Title-Knotted Roots
Series- Knotted Roots Book # 1
By-Ruthi Kight
Genre- YA Romance
Blurb-
Partying with friends and scoring a flawless tan is about all Roxie has on her list of things to make her Hampton's summer perfect.
Her parents, however, have other plans and Grandma Betty's farm is just one of them.
Just as her life is in shambles and the quaint town is suffocating her, she meets Chase.
Somewhere in the mix of bummer summer and small town doldrums, he becomes the boy she can't seem to avoid falling for. Just adding him to the picture, her stay starts to get better, even if she knows it has to end with the summer holidays.
That is until Betty drops a life-shattering bomb.
Roxie must make a choice that will change her life forever. What happens when a spoiled brat from New York learns the true meaning of love, loss, and forgiveness?
Can Chase and Roxie find a way to be together or is this just another summer romance?
Read an excerpt:
“I like your jammies. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many colors throw up on someone’s clothes.” I looked up at him, prepared to voice my outrage, but his smile disarmed me once again. He was taunting me, trying to get a rise out of me and damn if he hadn’t come close to succeeding. I wouldn’t let him win.
“Thank you. I like your outfit as well. I have to say, Redneck Chic suits you quite well,” I replied, my sugary-sweet smile still firmly in place.
“Ya haven’t heard? It’s the latest trend. I can help ya catch up, if ya want?”
Caught off guard, I laughed out loud, covering my mouth quickly, trying hard to suppress the snort that I was sure was about to escape. His own masculine laughter joined with mine, mingling and building, until both of us were clutching our sides. I hadn’t had a good laugh in...well, forever. I heard the doors to the kitchen swing open again and glanced up as Grandma entered the room. She looked between us, her eyes searching for what had caused our raucous laughter.
“I always miss the funny. Wanna fill me in?” she asked as she pulled a package of fresh sausage out of the fridge and slapped it on the counter.
“It seems that our dear Chase here is a fashion guru. He has offered to help me learn the ins and outs of his style,” I replied as I looked over at Grandma. She scowled at me, but I continued anyway. “It seems that my style isn’t to his liking.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I really do like those pants. But I’m afraid you’re gonna have a hard time blending in around here if you continue to wear them,” he teased, laughing as he took in Grandma’s bewildered face.
“Now who said I wanted to blend in?” I teased back, earning another scolding look from Grandma.
**My thoughts**
This book is Ruthi Kight's debut novel, and I thought it was a really good one. Roxie has lived a privileged life up in NYC and doesn't really know what it means to have true friends. Nor does she really appreciate her family. Her parents sent her to the South to stay with her estranged grandmother on her farm while they work on finalizing their divorce. They think they are doing her a favor, but she vehemently disagrees.
Having a hottie working on Grandma's farm definitely helps the time pass by, especially when they are drawn to each other. He is everything that she is not, or so she thinks. As she gets to know Chase, her grandmother, and the people in this laidback small town, she tunes into her true self, that she never knew existed. Chase has a large set of his own problems, and secrets in his past that have shaped who he is. He has a hard time with trust, which makes his affection to Roxie even more significant. When she realizes this, I think it is a huge stepping stone for her growth and understanding of the importance of faithful and genuine people in you rlife.
Roxie is completely spoiled and used to getting her own way. She tends to run away from her problems, instead of facing them head on. Anytime there is a hint of pressure, she is off to hide. In some ways, revelations from the summer and these new relationships cause her to grow up much faster than she has had to in the past. She no longer has the choice of burying her head in the sand or running away, because these people won't let her do it, unlike her parents who prefer to hide the truth. You can see that growth in her over the course of these few short months down on the farm. The country has a way of doing that to you.
I was particularly moved by Roxie's relationship with her grandmother while reading this book. This is probably in part because this weekend that I am reading the series is the three-year anniversary of my own grandmother passing away. I was extremely close to her, so many of the emotions Roxie experiences over her quick, yet intense stay with her grandmother are very familiar.
This is a young adult novel that I think has some excellent lessons for readers of all ages. I would hope that even grown adults reading this book would take the time to reflect on their relationships with people. Parents can see how their decisions can affect teens, even for years after the fact. Anyone can see the importance of sharing kindness with people who need help on any level. And again, there is the importance of being genuine to yourself and to others, for the strongest relationships.
The novella that is a stepping stone between this book and the sequel is next up on my Kindle. I am looking forward to seeing how Roxie and Chase can continue to grow.
About the Author: Ruthi Kight currently lives in her hometown of Columbia, SC, with her fiancé and five year old daughter. She has an unhealthy addiction to books, music, and chocolate, but not necessarily in that order. When her dream of being a rock star didn't work out, she focused on her other passion: writing. She is the author of Knotted Roots, a YA Coming of Age story, and is currently working on two other novels that are due out this year.
Stalker Links-
Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorRuthiKight
Blog: http://ruthikay.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RuthiKay
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6952120.Ruthi_Kight
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Ruthi-Kight/e/B00C470JAS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Facebook Event for Tour- https://www.facebook.com/events/396878553767702/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No comments:
Post a Comment