Eighteen Acres

By: Nicolle Wallace

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the former communications director for the White House and current political media strategist comes a suspenseful and smart novel about the first female president and all the dramas and deceptions she faces, both in politics and in love.

Eighteen Acres, a description used by political insiders when referring to the White House complex, follows the first female president of the United States, Charlotte Kramer, and her staff as they take on dangerous threats from abroad and within her very own cabinet.

Charlotte Kramer, the 45th U.S. president; Melanie Kingston, the White House chief of staff; and Dale Smith, a White House correspondent for one of the networks are all working tirelessly on Charlotte's campaign for re-election. At the very moment when they should have been securing success, though, Kramer's White House implodes under rumors of her husband's infidelity and grave errors of judgment on the part of her closest national security advisor. In an upheaval that threatens not only the presidency but the safety of the American people, Charlotte must fight to regain her footing and protect the the country she has devoted her life to serving.

Eighteen Acres combines political and family drama into one un-pausable novel. It is a smart, juicy and fast-paced read that we're sure fans of commercial women's fiction will fall in total love with.

©2010 Nicolle Wallace (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Biased and Oh So Boring

Another Morning Joe suggested and heavily marketed book written by White House insider Nicolle Wallace. I had high hopes for a fun engaging listen. The idea was a great one --full of possibilities. The execution was the problem. Instead of upbeat and in-the-loop it dragged on and sounded so careful and stilted that I found it hopeless. Can't recommend. Ho-hum --no more Morning Joe for me.

23 people found this helpful

Intriguing Presidential Drama

Where does Eighteen Acres rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would rate Eighteen Acres in the top 25 of all of the audiobooks I have listened to both though Audible as well as other sources.

What did you like best about this story?

There were two things I liked equally: the different perspectives from multiple characters across the novel and the pace of the story. The pace was swift but not breakneck.

What does Susan Bennett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Susan Bennett brings an additional audible sense of emotion.

If you could take any character from Eighteen Acres out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Melanie Kingston. I would absolutely want to dine with Kingston because of her access to the President. As much as it would be interesting to dine with the/a President, I would rather be able to pick the brain of her closest confidant.

Any additional comments?

Nicolle Wallace is not only an accomplished author, but she is also a fascinating person, and she brings that to her novel. Her novel is a must-read, and she is definitely someone who you should get to know beyond her work.

2 people found this helpful

Timely

Well rounded and developed, strong female leaders provided an illustration of modern day DC. Facts could imitate imitate fiction quite soon. A ticket with both parties represented could be the answer to our struggles.

2 people found this helpful

Fast Paced, US Weekly Take on the US Presidency:

You will not find any tremendous insights with Nicole Wallace's version of a female presidency under-pressure. The scandals are believable, the action exciting, and the story bubble-gum enough to be quite satisfying.

This book is light and easy, and the plot is fast paced and well developed. This book is good satirical fiction, and I enjoyed it beyond my expectations.

There are plenty of great plot twists, and the ending is not so obvious at first.

Crank it up to 3x as the writing is not dense at all.

5 people found this helpful

Review Update

In my initial review I wrote that I liked the story but not the narration. I'm not changing this part of the review. However, I mistakenly said that book 3 of the series "Madam President" was narrated by the same reviewer. I realize now that it is a different narrator and I'm looking forward to listening to this book.

What was this about again?

I've never read a book before where I finished it and didn't know what it was about! It's like a series of unfortunate events, but no big plots because things get resolved quickly and the next story happens.

Good read

I love the characters. It's a light read.The reader is really good and I enjoyed it !looking forward to her next book

Very disappointing!

I listened to this novel all the way through, in the hopes that the characters or the plot might develop into some kind of depth, but alas...no way.

I loved the idea of a storyline of politics with all women, but Wallace's portrayal of the main women characters is so shallow and "romance novel meek" that it was impossible to believe they had gotten themselves to the powerful positions into which she had written them.

Their reactions to the plot events are so unpolitical AND unprofessional that I just had to laugh! I decided to keep reading to the end, just in case the author had some hidden agenda of character development...but, alas, no...shallow in, shallow out.

Do NOT waste your time or money on this one, it is as gutless and disappointing as most of our political system!!

3 people found this helpful

Nothing good to say about it

I like the idea of a female president and thought I'd enjoy this book. However, the story line was trite and the characters poorly developed. I thought I was reading an abridged edition as the plot seemed to jump. Waste of time.
Chris

3 people found this helpful

You Have to Get It

You will love this book! Great female characters-she explores the strengths as well as the hurdles of the professional woman. Awesome book for the female cable news junkie:-) Really, I loved it, can't wait for her next book!

3 people found this helpful