~ Synopsis ~
“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 by her best friend to attend a school sponsored self-defense seminar, where she meets volunteer instructor, Hunter Charles. After Everleigh’s biting sarcasm induces Hunter to eject her from class, an explosive 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.
• This story is appropriate for readers 18+
• Though Only For You is a part of the For You Series, the book can be read as a stand-alone.
~ Our Review ~
5 Star Review by Heather
Holy moly this book was awesome. This book had twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. It will have you sitting on the edge of your seats wondering what is going to happen, laughing out loud and even bring tears to your eyes.
Everleigh is trying to get through these last few months of college. With all the attacks happening on campus it is scary and has all the girls on high alert. She doesn't want to transfer, because it will set her back a year. So her best friend, Sam, and her decide to take self-defense classes that the college is offering for free. Everleigh is extremely attracted to the instructor Hunter, even though he embarrassed her in front of the whole class the first day. Can she get over him being mean and risk a relationship with him?
Hunter teaches the self-defense class and wants all the woman there to take it serious. The attacks are brutal and shouldn't be taken lightly. He starts to fall for Everleigh, but knows he can't be in a committed relationship with her at this time so he tries to keep her in the friend only zone. Can he have her as a friend and not a lover? Or will he lose her for good?
OMG this book is a MUST read. I love how this has a lot of suspense and mystery thrown into the romance. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride and has you feeling the characters. I love when an author can pull these emotions out of me. Well done on your debut novel Genna Rulon!! I cannot wait for Sam's heartbreaking story. I really need to see her get an HEA!!!!!
~ Excerpt ~
As I approached, Hunter rose to greet me, gallantly appropriating my tray to place it on the table. He dramatically pulled out my chair and assisted me as I sat. I appreciated gentility as much as the next girl, but the whole scene struck me as abnormal.
“Care to tell me what that was about?” I distrustfully queried.
“I was merely practicing proper etiquette.” The twinkle in his eyes belied his innocent excuse.
“You were trying to call attention to our matching faux pas, weren’t you?”
“I will neither confirm nor deny.”
“Ass,” I muttered beneath my breath.
“That is the second time you have called me an asshole,” Hunter said sternly.
“I have never called you an asshole—to your face—I simply left a trail of breadcrumbs from which you could deduce my meaning.”
“Ah ha. You finally admit that our song is ‘Sweet As Hole’.”
“I will neither confirm nor deny,” I said, mocking his earlier statement.
“It was exceptionally ingenious of you.”
“I know, right?”
I caught his smile and realized my mistake. He had tricked me, and I confessed the song I had insulted him with.
“Dammit, Hunter. How do you always outmaneuver me? They should have you interrogate suspected terrorists. You would trick them into revealing their evil plot every time.”
“Nah, terrorism isn’t my specialty.” He winked before suddenly whistling, “That is some lunch you have there.”
“I’m as hungry as the bear I just spent the last hour pretending to be. A salad was not going to tame my ravenous need. Besides, who am I trying to impress?”
“Not me, that’s for sure,” he answered quickly with synthetic sorrow.
“Here I thought you were a martial arts instructor. Are you moonlighting as a comedian?”
“Martial arts is my moonlighting gig,” he paused as if weighing his words. “Where is Sam?”
“I’m not sure. She planned to join us.” I searched the dining room and saw her at the cashier with Robbie beside her. “There she is, her new guy Robbie is with her. Don’t ruin it for her by—just try not to be yourself for a little while.”
“You are a cruel woman, Everleigh.”
~ Character Spotlights ~
People have been asking me left and right if I have a dream cast for Only For You. I am not sure about a dream cast, as that would require me to consider acting abilities and such details way beyond my scope of knowledge, but I can give you visuals—who doesn’t love visuals?
It was tough to find pictures that match the images in my mind, because the character's, while fictional, are vividly real in my head. I am going on the aesthetics in these specific pictures, because the same people in different photographs may not fit the picture in my head at all.
~ About Everleigh Carsen ~
Ev is very much the girl next door. She is very pretty, but not over-the-top sexy or seductive. She would stand out in a crowd, but not necessarily be the most traditionally beautiful woman in the room. It’s Ev’s mouthy sarcasm that always guarantees she is noticed regardless of who else is nearby. Her quick wit is her trademark and she has earned her reputation for sassy and fun. Ev is a ‘tell it like it is’ girl.
~ Everleigh’s life lesson in Only For You ~
Responsibility. One of the defining aspects of adulthood is responsibility. Ev’s story is about her journey as a new adult fully into adulthood. She must learn to take responsibility for her own actions and words, as well as those she loves. She also must take responsibility for her own happiness by communicating her wants and needs, setting boundaries, letting go of what is not right for her, and embracing her chance at happiness.
~ About Hunter Charles ~
Hunter is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. He can make a woman stop dead in her tracks and take notice. Let me tell you, his abs (in my mind)… TO. DIE. FOR. More than just gorgeous, he is intelligent, funny, honest, and disciplined. If I had to chose one word to describe Hunter it would be honorable. That is the underlining character trait that influences his choices and actions throughout the story.
~ Hunter’s life lesson in Only For You ~
Honor. Doing the right thing is often the hardest choice one must make. Sacrificing your own wants to make honorable decisions can come at a high price, but in the end, we are defined by our actions and choices when right isn’t easy.
~ About Samantha Whitney ~
Sam is the girl everyone wants as a best friend. She is hysterical, open (perhaps too open at times), loving, generous, determined, and real. Despite the fact that she is comfortable in who she is we see quick glimpse of self-doubt . Where Everleigh is all bite and fight, Sam is more empathetic beneath her humor. The looks for the good in those around her and is trusting. In may ways she is more insightful than Ev because she doesn’t let her assumptions blind her to the truth.
~ Sam’s life lesson in Only For You ~
Life isn’t fair. Sam learns the hardest lessons in this book and is still learning how to process and deal with these tough realities. Being a good person does not prevent bad things from happening. Being a good friend does not prevent betrayal. Making the right decisions does not guarantee a favorable outcome. Loving fully does not ensure equal love in return. These are difficult truths we all have to face, though we rarely want to. The question remains, now that Sam has learned these lessons, how will it shape and define the person she becomes.
~ About Griffin Evensen ~
Griff is the man I want my boys to grow up to be (well, maybe one can grow up to be a Hunter and the other a Griffin, LOL). Griff is strong, caring, fierce, and intelligent. He was/is one of my favorite characters to write because you never know what is going on in his mind, unless he chooses to tell you, which he does…sometimes. He isn’t manipulative, but he will orchestrate an opportunity to support his friends when they need him. His humor is the most subtle of the group, but it is there mixed in with his sage advice.
FYI, Griffin is by far the hardest for me to find a picture for; this was the closest I came, but it’s still the least right.
~ Griffin’s life lesson in Only For You ~
Patience and consistency! With ourselves, with others, with circumstances beyond our control…life is an exercise in patience. At times it may feel that those around us are getting what we so desperately want, and we must choose to support and share in their joy (or in Griffin’s case, be an integral part in facilitating that joy) or become bitter and jaded. It takes patience to wait for your turn or the right time to have your own dreams fulfilled.
~ About Robbie ~
Robbie is…well, I’ll let you read about Robbie and make your own judgments, but this is a very good representation of what he looks like in my imagination.
~ Author Bio ~
Genna Rulon is an up-and-coming contemporary romance author who loves nothing more than a good love story.
During her 15 years in the corporate world, Genna, inspired by her love of reading, fantasized about penning her own stories. Encouraged by her favorite authors, many of whom are indie writers and self-published, she committed to pursue her aspirations of writing her own novels.
Genna was raised on Long Island in New York, where she still resides, surrounded by the most amazing family and friends. Married to a wonderful man who patiently tolerates her ramblings about whichever book she is currently working on, even feigning 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 reviews are brought to you courtesy of copious amounts of coffee and Disney Junior (something has to entertain the boys when mommy is writing).
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