as effortless … one of the most delightful, original contemporary romance series the genre offers.” – Miss Bates Reads Romance

“Barry strikes an easy balance between the intrigue of scandal and the tension of new romance.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Barry flips the confident male/self-doubting female stereotype common to conventional romance on its head…The novel isn’t content to give just one take-away message about stereotypes. Instead, it insists we take a more complex view.” – Romance Novels for Feminists

“Intrigue and passion go hand in hand in this reluctant romance … Engaging characters, humorous dialogue and smooth plotting make this political escapade an enjoyable read.” – Romantic Times Book Reviews

“[Liam is] totally sexy and adorable. …A satisfying romance and resolution to the light suspense. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one.” – Smexy Books

Frequently Asked Questions:

• How do I buy it? It is now called The One You Need, and as of 2/21/22, it’s available again at e-book and print retailers.
• How long is Private Politics? 71,000 words, or on the shorter end of single-title length.
• What’s the heat level? It’s sensual but not erotic.
• Are there any content notes? On-page sex and alcohol use; profanity; mild suspense elements and peril.
• What inspired you to write the book? I love beta heroes and as soon as I met Liam in Special Interests, I knew he would get a book. The next time I heard the Stars song “Elevator Love Letter,” I had a plot. The Pinterest board for the book with more music and images is here.
• What was the writing process like? Scary but pretty quick! I sold the series but only had vague ideas about books 2 and 3 (see more here). I wrote Private Politics during the late summer/early fall of 2013.
• Can it standalone? Yes. While it is the second book in a series, there’s no information that you need from the first book.
• I don’t like politics. Should I still read the book? I answered this question re: the first book in the series in depth here. The only thing I’ll add is that Private Politics doesn’t have any partisan politics. Nobody’s party affiliation matters; no one is looking for votes for a bill. It’s a good, old fashioned, money-laundering scandal, with longing and Mahler and suspense dropped in.
• What happens next for Alyse and Liam? I wrote an epilogue, which you can read here.
• I’d like to review the book. Awesome! I hope you love it, but if you don’t, I support your right to review it honestly however and wherever you want. Reviews are for readers not writers. While bad reviews are unpleasant, I’ll live and I won’t harass you about it. Promise.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Smart, capable and in awe of her: was that really too much to ask from the men in her life? Alyse Philips dragged perfectly manicured nails through her blond hair and flipped it over her shoulder. But did the accountant across from her so much as acknowledge it? A practiced movement that had melted bartenders on three continents, received appreciative smiles from congressmen and even caused her father to once issue a compliment—and Fred of all people was unmoved.

Sitting in the cramped conference room at Young Women Read, Inc., the nonprofit where she worked, staring into the annual audit, she could have used a man whose reaction to her was a little more typical. A little more, well, dazzled.

But no, dazzled did not appear to be an emotion in the Fred Hammond playbook. The man probably hadn’t been so much as impressed since 2002 and really, who hadn’t felt a strong stirring of emotion in the face of Halle Berry’s Oscar dress?

Fred’s stoicism was a surprise—and like the decaf you hadn’t ordered, this surprise was unpleasant.

“As the Special Events and Fundraising Director, you write the donor receipt letters?” Fred asked, not looking up from the yellow legal pad he scribbled on.

“Yes. Sometimes.”

This was his second attempt at this particular question, but because he apparently hadn’t been satisfied with the first go-round they were detouring back. She and her boss both sent the letters, which were informal and tax documents at the same time. Nonprofit stuff was so weird.

Accountants, on the other hand, were not. Nearing fifty and wearing an ill-fitting department store suit, Fred sat across from her preparing his agenda for the next two weeks. The annual audit was, to put it mildly, a pain.

He formulated his next question, blinking behind wire-rimmed spectacles. He looked like someone who would call them spectacles.

“How long have you held the position?”

“Nearly two years.”

This went on the paper.

“And before that you were?”

What hadn’t she been? She had started at YWR seven years ago, fresh out of college as an intern answering phones and fetching coffee. Now she ran the fundraising operation. She got her own coffee these days.

“The office manager,” she answered. Anticipating his next question, she continued, “And before that a staff assistant.”

After graduation, she knew if she didn’t get out of the city she’d never leave. As much as she’d loved New York, she’d needed a break.

The choice of Washington had been almost accidental. It was the only offer she’d received—perhaps the result of spending too much time drinking and not enough time pondering the future—but whatever events had led to it, once she’d started at YWR she hadn’t been able to leave, despite other offers.

She felt like she made a difference—simple as that. Every year, they sent tens of thousands of books around the world to schools and other literacy programs. They funded teacher salaries, built and repaired schools, paid for electricity: anything to support women’s and girls’ education.

Okay, not exactly a controversial subject, teaching girls to read. It wasn’t difficult to raise the money or to get people on board with their goals, but it had vitality nonetheless. It felt like the absolute least she could do some days. Obviously girls needed to be literate, but the very simplicity was what drove her to keep on doing it.

If she stopped, would the next person be as good? The difference between an annual operating budget of $8 and $10 million—and surely she made at least that much of a difference—was huge in terms of what they could provide. So she had stayed, year after year, confident she, and her work, mattered.

Fred turned back to his legal pad, but before he did, she caught a slightly nefarious gleam in his eye. Faux-casually he asked, “Geri O’Reilly’s bookkeeping—what do you think of it?”

He had to know what a difficult position he was putting her in, know that she couldn’t answer this question diplomatically, and he asked it anyway. Fred apparently had a bit of a mean streak.

Geri ran YWR like a ship. A ship with a weekly staff meeting generally clocking in at two hours immediately before close of business on Thursday, which preparations for the annual audit had thankfully displaced this afternoon. Alyse’s boss was excellent at her job, except for her terrible taste in meeting times and her disdain for digital files.

Articulating each word like a perfect die-cut, Alyse said, “I haven’t ever been able to convince Geri of the merits of going paperless.”

Fred outright chuckled—the first moment of levity they had shared in half an hour. Maybe he was a slow thaw. Maybe she could get him. Because it would so help lubricate the next two weeks if he were at least a little bit astounded. The audit was grueling and stressful under any circumstances. The organization’s reputation was at stake. But if Fred were even infinitesimally on their side, rather than prosecuting them, it would be easier.

Hell, at this point, she would even settle for impressed.

“Because our files are antiquated.” Alyse leaned on the table conspiratorially and flashed the hint of a smile. The effect was flirty. It was the kind of practiced move she usually reserved for bribing the checkout guy at the grocery store not to charge her for plastic bags when she forgot the canvas ones her roommate insisted they use. “Maybe you could give me the list of documents you want to see so I can get everything ready for you on Monday.”

Blinks resulted. Many, many blinks. That had to be a good sign.

“Right.” Fred stretched the word out as if it were confused. He reached up to scratch his cheek, revealing a beat-up wedding ring. Maybe the guy did have a dazzled side. “That was my plan all along.”

“Oh. Well, then, it’s good we’re on the same page.” She was going to need to practice charming; obviously she was slipping.

He turned from the legal pad to his computer, struck a few more keys, then his tiny, portable printer rattled to life.

“Here’s what we want,” he said, passing the pages to her.

One sheet was followed by another and then another. The list of receipt letters was longer than she would have guessed. There were more letters listed here than she remembered writing, actually, but it had been a record-breaking year.

“Thanks, Fred,” she said, rising and favoring him with what she hoped was a better showing of her appealing, persuasive side. He swallowed before taking her outstretched hand. Oh yes, she’d get him on her side before the audit was over. “See you next week.”

You can read the rest of the first chapter here and short teasers here, here, and here.

© Emma Barry, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Emma Barry with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.