It's Classified

September 5, 2011
In her second novel, Wallace (Eighteen Acres) presents another story of politicsânational and personal. Opening with the impeachment trial of Republican President Charlotte Kramer, related to circumstances caused by Democratic Vice President Tara Meyer, Wallace (former White House Communications Director) infuses the proceedings with insider language. Despite its promising premise, the narrative becomes entangled with its terrorist plot, affairs, and a character's personal health condition. While Wallace's prose is smooth, the plot is not particularly gripping, nor are the Ambien- and caffeine-fueled characters developed enough to elicit reader sympathy, even as Tara slides from "the most admired woman in America" to an exhausted woman who will "offer her resignation in return for immunity for all related criminal and civil charges." With its realistic depiction of politics and messy human relationships, the novel will go down smoothly with no aftertaste, bitter or otherwise.

April 1, 2011

Political commentator Wallace, White House communications director under George W. Bush and campaign adviser to John McCain and Sarah Palin, follows up last year's Eighteen Acres. President Charlotte Kramer has been reelected with new vice president Tara Meyers, who's no end of trouble. When Eighteen Acres appeared, everyone whispered that the brash and maladroit Meyers was based on Palin, though the author denies it. Political second-guessers should enjoy; with a four-city tour.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2011
In the sequel to Eighteen Acres (2010), her first novel, Wallace provides an update on the presidential career and personal strife of U.S. president Charlotte Kramer. Elected to a second term after explosive international intrigue and the scandal of her husband's affair with a television reporter, Charlotte is joined by Tara Meyers as vice president. The two had run on the first-ever unity ticket of Republican and Democrat, with the history-making potential of putting two women in charge of the world's most powerful nation. But Charlotte's second-term plans are threatened by Tara's erratic behavior. As the staff scrambles to bolster Tara in the pressure cooker of Washington politics, her disintegration becomes more apparent, and Charlotte faces tough decisions. Will Tara be redeemed by her role in helping to quash a terrorist threat, or will Washington politics get the better of both women as enemies move to take advantage? The cast of characters from Eighteen Acres returns to keep the pot boiling in this fast-paced, behind-the-scenes political drama.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

September 15, 2011

A year after her acclaimed debut novel, Eighteen Acres, Wallace offers an exciting sequel. As a former White House communications director under President George W. Bush, the author is particularly qualified to provide an insider's view of the daily power struggles, maneuverings, and machinations inherent to Washington politics. She picks up the story with Republican President Charlotte Kramer in her second term following a close reelection. Charlotte's selection of a Democrat and a woman as her running mate gave her the edge with an electorate who applauded such a refreshingly bipartisan move. Vice President Tara Meyers, however, has a secret history of mental fragility that escaped detection in the vetting process. She begins to crack again under the obligations of the job and the intense scrutiny of the media. Even her arrogant husband, Marcus, who has made it his life's work to support and control her, cannot contain the damage. Wallace depicts how the pressures of high public office can take a toll on mental health, contribute to the breakdown of relationships, and threaten a government administration. VERDICT Essential reading for all political fiction junkies but especially for those who enjoyed Wallace's first novel. [See Prepub Alert, 2/28/11.]--Sheila Riley, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, DC

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.