MrsK Books: The Candidate by Lis Wiehl

Sunday, February 26, 2017

The Candidate by Lis Wiehl

Lis Wiehl

ISBN: 9780718037680

Publisher's Synopsis:

In covering the presidential election campaign, star newsmaker Erica Sparks notices that favored candidate Senator Mike Ortiz seems dependent on his wife to an unnatural degree. Celeste Ortiz is a brilliant and glamorous billionaire who—along with her best friend and confidant Lily Lau—has engineered her husband’s meteoric rise. The White House is within their reach. But the more Erica investigates the Ortizes’ strange relationship, the more intrigued she becomes.

Erica begins an investigation. But everyone material to her probe ends up dead. With each death, her foreboding grows. Is she next? And can she find out in time if the country’s beloved candidate is what he seems . . . or a threat to national security?

"No one gets to the White House without having

the media in their corner."

MrsK's Review:

At GNN, Erica is searching for new challenges or prospective stories. Now that her life has gained a calming order, she feels that her focus with her daughter Jenny will improve. Until she is informed that her viewers are dropping off. She needs a "big story" as soon as possible.

At the scene, Erica begins her coverage of the final Democratic presidential debate. As Senator Mike Ortiz and Governor Fred Buchanan exit their vehicles, there's a "flash of light" and life for Erica gets tossed into chaos. Who is to blame?

Celeste Pierce Ortiz is determined to get her husband to the White House. She is a woman who calculates the odds, outlines the necessary steps for success, and relies on Lily Lau to help them win the election. What keeps her adrenaline pumping is the power that comes from controlling the outcome of any/all situations.

Since that moment of devastation at the debate, Erica finds that her time will be spent following leads instead of with her daughter. Becky Sullivan, is an intern and seems competent to be her personal assistant. Becky would be a good "match" for Jenny when she had to be away from home.

Lily Lau is a woman destined for greatness. She is brilliant, powerful, and is steeped with a commanding presence. She met Celeste when they were freshmen at Stanford. When Mike Ortiz came on the scene, both of the women sensed that he would be the perfect candidate for their plan.

While Erica interviews Mike Ortiz, she notices a void... a type of vacancy about his actions. What could cause such a void in someone who is running for President? It's almost as if he wasn't completely engaged, unable to think on his own. Where is all of this leading?

Woven between troubles at home with Jenny and Becky, the break up with Greg, and her investigations, Erica will need to trust her instincts and look deeper into the ancient Chinese canonical. It is becoming a life and death scenario especially for Erica and Jenny.

Suspense will keep you turning the pages. The deception, the greed of power, the depth of control will keep you on the edge as good vs. evil plunders into a tunnel of fear,
MrsK

"...there are some things money can't protect you from.

And there are some people who aren't what they seem."

Meet the Author:

Lis Wiehl is the author "Face of Betrayal," a New York Times Best Seller.

She has also written "Winning Every Time: How to Use the Skills of a Lawyer in the Trials of Your Life" and "The 51% Minority: How Women Still Are Not Equal and What You Can Do About It."

In addition to her written work, Wiehl is currently a legal analyst for Fox News. She has been with the network since 2001.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Wiehl is an adjunct professor at New York Law School.

"I received this book for free from the Fiction Guild for this review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)