Limecello’s review of Shocking the Senator by Leanne Banks
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 1 Dec 04

While the story line isn’t something new, Leanne Banks manages to make Shocking the Senator fresh. It’s an incredibly well written book-  in fact, it’s one of my all time favorites. I’ve read it a number of times. Shocking the Senator may in fact be what got me hooked on the Desire line – and the other stories I’ve found have cemented such feelings, with Ms. Banks providing a number of excellent reads.

Nicola Granville is a great romance heroine. She’s smart, capable, a successful career woman, human, and refreshingly realistic. Nicola goes through the same emotional turmoil any one of us might – but Ms. Banks makes it enjoyable and entertaining, rather than tiresome and common. What also helps is that Nicola has a sexy senator hot in pursuit of her affections. Nicola is generally practical and sensible, yet still interesting. She’s a likeable character that has something special about her. In fact, I didn’t even have a problem with the “secret baby” storyline. (Which even in 2004 was old, admit it.)

Abe Danforth is an atypical romance hero. He’s in his 50s, a politician who has faced and weathered a number of scandals, but he’s still believable as a hero. Yes, he’s a senator, but he’s more “normal” than a number of the current Desire heroes (not they aren’t amazing in their own way). Abe is flawed, but in an oh so wonderfully wicked way. He’s take charge and upstanding – someone who seems to have it all, but is vulnerable at the same time. For all that Abe is a terrific person, he’s made and makes mistakes, which doesn’t detract from his person – rather they give him depth and warmth. In short, Ms. Banks crafts him skillfully.

What doesn’t hurt (at least for me) is the characters and their vocations. Nicola has a dream job – campaign manager of a senator who just won the election, while Abe is of course, the senator- elect. Although Ms. Banks writes about their vocations, she doesn’t get hung up on the positions. The majority of scenes are commonplace, and very sweet. I loved the interaction between Abe and Nicola, and felt the strength of their affection was tangible. At no point did I feel any scene was overdone or extreme – the plot flows admirably.

It’s a simple story, but I love it. The emotions are strong, and the nuances of what the characters are feeling really grip you as you’re reading it. I actually got Shocking the Senator from the library in ’06, and after I read it had to go and buy it. I’ve read a few more from this series (Dynasties: The Danforths) – and this one is most definitely my favorite of those books. I highly recommend it to any reader who likes a sweet contemporary romance, and especially to those who enjoys categories. And of course fans of Ms. Banks.

Grade: A

SECRET LOVE CHILD

Nicola Granville was an independent woman. But it was as Abe Danforth’s campaign manager that she achieved ultimate success — and ultimate pleasure. For months her affair with the aspiring senator was conducted in secret, their professional courtesy by day giving way to intimate embraces by night. Until she took a home pregnancy test…

Abe Danforth always got what he wanted — and he wanted Nicola. Except he couldn’t understand why she was pushing him away. Abe was ready to go public with his feelings, but Nicola’s sudden mood swings were mystifying. Was it another man? Or was it something that only nine months and a proposal would solve?

Read an excerpt.