This book opens with VP Nick Cappuano and Lt. Sam Holland facing the biggest challenge of their lives when they are informed that President Nelson has been found dead on Thanksgiving. The ripple effect of the changes that are in store in their lives just gets bigger as the story progresses. In the meantime, Sam is trying to find out what happened in a fifteen year old murder and one of her detectives is beaten up by her boyfriend. Also, Nick must deal with the problems associated with his new office. State of Affairs moves the Fatal Series into the White House as they become the First Family. The beginning of the book draws readers in by dropping them right into the situation in which Sam and Nick find themselves. The story moves forward, bringing up all of the questions and problems the couple and their extended family must face almost immediately. The romance of Nick and Sam continues to develop through the way that the two of them deal with these issues, but we do not get anything new here about their relationship. The case that Sam works on in this story takes a back seat until the last few chapters of the book and doesn't really factor much into the story. Overall, State of Affairs is much less romantic suspense and more a story of transition that mirrors the one in the book, but that doesn't deter from the emotional impact of the story.