The majestic White House sets on eighteen acres situated in northwest Washington, DC - our nation's capitol. Melanie Kingston has worked in the complex for the past fifteen years. Eighteen Acres by Nicholle Wallace Atria Books October 2010 Starting as an Intern - working her way up the ladder - she has worked for three presidents and seven executive assistants. Her present position is Chief of Staff to the 45th president - Charlotte Kramer, the first female president of the United States. She has been in office for three years and it is time to start thinking about getting re-elected. Her ratings are extremely low - she is still plagued by the Taliban and Pakistan war. Her marriage is on the rocks. Peter, her husband is having an affair with Dale, a young reporter and her presidency/administration is in trouble. In all this upheaval that threatens her presidency and national security, Charlotte fights for her people President Kramer is scheduled to take a secret trip to Afghanistan to witness their first ever election. Dale is one of the reported scheduled to accomplish the president. In a final briefing on Air Force One she is told by her deputy national security advisor there is heavy fighting the US bases she is scheduled to visit and they are cutting several of the stops on the itinerary. Against his advice she proceeds to Marine One to make her first stop at a polling place to congratulate the Afghans on their truly free and fair election. Suddenly the first shots rang out. The president is flung into Marine One, but something is wrong - the chopper is unable to lift off. Secret Service transfers the president to the news helicopter and takes off. Marine One is hit by a ground-to-air missile and bursts into flames. All the news people survive, but Dale is seriously injured - she may not make it... The book is about deception, infidelity and one tragic mistake. Can the president improve her rating and be re-elected? Can she win with the present Vice President or should she pick a new running mate - a woman perhaps. Does she even want to run again? A very interesting novel about the inner workings of the White House. Ms. Wallace is uniquely qualified to write Eighteen Acres having spent five and one-half years working in the White House and it shows. Highly recommended.