Tender Triumph

by Ruth Roberts

After a very public divorce from her billionaire Italian husband, Natalia Montalvo returns home to New York City to lick her wounds and try to put the pieces of her shattered heart back together. So why did she agree to attend a charity ball, especially when she knew her ex would be there? When he arrives with his newest love interest, she feels all the pieces she had managed to put together crumbling again.


Jared, owner of the largest, most prestigious architectural firm in the country, rubs elbows daily with the rich and powerful. He can’t stand them. After one too many altercations with a client, his head of public relations forces him to attend the annual charity ball, to schmooze and make nice with the people whom his business depends on. His mission is simple: smile, be friendly, and bid on a few high dollar items in the auction. Thirty minutes after arriving, he was already clenching his jaw and looking for a quick exit. On the balcony, he encounters Natalia Montalvo. He can’t ignore a woman in need, especially when that woman is his best friend’s sister. He devises a plan to save her pride, and in the process save his evening. But, can he convince her to give him more than one night?

Genres: Contemporary Romance

41 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Romance novelist Ruth Roberts lives in the Big D, where city life abounds but where the wide open spaces of Texas can be easily reached. Her books transport readers to the glittering life of high-society, while making the characters normal, fun people we would all like to have as friends. She loves reading, writing and Gilmore Girls. She and her teenage daughter call themselves the real life Gilmore Girls. Her very own romantic hero of twenty years is her greatest inspiration and support. She loves hearing from fans so drop her an email at ruthrobertsromance@yahoo.com

Reviews

[Nina Miteva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review/Цялото ревю - click, click


After-read thoughts:
This novel was a one-nighter :) Well, given the volume of it, it shouldn't be a surprise, but also given that I started it at two o'clock after midnight, it still should be taken as a praise :D
This shortie sucked me right in, just as I love my romance novels (and most other books) to do. If I have to comment the style, I could say it was impeccable. No, really - just the perfect style for romance - light and engaging in the same time, giving enough detail and background, but without overdoing anything. I found myself really liking the main characters - an hating the ones I was supposed to hate - which was sort of a surprise to me. The world of rich and famous isn't usually my favourite, and I was expecting to be entertained, but I ended up actually caring and feeling for them. This includes the set of supporting characters, who were lovely too and made me wonder if they had a novel on their own.
The storyline was enjoyable too. I always have a soft spot for stories of trust, and I also enjoy a bit of fun matchmaking :D

I didn't give the novel the full amount of stars for the following reasons:
*I was expecting something more of The Grand Plan of Natalia to win over Jared.
*The whole falling in love admission came too abruptly to me. Yes, there was much more time untill the actual wedding, but the characters came to be sure and confess their feelings in matter of days. Given Natalia's back story, I really would have felt more comfortable, if we'd be talking months here, instead of days and weeks.

Also, Natalia's ex-husband is a jerk, so he should be brought to his demise! Mu-ha-ha-ha!!

~~~~

Следпрочитно:
Книжка за една нощ! Да, знам, предвид обема, това не значи много. Но все пак я започнах в два след полунощ и не я оставих, така че това наистина се брои за похвала.
Та тази кратичка новела се оказа от типа четива, които те хващат и не пускат. Като разказ и стил притежаваше всички качества, които си търся в романсчетата - съумяваше да е лека и ангажираща едновременно, да дава достатъчно детайли и фон, но без да претрупва. Героите бяха изключително сполучливи - обичах главните, обичах да мразя лошите, и определено обичах поддържащите (и си мисля, че и те са си заслужили новелка).
Съвременните романси никога не са ми били първият избор, а ако се занимават със света да богатите и известните - а ла "Дързост и красота" - още повече. С това наум очаквах героите евентуално да ме забавляват, но в крайна сметка постигнаха повече и наистина ми пукаше за тях. Просто винаги са ми били слабо място сюжетите, където героите се учат да си имат доверие, а и забавните опити на роднини и приятели да ги съберат не навредиха :D

Ако се чудите защо при тези хвалби не дадох 5 звездички, а 4, ето ги и причините:
*Просто очаквах повече от "грандиозния" план на Наталия
*Влюбиха се твърде набързо. Да, до самия момент на сватбата времето беше повече. Но от първата им среща до признаването в любов и решението, че са родени един за друг, бяха минали броени дни. Дори и да нямахме подобна грешка в миналото на Наталия, пак бих предпочела да ставаше дума за месеци, а не за дни и седмици.

Освен това бившият на Наталия е пълен гадняр и заслужаваше да го сринат. Му-хахахха!!!

[Kim McMahill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic novella. It was well-paced, not trying to do too much in a short amount of time, yet clarifying all of the details the reader needs to know in order to understand the current circumstances. Tender Triumph provides a peek into the world of wealthy, the glamorous and the not so glamorous, and illustrates that all segments of society have similar desires to be loved and experience pain, even if their lives may appear perfect to others. The characters were well developed and the plot flowed nicely.

[Renato · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumph!

I give 'Tender Triumph' five stars because it is truly one of the best romance stories I have read in a long time. Ruth Roberts is an amazing writer, and I would recommend this book to every reader of romance novels. The only thing I can honestly say I dislike, is having to wait for her next book!

[Patricia Kiyono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story about coming to terms with past hurts and learning to love again. Set in the world of the rich and famous, the characters are well-fleshed out. It's a quick read, but quite enjoyable.