"One of those unusual novels where you end up talking about the characters as if you knew them well. Set during the 2008 presidential campaign in New Mexico and complicated by the romance, rage, and lives of two fabulously dysfunctional families. Makes for a wonderful read." — Bob Schildgen, author of Hey Mr. Green Albuquerque Mayor Tomas Zamara understands that politics is like playing football on a muddy field. If you don't get dirty, you're not giving your all. But dirty politics is not his style. The Democrats' Barack Obama is drawing adoring crowds with his uplifting speeches, and Zamara's GOP bosses are pressuring him to do "whatever it takes" to win. Challenging him every step of the way is fierce, young Sierra León of the Democracy Project, who calls on him to listen to his better self and reject his party's unsavory practices. But if only his life were as simple as politics. Mayor Zamara is also grappling with being a suspect in his wife's murder; fending off his father, who wants to rescue his failing business with city money; and satisfying his demanding new woman, the radiant and volatile Tory Singer, who may not be who she says she is. Winner, Best Book 2015, Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA)