Madame Presidentess

By: Nicole Evelina

Narrated by: Melissa Reizian Frank

Forty-eight years before women were granted the right to vote, one woman dared to run for president of the United States, yet her name has been virtually written out of the history books.

Rising from the shame of an abusive childhood, Victoria Woodhull, the daughter of a con-man and a religious zealot, vows to follow her destiny, one the spirits say will lead her out of poverty to "become ruler of her people".

But the road to glory is far from easy. A nightmarish marriage teaches Victoria that women are stronger and deserve far more credit than society gives. Eschewing the conventions of her day, she strikes out on her own to improve herself and the lot of American women.

Over the next several years, she sets into motion plans that shatter the old boys club of Wall Street and defile even the sanctity of the halls of Congress. But it's not just her ambition that threatens men of wealth and privilege; when she announces her candidacy for president in the 1872 election, they realize she may well usurp the power they've so long fought to protect.

Those who support her laud "Notorious Victoria" as a gifted spiritualist medium and healer, a talented financial mind, a fresh voice in the suffrage movement, and the radical idealist needed to move the nation forward. But those who dislike her see a dangerous force who is too willing to speak out when women are expected to be quiet. Ultimately, "Mrs. Satan's" radical views on women's rights, equality of the sexes, free love, and the role of politics in private affairs collide with her tumultuous personal life to endanger all she has built and change how she is viewed by future generations.

This is the story of one woman who was ahead of her time - a woman who would make waves even in the 21st century - but who dared to speak out and challenge the conventions of post-Civil War America, setting a precedent that is still followed by female politicians today.

©2016 Nicole Evelina (P)2017 Nicole Evelina

The Presidential Candidacy Is Just the Beginning

I'm going to say it: I find the cover of this novel off-putting. The cover model looks like a corpse to me. I think that's why this book has been on my TBR for so long. I'm so glad I finally overcame my cover aversion and dove in. I enjoyed Evelina's Guinevere novels, but this was even better.

What a life Victorian Woodhull had even before she decided to run for President of the United States. I can't help but wonder what she would have been able to accomplish without the burden of her horrid family members. This novel is fascinating from start to finish. Applause to Ms. Evelina for resurrecting an unjustly forgotten American woman, who was ahead of her time in so many ways. The audiobook narrator, Melissa Reizian Frank, also did a fabulous job bringing Victoria back to life. And thank you Ms. Evelina for the detailed Author's Note.