Power Moves by Leesa Ronald

Camilla ‘Millsy’ Hatton is a powerhouse of a media manager for the new South Wales Education Minister. Her life revolves around putting in long, hard hours to protect her boss from scandal and create stories that won’t damage his chance at winning the election, all while meeting impossible deadlines. It’s also turned her into a workaholic.

Since the death of her mother, Millsy’s job has become a way of ignoring the loss and accompanying pain. With the election only eight weeks away, the countdown has begun with endless promotional visits and photo opportunities, policy announcements and political promises, ensuring she has no time for family, friends or anything else.

Ex-rugby player, Archie Cullen, has known Millsy since their university days, and now he’s in her life again as one of the country’s best-known political journalists with a hidden agenda. He’s determined to prove the education minister isn’t the man everyone, but specifically Millsy, thinks he is.

Although we only know Archie through Millsy’s eyes, he comes across as a man who has harboured feelings for her for a long time, although she can’t see it. Everywhere the minister goes, Archie is there to cover the event, nab the interview, catch any indiscretion. He’s determined to prove Millsy is being taken advantage of. As the election draws closer, it’s Archie vs Camilla, their friendly sparring heats up and Camilla begins to melt down and burn out.  

In a tangled web of communications management and politics, Camilla learns she’s sometimes so involved she can’t see the whole picture. Suddenly everything she thought she knew about her boss, Archie and herself is turned upside down. She hits rock bottom and realises she has to face the truth—there’s no longer any other option.

Power Moves is a heartfelt slow-burn love story with lovable, realistic characters; great banter between the couple and a satisfying ending. It was peppered with sad, heartfelt moments and laugh-out-loud funny moments. Power Moves is the second novel by Australian author Leesa Ronald. 

Reviewer: Carole Brungar

Allen & Unwin