Inside the Beltway by Ellen Holiday

Inside the Beltway Reviews

• 
  Mandapanda

  Lovely writing and a great balance between plot and romance. Senator Davis Hudson is wavering on the cusp of a presidential run. He's at a crossroads in his life, excited by his recent political successes but unsure if he wants - or even is able - to run for President. At an interview he meets Kurt, a make-up artist who is smart and savvy, having himself worked as a media analyst in the past. They hit it off as friends and spend more and more time together, each being inspired and stimulated by the other's company. Kurt knows how he feels about Davis but Davis has no idea what is going on. Once he realises that he is deeply attracted to Kurt his life seems ruined.
  
  I'm amazed that this author could make US politics seem interesting to me. She has a very light touch with this potentially heavy plot, keeping things true to life but fast-paced enough that it never becomes boring. The sex scenes are also great. So emotional, natural and cliché free. I loved it!
  
  I had no idea what to expect from this novel when I picked it up. I actually thought Kurt's character might be portrayed as stereotypically effeminate considering his occupation. But he's just a guy, quite smart and complex.
  
  I saw that another reviewer describes this as a 'feel good book'. That's certainly true. The author has inserted a strong moral message. I sort of wanted to applaud at the end. I really liked that it ended exactly where it did, leaving a little of the mystery intact. I'll be looking forward to reading future novels by this new author.
• 
  Vio

  Life as a Senator is hard work and full of intrigue, stress and backstabbers. Davis was a fascinating enigma he confused me a few times you never really knew what he was about to do next or where he was going with his political aspirations all deliberate of course to keep you guessing. Kurt and Davis I loved them in all their confusion, fear and love for each other very courageous it wasn't an easy choice to make. Great story and romance but I still want to know will Davis run? Don't expect fast sex or thrills think slow and steady which I much preferred.
• 
  Ami

  I agreed with a couple of reviewers who said that this was a 'feel good' book. At first, I didn't feel any inclination to read this due to two reasons. One, the blurb didn't move me and two, I didn't like stories related to politics. However, positive reviews from two friends,
  MandyM and
  Vio, pushed me forward.
  
  Turns out that I truly enjoy this one. One thing I truly appreciate is the (borrowing Mandy's word here) cliché free sex scenes. For those who have been on my friend-list here in GR will know that I am becoming more and more tired and bored with the 'ritual' of sex scenes in M/M genre. Here, there is none, and it makes me so very happy.
  
  I like how Kurt, despite being a make-up artist, is not portrayed as sterereotype guy. He was a media analyst before a make-up artist, he is smart, he is proud of who he is, but at the same time, willing to compromise for Davis. I don't know what to make of Davis at first, but his chemistry with Kurt is so good and natural ... and I enjoy the sense of camaraderie he has with Kurt. I like that Davis doesn't ponder much about him being attracted to a guy, though I can understand him being weary about having a relationship with a guy, considering his position. However, he sure makes me proud of him during the critical time -- and that's what counts :).
  
  His announcement in regards to his relationship with Kurt is one of my favorite paragraphs in the whole story.
  
  “What’s the important part to you? Is it sex? Because I don’t think it is for many people. I think it’s that feeling you get after a long day, when no one understands what you’re going through, and you come home and there’s someone who gets you, who makes you a stronger person, a better person than you were. That’s who Kurt Lamb is to me, and I love him for it.”
  
  But it doesn't mean that I don't have a complain. The ex-wife being portrayed as the villain is definitely one I can do without. I think I am also tired of seeing females in M/M romance being portrayed as that.
• 
  ~Nicole~

  Excellent! Just what I was missing and needed right now. Loved the characters and even though I don’t understand the US political scene I still enjoyed the hell out of this book. It has a quiet romance, a smooth sexuality discovery, 2 endearing older MCs and a beautiful relationship. The smut was exactly the right amount and it has exactly the right amount of feelings. Loved it.
• 
  Wendy

  I loved the richness of the setting. I really felt like I was right in there with Davis and Kurt. Their romance was made even more satisfying by the well-drawn secondary characters. I want sequels.
• 
  ElaineY

  Differing from everyone else here...my 2 stars is for the 30% that I managed to read. The story started well and I generally enjoy romances with a political backdrop. I actually was enjoying the story and wish I could have read it through to the end but I hated Kurt. He started off great and I was interested to see how this relationship would play out but this smart, unusual make-up artist, whom I expected to be able to hold things together, suddenly morphed into a needy, whiny, skinny (and gaunt-faced, according to the book) thing. Yes, thing. I couldn't get rid of Kurt quickly enough and didn't have the guts to read on, seeing only disaster for yet another politician when his lover can't handle the Ts & Cs of such a liaison.
  
  The book may have turned out well, since everyone loved it, but I didn't get far enough for it to change. Needy men scare me...
• 
  Snowtulip

  3.5
  
  I wasn't sure what to expect going into this read, I kept wondering how a political romance could work for me. I'm glad I forged on, this book was paced nicely and I had a true interest in Davis' political career and his maturing as an individual.
  
  Kurt was a great love interest. I loved the beginning of the story when we get to meet Kurt and see his intelligence through the easy banter between him and Davis. I feel that Kurt was lost in the noise throughout the rest of the book though (during Davis' journey). Good read.
• 
  Nur

  4.25 stars
• 
  Penumbra

  
  I was given this book by the Hearts on Fire blog, for an honest review, thank you.
  
  
  
  Summary :
  
  Senator Davis Hudson is a focused, ambitious, forty-seven year old politician who knows the right thing to say at the right time. He’s up for re-election and is wondering whether to run for Senate again or aim for something higher. Davis sets the Senate on fire with his speech “Daniel in the Den of Lions” and suddenly he’s in the limelight. Now, Davis needs to keep himself in the public eye. But instead, he becomes more and more distracted by Kurt Lamb, a makeup artist for CNN whom Davis meets when Davis shows up for an interview at the station. What starts out as a friendship over coffee between the two gradually develops into something much more. Try as Davis might, he finds it impossible to resist Kurt and falls for him hard. He’s conflicted about his feelings because the situation with Kurt could ruin his run for the presidency, yet he can’t stay away. Never having been with a man before, Davis is fearful, not just of the sexual acts themselves, but that by exploring this aspect of himself further he will commit to a certain road that could ruin his career and from which he can’t turn back.
  
  Kurt Lamb is smart, a liberal and once worked in media analysis. Comfortable with himself and his life, Kurt falls for Davis soon after they meet. He’s willing to be ‘Davis’ dirty little secret,’ if Davis needs Kurt to be that. He gives himself fully to their relationship from the very beginning letting Davis set the pace in how fast and how far Davis is willing to go, both emotionally and sexually.
  
  Things should be looking up for Davis now that he’s found Kurt, but a vindictive ex-wife hovers in the background waiting to wreak havoc on everything that Davis has achieved and with some help from another enemy on the Hill, they just might succeed. Little do they know that Davis has acquired a powerful friend who comes through with valuable advice when it’s sorely needed.
  
  
  Review :
  
  Inside the Beltway is told in third person through the eyes of Davis Hudson, Davis’ ex-wife Helen and for a brief moment Linda Wythe of the Washington Post. I would have preferred to read the story all from Davis’ pov, but I can understand why the author also showed us what was happening through Helen’s pov. I’m not really sure that it was necessary to show us what was happening through Linda’s eyes since her pov was pretty brief. I found the inner monologues rather boring, they could go on for quite some time describing the world of politics, the media, or Davis’ past relationship with Helen and her past with Davis. I’d find my mind wandering and then having to bring my attention back to the story. I don’t know if it’s the author’s writing style that made the monologues boring, or if she was trying to show how dull and colorless politics and Davis’ relationships had been before Kurt’s involvement in Davis’ life and how brighter it was with Kurt. I’m guessing it was the author’s writing style because even after meeting Kurt, Davis’ thoughts were still bland and did not brighten except when they involved Kurt. In any case what made the story interesting were the interactions of the characters and not the background information or descriptions.
  
  The best part of the story for me, was the developing relationship between Davis and Kurt, this is where the author’s talent shone through. The care and eventual love that Davis felt for Kurt as time passed, was palpable. I could feel Davis’ belief that he had found his ‘home’ and that as long as he had Kurt, nothing else mattered. At first, it appears that Davis is not so much in the closet as he’s not even aware that he’s interested in men until Kurt comes along. His past relationships with women, including Helen, were not all that remarkable but he doesn’t really contemplate why they weren’t very fulfilling. For instance, he married Helen because he needed someone by his side as he pursued his ambitions and they were a good match at the time. Because of Davis’ desire to continue his career in politics and his fear of sex with a man, he is hesitant in getting involved with Kurt, but is too drawn to Kurt to resist for long. No matter how much Davis loved Kurt, it took him quite some time before he was ready to fully commit the final steps of giving his all of his heart and body to Kurt. This in a way, symbolized Davis’ indecision on what he was going to do about his political run for the presidency, was he going to run or wasn’t he? And if he was going to run, was he going to run for office like he did when he ran for Senator, or was Davis going to give his run a new approach? Only when things are pushed to a major turning point by Davis’ ex-wife Helen, and Davis receives a visit from Senator Randolph, does everything crystalize for Davis and he realizes what is most important to him and what he is going to do.
  
  There are some sexual moments in this story, but they take a background to the politics, the ferreting out of secrets, and Davis and Kurt’s growing relationship. So if you’re looking for a book with lots of porn, this isn’t one of those. This also isn’t a book with lots of angst at least on my angst scale. I would say most of the angst comes from Davis’ indecision on what he wants from his relationship with Kurt and how Davis can keep it out of the public eye.
  
  The story’s ending is open, letting the readers decide what the results of the exploratory committee are and whether or not Davis will run for presidency. So if you don’t like inconclusive endings, then this book might not be for you.
  
  I read this story in pdf format on my NOOK and the formatting was terrible. Just about everything that could go wrong with the formatting went wrong. Only after I’d finished the book did I think to reformat through Calibre. This made the story much easier to read, but there are still numerous issues that needed fixing.
  
  I’m conflicted on how to rate Inside the Beltway. On one hand, the long, boring inner monologues from Davis, Helen and Linda made my mind wander and cut down on my pleasure in reading the book, as did the formatting issues. But on the other hand, the author did an amazing job of showing us how Davis changed and began to care about people and life. She also showed us how Davis’ love for Kurt blossomed and how deep their connection grew, be it with or without sex. Because of how well Davis’ and Kurt’s love came through I’ll up this story to 3 stars else the rest of the book would have pulled it down to two.
  
  
• 
  Lulu

  Story: 8
  First MC: 8
  Second MC: 8
  Secondary characters: 6
  Mystery: 4
  Sexual tension: 6
  Humor: 4
  Hotness: 8
  Product placement: 4
  Ridiculousness: 4
  Annoying: 2
  Audio: N/A
  To re-read: 7
  
  This is a story of a straight 46 y/o senator at a crossroad in his life, bored with his life so he decides to stir the pot with a single speech. At the same time he meets a charming gay makeup artist (a mature not a kid). They start a secret relationship with a spark while he considers running for presidency.
  The book is divided between them developing their relationship and Davis building up his public profile. Till they get outed and he has to decide his next move.
  I would've liked to know more about Kurt, we learn some but this was Davis book
  Now this isn't
  Enemies of the State. This is a more romantic novel, there are no tourists or car chases. Though we do have two vindictive bitter villains.
  
  I liked the book, not sure why. Positive points for me: moderate amount of sex, mature MCs, politics but not enough to bore me, the ending, and the self doubt.
  
  a conniving bitches, a wise old men, a homophobe, original sex scenes, country mansion, CNN and shaggy hair
• 
  Gabbi

  
  
  I normally shy away from any book that has to do with politics. I’m a little wary of heroes that are politicians in general, but once I read the blurb to Inside the Beltway by Ellen Holiday, I admit I was more than a little intrigued, so I decided to give it a shot. I’m very glad I did because between the fast-paced storyline and interesting characters I became immediately fascinated with the story and read it in one setting.
  
  Senator Davis Hudson loves being in politics and for a politician, he lives a pretty low-key life. After making a blunt and somewhat controversial statement at a Senate hearing, he’s suddenly thrown into the spotlight. Before he knows it, both his peers and the general public are hoping he’ll add his name to the ballot for President of the United States. Although, this is more than Davis has ever hoped for, he’s decided to take his time at making that decision. He’s not sure if he’s quite ready for it, so he chooses to not rush into any decisions and just go with the flow.
  
  Right before one of his television interviews he meets the likeable and sexy make-up artist, Kurt, and Davis feels a quick attraction and kinship with him that he’s never felt before. Although Davis was married in the past, it was all for show, and he’s deliberately pushed aside his attraction to other men. But there is something interesting and intriguing about Kurt, and soon Davis finds himself becoming more and more attracted to him. To make matters more interesting, Kurt is also drawn to the Senator, and even though they become fast-friends, it becomes harder to fight the attraction they have between them.
  
  As Davis’s political star continues to rise, both men fall into a hidden affair. Davis knows if the public finds out about his relationship with Kurt, there’s a good chance his political career will be over. Lucky for him, Kurt understands this, but it’s becoming harder for both of them to keep their feelings for each other hidden from those who are his political enemies and from the American public. When someone from his past becomes determined to sabotage his political career for good, both Davis and Kurt are faced with the difficult decision of what to do.
  
  I loved this book! Davis is rare politician because up to his affair with Kurt, he really didn’t have anything to hide. He’s honest, has integrity and has sacrificed a lot to serve his country. Not only did I think he was an interesting character, I liked him as a person. He’s easy to root for and hoped that he’d not only be politically successful, but have happiness in his personal life as well.
  
  Kurt was also a really amazing character. There’s definitely more to him than meets the eye, and he was very well matched for Davis. Although, Kurt’s willing to be Davis’s dirty little secret, he finds himself aching to be with Davis without all the cloak and dagger secrecy they are forced to use to be together. But Kurt’s still willing to put Davis’s happiness above his own, even though he realizes that at any time the love they find in each other’s arms could come to an end.
  
  Another thing I liked about both men was: they are both strong characters. Neither Davis nor Kurt is a pushover, and I really appreciated how they really fought for what they believed in. Both of them are honorable people, who selflessly put others before themselves. I also appreciated the slow and steady buildup between the two men and rejoiced at their determination to be together.
  
  Inside the Beltway is full of romance, intrigue and enough of a strong plot to keep the pickiest of readers well satisfied. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Holiday and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from her. Highly Recommended!
• 
  UnusualChild{beppy}

  synopsis: davis is a senator who has just made a speech that he plans to launch him from the back bench to a serious presidential candidate. his first interview after his speech is with cnn, and his makeup artist, kurt, says things that interest him. kurt has been in the game, but decided that he wanted to do something else and starting doing makeup. he's also gay, which isn't a problem for davis...until he starts falling for kurt. having always thought that he was straight, davis has a hard time with it, but his feelings can't be denied. kurt agrees to keep their relationship quiet since davis can't really be out in politics.
  
  what i liked: i liked that davis didn't look down on kurt for his current job and actually listened to him. i liked that kurt wasn't afraid to speak up. i also liked that once davis decided that he wanted to pursue something with kurt, he went for it, no second guessing himself.
  
  what i didn't like: i couldn't really connect with the characters. i felt as though i never really got to know either of them really well.
• 
  Melora

  ★★★½ - Good, worth a reread.
  Davis is a Senator who possibly has loftier ambitions, but can't quite figure out if that's what he really wants or not. He meets Kurt and their relationship is almost effortless. Granted, they have to keep it on the down low, however there are no hiccups on the road to love. It's only when Davis's ex-wife, Helen, gets vindictive that the relationship is revealed and Davis has to commit to either his political advancement or the man he loves.
  
  The indecision from Davis about his political aspirations didn't ring true for me as I expected him to have had a firm plan well before he started giving inflammatory speeches (I assume most politicians do). It would have then made sense that meeting Kurt prompts his second guessing. There were also several times I questioned the narrative choice, I guess I really wanted first person, and some insight into Kurt instead of just Helen and Davis.
  
• 
  Ashley

  I enjoyed this book. The romance was light-hearted and made me feel happy while reading it, and the conflict was handled deftly and in a manner that feels realistic. Troubles aren't simply swept away, but at the same time the conclusion leaves the reader feeling optimistic. The side characters, too, were nice. Each felt like they had their own history which, while not immediately necessary to the story, gave them a sense of depth that really helped enrich the narrative. Recommended. :D
• 
  ⚣Michaelle⚣

  4.1 Stars
  
  A
  M/M Romance Group Team Spin
  Spellapalooza Challenge read. (Go Team 6 -
  Living In Spin!!!)
• 
  Jennifer Wright

  The best thing I loved about this book was how the words just flowed, it felt like real thoughts versus written thoughts. I've never really been in to books about polotics - even romance ones :) - but I definitely like the story line between Kurt and Davis.
• 
  Sylvia

  A brilliant book with very clear, very endearing central characters as well as very well-drawn side characters. Beautifully written, this book satisfies pretty much every need. I loved it (:
• 
  *Nan*

  3.5 stars
• 
  Elizabeth H.

  Four point five stars. I wish the main character had given up the race for the presidency, as it seems clear to me his heart isn't truly in the running.
• 
  Buda

  Really good, if predictable (the baddie). Kept me wondering how it would pan out right to the end.
• 
  Plainbrownwrapper

  I was surprised to enjoy this one as much as I did. It's a good read, with imperfect human characters trying to figure out the mechanics of love.
• 
  Penny

  This book got under my skin. I found it completely engaging and very romantic. I look forward to reading more from this author.
• 
  Chad James

  3.5 Star Rating