Review: How To Misbehave by Ruthie Knox

Posted January 24, 2013 by Nima in 4 stars, Contemporary Romance, Rating A Tags: , , , , ,

How to Misbehave
Author: Ruthie Knox   
Release Date: Jan. 28, 2013
Publisher: Loveswept
Camelot Series Introductory Novella
ISBN: #978-0345545305
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book (99 pgs)
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
As program director for the Camelot Community Center, Amber Clark knows how to keep her cool. That is, until a sudden tornado warning forces her to take shelter in a darkened basement with a hunk of man whose sex appeal green lights her every fantasy. With a voice that would melt chocolate, he asks her if she is okay. Now she’s hot all over and wondering: How does a girl make a move?
Building contractor Tony Mazzara was just looking to escape nature’s fury. Instead, he finds himself all tangled up with lovely Amber. Sweet and sexy, she’s ready to unleash her wild side. Their mutual desire reaches a fever pitch and creates a storm of its own—unexpected, powerful, and unforgettable. But is it bigger than Tony can handle? Can he let go of painful memories and let the force of this remarkable woman show him a future he never dreamed existed?
What Nima’s talking about:
I love dependable authors.  I know that when I open the pages of a new book, it’s not going to be a waste of my time or money.  Ruthie Knox has proven to me that she is a dependable author.  She’s apparently proven it to Random House as well because she’s been green-lighted to embark on an entire series, the Camelot Series, based in the imaginary little hamlet of Camelot, Ohio, about an hour outside of Columbus.  It’s one of those insignificant places that you fly over while going from one coast to the other without knowing what you’ve missed—unless you are among the lucky few who’ve lived there.  I’m originally from the west coast and now make my home in one of those historic little gems of Ohio, but really, this story would have been at home in just about any small, Midwest town.
How to Misbehave is a novella, our appetizer to the main course of the series to come.  The series follows the Clark siblings—Amber, Caleb, and Katie.  Blessedly, we do not have to wait a year between books.  Caleb’s story, Along Came Trouble, is due out in March, and Katie’s story, Flirting with Disaster, follows in June.  According to the author’s end notes however, How to Misbehave was not written first.  Knox wrote it last.  Amber is an established side character in Caleb and Katie’s stories and after writing both of them, Knox wanted to go back in time and write about how Amber and Tony met.  It’s appropriately placed at the beginning of the series as a yummy first course.
In the confined space of under 100 pages, Knox could do little more than introduce us to Amber and Tony and get them together.  Their relationship develops very quickly.  It is a burst of intensity injected with Knox’s trademark wit and humor.  You have to love characters who have conversations that include questions like, “Was that some kind of romantic declaration, disguised as a filthy pirate sex offer?”  I liked Amber and Tony.  I’m glad that we will see more of them in the books to still to come, but the thing of significance is that we’re getting introduced to the town of Camelot and Amber’s family.  There’s nothing like a family to create drama.  Add outside drama, a little hanky-panky, and some humor and you’ve got a good book.  Add one of Knox’s dependably great endings and you’ve got a really good book.  I, for one, can’t wait.
Read Chapter One Here:  http://www.ruthieknox.com/books/how-to-misbehave/
Nima’s Rating:
Enjoyed – strongly recommend (A-)


Purchase Info:

5 responses to “Review: How To Misbehave by Ruthie Knox”

  1. Rummanah Aasi

    Thanks to Nima’s wonderful review of “About Last Night”, I picked up the book and it was exactly what I needed to escape from a hectic work schedule and needed a time out. I’m definitely going to check this series out. Thanks for the recommendation ladies!