Sunday, January 26, 2014

ARC Review: Only for You by Genna Rulon

Title: Only for You (Only for You #1)
Author: Genna Rulon
Publication date: September 24th 2013
Source: Received ARC from author
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



“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.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads.)

Review:

I admit that I was a little put off by the book when I saw the cover because it just didn't scream NA Contemporary, instead it gave off a dark and paranormal feel... but when I finally cracked the book open, ho-ly mothercracker, the cover becomes insignificant when compared to what actually happens in the book. I found myself not able to stop reading because it was just so good. I absolutely adored Only for You! What happens when you have a fiery heroine and a cocky but secretly sweet potential love interest? Let me answer that for you: lots and lots of fun. It was insanely entertaining reading the quips and sarcastic comebacks that Ever and Hunter threw at each other because they gave the story more life and color. But more on their relationship later...

There's something about Everleigh's attitude that makes her so appealing, even though there are times when she's a bit too snarky or too stubborn. Maybe it's the fact that she's such a great friend or that her humor is so get-table that you just understand her. The thing with Everleigh is that she knows who she is and what kind of person she wants to be and she doesn't take any crap from anybody because of it; that's how she and Hunter interacted for the very first time as well. You know how opposites attract? Well, Everleigh and Hunter are way too similar with each other, which is why it literally felt like fate itself was trying to force them apart. If it wasn't one thing, it was another but all the complications and obstacles that stood in their way made the experience all the more interesting and fun.

Hunter, oh, Hunter. It's true that I didn't really instantly connect with him (no matter how hot he was) but as the story went on and Everleigh's feelings for him grew, I realized that mine were as well. I just love his relationship with Everleigh, they complement and fit each other even better than a glove. There was a point when there a conflict between the two of them but that just made their story all the more heartfelt.

Only for You was filled with a lot of witty remarks and great dialogue but my only issue with the book is that there were times when the characters got a bit too wordy. The extended details or talking made the book feel draggy at times but other than that, I am really not complaining. I love that Genna Rulon made the minor characters important as well, she managed to give them space that allowed them to grow and turn into even greater characters. Also, there was a depth in this book that I didn't expect but it was a pleasant surprise. The conflict that was presented in the story doesn't just affect the character but affects us, as well.

Genna Rulon has written a fun but also serious novel that will be sure to entrap any reader who delves into her world. Only for You is a great book but the little bits and pieces inside the book makes it all the more special and I'm sure that once you read this book, you'll understand what I am talking about. I am so very excited to read the next book in this series!

Rating:

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