Second Term: A Novel

by J.M. Adams

A lame duck president's desperate power grab threatens democracy in the United States—can former intelligence operative and single mother Cora Walker prevent catastrophe?

September 2012. Cora Walker, a DIA defense operative, learns of a terrorist plot in Benghazi and rushes to a secret installation to stop it. When her superiors ignore her dire warnings, she's forced to mount an unsanctioned attempt to thwart the attack. Her team barely repels the large force of invaders determined to kill Americans.

Sixteen years after her heroic actions in Benghazi, Cora is the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. As a single mom, she's struggling to balance her demanding job and her home life. Soon, things get more complicated at work as the lame duck president suspends habeas corpus and begins arresting members of Congress in a desperate attempt to retain power.

Cora springs into action to save the Speaker and prevent catastrophe. She'll have to work strategically to keep everyone safe—alliances turn sour, and her trust in others begins to falter. It's an uphill battle for Cora until an explosive finale exposes what can really happen to democracy when political extremism reaches new heights.

Perfect for fans of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Political Thriller

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2023

About the author

JM Adams is the author of SECOND TERM, the first Cora Walker Novel, a speculative thriller set for release on October 17, 2023. (Oceanview Publishing)

He is an Emmy nominated journalist with more than 15 years of on-air television journalism experience, reporting for major news affiliates across the United States and abroad. Besides being nominated for an Emmy for his news reporting, highlights from his career include going on sea patrols with the Navy after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and reporting on location from Kuwait and Iraq while the Air Force enforced No-Fly Zones over Iraq.

He also reported on location from a number of hurricane and wildfire disaster zones and covered multiple high-profile federal and state criminal court cases around the country.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, J.M. Adams, and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

As the world still remembers January 6, 2021, J.M. Adams pens a debut thriller that is sure to turn heads and provide much conversation. Adams balances the tension of another political meltdown with a strong protagonist who will stop at nothing to keep her country together. Cora Walker is sure to leave an impression on many with this piece that extrapolates the happenings of January 6th with an equally ruthless dictator who veils his formidable destruction of democracy as a rally for truth.

Cora Walker finds herself as an integral part of the DIA in September 2012, where there are whispers of a Libyan attack in Benghazi. She is keen to protect the ambassador and keep a terror plot from coming to fruition. Her superiors scoff at her intel and mention that she has an overactive imagination. Cora refuses to stand down and decides to defy her superiors by preparing for an attack, working with fellow operative, Deacon Lobdell, to build a defence. When terrorist attack on the morning of September 11, Cora and her team barely escape alive as they counter the attack that she forecasted. Benghazi will be a political hot potato for years thereafter, with Cora Walker knowing the truth.

Fast-forward to 2028, Cora has taken a role as press secretary for the Speaking of the House of Representatives. She’s ready for most anything and has seen America scrape the bottom of the barrel during the January 6, 2021 insurrection on the Capitol. She’s a single mom to a young girl and refuses to let her daughter see a country that unstable again.

However, after a hard-fought election, lame duck President Terry Locke refuses to accept the results of the election, determined to show that, yet again, there are attempts to mute the people’s choice. As President Locke plans a rally to allow people to express their concerns, many see it as a new version of the 2021 mess. With Cora trying to preemptively block things, she is met with much resistance, especially since the president has turned all the intelligence agencies into his own personal soldiers.

As Cora reaches out to now Congressman Deacon Lobdell, who has long been a close confidante to the president, she will try to protect the Speaker and keep the Capitol from disintegrating once again. Cora and Congressman Lobdell agree something must be done, working covertly and off the grid. It appears that things are much worse than they were in 2021, with the people ready to kill in order to ensure their view of democracy is upheld.

As the Capitol turns into mayhem, Cora works to stay one step ahead of the worst rioters, sure that her life could be taken at any moment. Those toting guns and other weapons spout that this is in hopes of saving democracy and the republic, while hunting down Democrats like jackals. When martial law is declared and President Locke vows to ‘protect the country’ by extending his leadership for four additional years, Cora Walker knows that she will need to make the ultimate choice to bring some form of peaceful solution. With Congressman Lobdell running his own plan, there is sure to be blood running in the streets, where many have died for their beliefs. A chilling piece that reflects much of what came to fruition in 2021. J.M. Adams dazzles in this debut thriller.

I love a good political thriller, particularly when it parallels highly-realistic events. J.M. Adams has done it here, mirroring the January 6th Capitol Insurrection in this piece that projects ahead another 8 years. With a strong narrative, Adams weaves together a thriller that pushes what the world knows about American democracy and takes it even further. With a strong collection of key characters, the story flows well and has a multiple perspectives to show views from all sides. The various plot lines emerge as things get more intense, allowing the reader to see the depths of despair that could follow when democracy is shelved.

While all of this works well, I struggled at times to see how Adams would derive his own storyline, rather than creating a “Jan. 6th 2.0”. As the story progressed, things moved from copycat to the next level, with power concentrated entirely in a ruthless dictator and plans to suspend democratic ideals. With a number of references to 2021, this book developed a uniqueness that left me chilled to the bone as Adams pushed the envelope further and left little doubt to the chaos that could arise, should control be left in the hands of a politician drunk on absolute power.

Kudos, Mr. Adams, for this chaotic look into what might have been. I hope you have more Cora Walker to come!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/se...

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In March of this year I was happy to pick up this title on EW in the Download Now section. What I didn’t realize was that this title was published in October 2023 already and this copy is the trade paperback.
However, with everything going on since the current president decided to step down and not run for a second term it is maybe even better to read this book this year. It is certainly a very intriguing story that is, i.m.h.o. not entirely unthinkable of. However, as this title deals with US politics, and I’m a European, I think I cannot say too much about the story. Of course, I follow the news and I distinctly remember the horror of 6 January 2021. It was like watching a badly made horror movie but sadly it was all real.
Let me just say that I hope and pray that the way things unfold in this book, will nót come true.

Thanks to Oceanview Publishing and Edelweiss for this review copy.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and J.M. Adams for granting me a digital copy of this book.

2,5 ⭐ - my last read of 2024 was unfortunately a mid read. In part 1, the book follows Ms Walker who's on a mission in Libya around 2012.

In part 2 & 3, the book jumps to the future 2028 in Washington DC, where she's a speaker for the House and tries to keep the country in control.

This book was way too political for me, we have a power hungry president and a badass lady who is a mother and fights terrorists? The synopsis sounded great but the story just didn't work for me

[BookishDramas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley for this ARC and the review here is based on my reading of this book. I tend to comment on the go so some of the comments are as per the reading of the chapters as I progress which may not reflect my final opinion on the story. Please read it as being the way the book influences my thoughts while reading it.

The book has two basic parts, both of which refer to two very different but extremely important incidents affecting the USA, one internal and one external, both of which changed the way the state's views and policies and is still continuing to influence decisions.
The first incident pertains to the 2012 Benghazi attack which was a coordinated attack against two United States government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, by members of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia and adds context to the role of the protagonist.
The second incident forms which the inspiration for this story, is an imaginary extension of the tenure former President Donald Trump's after his loss in the election.


And why should anyone care?
Anything that affects a democracy and one which is a super power and whose decisions and policies have a worldwide effect is something that everyone needs to read.
The coincidence of the date of the assault (9/11) on US facilities, i.e. On September 11, 2012, members of Ansar al-Sharia attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi resulting in the deaths of both United States Ambassador to Libya & U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer is one to ponder although the overall incident is just a footnote in the book.

The manipulation of a democratic process including allegations and counter allegations of election manipulations that has made the process questionable is a part utilized in this book and extended to the part of a desperate President.

The story has a nice ring to it and with the topic hot and current is one which is very impossible to skip. The author has taken a bold step in portraying the story with that of a President who is under judicial investigation. The book provides a good story although the first part of the story was a needless extension that could have been trimmed to just a 2 page prologue, considering the rest of the story. The story has been shifted to 2028 but the rest of the things and the paranoia are the same. The story and the president's plans are precise and inflammatory, the response by Cora Walker, the protagonist and Ben Ghazi hero and now the right hand of the speaker and the hand of justice is precise.

JM Adams has put together a spinnable yarn and sells it wonderfully to the reader, which sometimes belie the fact that this is a debut novel. There is overkill but not enough to derail the bookish juggernaut.

Setting the actual politics aside this book should be read as an example of what can go wrong if the custodians of democracy take matters to their own end and start flitting with the boundaries and how megalomania can affect anybody and if it does then it needs a very special kind of effort to roll it over.

I do feel that democracy has measures in place to ensure many of the things in this novel do not happen in real life but a view of the dark side is sometimes required to strengthen resolve in the process.

While I am writing this review and with the book due for release in October months from the present, the electoral process has been challenged and lots of legal and extra-legal action is in process against and for the former US President Trump, this book is a fictional look at the future and provides a lot to ponder.

Recommended.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Second Term: A Novel” by J.M. Adams is a riveting political thriller centering around democracy in America being at the mercy of a powerful lame duck president, with the main character Cora Walker being perhaps the only one who can stop this disaster from happening. Cora’s story begins as a Defense operative. In 2012 she discovers a plot in Benghazi hatched by terrorists and tries to disable it by getting to a secret installation. She warns the powers that be, but they don’t listen to her, so Cora must strike out on her own and try to intercept the attack. She has a team with her but has difficulty fighting off those who wish to harm the citizens of the United States.

Flash forward sixteen years past her brave actions, when Cora is now the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. She is in a different struggle now, as she balances her work and home life. It isn’t long before entanglements arise on the job as the lame duck president calls a halt to habeas corpus and starts placing Congressmen under arrest to maintain power and the status quo. Cora once again finds herself in fight mode as she tries to halt this major onslaught, but it will take all her strategizing skills and wits to accomplish this. Those she thought were on her side turn cold, and she doesn’t know who she can trust. This scenario builds to a powerful climax that illustrates the dangers of democracy on the brink of imploding.

Cora is an excellent character, heroic yet relatable. The action is well-paced, the characters are interesting, and the plot will resonate with any fan of high-stakes political dramas. It isn’t just the political battle that is intriguing, it’s the battle for hearts and minds. You really find yourself in Cora’s shoes, wondering what you would do if you were her, not knowing who you can trust to be on your side. The insider feel the author brings to this novel comes naturally, as Adams is an experienced TV journalist reporting for ABC, CBS, and NBC, on international events and issues, the post 9/11 terrorist attacks, federal court cases, and natural disasters in the United States.

Though his style is like an old pro, it doesn’t come across as stale or old hat. It’s fresh, vibrant, and keeps you invested. Pages will fly by as you keep reading to find out what happens in the end, and you won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking for an amazing read that is thoroughly engaging and entertaining, you must read “Second Term: A Novel” by J.M. Adams.

[Melissa Ammons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.
Cora Walker is the main character in this tale that takes place in 2012 and then jumps to 2028 and 2029. In 2012, Cora was in Benghazi teamed up with some folks she thought she could trust. Fast forward to 2028 when she finds herself back home, has a daughter, and is working for the Speaker of the House, Sarah Vasquez. Cora’s one mission in this new position is to keep Ms. Vasquez safe at all costs. And, there’s Gertie, who is like a mother to Cora and a grandmother to Abby, Cora’s daughter.
There are also some other intriguing characters throughout these pages that help meld this story. It’s full of politics, full of intrigue, full of bad versus good which Cora finds herself in the middle of, much to her surprise.
Cora finds herself in positions that are unthinkable to most of us. There is just something about the political world that Cora can’t quite seem to pull herself away from, even if she wants to.
While I don’t usually read political thrillers, I really liked the character of Cora. I liked the portrayal of a strong female political character. I also liked the fact that Cora has doubts about herself, making her even more relatable.
This would be a good book for those who enjoy political reads, especially one with a strong female character, which, in my experience, is quite rare. There are also a lot of correlations with some of our own political history, which I also found quite intriguing, some mentioned by name, others described very similarly.

[Ella Droste · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This book was sooo good!!! It's fast-paced and action-packed. The main topic is very current, and yet, there is an uniqueness to it that makes it all very captivating. Cora, the main character, is very well developed and just adds to the enthralling plot. There were so many unexpected surprises that I felt like I got whiplash. The author has such a way with words that you will be utterly immersed as you move along in the story.

This is J.M. Adams' debut novel, and it feels as if his transition into the fiction realm was almost effortless. His writing style makes this book captivating from the very beginning, making this thriller extremely riveting (and somewhat relatable). I feel like this story should be taken as a warning to what can happen if the (egocentric and megalomaniac) people in charge start taking matters into their own hands. The result is chilling and chaotic, and I hope we'll have more books about Cora Walker in the future.

Many thanks for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a lame duck president decides he didn't actually lose the election, he uses the powers of the president to hold the office hostage. Sound familiar? Only this is 2029 and this president took some valuable lessons from the actions of 2021. This is an absolutely brilliant story line that's pretty spooky in the long run as no one wants to believe this could happen once, and it has so why not twice? The MC is a woman who averted a incident against her orders and manged to survive the fallout. Now she's press secretary for the Speaker of the House and will do her best to avert this action. I'm really surprised it took this long to use this shameful moment in US history to write and excellent thriller. 5 easy stars!!!

[Adam Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

JM Adams debut novel, SECOND TERM, is a tense political thriller with an unsettling premise. January 6, 2021, was just the warm up; or, in military parlance, a rehearsal for something much worse. It's now 2028, and the sitting US President is putting the pieces in motion to hold on to power ... what would we do? With smooth prose, Adams crafts a page-turner with complex characters at all levels. Definitely one to check out.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is the nightmare those appalled by January 6, 2021 lay awake worrying about. Although it is an extrapolation of the thoughts of some today, I think it presents an all too possible political future with a lame duck president determined to remain in power.

Cora is quite the superhero, perhaps a little too over the top. I am not sure why she was asked to be involved in the final, suspenseful action nor could I really follow her changes in attitude. Some of her actions and those of the congressman puzzled me too. But then, that may very well be how congress people and secret operatives function.

The message of the potential danger was clear. “...[I]t doesn't matter what's true, it matters what the American people believe and what you can get them to believe.” (892/3295)

This is a chilling novel exploring what might be in the future of a nation with its democracy in jeopardy.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Lysbeth Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great inspiring read! Loved Cora Walker- who doesn’t love a kick ass female protagonist. Hard to read the nature of what we are potentially seeing played out in our democracy today. The book keeps you engaged to the end.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This near future political thriller was filled with exiting action and a great main character. Cora Walker is a former DIA operative who made her name in an action in Benghazi but switched her career to becoming a reporter and then working for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. She hasn't lost her extraordinary military skills or strategic ability which is lucky because the lame duck president has decided he doesn't want to leave the White House and has designed a coup that just might work to keep him in power.

Cora needs to evacuate the Speaker from the House when armed assailants and extremists egged on by the President storm the Capitol in an attempt to keep the election from being certified. Cora finds herself in the middle of a plot by a congressman whom she met in Benghazi which "saves" democracy by assassinating the president. But he might not be the only one pulling strings and Cora has to sort things out while running out of time and into danger.

Cora is an intrepid warrior, but she has more to lose than in her Benghazi days. This time she is fighting to keep her young daughter safe too.

I enjoyed this fast-paced thriller and this patriotic character who is determined not to let anyone destroy the democracy she has spent her life fighting for.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It begins with DIA defense operative Cora Walker kicking insurgent butt in the disastrous mess that was Benghazi in 2012 and then jumps to 2028 and a renewed political mess in Washington DC. She is heroic, smarter, actually honest, and more attuned to reality than any of the fictional (or real) politicians. No spoilers here, but the publisher's blurb is a pretty decent hook. Terrific read!
I requested and received an EARC from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Feathered Quill Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Emmy-nominated journalist J.M. Adams comes his debut novel, a political thriller entitled Second Term. This novel is the gripping tale of a DIA defense operative turned press secretary who works to thwart terrorist attacks on both foreign and domestic soil in order to protect American democracy.

Our protagonist, Cora Walker, begins the story as a DIA defense operative working undercover in North Africa gathering intelligence for her superiors. The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is coming up, and Cora learns of a terrorist plan that will threaten the lives of innocent Americans. However, when she notifies her superiors of this plan, she is met with resistance, and is therefore, forced to take matters into her own hands.

The latter portion of the story takes place 16 years later, with many things having changed in Cora’s life. She is now the single mother to an eight-year-old girl and she is employed as the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. She is just as devoted to her career as she was 16 years ago, only now she also has the added responsibility of trying to balance single parenting with a very demanding and stressful job. The time frame for this portion of the story takes place as the anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack at the Capitol is approaching. Cora is once again faced with political insurrection, this time at the hands of the lame duck President, who is attempting to reclaim power for himself. Cora finds herself approached by the President’s daughter, who proposes an unlikely alliance. As she works to protect the Speaker of the House at all costs, she quickly learns to be careful who she trusts as she discovers previous allies turning out to be current adversaries.

While Adams has spent 15 years in broadcast journalism utilizing his skills with the spoken word, his transition into the realm of the written word appears to have been seamless and almost effortless on his part. His debut novel, Second Term, is a riveting, fast-paced thriller that keeps the reader captivated until the very last page. His writing is concise, yet so descriptive that the reader will find himself immersed completely within the story, almost as if experiencing the political insurrections right along with our protagonist Cora Walker.

Adams has created a truly unique main character in Cora Walker for several reasons. The most obvious is that the protagonist of a politically-based thriller is not often a woman. Additionally, throughout the course of the story, Cora also holds not one, but two, very high-level jobs with the government. Finally, Cora is extremely relatable to Adams’s female readers for one simple reason: the fact that she is a mother. She is truly special in many ways, and with Cora at the center of his enthralling story, Adams has crafted a certain winner with Second Term.

Quill says: Second Term is a captivating political thriller filled with endless action and unexpected surprises, complete with a truly relatable and unforgettable protagonist. Adams has authored what’s sure to become a brilliant success. Here’s hoping that Adams has more planned for Cora Walker in the future!

[T.G. Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Term is a Political Thriller. Cora Walker represents the best of US intelligence and skills. Sixteen years after leading a campaign to protect the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, she is pressed into action again. This time, she is defending the Capital and Speaker of the House against a homegrown attack.

Bottom line: Second Term is for you if you love tense, political thrillers built from today’s headlines.

Strengths of the story. This story is told in three parts. First is a 2012 invasion of the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. The second is 2028, post presidential election and set the scene for Cora as the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. The third is January 2029 and the chaos accompanying a president who does not want to step down.

The first thing that pops out about this story is the intensity. Adams doesn’t waste words as he builds worlds both in Libya and Washington, D.C. We see both worlds through the eyes of the efficient, no-nonsense Cora Walker. The intensity drives the pacing and, for me, kept the pages turning.

The texture to this book is notable. JM Adams takes us to the places he has been not just through visual description but through sounds and smells. It adds a layer to the scenes making them richer and more real.

Cora Walker is a strong character who acts independently and according to her moral code. The things she does engaging the enemy places her with other elite fictional agents like Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne. She is a fun hero to cheer for.

Where the story fell short of ideal: While not short of ideal, readers are either going to love or going to hate how the main story presents a sadly easily imagined attack on US democracy by an egomaniac president who can’t accept losing and attacks everyone and everything in an effort to win.

Thrillers are one of the hard genres to resolve the storylines without breaking logic. The Benghazi story line was especially tight and stood up well. I would have liked a bit more detail on what happened, but that is a personal preference. For Parts 2 and 3, Cora acted true to her character with no flaws in her decisions. I did take some issue with the actions of other characters in developing the situation Cora had to fight her way out of. If you can get past those and/or focus on Cora, you’ll enjoy one heck of a ride.

[Kathleen Kelly]

Second Term by JM Adams is the story of an insurrection at the Capital. It is very much the same as what has been happening in our own country. A president who will not admit that he lost and election and his "people" staging another coup. This time it is 2029 inauguration day.

The novel starts out in 2012 when the protagonist, Cora Walker is in Benghazi where an ambassador is at risk in a terrorist attack. We learn a bit more about her and this sets up the story in its current time. It is based a bit on the future but still has the same aspects as our own insurrection in 2021. The parallels between the book to true facts are incredible.

The president, President Locke who lost the election refused to concede and he issued martial law and orders and declared that he would protect the country if he was in for another four years as president. His followers of course are all for this, they march on the Capitol. Of course, as in our own history, the president never showed up to this march.

Cora in 2029 is press secretary to the Speaker of the House, and on January 6th, 2029 another insurrection takes place only this one is worse than the one we experienced. Cora has still maintained her military skills and they help her protect a group of people on that day. So single-handedly protects and gets the group to safety.

In this character-driven story, there is Congressman Deacon Lobdell who has his own agenda and is a close confidant to the president. Cora is a single mom who believes that her country can be saved and she will do all she can to protect those she was sworn to protect.

This book is a political thriller that the reader can relate to, especially as a US resident. About an egotistical man who wants to rule the world. Things don't turn out the way the president and his people think that they should.

This book read pretty fast, and I was totally engrossed until the last pages. The author did an amazing job with this storyline.

I give it 5 stars!

I received a copy of the book from Partners in Crime solely for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for said review.

[Coralee Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The collapse of journalism has one silver lining: Highly trained, objective voices have entered the field. Adams is one of them. As a journalist, he was embedded with the military from various locations. Most notably, he traveled with members from Moody AFB overseas to cover action in Kuwait and 23 miles from the Iraqi border. He also attended enough political meetings to gain an insider's view of the political process. This, along with in-depth research, led to his speculative fiction Second Term.

What would happen if a lame-duck president refused to give up his office? Yes, Adams freely admits he based the plot on the events of January 6, 2021. However, he moved the plot to 2028, assuming the real-life model would not be around. Battling the chaotic president, Cora Walker, who might be regarded as a Paladin, a warrior is a paragon. Her skills are legendary, her strength and self-motivation parallel the best that Adams observed in military women. Told in the first person, we are with Cora in Benghazi when she rescues an Ambassador. Sixteen years later, we witness the near destruction of the United States through her eyes.

Thrillers by definition include violence. The extensive and graphic nature of this plot—while necessary—should be noted. This is not for the squeamish reader. With the 2024 election so close to conclusion, this novel should serve as a must-read to help prevent a grim future.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Cora in Benghazi gathering information when she comes across information pointing to an attack on the U.S. Ambassador the next day. As she tries to relay the information to the station chief, he disregards it. Cora, however, has a group of security contractors convinced. The next day she and the others in the group go to where the ambassador is staying and tells him about the plot. He also waives it off believing that the potential attackers are friends. Cora is correct and an attack happens with many Americans killed. She and her group made it back to the compound having to fight attackers along the way. The story is reminiscent of the Hilary Clinton story while she was running for President.

Follow ahead to 2029 and read about the coup that the current Prsident had in motion after it was determined that he had lost the election. The saying was the the attempted cuop in 2021 was just a practice one. This President had taken care of any obstacles that would have stopped him. Read how Cora, who is now the Press Secretary for the Speaker of the House worked to try and stop the coup from happening.

This definitely is well worth reading and may portray future events that will possibly occurr with the political climate we now had.

Definitely a book that should be read.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! 4.5 stars. This book is scarier than many of Stephen King's best works. Why? Because it wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility to see something like this happen in today's political climate and social dysfunction.

In this fictitious look at the election of 2028, the sitting President, Terrance Locke, is soundly defeated by his opponent. Locke and his cult of MAGA-like followers refuse to accept the results of the election and decide to protest the election by marching on the Capitol on Election Certification Day in early January. (sound familiar?)

Locke has no intentions of conceding the election and instead has a plan to kidnap the Speaker of the House, imprison the VP, and many members of Congress. Once that is done, Locke will declare martial law and name himself President.

Standing in the way is Cora Walker. Cora is the Speaker's protector and "right arm". Walker is, for lack of a better description, a "baaad woman" along the lines of Vince Flynn's " Mitch Rapp" character. In addition to this, Walker is also a conflicted mother of an eight-year-old girl who worries that she is a bad mother.

The story that author J. M. Adams weaves from this point on is engrossing, believable, sometimes gory, and scary. Cora Walker is a great character who's easy to root for. I enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it highly!

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

SECOND TERM by J.M. Adams -- A political thriller the reader will struggle to read remembering it is fiction and not actual history. Cora is a highly trained and skilled Defense (CIA?) operative in Benghazi. She learns of the pending terrorist attack on the US embassy there and unsuccessfully warns her superiors. She and a team engage the terrorists but fail to protect the ambassador and staff (closely resembles the actual attack on that embassy in 2012). Years later, Cora is a single mom who is also the press secretary to the female Speaker of the House. Again, perhaps with inspiration of actual current events, the lame duck president has lost the election but is unwilling to give up the office, continuing to grab all the power he can to become the dictator. He ends habeas corpus, begins placing Congressmen under arrest, persecutes and enfeebles the free press, activates the military, FBI, and Security Service to enable his grab for absolute power. It is Cora's task to protect the House Speaker and ensure a peaceful transfer of power. There is a bitter power struggle in the Capitol with Cora again in the midst of the struggle. This is a high energy, high tension, high action novel, at least inspired by current events. I recommend it.

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel (not debut writing, but debut fiction novel) took hold of me from the beginning,
and I spent time away from the story thinking about where the tale would take the protagonist.
It turns out that because I read and enjoy so many of these political & government agency books,
I started to see where things might be headed, but never got ahead of the well crafted story. It
should be just a bit disturbing to see our world today and the world of Cora Walker, but the Author
did a masterful job in smoothing out rough edges turning the book into an acceptable, ending, but
certainly not at all the kind we’d accept. Even if you don’t watch TV or news, some of this scenario
will make sense in a disturbing way, but it should.. I’d be remiss if I did not express the opinion that
sometimes, once is enough! I recommend this to fans of Brad Thor and the Vince Flynn Universe.
I sincerely hope there will be more Cora Walker books because I definitely would read a series based
on her character and relationships with the cast of this book.
My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an advance download copy of this book
in exchange for my honest review.

[Joanne Leedom-Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmy-nominated journalist J.M. Adams’ first novel Second Term quickly draws the reader in through the voice of narrator Cora Walker, defense intelligence officer and legendary sharpshooter as she arrives in Benghazi on the eve of the attack about to happen. The Benghazi story sets the context for action that will drive the narrative 16 years later.
Cora, later a mother and press secretary for the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, again faces an unresponsive bureaucracy in an even more dangerous setting—Washington, DC—on the eve of the power transfer after the 2028 presidential election. But the sitting President doesn’t intend to hand over power. The mechanisms and planning for his coup are chilling and unfortunately ring all too plausibly after the last U.S. election.

Adams demonstrates his expertise in the workings of the branches of government and military and intelligence organizations so that this political thriller seems to balance on possible future headlines. The vulnerability of the professional warrior/mother Cora Walker with a child at home to protect adds depth to the emotional and dramatic story that unfolds.

[Bruce Borgos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Term" by J.M. Adams is a brilliantly written, heart-stopping thrill-ride that leaves readers gripping the pages as they follow one of the most formidable female protagonists in recent memory. Cora Walker isn’t just tough—she’s a force of nature. Adams expertly crafts her journey from the high-stakes streets of Benghazi in 2012 to a turbulent America in 2028, where threats to democracy are as complex as they are ruthless. Walker’s double life as a lethal defense intelligence operative and a devoted single mother adds rich layers to her character. Now tasked with protecting the Speaker of the House, Cora walks a tightrope of suspense and intrigue, maneuvering a landscape where loyalties shift and the line between ally and enemy is blurred. Second Term isn’t just a political thriller; it’s a searing exploration of courage, resilience, and patriotism in the face of internal chaos. Adams has set a new bar for the genre with a character as relentless as she is nuanced, capturing readers in a story that feels as relevant as it is riveting.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut action novel, Second Term by J.M. Adams is a political thriller set in the United States of America in 2028. The book opens in Bengali 2012 as covert operative Cora Walker ignores orders and tries to save the life of the American Ambassador. The narrative then jumps forward to 2028 as the incumbent President can’t accept that he lost the election and schemes to enact a coup on Capitol Hill. It's up to single mother and former covert operative Cora Walker, now working as press secretary at the Capitol, to ensure democracy is upheld. A fast-paced thriller with lots of high-energy action and rising tension, as opposing forces battle for the presidency. No doubt inspired by recent history, this intense action thriller with a new dynamic hero, has a jaunty four stars read rating. With thanks to Oceanview Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than expected political thriller about what could happen if a power-hungry president learns all the wrong lessons from the Capitol attack in 2021 and sets up a more workable scenario to stay in power despite his loss in the 2028 election. At the core of the "resistance" is Cora Walker, press secretary to the Speaker of the House, and single mother and someone with the background (with a lengthy flashback to BenGhasi 2012) and smarts to see what's coming, and find the allies and way to stop it.
While this is a political thriller, it doesn't take sides in the Republican/Democrat debate. This is about a politician of any persuasion grabbing for power at any cost to the nation. Scary stuff, and scary is what makes a good thriller, and this one is strong in suspense and action, as well as smart and dangerous characters. Good depth with most characters, and I look forward to more books starring Cora Walker. Outstanding for a debut.
Highly recommended.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is inspired by the insurrection in the US Capital on January 6, 2021. Fast forward 8 years and there is a new president who doesn’t want to give up his power and plans to keep it my any means necessary. I know January 6th, can be a divide in the US but I ask that you put that aside when reading the book. The author weaves a thrilling, action packed story that you won’t want to put down. The book has military action scenes, lots of funny quips, an excellent plot, and best of all, Cora. Cora Walker is a kick a** woman who I would not want as an enemy!!! I hope the author has more books planned for Cora as I could read about her all day! She is a strong military trained woman and a mother so the reader can see both the professional and personal sides. I absolutely love her sarcasm and her way of thinking. It made me laugh and roll my eyes (in a good way) several times.

[Daniel K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Book Club Coffee and Chat
“Second Term” is a tightly woven political thriller that immediately pulls you into its high, stakes world. From Cora Walker’s heroic actions in Benghazi to her present, day role as a single mother and press secretary, the author masterfully balances adrenaline, emotion, and realism. The tension escalates beautifully as a desperate lame, duck president attempts to cling to power by suspending habeas corpus.

Our readers were deeply impressed by how grounded the story feels, especially the portrayal of political extremism and its ripple effects. Cora’s strength and vulnerability make her a standout protagonist, and watching her navigate betrayal, shifting alliances, and personal challenges kept us glued to the pages. A powerful, thought, provoking read that lingers long after the finale.

[Claire Isenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was an incredible political thriller. I loved it and so did my husband (we listened to the Audible version on a recent road trip). The tense and action filled plot wrapped in gorgeous writing was truly so enjoyable.

In an election year, the themes surrounding insurrection and extremism and the threat they present to our democracy was chilling. LOVED the ending, and fully didn't see it coming.

The characters were rich and layered, and there was much to be admired about Cora -- her badass take no sh*t attitude, her gentleness as a mother, and her ability to get things done when no one else can. I can't wait to see where her character goes in future installments!

TW: Violence

[John Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Book Club Coffee and Chat
Equal parts heart and adrenaline, “Second Term” delivers a thrilling exploration of courage in the face of political collapse. Cora Walker’s dual role as a fierce defender of democracy and a devoted single mother adds depth and authenticity to every scene. The book never loses momentum as danger creeps closer with each turn of the page.

Our readers appreciated the vivid detail, the believable scenario, and the emotional stakes woven throughout the plot. Several members mentioned how refreshing it was to see a strong female lead in a genre often dominated by male protagonists. This is one of those stories you can easily see becoming a blockbuster film.

[Clement Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Book Club Coffee and Chat
This book wastes no time immersing you in danger and intrigue. After a gripping Benghazi opening, the story leaps forward to a political climate spiraling into crisis. Cora Walker becomes the unexpected anchor holding everything together. Her instincts, resilience, and bright moral compass make her the kind of protagonist readers cheer for.

Our club loved how the author portrays the slow unraveling of democratic norms with chilling clarity. The suspense grows chapter by chapter, and by the time the climax hits, you can feel the weight of every decision Cora has made. Thoughtful, action-packed, and incredibly timely, this book is a hit with our members.