Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: November 1st 2013
Series: Boys Of The South 2.5
Format: Beta/ARC
Source: Provided by author for review
*All For You is proud to be a part of The 12 NA's of Christmas*
12 New Adult Novellas. 12 Best Selling Authors. November 2013.
Bully. Tormentor. Lover.
West Diaz has been all of these things to me.
After being gone for two years, he's back, begging for my forgiveness. And not just my forgiveness... He wants more.
He wants... Me.
My Review:
It's incredibly rare that I fall head over feet for a story and it's characters and even more rare for me to love a novella so much that I beg for it to be made a full length novel. All For You was exactly that! It was thoughtful, romantic and heart warming and by far my favorite story by this author.
Mackenzie Walsh and West Diaz have a past together and as hard as she wants to forget he won't make it easy on her. Mackenzie was bullied in high school and although West wasn't directly involved with the incident that hurt Mackenzie the worst he did nothing to stop it or protect her. He shows back up in town to try and win her forgiveness for everything he put her through but Mackenzie can't forget how awful her tormentors were to her. There was something so special about this story. The connection between the two main characters was magical and the pull between them was very real and had me drawn into their lives immediately. I'm sure everyone can identify with being bullied in some way when they were in school, myself included. I could understand and connect with Mackenzie in a way I rarely feel with most female characters. She was strong and independent but still had some left over insecurities because of the bullying. Most of the kids in town were wealthy and her and her father were just blue collar workers and I loved how proud she was of what they stood for. She took pride in the fact that what put food on her table was good honest work. She wasn't just a shrinking violet but managed to stand up for herself and that made me admire her character that much more.
West Diaz is probably my favorite guy in this series. Sweet, thoughtful and sexy as all hell he was easy to fall in love with, from the first page to the last. He knew that he couldn't run anymore from what he allowed to happen to this girl he has had feelings for ever since they were younger. I loved watching him struggle internally with what he had done and seeing him grow and atone for his mistakes was perfect. It was nice to see exactly how he felt when all the bullying was going on because I got to understand his motives a little better. I've always heard that boys pick on you and tease you when they like you and West certainly proved that theory correct. Feeling that if he annoyed Mackenzie enough she would notice him but he didn't realize the damage he was inflicting on her. I love watching a character mature and even though this was a novella you could really feel the changes they both have made in their lives.
All For You was such a great story not just because of the sweet romance between the characters but because the deeper message behind it. By the time I was through with this book I couldn't get enough of the characters and was sad their story was over. I would absolutely LOVE to get a longer book about these two. The Boys Of The South series just keeps getting better especially with this addition. If you are looking for a quick read that will pull you into the story and fall in love with the characters then All For You should be the very next book you open!
Quotes:
My hands come between us, intent on shoving West away, but I can't bring myself to touch him. His fingers curl around my wrists, like brands, marking me and reminding me that with one touch he can weaken my resolve. I hate that I'm still attracted to him. There should be a biological law written in the text books that read: once a guy is a jerk to you, then you shall no longer want to mate with him. Beta/ARC 33%
"Is this what you want? Is this where you wany me? I'm down on my knees for you, telling the entire world that I'm sorry. I screwed up and screwed you over, for years all because I wanted you to notice me. I wanted you to want me like I wanted you. An asinine reason, but it's there, it's real." Beta/ARC 49%
About The Author:
New York Times Bestselling Author, MARQUITA VALENTINE, writes small town romances that are anything but small. She met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man -- and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.
Links:
I'm so happy we got to beta this together (though I don't think I made ANY suggestions). This really is a special story.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful review!
YES YES YES to WEST!!!!
ReplyDelete