I sadly couldn't get into this one! The writing style felt dry and wasn't character-centric. I wish it focused less on plot, to be honest, and more on the relationship. Full review to come on my blog!

Anyone interested in politics will definitely love this book. The storyline is intriguing and gripping. I especially liked Meredith’s character and it was nice seeing some familiar faces from the author’s previous books. However, I struggled to like Stevie and would have preferred a less instant connection between the two leads. Other than that I enjoyed this book.

This is my first Carsen Taite book. I’ve been holding back to read her novels since I got into lesfic because politics-flavored lesbian romance don’t really appeal much to me (along with and especially paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi ones) but thankfully I gave it a try because I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed her writing. True to the adage that a writer must write about what she knows best, Carsen Taite is a pro. Pursuit of Happiness may seem short considering the magnitude of the subjects tackled in the story—she could have explored further into it—but I would say good thing she didn’t. Good thing she trimmed down the “boring” details of American politics. It’s written just how I like it. The main characters were solid, the dialogues were legit.
Giving this 4 stars. I’ll read more from this author.

This is my new favorite Carsen Taite book! Maybe it's the time in our lives with presidential politics right now, but I'd give anything to have a Meredith Mitchell in the White House. I'll say up front that I hope this is the beginning of a new series, because I'm definitely not ready to be done with Meredith and Stevie, and the book did seem to end abruptly. Everything about this story hit all my favorite notes: I love seeing Addison, Julia, Rook, and Zoey again from previous stories. I love the super slow burn and the rich girl/poor girl trope. And I'd love to see chaffeur Erica get her own love interest in the next installment!

I am a big fan of Carsen Taite and I find that all of her books are good. This was no exception. The two main protagonists were lovely. I thought that Meredith was a cookie cutter sort of high powered character who would do anything to reach the top, and Stevie was the down trodden less wealthy love interest. All things we have seen in these books before, but what made this book interesting was the political intrigue. I thought the story was interesting if a little unbelievable, but it was nice to read a fairy tale.

One part of the book I did not like and thought wasn't as developed as it could have been was the court case, and the fact that it got resolved in the background with a little mention of it on inauguration day. I thought that part of the book was pretty sloppily put together and really only there to prove to the reader that Stevie was in fact a lawyer with her own life. I thought that this espionage arrest was the most compelling part of the book and it was never really flushed out, and the resolution was so quick it just felt a little unfinished.

Good story overall and I really did enjoy it,. I can't wait for the next one.

I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review by Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley.

Politics befitting of the times. Senator Meredith Mitchell, member of an American political dynasty maybe ready for the political run of her life. Attorney Stevie Palmer refuses to be limited by low expectations directed at her by others. Two strong women that held my interest throughout the read. I thought the author did a good job weaving in the current political times without embellishing much at all. I was pleased that the politics was not over the top and heavy. I appreciate the main characters' self-talk because it provided a realistic look at the process people go through while making decisions.

Ahhh another beauty of a read by Carsen Taite!

Senator Meredith Mitchell and Attorney Stevie Palmer are already an unlikely match when they begin tentatively dating. Stevie is already cautious of Meredith money and high flying company she keeps when a shake up in the presidential race means that Meredith herself will be running for the highest office in the country. Can their budding romance survive the political and personal turmoil and lack of privacy?

I loved both Meredith and Stevie. They were both strong characters, beautiful and intelligent, and with real flaws. Their relationship developed slowly and tentatively and I thought that was really realistic given the situation they were in. It really did a lot to help connect the reader to their story.

This book flew by near the end, lots of skipping ahead a few months or weeks but nevertheless you still felt the connection between the two main characters. Casten Taite is a master at steamy chemistry, seriously incredible tension between our leading ladies. The dialogue is excellent as always, the court scenes were snappy, and the world Carsen Taite has created is a slightly romanticized version of politics that exciting and a breath of fresh air.

I liked catching up with a few other characters in the same world from "Courtship" and "A More Perfect Union" - you definitely don't have to read the other books to enjoy this one but its nice to see familiar faces.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.3 stars.

It's a solid read but I wasn't a fan of how the book focused mostly on politics that kept them apart rather on the actual romance. I wanted a romance first. So I guess the rating is lowered due to my wrong expectations. Otherwise, nothing much to mention. It's well written. The political side is executed well but it's outside my interests, especially for a non-American like me.

While the writing is good there's also nothing really memorable about this book. I finished it last week and I've already forgotten most things about it. It's good but not great.

Although this novel revolves around politics, there is romance involved too. You don't need to even be interested in politics. The main characters, Meredith and Stevie are wonderful characters. The plot is engaging from start to finish. If you were unhappy with the last election, read this and it will make you smile! Would recommend!

3.5 Stars. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. This story is about Meredith Mitchell, a senator from New York who is part of a political dynasty. She is becoming the focus of a run for president, especially after the other promising candidate has to drop out. During a Committee Hearing, Meredith meets Stevie Palmer, a pubic defender. Stevie asks Meredith to meet her for dinner to discuss their mutual hearing, and from then, they can't seem to keep away from each other. They both want to spend time with each other, even with their busy schedules. Meredith's even gets busier as she aims for a run for president. Stevie is unsure of how she will deal with Meredith being in the spotlight and Stevie wanting a quiet life.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought by the description. I wanted to keep reading because Stevie and Meredith did not have as many interactions as I would like and I kept reading to get to them. The interactions they did have were very good and had a lot of character development. They both developed as the book progresses. They have a lot of tension throughout the book, as they should and can't be together. It was a good book that I would recommend if you enjoy books about politics. It was a solid book, and I have never read this author before either. It makes me consider other books by Carsen Taite.

5/5

This book is a fast pace, incredible romance.

Meredith Mitchell has been groomed to one day become the president of United States. Attorney Stevie Palmer likes her life, a lot. While stressful, it is simple, and the last thing she wants is to lose her privacy. When Meredith and Stevie meet there is an immediate attraction but the high profile life Meredith lives might be the one thing Stevie can not accept.

This book hooked me from the first chapter. It was fast paced and it kept you engage every page. The characters had amazing chemistry. The story line of each character, separate from the romance story line, was also interesting.

Overall, this book was amazing and I really hope there is a second part to it (not that it needs it but I really would love to read about those characters again).

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book hoping for an f/f romance with some interestingly developed characters and a political plotline that made me feel hopeful, not miserable, and that's overall what it delivered! I loved reading about a lesbian running for president (hope dialled up to eleven), and the story balanced the romance and the presidential campaign very well, with nothing feeling out of place. The time jumps, while necessary, sort of brought me out of the story, but I can completely see why they were necessary in order to cover the entire length of a presidential campaign without writing a 500 page epic! Meredith and Stevie learned to trust each other, and to find their way to make romance and their own happiness work alongside their demanding jobs, and the public eye, and I was rooting for them to work it out.

A decent lesfic story but kinda superficial. Trying to fit a presidential campaign in one book next to a budding romance didn't work in my opinion. I had a hard time believing Meredith and Stevie could really love each other no matter what and have a happy ever after when they barely had time together and Stevie's past wasn't even mentioned. The only thing they really had was sexual attraction. Their problems weren't really resolved in the end.

If you are looking for a book with some political intrigue and lust between the main characters, Pursuit of Happiness is the right book. Don't expect any character development tho.

For the fans of Ms Taites books get ready for another great read. For those who haven’t read any of Ms Taite’s work be prepared to become a fan. Senator Meredith Mitchell’s family has always been in the public eye, her father has served as Governor of New York for three terms and now runs a non-profit. Meredith is already serving as Senator for New York but has her eye on becoming president, sometime down the road but after her friend has to step down from running Meredith’s ‘sometime’ is now. She has always been out so everyone already knows she’s a lesbian. Stevie Palmer works as a public defender, helping her clients have the best legal defence she can offer. She leads a quiet life, never seeking the limelight. Ms Taite also gives us fans a chance to reconnect with the characters from her earlier novels, ‘Courtship’ with Addison Riley and Julia Scott and A More Perfect Union’ with Zoey Granger and Rook Daniels. Simply a wonderful read. Very, very enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43157430-pursuit-of-happiness" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Pursuit of Happiness" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1544653378m/43157430.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43157430-pursuit-of-happiness">Pursuit of Happiness</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2829153.Carsen_Taite">Carsen Taite</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2625951270">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a political romance - heavy on the political (which I enjoyed but some may not). Leads Meredith (Senator) and Stevie (P.D.A.) have undeniable chemistry and there are a couple of characters from previous books. I found the storyline, however, somewhat up and down and the ending abrupt so while an interesting read I can only rate it 4 stars.<br />I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

Pursuit of Happiness is my first time with a Carsen Taite book. I am definitely a big history and political buff so this was right up my reading alley.

Senator Meredith Mitchell is a presidential hopeful who comes from a long line of political royalty. She stands an excellent chance of being both the first female and, cue the drumroll, the first Lesbian president.

There’s some election shenanigans involving computer hacking, fake news, and ugly accusations which makes it sadly reminiscent of our recent times. In the middle of the politics is a sweet romance between Meredith and Stevie Palmer, a federal public defender. There was a bit of quick love but I never really mind so long as there’s something to smile or gush over. In this case, I liked both characters but I felt like I didn’t know enough about them to really feel their love and affection for each other. It’s still a really good, layered story but I just wish there were more Meredith and Stevie moments, individually and together. I’ve got another Taite book in my library and that one’s a courtroom drama so I’m looking forward to it now that I’ve read my first one.

I really love Carsen Taite and I really love romances that include politics. To me, both main characters are like-able and I could feel the chemistry between them. I liked the premise of the book...it's hard for me to not love a presidential romance. Also enjoyable is seeing characters from the author's past books.

That being said, I wish we would have seen more interaction between the two. By the end of the book they're coming out in a very public way and professing their love. Considering that they we apart for a good bit of the time that the book covered, it seems super quick to me. Like others, I wish the ending wasn't wrapped up quite so fast.

Although I have some gripes, I still highly recommend reading this.

(A copy of this book was generously given to me by the publisher via NetGalley)

I'm hovering between 3 and 4 stars with this one, so hopefully by the end of this review I can make a decision!!

Carsen Taite is a wonderful author, usually taking on a character who's a lawyer or in the legal field. Pursuit of Happiness was a nice change of pace, with one of the MCs being a US politician instead. To be perfectly honest, I've had trouble with some Taite novels in the past, but I can't quite put my finger on why... A few previous books felt a bit formulaic, and I think I got in a bit of a rut. Thankfully, this one was a great change, and I really enjoyed most of it!

Other reviewers have mentioned that this one checks back in on some characters from Taite's previous novels, but I haven't read those specific ones yet. I will be going back at some point to check them out since I enjoyed this read so much. With that said - Pursuit of Happiness did just fine as a standalone novel, and you won't be lost at all if you also haven't read some of the others.

The way that I would personally describe this book would be fluff politics with romance added in for fun. It's definitely not in your face POLITICAL (thank god...), but it loosely follows MC Meredith as she pursues the office of President of the US, and MC Stevie as Meredith's 'girlfriend'. Stevie's a public defender lawyer by the way, so Taite couldn't quite get completely away from writing about lawyers. Stevie's character wasn't as well fleshed out as Meredith's, but I still enjoyed both characters.

Wouldn't it be amazing if politics really could be run by women and, even better, out and proud lesbian women at that???? Pipe dreams...

What in the world happened at the ending though? That was WAY too short, and Taite almost screwed the whole thing up just at how quick she wrapped the book up. This one could have used several more chapters easily. It felt like a complete change of pace at the end.

I've decided that I'm rating this 3.5 stars, but rounding down to 3 for the abrupt ending. As a whole though, I enjoy novels that allow you to learn something and make you think somewhat, instead of just being fluffy / angsty romance only. If you enjoy the same, you'll like this one too.

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.**

I couldn't get enough of this book.

Meredith is a Senator. Stevie is a Public Defender. Their paths cross when Meredith has to question Stevie in regards to a minimum sentencing rule. Stevie wants more time to persuade the Senator in her favor so invites her to dinner. Thus begins their complex and challenging courtship. Stevie wants nothing to do with the public scrutiny that would come from dating the Senator/maybe presidential candidate.. Meredith isn't sure anything can work but she can't stay away from Stevie.

Sometimes I end up speed reading through parts of books. I never did that with this one. I digested each page slowly. Completely intrigued with the political backdrop. I loved the characters and was rooting for them despite not knowing how they could ever possibly make it work. This truly was so complex and seemingly impossible.

I almost didn't want to read this because another review said they didn't like the ending. I was prepared for something bad to happen to ruin the awesome experience I was having. Turns out, all that worrying was for nothing. Enjoyed this one from beginning to end. I was sad when it was over.

I would love it if the author made this into a series. It could be interesting to see what further challenges would need to be navigated and if they could be overcome.

I enjoy Taite’s books. I love the powerful, ethical women she creates and I wish the utopian world she portrays really existed. Senator Meredith Mitchell is taken with public defender Stevie Palmer from the moment she sees her at the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. Stevie can’t believe her own boldness in asking the senator to dinner. Unfortunately their attraction will have to bridge some wide divides. Meredith comes from a well-known political family and is rumoured to be considering running for president. She’s used to the media and lack of privacy. Stevie has been burnt by the press and doesn’t feel she’s cut out for being in the public eye.

This is a bit of a slow-burn romance but more in time passing than in actually getting to know each other. Their respective jobs keep their liaisons limited combined with their wanting to keep their new relationship private.The politics is interesting but also simple enough to understand. Stevie’s case could have played a more important role. I wish the main characters had had more time together and more dialogue. That said, I still enjoyed it and liked the cameos of characters from some of Taite’s other novels.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.