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New York #1
Truly
RITA finalist and USA Today bestselling author Ruthie Knox kicks off a steamy new series set in the city that never sleeps—alone, at least.
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.
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.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
139 people are currently reading
3168 people want to read
About the author
Ruthie Knox
47 books1,398 followersRuthie Knox is the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels. She writes both mystery and romance, usually with co-author Annie Mare. You can find Ruthie's books under the pen names Ruthie Knox (mystery and het romance), Mae Marvel (queer romance), and Robin York (New Adult romance). Ruthie and Annie are married and live with two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, two glorious cats, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 493 reviews
November 24, 2014
Fan-freakin'-tastic.
Honestly, I was bound to love this.
This book reads like a love letter. It's a love letter to New York City (my home turf), a love letter to the food-obsessed (ME), and love letter to our imperfections. It is about being who you are and not who you think you should be. It was touching and light all at the same time.
It made me so happy today.
When I want awesome contemporary romance, I know who to turn to and Ruthie Knox is on my short list. For some reason, I seem to have the most trouble with M/F contemporaries than any other genre, other than NA M/F contemporaries. However, books like these are the reason I keep trying them.
What impressed me so much was the chemistry between May and Ben. It was right THERE, just in your face. I bought the romance, I bought the love.
And, GAH, those food descriptions! I almost want to start beekeeping so I can get myself some of that honey (like, actual honey, not a code for nookie!). Didn't that sound divine? And do all of those restaurants actually exist in NYC? I need to find that borscht place! It was such a yummy read.
Excellent job, Ruthie Knox. I can't wait for book 2 in the series.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Honestly, I was bound to love this.
This book reads like a love letter. It's a love letter to New York City (my home turf), a love letter to the food-obsessed (ME), and love letter to our imperfections. It is about being who you are and not who you think you should be. It was touching and light all at the same time.
It made me so happy today.
When I want awesome contemporary romance, I know who to turn to and Ruthie Knox is on my short list. For some reason, I seem to have the most trouble with M/F contemporaries than any other genre, other than NA M/F contemporaries. However, books like these are the reason I keep trying them.
What impressed me so much was the chemistry between May and Ben. It was right THERE, just in your face. I bought the romance, I bought the love.
And, GAH, those food descriptions! I almost want to start beekeeping so I can get myself some of that honey (like, actual honey, not a code for nookie!). Didn't that sound divine? And do all of those restaurants actually exist in NYC? I need to find that borscht place! It was such a yummy read.
Excellent job, Ruthie Knox. I can't wait for book 2 in the series.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
February 22, 2017
3.5 stars!
Review at Of Pens and Pages.
I promised myself that I will read books by new-to-me authors. I’m grateful for my acquaintance’s recommendation to read this novel by Ms. Knox because I enjoyed this very much! I love the banter between the two characters and both of the main characters’ journey to rediscovery and growth.
Wisconsin native May Fredericks’ day is not going well… at all. After accidentally stabbing her NFL second-string quarterback boyfriend with a fork when he gave the saddest excuse of a wedding proposal, she runs out of their place in Manhattan only to get mugged by a man who she thought was a security guard. She goes to a place she might feel comfortable–a Packers bar. There, she tries to regroup and find a way to go home to Wisconsin, but with only $5 to her name, it’s a near impossible task.
There she meets Ben Hausman, who coincidentally hailed from Wisoncin as well but now considers himself a New Yorker. Bitter and angry after getting burned by his ex-wife, he’s become frustrated with his life and career. He didn’t leave much opening to May when she approached him, but after talking to his friend about his temper problems, he uses this as a test to prove himself he can be a good guy.
He helps May by feeding her, offering to help her contact her friends and family, and offering his place for her to stay the night. He then convinces her to stay the week with her to show her what New York can truly offer.
The storyline reminded me of the Before trilogy starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, which I loved. A chance meeting between two strangers who find an undeniable connection with each other. As they discover the city together, they discover more about each other, and more about themselves as well.
May has been living in a metaphorical box her whole life. Everyone expects her to be this way, and she hasn’t done anything to get out of said box in fear of failing everyone. New York and Ben helped her see what she can be and what she’s missing, but she wouldn’t be able to reach her full potential unless she learns to let go.
Ben is in a similar predicament. He’s been trying to get back on his feet after his ex-wife left him and took his restaurant from him. It left him angry and at a loss on how to continue his life.
I love how poetic and lyrical the narrative is sometimes. For me, it give the story more soul. I can’t fully explain it without quoting most of the book (lol), but all I can say is it made me feel light.
And I love their first night together!!! It was hot and romantic and them.
Like Claire, this was a solid 4 stars for me until somewhere in the 70-80% mark. I wasn’t a fan of the back and forth between the couple, and I was so frustrated with May when she seemed to revert back to her old ways. But once that part was done, it was back to 4 stars.
Overall, I still liked this story. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the romantic element despite their sort-of instant love. It helped that there was a bit of slow burn feel to it.
Truly is the first standalone novel in the New York series and is told in the third POV, although we do get glimpses of Ben and May’s thoughts. It has a high dose of humor, a little slow burn, and a wonderful image of New York. If you’re looking for a fun, light read with witty banter, an amazing adventure, and a happily ever after, you’ll enjoy Truly. Recommended to readers age 18 and above due to strong language and explicit sexual content.
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Review at Of Pens and Pages.
It wasn’t simple or pretty. Possibly that was his point—that the whole city was dense with history, layered and pulsing with life. Alive. Real.
I promised myself that I will read books by new-to-me authors. I’m grateful for my acquaintance’s recommendation to read this novel by Ms. Knox because I enjoyed this very much! I love the banter between the two characters and both of the main characters’ journey to rediscovery and growth.
Wisconsin native May Fredericks’ day is not going well… at all. After accidentally stabbing her NFL second-string quarterback boyfriend with a fork when he gave the saddest excuse of a wedding proposal, she runs out of their place in Manhattan only to get mugged by a man who she thought was a security guard. She goes to a place she might feel comfortable–a Packers bar. There, she tries to regroup and find a way to go home to Wisconsin, but with only $5 to her name, it’s a near impossible task.
There she meets Ben Hausman, who coincidentally hailed from Wisoncin as well but now considers himself a New Yorker. Bitter and angry after getting burned by his ex-wife, he’s become frustrated with his life and career. He didn’t leave much opening to May when she approached him, but after talking to his friend about his temper problems, he uses this as a test to prove himself he can be a good guy.
He helps May by feeding her, offering to help her contact her friends and family, and offering his place for her to stay the night. He then convinces her to stay the week with her to show her what New York can truly offer.
The storyline reminded me of the Before trilogy starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, which I loved. A chance meeting between two strangers who find an undeniable connection with each other. As they discover the city together, they discover more about each other, and more about themselves as well.
May has been living in a metaphorical box her whole life. Everyone expects her to be this way, and she hasn’t done anything to get out of said box in fear of failing everyone. New York and Ben helped her see what she can be and what she’s missing, but she wouldn’t be able to reach her full potential unless she learns to let go.
Ben is in a similar predicament. He’s been trying to get back on his feet after his ex-wife left him and took his restaurant from him. It left him angry and at a loss on how to continue his life.
I love how poetic and lyrical the narrative is sometimes. For me, it give the story more soul. I can’t fully explain it without quoting most of the book (lol), but all I can say is it made me feel light.
And I love their first night together!!! It was hot and romantic and them.
Like Claire, this was a solid 4 stars for me until somewhere in the 70-80% mark. I wasn’t a fan of the back and forth between the couple, and I was so frustrated with May when she seemed to revert back to her old ways. But once that part was done, it was back to 4 stars.
Overall, I still liked this story. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the romantic element despite their sort-of instant love. It helped that there was a bit of slow burn feel to it.
Truly is the first standalone novel in the New York series and is told in the third POV, although we do get glimpses of Ben and May’s thoughts. It has a high dose of humor, a little slow burn, and a wonderful image of New York. If you’re looking for a fun, light read with witty banter, an amazing adventure, and a happily ever after, you’ll enjoy Truly. Recommended to readers age 18 and above due to strong language and explicit sexual content.
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June 4, 2014
4 STARS
Every time I pick up an adult or new adult contemporary romance books, with how often these kinds of books left me frustrated, I brace myself for a certain degree of disappointment. That snarling grinch, jaded reader in me preemptively bares its claws at a ready for some shredding.
This, however, swept me off my feet and gave me that tingly little feeling on the toes. Swooning. I think that's what the kids call it these days. But, disclaimer, with a lot of bias on my part.
This is Marco Pierre White.
He's looking a little worse for the wear the past few years but back in the day he was the quintessential rockstar chef. He dated supermodels, he was a temperamental asshole in the kitchen (Gordon Ramsay probably learned the art of it from him being his sous chef) and he retired for a while because he didn't want to be a slave to everyone's opinions and stars anymore.
Obvi I had the biggest crush on him.
I have an enduring, unhealthy fangirl obsession towards chefs. Celebrity and actual chefs. I'm not wealthy and crazy enough to spend so much money for a meal in their 3-star Michelin restaurants (and artsy food and me probably won't mix well together anyway), but their passion and drive for their craft fascinates me. I think its the hands. There's something terribly erotic about manly hands shaping something as ugly as, I dunno, broccoli and feeding it to you with foam and gastrique and garnishes.
And Ruthie Knox just tapped into that silly little groupie in me with this little book, examining that passion, that obsessive creativity and the toll it charges for it. There's a healthy number of heroes out there in CR who are hot, alpha chefs but none captured the complexity and intensity of what makes a chef attractive to me as much as Ben Hausman's character did.
Oh Ben.
Our protagonists meet in a Green Bay Packers Club in New York, a day after Wisconsin-native May Fredricks stabbed her NY Jets quarterback fiancee with a fork after his tactless proposal. She's just broken up with him by post-it when she got mugged, rendering her penniless, phoneless and friendless in a city as alien to her as the idea of coming up to a surly stranger in an unfamiliar bar for help. Said surly stranger is Ben Hausman, a chef working as a beekeeper (Yes! A freaking beekeeper!) after his divorce, keeping his anger management issues in check. Ben and May strikes up an unusual friendship where he endeavors to change May's perspective in life, starting with New York (which she hates) and in the process changes his own.
Truly employed New York in its story arc the way Anna and the French Kiss used Paris as the driving force behind the story of Anna and St. Clair but instead of writing the themes of self-worth and acceptance around a coming of age story, Ben and May are coming to terms with their second chances, finding a way to doing things right.
May has been living the life expected of her, not the life she wanted for herself while Ben has lived the life that he wanted but his passion and intensity ended up crippling and consuming him in the end. They meet at that point when their mistakes have left them in deconstructed pieces and each are trying to put things back together, make sense of themselves and making room for each other's pieces to make them whole.
I thought the premise of the story's beginning was a little too contrived. Though between May and me, only one got to pick up a hot chef in a bar who just happens to be the right blend of sweet and grumpy, so really, what do I know? Which reminds me,
NOTE TO SELF 1: Get mugged, go to a bar, look for the guy reading a paperback and ask if he's a chef.
NOTE TO SELF 2: check if he's hot first before Note to self 1.
I thought May was a little too damsel-in-distress in the beginning, which is of course the point of their relationship's origins, but seeing all that as the amuse bouche of their story, I was reluctant to forge on and continue. I'm glad that I did because I eventually liked where everything headed. Because eventually, Knox made both her characters likable, complex and flawed, even May who's not as original and came off a little stale against Ben the Beekeeper Chef.
If anything, thatimpossible difficult fit between them drove the message with more focused clarity. May and New York. Allie and her marriage to Matt. How life is about the imperfections, the dirty, the noise, the jagged edges, the apologies and how we like to edit these out so much that we're trapped in an endless cycle of disappointment. I liked how this tells me why we shouldn't. Knox could get a little hammer on the head with the telling but she didn't scrimp on the showing either. And she gives out sage wisdom while also making me laugh (which is ALWAYS a good thing) with May and Ben's charming chemistry, so who am I to complain? I mean, What's better than food porn? Food AND porn, duh.
Oh Ben.
This was told in alternating, third person POVs between Ben, May and Allie (who I suppose will be featured in the next book) with each chapter focused on Ben or May learning a lesson from the other. It was quite disappointing when its Ben's time to impart wisdom towards May, his previously revealed issues get pushed in the background and vice versa. It made the story feel a little less seamless to me because I didn't really want to lose either characters when the focus isn't on them.
But for all its faults and imperfections, Ben and May's story will probably stick with me for awhile. Not because of the originality of the story (because it wasn't) or the likability of the characters (because I'll be honest, I really REALLY liked Ben) but because the lessons were learned, the message was clear and this gave me exactly what it promised and probably more.
Also on BookLikes.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
It was easy to love your idea of someone - to fall hard for their very best self. The question was whether, once you had to spend some time living with their worst self, you could bear to be with them anymore.
Every time I pick up an adult or new adult contemporary romance books, with how often these kinds of books left me frustrated, I brace myself for a certain degree of disappointment. That snarling grinch, jaded reader in me preemptively bares its claws at a ready for some shredding.
This, however, swept me off my feet and gave me that tingly little feeling on the toes. Swooning. I think that's what the kids call it these days. But, disclaimer, with a lot of bias on my part.
This is Marco Pierre White.
He's looking a little worse for the wear the past few years but back in the day he was the quintessential rockstar chef. He dated supermodels, he was a temperamental asshole in the kitchen (Gordon Ramsay probably learned the art of it from him being his sous chef) and he retired for a while because he didn't want to be a slave to everyone's opinions and stars anymore.
Obvi I had the biggest crush on him.
I have an enduring, unhealthy fangirl obsession towards chefs. Celebrity and actual chefs. I'm not wealthy and crazy enough to spend so much money for a meal in their 3-star Michelin restaurants (and artsy food and me probably won't mix well together anyway), but their passion and drive for their craft fascinates me. I think its the hands. There's something terribly erotic about manly hands shaping something as ugly as, I dunno, broccoli and feeding it to you with foam and gastrique and garnishes.
And Ruthie Knox just tapped into that silly little groupie in me with this little book, examining that passion, that obsessive creativity and the toll it charges for it. There's a healthy number of heroes out there in CR who are hot, alpha chefs but none captured the complexity and intensity of what makes a chef attractive to me as much as Ben Hausman's character did.
"You're a great cook."
Funny the way that hit him - with a wash of warmth, as if nobody had ever told him before. "You're great to cook for."
Maybe when he opened his new place, he should do breakfast. He always liked cooking breakfast. Humble food.
But humble food didn't get you Michelin stars. You'd have to transform it into some whole other thing. Tamarind syrup on your griddlecakes. Oxtail reduction swirled on top of your hand-ground Italian grits.
Oh Ben.
Our protagonists meet in a Green Bay Packers Club in New York, a day after Wisconsin-native May Fredricks stabbed her NY Jets quarterback fiancee with a fork after his tactless proposal. She's just broken up with him by post-it when she got mugged, rendering her penniless, phoneless and friendless in a city as alien to her as the idea of coming up to a surly stranger in an unfamiliar bar for help. Said surly stranger is Ben Hausman, a chef working as a beekeeper (Yes! A freaking beekeeper!) after his divorce, keeping his anger management issues in check. Ben and May strikes up an unusual friendship where he endeavors to change May's perspective in life, starting with New York (which she hates) and in the process changes his own.
Truly employed New York in its story arc the way Anna and the French Kiss used Paris as the driving force behind the story of Anna and St. Clair but instead of writing the themes of self-worth and acceptance around a coming of age story, Ben and May are coming to terms with their second chances, finding a way to doing things right.
May has been living the life expected of her, not the life she wanted for herself while Ben has lived the life that he wanted but his passion and intensity ended up crippling and consuming him in the end. They meet at that point when their mistakes have left them in deconstructed pieces and each are trying to put things back together, make sense of themselves and making room for each other's pieces to make them whole.
I thought the premise of the story's beginning was a little too contrived. Though between May and me, only one got to pick up a hot chef in a bar who just happens to be the right blend of sweet and grumpy, so really, what do I know? Which reminds me,
NOTE TO SELF 1: Get mugged, go to a bar, look for the guy reading a paperback and ask if he's a chef.
NOTE TO SELF 2: check if he's hot first before Note to self 1.
I thought May was a little too damsel-in-distress in the beginning, which is of course the point of their relationship's origins, but seeing all that as the amuse bouche of their story, I was reluctant to forge on and continue. I'm glad that I did because I eventually liked where everything headed. Because eventually, Knox made both her characters likable, complex and flawed, even May who's not as original and came off a little stale against Ben the Beekeeper Chef.
If anything, that
"I'd tempt you with an eel pie."
"Yuck."
"Don't knock it. You haven't tried my eel pie."
"And yet somehow I'm not tempted."
"If you tried it, you'd be more than tempted. I could tie you naked to my headboard and have you begging for it." He slanted her a glance that made her flush all over. "Oops. Did I say that out loud?"
Oh Ben.
This was told in alternating, third person POVs between Ben, May and Allie (who I suppose will be featured in the next book) with each chapter focused on Ben or May learning a lesson from the other. It was quite disappointing when its Ben's time to impart wisdom towards May, his previously revealed issues get pushed in the background and vice versa. It made the story feel a little less seamless to me because I didn't really want to lose either characters when the focus isn't on them.
But for all its faults and imperfections, Ben and May's story will probably stick with me for awhile. Not because of the originality of the story (because it wasn't) or the likability of the characters (because I'll be honest, I really REALLY liked Ben) but because the lessons were learned, the message was clear and this gave me exactly what it promised and probably more.
He wasn't the kind of guy a woman wanted to pin her hopes and dreams on. Not at all.
But that was good, because she wasn't the kind of woman who wanted to pin her hopes and dreams on a guy.
Not anymore.
Also on BookLikes.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
August 15, 2014
Ruthie Knox nails it with this quirky, fun, sexy story. May is a fantastic heroine, and one I can easily relate to. She's a giantess, and all her parts match her size. Being a tall girl myself, I can easily relate to May's insecurities. It's not often "tall" translates into "willowy", as so many romance books will have you believe. More often than not, we tall girls feel large and clumsy. It's great to be with a guy who's tall...not necessarily because we only find tall guys attractive, but because they make US feel dainty and feminine. This was a point May made very well, if only in her head.
Ben is a little hard to swallow at first. He's just so abrasive and rude. But as this author tends to do, she lets the reader get to know him and as the romance unfolds between May and Ben, they both become stronger people. A great couple to read about is the couple that brings out the best in each other, and that's certainly what these two did. May needed someone to just be with her, support her, show her some peacefulness for once. Someone who was with her for no reason other than that they enjoyed her company. And Ben...geez, Ben just needed May. To me, she was a bright light, albeit a light that had been smothered for a good chunk of her life I felt like May thinks of herself as boring, but Ben saw nothing boring about her.
Ruthie Knox writes with such heart and such insight. There's always a touch of humor, the drama is there but diluted enough that it's not over the top, and the romance and chemistry are off the charts but tasteful at the same time. This is a great start to a new series and I'm excited to see what is coming up!
ARC provided by Random House Publishing for review
Ben is a little hard to swallow at first. He's just so abrasive and rude. But as this author tends to do, she lets the reader get to know him and as the romance unfolds between May and Ben, they both become stronger people. A great couple to read about is the couple that brings out the best in each other, and that's certainly what these two did. May needed someone to just be with her, support her, show her some peacefulness for once. Someone who was with her for no reason other than that they enjoyed her company. And Ben...geez, Ben just needed May. To me, she was a bright light, albeit a light that had been smothered for a good chunk of her life I felt like May thinks of herself as boring, but Ben saw nothing boring about her.
Ruthie Knox writes with such heart and such insight. There's always a touch of humor, the drama is there but diluted enough that it's not over the top, and the romance and chemistry are off the charts but tasteful at the same time. This is a great start to a new series and I'm excited to see what is coming up!
ARC provided by Random House Publishing for review
March 3, 2017
For once I'd like to read about a self-confident, independent heroine who doesn't depend on external affirmation, and a hero who isn't a man-child douche.
August 23, 2014
4 "You're Going To Make Me Love New York" Stars!
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
(BR with Patty)
May Fredericks is a 26 yr. old ordinary girl from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. After working in merchandising for the Green Bay Packer's she meets there 2nd string quarterback, and they begin dating long distance. He is gorgeous and every girls dream guy.
After years of dating May decides to move in with her boyfriend Dan in New Jersey. May cares about Dan, and he's good to her, but she starts to realize something is missing in their relationship. Dan suddenly proposes one evening at a public function, & May realizes he isn't what she wants anymore. She responds in a rather dramatic fashion after Dan's unromantic proposal & then decides to leave him.
May abruptly leaves her home she shares with Dan, and plans to go back home to Wisconsin. She gets mugged & now doesn't have her purse with her money & phone. She stumbles upon a basement bar called Pulvermacher's that is filled with a bunch of Packer's fans. May just wants to go home. She has spent the last 6 weeks in NY & finds it to be a lonely place. She is used to her life being simple & drama free & longs for the quiet peaceful life in Wisconsin with her family.
May meets a guy at the bar named Ben Hausman. He seems intense & full of attitude, but she still finds him attractive & is desperate for help from someone. She feels lost & alone & doesn't know what to do. They talk & he takes her to get some dinner. Once he finds out her situation, he helps her & offers her his couch for the night.
Ben continues to try to help May get home, but things continue to fall through. Ben and May begin to really enjoy each others company & Ben talks May into staying for a few days longer. He wants to show her his NY & change her opinion of the city he loves & has lived in for the past 6 years. Ben grew up on a farm & is also from Wisconsin, but he adores living in NY! He is a chef, who used to co-own a restaurant, & is currently a beekeeper.
May enjoys his slow pace relaxed lifestyle & loves spending time with him. Ben becomes her white knight, and makes her feel special & beautiful. Their relationship becomes more than friendship & May has to stop letting people push her around & fight for what she wants! She decides what she wants & loves is Ben & New York! :D
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
(BR with Patty)
May Fredericks is a 26 yr. old ordinary girl from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. After working in merchandising for the Green Bay Packer's she meets there 2nd string quarterback, and they begin dating long distance. He is gorgeous and every girls dream guy.
After years of dating May decides to move in with her boyfriend Dan in New Jersey. May cares about Dan, and he's good to her, but she starts to realize something is missing in their relationship. Dan suddenly proposes one evening at a public function, & May realizes he isn't what she wants anymore. She responds in a rather dramatic fashion after Dan's unromantic proposal & then decides to leave him.
May abruptly leaves her home she shares with Dan, and plans to go back home to Wisconsin. She gets mugged & now doesn't have her purse with her money & phone. She stumbles upon a basement bar called Pulvermacher's that is filled with a bunch of Packer's fans. May just wants to go home. She has spent the last 6 weeks in NY & finds it to be a lonely place. She is used to her life being simple & drama free & longs for the quiet peaceful life in Wisconsin with her family.
May meets a guy at the bar named Ben Hausman. He seems intense & full of attitude, but she still finds him attractive & is desperate for help from someone. She feels lost & alone & doesn't know what to do. They talk & he takes her to get some dinner. Once he finds out her situation, he helps her & offers her his couch for the night.
Ben continues to try to help May get home, but things continue to fall through. Ben and May begin to really enjoy each others company & Ben talks May into staying for a few days longer. He wants to show her his NY & change her opinion of the city he loves & has lived in for the past 6 years. Ben grew up on a farm & is also from Wisconsin, but he adores living in NY! He is a chef, who used to co-own a restaurant, & is currently a beekeeper.
May enjoys his slow pace relaxed lifestyle & loves spending time with him. Ben becomes her white knight, and makes her feel special & beautiful. Their relationship becomes more than friendship & May has to stop letting people push her around & fight for what she wants! She decides what she wants & loves is Ben & New York! :D
August 4, 2014
(ARC Provided by Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley)
(BR with Mel)
May Fredericks is a gal from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who is currently homeless in NYC, with only a MetroCard and five bucks to her name, after having been mugged outside her ex's apartment. She's just broken up with her boyfriend, who is the NY Jets Quarterback, after his botched attempt at proposing to her at a fundraising luncheon. He literally called her "plain" and stated that "football" was the one thing that mattered most to him. This was his idea of a romantic proposal. In a moment of blind rage, May stabs his thumb with a shrimp fork!
She's always been the small town gal, who never spoke up and did what was expected of her. Never tried to be adventurous.
Now she is sitting in Pulvermacher's, a bar in the village that most Green Bay Packers fans gather. She thinks she'll meet a friendly person from Wisconsin, who might actually help her get back home to Manitowoc.
Here's where we meet, Ben Hausman.
He comes off very gruff and unapproachable.
I'd say he even sounds a bit scary the way he's described in the beginning and we see early on that he has a bit of a temper.
He's had a rough couple of years.
He lost his restaurant in his divorce settlement a year ago, and in it he agreed that he would not open up another restaurant for a year.
The two end up talking briefly before Ben's friend arrives and later on after having been called out on his gruff personality, Ben decides to conduct an experiment in being nice to a stranger.
So he approaches May and he ends up taking her out to eat.
He learns of her situation and offers her a place to sleep and his laptop and phone to use to contact her friends back home.
Ben and May are definitely attracted to each other and circumstances will have them spending a few days together in NYC, where the feelings between the two continue to grow.
Ben dazzles May with his culinary skills and also surprises her when she learns he is a beekeeper who has several hives all over NYC rooftops. He makes his own honey and sells it at the farmer's market.
I have to say that for the first 65% of the book I was a bit bored.
Too much talk of bees!!
Ben and his hot temper gave me so much whiplash. One moment he's sweet and a bit sexy, and then the next he's literally biting May's head off.
And May, she was way too complacent!
I wanted her to stop being the nice girl who let people walk all over her. I was waiting for her to get a backbone and it was obvious that Ben was too.
Finally when the two have sex, the book got interesting!!
The sexy time was HOT!!
From that point on, I was engaged!
The story started to pick up and I was rooting for these two to get over their hang ups and give in to their feelings for each other.
This was an enjoyable read with a nice amount of steam!
It would have been even better if it ended with an Epilogue.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next book which I'm hoping will be about May's sister, Allie.
(BR with Mel)
May Fredericks is a gal from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who is currently homeless in NYC, with only a MetroCard and five bucks to her name, after having been mugged outside her ex's apartment. She's just broken up with her boyfriend, who is the NY Jets Quarterback, after his botched attempt at proposing to her at a fundraising luncheon. He literally called her "plain" and stated that "football" was the one thing that mattered most to him. This was his idea of a romantic proposal. In a moment of blind rage, May stabs his thumb with a shrimp fork!
She's always been the small town gal, who never spoke up and did what was expected of her. Never tried to be adventurous.
Now she is sitting in Pulvermacher's, a bar in the village that most Green Bay Packers fans gather. She thinks she'll meet a friendly person from Wisconsin, who might actually help her get back home to Manitowoc.
Here's where we meet, Ben Hausman.
He comes off very gruff and unapproachable.
I'd say he even sounds a bit scary the way he's described in the beginning and we see early on that he has a bit of a temper.
He's had a rough couple of years.
He lost his restaurant in his divorce settlement a year ago, and in it he agreed that he would not open up another restaurant for a year.
The two end up talking briefly before Ben's friend arrives and later on after having been called out on his gruff personality, Ben decides to conduct an experiment in being nice to a stranger.
So he approaches May and he ends up taking her out to eat.
He learns of her situation and offers her a place to sleep and his laptop and phone to use to contact her friends back home.
Ben and May are definitely attracted to each other and circumstances will have them spending a few days together in NYC, where the feelings between the two continue to grow.
Ben dazzles May with his culinary skills and also surprises her when she learns he is a beekeeper who has several hives all over NYC rooftops. He makes his own honey and sells it at the farmer's market.
I have to say that for the first 65% of the book I was a bit bored.
Too much talk of bees!!
Ben and his hot temper gave me so much whiplash. One moment he's sweet and a bit sexy, and then the next he's literally biting May's head off.
And May, she was way too complacent!
I wanted her to stop being the nice girl who let people walk all over her. I was waiting for her to get a backbone and it was obvious that Ben was too.
Finally when the two have sex, the book got interesting!!
The sexy time was HOT!!
From that point on, I was engaged!
The story started to pick up and I was rooting for these two to get over their hang ups and give in to their feelings for each other.
This was an enjoyable read with a nice amount of steam!
It would have been even better if it ended with an Epilogue.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next book which I'm hoping will be about May's sister, Allie.
March 26, 2017
Third het romance in a row after a two year hiatus - and another positive experience.
Lovely, actually.
This is just such an adorable, inspiring, simply nice story. And maybe, just maybe, it could've gotten five stars if it hadn't been for that pesky interlude of unnecessary drama of the I'm-too-ruined-for-you sort. And for a sense of place that wasn't quite up there, but... eh. Can't have it all. And there really is a lot of good stuff in here.
It's about two people. With families attached.
It's about two weird people, because they're an uncommon type of protagonists for a romance novel: an angry (as a character trait, not a transient condition) divorced beekeeper and ex-chef and a chronically meek and complacent Amazon in disguise (physique- and personality-wise).
And I swear to god, you can't help but adore them.
This is a truly (see what I did there? ...I should just stop trying) well done story for many reasons, among which the fact that it's well written (again with the invisible writing - I guess I hit a streak), the wonderfully slow and gradual but far from glacial development of the MCs' relationship and of their individual growth, and the fact that despite the topic it never, ever gets cheesy.
May regrets not being able to see Ben's soul in his eyes - she doesn't claim she can.
The sex is awkward and terribly embarrassing at first, and then liberating and mindblowing the way only getting rid of insecurities and inhibitions can be.
The family is absolutely unbearable, meddlesome, obtuse and lovable, and then they kind of see the light of realisation, but remain unbearable, meddlesome, obtuse and lovable until and after the end.
This is the sort of story that makes you realise how a romance novel is just the beginning of a love story - the falling in love part of the relationship, the kickstart of something new and different.
At the end of the day, May and Ben still have to learn how to live with each other and with themselves and try not to fall back into their old selves' bad habits. And I fucking believe they'll make it, because I believe in their love, but most of all I believe in them as individuals.
Original, sweet but far from fluffy, convincing, humorous and the start of a trilogy - I am so in it's not even funny.
Little note: this novel will only be available for free on Wattpad (in a perfectly polished edition) for a short time. I read it from the 2nd to the 3rd of December, but it should be pulled soon as it will be officially published (and you will have to pay for it) in August 2014. So get your ass in gear.
Lovely, actually.
This is just such an adorable, inspiring, simply nice story. And maybe, just maybe, it could've gotten five stars if it hadn't been for that pesky interlude of unnecessary drama of the I'm-too-ruined-for-you sort. And for a sense of place that wasn't quite up there, but... eh. Can't have it all. And there really is a lot of good stuff in here.
It's about two people. With families attached.
It's about two weird people, because they're an uncommon type of protagonists for a romance novel: an angry (as a character trait, not a transient condition) divorced beekeeper and ex-chef and a chronically meek and complacent Amazon in disguise (physique- and personality-wise).
And I swear to god, you can't help but adore them.
This is a truly (see what I did there? ...I should just stop trying) well done story for many reasons, among which the fact that it's well written (again with the invisible writing - I guess I hit a streak), the wonderfully slow and gradual but far from glacial development of the MCs' relationship and of their individual growth, and the fact that despite the topic it never, ever gets cheesy.
May regrets not being able to see Ben's soul in his eyes - she doesn't claim she can.
The sex is awkward and terribly embarrassing at first, and then liberating and mindblowing the way only getting rid of insecurities and inhibitions can be.
The family is absolutely unbearable, meddlesome, obtuse and lovable, and then they kind of see the light of realisation, but remain unbearable, meddlesome, obtuse and lovable until and after the end.
This is the sort of story that makes you realise how a romance novel is just the beginning of a love story - the falling in love part of the relationship, the kickstart of something new and different.
At the end of the day, May and Ben still have to learn how to live with each other and with themselves and try not to fall back into their old selves' bad habits. And I fucking believe they'll make it, because I believe in their love, but most of all I believe in them as individuals.
Original, sweet but far from fluffy, convincing, humorous and the start of a trilogy - I am so in it's not even funny.
Little note: this novel will only be available for free on Wattpad (in a perfectly polished edition) for a short time. I read it from the 2nd to the 3rd of December, but it should be pulled soon as it will be officially published (and you will have to pay for it) in August 2014. So get your ass in gear.
July 3, 2016
Title: Truly
Series: Yes (Each stand alone)
Author: Ruthie Knox
Release Date: 5th August, 2014
Rating: 4 "Be my Guide" Stars
Cliffhanger: No
HEA:
If this book were a movie, it'd be a wonderful off-beat Indie Romance.
May Fredericks is having the ultimate bad day. Not only has she dumped her NFL star boyfriend live on TV after a botched proposal, she's just been mugged in her least favourite place New York City. Armed with her metro card and her last $5 she decides to get a drink at a Bar to contemplate her next step in returning home to Wisconsin.
It's here she meets fellow patron and all round handsome grouch Ben Hausman, he's wounded, bitter off the back of a divorce and suffering from career frustrations. Their conversation leads to what becomes an unlikely but perfect pairing.
Confused by his offer to help May get back to Wisconsin, Ben convinces himself it's due to wanting to change May's views on the City as well as a means of house hunting for himself. He takes her on a tour of his New York, which results in a fruitful and enlightening experience for them both.
Ruthie Knox has a way with words and you can't help but fall into the story. It's an ordinary story with ordinary people; by no means boring or lacking. He's not a millionaire, she's not a could-be Victoria secrets model but they have truth and substance. And what builds is a romance that's slowly unfolding filled with lots of laughter, mishaps, disappointments, false starts, recognition, embracement and lots of sexual chemistry.
I enjoy the way that May and Ben force each other to confront what they consider past failures, but are also each others biggest cheerleaders. There are some seriously funny scenes with May and her sister Allie and from what I understand she's next in line for the Ruthie Knox treatment.
~Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you~
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January 7, 2020
Originally reviewed here @ Angieville
If you'd asked me last year if I was a fan of novel serializations, I would have issued a flat no. But then there was Truly. And it took me exactly no time at all to become a very big fan of this particular serial. It helped that I basically spent last year blowing through Ruthie Knox's backlist. Truly represented a somewhat different venture, as a handful of new chapters were posted each Monday morning over a period of several weeks. I began to look forward to Mondays (a first) with a kind of gleeful hunger. And those chapters just always came through the way I needed them to. And then I was able to hop on Twitter and gab about them with all the other poor saps following along. In other words, it was the height of fun. The first in Knox's New York series, Truly was available to read for free for a couple of months on Wattpad. It was then taken down in anticipation of the ebook release in August. This is the point at which I apologize for not getting a review up while it was still available. But I figure it's worth it anyway, because this book definitely deserves to be on your radar. The second novel in the series, Madly, is due out in ebook this October.
May Fredericks is having a bad day. A colossally bad one, as a matter of fact. The thing is, it was meant to be a good day. Her longtime boyfriend and star NFL quarterback proposed. Onstage. In front of a live fund-raising lunch audience. It should have been the happiest day of her life. But it wasn't. Not even remotely close. Thor (aka, the boyfriend) botches the proposal something fierce. And mild, good girl May snaps and stabs him in the hand with her shrimp fork. The day spirals downhill from there as she flees the scene of humiliation, is mugged in an alley, and washes up on a bar stool in Pulvermacher's—a Green Bay Packers haunt in the middle of the city that has always made her feel like an outsider. While there she makes the acquaintance of one Ben Hausman—the grouchiest ex-chef turned itinerant beekeeper you ever saw. Ben is recovering from a number of blows, including but not limited to an acrimonious divorce, the loss of his career as a chef, and a serious inability to throttle his anger. He is at full capacity and not at all interested in playing the white knight to a damsel in distress. And yet. Against his better judgement, Ben finds himself offering the down-on-her-luck girl from back home his help. And so begins a single day that stretches into two days, then three, and then more as Ben gives her a place to stay, a string of unforgettable meals, and maybe even a fresh view of this city he loves.
Reader, I was instantly and irrevocably charmed. This was not my first time in the ring with Knox. I went in happily familiar with the easy way she has with her characters, as though they've been her friends lo these many years and don't even worry, they'll be yours, too, in a matter of minutes. It's my favorite thing about her books, as a matter of fact. That and the quick wit and seriously swoony romance. But Ben and May were something else again for me. It could have been the slow-building tension inherent in the weekly installments, but I'm inclined to believe it's to do with how well-matched they are, how real their issues are, and how naturally they come up against their own flaws and the flaws in each other, and work to deal with them and not take anyone else down in the process. As characters, they had integrity (which I admire) and a whole boatload of chemistry and charm (which I delight in). From watching Ben's scarred hands fix and serve up another mouth-watering plate for May to devour, to looking into the mirror with May on a shopping trip that changes the way she sees herself, I was at home within the pages of this book. And while I enjoyed the few chapters from May's sister Allie's point of view as she tries to monitor the progression of May's relationship with Ben from afar as well as prepare for the wedding she's no longer sure she wants, all I really wanted was to be with May and Ben. Walking the streets of New York and even driving the backwoods of Wisconsin as they traverse a number of states before they're able to settle on the nature of this thing between them. I loved every moment of them. Truly is easily my favorite of Knox's full-length novels. I can't wait to own my own copy.
If you'd asked me last year if I was a fan of novel serializations, I would have issued a flat no. But then there was Truly. And it took me exactly no time at all to become a very big fan of this particular serial. It helped that I basically spent last year blowing through Ruthie Knox's backlist. Truly represented a somewhat different venture, as a handful of new chapters were posted each Monday morning over a period of several weeks. I began to look forward to Mondays (a first) with a kind of gleeful hunger. And those chapters just always came through the way I needed them to. And then I was able to hop on Twitter and gab about them with all the other poor saps following along. In other words, it was the height of fun. The first in Knox's New York series, Truly was available to read for free for a couple of months on Wattpad. It was then taken down in anticipation of the ebook release in August. This is the point at which I apologize for not getting a review up while it was still available. But I figure it's worth it anyway, because this book definitely deserves to be on your radar. The second novel in the series, Madly, is due out in ebook this October.
May Fredericks is having a bad day. A colossally bad one, as a matter of fact. The thing is, it was meant to be a good day. Her longtime boyfriend and star NFL quarterback proposed. Onstage. In front of a live fund-raising lunch audience. It should have been the happiest day of her life. But it wasn't. Not even remotely close. Thor (aka, the boyfriend) botches the proposal something fierce. And mild, good girl May snaps and stabs him in the hand with her shrimp fork. The day spirals downhill from there as she flees the scene of humiliation, is mugged in an alley, and washes up on a bar stool in Pulvermacher's—a Green Bay Packers haunt in the middle of the city that has always made her feel like an outsider. While there she makes the acquaintance of one Ben Hausman—the grouchiest ex-chef turned itinerant beekeeper you ever saw. Ben is recovering from a number of blows, including but not limited to an acrimonious divorce, the loss of his career as a chef, and a serious inability to throttle his anger. He is at full capacity and not at all interested in playing the white knight to a damsel in distress. And yet. Against his better judgement, Ben finds himself offering the down-on-her-luck girl from back home his help. And so begins a single day that stretches into two days, then three, and then more as Ben gives her a place to stay, a string of unforgettable meals, and maybe even a fresh view of this city he loves.
Ben took her to Park Slope to see about some bees.
Reader, I was instantly and irrevocably charmed. This was not my first time in the ring with Knox. I went in happily familiar with the easy way she has with her characters, as though they've been her friends lo these many years and don't even worry, they'll be yours, too, in a matter of minutes. It's my favorite thing about her books, as a matter of fact. That and the quick wit and seriously swoony romance. But Ben and May were something else again for me. It could have been the slow-building tension inherent in the weekly installments, but I'm inclined to believe it's to do with how well-matched they are, how real their issues are, and how naturally they come up against their own flaws and the flaws in each other, and work to deal with them and not take anyone else down in the process. As characters, they had integrity (which I admire) and a whole boatload of chemistry and charm (which I delight in). From watching Ben's scarred hands fix and serve up another mouth-watering plate for May to devour, to looking into the mirror with May on a shopping trip that changes the way she sees herself, I was at home within the pages of this book. And while I enjoyed the few chapters from May's sister Allie's point of view as she tries to monitor the progression of May's relationship with Ben from afar as well as prepare for the wedding she's no longer sure she wants, all I really wanted was to be with May and Ben. Walking the streets of New York and even driving the backwoods of Wisconsin as they traverse a number of states before they're able to settle on the nature of this thing between them. I loved every moment of them. Truly is easily my favorite of Knox's full-length novels. I can't wait to own my own copy.
February 23, 2017
In Truly, Ruthie Knox delivers a psychologically rich romance with characters so round they bounce. The hero and heroine take their own amazing individual journeys toward change and manage the pitter patter for their blooming love as well. they are on together. It is so lovely, so charming, so real.
The book starts with a Madcap Romance Off Stage Scene but the heroine is always smart, always reasonable even when she finds herself in circumstances that test the limits of those traits. The hero's motivation for assisting the heroine is delightful--he wants to prove to himself that he can be nice having been not nice for sometime.
New York, roof top farming, cooking, bee keeping all add to the fascinating mosaic of a couple falling in love.
The issue of anger is explored in this novel and this careful reflection on how much is too much, how should it be shown, how much is not enough, move this book into the special territory of an unforgettable romance along with the question of what to do when your life and your behavior isn't working for you anymore.
Knox writes with such certainty, careful thought about human condition, and love of language that you can't help but be captivated.
I was given this book for my honest review. Lucky me. So, there you have it.
The book starts with a Madcap Romance Off Stage Scene but the heroine is always smart, always reasonable even when she finds herself in circumstances that test the limits of those traits. The hero's motivation for assisting the heroine is delightful--he wants to prove to himself that he can be nice having been not nice for sometime.
New York, roof top farming, cooking, bee keeping all add to the fascinating mosaic of a couple falling in love.
The issue of anger is explored in this novel and this careful reflection on how much is too much, how should it be shown, how much is not enough, move this book into the special territory of an unforgettable romance along with the question of what to do when your life and your behavior isn't working for you anymore.
Knox writes with such certainty, careful thought about human condition, and love of language that you can't help but be captivated.
I was given this book for my honest review. Lucky me. So, there you have it.
July 29, 2014
4.5 stars!
This is the first book in Ruthie Knox's "The New York Series", and I absolutely adored it!
The writing, characters, and story were amazing!
I loved May's character.
She is so unhappy, and is desperately trying to figure out who she really is.
I loved the situations, experiences, and people (Ben) who helped her get to where she had to be.
..realizing that life is disgusting and amazing (read the book and you'll see what I mean).
It was wonderful when she had her epiphany. May finally accepts who she really is, and is able to just be.
Ben was...WOW!
Where to begin.
Angry, complex,
passionate, intelligent, and SO right for May.
The author had me in knots towards to end because of everything happening in May's life, and I didn't know if May and Ben were going to make it. However, that didn't deter me from reading until I found out. (Thank God!)
Can't wait to read the second book in this series!
An arc has been generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2021
2016. Really enjoyed this one. I randomly discovered it from a rec in someone's review of another book on amazon. Hadn't even heard of the author before, but I thought I'd try it. Always looking for good new authors, right? Well, it's good. Slightly offbeat characters, but very real.
May ends up broke and alone in New York, after breaking up with her NFL boyfriend of four years. (Very funny breakup scene). She has also been mugged and lost everything except $5. May is unsure of what to do next in her life. She has repressed her true self trying to fit in with other people's expectations. Now she's ready to turn a corner.
Ben is a fantastic (former) chef and also a beekeeper. He had a bitter split from his nasty ex a while ago, and still has a lot of anger and frustration. Circumstances throw Ben and May together. They are attracted, but neither of them is quite ready to trust anyone just yet. But, as they wander the streets of New York together, they grow closer. They do fall in love, and help each other to deal with their demons.
Nicely paced and a lovely story of redemption and romance.
May ends up broke and alone in New York, after breaking up with her NFL boyfriend of four years. (Very funny breakup scene). She has also been mugged and lost everything except $5. May is unsure of what to do next in her life. She has repressed her true self trying to fit in with other people's expectations. Now she's ready to turn a corner.
Ben is a fantastic (former) chef and also a beekeeper. He had a bitter split from his nasty ex a while ago, and still has a lot of anger and frustration. Circumstances throw Ben and May together. They are attracted, but neither of them is quite ready to trust anyone just yet. But, as they wander the streets of New York together, they grow closer. They do fall in love, and help each other to deal with their demons.
Nicely paced and a lovely story of redemption and romance.
December 16, 2019
It took me two tries to read this book. The first time - a year or so ago - it didn’t click. And this time I felt the beginning was a little loose - a little graspy - but it sure didn’t feel that way once the story was rolling.
I’ve not read Ruthie Knox before. So without a history I wasn’t sure I could trust her. Ha! Now I know.
Why I Gave This Book 5 Stars -
1) body positivity
2) no stupid goopy romantic unrealistic descriptions of the characters
3) those moments when May seized her power and I fell completely in love with her and the process
4) all of Ben’s flaws and how he handled them
5) Allie
6) the ending
7) the lines that I had to read 3 times Bc holy shit I felt them
I’m never going to drag a reader for their love of tiny heroines. Heaving bosoms. More steam than substance. Alpha males. A dude that rescues a chick.
I am, however, a reader who is 5’11. Pretty sure my bosoms only heave when I’m working out. I think steam is best kept a personal thing. And I need the substance. I’d like to stomp on the insole of most alpha males. And, while I’m married to an incredible man, I rescue me. So to find a new, smart author who plays music to which I can dance? Damn, y’all. It’s like Christmas.
Ps - Ben and May - intentional spider-man reference or not - it made me grin
I’ve not read Ruthie Knox before. So without a history I wasn’t sure I could trust her. Ha! Now I know.
Why I Gave This Book 5 Stars -
1) body positivity
2) no stupid goopy romantic unrealistic descriptions of the characters
3) those moments when May seized her power and I fell completely in love with her and the process
4) all of Ben’s flaws and how he handled them
5) Allie
6) the ending
7) the lines that I had to read 3 times Bc holy shit I felt them
I’m never going to drag a reader for their love of tiny heroines. Heaving bosoms. More steam than substance. Alpha males. A dude that rescues a chick.
I am, however, a reader who is 5’11. Pretty sure my bosoms only heave when I’m working out. I think steam is best kept a personal thing. And I need the substance. I’d like to stomp on the insole of most alpha males. And, while I’m married to an incredible man, I rescue me. So to find a new, smart author who plays music to which I can dance? Damn, y’all. It’s like Christmas.
Ps - Ben and May - intentional spider-man reference or not - it made me grin
November 25, 2013
Ruthie Knox has magical words… I mean, who else could make me flail and swoon over a cranky, irritable beekeeper… no one. That’s the answer to that question.
Truly is the first in a three part series that Knox is writing. As readers, we got a special treat in that it was posted weekly on Wattpad. It quickly became the best part of my Monday morning.
Knox has an incredible way of writing regular people and making them seem extraordinary.
Ben, a former chef has spent a lot of his time pushing people away. His life is a mess and he’s trying to figure out what to do with his life all while keeping his anger in check. But May storms into his life and for some reason he can’t deny that she’s having an impact… in a positive way.
May forked her NFL Football player when he proposed to her in front of a room full of people. And her attempt to escape New York City has been thwarted by a mugger. She takes her last $5 and heads to Pulvermacher’s, a Packer friendly bar where she can’t help but approach the most unapproachable looking person in the place.
But after spending a day together Ben proposes something…
“…New York thinks you need a vacation here, and it’s not letting you go until you give it a few more days to change your mind about it.”
May looked at her shoes, the smile lingering. “If New York wants to woo me, it shouldn’t be such a dick.”
Ben laughed. He took the soup bowl out of her hands and folded them between his. Her fingers were freezing. “New York has a proposal.”
“What’s that?”
“Stay with me. Let me show you around for a few days. I have to find an apartment anyway, so I’m just going to be rattling around the city, visiting different neighborhoods to check on my bees and looking for somewhere to live. You can take a break and make a vacation out of the rest of the long weekend. Then you can buy that plane ticket for Tuesday, and I’ll take you the airport and see you off properly.”
And so begins a whirlwind week of New York (and Ben) wooing May… showing her all the amazing things about the city that in her brief time there, she hasn’t had the chance to meet. And along the way, something happens … she learns that the city isn’t as overwhelming and scary as it appears…. The same thing just might apply to Ben too.
What I loved most about this story was that it wasn’t just a love story… yes that’s there for sure. But it’s also about discovering who you really and truly are. Not trying to conform to what and who your family or friends think you should be. Both Ben and May come to some major discoveries in this story and it’s done in such an amazing and subtle and beautiful way… a way only Ruthie Knox could do it.
At this moment, this story is free on Wattpad. If you haven’t read it yet, rush over there now and do so. It will only be there until the end of the year.
If you’re looking for amazingly developed, deeply engaging characters and a story that will have you falling in love with an unlikely hero and a realisticly portrayed heroine this is the story for you. I’m incredibly excited for book two in this series where we get to know more about Allie, May’s sister and another character I adored!
Thank you to Random House for trying something new and to Ruthie for creating another amazing story for us readers to fall for! I know I’ll be purchasing my copy when it arrives next year!
Truly is the first in a three part series that Knox is writing. As readers, we got a special treat in that it was posted weekly on Wattpad. It quickly became the best part of my Monday morning.
Knox has an incredible way of writing regular people and making them seem extraordinary.
Ben, a former chef has spent a lot of his time pushing people away. His life is a mess and he’s trying to figure out what to do with his life all while keeping his anger in check. But May storms into his life and for some reason he can’t deny that she’s having an impact… in a positive way.
May forked her NFL Football player when he proposed to her in front of a room full of people. And her attempt to escape New York City has been thwarted by a mugger. She takes her last $5 and heads to Pulvermacher’s, a Packer friendly bar where she can’t help but approach the most unapproachable looking person in the place.
But after spending a day together Ben proposes something…
“…New York thinks you need a vacation here, and it’s not letting you go until you give it a few more days to change your mind about it.”
May looked at her shoes, the smile lingering. “If New York wants to woo me, it shouldn’t be such a dick.”
Ben laughed. He took the soup bowl out of her hands and folded them between his. Her fingers were freezing. “New York has a proposal.”
“What’s that?”
“Stay with me. Let me show you around for a few days. I have to find an apartment anyway, so I’m just going to be rattling around the city, visiting different neighborhoods to check on my bees and looking for somewhere to live. You can take a break and make a vacation out of the rest of the long weekend. Then you can buy that plane ticket for Tuesday, and I’ll take you the airport and see you off properly.”
And so begins a whirlwind week of New York (and Ben) wooing May… showing her all the amazing things about the city that in her brief time there, she hasn’t had the chance to meet. And along the way, something happens … she learns that the city isn’t as overwhelming and scary as it appears…. The same thing just might apply to Ben too.
What I loved most about this story was that it wasn’t just a love story… yes that’s there for sure. But it’s also about discovering who you really and truly are. Not trying to conform to what and who your family or friends think you should be. Both Ben and May come to some major discoveries in this story and it’s done in such an amazing and subtle and beautiful way… a way only Ruthie Knox could do it.
At this moment, this story is free on Wattpad. If you haven’t read it yet, rush over there now and do so. It will only be there until the end of the year.
If you’re looking for amazingly developed, deeply engaging characters and a story that will have you falling in love with an unlikely hero and a realisticly portrayed heroine this is the story for you. I’m incredibly excited for book two in this series where we get to know more about Allie, May’s sister and another character I adored!
Thank you to Random House for trying something new and to Ruthie for creating another amazing story for us readers to fall for! I know I’ll be purchasing my copy when it arrives next year!
September 5, 2014
5 Disgusting & Amazing Stars
May is literally running away from a marriage proposal.
It took the world’s worst drunk marriage proposal to clue me in. What does that say about my judgement?”
She runs into some bad luck and is left with no money and nowhere to go. So she sees a Midwest bar, and goes in, hoping to meet some nice Midwestern person who might help her. Instead, she meets Ben: a snarky, antisocial, surly, divorced ex-chef beekeeper who is not nice.
Somehow she ends up capturing his latent “white knight” syndrome and he decides to help her. So ensues a touching, and unpredictable journey of NYC and the heart!
He was a farmer. In New York City. It figured, didn’t it? Only May would leave Wisconsin behind, move to New Jersey, stumble her way into a total life meltdown, and then pick a Wisconsin bee farmer to go home with.
So, May…I really liked her! She has low self-esteem, a huge heart, and an amazing attitude. She has no idea the effect she has on others. I loved seeing her figure out that she could be wild, independent and even a little outrageous.
New experiences always had something to teach, even when they sucked. -May
Ben’s inner monologue was endearing, witty, and hilarious. May is not his “type,” yet there’s something about her that makes him laugh out loud and makes him want to be better, nicer…
”You make me want to be a decent person,” he murmured against her lips. “It’s just awful.” –Ben
I laughed so much while reading this book. I highlighted so many phrases, quotes, and passages. The entire story was a delight. It was really quite PERFECT.
I haven’t read anything by this author yet that I didn’t love!
February 28, 2015
2.5-stars 4-stars for Ben:) 1-star for May:(
This is my fourth book by the author. I really liked How to Misbehave and About Last Night. My rating for this book is in the minority, but I do love Ben! Throughout the novel, I could feel the loss of his pride, the anger over his failed marriage, and the impact of his childhood experiences on his relationship with others. The passion and intensity of Ben character are truly well-written.
Despite how much I loved Ben, May totally ruined this novel for me. She constantly reminded me of her body image: “I am too tall, I am too fat, I am too large, 32Wx34L jean doesn’t fit…” It went on and on in the 65% of my kindle pages, up to their first sex scene! The NFL quarterback still wanted her back even if she dumped him and stabbed his hand with a fork in front of huge audiences. It doesn’t matter how many times Ben kept telling her how gorgeous she was, how radiant she was, how wonderful she was, blah, blah, blah. May…was still not happy. Grr…! headesk*
It pained me to see very little growth in May character and I was disappointed at her immaturity and actions. Sorry to say this: She was truly a coward.
The sexual tension was awkward. I found nothing funny in most of their dialogues. Insta-love in nine days? The romance was unconvincing.
arc provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you~
This is my fourth book by the author. I really liked How to Misbehave and About Last Night. My rating for this book is in the minority, but I do love Ben! Throughout the novel, I could feel the loss of his pride, the anger over his failed marriage, and the impact of his childhood experiences on his relationship with others. The passion and intensity of Ben character are truly well-written.
Despite how much I loved Ben, May totally ruined this novel for me. She constantly reminded me of her body image: “I am too tall, I am too fat, I am too large, 32Wx34L jean doesn’t fit…” It went on and on in the 65% of my kindle pages, up to their first sex scene! The NFL quarterback still wanted her back even if she dumped him and stabbed his hand with a fork in front of huge audiences. It doesn’t matter how many times Ben kept telling her how gorgeous she was, how radiant she was, how wonderful she was, blah, blah, blah. May…was still not happy. Grr…! headesk*
It pained me to see very little growth in May character and I was disappointed at her immaturity and actions. Sorry to say this: She was truly a coward.
The sexual tension was awkward. I found nothing funny in most of their dialogues. Insta-love in nine days? The romance was unconvincing.
arc provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you~
September 5, 2014
Almost 6 foot tall and with "some meat on her bones," May found it a huge relief to start dating football player Dan."Here was a guy who had three inches and sixty pounds on her, with biceps that bulged even beneath a sports coat. He was huge, and his friends were all giants who made her feel downright small." In many books, that would be the romance right there, and it's not a bad one. (I have always been big myself, and it is very pleasant to be with someone who lets me feel a bit dainty.) But this romance has more than that to offer its heroine, and its readers.
"Unsexy. Uninteresting. Steady." That's how Dan makes May feel with an all-time crappy public proposal. When she impulsively leaves him, and her bag is snatched by paparazzi, she finds herself broke and alone in New York City. Misanthropic Ben, a former chef with anger management problems, has no intention of playing knight in shining armor -- even for a fellow Wisconsonite -- but finds himself doing it anyway. As he sets out to show May the good side of New York, their growing relationship also shows them new sides of themselves.
May's journey was the strongest for me, as she learns to appreciate herself for who she is. Her first change is appreciating her physical self. The story isn't fetishistic about May's size, but it is an important part of her:
'I have anaconda thighs.' May gazed at herself in the pants. Strangely, she felt neither approval nor repugnance, but something in between. 'I look like I could squeeze a man to death with them.'
'I know. Like some kind of marvelous Amazon warrior.'
'Terrifying.'
'Sexy.'
Heeding the saleswoman's advice to 'try to see yourself as I do,' May discovers herself in the mirror:
'This was a tall stranger whose honey-blonde hair had dried wavy and windblown. An unknown woman in snakeskin pants who looked like she might eat you up and spit out your bones if you crossed her.
[...] A powerful, impolite, passionate woman. And the weird thing was, May recognized her.
She was the person May had always known she was, deep down. The person no one had ever encouraged her to be.
From there, it's just steps to learning to really let herself go in bed and ask for what she wants, and then to standing up for herself with her family.
Ben's journey was a little less vivid for me, but has to do with understanding the roots of his anger and letting go of unhealthy ambitions. There's no neatly tied-together ending, because part of the point is that they don't need one; it's okay to still be in the process of becoming themselves.
I love the themes of this story, the unconventional characters, and the dry humor.
"Perhaps there was an award for world's least effective dirty talk. She could nominate herself."
"'You make me want to be a decent person,' he murmured against her lips. 'It's just awful."
I would probably have gone for an even higher grade except I felt very bogged down in the middle of the book, in which it seemed like both characters were constantly learning lesson after emotional lesson, which were being hammered home. Perhaps this is attributable to the original serial format.
(I should mention there is one really unfortunate line in Truly, which was almost certainly inadvertent. Ben gives May challah to eat and she dreamily asks, "Is it made from ground-up baby angels?" I'm pretty sure this was an accident, and not intended to be May making a truly terrible joke -- that's not at all her style.) (And how messed up is it that I found such a recent news item to illustrate this?)
Contemporary romances seem to be becoming ever more the embodiment of fantasy -- ever-friendly small towns with great economies, gorgeous billionaires, mind-reading Doms. It's so good to also read romances that find the fun and the sexy in stories with relatable themes and characters.
August 6, 2014
3.5 - "First the Forking, then the Cleavering. Who will she emasculate next?" Stars.
I am a massive fan of Ruthie Knox’s books, and because of that I hate that I didn’t love Truly as much as the previous books of hers that I have read. Weirdly, my reasons for disliking it aren’t massively due to the storyline, characters etc, but the style(s) of writing.
It isn’t written badly, but the writing style is in parts very different from the style I have grown accustomed to with Ruthie’s previous work, it alternated between her light, to-the-point, flirty easygoing language, to something more complexly descriptive and completely different.
”I want you,” ... “Exactly the way you are. I want you naked and panting and wet underneath me. you understand that? Am I being clear?”
To explain, I actually at points felt like I was reading a book written by a completely different author, I was merrily reading away and the book constantly went from Ruthie’s normal style, to then morph into the overly descriptive flowery paragraphs about random objects, body-parts and feelings. The lyrical style and descriptiveness reminded me of books that I have read by another author entirely. I kind of wanted it to just stick to one or the other and not keep jumping back and forth.
It was too dark for him to see his heart in her eyes. Too loud inside his head for her to hear the fear hammering against her hand.
The writing style aside, I did in the main enjoy Ben and May’s story. It is what I would class as a ‘grown-ups’ romance. What I mean by that is you are presented with two relatively normal people, neither of them with any particular underlying problems, or over-loaded with erroneous drama, coming together under unusual circumstances, and getting to know and fall in love with each other.
It took the world’s worst drunk marriage proposal to clue me in.
The first 70% was a 4 Star read for me, but it unfortunately dropped down to 3 Stars in the following 20% when it went from ‘grown up’ to ‘god I wish May would grow up’... The last 10% then went back to being as enjoyable as the first seventy, but I really didn’t need, and I personally don't think the story needed the whole ‘let’s pretend’ aspect that was introduced.
She’d just been cast out of Eden, and she found herself on a guided tour of life after Paradise.
I am hoping the random paragraphs’ from Allie’s (May’s sister) point of view are a pre-cursor too the next book in the series, as if not I don’t really feel they added that much too the book either. Ruthie Knox gave me the Camelot Series, which is one of my top ten favourites of all time, and although Truly didn’t quite hit the mark with me this time, she is still one of the few authors I have on auto-buy. I am intrigued too see where the next book in the New York series will take us, Madly is due for release early 2015.
”Travel safe, May-Belle.”
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
I am a massive fan of Ruthie Knox’s books, and because of that I hate that I didn’t love Truly as much as the previous books of hers that I have read. Weirdly, my reasons for disliking it aren’t massively due to the storyline, characters etc, but the style(s) of writing.
It isn’t written badly, but the writing style is in parts very different from the style I have grown accustomed to with Ruthie’s previous work, it alternated between her light, to-the-point, flirty easygoing language, to something more complexly descriptive and completely different.
”I want you,” ... “Exactly the way you are. I want you naked and panting and wet underneath me. you understand that? Am I being clear?”
To explain, I actually at points felt like I was reading a book written by a completely different author, I was merrily reading away and the book constantly went from Ruthie’s normal style, to then morph into the overly descriptive flowery paragraphs about random objects, body-parts and feelings. The lyrical style and descriptiveness reminded me of books that I have read by another author entirely. I kind of wanted it to just stick to one or the other and not keep jumping back and forth.
It was too dark for him to see his heart in her eyes. Too loud inside his head for her to hear the fear hammering against her hand.
The writing style aside, I did in the main enjoy Ben and May’s story. It is what I would class as a ‘grown-ups’ romance. What I mean by that is you are presented with two relatively normal people, neither of them with any particular underlying problems, or over-loaded with erroneous drama, coming together under unusual circumstances, and getting to know and fall in love with each other.
It took the world’s worst drunk marriage proposal to clue me in.
The first 70% was a 4 Star read for me, but it unfortunately dropped down to 3 Stars in the following 20% when it went from ‘grown up’ to ‘god I wish May would grow up’... The last 10% then went back to being as enjoyable as the first seventy, but I really didn’t need, and I personally don't think the story needed the whole ‘let’s pretend’ aspect that was introduced.
She’d just been cast out of Eden, and she found herself on a guided tour of life after Paradise.
I am hoping the random paragraphs’ from Allie’s (May’s sister) point of view are a pre-cursor too the next book in the series, as if not I don’t really feel they added that much too the book either. Ruthie Knox gave me the Camelot Series, which is one of my top ten favourites of all time, and although Truly didn’t quite hit the mark with me this time, she is still one of the few authors I have on auto-buy. I am intrigued too see where the next book in the New York series will take us, Madly is due for release early 2015.
”Travel safe, May-Belle.”
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
November 24, 2015
This is the third book that I've read by Ruthie Knox. She is definitely becoming one of my go-to authors for contemporary romantic fiction. Her books aren't life-changers but if you're looking for a relatively simple, fun, sexy story, I think Ruthie Knox's books might be for you. She reminds me of Jill Shalvis or Susan Elizabeth Phillips with some ramped-up sex and dirty talk, and with less silliness. Knox doesn't seem to be trying to overdo things with her writing. She doesn't pummel us with plot twists and flowery prose. What she does give us is some solid character development and quick, thoughtful stories. Sometimes you just need that, right?
A few months ago my sister sent me a text with a book request. I asked her what her criteria was and she said, "I need a hot angry guy and a smart heroine." I faltered a little bit with this request but as soon as I was finished reading Truly, I sent her the link. I think this works nicely. I enjoyed both Ben and May. I liked their individual journeys as well as the one they took together. Knox pulls off something that few romance authors can do. The whole story takes place in a little over a week and yet she still spent plenty of time developing their relationship. The characters were pretty much on the page together the whole time. They communicated and got to know each other and I appreciated that Knox took the time to do that. I'm sure that not everyone wants to know about beekeeping and cooking but I was surprised that I did. It made me buy the fast pace of their relationship because there was more to them than just insta-attraction. I was also happy that Knox didn't use any over-the-top stereotypes. She didn't rely on the typically over-used roles of the 'demanding mother', 'manwhore badboy' and the 'selfish, nasty ex.' These were good people and she managed to keep me interested without the shock and awe.
Why 3 stars then? Well, I think 3 stars is a good rating. It means I liked it. This was a good story but it wasn't a WOW book and if I had never read it then I think I'd be okay. I was entertained for the weekend but I'm already ready to move on to something else. I do know that I'll be reading more from Ruthie Knox eventually. Maybe even soon.
A few months ago my sister sent me a text with a book request. I asked her what her criteria was and she said, "I need a hot angry guy and a smart heroine." I faltered a little bit with this request but as soon as I was finished reading Truly, I sent her the link. I think this works nicely. I enjoyed both Ben and May. I liked their individual journeys as well as the one they took together. Knox pulls off something that few romance authors can do. The whole story takes place in a little over a week and yet she still spent plenty of time developing their relationship. The characters were pretty much on the page together the whole time. They communicated and got to know each other and I appreciated that Knox took the time to do that. I'm sure that not everyone wants to know about beekeeping and cooking but I was surprised that I did. It made me buy the fast pace of their relationship because there was more to them than just insta-attraction. I was also happy that Knox didn't use any over-the-top stereotypes. She didn't rely on the typically over-used roles of the 'demanding mother', 'manwhore badboy' and the 'selfish, nasty ex.' These were good people and she managed to keep me interested without the shock and awe.
Why 3 stars then? Well, I think 3 stars is a good rating. It means I liked it. This was a good story but it wasn't a WOW book and if I had never read it then I think I'd be okay. I was entertained for the weekend but I'm already ready to move on to something else. I do know that I'll be reading more from Ruthie Knox eventually. Maybe even soon.
June 21, 2014
Fantastic! I loved this book! May and Ben are each on a journey of self-discovery, trying to figure out who they are and what to do with the rest of their lives. May has always done what was expected of her instead of what she wanted for herself, including the way she chooses her clothes and career path. She doesn't have the best self-esteem but everything changes after an epically bad marriage proposal. In the beginning, Ben comes across as a jerk. He is rude and unfriendly but someone May sees past that. The more I read, I couldn't help but fall in love with Ben. He is an amazing and unique character and I love him. The banter between May and Ben was some of my favorite ever in a book. I love the way they bring out the best in each other. The supporting characters are also fantastic - especially May's sister. Also, the food mentioned in this book was fantastic - I've never been hungrier while reading. New York was a beautiful setting for this book and I felt like I got a tour of the city myself when I was reading. Overall, this book is beautifully written with fantastic characters and a charming love story. Highly recommend!
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
August 12, 2016
5 stars
Thank you Ruthie for writing such a lovely and heartfelt story, Ben and May will always have a special place in my heart.
Ruthie Knox has a wonderful way with her words, she paints such a clear picture in your head that you find yourself dreaming of visiting the New York sites and tasting all the wonderful and delicious food Ben introduced May and us readers to.
I'm not going to say much more other than Truly is a must read, I highly recommend it and I will be reading it again when it comes out next year.
Thank you Ruthie Knox, Random House ~ Loveswept for giving us this wonderful story.
Thank you Ruthie for writing such a lovely and heartfelt story, Ben and May will always have a special place in my heart.
Ruthie Knox has a wonderful way with her words, she paints such a clear picture in your head that you find yourself dreaming of visiting the New York sites and tasting all the wonderful and delicious food Ben introduced May and us readers to.
I'm not going to say much more other than Truly is a must read, I highly recommend it and I will be reading it again when it comes out next year.
Thank you Ruthie Knox, Random House ~ Loveswept for giving us this wonderful story.
August 19, 2014
2.5 Stars
Unfortunately, this books dragged on and on with not a whole lot going on. I didn't feel a connection with either of the MCs and their entire relationship just seemed awkward. There were some witty sentences here and there strewn though out the story but apart from that, I was really bored.
Unfortunately, this books dragged on and on with not a whole lot going on. I didn't feel a connection with either of the MCs and their entire relationship just seemed awkward. There were some witty sentences here and there strewn though out the story but apart from that, I was really bored.
July 7, 2014
May Fredericks is convinced that New York City doesn't like her. Six weeks after moving to New Jersey/New York, she receives a poorly executed marriage proposal from her NFL Quarterback boyfriend on stage, in front of hundreds of people. Her response, which was to stab his hand with a fork, had gone viral on YouTube and everyone wants to know why. To makes matters worse, a man mugs her as she was fleeing her now ex's apartment. She's left with nothing but five dollars in her pocket so she heads to a bar to avoid the media and figure out how to get home to her family in Wisconsin.
Here she meets the surly Ben Hausman, a divorced, ex-chef with anger management issues who's currently working as a beekeeper. To prove to his friend that he can be nice if he tried, he talks to May and offers her help after learning of her misfortune. After a failed attempt to get home however, Ben suggests that May stays for a few more days, and he promises to convince her that New York isn't a horrible place.
First of all, the entire story probably took place in just a span of a week or two. Yet the romance buildup between May and Ben did not feel instant nor unbelievable. There was no insta-attraction. Lust didn't supersede logic. May used caution but also took risks. And while there were occasional douchey slips, Ben was nice, funny, and effortlessly sexy.
Despite the promise of an authentic New York experience, there wasn't a lot of name dropping or eventful adventures. It had a nice, slow pace with a realistic getting-to-know-you stretch in the first half. I LOVED the dialogues. This wasn't your common romance novel with brooding male characters who have more internal emo than actual things to say.
You know how you read some romance stories and part of what you enjoy about them is that they're ridiculously unrealistic? This isn't one of those. This is what my closet-romantic, wanderlust, foodie self would fantasize about: New York and a sexy chef with dark facial hair to woo me with.
This felt like watching a favourite indie movie with awesome characters, flawed with a lot of maturing accomplished.
Copy provided by Loveswept through Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Here she meets the surly Ben Hausman, a divorced, ex-chef with anger management issues who's currently working as a beekeeper. To prove to his friend that he can be nice if he tried, he talks to May and offers her help after learning of her misfortune. After a failed attempt to get home however, Ben suggests that May stays for a few more days, and he promises to convince her that New York isn't a horrible place.
First of all, the entire story probably took place in just a span of a week or two. Yet the romance buildup between May and Ben did not feel instant nor unbelievable. There was no insta-attraction. Lust didn't supersede logic. May used caution but also took risks. And while there were occasional douchey slips, Ben was nice, funny, and effortlessly sexy.
Despite the promise of an authentic New York experience, there wasn't a lot of name dropping or eventful adventures. It had a nice, slow pace with a realistic getting-to-know-you stretch in the first half. I LOVED the dialogues. This wasn't your common romance novel with brooding male characters who have more internal emo than actual things to say.
You know how you read some romance stories and part of what you enjoy about them is that they're ridiculously unrealistic? This isn't one of those. This is what my closet-romantic, wanderlust, foodie self would fantasize about: New York and a sexy chef with dark facial hair to woo me with.
This felt like watching a favourite indie movie with awesome characters, flawed with a lot of maturing accomplished.
Copy provided by Loveswept through Netgalley in exchange for a review.
July 15, 2014
This is my first book by Knox and all I've ever heard was that her characters were so relatable and realistic. Yes. YES!!
There were things about both Ben and May that cut so close to home for me.
This is a story about finding hope in messy, complicated love. Not the picture perfect love that we see in movies and read about.
It's also about finding yourself - not in another person - but maybe because of a bother person.
Good stuff.
Oh - and the food descriptions….zomgyum and a guy that cooks - thud.
I was just in NYC a month ago but after reading Truly I wanted to hop right back on a plane and go back. Knox captured all the things I love about being there. How overwhelming an unfriendly it can appear but with all those secrets and surprises just waiting to be discovered.
So in conclusion…flail…flail…flail….read the book!
I know need to read ALL the Ruthie Knox books.
There were things about both Ben and May that cut so close to home for me.
This is a story about finding hope in messy, complicated love. Not the picture perfect love that we see in movies and read about.
It's also about finding yourself - not in another person - but maybe because of a bother person.
Good stuff.
Oh - and the food descriptions….zomgyum and a guy that cooks - thud.
I was just in NYC a month ago but after reading Truly I wanted to hop right back on a plane and go back. Knox captured all the things I love about being there. How overwhelming an unfriendly it can appear but with all those secrets and surprises just waiting to be discovered.
So in conclusion…flail…flail…flail….read the book!
I know need to read ALL the Ruthie Knox books.
February 10, 2017
Boy, did I love this book. When it was over I missed May and Ben, as if they were good friends who'd gone away. I would happily read more of their story. Ben was dark, neurotic, and edgy, just the way I like my men, and May had plenty of spine that only needed a cocktail fork and a botched proposal to come roaring to the surface. Speaking of which, for all that Thor's proposal was awful beyond description, it was also hilarious. But then that's Ruthie Knox. There's plenty of personal growth and discovery, lots of hot sex, and for those of us who find cooking sexy, some incredible Ben in the kitchen scenes. :)
January 8, 2015
An original contemporary romance that is intelligent, funny, and sexy (like all of Ruthie Knox's novels). Loved the grumpy and very sexy beekeeper hero (Ben) and May, the people pleasing heroine who rediscovers herself when stranded in New York City. New York City was a delicious and non-stereotypical third character in this book, which is fitting since this is the first book in a New York City trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the next books, 'Madly' and 'Completely'!
November 4, 2013
Once again Ruthie Knox has left me feeling warm and fuzzy with her characters and her beautiful stories. May and Ben are so so gray. Rich. Deep. And so much fun. She painted them in NYC and made me fall in love with the city in a completely new way. I loved every bit if this book.
I should actually say more, but I won't. Just read it and fall in love, too.
I should actually say more, but I won't. Just read it and fall in love, too.
March 26, 2021
exceptional dialogue!!
a fantastic love letter to New York & food..
a fantastic love letter to New York & food..
September 17, 2017
“Truly” was not the typical romance that I expected it to be. The plot line and the character roles, on the surface, seem predictable but as I read they became a lot more than that. This is a book that I really enjoyed, with a storyline about two very different people finding each other in a unique way and helping each other to find their own strengths within themselves.
The two main characters are May and Ben. May is a tall atypically-pretty woman from a small Wisconsin town who breaks up with her football-player boyfriend in an unexpected and publicly humiliating way. Afterwards, she finds herself in New York City at a Packers bar with no money, no ID, no phone and no idea how to get herself out of her mess. It’s there that she meets Ben – a grumpy, rude stranger at the bar who eventually decides to help May and be her “knight in shining armor” in an attempt to find some of the goodness in himself that he’s lost or possibly never had.
I thought this book was very well written. The characters could easily have been developed as standard cookie-cutter roles that you’ve seen before but they weren’t. May had a nice quiet strength and a steady good nature. She was burdened only by her own kindness, desire to please others and her insecurities about her body. Yes, a woman with body issues. But it felt different. May comes to a slow, calm realization that she has choices about what she wears and how she looks that don’t have to be defined by others unless she lets that happen. Ben is a chef who allowed the anger that stemmed from his upbringing and his profession to seep into his personal life and is trying to find some personal peace and control.
This is a really nice story about two people helping each other to find their own strength independent of each other while they find a new and different kind of happiness with each other. Ben wants May to be her own person first and make her own decisions and choices for a change. May challenges Ben’s anger with a quiet, easy resolve. The book ends optimistically but not tidy and complete and that was just right.
The two main characters are May and Ben. May is a tall atypically-pretty woman from a small Wisconsin town who breaks up with her football-player boyfriend in an unexpected and publicly humiliating way. Afterwards, she finds herself in New York City at a Packers bar with no money, no ID, no phone and no idea how to get herself out of her mess. It’s there that she meets Ben – a grumpy, rude stranger at the bar who eventually decides to help May and be her “knight in shining armor” in an attempt to find some of the goodness in himself that he’s lost or possibly never had.
I thought this book was very well written. The characters could easily have been developed as standard cookie-cutter roles that you’ve seen before but they weren’t. May had a nice quiet strength and a steady good nature. She was burdened only by her own kindness, desire to please others and her insecurities about her body. Yes, a woman with body issues. But it felt different. May comes to a slow, calm realization that she has choices about what she wears and how she looks that don’t have to be defined by others unless she lets that happen. Ben is a chef who allowed the anger that stemmed from his upbringing and his profession to seep into his personal life and is trying to find some personal peace and control.
This is a really nice story about two people helping each other to find their own strength independent of each other while they find a new and different kind of happiness with each other. Ben wants May to be her own person first and make her own decisions and choices for a change. May challenges Ben’s anger with a quiet, easy resolve. The book ends optimistically but not tidy and complete and that was just right.
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