The Senator's Youngest Daughter

by Kelley Rose Waller

Senator A.C. McFerren has been missing for more than six months. The obvious prime suspect in his disappearance is the homegrown terrorist group known as the Army of Social Justice.

Searching for her kidnapped father leads Brenna McFerren Jefferson to the terrorists’ elusive “Death of Government” headquarters, known as The Doghouse. But nosing around where the federal government won’t investigate puts a target on her family and sets in motion a rebellion she isn’t prepared to lead.

Dreams of liberty cause the Senator’s daughter to disguise herself for undercover recon, recruit a high-ranking defector, and partner with a subversive news agency that combats government propaganda. As Brenna’s strength and family ties are tested, she unites a political party that commands the power to transform the United States.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2016

About the author

Kelley writes fiction to imagine new life experiences. Her latest novel, Countershade, was released on November 1, 2022.

Going Back Cold was released in 2019. The Senator's Youngest Daughter was released in 2016. Kelley's day job as vice president of a marketing firm offers her the opportunity to write and plan for clients in diverse fields. Kelley and her husband are Pennsylvania foster parents. Kelley lives and writes to uplift and glorify the name of Jesus Christ.

Kelley is a ridiculous fan of science fiction and board games. She has a B.A. in English and lives in Lancaster, PA, with her husband, their children, and their dog.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“Senator A.C. McFerren has been missing for more than six months. The obvious prime suspect in his disappearance is the homegrown terrorist group known as the Army of Social Justice.
Searching for her kidnapped father leads Brenna McFerren Jefferson to the terrorists’ elusive “Death of Government” headquarters, known as The Doghouse. But nosing around where the federal government won’t investigate puts a target on her family and sets in motion a rebellion she isn’t prepared to lead.
Dreams of liberty cause the Senator’s daughter to disguise herself for undercover recon, recruit a high-ranking defector, and partner with a subversive news agency that combats government propaganda. As Brenna’s strength and family ties are tested, she unites a political party that commands the power to transform the United States.”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- A ‘God Himself’ isn’t capitalized; Mentions of churches & religions; A few mentions of prayers & blessings over food; A couple mentions of God; A couple mention of feeling blessed & blessings; A couple mentions of Catholic nuns; A mention of martyrs; A mention of religious exclusivists; A mention of sin;
*Note: The quote “Hell hath no fury…” is said once.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blah, blah, blah’, a ‘blasted’, a ‘buck up’, a ‘d*mmit’, a ‘friggin’’, a ‘geez’, a ‘holy cow’, an ‘idiot’, an ‘oh my gosh’, a ‘screwing up’, a ‘shush’, a ‘suck up’, a guy is called an ‘ass’ twice, two forms of ‘pissed off’, two ‘screwed’s, three ‘freaking’s, four ‘shut up’s, four ‘what/where/how the heck’s, ten forms of ‘crap’, fourteen forms of ‘stupid’; A few curses are said (not written); Mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lots of gunfire, being shot at, shooting, killing, fighting, being hit/punched, blood, bleeding & seeing murders (semi-detailed); Lots of explosions/bombings, pain, being kidnapped, passing out & a car fire/explosion with a death (semi-detailed); Many mentions of gunfire, being shot at, shooting, weapons, screams, explosions/bombs, airstrikes, being cut, blood/bleeding, injuries, assassinations & terrorists (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a planned macabre, murders & executions (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of killing, being able to killing someone (the thought), hatred & terrorists; Mentions of car accidents, injuries & deaths; Mentions of kidnappings, imprisonments & prisoners; Mentions of fighting, pushing, hitting & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of people being racist; Mentions of lies, liars & lying; A few mentions of the Civil War & slavery; A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of graffiti; A few mentions of tattoos; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of needing to pee; A couple mentions of suicides; A couple mentions of a divorce; A couple mentions of being drunk & drinking; A couple mentions of beer & wine; A couple mentions of hunting; A couple mentions of gossip; A mention of a bar fight; A mention of vomiting; A mention of cigarettes; A mention of peeing outside; A mention of taking a pee;
*Note: A couple mentions of James Bond; A couple mentions of aliens & pet aliens; A mention of a news story about an alien landing.


Sexual Content- an almost kiss, a cheek kiss, a forehead kiss, eight not-detailed kisses, and eight barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Touches, Embraces, Cuddles & sitting in a husband’s lap (barely-above-not-detailed); The main girl & her husband shower together (nothing sexual, not-detailed); Blushes & Butterflies; A bit of Noticing, Nearness & Smelling; two ‘baby’s, two ‘smokin’ hot’s, three forms of ‘hot’s, three ‘sexy’s, and eight ‘babe’s; Mentions of touches and a wives sitting in their husbands’ laps; Mentions of couples kissing, making out & canoodling (dating & married couples, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of what could have been a hinted shower scene between the main girl & her husband (nothing sexual, not-detailed); A few mentions of hints of getting somewhere with a girl when alone & a man calls her a ‘prig’; A few mentions of men who cheated on their wives; A few mentions of a boyfriend kissing his girlfriend’s sternum/cleavage; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of a married couple changing in front of each other (nothing sexual); A few mentions of wolf-whistles (from a husband to a wife, then later vice-versa); A few mentions of winks & a woman being hit on; A mention of Tate asking if he and Brenna have time for a “quickie”; A mention of a suggestive reference about a wife liking to get physical & sweaty with her husband; A mention of a joke about a sexually transmitted disease; A mention of a rumor that a woman is pregnant with her boyfriend’s baby;
*Note: When Brenna is looking at her muscular body, her husband comes in and mentions about it being a show; Tate squeezes Brenna’s rear end once; Tate peeks down his wife’s pants and notices her black lace panties (barely-above-not-detailed); Brenna starts unbuckling her pants to distract two guards at one point; Mentions of Brenna losing her pants & seeing her undies and bare thighs; Mentions of Brenna having to undress in front of strangers because of a fashion show; Mentions of towns called ‘Intercourse’, ‘Blue Ball’, ‘Bird-in-Hand’, ‘Paradise’ & ‘Fertility’ (and the “come again?” reactions to the names and men laughing); A few mentions of women’s curves in swimsuits; A few mentions of a push-up bra & the “girls”; A couple mentions of her husband not wanting Brenna to change from a silky robe; A couple mentions of sports bras; A couple mentions of a boyfriend putting his hand on his girlfriend’s butt & their PDA; A mention of a butt being covered; A mention of a girl’s amazing body; A mention of a curvy woman; A mention of a girl filling out a dress; A mention of Brenna’s flat chest (by herself); A mention of a billboard with a man in just his underwear on it; A mention of a man’s underwear (a reference to a superhero); A mention of a man wearing just boxers; A mention of a sign advertising free condoms to middle schoolers; A mention of birth control; A mention of a study on bisexual arachnids; A mention of a woman looking androgynous.

-Brenna McFerren Jefferson, age 24
1st person P.O.V. of Brenna
313 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
Okay, let me just say that I come from a very political family for a family that doesn’t have any politicians in it. The basic premise of this story is, to quote the prologue, “One man now leads the nation single-handedly and single-mindedly.”. So it’s a rebellion plot.
Have I ever mentioned that I love rebellion plots? No? Well, I really do.
I honestly was a little worried about the main girl being married, but it was cleaner than I thought it would be—though I could have done without some comments. {Tate can be swoon worthy, though, at times. I think it’s because of his protective and gun-carrying nature.}
Even though there’s many serious moments in this novel, there’s a great amount of banter and wit to balance it out and lighten some up parts. The rescue mission had me on the edge of my seat, but I was also snorting with laughter at poor Brenna. The second hand embarrassment was so high.
I really liked how diverse these characters were/are in physical appearance, something that I don’t see too much of unless it’s pointed out many times in an obvious way.
Man, though, I really wish this had had more Christian content and less minor cussing (and mention of others cussing) because it’s really got a 4-star plot for me. The 1st person POV writing & definitions of places and actions were impressive. And if you know my reviews, that’s something I don’t say lightly or often. But, because of some content, I have to stick with a three-star rating tops.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is some kind of political work of fiction describing an imaginary place where life is bad and the political climate is even worst. It is also the story about an American family working together against a corrupt president and his savvy propaganda.

This debut novel is written in first person tense and is a little confusing to start with. I needed to piece who all those players were: “Litants. Versives, ASJ’s , dogs and what those acronyms referred to, plus add multiple personages some related and some not and you have a real challenge in your hands, at least for 1/3 of the book. Once I past the shaky start and found my ways into the story the experience wasn’t so bad. There is lots of suspense with our protagonist, Brenda, and her family attempting to rescue first their kidnapped father from terrorists and later their country from the hands of a power crazed dictator. The bing bang parts is what kept my attention, it is quite dramatic, very well-done and far-fetched…to a point of being comical at times.

The political scene is the setting and all the shenanigans that comes with it. The action is fast and captivating enough but is dragged down with intercepting speeches, exerts taken from the Constitution or religious quotes.(too much of this) The characterization is too sugary for my liking or maybe it is the humoristic antics they say and did that I didn’t totally enjoyed (again maybe I lack a sense of humour). Although I did read it to the last page, this story never grabbed my total interest and I had a hard time staying focused and not let my mind wander. Thankfully for the action that brought me back on track…...Even if this book was far from being my favourite it is nevertheless an imaginative futuristic view how our decisions may affect our future…..

I received this book from the author for an honest and unbiased review

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Senator’s Youngest Daughter is unusual - it's dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games or Maze Runner, set in a near-future USA that isn't that different to the current version ... except that the President has disbanded the Supreme Court and Congress, making him what others might call the leader of a socialist dictatorship.

As is to be expected, rebellion is forming as the President imitates a certain Korean gentleman by getting rid of his opponents - only this guy is clever enough to blame it on the rebels. PR at it's finest. The politics of who is who is a little complex and gave the novel a shaky start. But once I sorted out who was who among the government, the Army of Social Justice, the Versives and the Litants, it got a lot easier to read.

The novel is written in first person present tense. I like first person, but it takes a lot of writing skill to pull off present tense from the get-go, and this didn't quite manage it for me. There were also a few odd phrases, like “I think” which didn’t seem necessary given the first person viewpoint.

However, once I found my way into the story, it was rip-roaring good suspense as Brenna and her family attempt to rescue first their kidnapped father, then rescue their country from the hands of a power-crazed dictator who labels all his opponents as terrorists.

Brenna is an interesting narrator. She’s bright, beautiful and talented, but doesn’t necessarily know her own value. Fortunately, her husband is there to reinforce her strong points and make up for her weak points (great example of a marriage, although I’m sure we’re all happy not to be in the situation Brenna is in!).

Overall, an enjoyable suspense read—and it’s well worth the effort of persevering even if you get a little confused in the beginning.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The scenarios in this book were all too real, and I can honestly see America heading down this road. What I didn't like about the book was that it was lacking in faith, in reliance on God, and a lack of spiritual issues that would have added more depth to the book, and would have added hope in the middle of some of the despair. There were some descriptions that I could have done without. There is one instance where a swear word is used, other times we are told some says something bad though it's not in print, thankfully! There are a few places where things are implied by innuendo that I wasn't crazy about, too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of The Senator’s Youngest Daughter in exchange for an honest review.

A very interesting and thought provoking read, especially taking recent events into account! Not being American, some of the politics of this book were lost on me, but I really enjoyed the family dynamic between the characters and appreciated the authentic characters themselves. There was definitely character development throughout, mainly aligned with the plot twists and surprises but this worked very well. The action scenes were well written and felt authentic. I did get confused with the different factions a lot of the time, and there were double crossing characters, which was difficult to follow at times.

I would definitely read more by Kelley Rose Waller.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brenna McFerren Jefferson is on a mission to find her father. He was kidnapped by a supposed rebel group that defends the interests of the dictator like President. America is not what it used to be. The government has been disbanded save the president, it makes for a socialistic society. Brenna's dad is against this and that is why he has been targeted. In helping with his release Brenna finds herself in the beginnings of a revolution. She and her family do what they can to make America right again.

In an Oyster Shell - This was an unexpected riveting read.

The Pearls - I don't usually read dystopian fiction, I find them often leading me into a feeling of helplessness and desolation. I decided to give this book a chance because my interactions with the author where pleasant. I do what I can to help authors so I agreed to read it. I was pleasantly surprised by a dystopian book that left me feeling hopeful and complete. I am glad I read it.

Full Review: Writing Pearls

[Tina Truelove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Politics. Action. Drama. Tragedy. Suspense. Romance. Humor. The Senator's Youngest Daughter by Kelley Rose Waller had it all. I read it within a couple of days because it was difficult to put it down. Actually, I read most of it in one day. I'm not a politician but I have many friends and family members who occupy political offices at the local, state, and federal levels so politics is definitely part of my everyday life. I'm pretty passionate about it so this book interested me from page one. The Senator's Youngest Daughter takes the reader through one family's fight against a socialist dictatorship type of Presidential ruler that has taken over the United States. He has disbanded Congress. There is no longer a Supreme Court. He has created his own federal "military" type police presence and gun free cities. Government "hand-outs" have become the norm, leaving the people dependent on the government for survival. Conservative Senator McFerren has been kidnapped by the Army of Social Justice. His daughter and her husband lead the fight to free her father and restore the republic of the United States. The story is realistic. I can see how this type of scenario could play out in real life. It had several surprising twists - the "Wow, I never saw that coming!" kind of moments when I just sat there stunned at what I had just read. You'll laugh, cry, mourn, and cheer as you become part of this family of patriots. I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy politics.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a little confusing to start with as I tried to work out who was who – Litants, Versives, ASJ’s, dogs, but once I had mastered that, I was soon immersed. And throw Secret Service and Federal Troopers into the mix. It is set in an alternate reality of the US, where American Congress has been permanently dissolved, so that the nation is led only by the president.

It starts with Brenna spying on The Doghouse where her kidnapped father is being held and as she returns home, she passes the library when it is blown up. These events start the pace of the story which continues in a similar vein. All of Brenna’s family have their role to play. Her husband Tate is Chief of Staff for her Senator father and is channelling his efforts into investigating his disappearance. Her brother Ike and sister-in-law Reese are both cyber security computer geniuses and also run a subversive news network. Her sister Esther had been planning to go into politics, before state government was disbanded.

It also includes both funny and sad moments, the funniest being when Brenna’s trousers get snagged in a tight situation and the only way she can free herself, is to leave them behind, continuing on the mission in just her top and underwear.

I won’t say any more to avoid spoilers, but this book is definitely worth a read.

Disclosure. This is a review of an e-book I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

[David Bergsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a dystopian YA thriller —though the characters seem to be bit older. It’s a familiar scenario.

It’s the tale of a senator committed to bring America back to a constitutional democracy, run by the people, with a functioning balance of powers. The main characters are his wife and children, and they are lovingly depicted in their complexity as they head up the revolution to unseat President Spencer.

A dystopian YA thriller always has the problem of convincing the reader that the back story is true. Suspending unbelief and sliding into this world is not easy. But observing it from the outside is quite entertaining. The world-building is good. But it’s occasionally lacking in plausibility.

The dystopian YA thriller is getting a bit old
It’s done so often these days. But Kelley pulls it off. I throughly enjoyed the tale. However, spiritually it’s really not there. But it’s not evil, just clean.

The characters make this story. The familial relationships are complex and intriguing. Well, maybe they’re intriguing because I’ve never really seen or met a functional family.

Kelley gave me a copy to review with no restrictions. I’m glad she did. This is a well-done story.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Senator's Youngest Daughter, by Kelley Rose Waller, is the story of a woman and her family as they are caught up in a rebellion against domestic terrorists and a corrupt United States government. The characters are interesting and entertaining, the action sequences are heart-pounding, and the plot twists are genuinely surprising. It was hard to put it down — both times that I read it!

The political stance is strongly conservative and capitalist, so some readers may find that off-putting, though I'd recommend the book to anyone who enjoys fiction, regardless of politics, because the story is compelling.

A recurring device throughout the novel is the use of fictional news headlines and articles to give the reader a snapshot of what's going on in the country as the story is taking place. I loved how these items helped to give the reader a bigger picture as the story was taking place.

Even if reading about politics isn't something you usually enjoy, I think you'll enjoy this book. There's so much more to it than just that. More than anything, it's story about a family banding together in a time of national turmoil and personal tragedy... and surviving.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brenna McFerren Jefferson is determined to find her missing father and is willing to challenge the new status quo put in place by the power crazed President of the United States. The Supreme Court is no longer effective, congress disbanded, and states stripped of rights when her father, a Senator who spoke out against the President, went missing. Politics is a dirty game and story exploits the thin line between the check and balance system of government and erosion of freedom and liberty. The novel is a fictional case study for what could happen if voter apathy overwhelms political party functions.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book surprised me a little. I am not a big reading about politics person so when I saw the name of the book I wasn't sure what to expect. I really enjoyed this book! The author made me think for the movie Taken and a little Maze Runner. The characters were excited to follow and the story line was NOT boring at all. I was very happy to say this book kept me reading until the end. * I received this book from the author ---this is my honest review*

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uneven in some parts, however the end was action packed and was very well written. The book itself was free from unnecessary foul language and a pleasant read.

I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Senators Youngest Daughter is an exciting and fast paced story. I loved that it throws you into the adventure from the start and you get to put together the story/kidnapping as you read. The characters and family dynamics are endearing and over all I highly recommend!

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://kiribeth.blogspot.com/2017/07...

I think it's safe to say that this book wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I'm not exactly sure what I was even planning to expect. I haven't read much of the dystopian-futuristic type of novel, but I did enjoy this taste of it.

Kelley Waller doesn't waste any time jumping into the action. Right from the start, we're introduced to our heroine and an action-packed scene where guns are around every corner and the drain pipe is the MVP. From there, the action really doesn't stop.

Brenna McFerren Jefferson is a kindergarten-teacher-gone-secret-agent. She lives in a very different America than we're used to -- one with a power-hungry president basically taking out the balancing checks of the Supreme Court and the Senate during his term. He's wants complete control over the country, and he's ready to take whatever action necessary to keep that power -- including kidnapping Brenna's father, the former senator A.C. McFerren who stands for the old-fashioned republic and the ideals of the Founding Fathers.

It was difficult to keep track of everything at first, so many names and acronyms and other important-sounding lingo. But once you got used to what everything was, it made sense. The action is excellent in this book. I never once felt that it dragged or got boring. The book is a pretty hefty size (with a stunning 68 chapters), but the quick narrative keeps things moving along nicely. Once I was into the story, it didn't take me that long to finish it.

There were a few awkward transitions between scenes as well as in certain scenes. Some parts just read unpolished -- basically I would have preferred it a little more edited and smoothed out. To my knowledge, this is Kelley Waller's debut novel, so I'd be greatly interested in reading one of her next works and seeing how her writing matures. She's definitely got the talent to keep her readers on their toes!

If you like guns and explosions with a side of tech, family, and American politics, then this is the book for you. Kelley Waller throws in plenty of plot twists to compliment the action, though I will admit I saw most of them coming. There was quite a bit of character development, but sometimes it felt a little forced. I admired how Brenna at first was fighting to pull her family back together after her father's kidnapping, but by the end, the theme had changed to her discovering her true worth in the political circle.

One thing that I really enjoyed was the abundance of historical American quotes. Every few pages, one of the characters would spout off a Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, etc. quote with ease, leaving me insanely jealous and wishing I could do the same. For the inner American history nut in me, that was definitely a plus!

Advisory: Lots of violence. Guns/explosions/fighting/lots of broken glass/some blood. It's not overly graphic, but enough so that I would recommend this book for older readers. I didn't count the deaths in the book as I read, but several deaths are described.

Also, a disappointing abundance of language. I won't make a list here (mostly because I'm not completely comfortable typing those words out), but other reviewers have included a list in their Goodreads reviews if you are interested.

There is some light but awkward romantic/physical/sexual content as well. Brenna is a married woman, so there are a few comments and physical touches that pass between her and her husband, as well as between other couples in the book. They're not over the top, but a few of them made me uncomfortable. Brenna loses her pants on a mission and completes her job in her pink underwear, and there are several comments about that. One other thing to note would be comments on the decaying state of the union and its sinful turn in society.

Honestly, I feel like the characters and action helped make this story 5 stars, but I would have loved to give it all 5, but there was a lot (mentioned above) that made me shy from that. There are very few mentions of spiritual content, despite this being labeled a Christian book.

*Please note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.*

[David Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to review this book on a whim. It falls outside of my usual scope of books that I read, so my expectations going into the book were undecided. It sounded interesting from the blurb, and the author pitched it well. She categorized it as Women’s Fiction, but it certainly doesn’t hold appeal only toward women. In fact, I’d argue that categorizing it as such might cost readers who would thoroughly enjoy reading this book just like I did.

This is a book that starts off with a heavy dose of intrigue, and that is a thread that is woven strongly through the pages of the entire book. There are schemes within schemes, hidden traitors on both sides of the conflict, and an overall sense of political madness. This book takes a great concept and executes it well. What would our nation look like if our political system was essentially displaced by one person who claimed that power for himself? What repercussions would ripple throughout the nation, and what would the inevitable uprising against that look like? These things were a delight to witness in Waller’s writing, and it presented a picture realistic enough to make me sit up and take notice.

And that, really, is what makes this book shine. The characters are great and you’ll have strong feelings about what happens with many of them. There are some outstanding ideologies given a voice throughout the book, almost to the point of preachiness at times but never to where it bogs the book down. But it is the reality that strikes home – this sort of scenario could very easily happen at some point in our country’s future – that really sets this book apart.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Far more than I ever expected to. I’m not sure why I decided to take a chance and read this book, but I am very glad I did. It might not lead me to read more books in the same genre, but I will definitely be watching for the sequel to this one. It is a book I’d very much recommend to a YA or higher audience.

[Beckie Burnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Senator’s Youngest Daughter is Kelly Rose Waller’s debut novel featuring a futuristic United States that has abandoned its constitutional foundation to become a benevolent dictatorship. But as the old adage goes, absolute power will result in absolute corruption. This novel is a fast-paced, action-packed political thriller that hits a little too close to home in its portrayal of a nation given over to one man’s ideology.

Waller’s debut is first person, present tense which can be a bit jarring, but in this case kept this reader in the action and definitely guessing at what would come next. Main character Brenna is the narrator, and her strengths and weaknesses are focused as she joins in her family and friends’ struggle against an oppressive US government. The novel kept me engaged when the action was at its highest, but the story bogged down when the characters expounded on political ideas. That came off as a bit preachy. The Senator’s Youngest Daughter has a YA vibe, but many scenes were a little too adult for that designation. I think it falls more into the New Adult designation. It is a clean-read, but not a Christian book, although the author’s Christian worldview does impact the subject matter.

For fans of political thrillers and dystopian fiction, The Senator’s Youngest Daughter is worth a look.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Determined to help her father, who has been kidnapped, this former school teacher finds her place in a revolution against the president. Just when she thinks she has her father back, tragedy strikes.

If anything, this story shines clearly just how imperfect all governments are. This is a dystopian style, political thriller. Brenna was an interesting protagonist, being married and devoted to her family. Each character has a role and they fulfill their role.

I have a hard time reading first person present tense, and this one was no different. The story was interesting enough for me to continue reading, but I did have to take several breaks.

[Miss Hanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Senator's Youngest Daughter has a little something for everyone – nail-biting suspense, humor, family drama, political intrigue, action sequences, and even a hint of romance. This dystopian narrative envisions a US government led by an authoritarian president who has embraced socialist policies. It follows the story of Brenna McFerren Jefferson and her family as they struggle to return the United States to its roots in the liberty of free enterprise.

Waller starts out fast from page one, artfully weaving the tension of explosions, hostages, and espionage with bits of comedy. Plot twists keep the reader guessing, yet the commitment of the McFerren family to their cause remains constant. Although some readers may find the conservative viewpoint unappealing, for readers with a similar outlook, this novel plunges into the doomsday predictions about the social welfare state and offers a hopeful resolution.