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Camelot #2
Along Came Trouble
Ruthie Knox’s Camelot series continues in this sizzling eBook original novel, featuring two headstrong souls who bump heads—and bodies—as temptation and lust bring nothing but delicious trouble.
An accomplished lawyer and driven single mother, Ellen Callahan isn’t looking for any help. She’s doing just fine on her own. So Ellen’s more than a little peeved when her brother, an international pop star, hires a security guard to protect her from a prying press that will stop at nothing to dig up dirt on him. But when the tanned and toned Caleb Clark shows up at her door, Ellen might just have to plead the fifth.
Back home after a deployment in Iraq and looking for work as a civilian, Caleb signs on as Ellen’s bodyguard. After combat in the hot desert sun, this job should be a breeze. But guarding the willful beauty is harder than he imagined—and Caleb can’t resist the temptation to mix business with pleasure. With their desires growing more undeniable by the day, Ellen and Caleb give in to an evening of steamy passion. But will they ever be able to share more than just a one-night stand?
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: How to Misbehave, Flirting with Disaster, and About Last Night.
An accomplished lawyer and driven single mother, Ellen Callahan isn’t looking for any help. She’s doing just fine on her own. So Ellen’s more than a little peeved when her brother, an international pop star, hires a security guard to protect her from a prying press that will stop at nothing to dig up dirt on him. But when the tanned and toned Caleb Clark shows up at her door, Ellen might just have to plead the fifth.
Back home after a deployment in Iraq and looking for work as a civilian, Caleb signs on as Ellen’s bodyguard. After combat in the hot desert sun, this job should be a breeze. But guarding the willful beauty is harder than he imagined—and Caleb can’t resist the temptation to mix business with pleasure. With their desires growing more undeniable by the day, Ellen and Caleb give in to an evening of steamy passion. But will they ever be able to share more than just a one-night stand?
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: How to Misbehave, Flirting with Disaster, and About Last Night.
416 pages, ebook
First published March 11, 2013
53 people are currently reading
1589 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 306 reviews
February 21, 2014
I'm really surprised that not only did I NOT like this book, I actually DIS-liked it. I'm going with two stars because I reserve one star ratings for utter crap. This one is just my preference on characterization and such so...2 stars :D
First off, my like. Yes, singular. I liked Caleb. He was an amazing, sweet, stubborn, level-headed and patient man. An extremely considerate lover, a damned good brother and son, and toward the end, I felt like I wanted to shake him because he was almost TOO good and TOO patient.
My dislikes. I'll keep it short. **Deep breath**
****
I did not like this heroine...at all. Ellen was so unreasonable, and it was beyond belief how stubborn and pigheaded she was. Stubborn is good when you're going after something you want, like Caleb did. Stubborn is NOT good when you snub your nose as someone who was hired to PROTECT your safety and that of your son. I was confused as to why Ellen at first rejected her brother the pop star's security company from..well, securing her. I gave her some leeway because I thought she'd come around eventually and see that being independent didn't matter when your child's safety was at stake. But no, she remains completely obtuse and unreasonable during the entire course of the book. Quite frankly, Ellen was a bitch.
****
The ILY came waaaay too quickly. The entirety of this story takes place in less than a week. A deep, meaningful, lasting love doesn't come that quickly, I'm sorry. It just doesn't. Giving it a try is good after a week. Declaring your love after a few days is hokey and ridiculous. For grown ups, anyways.
****
The whole neighbor in love with Ellen's pop star brother thing confused me. Apparently there was some kind of back story with these two but it was never fully explained. From what I DID understand, the neighbor was also quite the bitch. She is pregnant, meets a famous pop star at a party one night, has immediate sex with him in the laundry room, they have a short fling until she posts his name on her blog, which pisses him off, he goes back to LA. End of. And she has the nerve to be pissed of at HIM?!?! What? I feel like I'm missing something. When the guy tries to come back and realizes that he has actual, true feelings for a woman who is preggers with another man's child and she rejects him and makes him beg? That's just dumb.
_________________________________________
I had a few more minor issues but I don't want to go on. Suffice it to say, this was not a good'un for moi. I tend to have heroine issues but this chick was pretty bad. I wanted the whole family atmosphere to be more prevalent. I wanted her kid to be more involved in the story, maybe more bonding with Caleb. There was some of that, but I felt like the kid was pushed out of the story pretty often. Not much of the daily grind, and I hate when books with kids do that. There was a convenient weekend sleepover that took up about half of the book. Must be nice, this mommy says!
Okay, I'm done. I didn't like this one. But I have really enjoyed the other three books I've read by this author so I think this was just a fluke.
First off, my like. Yes, singular. I liked Caleb. He was an amazing, sweet, stubborn, level-headed and patient man. An extremely considerate lover, a damned good brother and son, and toward the end, I felt like I wanted to shake him because he was almost TOO good and TOO patient.
My dislikes. I'll keep it short. **Deep breath**
****
I did not like this heroine...at all. Ellen was so unreasonable, and it was beyond belief how stubborn and pigheaded she was. Stubborn is good when you're going after something you want, like Caleb did. Stubborn is NOT good when you snub your nose as someone who was hired to PROTECT your safety and that of your son. I was confused as to why Ellen at first rejected her brother the pop star's security company from..well, securing her. I gave her some leeway because I thought she'd come around eventually and see that being independent didn't matter when your child's safety was at stake. But no, she remains completely obtuse and unreasonable during the entire course of the book. Quite frankly, Ellen was a bitch.
****
The ILY came waaaay too quickly. The entirety of this story takes place in less than a week. A deep, meaningful, lasting love doesn't come that quickly, I'm sorry. It just doesn't. Giving it a try is good after a week. Declaring your love after a few days is hokey and ridiculous. For grown ups, anyways.
****
The whole neighbor in love with Ellen's pop star brother thing confused me. Apparently there was some kind of back story with these two but it was never fully explained. From what I DID understand, the neighbor was also quite the bitch. She is pregnant, meets a famous pop star at a party one night, has immediate sex with him in the laundry room, they have a short fling until she posts his name on her blog, which pisses him off, he goes back to LA. End of. And she has the nerve to be pissed of at HIM?!?! What? I feel like I'm missing something. When the guy tries to come back and realizes that he has actual, true feelings for a woman who is preggers with another man's child and she rejects him and makes him beg? That's just dumb.
_________________________________________
I had a few more minor issues but I don't want to go on. Suffice it to say, this was not a good'un for moi. I tend to have heroine issues but this chick was pretty bad. I wanted the whole family atmosphere to be more prevalent. I wanted her kid to be more involved in the story, maybe more bonding with Caleb. There was some of that, but I felt like the kid was pushed out of the story pretty often. Not much of the daily grind, and I hate when books with kids do that. There was a convenient weekend sleepover that took up about half of the book. Must be nice, this mommy says!
Okay, I'm done. I didn't like this one. But I have really enjoyed the other three books I've read by this author so I think this was just a fluke.
November 14, 2015
This was a sweet contemporary romance. If this book would have been candy, I think it would have been 70 percent dark chocolate. It was a sweet, sexy and fun read!
"It's going to be fantastic, though, when we finally do it. Fireworks are going to go off. Pyrotechnic kissing. Your hair will probably catch on fire."
She laughed, and some internal switched flipped from Maybe to Definitely.
Ellen Callahan is a divorced single-mom (loved that!) who grew up in the shadow of her brother and married an abusive cheating alcoholic. To say that she has walls would be an understatement. Add Caleb, super sweet, hot sexy guy in charge of her protection and sparks fly. It started off great and I awwwed over Caleb a lot.
My only problem with this book was Ellen. She is so damn stubborn and treats him like an indulgence. I get it, but I still didn't like it. I think it is a general problem with contemporary romances and their story lines. Everything is going great, then something silly happens and they spend a chunk of time apart - during which they realize they love each other. They make up and decides to get married. A very sweet HEA but I wish these couple could get to spend more time after their big fallout before getting engaged. But maybe, that's just me.
I want to thank Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"It's going to be fantastic, though, when we finally do it. Fireworks are going to go off. Pyrotechnic kissing. Your hair will probably catch on fire."
She laughed, and some internal switched flipped from Maybe to Definitely.
Ellen Callahan is a divorced single-mom (loved that!) who grew up in the shadow of her brother and married an abusive cheating alcoholic. To say that she has walls would be an understatement. Add Caleb, super sweet, hot sexy guy in charge of her protection and sparks fly. It started off great and I awwwed over Caleb a lot.
My only problem with this book was Ellen. She is so damn stubborn and treats him like an indulgence. I get it, but I still didn't like it. I think it is a general problem with contemporary romances and their story lines. Everything is going great, then something silly happens and they spend a chunk of time apart - during which they realize they love each other. They make up and decides to get married. A very sweet HEA but I wish these couple could get to spend more time after their big fallout before getting engaged. But maybe, that's just me.
I want to thank Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2013
Review originally posted: www.sweptawaybyromance.blogspot.com
5 BIG stars!!!
Along Came Trouble is the second book in the Camelot trilogy that features three siblings: Amber, Caleb, and Katie Clark. Amber and Tony’s story was told in How to Misbehave , Katie and Sean’s story will be told in the upcoming Flirting with Disaster (out in June), and Along Came Trouble tells the story of Caleb and Ellen.
I have been trying to come up with something that I didn’t love about Caleb Clark’s character, and honestly, I can’t think of anything. He is an ex-military hero that has returned home from Iraq to help his family following his father’s stroke. Caleb is juggling several different responsibilities: starting his own security business, helping his parents maintain the apartment building they own, and trying to be supportive to his younger sister who is nursing a broken heart. This man carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, and his character is the best part of this book!
As the story opens, Caleb’s security company has been hired by Jamie Callahan, (a famous heartthrob singer), to provide security for his twin sister Ellen, nephew Henry, and ex-girlfriend Carly (who lives next door to Ellen). Jaime and Carly have recently broken up and the paparazzi are swarming trying to capture pictures of Carly, Ellen, and little Henry. Caleb sees this as a wonderful opportunity for his newly established security business, and is committed to the job.
Ellen’s character was more challenging to love. Recently divorced from an alcoholic, cheating husband, her greatest value is now independence. After being burned by her ex, she doesn’t want to depend on anyone but herself. Caleb’s mission is to do his job and keep her safe, and yet she resists him every step of the way. This was somewhat frustrating to deal with. Thankfully, this author redeems Ellen’s character just in the knick of time, and all is made right by the turn of the last page.
This is a superb book that has a little bit of everything. Heartache, drama, and family dynamics all mixed with a unique blend of humor that perfectly balances the heaviness of the subject matter.
The chemistry between Caleb and Ellen is completely combustible, and this author pens some of the best love scenes currently being written.
Caleb patiently and sweetly woos this hurt and hardened woman. My favorite scene in the book involves Caleb and Ellen negotiating over the terms of their relationship. The dialogue and humor in this book is absolutely brilliant.
For those of you that appreciate a great secondary romance, this book has that as well. Jamie is committed to making up for past mistakes and winning Carly back. His groveling is so well written that I couldn’t hold back the laughter as I watched this celebrity put all his pride aside to “get the girl”.
This was an excellent, emotionally satisfying read that pushed all my “right buttons”. Put this on your “must read” list. I don’t believe you will regret it!
Thanks to Random House via Netgalley for providing this ARC ebook for review!
5 BIG stars!!!
Along Came Trouble is the second book in the Camelot trilogy that features three siblings: Amber, Caleb, and Katie Clark. Amber and Tony’s story was told in How to Misbehave , Katie and Sean’s story will be told in the upcoming Flirting with Disaster (out in June), and Along Came Trouble tells the story of Caleb and Ellen.
I have been trying to come up with something that I didn’t love about Caleb Clark’s character, and honestly, I can’t think of anything. He is an ex-military hero that has returned home from Iraq to help his family following his father’s stroke. Caleb is juggling several different responsibilities: starting his own security business, helping his parents maintain the apartment building they own, and trying to be supportive to his younger sister who is nursing a broken heart. This man carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, and his character is the best part of this book!
As the story opens, Caleb’s security company has been hired by Jamie Callahan, (a famous heartthrob singer), to provide security for his twin sister Ellen, nephew Henry, and ex-girlfriend Carly (who lives next door to Ellen). Jaime and Carly have recently broken up and the paparazzi are swarming trying to capture pictures of Carly, Ellen, and little Henry. Caleb sees this as a wonderful opportunity for his newly established security business, and is committed to the job.
Ellen’s character was more challenging to love. Recently divorced from an alcoholic, cheating husband, her greatest value is now independence. After being burned by her ex, she doesn’t want to depend on anyone but herself. Caleb’s mission is to do his job and keep her safe, and yet she resists him every step of the way. This was somewhat frustrating to deal with. Thankfully, this author redeems Ellen’s character just in the knick of time, and all is made right by the turn of the last page.
This is a superb book that has a little bit of everything. Heartache, drama, and family dynamics all mixed with a unique blend of humor that perfectly balances the heaviness of the subject matter.
The chemistry between Caleb and Ellen is completely combustible, and this author pens some of the best love scenes currently being written.
Caleb patiently and sweetly woos this hurt and hardened woman. My favorite scene in the book involves Caleb and Ellen negotiating over the terms of their relationship. The dialogue and humor in this book is absolutely brilliant.
For those of you that appreciate a great secondary romance, this book has that as well. Jamie is committed to making up for past mistakes and winning Carly back. His groveling is so well written that I couldn’t hold back the laughter as I watched this celebrity put all his pride aside to “get the girl”.
This was an excellent, emotionally satisfying read that pushed all my “right buttons”. Put this on your “must read” list. I don’t believe you will regret it!
Thanks to Random House via Netgalley for providing this ARC ebook for review!
March 10, 2013
Ruthie Knox is soon becoming a favourite and this book is all Caleb, the returning soldier, responsible son, brother and now a security expert. His new assignment gives him the biggest trouble, Ellen, a single mother of a two year old boy and sister of super-star Jamie, who is in the news because of his romance with the pregnant neighbour Carly. Caleb is supposed to well, secure Ellen's house but she is having none of it
The heroine Ellen is a tougher nut and hard to like. Her inability to give in got on my nerves despite the fact that she had her reasons, a marriage to a drunk philander plus growing up with a mother who only looked at her brother but despite all of that she could be a pest. She was obsessive about her control and doing things her own way, even when those decision were wrong. She uses the hero for sex atleast she tells herself it is just that while he wants more, he want to romance her, take her to dinner, know her son. I loved Caleb's negotiating, his way to get a compromise.
As I said before this book is all about the hero. Can't wait for the next book.
ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
The heroine Ellen is a tougher nut and hard to like. Her inability to give in got on my nerves despite the fact that she had her reasons, a marriage to a drunk philander plus growing up with a mother who only looked at her brother but despite all of that she could be a pest. She was obsessive about her control and doing things her own way, even when those decision were wrong. She uses the hero for sex atleast she tells herself it is just that while he wants more, he want to romance her, take her to dinner, know her son. I loved Caleb's negotiating, his way to get a compromise.
As I said before this book is all about the hero. Can't wait for the next book.
ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
December 31, 2012
Enjoyed this in a completely different way to How To Misbehave. HTM prompted a visceral reaction, this was more of a "sitting back in awe of the skill" reaction. I cannot write this sort of layering for the life in me - the different elements all coming together to make one unified whole - and it totally slayed me reading this. Also absolutely loved Ellen and Henry. I know some people will find Ellen too this or too that but I'm not that kind of person. I won't hold a romance heroine to a different standard than a romance hero, and all of Ellen's worries and struggles rang completely true to me. Am tired of stories where women fall all over themselves to immediatly give in to some guy without any reservations. It's good to see a bit of a caution for a change!
Fantastic book. Is Ruthie actually capable of writing a bad one?
Fantastic book. Is Ruthie actually capable of writing a bad one?
March 10, 2013
4 Stars!! Along comes Ruthie Knox with another great book! More fun times in Camelot with the scrumptious Caleb...YUM!!
Review to follow...
ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing via NetGalley**
Review to follow...
ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing via NetGalley**
September 5, 2013
Ellen Callahan is a lawyer and single mother who could do without all the current drama surrounding her twin, megastar brother Jamie, and his girlfriend who lives next door. What she resented even more was the bodyguard Jamie dispatched when the paparazzi started getting out of hand. Caleb Clark, fresh out of the Army and Iraq, thought this would be an easy assignment but he hadn't yet come up against a woman as stubbornly independent as Ellen. Nor had he expected it would be so hard to resist mixing pleasure and business.
For a time, Ellen's stubbornness started to wear a little thin but the more I learned about her past relationships, I began to warm up to her character. She had many layers and had learned to be self sufficient as her brother garnered most of the attention even when they were growing up and her ex-husband was a piece of work. She had no appetite for being in another relationship and when Caleb emerges, she's pretty comfortable about considering a no-commitment, sex only arrangement. He, on the other hand, wasn't in the market and had a reputation for being footloose, but not really a player. Caleb's very sexy and clever but she had him at hello.
It was enjoyable to have the tales turned for a change with Ellen not wanting a commitment and Caleb really hoping for much more. The sexual tension between these two was even better, complicating their lives in ways they never saw coming. I liked that we were able to have both of their points of view presented so I could be the voyeur while they figured things out. Be prepared for some very steamy times, though, when they do decide to come together.
The volatile romance between Jamie and his girlfriend, Carly, added another level of excitement and humor as he worked to get out of the doghouse. Ellen's son, Henry, added an interesting element as he played an important role in the story. Of course, his father added to the drama and not always in a good way. I liked how the secondary characters were woven into the story in a way that didn't distract but augmented Ellen and Caleb's relationship.
I enjoyed Ellen and Caleb's story, so much that I rolled right into the next book in the series. It is complex, aggravating at times, funny and had moments that tugged at my heart.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
For a time, Ellen's stubbornness started to wear a little thin but the more I learned about her past relationships, I began to warm up to her character. She had many layers and had learned to be self sufficient as her brother garnered most of the attention even when they were growing up and her ex-husband was a piece of work. She had no appetite for being in another relationship and when Caleb emerges, she's pretty comfortable about considering a no-commitment, sex only arrangement. He, on the other hand, wasn't in the market and had a reputation for being footloose, but not really a player. Caleb's very sexy and clever but she had him at hello.
It was enjoyable to have the tales turned for a change with Ellen not wanting a commitment and Caleb really hoping for much more. The sexual tension between these two was even better, complicating their lives in ways they never saw coming. I liked that we were able to have both of their points of view presented so I could be the voyeur while they figured things out. Be prepared for some very steamy times, though, when they do decide to come together.
The volatile romance between Jamie and his girlfriend, Carly, added another level of excitement and humor as he worked to get out of the doghouse. Ellen's son, Henry, added an interesting element as he played an important role in the story. Of course, his father added to the drama and not always in a good way. I liked how the secondary characters were woven into the story in a way that didn't distract but augmented Ellen and Caleb's relationship.
I enjoyed Ellen and Caleb's story, so much that I rolled right into the next book in the series. It is complex, aggravating at times, funny and had moments that tugged at my heart.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
June 4, 2013
An ARC was received from Random House Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review
We meet Ellen Callahan at a point in her life where she is an established entertainment contract lawyer half the week, and a single mother, to little Henry, the other half. Her marriage to Richard the poet had broken down each time he filled up on alcohol or his eye had strayed towards the multitude of students he taught at the local college.
She'd been let down, disappointed and was determined to be an independent woman. She doesn't need any help, she certainly doesn't need any advice on how to run her home...her domain. But the paparazzi have descended upon her, and are invading her world.
She has a twin called Jamie, and he is a very famous recording artist, so it was his fault she was being hounded. To this end, Jamie decides the best idea is to hire security and ensure the safety of Ellen, Henry, and their next door neighbour, Carly, who happens to have recently dumped Jamie...but that’s another story!
The security arrives in the form of ex-military policeman, Caleb Clark, and on first sights, Ellen was enamoured by his god-like gorgeousness. He was low voiced with a hard body, and had started primitive, irrational feelings in she hadn’t felt for a long time. Ellen has had a lifetime of playing second fiddle to her nearest and dearest; Jamie and his successful career since college, and Richard her philandering, alcoholic professor of poetry ex-husband. It’s about her acceptance that she can receive help without appearing weak, along with her mortal lusting for all things Caleb...or is it love?!
I’m a great fan of Ruthie Knox, having read quite a few of her books, and her style is easy, humorous and endearing. We watch as walls are battered, broken down and then rebuilt. The characters interactions were volatile at most, Ellen being the main instigator, whilst Caleb was cool, calm and smirky grinned. I enjoyed the drama and the deftly steam. Ruthie can certainly put you right amongst it.
I look forward in continuing to read and enjoy Ruthie’s books..
We meet Ellen Callahan at a point in her life where she is an established entertainment contract lawyer half the week, and a single mother, to little Henry, the other half. Her marriage to Richard the poet had broken down each time he filled up on alcohol or his eye had strayed towards the multitude of students he taught at the local college.
She'd been let down, disappointed and was determined to be an independent woman. She doesn't need any help, she certainly doesn't need any advice on how to run her home...her domain. But the paparazzi have descended upon her, and are invading her world.
She has a twin called Jamie, and he is a very famous recording artist, so it was his fault she was being hounded. To this end, Jamie decides the best idea is to hire security and ensure the safety of Ellen, Henry, and their next door neighbour, Carly, who happens to have recently dumped Jamie...but that’s another story!
The security arrives in the form of ex-military policeman, Caleb Clark, and on first sights, Ellen was enamoured by his god-like gorgeousness. He was low voiced with a hard body, and had started primitive, irrational feelings in she hadn’t felt for a long time. Ellen has had a lifetime of playing second fiddle to her nearest and dearest; Jamie and his successful career since college, and Richard her philandering, alcoholic professor of poetry ex-husband. It’s about her acceptance that she can receive help without appearing weak, along with her mortal lusting for all things Caleb...or is it love?!
I’m a great fan of Ruthie Knox, having read quite a few of her books, and her style is easy, humorous and endearing. We watch as walls are battered, broken down and then rebuilt. The characters interactions were volatile at most, Ellen being the main instigator, whilst Caleb was cool, calm and smirky grinned. I enjoyed the drama and the deftly steam. Ruthie can certainly put you right amongst it.
I look forward in continuing to read and enjoy Ruthie’s books..
January 18, 2019
3.47, I usually (always?) enjoy Ruthie Knox.
The characters in this one (Caleb & Ellen) fall into a relationship quickly and I can buy or suspend that--it's typical Knox. I really appreciated how this was the story of two mature adults learning the give-and-take when neither both have dominant, independent personalities. Caleb's leadership and military background were clearly part of his character, and his competence as a security guard were very clear. In addition to showcasing both characters at their jobs, the relationships with family and friends also shine here.
I never seem to be able to say, yep, a treasure because though Knox is a solid, wonderful, straightforward author, most of her work isn't as lovely as those I like to reread. Thus, a 3.47, rounded down. I'll never hesitate to read her books, but I never will probably revisit the majority of them either (One exception is Deeper)
The characters in this one (Caleb & Ellen) fall into a relationship quickly and I can buy or suspend that--it's typical Knox. I really appreciated how this was the story of two mature adults learning the give-and-take when neither both have dominant, independent personalities. Caleb's leadership and military background were clearly part of his character, and his competence as a security guard were very clear. In addition to showcasing both characters at their jobs, the relationships with family and friends also shine here.
I never seem to be able to say, yep, a treasure because though Knox is a solid, wonderful, straightforward author, most of her work isn't as lovely as those I like to reread. Thus, a 3.47, rounded down. I'll never hesitate to read her books, but I never will probably revisit the majority of them either (One exception is Deeper)
February 21, 2013
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review
Ellen Callahan is furious. There is a paparazzi photographer on her yard, trying to spy on her pop star brother's pregnant ex-lover, Carly. Not only that, but he's stepping on her plants. No matter how much she yells and threatens him, he will not leave. Then, tall, dark, and handsome Caleb Clark shows up. Ellen's knight in shining armor immediately saves her by getting rid of the photographer casually with his stern 'I will kick your ass and enjoy it' voice.
After this interesting meet and greet, Ellen finds out Caleb is the security guard her brother has hired to keep Ellen and Carly safe from the annoying paparazzi. With that said, Caleb begins to explain to her the kind of changes she needs to make in order to secure her home. Caleb is a little bit too domineering for Ellen. And this makes Ellen feel like she's lost control over her life and home. She refuses his help and fires him on the spot.
"What we're going to do now, honey, is negotiate."
But Caleb does not give in that easily. After doing some intense negotiating with Ellen, he convinces her to let him make some changes to her home for better security. However, neither one expected, nor wanted, to fall head over heels in lust with one another. But they do. This leads to a different kind of negotiating - sex but with no strings attached. And a verbal contract is formed.
Ellen - independent, divorcee, single mother, has been burned by her ex-husband. He is not only an alcoholic but a liar and a cheat. He manipulated her, controlled her, used her, and degraded her. So, when she became pregnant with her son, she decided enough was enough. She was not going to raise her son in a toxic home. Ellen then leaves her husband to start over. But Ellen has been damaged mentally. Trust and accepting help from others doesn't come easily. When she left her husband, she wanted nothing more than to get her self-worth and independence back. For the first time in a very long time, her life was hers again.
Caleb is home from Iraq after serving in the military for over a decade. He is an all-around really great guy. He owns a security company, helps his parents out with their apartment complex, is a good friend and brother, and is determined to protect Ellen Callahan from the nosy press. Ellen throws him for a loop. He's never planned for the future but something about this woman makes him think about having a family. Companionship. And, for once in his life, he is determined to claim this sassy, beautiful woman who keeps him on his toes.
"I want to take you out on dates. I want to get to know you better. I want to get to know your son better. I want to make love to you repeatedly, in every position I can think of. And I want to spend the night."
I absolutely adore Caleb. He's oozes charm and sex. Swoon. He's also kind, funny, confident, excellent with his hands (yum), and determined. His determination paid off when he managed to burrow his way into Ellen's heart. It was touch and go at first. She pushed and he pushed right back. I have to give it to Caleb--he put up with a lot of Ellen's crap. The man has the patience of a saint! It definitely took a strong man to handle Ellen's prickly side. But no matter how prickly she came across, as a reader, I could tell it was all a show to cover her insecurities from being in a marriage where she lost all control of her life. She used her independence as a vice to keep people out.
"Oh, man, Caleb could kiss. He could really, really kiss. He could kiss like kissing was the only thing on his agenda, and honestly, if you could kiss like this, why put anything else in the day planner? She'd be happy to lie here kissing Caleb for the next twelve to twenty-four hours."
Ellen and Caleb were fun and sexy together. They have great chemistry, not only in the bedroom but outside. They are both independent, straight-forward, and very stubborn. Which means the flirtatious banter and verbal sparring was extremely funny and very entertaining.
"Take it all off, soldier." Her smile turned sassy. "Make it snappy."
"Yes, ma'am," he answered, and kissed her again.
This story is mostly about Caleb and Ellen, but there is a great subplot woven into the main story. This story is about Ellen's brother, Jamie, and his ex-lover, Carly. They are on the outs after Jamie makes a really idiotic mistake. I really enjoyed this side story. I smiled and laughed and swooned over Jamie. I’m greedy, though. I kind of wish they got their own story separately. And it has nothing to do with Jamie being based off of Justin Timberlake. Nope. Not at all. *wink*
Along Came Trouble is the second book in the Camelot series. You don't have to read the novella, How to Misbehave, first. But, trust me, it's worth reading. I loved it. Miz Knox has a magical way with mixing dirty and wicked sex scenes, charming and quirky characters, and playful banter perfectly. Don't miss out. I'm totally looking forward to the next book in the series, Flirting with Disaster.
Rating:B+
Heat: Hot
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March 12, 2013
ALONG CAME TROUBLE is book two in the Camelot series. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, HOW TO MISBEHAVE, fear not! The two books seem so different that I don’t necessarily think you need to read one in order to understand the other. Both are good as any other standalones.
Ellen Callahan is a driven woman who is a single mother and lawyer. She is tough as nails and Caleb Clark seems to enjoy poking fun at the attractive woman every chance he gets. When Ellen’s brother, the international pop star hires a body guard to keep her and her kid safe from the paparazzi, Caleb turns out to be that special man. Lucky girl!
Ellen and Caleb start off on the wrong foot. Ellen is peeved and wants Caleb out and away from her but the persistent Caleb enjoys making fun at the uptight woman and soon he is able to break down her barriers. For the first half of this book, I found it hard to get through. I wonder if it was some sort of funk I was in or if the pacing was just slower. Knox spends a lot of time on dialogue in this book and while it can be entertaining, I think at times it can go on for too long. The conversations that Ellen and Caleb have are the way they get to know each other. Caleb begins to chip away at Ellen until she breaks into a smile, so it’s rewarding to see an author who spends so much time on dialogue and the romance. But I also wanted something more to keep the pace going. Sometimes it lagged and affected my enjoyment of the book.
It picked up though and I was glad to see the layering that Knox is so well known for. I just adore the way she is able to add so many dimensions to her characters. It really adds so much to the romance, making it stronger and memorable.
I’ll be looking forward to reading the third book, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER. From the blurb, it seems that this one might just be another keeper from Knox.
*ARC provided by publisher
December 8, 2012
Where do I begin?
You know how you read a book and you feel like you're THERE? Not even one of the characters, but a bystander looking in on what goes on. And it makes you feel involved. Emotional. That's how it was for me with this story.
Seemingly, a textbook contemporary romance. But it was so much more. Ellen Callahan is faced with Caleb Clark *thud* when a paparazzi stomps her yard trying to get a shot of her neighbor. Her neighbor who's pregnant and was Ellen's twin brother's girlfriend. A brother who's a pop star. Yup.
And then all hell breaks loose. But not in a bad way. Well, maybe a little bit bad. In paparazzoland as expected, there are no rules and they'll do everything to get their shot. Caleb is hired by Jamie (the twin brother) to protect his ex-girlfriend, his sister and his nephew.
"Sergeant First Class Caleb Clark. Yum."
The story is exceptionally well developed, as are the characters and the subplots accompanying the main one. I cried, I laughed so much it's ridiculous, I swooned - more than once, I wanted and I still want a Caleb of my own.
I loved being in Ellen's head when she was overtaken by her inner musings:
"Day in and day out, she walked around with all the sexual power of a Twinkie," - funny gal, that Ellen.
And I absolutely loved how Ruthie Knox describes Caleb's talents:
"Oh, man, Caleb could kiss. He could really, really kiss. He could kiss like kissing was the only thing on his agenda, and honestly, if you could kiss like this, why put anything else in the day planner? She'd be happy to lie here kissing Caleb for the next twelve to twenty-four hours."
But my favorite and the one that squeezed the most tears out of me was:
"I want to take care of you. I want you to take care of me." - so many swoons and brimming tears.
This is one you must read if you enjoy contemporary romances. It has everything in it. No regrets.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
You know how you read a book and you feel like you're THERE? Not even one of the characters, but a bystander looking in on what goes on. And it makes you feel involved. Emotional. That's how it was for me with this story.
Seemingly, a textbook contemporary romance. But it was so much more. Ellen Callahan is faced with Caleb Clark *thud* when a paparazzi stomps her yard trying to get a shot of her neighbor. Her neighbor who's pregnant and was Ellen's twin brother's girlfriend. A brother who's a pop star. Yup.
And then all hell breaks loose. But not in a bad way. Well, maybe a little bit bad. In paparazzoland as expected, there are no rules and they'll do everything to get their shot. Caleb is hired by Jamie (the twin brother) to protect his ex-girlfriend, his sister and his nephew.
"Sergeant First Class Caleb Clark. Yum."
The story is exceptionally well developed, as are the characters and the subplots accompanying the main one. I cried, I laughed so much it's ridiculous, I swooned - more than once, I wanted and I still want a Caleb of my own.
I loved being in Ellen's head when she was overtaken by her inner musings:
"Day in and day out, she walked around with all the sexual power of a Twinkie," - funny gal, that Ellen.
And I absolutely loved how Ruthie Knox describes Caleb's talents:
"Oh, man, Caleb could kiss. He could really, really kiss. He could kiss like kissing was the only thing on his agenda, and honestly, if you could kiss like this, why put anything else in the day planner? She'd be happy to lie here kissing Caleb for the next twelve to twenty-four hours."
But my favorite and the one that squeezed the most tears out of me was:
"I want to take care of you. I want you to take care of me." - so many swoons and brimming tears.
This is one you must read if you enjoy contemporary romances. It has everything in it. No regrets.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 24, 2013
This book was so, so good, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even like contemporary romance in general.
With relatable characters (despite their sometimes celebrity status), plenty of realistic ups and downs, and a decent secondary romance that didn't take away from the main love story, (not to mention the yummy chemistry) I couldn't put it down.
4.5-5, full review and final rating to follow.
With relatable characters (despite their sometimes celebrity status), plenty of realistic ups and downs, and a decent secondary romance that didn't take away from the main love story, (not to mention the yummy chemistry) I couldn't put it down.
4.5-5, full review and final rating to follow.
June 28, 2013
Another brilliant read.
I want my own Caleb, and a Henry, he was just too cute for the pages!!!
The Camelot Series is funny, exciting, engrossing and thoroughly unputdownable.
I am just miffed I haven't discovered the awesomeness that is Ruthis Knox earlier.
Onto Flirting With Disaster for me.
I want my own Caleb, and a Henry, he was just too cute for the pages!!!
The Camelot Series is funny, exciting, engrossing and thoroughly unputdownable.
I am just miffed I haven't discovered the awesomeness that is Ruthis Knox earlier.
Onto Flirting With Disaster for me.
September 16, 2017
Ellen Callahan is a single mother who has worked hard for everything she has. When her brother becomes a pop star it brings the paparazzi to her door. Used to taking care of matters on her own, Ellen plans to do just that until Caleb Clark shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her bodyguard.
Caleb is trying his best to be stay professional with Ellen but it is getting hard to deny the attraction he feels for her. Caleb has a lot on his plate when he decides he is going to have Ellen, but can Ellen let Caleb in or will she push him away?
I loved Caleb, he is charismatic and drew you in right away. Ellen was a bit hard at first but she grows on you as you begin to understand her back story. Great book, looking forward to the next book in the series.
Caleb is trying his best to be stay professional with Ellen but it is getting hard to deny the attraction he feels for her. Caleb has a lot on his plate when he decides he is going to have Ellen, but can Ellen let Caleb in or will she push him away?
I loved Caleb, he is charismatic and drew you in right away. Ellen was a bit hard at first but she grows on you as you begin to understand her back story. Great book, looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 11, 2013
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: B
Ellen loves her singing superstar brother Jamie so much, but not so much when he and her next door neighbor Carly break up causing a paparazzi frenzy at Carly’s house, which by extension includes Ellen’s home. Jamie, now back in LA, arranges for security to help keep the photographers at bay and provide protection to Ellen and her son as well as Carly, who’s pregnant. Caleb’s security company is hired and he starts butting heads with Ellen immediately.
Ellen is still trying to pick herself up after a nasty marriage to a man who she let herself get lost in. He was a drunk, verbally abusive and Ellen felt like she had no say in her own life. That’s the most important thing to her now, being able to make her own decisions and not have someone come barreling in telling her what to do, or worse, just doing things against her say. Caleb just wants to do his job, but Ellen wants nothing changed with her house. She’s so adamant that even having Caleb change a burned out porch light causes her all kinds of anxiety. Needless to say, Caleb has his work cut out for him when it comes to breaking down the walls Ellen has put up around her heart.
I loved Caleb from the start. He’s back home after being in the military, he’s trying to get his security company up and running and he literally feels like he needs to help everyone and fix everyone’s problems. Whether it’s helping his parents maintain the apartment complex they own, feeling like his let his little sister down when she shares with him some details about her painful past or trying to make Ellen and her son Henry’s home safe, he tries to take it all on and the weight on his shoulders is getting to him. But from the beginning he wants Ellen and he’s pretty hard to resistant when he starts seducing her. This man is so likable, from how hard he works, how much he loves his friends and family to how sexy he is with Ellen, I found myself drawn to him throughout the whole book.
For as much as I loved Caleb, Ellen, at times, made me want to pull my hair out. Her marriage really did a number on her, I get that and it’s made clear what she went through with her ass of an ex-husband when he shows up on page a few times. Price Charming he is not. But I hated how she treated Caleb. He made it clear from the start that it was more than sex for him, but it was never more than that for Ellen. So much so that she never bothered to get to know Caleb, at all. It felt like she was making progress and slowly letting him in and trusting him, only to shut him back down near the end. During a very emotional scene when Caleb put all his feelings out there on the line, Ellen makes it clear she doesn’t want to be the woman he needs. Harsh. I was on the fence about her up until this point, but after this scene between them, it was clear that she doesn’t deserve Caleb. I do feel like she redeems herself in the end, but I still would have liked a bigger gesture from her. Caleb would have deserved that and more.
I liked getting to know the supporting characters, especially Carly. She’s a tough one and her break up with Jamie hit her hard. But Jamie should have given his sister lessons, because he groveled like a pro to get the woman he loves back. Carly also had me laughing early on with the name she calls her unborn baby. Caleb’s little sister Katie gets a bit of page time as well, mainly to get some information on her past and some of the pain she’s dealing with. We get a hint at who her hero will be and that will be a fun relationship to see unfold.
Even with a few moments from Ellen that were frustrating, Along Came Trouble is an overall enjoyable read. I adored Caleb completely. He’s a hero who does it all, he always wants to help even when he’s spreading himself too thin as is it and he’s the man everyone can lean and depend on. I wasn’t as pulled in to this book as much I was with the novella that came out first in this series, How To Misbehave, but it’s still a book I had fun reading.
Blog rating: B
Ellen loves her singing superstar brother Jamie so much, but not so much when he and her next door neighbor Carly break up causing a paparazzi frenzy at Carly’s house, which by extension includes Ellen’s home. Jamie, now back in LA, arranges for security to help keep the photographers at bay and provide protection to Ellen and her son as well as Carly, who’s pregnant. Caleb’s security company is hired and he starts butting heads with Ellen immediately.
Ellen is still trying to pick herself up after a nasty marriage to a man who she let herself get lost in. He was a drunk, verbally abusive and Ellen felt like she had no say in her own life. That’s the most important thing to her now, being able to make her own decisions and not have someone come barreling in telling her what to do, or worse, just doing things against her say. Caleb just wants to do his job, but Ellen wants nothing changed with her house. She’s so adamant that even having Caleb change a burned out porch light causes her all kinds of anxiety. Needless to say, Caleb has his work cut out for him when it comes to breaking down the walls Ellen has put up around her heart.
I loved Caleb from the start. He’s back home after being in the military, he’s trying to get his security company up and running and he literally feels like he needs to help everyone and fix everyone’s problems. Whether it’s helping his parents maintain the apartment complex they own, feeling like his let his little sister down when she shares with him some details about her painful past or trying to make Ellen and her son Henry’s home safe, he tries to take it all on and the weight on his shoulders is getting to him. But from the beginning he wants Ellen and he’s pretty hard to resistant when he starts seducing her. This man is so likable, from how hard he works, how much he loves his friends and family to how sexy he is with Ellen, I found myself drawn to him throughout the whole book.
For as much as I loved Caleb, Ellen, at times, made me want to pull my hair out. Her marriage really did a number on her, I get that and it’s made clear what she went through with her ass of an ex-husband when he shows up on page a few times. Price Charming he is not. But I hated how she treated Caleb. He made it clear from the start that it was more than sex for him, but it was never more than that for Ellen. So much so that she never bothered to get to know Caleb, at all. It felt like she was making progress and slowly letting him in and trusting him, only to shut him back down near the end. During a very emotional scene when Caleb put all his feelings out there on the line, Ellen makes it clear she doesn’t want to be the woman he needs. Harsh. I was on the fence about her up until this point, but after this scene between them, it was clear that she doesn’t deserve Caleb. I do feel like she redeems herself in the end, but I still would have liked a bigger gesture from her. Caleb would have deserved that and more.
I liked getting to know the supporting characters, especially Carly. She’s a tough one and her break up with Jamie hit her hard. But Jamie should have given his sister lessons, because he groveled like a pro to get the woman he loves back. Carly also had me laughing early on with the name she calls her unborn baby. Caleb’s little sister Katie gets a bit of page time as well, mainly to get some information on her past and some of the pain she’s dealing with. We get a hint at who her hero will be and that will be a fun relationship to see unfold.
Even with a few moments from Ellen that were frustrating, Along Came Trouble is an overall enjoyable read. I adored Caleb completely. He’s a hero who does it all, he always wants to help even when he’s spreading himself too thin as is it and he’s the man everyone can lean and depend on. I wasn’t as pulled in to this book as much I was with the novella that came out first in this series, How To Misbehave, but it’s still a book I had fun reading.
July 12, 2013
The first full-length novel in the Camelot series is about Amber's (from How to Misbehave) brother, Caleb. He's recently gotten out of the military and returned home for good. He's spent the time since starting up his security business in and around his home town of Camelot, Ohio. Suddenly a job that will put him on the map comes along - musician Jamie Callahan wants security for his sister and the women he loved - and left. Reporters are hounding them, and it's now Caleb's job to keep them safe until the interest dies down.
What he didn't count on is Jamie's sister being so damn stubborn, or resistant to some help, and a few changes. He also didn't expect the blindingly hot attraction between them.
Ellen's past has made her incredibly resistant to relying on anyone but herself. She doesn't let anyone past her boundaries, and isn't willing to get involved in a relationship with Caleb, no matter how attracted she is. Then she comes up with the perfect solution - a no-strings attached fling. She definitely doesn't expect Caleb to keep negotiating with her every step along the way.
I love Caleb. He's a fantastic hero. Strong, sexy, smart, determined, caring, kind, generous, protective, and willing to do anything for someone else - including hurt himself. He's family orientated, stubborn about helping those he loves, and really just wants Ellen to give them a chance. He knows what he's up against and is willing to do just about anything to get her to acknowledge they might be good together. I just could not get enough of him.
I also loved the side romance between Ellen's brother and her neighbor - Carly. While a bit cheesy, it was sweet and funny. I was really hoping I could get more of their relationship, and time together. How they met originally, how they're continuing in their relationship. The scenes that I did get just made me want even more.
My problem with this book was Ellen. I completely understood her reluctance, her issues, but it just went on too long for me. She went past what was reasonable and became absolutely unreasonable, and it made me want to shake some sense into her. Especially since Caleb was being so incredibly understanding and nice about it all. There's a moment at the end where Jamie says something that was eminently satisfying for me. I was glad that she, and by extension everyone else, realized just how far past normal levels she was pushing all this. And she nearly came to it on her own, which was a huge relief. Unfortunately, even with that moment her issues had continued on just a bit too long for me, and it detracted from my enjoyment a bit.
Even still, I enjoyed this story, and I'll probably still re-read it just to read more about Caleb, Jamie and Carly. And I finished really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Previous thoughts: I'm going to go 3.5 stars on this one. LOVED the hero, LOVED the secondary storyline...and the heroine pissed me off. I understood, but still. (ETA: I feel like I have to expound on that last statement quite a bit, and I will - later.) That moment when she 'got hit in the face with a frisbee' was eminently satisfying.
Review to come
4/23/2013: $0.99 on Kindle :)
What he didn't count on is Jamie's sister being so damn stubborn, or resistant to some help, and a few changes. He also didn't expect the blindingly hot attraction between them.
Ellen's past has made her incredibly resistant to relying on anyone but herself. She doesn't let anyone past her boundaries, and isn't willing to get involved in a relationship with Caleb, no matter how attracted she is. Then she comes up with the perfect solution - a no-strings attached fling. She definitely doesn't expect Caleb to keep negotiating with her every step along the way.
I love Caleb. He's a fantastic hero. Strong, sexy, smart, determined, caring, kind, generous, protective, and willing to do anything for someone else - including hurt himself. He's family orientated, stubborn about helping those he loves, and really just wants Ellen to give them a chance. He knows what he's up against and is willing to do just about anything to get her to acknowledge they might be good together. I just could not get enough of him.
I also loved the side romance between Ellen's brother and her neighbor - Carly. While a bit cheesy, it was sweet and funny. I was really hoping I could get more of their relationship, and time together. How they met originally, how they're continuing in their relationship. The scenes that I did get just made me want even more.
My problem with this book was Ellen. I completely understood her reluctance, her issues, but it just went on too long for me. She went past what was reasonable and became absolutely unreasonable, and it made me want to shake some sense into her. Especially since Caleb was being so incredibly understanding and nice about it all. There's a moment at the end where Jamie says something that was eminently satisfying for me. I was glad that she, and by extension everyone else, realized just how far past normal levels she was pushing all this. And she nearly came to it on her own, which was a huge relief. Unfortunately, even with that moment her issues had continued on just a bit too long for me, and it detracted from my enjoyment a bit.
Even still, I enjoyed this story, and I'll probably still re-read it just to read more about Caleb, Jamie and Carly. And I finished really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Previous thoughts: I'm going to go 3.5 stars on this one. LOVED the hero, LOVED the secondary storyline...and the heroine pissed me off. I understood, but still. (ETA: I feel like I have to expound on that last statement quite a bit, and I will - later.) That moment when she 'got hit in the face with a frisbee' was eminently satisfying.
Review to come
4/23/2013: $0.99 on Kindle :)
December 28, 2012
After reading (and loving) How to Misbehave, I was ready to be swept off my feet with the first longer novel from Ruthie Knox.
And. Well. I wasn't.
And I'm trying to put my finger on why that was, exactly. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the book; I did. Three stars to me means I liked it. But, well, 3 stars for a book by Ruthie is rather low.
Let's start with what I did like... The plot was interesting and engaging. I always enjoy small town stories, and the setting of Camelot, Ohio was no different for me.
And, of course, Caleb. If there's one thing Ruthie does well it's writing a strong, unfy, swoony male lead. He was hard in all the right places (*ahem*), but still soft as well. She balanced him beautifully. Almost too beautifully, and I think that maybe why the spotlight shone so brightly on Ellen (and, unfortunately, not in a good way).
Ellen. Hmm. Well, I didn't like her. I thought I was going to at first. She was all big brass balls and sharp wit and strength. And then that started to get old. At about 50% in, I started to wonder when she'd give a little. At 75%, I was ready to lead Caleb by the hand to the nearest bar and find him someone else. She grew as a character too little, too late, in my opinion, and even though by the end she'd balanced out nicely, it was not enough in my eyes.
The rest of the characters, though, I enjoyed. Ruthie's secondary characters have a way of coming to life right off the pages. Nana. Caleb's younger sister, Katie. His dad. Even Henry, though I'll admit to not loving the addition of the child in this book. However, after reading How to Misbehave, I was rather disappointed that we saw virtually nothing of Tony and Amber. Instead, we got this odd side-plot of Carly and Ellen's brother Jamie. I'm not a fan of the multiple romantic-story line plots, and this one was no exception. I want my books focused on two people, that's it.
The only other thing that didn't quite sit right with me was the three day time-span. In all honesty, it didn't feel like only three days while we were reading, but still. Three days and you're singing the happily ever after song? That was a little hard for me to swallow.
Finally, the steam in this was way way low as compared to Ruthie's other books, and even as compared to the novella that started off this whole series.
All in all, not a bad way to spend a few hours, but nowhere near her best work. (instead, see: About Last Night, Ride with Me, or the first in this series How to Misbehave.
And. Well. I wasn't.
And I'm trying to put my finger on why that was, exactly. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the book; I did. Three stars to me means I liked it. But, well, 3 stars for a book by Ruthie is rather low.
Let's start with what I did like... The plot was interesting and engaging. I always enjoy small town stories, and the setting of Camelot, Ohio was no different for me.
And, of course, Caleb. If there's one thing Ruthie does well it's writing a strong, unfy, swoony male lead. He was hard in all the right places (*ahem*), but still soft as well. She balanced him beautifully. Almost too beautifully, and I think that maybe why the spotlight shone so brightly on Ellen (and, unfortunately, not in a good way).
Ellen. Hmm. Well, I didn't like her. I thought I was going to at first. She was all big brass balls and sharp wit and strength. And then that started to get old. At about 50% in, I started to wonder when she'd give a little. At 75%, I was ready to lead Caleb by the hand to the nearest bar and find him someone else. She grew as a character too little, too late, in my opinion, and even though by the end she'd balanced out nicely, it was not enough in my eyes.
The rest of the characters, though, I enjoyed. Ruthie's secondary characters have a way of coming to life right off the pages. Nana. Caleb's younger sister, Katie. His dad. Even Henry, though I'll admit to not loving the addition of the child in this book. However, after reading How to Misbehave, I was rather disappointed that we saw virtually nothing of Tony and Amber. Instead, we got this odd side-plot of Carly and Ellen's brother Jamie. I'm not a fan of the multiple romantic-story line plots, and this one was no exception. I want my books focused on two people, that's it.
The only other thing that didn't quite sit right with me was the three day time-span. In all honesty, it didn't feel like only three days while we were reading, but still. Three days and you're singing the happily ever after song? That was a little hard for me to swallow.
Finally, the steam in this was way way low as compared to Ruthie's other books, and even as compared to the novella that started off this whole series.
All in all, not a bad way to spend a few hours, but nowhere near her best work. (instead, see: About Last Night, Ride with Me, or the first in this series How to Misbehave.
February 3, 2013
Along Came Trouble is Book Two in the Camelot series. This book is not a single story, but rather several stories woven into one narrative. The primary story is between Caleb and Ellen. Caleb is immensely likable. He's the kind of guy who you would trust with your life, woo in your bed, and have a beer with. However, I found it really difficult to connect with Ellen's character - she is rather mean to Caleb and it takes some time to discover why that is so. Once it is revealed, it makes sense, but I'm not sure Ellen's character ever truly rebounded in my eyes.
The story that drew my attention the most was the one between Jamie and Carly. Jamie is an internationally renowned rock star who falls in love with the girl next door, literally. Needless to say, havoc ensues and Jamie finds himself in the position of winning Carly back. It is fun and it is flirty.
Ruthie Knox has a writing style that is engaging and characters that are always interesting (even if sometimes you want to rage at them) and oh, my, can this writer pen a bedroom scene - some of which does not happen in the bedroom.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Camelot is a time or place of idyllic happiness. Spread the joy and experience a little happiness with this newest addition in the the Ruthie Knox library.
Thank you to Ruthie Knox for the ARC via Netgalley.
March 11, 2013 expected release date
The story that drew my attention the most was the one between Jamie and Carly. Jamie is an internationally renowned rock star who falls in love with the girl next door, literally. Needless to say, havoc ensues and Jamie finds himself in the position of winning Carly back. It is fun and it is flirty.
Ruthie Knox has a writing style that is engaging and characters that are always interesting (even if sometimes you want to rage at them) and oh, my, can this writer pen a bedroom scene - some of which does not happen in the bedroom.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Camelot is a time or place of idyllic happiness. Spread the joy and experience a little happiness with this newest addition in the the Ruthie Knox library.
Thank you to Ruthie Knox for the ARC via Netgalley.
March 11, 2013 expected release date
March 21, 2013
I was so disappointed with this book! I love LOVE Ruthie Knox, but this book just did not work for me AT ALL! First, the book was WAY too long. There was a lot of repetition and filler, and it was too easy to set down even though Caleb, the hero, was a hottie as per usual in Ruthie Knox's books -she can write swoony boys. Ellen, the heroine, however, was infuriating. There is a fine line between feisty/strong-willed woman and bitch, and Ellen, the mother, and Carley crossed that line IMO. The women in this book seriously needed bitch pills. Ellen didn't deserve Caleb, and even when she came around in the end, I didn't like her much at all, so the final "ah-ha moment" was sort of empty and unfulfilling.
The biggest problem was the plot. I could never buy into the big security thing and the excessive protection detail from supposed paparazzi. I can't see them being such a huge threat when Jaime wasn't even there, and the whole book revolved around that premise. So yeah... this was definitely no "About Last Night"
The best part of this book was definitely Caleb, and that's why I got so mad when he was mistreated!
The biggest problem was the plot. I could never buy into the big security thing and the excessive protection detail from supposed paparazzi. I can't see them being such a huge threat when Jaime wasn't even there, and the whole book revolved around that premise. So yeah... this was definitely no "About Last Night"
The best part of this book was definitely Caleb, and that's why I got so mad when he was mistreated!
August 14, 2017
The covers in this series do absolutely nothing to show what a fun, charming set of stories this is. If I hadn't taken somebody's word for it, I never would have given these a shot. I loved this book. It was quick, funny, charming and sexy: exactly what I was looking for. It was nothing too deep but I enjoyed the heck out of it, especially Caleb.
March 11, 2013
I’m a big Ruthie Knox fan, and was anticipating this book as it’s her first full length. Her writing style again impressed me as she writes very smart, witty, sexy characters. I do have complaint about this one though, which I’ll get to in a minute.
Ellen lives in her peaceful hometown of Camelot, Ohio, except the peaceful part has gone out the window. Her brother Jamie is a very famous pop star who recently visited and had a passionate affair with Ellen’s pregnant next door neighbor Carly. But Jamie and Carly had a fight, and Jamie has fled back to California, leaving Ellen and Carly to deal with the massive amount of paparazzi who still want a picture of Carly. Jamie hires a local security firm to keep Carly and Ellen safe, and this is where our hero comes into the picture.
Caleb Clark is done with the military, and has started his own security firm who gets contracted with the firm Jamie hired for security. Caleb takes one look at Ellen’s house, with no alarm system, flood lights or dead bolts and has big changes to make. Except – he doesn’t factor in Ellen, who is totally against anything being changed in her house. Ellen has a two year old son and an ex-husband who not only cheated on her, but completely ran her life when she was married. She is slowly regaining control of her life, and doesn’t want anyone telling her what to do, no matter how sexy he is. But Caleb refuses to see Ellen or her son come to harm, so a battle of wills emerges.
First, I absolutely adored Caleb. He is super sexy, mature, funny. Ruthie Knox writes him in a way that is so masculine, yet not totally alpha. I can’t explain it but he has this charm that won me over and made me swoon. His parents are struggling finically, he has several siblings who all have issues, and he feels like he has to keep everyone together. This security job is a big deal for him and he wants to make a good impression. But he never expected Ellen to put up such a fight and this is where my complaint comes in. Ellen comes across so selfish at times in this book. Her constant fighting with Caleb over a new deadbolt or a new light bulb gets really old. And Caleb is a saint. At some points I didn’t know why he was so attracted to her because even in bed, she can turn cold and fight with him. Ellen was all about her needs, constantly. Yes, she didn’t want to end up with someone watching her every move like her ex-husband, but it’s not like Caleb created this situation. Her brother, whom she loves and adores got into this mess, and she needed to be more respectful to Caleb. Never thinking about Caleb’s job or his feelings got on my nerves. I will say she apologizes for this at the end. Her attempt at redemption is noted, and for that reason, I can look back on this book with a smile…but she is definitely not a favorite heroine of mine.
We also get a side story with Jamie and Carly which I absolutely adored. Both of them are just so cute and the author gives us just enough page time with them to be invested in their story but they don’t’ overshadow Ellen and Jamie. I thought the conflict with Ellen’s ex-husband turned out okay, although the paparazzi involvement seemed a little dramatic. And even though I complained about Ellen, she did have great chemistry with Caleb.
When she dared to look up, he was grinning at her. “I’m standing right here, trying to figure out why I haven’t kissed you yet.”
“You’re not standing, you’re slouching. And you haven’t kissed me because we just met yesterday, so kissing would be way out of line. Plus, you have a couple employees who are probably watching us right now, so you can’t even afford to look like you want to kiss me, much less actually go through with it.”
“It’s going to be fantastic, though, when we finally do it. Fireworks are going to go off. Pyrotechnic kissing. Your hair will probably catch on fire.”
She laughed, and some internal switch flipped from Maybe to Definitely.
I’m super excited for the next book…you’ll discover the hero and heroine in this one. I disliked the heroine, but not enough to dislike the book.
Rating: B-
Ellen lives in her peaceful hometown of Camelot, Ohio, except the peaceful part has gone out the window. Her brother Jamie is a very famous pop star who recently visited and had a passionate affair with Ellen’s pregnant next door neighbor Carly. But Jamie and Carly had a fight, and Jamie has fled back to California, leaving Ellen and Carly to deal with the massive amount of paparazzi who still want a picture of Carly. Jamie hires a local security firm to keep Carly and Ellen safe, and this is where our hero comes into the picture.
Caleb Clark is done with the military, and has started his own security firm who gets contracted with the firm Jamie hired for security. Caleb takes one look at Ellen’s house, with no alarm system, flood lights or dead bolts and has big changes to make. Except – he doesn’t factor in Ellen, who is totally against anything being changed in her house. Ellen has a two year old son and an ex-husband who not only cheated on her, but completely ran her life when she was married. She is slowly regaining control of her life, and doesn’t want anyone telling her what to do, no matter how sexy he is. But Caleb refuses to see Ellen or her son come to harm, so a battle of wills emerges.
First, I absolutely adored Caleb. He is super sexy, mature, funny. Ruthie Knox writes him in a way that is so masculine, yet not totally alpha. I can’t explain it but he has this charm that won me over and made me swoon. His parents are struggling finically, he has several siblings who all have issues, and he feels like he has to keep everyone together. This security job is a big deal for him and he wants to make a good impression. But he never expected Ellen to put up such a fight and this is where my complaint comes in. Ellen comes across so selfish at times in this book. Her constant fighting with Caleb over a new deadbolt or a new light bulb gets really old. And Caleb is a saint. At some points I didn’t know why he was so attracted to her because even in bed, she can turn cold and fight with him. Ellen was all about her needs, constantly. Yes, she didn’t want to end up with someone watching her every move like her ex-husband, but it’s not like Caleb created this situation. Her brother, whom she loves and adores got into this mess, and she needed to be more respectful to Caleb. Never thinking about Caleb’s job or his feelings got on my nerves. I will say she apologizes for this at the end. Her attempt at redemption is noted, and for that reason, I can look back on this book with a smile…but she is definitely not a favorite heroine of mine.
We also get a side story with Jamie and Carly which I absolutely adored. Both of them are just so cute and the author gives us just enough page time with them to be invested in their story but they don’t’ overshadow Ellen and Jamie. I thought the conflict with Ellen’s ex-husband turned out okay, although the paparazzi involvement seemed a little dramatic. And even though I complained about Ellen, she did have great chemistry with Caleb.
When she dared to look up, he was grinning at her. “I’m standing right here, trying to figure out why I haven’t kissed you yet.”
“You’re not standing, you’re slouching. And you haven’t kissed me because we just met yesterday, so kissing would be way out of line. Plus, you have a couple employees who are probably watching us right now, so you can’t even afford to look like you want to kiss me, much less actually go through with it.”
“It’s going to be fantastic, though, when we finally do it. Fireworks are going to go off. Pyrotechnic kissing. Your hair will probably catch on fire.”
She laughed, and some internal switch flipped from Maybe to Definitely.
I’m super excited for the next book…you’ll discover the hero and heroine in this one. I disliked the heroine, but not enough to dislike the book.
Rating: B-
April 2, 2013
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
Source: a review copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
I’ve been gushing about Ms. Knox’s books for the past year, and as I keep saying, I think she has one of the best and freshest voices in Contemporary Romance. But all good things must come to an end (or in this case, a small bump in the road) so today’s review won’t be a gushing one.
Along Came Trouble is the first full-length book in the new Camelot series (there’s a prequel novella, but each story stands alone well). Ellen is a single mother whose only wish is peace and tranquility. But when her famous, Justin Timberlake-ish brother has an affair with her pregnant next-door neighbor, the paparazzi invade her street and put an end to her peace and tranquility. That’s when her brother hires Caleb Clark’s security firm to provide protection to Ellen and the neighbor. Needless to say, Ellen disapproves.
Caleb really, really cares that Ellen doesn’t want him there, because 1. He needs the job to provide the financial stability his new security firm needs and 2. He’s very attracted to Ellen. As you can probably guess, these two are bound to butt heads and to fall in love.
Ellen’s marriage left her some baggage, and she deals with it by constantly reassuring herself of her independence. She doesn’t want to rely on anyone and because of that, she comes across as prickly. This is the part where I tell you how much I hate describing a heroine as prickly, mostly because anything that doesn’t resemble a nice damsel in distress becomes a negative trait. But yes, prickly and somewhat reactionary are good ways to describe her. These are qualities I understand and appreciate, but don’t expect a cuddly, sweet heroine, because you won’t get one here.
Caleb, on the other hand, is as sweet and cuddly as it gets (while being manly and hunky, because of course). It becomes obvious from the start that Ellen is the one who holds all the power in their relationship: he’s the one who falls in love first; the one convinced that they stand a chance and in charge of convincing Ellen of it; and the one in danger of having his heart broken. Not only that, but his professional future also depends on Ellen. So poor Caleb is at the mercy of a woman terrified of commitment and hell-bent on proving to herself that she is self-sufficient. He is, perhaps, one of the most emotionally vulnerable heroes I’ve read this year.
But as much as I liked Ellen and Caleb as individuals, I never quite got them as a couple. The red-hot chemistry present in all of Ms. Knox’s books was completely missing in this story, which is a shame, because chemistry would have helped made the insta-love a bit more palatable. As it was, I found it hard to believe that two mature and cautious characters would fall so hard and so fast when it’s obvious that they lack the necessary recklessness needed to make such a leap. The pace and setting weren’t ideal for a romance between these two.
There are also many secondary characters that distract from the main storyline instead of adding to it. I wasn’t particularly curious or invested in the secondary romance, and I found the sequel-bait character so compelling that at times I wished I was reading her book instead. All the characters were interesting and developed, but they were too intrusive. And one of them does a big gesture that was just plain ridiculous and embarrassing.
Along Came Trouble was a bit of a mixed bag. It’s better than many small-town Contemporary series, but let’s face it, in this particular case, being above average doesn’t take much of an effort. Hopefully the bumpy ride ends here and the next book in the series will be up to par with what Ms. Knox has us used to.
Source: a review copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
I’ve been gushing about Ms. Knox’s books for the past year, and as I keep saying, I think she has one of the best and freshest voices in Contemporary Romance. But all good things must come to an end (or in this case, a small bump in the road) so today’s review won’t be a gushing one.
Along Came Trouble is the first full-length book in the new Camelot series (there’s a prequel novella, but each story stands alone well). Ellen is a single mother whose only wish is peace and tranquility. But when her famous, Justin Timberlake-ish brother has an affair with her pregnant next-door neighbor, the paparazzi invade her street and put an end to her peace and tranquility. That’s when her brother hires Caleb Clark’s security firm to provide protection to Ellen and the neighbor. Needless to say, Ellen disapproves.
Caleb really, really cares that Ellen doesn’t want him there, because 1. He needs the job to provide the financial stability his new security firm needs and 2. He’s very attracted to Ellen. As you can probably guess, these two are bound to butt heads and to fall in love.
Ellen’s marriage left her some baggage, and she deals with it by constantly reassuring herself of her independence. She doesn’t want to rely on anyone and because of that, she comes across as prickly. This is the part where I tell you how much I hate describing a heroine as prickly, mostly because anything that doesn’t resemble a nice damsel in distress becomes a negative trait. But yes, prickly and somewhat reactionary are good ways to describe her. These are qualities I understand and appreciate, but don’t expect a cuddly, sweet heroine, because you won’t get one here.
Caleb, on the other hand, is as sweet and cuddly as it gets (while being manly and hunky, because of course). It becomes obvious from the start that Ellen is the one who holds all the power in their relationship: he’s the one who falls in love first; the one convinced that they stand a chance and in charge of convincing Ellen of it; and the one in danger of having his heart broken. Not only that, but his professional future also depends on Ellen. So poor Caleb is at the mercy of a woman terrified of commitment and hell-bent on proving to herself that she is self-sufficient. He is, perhaps, one of the most emotionally vulnerable heroes I’ve read this year.
But as much as I liked Ellen and Caleb as individuals, I never quite got them as a couple. The red-hot chemistry present in all of Ms. Knox’s books was completely missing in this story, which is a shame, because chemistry would have helped made the insta-love a bit more palatable. As it was, I found it hard to believe that two mature and cautious characters would fall so hard and so fast when it’s obvious that they lack the necessary recklessness needed to make such a leap. The pace and setting weren’t ideal for a romance between these two.
There are also many secondary characters that distract from the main storyline instead of adding to it. I wasn’t particularly curious or invested in the secondary romance, and I found the sequel-bait character so compelling that at times I wished I was reading her book instead. All the characters were interesting and developed, but they were too intrusive. And one of them does a big gesture that was just plain ridiculous and embarrassing.
Along Came Trouble was a bit of a mixed bag. It’s better than many small-town Contemporary series, but let’s face it, in this particular case, being above average doesn’t take much of an effort. Hopefully the bumpy ride ends here and the next book in the series will be up to par with what Ms. Knox has us used to.
August 13, 2016
Ellen Callahan is pissed because paparazzi won’t leave her alone due to her pop star brother’s romance with her neighbor Carly. Caleb Clark, aka "Lady Killer" is hired to be her sort-of bodyguard. She’s pissed about that too because she can handle those media vultures herself. With iced tea! By the way, who on planet Earth doesn’t know that vulture is synonymous with paparazzi?
“The vulture.”
“What vulture?” He’d have remembered birds of prey. He wasn’t quite that hopeless.
“Jamie calls the photographers vultures.” She spun her index finger around in a circle. “Because they’re always hovering around.”
“Looking for fresh kills to pick at?”
“Exactly.”
Oh, dear.
Granted, he was too busy looking at her “body built for sin” to pay attention to the conversation. Of course, what other kind of body is there in Romancelandia? And she was similarly distracted by his big, “work-roughened paw” that she’s shaking at their first introduction. He’s also got a straight nose with a bump on it and a look of otherness to him (he’s got olive skin, natch). Oh, and he’s huge in a “whoa” type of way. Nothing new, the same tired descriptions that I’ve read over and over and over and over. I mean, at one point Caleb gleefully notes that Jamie, the pop star, is “only” 5’10. Oh, you mean the average height of men in the US? Uh, what?!
Why did 3 women in the book have to have detestable exes? Overkill. What is the difference between Ellen’s ex calling her “Els” knowing that she hates the nickname, and Caleb calling her son Henry “Hank”, knowing that she hates the nickname? Both are douchebag moves. Another douchebag move: SPOILER he fires an employee for letting her feelings for Ellen’s ex sway her good judgment, but he lets his guard down completely on numerous occasions so that he can get in Ellen’s pants (seriously two seconds after he meets her. But he’s a SOLDIER so he’s ready for action, pun sort of intended). And he's a man in love! After two days. There's this scene at the end where Ellen is defending Caleb’s actions/ability to do his job to his overly critical mother (you know how Lebanese moms are LOL) and I just rolled my eyes because nope. I thought his actions were incredibly unprofessional from jump street.
I could’ve done without the secondary romance in which the pop star brother falls in love with a pregnant firecracker who is not impressed by said pop star’s celebrity status because firecracker. Please. Also, nope.
I just couldn’t get into it. It’s not that it’s badly written (at all), I just had déjà vu while I was reading. Too much of the same. I need fresh meat.
“The vulture.”
“What vulture?” He’d have remembered birds of prey. He wasn’t quite that hopeless.
“Jamie calls the photographers vultures.” She spun her index finger around in a circle. “Because they’re always hovering around.”
“Looking for fresh kills to pick at?”
“Exactly.”
Oh, dear.
Granted, he was too busy looking at her “body built for sin” to pay attention to the conversation. Of course, what other kind of body is there in Romancelandia? And she was similarly distracted by his big, “work-roughened paw” that she’s shaking at their first introduction. He’s also got a straight nose with a bump on it and a look of otherness to him (he’s got olive skin, natch). Oh, and he’s huge in a “whoa” type of way. Nothing new, the same tired descriptions that I’ve read over and over and over and over. I mean, at one point Caleb gleefully notes that Jamie, the pop star, is “only” 5’10. Oh, you mean the average height of men in the US? Uh, what?!
Why did 3 women in the book have to have detestable exes? Overkill. What is the difference between Ellen’s ex calling her “Els” knowing that she hates the nickname, and Caleb calling her son Henry “Hank”, knowing that she hates the nickname? Both are douchebag moves. Another douchebag move: SPOILER he fires an employee for letting her feelings for Ellen’s ex sway her good judgment, but he lets his guard down completely on numerous occasions so that he can get in Ellen’s pants (seriously two seconds after he meets her. But he’s a SOLDIER so he’s ready for action, pun sort of intended). And he's a man in love! After two days. There's this scene at the end where Ellen is defending Caleb’s actions/ability to do his job to his overly critical mother (you know how Lebanese moms are LOL) and I just rolled my eyes because nope. I thought his actions were incredibly unprofessional from jump street.
I could’ve done without the secondary romance in which the pop star brother falls in love with a pregnant firecracker who is not impressed by said pop star’s celebrity status because firecracker. Please. Also, nope.
I just couldn’t get into it. It’s not that it’s badly written (at all), I just had déjà vu while I was reading. Too much of the same. I need fresh meat.
March 11, 2013
This book is available 3/11/2013.
Caleb. I don't think I can say enough about Caleb. He has a security company, which is hired by Ellen's rock star brother's security firm to keep Ellen and Carly (his ex pregnant girlfriend) safe.
Caleb enters the scene just as Ellen pours iced tea down the neck of a paparazzi who is standing on her plants while he's trying to get pics of the pregnant Carly who has kicked Ellen's brother, Jamie, to the curb.
Caleb handles the situation, quite nicely and Ellen appreciates it. Until she figures out that he is to be her bodyguard. Well, not really HER bodyguard, but he's supposed to keep her, her son Henry, and Carly safe from the paps trying to get close.
Ellen has been divorced from a vest wearing, poetry spouting alcoholic cheater for three years. She likes her independence. In fact she is adamant that she can handle anything. Of course, that's before her rock star brother comes back to town, bringing piles of camera toting vultures.
There are four story arcs going here. Caleb and Ellen. Carly and Jamie. Katie (Caleb's sister) and Levi. And Caleb's parents and their issues. This seemed like a lot to me. But it was a very long book and the arcs did finally seem to balance each other. I've read that Katie is going to have the next book.
Now, I loved Caleb. A lot. He's former military and he's trying to make his security business a success. He's pretty gobsmacked when he meets Ellen and it tumbles his thoughts on being alone and only working. I like that he went after what he wanted.
Ellen, on the other hand, bothered me a bit. Yes, she had a rather trying childhood as her mom pushed for Jamie, the charismatic family member, to be a success. Her husband was a total jerk. But she is free of him now and Caleb is nothing like him. He listens to her and while she can see that he knows his stuff, and she does have that two year old to keep safe, she fights it right and left. I kept wanting her to GIVE in, just a little. And when she does, she doesn't tell him! There's a time to be an island...and there's a time to let a GOOD GUY in.
This book is a good value. One gets to have lots of story all in one place. And once you get to know Caleb, well, you won't want to stop reading.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House/Loveswept, for giving me the opportunity to read ALONG CAME TROUBLE.
Caleb. I don't think I can say enough about Caleb. He has a security company, which is hired by Ellen's rock star brother's security firm to keep Ellen and Carly (his ex pregnant girlfriend) safe.
Caleb enters the scene just as Ellen pours iced tea down the neck of a paparazzi who is standing on her plants while he's trying to get pics of the pregnant Carly who has kicked Ellen's brother, Jamie, to the curb.
Caleb handles the situation, quite nicely and Ellen appreciates it. Until she figures out that he is to be her bodyguard. Well, not really HER bodyguard, but he's supposed to keep her, her son Henry, and Carly safe from the paps trying to get close.
Ellen has been divorced from a vest wearing, poetry spouting alcoholic cheater for three years. She likes her independence. In fact she is adamant that she can handle anything. Of course, that's before her rock star brother comes back to town, bringing piles of camera toting vultures.
There are four story arcs going here. Caleb and Ellen. Carly and Jamie. Katie (Caleb's sister) and Levi. And Caleb's parents and their issues. This seemed like a lot to me. But it was a very long book and the arcs did finally seem to balance each other. I've read that Katie is going to have the next book.
Now, I loved Caleb. A lot. He's former military and he's trying to make his security business a success. He's pretty gobsmacked when he meets Ellen and it tumbles his thoughts on being alone and only working. I like that he went after what he wanted.
Ellen, on the other hand, bothered me a bit. Yes, she had a rather trying childhood as her mom pushed for Jamie, the charismatic family member, to be a success. Her husband was a total jerk. But she is free of him now and Caleb is nothing like him. He listens to her and while she can see that he knows his stuff, and she does have that two year old to keep safe, she fights it right and left. I kept wanting her to GIVE in, just a little. And when she does, she doesn't tell him! There's a time to be an island...and there's a time to let a GOOD GUY in.
This book is a good value. One gets to have lots of story all in one place. And once you get to know Caleb, well, you won't want to stop reading.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House/Loveswept, for giving me the opportunity to read ALONG CAME TROUBLE.
March 19, 2013
NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review
Ellen is a single mother; she works hard and doesn't need a man in her life. Her brother is a celebrity and when the paparazzi start showing up on her property to get a glimpse at her neighbor, who was in a relationship with her brother, he hires a security. Caleb is Ellen’s bodyguard and while he is attracted to her, he is determined to ignore it. Ellen really bugged me in this book; she is so determined to prove she can do things on her own, she cuts off her nose to spite her face. Caleb was a good guy, he is patient and understanding, he gives Ellen the room to work things out in her own head. My only problem with him is that he seemed a little to perfect, at one point it was like oh come on no one is that understanding. I liked Carly and her grandmother they were hilarious. Ellen’s ex-husband was a complete waste of space; I hated him and was really hoping he would fall into a ditch somewhere. I loved that the couple did not have an instant love connection; they lusted after each other a lot. They had fights and had to learn how to be together, they had a real relationship. This book was a good quick read; I liked the writing and would have rated it higher if I hadn't had problems with the two main characters.
Ellen is a single mother; she works hard and doesn't need a man in her life. Her brother is a celebrity and when the paparazzi start showing up on her property to get a glimpse at her neighbor, who was in a relationship with her brother, he hires a security. Caleb is Ellen’s bodyguard and while he is attracted to her, he is determined to ignore it. Ellen really bugged me in this book; she is so determined to prove she can do things on her own, she cuts off her nose to spite her face. Caleb was a good guy, he is patient and understanding, he gives Ellen the room to work things out in her own head. My only problem with him is that he seemed a little to perfect, at one point it was like oh come on no one is that understanding. I liked Carly and her grandmother they were hilarious. Ellen’s ex-husband was a complete waste of space; I hated him and was really hoping he would fall into a ditch somewhere. I loved that the couple did not have an instant love connection; they lusted after each other a lot. They had fights and had to learn how to be together, they had a real relationship. This book was a good quick read; I liked the writing and would have rated it higher if I hadn't had problems with the two main characters.
February 26, 2013
Ellen Callahan is a single mom and a successful entertainment lawyer, relying on herself in the small town Camelot, Ohio. Life is quiet, if not sometimes boring until her rock star brother and her next door neighbor become involved. Chaos ensues, the paparazzi are everywhere, including Ellen's garden, looking for that perfect, invasive photo that could make them rich!
Jamie, Ellen's bother, hires a security company to protect both Ellen and Carly, Jamie's pregnant girlfriend and Ellen's neighbor. Enter tall, handsome, Caleb Clark, a very alpha ex-military hero, now fledgling business owner.
Ellen wants no part of Caleb's protection, but Caleb needs this job to make his name in the security business. Can you say, 'Romantic chemistry, tension, heat?' Can you say, 'Prickly fireworks, tempers flaring, pig-headedness?'
What unfolds is a fun read, with a great journey to the end! The sparks flying, the personal growth, the twists, the characters...all make for a a wonderful 'feel good' read!
This ARC copy of Along Came Trouble was given to me by NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Bantam Dell Loveswept in exchange for a honest review. Publish Date March 11, 2013
Jamie, Ellen's bother, hires a security company to protect both Ellen and Carly, Jamie's pregnant girlfriend and Ellen's neighbor. Enter tall, handsome, Caleb Clark, a very alpha ex-military hero, now fledgling business owner.
Ellen wants no part of Caleb's protection, but Caleb needs this job to make his name in the security business. Can you say, 'Romantic chemistry, tension, heat?' Can you say, 'Prickly fireworks, tempers flaring, pig-headedness?'
What unfolds is a fun read, with a great journey to the end! The sparks flying, the personal growth, the twists, the characters...all make for a a wonderful 'feel good' read!
This ARC copy of Along Came Trouble was given to me by NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Bantam Dell Loveswept in exchange for a honest review. Publish Date March 11, 2013
March 14, 2013
I am sorely lacking in all the words I need to describe how much I loved this book. I couldn't stop reading it, but I wanted to stop, because if I stopped, it wouldn't end. There are so many things to love about this book. So many emotions and feelings attached to it. I laughed out loud, snorted, cried, swooned...you name it, I probably did it. It hit me on so many levels, all of them good. Ruthie Knox just has an impeccable way of touching on emotions and feelings with a depth and clarity that is amazing to me. There is so much humor and wit that couples with the tenderness and love and it just combines to create a captivating story.
I love Caleb. Plain and simple. Just love him. Ellen is every kind of amazing. She's a unique heroine and a great one. Henry is too adorable for words. I could just eat him up. Jamie and Carly were a great extra story with a happy ending that made me smile.
I could go on and on and on about this book, but my feelings are still so fresh I'm going to just savor the glow of finishing a great and lasting story.
I love Caleb. Plain and simple. Just love him. Ellen is every kind of amazing. She's a unique heroine and a great one. Henry is too adorable for words. I could just eat him up. Jamie and Carly were a great extra story with a happy ending that made me smile.
I could go on and on and on about this book, but my feelings are still so fresh I'm going to just savor the glow of finishing a great and lasting story.
April 30, 2013
Ellen is a divorcee and a single mum. She strives to be in control of her own life and never be manipulated by a man again. Unfortunately the paparrazi have descended on her quiet little suburb due to her pop star brother getting involved with her next door neighour.
Then her brother hires a security company to keep watch and make sure her and her neighbour are safe. Cue Caleb, he is an ex milatary police who has just started his own security firm.
He starts what should be a standard easy job only to be made complicated by the client.
Ellen doesn't want any interference, crazily independent, she is convinced she is fine on her own.
Caleb finds he wants to make sure, more and more that this woman and her child are safe.
I was a little disappointed int his book. It was a good idea, good plot but I found the character Ellen, infuriating. I did not understand her problem. Sure her ex was a super dick but really did she have to dig her heels in this much? She ruined for me what would have otherwise been a great romance book.
January 15, 2013
I love a family or group series. People who love and care for each other. I love the parents in this family. They are far from perfect. But they love each other They love their children.
This story has two wonderful, similar in some ways and very very different in others, love stories. Love stories. People with issues who still want what we all want, love. To love and be loved.
And probably, that's why most of us read these books. Because we love love. :-)
You will get your money and your times worth from Along Came Trouble.
"If you can kiss like this, why put anything else in the day planner?" It has Ruthies original, fun and sexy, romantic, kind of messed up style. Along Came Trouble is not a typical romance. But it is over flowing with romance none the less. And I recommend it.
This story has two wonderful, similar in some ways and very very different in others, love stories. Love stories. People with issues who still want what we all want, love. To love and be loved.
And probably, that's why most of us read these books. Because we love love. :-)
You will get your money and your times worth from Along Came Trouble.
"If you can kiss like this, why put anything else in the day planner?" It has Ruthies original, fun and sexy, romantic, kind of messed up style. Along Came Trouble is not a typical romance. But it is over flowing with romance none the less. And I recommend it.
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