Customer Reviews

The President's Daughter: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Struggling novelist Simon Keller is surprised when he receives a call from an old college professor asking him to lunch...

Mariah Stewart weaves a tight, suspenseful web in The President's Daughter. She had me guessing right up to the last page who had triggered the events that had taken place. You'll be irresistibly drawn to the next page, and the next. With a mastery that has to be applauded, she weaves a wonderful romance into that tight web, and delivers once again a truly wonderful romantic suspense novel.

I got this on a whim. I enjoy fictional stories about conspiracy at high levels, this seemed like a good fit. I don't like reviews that give away the ending, so I won't go into great detail. However, one of the main characters, Simon, has the task of writing a memoir for Graham Hayward, past President of the U.S., for the purpose of transferring positive memories of him onto the son, who is planning a presidential bid.

No surprise here, but the supposedly unblemished reputation of the President is uncovered. The ease of this discovery is surprising though, especially since it's been covered up for 30 years, and one visit to a rambling Alzeheimer's patient reveals the truth.

However, while somewhat predictable, I have found this book a captivating page-turner, and the characters are well written and explored fairly thoroughly. I'm looking forward to more of this author's work.

Here's a story that will have you trying to second-guess just which president this story could be about. If you're like me, you'll have to conclude that it's none that we know. Just imagine a man of high moral integrity who walks the talk, and is so respected and held in such high esteem that his memory is still alive after thirty years, even though he isn't. This man fathered a son who idolized him and walks the same path; he serves the Congress and is contemplating his own run for the presidency. With this probability in mind, an old friend of his father's contacts a former student, Simon Keller.

Simon Keller quit his job as a journalist for the prestigious Washington Press when they refused to print a shocking story because Simon would not reveal his source. He refused because he had given his word, and he's writing a book to tell his story. He's free now to answer a call from his old journalism professor, Dr. Philip Norton. Now owner of a small independent publishing house, Norton proposes a two-book contract. If Simon will write the story Philip has in mind about former president Graham Hayward, Philip will publish Simon's work-in-progress. Simon accepts the offer and takes home boxes of documentation to review. He sets up interviews with colleagues and family members of President Hayward, and during one of these sessions he stumbles onto information that, if proven, will rock the political world. If what he's learned is valid, Graham Hayward had a secret affair.

Simon becomes more and more convinced this information is true, and a clue given by the sister of Graham's secret lover reveals even more startling information that leads him to a small town seeking Jude McDermott for answers. On the way into the library where Jude works, Simon sees a beautiful woman gardening there. Even with dark glasses covering half of her face, her million-dollar smile and charisma purely knock his socks off, and the attraction is mutual. Inside the library he learns Jude is home ill, so he drives to her house. As soon as she learns he's a reporter, Jude tries to close the door in his face, but Simon's foot prevents it. Then, much to his surprise, the gardening beauty from the library walks onto the porch and invites him in. Once Dina McDermott takes off her sunglasses, Simon is stunned - and by more than just her beauty. Another piece of a complicated puzzle has just fallen into place and this one is going to put Dina's life in jeopardy.

Mariah Stewart cleverly constructs her story and drops little clues about the past while introducing her characters. Initially you wonder when the romance will begin because it's nine chapters before the protagonists ever meet. Romance takes a secondary role until later in the story, although you can sense it is building. The main focus is on Simon, the information he gleans, and the actions that follow as the suspense continually builds. Ms. Stewart steadily develops his character until you feel you know him personally, through his thoughts, his senses, and his logic as he processes data. As secondary characters enter, you begin to guess who threatens Dina, all which leads you into a well-written story.

Mariah Stewart remains true to her trademark of familial love as this trait is woven into her characters. There is Jude, a mother who has sacrificed her entire life to raise Dina and is fierce with her protectiveness; Betsy, the aunt who has loved from afar; Celeste, the president's wife who protects her husband's image; and Graham, Jr., a man who idolized his father and walks the same path.

Mariah could have ended her story earlier and it would have been a good product, but she gave readers even more. She now focuses on romance telling more about Dina and Simon and a glimpse into their future. This addition satisfies romance lovers and answers questions that may linger as she ties up her story and gives a completely satisfying conclusion. THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER is one more novel that will move Mariah Stewart up the ladder of success in the genre of romantic suspense...

Former White House Press Secretary Dr. Phillip Norton, owner of a prestigious publishing firm, hires investigative reporter Simon Keller to write a biography on the late President Graham Hayward. Phillip sweetens the deal by offering to publish a second book written by Simon. Needing the money though remaining skeptical, Simon accepts the deal. He begins his interviews and research on the still highly regarded president whose reputation is lily clean and whose son is running for the White House.

Simon uncovers a shocker when Alzheimer's victim Miles Kendell mentioned how he and his best friend Graham loved the same woman. Simon learns that Graham had an affair with Blythe Pierce while happily married and residing in the White House. He also learns that Blythe died in a hit and run accident never solved though it was deliberate murder and that Graham sired an out of wedlock child. Simon identifies the child as Dina McDermott, owner of Garden Gates. Soon someone who wants that secret left buried goes after Dina with only Simon as her protector.

THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER is an exciting romantic suspense thriller that deliberately starts slowly so that the readers understand the personalities of the key cast members. Once that is accomplished, the tale goes into SST speed until the climax. Though it seems unlikely that a sitting president could sire a child without the media finding out, fans will accept the smoking gun because Mariah Stewart's tale contains two likable heroes struggling to survive an unknown enemy.

Harriet Klausner

Ms Stewart has done it again, a wonderful tale with just enough twists and turns to please even the most skeptical reader. I loved how she keeps the reader involved in solving the mystery as the romance between Dina and Simon progresses. Romance readers might be caught off guard when the h/h don't meet until a third of the way into the story but when they do... only with Ms Stewart's deft hand at creating characters readers care about will the story take on new satisfying depth.

I loved the ironies in the book that seemed to attack our own prejudices about the press and their lack of ethical high ground. This one is what Romantic Suspense is supposed to be about (a well crafted blending of Romance and Suspense) but so often isn't. Neither romance readers nor suspense readers will be let down with this one.

Ms Stewart has once again proven she has a unique talent for writing romantic suspense first offered with THE BROWN-EYED GIRL, a classic Romantic Suspense. THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER is a fine example of an author growing in her craft where the reader is the one is the one who benefits the most. I couldn't put this book down after page one; I just had to know who and why things were happening. There was never a lull in the action, a sure sign of professional storyteller. Readers will come to care about this hero and heroine well after they solve the mystery of a cover-up, political secrets and the all-important "who dunnit". THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER will be read and reread as it sure to be a Keeper on many a reader's shelf. CLASSIC ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AT ITS BEST.

"The President's Daughter" wasnt a bad book,but it wasnt great either. The characters had absolutely no chemistry. I felt that the label of "romantic suspense" was misleading. There was ABSOLUTELY NO romance in this story. All in all, I'd say that this book was pretty forgetable. I wouldnt recommend it.

Mariah Stewart has ventured off her path and found a new way to make the reader salivate for more! I enjoyed every word of the book and found myself unable to turn the pages quickly enough. Another winner for Mariah! Cannot wait for her next book.

I disgree with the view that this book isn't as good as a Lisa Gardner book. Puh-lease. Lisa Gardner writes about nothing but pedophiles and child kidnappers, which gets old real fast. Mariah Stewart books are always great and this book is no exception.

This book was awful. The characters are boring and have absolutely no chemistry, whatsoever. The plot was so predictable and the dialogue was unbelievable. And lol at this being classifid under romantic suspense. It wasn't suspenseful and there was absolutely no romantic plot to speak of.

The plot revolves around a dead woman named Blythe who was murdered thirty years ago. One of the reasons why I found this book so lacking is because I found it impossible to feel sympathetic for her. Not only was she stupid to have an affair with the married president (who had children as well), but then she was dumb enough to become pregant! Sorry if I could care less about this first class homewrecker.

The rest of the plot is about Blythe's daughter, Dina, who starts to become targeted by her mother's murderer. I found it so hard to believe that this insanely gorgeous, successful, thirty-year-old woman had no boyfriend or love life to speak of. She was such a silly Mary Sue and the chemistry between her and her love interest, the reporter Simon Keller, was nonexistent. Perhaps if the author had spent more time developing their characters and less time developing the presidents dead mistress, then the story would have been a lot more interesting.

I love Mariah Stewart's books. Each book is very different from the last one. I read everyday so its hard to keep my interest. This book was very different from most mysterys. Full of suspence and lots of surprises. I have every book by Marial Stewart and enjoyed each one. Her writing has changed over the years, but only to get better.