Madly: A New York Novel

Ruthie Knox

Mar 2017 · The New York Trilogy Book 2 · Sold by Loveswept

About this ebook

An impulsive trip to New York City, a heartthrob from London, and a scandalous to-do list turn a small-town girl’s life upside down in this sultry romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Truly and About Last Night.

Allie Fredericks isn’t supposed to be in Manhattan, hiding in the darkest corner of a hip bar, spying on her own mother—who’s flirting with a man who’s definitely not Allie’s father. Allie’s supposed to be in Wisconsin, planning her parents’ milestone anniversary party. Then Winston Chamberlain walks through the door, with his tailored suit, British accent, and gorgeous eyes, and Allie’s strange mission goes truly sideways.

Winston doesn’t do messy. But after a pretty stranger ropes him into her ridiculous family drama with a fake kiss that gets a little too real, he finds out that messy can be fun. Maybe even a little addicting. And as the night grows longer, Allie and Winston make a list of other wild things they could do together—and what seems like a mismatch leads to a genuine connection. But can their relationship survive as their real lives implode just outside the bedroom door?

Praise for Madly

“What [Ruthie] Knox does so well is create these wonderful, emotionally wounded, real characters for us to relate to and root for and love. There’s relationship drama, family revelations and more, as through this love story we take a look at identity, who we really are, and how we’re seen by everyone—from those closest to us to strangers. A real treat.”—RT Book Reviews

“A lovely story about unlikely lovers and family responsibilities and the secrets that families keep and those that nearly tear them apart. The secondary characters have their chance to shine and contribute to the happy ending. Highly recommended for all romance readers looking to be swept away.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Thoughtful, moving, charming and delightful, you’ll swoon over this wonderful love story.”—All About Romance, “Desert Isle Keeper” designation

“The complicated relationships among the Fredericks family is again wonderful.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers

“I was sucked into this story and couldn’t put it down. It was all just perfect and fit very well as a follow-up to Truly.”—Red Hot + Blue Reads (five stars)

“Madly is romantically serendipitous, whilst being a fun quirky read. It was a pleasure to see the worlds collide and I look forward to the next novel in the series.”—Relentless Romance

“An original, entertaining, sensitively written and thought-provoking read.”—I Love Romantic Fiction

“It was a delight to read Knox’s thoughtful prose again and to enjoy Allie and Winston’s antics as their romance rockets from unexpected attraction . . . to something truly special, something worth taking a chance on even if it seems a little mad to everyone else.”—Immersed in Books

“This was the perfect book for me on a weekend where I was laid up with both a cold and a bruised leg. I was feeling out of sorts in so many possible directions, and Ruthie took me away to her New York for a whirlwind tour. Like so many of the author’s previous stories, this is a romance between two people who simply shouldn’t work together, but absolutely do. It just takes them a while to recognize it.”—Reading Reality (five stars)

Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Ratings and reviews

Allie Fredericks is from Manitowoc, Wisconson but has found herself in New York City. Allie is tired of her mom leaving for lengths of time and going to NYC and Allie needs to find out why. Allie has tracked her mom down to a bar and is hiding in the shadows watching her with another man....a man who just happens to be her birth father. Allie is suppose to be planning her parents 30th Wedding Anniversary party that is in a few days and she's afraid her mom is ruining everything. Just as Allie is about to be spotted by her mom, she convinces a strange man in a suit and tie to be her cover. This man is Winston Chamberlain, a tall, good looking, slightly older man with a British accent. What Allie didn't expect was that sparks would fly! Allie explains what she is doing in NYC and Winston ends up helping her. At first I wasn't sure of these two as a couple. They are 13 years apart in age.....Allie is closer in age to Winston's daughter, Bea than she is to him....but I am glad I kept reading. By the end of this story I loved Winston and Allie together. They just got each other. As Allie and Winston start spending more time together, they start opening up to each other about all aspects of their lives. These two are so different, yet so similar in many ways. I really enjoyed the story line about Allie's mom and how so many people came together to help. I must admit that the ending really surprised me....wasn't expecting that! Overall this was a fun story that by the end I couldn't put down.

Madly was so worth the wait, the second story in the New York series. Allie has gone to New York secretly to find her mother when she meets up with Winston at a bar. They are opposites but the sexual chemistry is hot. They soon devise the "list"that they need to complete. Many family secrets that soon will be discovered on both sides. Complex broken characters that will keep you turning the pages along with the sizzling chemistry between Allie and Winston, that will have you rooting for them in the end.

This is a delightful book that captured my attention from the very beginning when Allie, an unlikely spy, enlists Winston, a total stranger, to help her observe a woman at a bar. Almost immediately, the sparks of attraction ignite between Allie and Winston. They are most definitely opposites, but are drawn together in a way neither is quite sure of. As the romance develops between the two, Allie's family drama, and the true purpose of her trip to New York City, heats up. Allie has tracked her missing mother and is determined to find her. Based on her research, she is convinced her mom is having a long term affair with a mysterious artist based in NYC. While I was enjoying the romance, the family drama snuck in on me and had me totally engrossed before I even realized it had happened. I was so hooked that I stayed up late into the night so see what happened. This is the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last. I've added her to my must read authors' list. Fans of the genre will love this book.

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox writes contemporary romance that’s sexy, witty, and angsty—sometimes all three at once. Her debut novel, Ride with Me, is probably the only existing cross-country bicycling love story. She followed it up with About Last Night, a London-based romance whose hero has the unlikely name of Neville, and then Room at the Inn, a Christmas novella—both of which were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Her four-book series about the Clark family of Camelot, Ohio, has won accolades for its fresh, funny portrayal of small-town Midwestern life. Ruthie also writes New Adult romance as Robin York. She moonlights as a mother, Tweets incessantly, and bakes a mean focaccia. She’d love to hear from you, so visit her website and drop her a line.