Thursday, September 26, 2013

Nikki reviews: ONLY FOR YOU by Genna Rulon




Title: Only For You
Series: For You #1
Author: Genna Rulon

“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.

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~Review~


Soooo... First I need to say this before anything else: Thank you Genna for finding our little book blog! You don't know how I really felt when I read your email one day requesting us to review your work. Sy and I were so thrilled. Our blog isn't as big as those well-known book review blogs. We're not full-time book reviewers like those famous book bloggers but you found us and actually considered us writing a review for your debut novel. I think it was destiny. Fate had intervened for us to meet Hunter. ;-) Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It was a pleasure. And congratulations on your debut novel!

Only For You: Suspense, romance and friendship rolled into one.

Hunter and Everleigh, ohmygod. They are so cute together, and frustrating. Well frustrating because I didn't know what was happening  and why Hunter was acting like a douche so I was so frustrated (I sure as hell thought I have everything figured out, but then...). It's like I want to send them to a remote island, tie them to a tree until they admit to one another what their true feelings were. Really. I was ready to give up on them when Genna decided to drop a bombshit and I was like, "Uhuh, oh yeah. Wait, what?! Are you kidding me?!" HOLY SHIT. Oh yes, that was the exact words I tweeted. Of course Hunter has reasons and now I can't be frustrated with them. I can just swoon. Because, well.. because. Read it to know what the hell I am talking about. I know, I'm a tease.

As for the suspense/thriller part, who wouldn't love some kinda CSI to read?! I mean, hello people, solving a crime would always be a human fascination. The story revolves around Hensely campus with a psycho on the loose, every female student a target. The suspense was literally killing me while reading the book. And then the story got to a part where it was so hard for me to breathe, when Sam, Ev's bestfriend, was attacked. It was so so heart-breaking because I've grown to love Sam and unconsciously set my mind that she and Ev would definitely be spared from the horror of it all. To be honest, I was more affected to what happened to her than the direction of Hunter and Ev's relationship was going. I was in pain for her, and in awe on how strong she proved she was.

I was in love with Sam and Ev's friendship. How they've always got each other's back. And when the worst thing happened, I couldn't help but admire both women. Sam for going through all that and coming up on top by the end of it; Everleigh for going through all the horrible pain watching her bestfriend regressed but still chose to take care of her and be strong for the both of them. I am in so much awe with these women's strengths.

The emotions in this book were so tangible I could almost taste it. My expectations weren't high on this one and I wasn't expecting to be wowed. It wasn't what I was expecting at all, it was definitely more. The story's meant to make you think and make you feel, and it delivered. It will take you to places you didn't think of. You'd think you figured it all out and then BAM!!! Absolutely not what you have in mind. It was like Genna pulled out a taser on me rendering me stunned. And that, my friends, is how you should write a story if you're aiming for a  supsense/thriller kinda vibe. Absolute perfection. I am tempted to say this one's for the books but I am reviewing a book, aren't I? Haha! So instead, THIS ONE'S FOR A MOVIE! Oh yeahhh, Hunter on screen, what a sight! I can't wait for Sam's story on book two!!!

For my playlist, you might notice most of the songs are about a complicated love story because it was a indeed a complicated one. Complicated by CDJ is Ev's song for Hunter and their relationship; I agree with Sy on her choice of I Can't Make You Love Me. The song's perfect for when Ev thought her love is unrequited; Dreaming with A Broken Heart, just because I am a masochist and listening to this song while writing this review makes my heart weep so I am definitely including it; Thunder is Hunter's song for Ev. I don't know why, but I thought of them when I heard it. Haha; How To Save A Life because I need to include a The Fray song don't ask why. Haha; Angel by Leona Lewis because that's Hunter's endearment for Ev, need I say more?

And lastly, I chose two songs that I dedicate for Sam. (1) Full of Grace by Sarah McLachlan. After reading the book, I decided to listen to some music before I sleep, this song was played and I still had a major book hangover and I thought about what happened to Sam while the song was playing and hello waterworks brought to you by my tears. (2) Stand by Rascal Flatts for Sam showing how strong she is. You go girl! ;-)

Here's the list of the songs:
Complicated by Carolyn Dawn Johnson
I Can't Make You Love me by Bonnie Raitt
Dreaming With A Broken Heart by John Mayer
Thunder by Boys Like Girls
How To Save A Life by The Fray
Angel by Leona Lewis
Full Of Grace by Sarah McLachlan
Stand by Rascal Flatts
You can listen to the songs I mentioned in the widget below. I hope you enjoy the playlist.
 

~Playlist~

And I am ending this review with one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Some people believe the strongest will cling through the storm with steadfast determination never wavering, but sometimes the strength is in letting go."

Rating:

PLATINUM RECORD

 

 

 

About the Author 

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 pursuing her aspirations of writing her own novels.

Genna was raised in Long Island, 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.

Find Genna online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for a great review put the book on my TBR and I love your playlist

    ReplyDelete