Ellen Hartman, Married by June

Married by June

Ellen Hartman

Harlequin SuperRomance, Jun 7 2011, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373717118

As he struggles with writing his wedding vows political speech writer Cooper Murphy decides instead to end his engagement to wedding planner Jorie Burke. She is heartbroken at a time her business is tanking though she admits herself she would have learned to love him even if it was her late mom’s initial doing.

His parents demand a seat in the US Senate, which his brother Bailey held from Pennsylvania. However, Bailey has a newborn out of wedlock, which make him poison to his constituents. “Saint Cooper” as Bailey calls his brother will replace as the senator for the remaining few months to the term; heir apparent cousin Theo will be thirty and run in the election. To hold the “family” seat, Cooper needs Jorie as his fiancée because word of his dumping her on top of his sibling’s indiscretion would lose the governor’s support. Jorie accepts a new engagement only if they work on their relationship.

This refreshing political romance works because the audience will believe in the emotions of the lead couple. Fans will accept the tenet that politics is a contact sport played by amoral opportunists (no wonder Congress has such a low rating). Character driven especially by a strong cast (his father, uncle and the state governor are something else while Bay’s logic for the affair is a stunner) readers will enjoy a look behind the scenes of DC power brokering.

Harriet Klausner