Ruth “Ruthless” Harper is on the verge of becoming managing partner at her all-male consulting firm and she won’t let anything stand in her way. That includes men, relationships, and that dreaded F word, FEELINGS—distractions she eliminated long ago.
After the worst day ever (a near-death experience and a public wedgie, for starters), Ruth realizes she doesn’t want to live and die alone. She puts together a business plan to find the perfect man and dives head first into the murky online dating pool. All she wants is a high-powered executive who understands how important her career is. If only it were that easy.
Problem is most men are intimidated by Ruth’s confidence and shocked by her bluntness. The exception being her landscape designer, Nick, whose cool demeanor and unsolicited dating advice are driving her nuts. He’s the antithesis of the business-oriented man Ruth envisions for herself, so why do all signs keep pointing back to him? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
Rich Amooi has a way with creating memorable characters, and he’s done it again with Ruth and Nick! Given Ruth’s priorities in life, I figured I’d have a difficult time in accepting the choices she makes, yet there is a vulnerable side to her that shows itself slowly within the pages and in her interactions with Nick. He begins to open her up, even when it goes against his own beliefs. I couldn’t disparage Ruth for wanting to go for her dreams and reach the highest rung, but it feels at times that those goals cause her to develop a major chip against anyone who doesn’t see eye to eye with her.
I appreciated the backstory for both characters. It lends into a deeper understanding of why Ruth feels the need to continually prove herself, and why Nick refuses to be led into any situation that prevents him from thoroughly enjoying his life. The two opposing personalities create a delicious tension that neither character can avoid, setting up some much-appreciated heated scenarios that go right along the brink, leaving the reader wanting more. Paralleling that are the small nuances that lend into making Ruth and Nick feel real, like Ruth continually finding herself in the most embarrassing of situations around Nick, while Nick finds himself on the defensive of her reactions to that. It’s funny and it felt real, much like the unpredictability of life. It also made me question if the two of them were destined to be together, or if they’re too different to really make it work.
An unsung hero here is Dee, Ruth’s best friend. She is the consummate sidekick, even though I’m not sure “sidekick” is the right word to use for someone who accepts Ruth wholeheartedly, just the way she is. There were a few moments where Ruth needed some sort of reality check, and it was Dee who set it in motion- like a mirror for Ruth’s inner conscience. Someone needed to have their crap together, and it was Dee who kept the boat from sinking.
While it was the near-death experience that set Ruth’s new goals into motion, there is so much more that develops. Ultimately, the goal in finding a new man becomes a goal in potentially discovering new priorities in life, facing the possibility of having to let go of everything she’s ever known and worked so hard for, in lieu of reaching for the unknown, which is filled with uncertainties. Along the way, we’re privy to all the humor and at times, heartache that comes with change, making this read all the more worth it. It’s Not PMS, It’s You is the third five-star book I’ve read by Rich Amooi, and I can honestly say it won’t be my last!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon Canada * Amazon Australia
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Visit Rich online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram
Giveaway to Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (Open INT)
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within seven days, then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for fulfillment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. We are not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Visit the other stops on the tour (click on the picture to enlarge it):
No comments:
Post a Comment