Welcome to the True Vows Book Tour!
Introducing True Vows, a daring new series from HCI Books — that will rock the romance world and redefine memoir forever. It’s Reality-based, or RB Romance™ where the inspiration of each novel is ripped from the headlines and based on personal interviews with real couples whose love stories read like the best in romantic fiction. Esteemed authors Judith Arnold, Alison Kent, and Julie Leto are beloved story-tellers whose distinctive styles have won them large and loyal followings. Readers trust them to deliver compelling, page-turning reads, and beginning this fall romance readers will not be disappointed. They will be captivated by the unexpected—an experience that transcends anything that’s ever been offered in the genre before.
When fantasy meets reality anything can happen. Believe it. It’s true.
Today I’m reviewing Meet Me In Manhattan by Judith Arnold
You can get more information about the True Vows book tour here – as well as a list of all of the sites the tour will be on.
Ted Skala and Erika Fredell were the perfect New Jersey high school sweethearts. Like many teens Ted and Erika spent plenty of time in parked cars under the stars, but there was so much more between them than the chemistry that ignited their courtship, and Ted couldn’t imagine a life without Erika. By graduation he was ready to get engaged. Erika, however, was ready to spread her wings and faraway she flew to college. She broke his heart. She sailed the world.
Fast forward 15 years. Living in Manhattan, Erika successfully climbs the corporate ladder but her love life stinks. Ted is also living the life of a successful businessman in Manhattan, and he’s involved in a serious relationship. Problem is, he still can’t get Erika out of his system. When fate intervenes and their paths cross, the result is emotionally explosive and that old black magic is back with the force of a super nova. But Erika once ravaged his heart: How can Ted ever trust her again? And now that he’s seriously involved with another woman, how can Erika hope for a second chance with the man she never should have let go?
Ted’s had a crush on Erika for two years. But Erika’s was too into her horses and her horse competition and Ted didn’t think that she’d have time for him. Now they’re seniors and Erika has a crush on Ted as well. A mutual friend finally gets the two together and they spend a fun yet intense summer together before Erika leaves New Jersey for college in Colorado.
Although the two are in love Erika knows that she needs to stick with her plan for her college and her life even though that means leaving Ted behind. Unfortunately this does not end well for Ted and he’s left heartbroken.
The book tells the story of Erika and Ted and their time together during that one hot summer. It touches on the events in Ted and Erika’s live that bring them both to Manhattan 15 years after their breakup. Then it tells us how Ted and Erika finally decide to live happily ever after.
I gotta tell ya I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading the book. It’s not like I could finish reading and then say to myself – yeah, that was good, but I would have liked to have had it end this or that way. I mean, it ended the way it ended because it really happened that way! Lol
The love story: They were so cute together when they were in high school but I just never felt that Erika was on the same wave length as Ted. His was more of an obsessive love – which he admits when he’s an adult – and it was kind of creepy to me. He had a hard life, which seemed more or less self-induced, but he got his shit together and made something of himself which was very admirable.
Though the story starts with Ted contacting Erika after 15 years and them meeting for a drink in a local restaurant it then went back 15 years and took us to the time of their high school days. I have to admit that I was surprised that we spend so much time in the past and hearing what happened to them during the time they were apart. I have to admit I would have liked to have seen more on the romance end from after they met and were adults.
Also, reading a real life romance through an author made me think – is that what the person really thought, or said or did? Is the author taking creative license? How do the secondary characters feel about being talked about in the book? I have to say that it was a little distracting for me.
In the end it was a cute book. As for the real life couple…I have to say that I hope they’re extremely happy in their relationship for many years to come.
Rating 3.5 out of 5
I also have one copy of Meet Me In Manhattan to give away to one lucky winner (US/Canada only, No PO Boxes). Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm on Sept. 14, 2010 and I’ll announce the winner on Thursday, Sept. 15.
I guess you would have to wonder what the people really thought or if the author was taking creative license! Since it's based on real life, it could go either way.
Great review, thanks so much for being on the tour!
I really enjoyed this one and I see your point with the creative licensing. I just thought if this was true to life, what a wonderful story that shows that romance can be fact instead of fiction.
As a reader I often wonder if fictional writers are as "right on" in their dialogue and responses as would have been true if the relationship was based on a real couple. Actually reading about a real, alive, breathing couple has to be somewhat different–as you pointed out–the ending can't necessarily be what we, the reader, would like. It will be what it will be. Would love to read this book and others like it. Please enter me in the give-away.
Not entering, but I did just add it to my linkity draft for Friday. 🙂
Lisa MM – You're very welcome and thank you!
Katibabs – It's true. I honestly believe there's someone out there for everyone. Now they just have to be in the same place to meet! lol
Dr J – You're in!
Chris – You da bomb. Thank you!
This is an interesting concept. Real life is always so much messier than our lovely romance novels, but it's nice to think that there are real-life stories out there that are just as good as anything a novelist created. I'll definitely be looking out for these.
JenM – LOL Life IS messier than fiction, isn't it? I'll add you to the contest. 🙂
I read the Julie Leto book and I wondered the same as you – what was real and what was creative license.
At first I wasn't interested in these books but after reading Julie's, I'm definitely interested. 😛