The Reluctant First Lady

by Venita Ellick

Overview

A New York woman chooses her career over her new role as America’s First Lady, challenging the expectations of a nation and her husband.

Ashley Taylor has been straightforward with her husband, the president-elect of the United States. She supported his candidacy, but she has no intention of assuming the traditional role of First Lady—a position she describes as “First Hostess.” Instead, she will resume her own career as head of one of the largest art museums in New York. The aftermath of her decision triggers reactions from the public, news commentators, late night comedians, and other political factions.

While Ashley and Michael wrestle with saving their marriage and preserving their professional lives, the country debates whether the role of First Lady is a necessity, how the media influences the lives of public figures, and how much a woman should sacrifice for the person she loves.

Praise for The Reluctant First Lady

“With a premise that challenges both mind and emotion, The Reluctant First Lady is a fun, energy-charged read. Ellick provides a perfect balance of thought, action, and dialogue, along with well-timed back-story of the main characters, and she definitely gets the reader thinking, ‘What if?’” —ForeWord Reviews

“An elegantly crafted novel, The Reluctant First Lady clearly documents author Venita Ellick as an exceptionally accomplished writer able to skillfully weave memorable characters into a riveting story line from beginning to end. As engaging as it is entertaining, The Reluctant First Lady is highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612541334
Publisher:	Brown Books Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/03/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	372
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Venita Ellick was fated to be a writer. She was named for a character in a book her mother was reading at the time of the birth. As a young girl, she spent so much time in libraries that librarians would save books for her almost daily visits. She began writing stories in the first grade, which her mother patiently read. The intervention of a career as an educator and raising three sons delayed her focus on writing, but she has now completed three novels. The Reluctant First Lady is her fourth. Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen captivated her as a teenager. The power and imagery of the printed word made her wonder what each heroine was thinking and feeling. She wanted to be the woman with the cape and hood standing on the edge of the cliff with the wind whipping around her. The mysteries that could be found in stories fascinated her and are echoed in The Reluctant First Lady. Ellick draws on her experiences as a wife, mother, teacher, and principal to create her characters. Her sense of humor and recognition of the absurd and often whimsical nature of life have allowed her to capture her characters' lives with authenticity and emotional resonance. Venita and her husband David have experience as a two-career couple. They live on an island in the state of Washington.

Editorial Reviews

"Get ready for a change of pace and a quick touchdown into the political and personal lives of the president and the first lady. It may not be at all what one would expect, especially since this wife of a president has decided to forego the title and most of the responsibilities of "first lady." Ashley Taylor prefers to continue, with no interruptions or distractions, her high-powered job at the Cameron Museum of Art in the Big Apple. She has told her husband, Michael, about her plans since before his campaign began, but he has always been hoping she would change her mind if he got elected. When Michael, his staff, and a significant portion of the public nay-say her decision, Ashley goes to great lengths, including ditching the Secret Service bodyguards and literally running away, to pull her life into the shape she wants it to be in. She does come to realize she will indeed have to make some sacrifices and, in the end, compromise wins the day---but not without some interesting and quite creative solutions.

With a premise that challenges both mind and emotion, The Reluctant First Lady is a fun, energy-charged read. Ellick provides a perfect balance of thought, action, and dialogue, along with well-timed back-story of the main characters, and she definitely gets the reader thinking, 'What if?'"

ForeWord Reviews

"An elegantly crafted novel, "The Reluctant First Lady" clearly documents author Venita Ellick as an exceptionally accomplished writer able to skillfully weave memorable characters into a riveting story line from beginning to end. As engaging as it is entertaining, "The Reluctant First Lady" is highly recommended."

Midwest Book Review