Name: State of Affairs
ISBN: 9781952793172

Marie Force

A thrilling new title coming from New York Times bestselling author Marie Force.

State of Affairs

Lynn Braden

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.

The phone call that changed their lives forever… Minutes after Vice President Nick Cappuano and Lt. Sam Holland get the call that President Nelson has been found dead in the residence on Thanksgiving, they’re still processing that Nick has been asked to come to the White House to take the oath of office. As they go through the motions to ensure a peaceful transition of power, Sam has a million and one concerns about her husband, her family, the Nelson family, the country and the enormity of what Nick is about to take on. In the back of her mind is another major concern: What does this mean for my job? No other first lady in history has held a job outside the White House, but she’s determined to be the first, to blaze new trails for those who will follow her. However, in order to do that, she quickly realizes that compromises will have to be made to continue working as a Homicide detective. Their lives become an immediate firestorm of meetings, requests for interviews, difficult questions from their children and a host of potential landmines to navigate as they make the transition from second family to first family. An unexpected issue with a diplomatic trip to Iran quickly thrusts Nick into the thick of his new responsibilities while Sam confronts a murder investigation that may have ties to a cold case from fifteen years ago. As everything around them spins out of control, Sam and Nick take refuge with each other, relying on their unbreakable bond to see them through the storm.