“In its purest form love is self-sacrificing, eternal, selfless, enduring, truthful, forgiving and indulgent. It also feels an awful lot like a kick to the stomach when you try to fight it!”
All Everleigh Carsen wanted to do was complete her final semester at Hensley University and begin the life she carefully planned.
When a wave of violent crime seizes campus, Everleigh is persuaded to attend a school sponsored self-defense seminar by her best friend, where she meets volunteer instructor, Hunter Charles. After Everleigh’s biting sarcasm induces Hunter to eject her from class, a tempestuous relationship is born.
Everleigh is determined to forget the striking man, but fate—that fickle shrew—continuously intervenes. Unable to escape him, she declares Hunter an enemy combatant. The only complication…Hunter is resolutely pursuing vindication…by any means necessary. Verbal warfare ensues, and despite Everleigh’s ingenious efforts, in Hunter, she has finally found her equal.
Only For You is a compelling tale of friendship, desire, and redemption—brimming with intelligent characters, witty dialogue, unexpected twists, profound sorrow, unfettered hope, and love’s unassailable perseverance.
My Review
For those of you that follow me on Facebook, I made a comment on Monday night about a book that I read that is amazing. If you didn’t catch the comment it was…
“Holy shit you guys I just read an amazing book and the review will be up this week!!!! Omg! I’m, I’m, I’m speechless…..”
I later followed up my comment with this photo:
Although for me, I was experiencing emotional trauma at the hands of my kindle…
I know, it was wrong of me not to share the details (title/author), but I felt I needed a moment to absorb the weight of the book and express myself in a way that did justice to how amazing this book is.
I guess I should actually mention the book is Genna Rulon’s debut novel Only For You and it is a fantastic debut!
There is always one book that absolutely blows your mind when you finish, you sit back for a moment to reflect but all you can think is…”wow.” After reading Genna Rulon’s Only For You I must say it left me speechless. I was completely taken by surprise. The book was so unlike anything I could have imagined. I’m not saying it was the storyline that got to me, rather it was the authors language, her use of wit, sarcasm and even the general sense of intelligence through her writing. I actually discussed with her briefly via email how a lot of new adult books were beginning to disinterest me as too many had similar plots and even dialogue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a die hard fan of new adult books but I am at a point where I read so many books a week that when I read an ARC or even a book I purchase of my own accord it needs to completely blow me away for me to seriously consider it great. I found a gem amongst stones in Only For You. This book is unique in plot, dialogue, and it completely shocked the hell out of me. I am usually very good at figuring out how a book will end or what direction it will go in about midway through reading I usually figure it all out…sometimes earlier. This book took so many turns it was difficult to know where it would end and my jaw dropped close to the end at some revelations that were made. I was suspicious of ever person in this book at one point or another. I won’t be giving away any spoilers, but it ended beautifully and made me scream that I’ll have to wait until December for the next installment.
This book is a complex blend of romance, mystery, friendship and anguish. There are moments that will have you cackling while other moments will leave you in tears, though I may have actually laughed so hard it brought me to tears. The blooming friendship/romance, witty dialogue, inner monologues and suspicions will have you holding your breath and leave your heart racing. I experienced all of these emotions while reading Only For You. You may have a similar experience, you may experience only one or two of the above-mentioned emotions but you certainly will have a rather emotional experience after reading this book.
Only For You is it’s classified as a new adult book but I firmly believe it could fall outside of the romance genre to bordering mystery, suspense and even sociology/abuse. The book was REAL. I mean it had some really raw, really fucked up moments that made you want to cry out for the people afflicted. I certainly cried but I also laughed so much while reading this book. The witty banter between characters is unmatched to any book I’ve ever read and I have read some hilarious books, but this one took the cake winning my nomination for wittiest, most sarcastic dialogue….
Only For You provided a moment of sheer bliss for me…ok maybe more than a moment. I adored this book. I seriously devoured it and I want seconds!!! It is an experience I am still reeling from. I loved the main characters and can’t wait for the follow-up. There are so many stories I want to hear and I am so smitten over Hunter and Griffin! I’ve officially slutted myself out to them mentally! Yeah that’s right they don’t call me Book Whore for no reason! Genna…I want more…no, I need more!!!!
With that said, Only For You is probably one of the best new adult books I’ve read to date. I give it 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, 10 fingers and toes lol. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a suspenseful romance with twists, turns and some heartache along the way while leaving you with an ending that will make your jaw drop, your heart smile and your stomach flutter. I actually think I am going to read it again having discovered a few things…I may notice even more the second time around!
*This book was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*
Buy the book:
Quotes from Only For You:
“When someone tells you something about themselves don’t want to hear—believe them.”
“You’re going to listen to me, and for once you’re going to hear what I say and not read between lines that aren’t there.”
“I was a fool, alone, preparing to do what every fool did at such times—I was going to a bar to drink myself smart.”
“He had a skull and crossbones label on him, but I drank his poison nevertheless and loved it; now I needed an antidote.”
“If you don’t remember your value, no one else will. Don’t ever settle, Ev. You’re far too precious a treasure to squander.”
“You’ll continue to be a bitch no matter what, but I’m glad you aren’t a callous, self-absorbed one.”
“I stepped off the merry-go-round for a reason. It made me dizzy and I kept ending up in the same spot. It may have been fun for a short ride, but was never headed anywhere.”
“Jose had loosened my tongue; curse him, the ninety proof bastard.”
“We played hot potato with my heart—me throwing it to him, him tossing it back to me. Every time the music stopped, I was always the one holding the bruised organ, out of the game.”
About the Author:
After 15 years in the corporate world, Genna, an avid reader, fantasized about penning her own stories. Encouraged by the success of her favorite authors, many of whom are self-published, she committed to pursuing her aspirations.
Genna was raised in Long Island, New York, where she still resides, surrounded by the most extraordinary family and friends. Married to a wonderful man, who patiently tolerates her ramblings about whichever book she is currently working on (he even feigns interest relatively convincingly). Genna is blessed with two little boys who do their best to thwart mommy’s writing time with their hilarious antics and charming extrapolations.
All of Genna’s novels are brought to you courtesy of coffee and Disney Junior.
The second book in the series, Pieces For You (For You Series #2), is scheduled to be released in December 2013.
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