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cdb393's review
5.0
I received an arc of this novella from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this short story! It was great to see Amber and Tony again and find out what became of their relationship While this isn’t your typical romance plotline, it still felt very romantic.
Amber has gotten so caught up in her roles as a mom and wife that she doesn’t know who she is individually any more. Meanwhile, Tony is having to work longer and harder due to the economy. They barely see each other.
I have observed this exact problem at one time or another in so many of my friends’ relationships that this really struck a chord with me. I have felt so much like Amber’s mom and aunt in this novella, seeing what’s happening, wanting to fix the problem but knowing that ultimately it comes down to the couple to work it out themselves. In this case, Amber’s aunt lends them the use of her pre-paid hotel room at the Jamaican resort where Amber’s brother got married. She and Amber’s mom offer to take the kids so Amber and Tony can get away and revive their relationship.
Tony sees how upset Amber is. He doesn’t know what’s wrong or how to make it better but he wants to. He tells Amber to stay in her aunt’s room at the resort to have some time to herself. He feels like he can’t stay away from work any longer so he goes back home.
Amber doesn’t know what to do with herself at the resort. She’s still unhappy; none of her relationship and life issues are being resolved by staying in Jamaica. Back home, Tony is worried that Amber will leave him. He’s confronted by Amber’s mom who basically says Tony needs to go to Amber to work on their problems. He goes and sees Amber being hit on by another guy. He starts to panic then sees her reject the guy. Tony decides to pretend to be someone else in order to pick Amber up. This act goes between being fun and flirtatious to skirting some of the issues they’re having in their real life. They end up having great sex but nothing’s changed in the morning. Amber’s mom calls to tell them one of their sons is sick so they decide to leave early.
In the hours before leaving for the plane, Tony and Amber walk on the beach and finally talk. Amber talks about feeling like she’s lost her identity, the fact that she misses Tony, and that she would rather move out of the beautiful house Tony built for them if it means he could work less and they’d have less stress. She knows everything Tony does is for her and the kids and she loves him for it but needs him to know that it’s not all necessary. Tony realizes he hasn’t made a point to see that Amber has the time to do the things she needs to in order to feel happy like running.
This story packs a lot of emotion in a short amount of time. By the end you know everything isn’t perfect, it never is, but that they have a plan to make sure they’re both happy in their relationship and their individual lives. It shows that marriages take a lot of time and work but there can still be romance after a couple been together for years.
There’s a great note from the author at the end of this novella about why she wanted to write this story. I enjoyed it as much as the story. I think this is the most involved I’ve been in a story in a very long time. I highly recommend it.
I loved this short story! It was great to see Amber and Tony again and find out what became of their relationship While this isn’t your typical romance plotline, it still felt very romantic.
Amber has gotten so caught up in her roles as a mom and wife that she doesn’t know who she is individually any more. Meanwhile, Tony is having to work longer and harder due to the economy. They barely see each other.
I have observed this exact problem at one time or another in so many of my friends’ relationships that this really struck a chord with me. I have felt so much like Amber’s mom and aunt in this novella, seeing what’s happening, wanting to fix the problem but knowing that ultimately it comes down to the couple to work it out themselves. In this case, Amber’s aunt lends them the use of her pre-paid hotel room at the Jamaican resort where Amber’s brother got married. She and Amber’s mom offer to take the kids so Amber and Tony can get away and revive their relationship.
Tony sees how upset Amber is. He doesn’t know what’s wrong or how to make it better but he wants to. He tells Amber to stay in her aunt’s room at the resort to have some time to herself. He feels like he can’t stay away from work any longer so he goes back home.
Amber doesn’t know what to do with herself at the resort. She’s still unhappy; none of her relationship and life issues are being resolved by staying in Jamaica. Back home, Tony is worried that Amber will leave him. He’s confronted by Amber’s mom who basically says Tony needs to go to Amber to work on their problems. He goes and sees Amber being hit on by another guy. He starts to panic then sees her reject the guy. Tony decides to pretend to be someone else in order to pick Amber up. This act goes between being fun and flirtatious to skirting some of the issues they’re having in their real life. They end up having great sex but nothing’s changed in the morning. Amber’s mom calls to tell them one of their sons is sick so they decide to leave early.
In the hours before leaving for the plane, Tony and Amber walk on the beach and finally talk. Amber talks about feeling like she’s lost her identity, the fact that she misses Tony, and that she would rather move out of the beautiful house Tony built for them if it means he could work less and they’d have less stress. She knows everything Tony does is for her and the kids and she loves him for it but needs him to know that it’s not all necessary. Tony realizes he hasn’t made a point to see that Amber has the time to do the things she needs to in order to feel happy like running.
This story packs a lot of emotion in a short amount of time. By the end you know everything isn’t perfect, it never is, but that they have a plan to make sure they’re both happy in their relationship and their individual lives. It shows that marriages take a lot of time and work but there can still be romance after a couple been together for years.
There’s a great note from the author at the end of this novella about why she wanted to write this story. I enjoyed it as much as the story. I think this is the most involved I’ve been in a story in a very long time. I highly recommend it.
jemifraser's review
A great, steamy read! You don't often read a romance between married people finding each other again, but that's exactly what you get here. Great story!
sarcrawsh's review
4.0
3.5 stars. This novella definitely edges out the other books in the series. The emotion is raw and real, even to this old maid who's never married!
fictionbrarian's review
4.0
I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, it's Ruthie Knox, and I love all of her books, including this one. I enjoyed reading about Amber and Tony again--they were wonderful in How to Misbehave. So why am I not raving? Not because it wasn't a well-written book with characters I care about.
It tore my heart out. Reading about this marriage on the rocks, how overwhelmed Amber felt, how helpless Tony seems--it's excruciatingly painful. I read good portions of it with tears in my eyes.
So, it was a great story, I just don't think I could stand to read it again. My heart can't take it.
It tore my heart out. Reading about this marriage on the rocks, how overwhelmed Amber felt, how helpless Tony seems--it's excruciatingly painful. I read good portions of it with tears in my eyes.
So, it was a great story, I just don't think I could stand to read it again. My heart can't take it.
booksuperpower's review
4.0
Making it Last by Ruthie Knox is a Kensington / Loveswept publication. This is short story/Novella. This is an update on Tony and Amber after ten years of marriage. I think the first novel they were featured in was "How to Misbehave". This book is set for a July 15th, 2013 release.
When Tony's brother gets married in a tropical location, the whole family is invited. Things don't work out for Amber the way she had hoped. No spa treatments, no time alone, no fun. Tony spent the whole time on the phone conducting business and their three boys kept Amber busy the whole time.
When it was time to go back home, Amber's mom generously offered to let Amber and Tony stay a few more days on her dime. But, Tony misinterprets the gesture, thinking Amber needed time alone. But, when his mother-in-law sets him straight, he goes to get his wife.
This was a great romantic love story. If you are in a committed relationship/marriage and have kids, a demanding career and all the other things life throws at you, you will relate to this couple's struggle to keep their own identities outside of the roles as spouse, mother etc. The rut Amber and Tony find themselves in is an easy trap to walk into. When our parents age and their health declines, we have kids with allergies , and insecurities, plus money problems and career pressures, not to mention in this case a terrible family tragedy.
If you are a mom, you know the kids become a priority in a marriage and all the conversations you have are about them or work or family.
This story reminds us that sometimes, no matter what money issues or whatever else is going on, you have to make time to remember you and your significant other. Yes, it may mean that Gran has to babysit or that you miss out on a little overtime pay or something, but in the end saving a good marriage is worth the extra effort.
Thankfully, this couple gets a chance to have some time to alone to deal with the issues they never have the time to talk about at home. I loved the game they played. It gave them a chance to tell his or her side of things without accusations and bitterness and pity parties and so on. It was showed that hot sex can still happen even after ten years of marriage and three kids.
This was a real warm and fuzzy feeling book with some pretty sizzling sex, for an old married couple. (Grin)
Highly recommend even if are a newlywed and you think this will never happen to you. I rate this one an A.
When Tony's brother gets married in a tropical location, the whole family is invited. Things don't work out for Amber the way she had hoped. No spa treatments, no time alone, no fun. Tony spent the whole time on the phone conducting business and their three boys kept Amber busy the whole time.
When it was time to go back home, Amber's mom generously offered to let Amber and Tony stay a few more days on her dime. But, Tony misinterprets the gesture, thinking Amber needed time alone. But, when his mother-in-law sets him straight, he goes to get his wife.
This was a great romantic love story. If you are in a committed relationship/marriage and have kids, a demanding career and all the other things life throws at you, you will relate to this couple's struggle to keep their own identities outside of the roles as spouse, mother etc. The rut Amber and Tony find themselves in is an easy trap to walk into. When our parents age and their health declines, we have kids with allergies , and insecurities, plus money problems and career pressures, not to mention in this case a terrible family tragedy.
If you are a mom, you know the kids become a priority in a marriage and all the conversations you have are about them or work or family.
This story reminds us that sometimes, no matter what money issues or whatever else is going on, you have to make time to remember you and your significant other. Yes, it may mean that Gran has to babysit or that you miss out on a little overtime pay or something, but in the end saving a good marriage is worth the extra effort.
Thankfully, this couple gets a chance to have some time to alone to deal with the issues they never have the time to talk about at home. I loved the game they played. It gave them a chance to tell his or her side of things without accusations and bitterness and pity parties and so on. It was showed that hot sex can still happen even after ten years of marriage and three kids.
This was a real warm and fuzzy feeling book with some pretty sizzling sex, for an old married couple. (Grin)
Highly recommend even if are a newlywed and you think this will never happen to you. I rate this one an A.
beckymmoe's review
5.0
Full review also posted on my blog.
Making It Last is the fourth book in Knox's Camelot series, which follows the stories of the Clark siblings in the fictional town of Camelot, Ohio. It continues the story of Amber Clark and Tony Mazzara that began in book one, the novella How to Misbehave. For fans of the series, it's a must-read. As the author herself points out in her note at the end, romance novels tend to end at or around the wedding, and readers are to assume that together they will have a happy ever after which readers don't have to read to believe. This novella, though, takes place almost fourteen years after the characters' first one ended, so we get a chance to see what comes after "the end". Did they get their HEA?
As the novella begins, we're thinking maybe not. As Ladies' Home Journal likes to ask, can this marriage be saved?
For me, this novella was satisfying on so many levels. First, it was a very realistic look into what comes after--many years after--the "I do"s. It is heartbreaking in its honesty; for goodness' sake, even the author's note had me tearing up--let's not even discuss my mindset while reading the book itself! Oh, Amber. Oh, Tony. I just wanted to reach inside my e-reader and give them both huge hugs. And then smack them upside the head. And then another hug...or ten. The story ends on an optimistic note, but there's no quick fixes and easy answers there--again, wonderfully realistic. Amber and Tony's kids are delightfully demonic (Yay for the absence of perfect fictional children!)--and I loved seeing them both as parents. The novella manages to fill in many of the blanks in Amber and Tony's lives that don't show up in the other books, which was only fair since they didn't get their own full-length novel. And we get to see snippets of Caleb and Ellen's wedding (a very small one, but one nonetheless) and a few gratifying glimpses of Katie and Sean, who I adored in book three, Flirting with Disaster. Seriously, how Ruthie Knox can pack so much into such a relatively short piece of text continues to amaze me.
I finished this story with a great big happy sigh.
And then cued up How to Misbehave. Because clearly, I needed to refresh my six-month memory of how awesome the beginning of Amber and Tony's story was. Yep, it was still awesome.
In a nutshell: fans of the series need to read this to bring the Clark siblings' stories to its finale. For those less familiar with the series, it's still a powerful story about how to survive the best and worst that marriage brings. Five stars.
(I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Making It Last is the fourth book in Knox's Camelot series, which follows the stories of the Clark siblings in the fictional town of Camelot, Ohio. It continues the story of Amber Clark and Tony Mazzara that began in book one, the novella How to Misbehave. For fans of the series, it's a must-read. As the author herself points out in her note at the end, romance novels tend to end at or around the wedding, and readers are to assume that together they will have a happy ever after which readers don't have to read to believe. This novella, though, takes place almost fourteen years after the characters' first one ended, so we get a chance to see what comes after "the end". Did they get their HEA?
As the novella begins, we're thinking maybe not. As Ladies' Home Journal likes to ask, can this marriage be saved?
For me, this novella was satisfying on so many levels. First, it was a very realistic look into what comes after--many years after--the "I do"s. It is heartbreaking in its honesty; for goodness' sake, even the author's note had me tearing up--let's not even discuss my mindset while reading the book itself! Oh, Amber. Oh, Tony. I just wanted to reach inside my e-reader and give them both huge hugs. And then smack them upside the head. And then another hug...or ten. The story ends on an optimistic note, but there's no quick fixes and easy answers there--again, wonderfully realistic. Amber and Tony's kids are delightfully demonic (Yay for the absence of perfect fictional children!)--and I loved seeing them both as parents. The novella manages to fill in many of the blanks in Amber and Tony's lives that don't show up in the other books, which was only fair since they didn't get their own full-length novel. And we get to see snippets of Caleb and Ellen's wedding (a very small one, but one nonetheless) and a few gratifying glimpses of Katie and Sean, who I adored in book three, Flirting with Disaster. Seriously, how Ruthie Knox can pack so much into such a relatively short piece of text continues to amaze me.
I finished this story with a great big happy sigh.
And then cued up How to Misbehave. Because clearly, I needed to refresh my six-month memory of how awesome the beginning of Amber and Tony's story was. Yep, it was still awesome.
In a nutshell: fans of the series need to read this to bring the Clark siblings' stories to its finale. For those less familiar with the series, it's still a powerful story about how to survive the best and worst that marriage brings. Five stars.
(I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
christinel's review
4.0
I loved the original Tony and Amber book. This one is far less romantic, but still a good read, for those in the mood to meditate on marriage more than for those in the mood to get swept away in a fantasy.
jaimearkin's review
5.0
Do you remember Tony & Amber from How To Misbehave, Book 1 in the Camelot series? Making It Last is there story... almost 14 years later. When we left them before their romance was just beginning, but now... they've settled into their life, as crazy as it is.
This story wasn't really what I was expecting when I picked it up to be honest. The summary makes you think it's going to be this light read, but instead it's a wonderfully poignant story that shows how sometimes we take things for granted and put the things that maybe aren't as important in front of the things that are. I'm not married... but that didn't keep me from being able to appreciate each little nuance of this story. In fact, I found myself understanding both Amber & Tony and their situation they find themselves in.
Amber is lost. Her youngest is now in school and she finds she doesn't quite know what to do with herself. Tony works constantly, struggling to support his family and provide them with the life he thinks they should have. While in Jamaica to attend her brother's wedding, everything seems to overwhelm her and after a few breakdowns, her family insists that she stay in Jamaica and get a few days of relaxation with no one to worry about but herself.
But Amber has defined herself as a housewife and a stay at home mom and struggles to figure out what she wants now that her family is gone all day. And a couple days to herself in Jamaica seems overwhelming.
Tony sees her struggling, but he doesn't know what to do. A push from his mother-in-law puts him in action and his arrival back in Jamaica gives them both the opportunity to be other people for just a little bit.
I have to be honest, I spent most of this novella hurting for these two people who obviously love each other but are at a point in their lives where they are struggling. The little things in life have become bigger and they have lost focus on their relationship. Ruthie does an amazing job with this short story and the characters she creates are always so realistic. Marriage isn't all rainbows and unicorns and I think that is what she conveys so well with this story - there are hard times and struggles but you can't give up. It takes time and patience and communication to survive those times.
The big question is... ten, twenty, even thirty years from now... would you choose that same person?
If you haven't read Ruthie's Camelot series, I can't recommend it more... In fact, you can't go wrong with a single thing she's written so go get some of her words in your life today!! This one comes out in July, so make sure you put it on your 'to read' list today!
Thank you to Loveswept & Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
This story wasn't really what I was expecting when I picked it up to be honest. The summary makes you think it's going to be this light read, but instead it's a wonderfully poignant story that shows how sometimes we take things for granted and put the things that maybe aren't as important in front of the things that are. I'm not married... but that didn't keep me from being able to appreciate each little nuance of this story. In fact, I found myself understanding both Amber & Tony and their situation they find themselves in.
Amber is lost. Her youngest is now in school and she finds she doesn't quite know what to do with herself. Tony works constantly, struggling to support his family and provide them with the life he thinks they should have. While in Jamaica to attend her brother's wedding, everything seems to overwhelm her and after a few breakdowns, her family insists that she stay in Jamaica and get a few days of relaxation with no one to worry about but herself.
But Amber has defined herself as a housewife and a stay at home mom and struggles to figure out what she wants now that her family is gone all day. And a couple days to herself in Jamaica seems overwhelming.
Tony sees her struggling, but he doesn't know what to do. A push from his mother-in-law puts him in action and his arrival back in Jamaica gives them both the opportunity to be other people for just a little bit.
I have to be honest, I spent most of this novella hurting for these two people who obviously love each other but are at a point in their lives where they are struggling. The little things in life have become bigger and they have lost focus on their relationship. Ruthie does an amazing job with this short story and the characters she creates are always so realistic. Marriage isn't all rainbows and unicorns and I think that is what she conveys so well with this story - there are hard times and struggles but you can't give up. It takes time and patience and communication to survive those times.
The big question is... ten, twenty, even thirty years from now... would you choose that same person?
If you haven't read Ruthie's Camelot series, I can't recommend it more... In fact, you can't go wrong with a single thing she's written so go get some of her words in your life today!! This one comes out in July, so make sure you put it on your 'to read' list today!
Thank you to Loveswept & Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare: