Politics got sexy

If you're like me, and living in the US, you've probably already reached your saturation point for political ads. Voters are getting bombarded through every possible channel. I can't open my email in-box without seeing a handful of daily pleas for money or urgent calls to action. It's trying, particularly when I've already voted, via absentee ballot, and my part in the upcoming election is complete.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't use this opportunity to mention my latest Beachwalk Press novella, Sexual Politics. Set against the backdrop of Washington D.C. and the pressures of an upcoming election, it's the worst possible time for a Senator's wife to fall for another man. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Here are some of the things reviewers have said about Sexual Politics.

Politics and sex? Really shouldn’t work for me – except it absolutely does!

My favorite Tara Mills so far! Inspired by the secret life of a politician's wife, Ms. Mills weaves a memorable story full of intelligent wit and sexy sizzle.

This is the story of two very classy people who fall in love at an inopportune time and vow to stick to their commitments. This makes for some very nice, very sexy tension. 


I will re-read this story again because I just love Justine and Sean. Such a sweet story about finding your soul mate, even at the wrong time.

The attraction between them is so electrifying that it had me hooked, but it was the emotional side to the story that really had me unable to put it down.

Tara Mills's ability to delve deep inside the minds of her protagonists assures the reader of a fulfilling and emotional rollercoaster of a read. The novel hits every mark spot on, from the heady and sometimes slimy world of DC politics, to the sorrow and fragility of a woman wronged, and finally to the noble heart of an honorable man.


Is the scandal worth it? Only she can answer that.

For two years Justine Hubbard has played the supportive wife role for her husband in public...and nowhere else. Senator Gary Hubbard’s philandering ended her love for him. But sometimes there are reasons people decide to maintain the illusion of a happy marriage when the relationship is over.

Living a lie until after the election wasn’t an issue—until she met Sean O’Donnell. She can’t fool the perceptive photographer. He understands her. He wants her. After feeling invisible to her husband, that’s an intoxicating discovery. But having condemned her husband for his hushed affairs, it would be hypocritical to give in to her desire for Sean.

All it would take is a whisper of scandal for her husband’s political enemies to bring him down. She wouldn't dream of sacrificing Gary’s career, their causes, and her own good name. But how can she stay away from Sean now that she’s fallen for him?


On sale NOW on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Au, All Romance, Beachwalk Press, and Barnes & Noble. 

What would you do?

I thought it would be fun to share an excerpt from Sexual Politics. 

Is the scandal worth it? Only she can answer that.

For two years Justine Hubbard has played the supportive wife role for her husband in public...and nowhere else. Senator Gary Hubbard’s philandering ended her love for him. But sometimes there are reasons people decide to maintain the illusion of a happy marriage when the relationship is over.

Living a lie until after the election wasn’t an issue—until she met Sean O’Donnell. She can’t fool the perceptive photographer. He understands her. He wants her. After feeling invisible to her husband, that’s an intoxicating discovery. But having condemned her husband for his hushed affairs, it would be hypocritical to give in to her desire for Sean.

All it would take is a whisper of scandal for her husband’s political enemies to bring him down. She wouldn’t dream of sacrificing Gary’s career, their causes, and her own good name. But how can she stay away from Sean now that she’s fallen for him? 

Excerpt:

Continuing on to her favorite exhibit, Justine suddenly wished she’d kept her mouth shut earlier. All the things she admired so much about these pieces—the exquisite details, the muscle tone and graceful contours, various facial expressions, and the dramatic poses—was lost in a haze of embarrassment as she stared over and over again at the idealized human form. It didn’t matter that she was in her late thirties and knew the anatomical secrets of men. Like an overly curious pre-teen, she was drawn to every marble penis, every solid scrotum. Where was her self-control? She couldn’t stop herself from looking, though her innate good taste made her shy away just as quickly. Her hormones and head were in a strange, indecent tug-of-war.

“Like a frightened turtle,” murmured Sean out of the blue.

Snickering in surprise, Justine muffled her laugh and nodded in agreement before fleeing past some of her favorite pieces without giving them the consideration they deserved. Sean was forced to follow. Spotting a water fountain in the corridor beyond, she headed for it. He caught up with her as she bent for a much needed drink.

Blotting her lips with her hand afterward, she straightened and turned on him, stifling her giggles. “You’re wicked.”

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “Someone had to say it.”

“Was I so obvious?” she asked, cringing with shame, she still needed to know.

He shook with muted laughter. “You seemed…fixated in there.”

She covered her face with both hands and gave a painful groan, though she was smiling. “I can’t believe I did that.”

“Been a while, has it?”

She dropped her hands and sighed. “Just between us?” 

“Of course.”

“Too long,” she confessed.

“I suspected as much.” He arched an eyebrow at her. “There is a remedy, you know.”

“Not for me.”

He studied her silently for an uncomfortable beat before he finally nodded. “I see.”

Frowning, she looked around and noticed the quiet alcove housing ancient pottery behind her. She backed into it and waved impatiently for him to join her. Hands on her hips, she stood up to him. “I see what you’re thinking, but I’m married. It might not be the most satisfying or…” She looked around to be sure she wasn’t overheard and dropped her voice. “...ideal arrangement, but that doesn’t mean I can simply ignore my vows. It would be hypocritical to condemn Gary for his indiscretions then do the same thing myself.”

“I’m not suggesting you cheat on him. I’m suggesting you leave him. Leave him, Justine. You deserve better. You deserve more.”

She stared into Sean’s eyes and wished it was that simple. If it was, she’d go up on her toes right now and kiss those dusky lips of his. She’d hold him close and bury her nose in his collar. She was barely surviving on the occasional whiffs of his aftershave as it is. Like it or not, Sean drew her like every penis she just stared at in the last gallery.

He has one of those too.

Slamming her mental door on that unhelpful reminder, she sagged against the bare wall at her back and helplessly threw up her hands. “I know, but this isn’t a good time to leave.”

“Is it ever?”

“I can’t right now. Not until after the election in November. The race is too close. It would weaken him.”

There was an angry tick in Sean’s cheek she’d never noticed before. “He’s weakened himself.”

“But Gary’s still the best candidate.”

Sean laughed in disgust and shook his head. “Doesn’t that just paint a glorious picture of American politics? It always comes down to the lesser of two evils.”

Depressed, she stared at the toes of her shoes, wishing it wasn’t so. Sean startled her by moving closer and taking her hand. He held it, his thumb making patient circles over the top. Raising her gaze to his, she found a man equally sad and disillusioned looking back at her.

Available NOW on Beachwalk Press, Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Au, All Romance, and Barnes & Noble. 

Turning a cliche on its head.

With Sexual Politics about to release, I thought it might be fun to share the brainchild for this wonderful romance. 

We all know the clichés about infidelity and politics. It’s practically a given that we can expect to see a few high profile politicians caught in sexually compromising situations each year. The stories are so commonplace they’ve ceased to be stories.

Then I heard an interesting Behind the Music story on CBC Radio 2 one day and my eyes popped. I suddenly saw how the typical scenario could be flipped and freshened. This revelation was spawned by Margaret Trudeau, the wife and first lady to the former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau. She caused a scandal when she disappeared for seven days and seven nights, without word, to hang out with the Rolling Stones in New York City. When Margaret was eventually located, at their hotel with them, eyebrows shot even higher. Under pressure to return to her waiting husband, she promptly flew home and announced she wanted to get her own apartment in NYC and commute back and forth to Ottawa. She’d found the role of first lady dull. It didn’t suit her.

I immediately began to consider what it would be like for a neglected political wife, particularly one married to a man with power and influence. What if she’d already become merely a prop at his side, meant to personalize him with voters? As in the original version, I intended to make Justine’s forbidden love interest a musician. Sean chose photographer instead. He was right, of course. I love how he asserted himself. As a sensitive and perceptive photographer, her loneliness, dejection, and isolation, even in a crowded ballroom, reached out to him. They were both on the edge of that world, yet apart from it. You could almost say they were destined to meet.

But innocent or not, the scandal breaks and that’s when things get really exciting. So join Justine and Sean and let your heart decide where she truly belongs.

*** You can read an excerpt from this story by clicking on the title above. 

OMG! It's here. Check it out, I have links.  Buy it Now at  Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Au, All Romance, Beachwalk Press. 


In the meantime, let me remind you, Grading on Curves is only $1.99 this month.

Click Here and pick up a Tara Mills' Beachwalk title today!

Oh, before I forget, we've got some awesome author chats coming on the Beachwalk Press Readers' Facebook Group. I've been tapped on the shoulder to be in the host chair tomorrow, Sunday May 18th.

I hope you'll drop in and hang out with me for a while. Don't make me turn the top of my desk into a drum, spin crazily around in my chair, and remind myself I have no talent whatsover for whistling. I also have a tendency to snack when I'm bored. We don't want that.

See you Sunday!  Beachwalk Press Readers' Group