Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Truly by Ruthie Knox (also Robin York) Series: New York #1
Published by Loveswept on August 5, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 365
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple
May Fredericks hates New York. Which is fair enough, since New York seems to hate her back. After relocating to Manhattan from the Midwest to be with her long-distance boyfriend, NFL quarterback Thor Einarsson, May receives the world’s worst marriage proposal, stabs the jerk with a shrimp fork, and storms off alone—only to get mugged. Now she’s got no phone, no cash, and no friends. How’s a nice girl supposed to get back to safe, sensible Wisconsin?
Frankly, Ben Hausman couldn’t care less. Sure, it’s not every day he meets a genuine, down-to-earth woman like May—especially in a dive in the Village—but he’s recovering from an ugly divorce that cost him his restaurant. He wants to be left alone to start over and become a better man. Then again, playing the white knight to May’s sexy damsel in distress would be an excellent place to start—if only he can give her one very good reason to love New York.
ICYMI is a post from my early days of blogging at Yummy Men & KickAss Chicks. You can see the original review here.
Yummy Man – Ben Hausman
Kick Ass Chick – May Fredericks
Truly is the first book in the New York series by Ruthie Knox. If you follow the blog then you are well aware that I am a huge fan of Ruthie and all her works. This one was originally a free serial on Wattpad until December 31, 2013. I managed to read it and love it there and now it is being released and I’m still excited about it.
This is one of those books where the descriptions are so vivid; the smallest things touch me and turn me inside out. Somehow all my senses get engaged in this. I’m not sure how Ruthie does this. It’s like she paints her descriptions in a rainbow of senses instead of just the details in black and white. The characters all feel quite complete as people, even if they are only in passing or have a small part.
These are regular folks, trying to figure it out. Often they do what they think will please others, which hurts them and in the end makes no one happy. This is about living your life as who you are. It’s hard sometimes. You want to be better, so you play this role. You don’t ever want the guy you like to see you with the flu or snotty nose all out bawling or wearing something which makes you look dumpy. And most people have some insecurities telling themselves they are TOO something, too short, too fat, too tall, too straight, too curvy or too whatever.
May has been hiding for years, doing what pleases others – her mother and her boyfriend, in particular. When her boyfriend proposes, she realizes she can’t even find herself anymore. Thus, starts her journey to be herself. And it’s not at all easy. It’s VERY hard to be honest with yourself and others, saying what you mean, standing up for what you need or want to do. Especially, if you’ve warn another persona for some time.
Ben had a marriage where he did all the things he planned to do but it only made him more tense and unhappy. He ended up divorcing and he feels like he had everything taken from him. He’s angry, even a year later. He’s no longer a chef of his own restaurant with a best-selling cookbook, his wife has those things. He has money but isn’t sure how to make the effort to do it all over again and start his own restaurant. So he keeps bees, as his father did in Wisconsin, where he grew up. And he does some rooftop gardening and pitches in for chefs on vacation or medical leaves.
May is at a point where she has broken away from everything she knows and has no idea of what she will do next. Ben also has no idea of how to start on the next part of his life. Ben is too angry. May has always stuffed down her anger and needs to let herself be angry. They meet and end up talking to each other, helping each other.
These are such real people with such relatable issues. I have felt exactly as May did about some things in this story. She was brave enough to move on and accept being herself. She also was honest about loving Ben and told him, no matter how scary that was.
May’s family is a hilarious mess. I have to wonder if her sister Allie will have a book of her own. Her mother means well, but she doesn’t see May, the real person. Her dad is such a guy. I’d pull a giggle worthy quote about him but it’s better in context.
Truly is such an amazing story about ways people grow and change and how they FEEL about it. I highly recommend it and am so glad there will be more in this series! I can’t wait. The next book, Madly, is expected January 6, 2015.
Giggle worthy quotes:
“Bees are calming? The little buzzing guys with stingers?”
—–
She swallowed and forced herself to pause for a sip of water before she shoved the entire piece of bread in her mouth. All that shopping had made her hungry, and the bread was eggy and exactly the right balance of dense and light, chewy and fluffy. “Is it made from ground-up baby angels?”
—–
“You think too much,” he said.
“I do.”
“My new purpose in life is to make you stop thinking.”
“Oh please,” she said, and he finally kissed her.
About Ruthie Knox (also Robin York)
New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox writes contemporary romance that’s sexy, witty, and angsty—sometimes all three at once. After training to be a British historian, she became an academic editor instead. Then she got really deeply into knitting, as one does, followed by motherhood and romance novel writing.
Her debut novel, Ride with Me, is probably the only existing cross-country bicycling love story. She followed it up with About Last Night, a London-set romance whose hero has the unlikely name of Neville, and then Room at the Inn, a Christmas novella—both of which were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Her four-book series about the Clark family of Camelot, Ohio, has won accolades for its fresh, funny portrayal of small-town Midwestern life.
Ruthie moonlights as a mother, Tweets incessantly, and bakes a mean focaccia. She’d love to hear from you, so visit her website at www.ruthieknox.com and drop her a line.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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I didn’t read this series but I read her Camelot books and they were so good. I miss her writing.
YES! I think her writing is amazing and wish she was still writing new books. I think she is focused on publishing now. I am pretty fussy about contemporary romance authors and she is one I loved.
oh wow….this book sounds amazing. I love seeing such growth in the characters, and such fun quotes you shared there.
Great review. Definitely will be grabbing this author up very soon.
Thank you! I really think it was amazing. I hope you do.