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Salt Box Trilogy #3
Running On Empty
She’s running her heart out to stay in the same place.
Ronnie Ventura has every reason to distrust Fairstein Productions: she’s had run-ins with their shows before. But Fairstein’s newest reality show offers Ronnie a chance to redeem herself from looking like a blonde bimbo. All she has to do is win a modified triathlon. Simple, right? Except this is Fairstein, and nothing is ever simple with them.
Ronnie’s boss at the Blarney Stone bar and café, owner Ted Saltzman, is a lot less convinced that another Fairstein show is just what Ronnie needs, particularly when he’s head over heels about Ronnie himself. But she’s determined, and he’s a man in love.
Ted becomes her running coach, which fans their budding romance to a fever. But can Ronnie’s newfound confidence stand up to the usual Fairstein plots? And can Ted find a way to keep his true love in Salt Box if Hollywood tries to steal her away again?
Ronnie Ventura has every reason to distrust Fairstein Productions: she’s had run-ins with their shows before. But Fairstein’s newest reality show offers Ronnie a chance to redeem herself from looking like a blonde bimbo. All she has to do is win a modified triathlon. Simple, right? Except this is Fairstein, and nothing is ever simple with them.
Ronnie’s boss at the Blarney Stone bar and café, owner Ted Saltzman, is a lot less convinced that another Fairstein show is just what Ronnie needs, particularly when he’s head over heels about Ronnie himself. But she’s determined, and he’s a man in love.
Ted becomes her running coach, which fans their budding romance to a fever. But can Ronnie’s newfound confidence stand up to the usual Fairstein plots? And can Ted find a way to keep his true love in Salt Box if Hollywood tries to steal her away again?
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2016
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Meg Benjamin
39 books492 followersMeg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance. Her newest series, the Folk, is a paranormal series from Soul Mate Publishing set in Colorado. Meg’s Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing). Along with contemporary romance, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England Romance Writers, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers. Meg’s Web site is http://www.MegBenjamin.com. You can follow her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1), Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/megbenjamin/), Twitter (http://twitter.com/megbenj1) and Instagram (meg_benjamin). Meg loves to hear from readers—contact her at meg@megbenjamin.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 21, 2016
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 stars
*While this book is the third story in a trilogy, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. However, I think you would get a better feel for the characters if you start with the first book.
Running on Empty is the last book in author Meg Benjamin's Salt Box trilogy and I am really going to miss this little Colorado town and its quirky residents. Only an author whose work I love could get me to read three books about reality television and Ms. Benjamin did that by keeping the book smart and fresh while adding in some steamy romance.
Ronnie Ventura has worked hard to make a better life for herself. After a somewhat disastrous appearance on the reality show Finding Mr. Right, Ronnie settled in the small town of Salt Box, Colorado where a portion of the show was filmed. She works at the local watering hole, The Blarney Stone, takes online classes working towards a degree in counseling, and is enjoying spending time in the great outdoors. She also has a great group of friends that like her for her and if she had to admit it she loves her job because it gives her plenty of time to ogle her boss.
Ted Saltzman doesn't regret hiring Ronnie to waitress at his bar because she attracts a lot of customers and if he's being honest too many customers. While he knows as her boss he shouldn't want more than the employee/employer relationship that they have, he does and he know he is going to have to do something about it soon because it drives him crazy watching her work every night. When Ronnie is offered a new reality show with physical challenges it is the perfect opportunity to spend more time with her while helping her train.
I loved that both of these characters wanted one another, but were a bit worried about how it would affect their friendship. It was kind of sweet the way they couldn't keep their eyes off one another. I enjoyed watching them bumble their way through their first coffee "date" and as they began to spend more time together away from work. While there was no denying their attraction and their intimate moments were sexy it was evident from the start that these two already had some pretty deep feelings for one another which made moving from friendship to more fairly easy. That wasn't to say there weren't some bumps in the road especially since Ted wasn't all too happy with Ronnie appearing on the new show or the way they were treating her, but thankfully these were two people who knew when to give each other some time and with good communication skills so even when they had some harsh words, they didn't let them fester.
Between their friends and the cast and crew of this show there were a lot of characters in this book, but the romance between Ronnie and Ted was front and center as it should be. That's not to say there wasn't some crazy and exciting moments during the filming, but we never lost sight of what was going on between Ronnie and Ted.
Sweet and passionate with a bit of adventure thrown in for good measure, I loved Running On Empty and it was a perfect way to close out this entertaining series.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 stars
*While this book is the third story in a trilogy, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. However, I think you would get a better feel for the characters if you start with the first book.
Running on Empty is the last book in author Meg Benjamin's Salt Box trilogy and I am really going to miss this little Colorado town and its quirky residents. Only an author whose work I love could get me to read three books about reality television and Ms. Benjamin did that by keeping the book smart and fresh while adding in some steamy romance.
Ronnie Ventura has worked hard to make a better life for herself. After a somewhat disastrous appearance on the reality show Finding Mr. Right, Ronnie settled in the small town of Salt Box, Colorado where a portion of the show was filmed. She works at the local watering hole, The Blarney Stone, takes online classes working towards a degree in counseling, and is enjoying spending time in the great outdoors. She also has a great group of friends that like her for her and if she had to admit it she loves her job because it gives her plenty of time to ogle her boss.
Ted Saltzman doesn't regret hiring Ronnie to waitress at his bar because she attracts a lot of customers and if he's being honest too many customers. While he knows as her boss he shouldn't want more than the employee/employer relationship that they have, he does and he know he is going to have to do something about it soon because it drives him crazy watching her work every night. When Ronnie is offered a new reality show with physical challenges it is the perfect opportunity to spend more time with her while helping her train.
I loved that both of these characters wanted one another, but were a bit worried about how it would affect their friendship. It was kind of sweet the way they couldn't keep their eyes off one another. I enjoyed watching them bumble their way through their first coffee "date" and as they began to spend more time together away from work. While there was no denying their attraction and their intimate moments were sexy it was evident from the start that these two already had some pretty deep feelings for one another which made moving from friendship to more fairly easy. That wasn't to say there weren't some bumps in the road especially since Ted wasn't all too happy with Ronnie appearing on the new show or the way they were treating her, but thankfully these were two people who knew when to give each other some time and with good communication skills so even when they had some harsh words, they didn't let them fester.
Between their friends and the cast and crew of this show there were a lot of characters in this book, but the romance between Ronnie and Ted was front and center as it should be. That's not to say there wasn't some crazy and exciting moments during the filming, but we never lost sight of what was going on between Ronnie and Ted.
Sweet and passionate with a bit of adventure thrown in for good measure, I loved Running On Empty and it was a perfect way to close out this entertaining series.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
September 28, 2016
5***** Equal parts lovely and steamy novel
**I read this with my KU subscription**
I should rate this book as five stars only for having me read about something I totally despise and never watch – reality shows. I couldn’t put it down! LOL
But it deserves the rating for so much more than that. I skydived into this trilogy right at its closing act; but since this is a standalone, I was able to enjoy it thoroughly. Plus, I’ve got to add two more titles to my endless TBR list. I’m so curious to read more about Lizzy, Monica, Nona, Dick, Paul and Clark. They seem such a fun loving crowd you can’t help but want to hang out with them, you know? Also, I’m sure I’ll be able to appreciate more Ronnie’s growth as a character. Don’t get me wrong, Meg does an excellent job at showing us how much Ronnie’s changed since the beginning of the series; it’s just that Meg’s equally talented in making you curious. Hehehe
I was hooked since page one. I mean, the Blarney Stone is literally one of my inspirations to write my second novel: Luck of the Irish. When I visited Dublin, I fell in love with its story so a bar named Blarney Stone sounded like my kind of place. Then, we get to meet its drool-worthy owner, Ted Saltzman, and things just get better from there. Granted, there were times I could’ve smacked him on the head; but, that’s what a good romance novel does to you: make you forget you can’t physically hit its characters. No matter how flustered they make you.
Meg Benjamin’s writing style is so elegant that she turns boring reality shows into engaging topics. And on a very personal note, I favor third person POV such as Meg employs here, alternating it from Ronnie’s and Ted’s perspective. It gives us a broader understanding of the main characters’ motivations and inner struggles. As well as making us want to coldcock them, but I’ve already covered that. LOL
She also made me feel quite comfortable at Blarney Stone; where everyone hangs out quite often. I loved its easygoing atmosphere and the characters’ interactions. It reminded me of the first seasons of True Blood, before the show turned boring. I kind of expected to see Sam, Sookie or Laffayette making a cameo at any time. I mean this as a compliment because I did love the show and Charlene Harris’s books were quite fun to read as well.
As an author of erotic romances, I feel very comfortable reading steamy scenes and Meg’s talent also shines through in this department. There aren’t that many love scenes; but their quality, intensity, and importance in making the plot advance are unquestionable. Kudos!
**I read this with my KU subscription**
I should rate this book as five stars only for having me read about something I totally despise and never watch – reality shows. I couldn’t put it down! LOL
But it deserves the rating for so much more than that. I skydived into this trilogy right at its closing act; but since this is a standalone, I was able to enjoy it thoroughly. Plus, I’ve got to add two more titles to my endless TBR list. I’m so curious to read more about Lizzy, Monica, Nona, Dick, Paul and Clark. They seem such a fun loving crowd you can’t help but want to hang out with them, you know? Also, I’m sure I’ll be able to appreciate more Ronnie’s growth as a character. Don’t get me wrong, Meg does an excellent job at showing us how much Ronnie’s changed since the beginning of the series; it’s just that Meg’s equally talented in making you curious. Hehehe
I was hooked since page one. I mean, the Blarney Stone is literally one of my inspirations to write my second novel: Luck of the Irish. When I visited Dublin, I fell in love with its story so a bar named Blarney Stone sounded like my kind of place. Then, we get to meet its drool-worthy owner, Ted Saltzman, and things just get better from there. Granted, there were times I could’ve smacked him on the head; but, that’s what a good romance novel does to you: make you forget you can’t physically hit its characters. No matter how flustered they make you.
Meg Benjamin’s writing style is so elegant that she turns boring reality shows into engaging topics. And on a very personal note, I favor third person POV such as Meg employs here, alternating it from Ronnie’s and Ted’s perspective. It gives us a broader understanding of the main characters’ motivations and inner struggles. As well as making us want to coldcock them, but I’ve already covered that. LOL
She also made me feel quite comfortable at Blarney Stone; where everyone hangs out quite often. I loved its easygoing atmosphere and the characters’ interactions. It reminded me of the first seasons of True Blood, before the show turned boring. I kind of expected to see Sam, Sookie or Laffayette making a cameo at any time. I mean this as a compliment because I did love the show and Charlene Harris’s books were quite fun to read as well.
As an author of erotic romances, I feel very comfortable reading steamy scenes and Meg’s talent also shines through in this department. There aren’t that many love scenes; but their quality, intensity, and importance in making the plot advance are unquestionable. Kudos!
November 21, 2016
4.5 Stars!
If you are a reality TV fan, you will love Running on Empty by Meg Benjamin.
After a couple of stints on reality TV, Ronnie Ventura settled into the small town of Salt Box, Colorado. She fell in love with the area while filming one of Fairstein's TV programs. Ronnie loves her job as a waitress at the local pub, as she takes some online classes and volunteers at the youth center. Her goal is to obtain her school counseling certification. Even though Ronnie's reputation and self-esteem suffered greatly after being a reality TV pawn, she decides to do it once again when she is approached by Fairstein's producer. The new triathlon competition show is about winning for charity, and Ronnie is all about that. She is hopeful that she can prove to the world that she is not just a dumb blond with a killer body.
Ted Saltzman owns the town's local bar and has always harbored some feelings for Ronnie. He knows that she is smart and beautiful, and he loves that his customer's love her. Ted offers to train Ronnie for the running event of the triathlon, and finds her two additional coaches for both the swimming and bike riding competitions. Their time together evolves into a hot romantic relationship, which is hard to keep on track because of the constant shenanigans on the TV set. Ted is not a fan of the new show and he makes sure Ronnie knows how he feels.
I believe quality writing is the result of an author's ability to cause the reader to feel tremendous emotion. Regardless whether the emotion is love, lust, anger or sadness. I felt amazing disbelief towards Ronnie. Her willingness to put herself through some inane and unsafe contests to prove that she was not comic relief, even for a charitable cause, was difficult to digest. It was easy for me to identify with the Ted, because his interpretations of the various scenarios were right on target. The secondary characters play a huge role in this story, and I enjoyed how they crossed over from the two earlier books into this one.
Overall, this is a well-written book and series that twists and turns in all the right places. If you are a fan of reality TV, then put the Saltbox Trilogy on your TBR list. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
If you are a reality TV fan, you will love Running on Empty by Meg Benjamin.
After a couple of stints on reality TV, Ronnie Ventura settled into the small town of Salt Box, Colorado. She fell in love with the area while filming one of Fairstein's TV programs. Ronnie loves her job as a waitress at the local pub, as she takes some online classes and volunteers at the youth center. Her goal is to obtain her school counseling certification. Even though Ronnie's reputation and self-esteem suffered greatly after being a reality TV pawn, she decides to do it once again when she is approached by Fairstein's producer. The new triathlon competition show is about winning for charity, and Ronnie is all about that. She is hopeful that she can prove to the world that she is not just a dumb blond with a killer body.
Ted Saltzman owns the town's local bar and has always harbored some feelings for Ronnie. He knows that she is smart and beautiful, and he loves that his customer's love her. Ted offers to train Ronnie for the running event of the triathlon, and finds her two additional coaches for both the swimming and bike riding competitions. Their time together evolves into a hot romantic relationship, which is hard to keep on track because of the constant shenanigans on the TV set. Ted is not a fan of the new show and he makes sure Ronnie knows how he feels.
I believe quality writing is the result of an author's ability to cause the reader to feel tremendous emotion. Regardless whether the emotion is love, lust, anger or sadness. I felt amazing disbelief towards Ronnie. Her willingness to put herself through some inane and unsafe contests to prove that she was not comic relief, even for a charitable cause, was difficult to digest. It was easy for me to identify with the Ted, because his interpretations of the various scenarios were right on target. The secondary characters play a huge role in this story, and I enjoyed how they crossed over from the two earlier books into this one.
Overall, this is a well-written book and series that twists and turns in all the right places. If you are a fan of reality TV, then put the Saltbox Trilogy on your TBR list. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
October 23, 2016
I’ve been waiting for Ronnie’s story all through this series and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Ronnie is still sweet and smiley, but she’s come a long way since those naive (and slightly annoying) days of Finding Mr. Right Now. She’s grown up, wised up and found a back bone across the series and I loved seeing her finally come into her own. I would have liked to have seen some of her volunteer work – or just any part of her life that wasn’t either the Blarney Stone or the show – but it was still nice to know there was more to her, even if we didn’t see it.
It was also fun to see Fairstein return to the town and wreak havoc once more. I love reality tv romance books and this series has made excellent use of the less-than-fair ways these sorts of shows can be produced, and all the characters they prefer to cast. It was also great to see characters from earlier books return and play their part. However, if you’re new to this series, I think it stands alone well enough for you to be able to enjoy it without reading the other books first.
I’m a little more torn when it comes to Ted. While I enjoyed his early relationship with Ronnie and how things develop between them, I rapidly lost patience with his pouting and stubborn refusal to be the least bit supportive because of something Ronnie didn’t even know about. He’s actually a real jerk about certain stuff and I was pretty disappointed in him at times.
But thankfully, although Ted is the romantic hero of this book, this book really belongs to Ronnie. I loved how she grew stronger throughout, learning how to stand her ground and stick up for herself, out to prove herself a winner against some mean odds.
All in all, this was a cute, thoroughly enjoyable end to this series. There’s a bit of romance, plenty of behind-the-scenes TV machinations, some sports training, plenty of friendship and a fair dose of girl-power Ronnie-style. The whole thing was great fun and, although I’m a little sad to be saying goodbye to Salt Box, I know I’ll be looking out for more from this author in future.
(Review copy from the author via NetGalley)
It was also fun to see Fairstein return to the town and wreak havoc once more. I love reality tv romance books and this series has made excellent use of the less-than-fair ways these sorts of shows can be produced, and all the characters they prefer to cast. It was also great to see characters from earlier books return and play their part. However, if you’re new to this series, I think it stands alone well enough for you to be able to enjoy it without reading the other books first.
I’m a little more torn when it comes to Ted. While I enjoyed his early relationship with Ronnie and how things develop between them, I rapidly lost patience with his pouting and stubborn refusal to be the least bit supportive because of something Ronnie didn’t even know about. He’s actually a real jerk about certain stuff and I was pretty disappointed in him at times.
But thankfully, although Ted is the romantic hero of this book, this book really belongs to Ronnie. I loved how she grew stronger throughout, learning how to stand her ground and stick up for herself, out to prove herself a winner against some mean odds.
All in all, this was a cute, thoroughly enjoyable end to this series. There’s a bit of romance, plenty of behind-the-scenes TV machinations, some sports training, plenty of friendship and a fair dose of girl-power Ronnie-style. The whole thing was great fun and, although I’m a little sad to be saying goodbye to Salt Box, I know I’ll be looking out for more from this author in future.
(Review copy from the author via NetGalley)
October 3, 2016
A few months ago I have read the first book in this series and I was very curious to see a story with a protagonist that I had found a little irritating, Ronnie. She's changed a lot and it was enjoyable to be with her.
Ronnie is a veteran of a reality show, when the show was over she has asked Ted for a job in Blarney Stone and he has hired her as a waitress. She has the chance to change her life and he has increased his customers, many are curious to know the star of the TV. But spending more and more time together will be difficult to hide the strong attraction that exists between them.
The Blarney Stone is a welcoming and peaceful retreat in a quiet town of Colorado, Salt Box, I spent a great time in this city with its colorful characters
The characters are well developed and very realistic, are people I would like to know.
It's the third and final book of the trilogy Salt Box but can be read as a standalone, the author is very good at providing the essential information of the characters already known in earlier books
It was a truly engaging and delightful read, well written with a few but very sexy scenes. It kept my attention the entire time.
Highly recommended for those who love romance
I received an advanced readers copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Ronnie is a veteran of a reality show, when the show was over she has asked Ted for a job in Blarney Stone and he has hired her as a waitress. She has the chance to change her life and he has increased his customers, many are curious to know the star of the TV. But spending more and more time together will be difficult to hide the strong attraction that exists between them.
The Blarney Stone is a welcoming and peaceful retreat in a quiet town of Colorado, Salt Box, I spent a great time in this city with its colorful characters
The characters are well developed and very realistic, are people I would like to know.
It's the third and final book of the trilogy Salt Box but can be read as a standalone, the author is very good at providing the essential information of the characters already known in earlier books
It was a truly engaging and delightful read, well written with a few but very sexy scenes. It kept my attention the entire time.
Highly recommended for those who love romance
I received an advanced readers copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2016
Running On Empty (Salt Box Trilogy) by Meg Benjamin is the insider’s look at reality shows. Fairstein Shows have not been so glamorous or kind to Ronnie Ventura. It makes you wonder why she wants to try again this time in a modified triathlon. Makes me tired to think about it.
I enjoyed the growth of Ronnie as a person almost as much as I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Ted and her. Ms. Benjamin used the training as a wonderfully realistic way to throw these two together other than at work. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the background of the Blarney Stone but like the way the story expanded naturally. Which bring me to Ms. Benjamin’s elegant and easy to read writing style. I have read several of her books and with each including Running On Empty, it is so easy to get caught up in the story that you become lost to all that is going on around you. So, it is another incredible read by Meg Benjamin.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.
I enjoyed the growth of Ronnie as a person almost as much as I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Ted and her. Ms. Benjamin used the training as a wonderfully realistic way to throw these two together other than at work. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the background of the Blarney Stone but like the way the story expanded naturally. Which bring me to Ms. Benjamin’s elegant and easy to read writing style. I have read several of her books and with each including Running On Empty, it is so easy to get caught up in the story that you become lost to all that is going on around you. So, it is another incredible read by Meg Benjamin.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.
December 13, 2016
A refugee from reality shows settles in a mountain party town, only to have another show draw her back in. She’s a sweet girl who doesn’t want to be thought of as a bimbo, but she is mostly too naïve for her own good. And of course there’s a guy she wants but is too scared to tell, and the same with him.
This is the third in a series, and while there’s plenty of info about previous stories, I wish I’d read the others before. Even more so, the first Meg Benjamin book I read was so fantastic it’s a struggle not to compare. This one is funny, but not as funny as that first one. For another, I like this girl but she’s no Docia.
So yep, not as good, but Meg always brings it.
This is the third in a series, and while there’s plenty of info about previous stories, I wish I’d read the others before. Even more so, the first Meg Benjamin book I read was so fantastic it’s a struggle not to compare. This one is funny, but not as funny as that first one. For another, I like this girl but she’s no Docia.
So yep, not as good, but Meg always brings it.
December 11, 2016
This is the third book in the series. I did not read the previous books, nor have I ever watched a reality tv program, which left me at a disadvantage. To understand who was who, I had to look at the reviews of the previous two books. There should have been more revealed about them, since they were involved in the plot of this volume. Not enough descriptions to even picture them, and two of the people who were very involved in the plot, Dick and Nona, had no background at all that I could find. Nevertheless, the two subjects of this book, Ronnie and Ted, were better developed. Ronnie, apparently had been a contestant in one of the other books and ended up staying ti Salt Box after the show. She is working as a barmaid in Ted's bar, volunteering at the youth center and taking online college classes. She is in love with Ted and he with her, but both are too scared to make the first move, until Ronnie accepts an invitation for another reality show, an athletic competition, which would allow her to win a substantial amount of money for the youth center and to prove to herself i no the viewing audience that she is not a dumb blond. The dialog between the two of them was rather stilted, but I still enjoyed the read.
February 7, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I found this to be a light easy read.
A great holiday read.
I found this to be a light easy read.
A great holiday read.
December 15, 2016
Review Posted at HarlequiJunkie.com
Signing a contract with Fairstein Productions to do another one of their Reality TV shows was supposed to be Ronnie Ventura’s chance to prove she’s not the blonde bimbo the company made her out to be when she took part in her first reality TV show. Certainly, there are tough challenges for her to face, but with her friends so supportive she’s determined to win. However, there’s one person she wants more than anything to support her and if she can’t convince Ted Saltzman — her boss at the Blarney Stone bar — how invested she is to prove her capabilities, then clearly there’s no chance for them to be together. Read More
Signing a contract with Fairstein Productions to do another one of their Reality TV shows was supposed to be Ronnie Ventura’s chance to prove she’s not the blonde bimbo the company made her out to be when she took part in her first reality TV show. Certainly, there are tough challenges for her to face, but with her friends so supportive she’s determined to win. However, there’s one person she wants more than anything to support her and if she can’t convince Ted Saltzman — her boss at the Blarney Stone bar — how invested she is to prove her capabilities, then clearly there’s no chance for them to be together. Read More
November 16, 2016
Just loved this book read it one night didnt want it to end a great series if you get the chance give it a read you wont be sorry
November 23, 2016
A great read! 100% recommend!
January 20, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! It was an engaging read with a unique plot. I look forward to reading the previous ones in the series.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews