Blog Tour: Only For You by Genna Rulon (With Author Interview)
Title:
Only For You
Series: For You #1
Published: September 24, 2013
Category: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon Buy Link:
Goodreads:
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.
Excerpt:
I
glanced at the clock again—6:40 in the morning and I was awake. I
struggled to contain my frustration with Sam and reminded myself that
she was my best friend, regardless of the inconvenient enrollment she
made on my behalf.
Samantha
Elizabeth Magdalena Whitney, Sam, grew up in a mansion on the North
Shore of Long Island surrounded by every amenity. She wanted for
nothing, other than her parent’s attention and understanding. It was
the same old story—her father was absent physically and emotionally, and
her mother tried to micromanage her life. Sam emerged unscathed, no
longer expecting her father’s regard, and disregarding her mother’s
propaganda to follow her own path. Sam lived life joyously, without
pretention.
My
mother was a ‘domestic’ at the Whitney estate, an ostentatious title
synonymous with housekeeper. It was a good position for a single
mother, permitting her to work while I was at school and only requiring
the occasional babysitter when the Whitneys hosted a special event. The
salary was conservative, but she was provided with a car and her
compensation included health insurance for us both.
We
only lived fifteen minutes apart, but we were in a different
stratosphere. Mom and I shared a small two-bedroom apartment in an
older complex. I wasn’t outfitted in designer labels, but I never had
to hang my head in shame, either. My mom strived to provide all of my
needs and as many of my wants as was manageable. She understood the
importance of appearances to a young girl’s self-esteem, and creatively
protected me from peer scrutiny. We couldn’t afford store bought
costumes, so each year she sewed my Halloween costume from old clothing
she found at garage sales until I had a couture masterpiece—I always had
the winning costume at the school parade. As I grew older, she would
find incredible vintage pieces at thrift stores, which my girlfriends
coveted. I can now appreciate the hours she must have invested into
finding each discounted treasure, motivated by her love for me. She
even squirreled money away, a sacrifice I only later understood, to
enable me to receive haircuts at a trendy salon. She loved me fiercely
and proved it not only in words, but also in actions. It was only in
recent years I could fully appreciate how blessed I was—what I lacked in
trivial possessions was inconsequential compared to the vastness of her
love and devotion.
Sam
and I met shortly after Mom was hired by the Whitneys. The school
called the Whitney estate to advise Sam was sick but her mom was
unavailable, in the city shopping, leaving my Mom to collect Sam from
school and care for her. Since the day was nearly over Mom brought me
along, unable to arrange a sitter on such short notice. I spent the
afternoon keeping Sam company and we had been best friends ever since.
Sam
demanded I join her dance class— according to Mrs. Whitney it was
imperative that Sam study dance—and with no alternative to coax her
participation, the Whitneys paid my tuition to accompany Sam. It was
Mom who taxied us, watched our rehearsal, and brought us home. In
fourth grade, Sam acquiesced to study piano if I joined her.
Unbeknownst to me, piano was another critical life skill that Sam must
acquire, which meant I would acquire it as well. In eighth grade, Sam
refused to attend a prestigious enrichment summer camp unless I
enrolled. It was understood that if the Whitneys wanted Sam to endure
any supercilious activity, it best include me to gain her cooperation.
Sam’s
choice to attend the same university as me was the natural
progression. She could have attended any college in the world with her
intellect, grades, and familial resources. We applied to the same top
ten ranked universities. Sam’s dream was to move as far from her
parent’s oppressive shadow as her admittance letters could provide, to
discover life liberated from her family’s dogmata. My acceptance would
be determined by the university offering the greatest financial aid, as I
was unwilling to burden my mom or myself with student loans. I was
accepted to all schools I applied, and Hensley was the highest-ranking
institution to provide a full scholarship. Sam was accepted to all
schools she applied, with the exception of Yale—a slight she would never
forgive. When Sam learned I committed to Hensley, she shocked me by
following suit. She wanted to share the college experience with me and,
after fifteen years of friendship, virtually sisters, separating would
be akin to losing a limb.
The
Whitneys were appalled at the prospect of Sam living in student
dormitories. Consequently, they bought a two-bedroom condominium in the
most prestigious complex near to the school. It was small, as all the
apartments near school were, but luxurious. Ever generous, Sam insisted
I room with her rent-free to eliminate on-campus housing expenses. I
never could have foreseen Sam’s decision would be my saving grace.
My Review:
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Wow!! I love this book!! Haha!!
The concept of the story is good and I love how it was written, easy to understand and easy to follow the story. It's not that heavy and complicated. I love how the author made the story fun and interesting as I read. At first, it was good but as I read more and more of this book I got to like the characters especially Everleigh! I love how unique Everleigh's personality, her wit and killer come-backs! Gah!! I also love how she and Hunter's banter, it's funny and entertaining. The issues and dramas were constructed, definitely interesting and full of surprises!
The author did a really good job in making this book fun and interesting! Can't wait to read the next book!!
The concept of the story is good and I love how it was written, easy to understand and easy to follow the story. It's not that heavy and complicated. I love how the author made the story fun and interesting as I read. At first, it was good but as I read more and more of this book I got to like the characters especially Everleigh! I love how unique Everleigh's personality, her wit and killer come-backs! Gah!! I also love how she and Hunter's banter, it's funny and entertaining. The issues and dramas were constructed, definitely interesting and full of surprises!
The author did a really good job in making this book fun and interesting! Can't wait to read the next book!!
Author Interview:
Is there any inspiration behind Only For You?
My
inspiration for each book stems from a random imagine conversation that
pops into my head. I’ll hear two characters have an exchange (usually
at a pivotal moment), and I will begin to brainstorm how they reached
the point where the “talk” became necessary. For Only For You, It
started with a fight between Everleigh and Hunter. As I began to
conceptualize the story I just kept think about the kind of men I would
want my sons to grow up to be, and the type of women I would hope they
would choose as partners.
Who is your favorite character in Only For You? Why?
Oh
my gosh, I love them all, this is so hard. I am going to get into
trouble for this answer—Griffin. As wonderful as all the characters
are, Griffin is the most intuitive and subtle in the ways he supports
his friends (some might say sneak, in a good way), but he is also a
little wilder and less restrained in his reactions. I also love his
no-nonsense style of saying what he thinks. He cuts through the crap.
Who is your favorite author?
You
are killing me. That is like asking me which child I love more. So
unfair! If I have to pick just one, I would say Amy Bartol because I
think her work is incredibly creative and engaging. Her characters are
full of emotion and complexity. The action and plot development in all
of her books is always well paced and often unexpected. She takes risks
and does the unexpected. Amy is one of the few authors who have
managed to make me fall in love with three different men, any of which I
would be satisfied if the heroine spent the rest of her life with. To
me, that is a huge accomplishment!
What is the title of your favorite book ever read so far?
I
don’t have just one, so I am going to cheat and tell you one of my top
ten books that I love, but I didn’t expect to. My sisters drove me
nuts insisting I read The Hunger Games for months. I read the
synopsis and shelved it, I had no interest. I was in a historical
romance phase and had no interest in changing it up. They nagged me
until I finally read it just so they would shut up and, of course, loved
the book. I read all three books in the series in 5 days.
Who is your book boyfriend?
I have so many! It is an impossible questions. For today, I will say Alex
St. Delphi from Jennifer Armentrout's Covenant Series. He is, in my
opinion, too frequently overlooked on Book Boyfriend lists. He is
strong, honorable, and sticks by his woman’s side when the extent of his
love is tested to the extreme. Plus he has all those yummy muscles!
Favorite color?
Finally, an easy one! Blue. It is the color of my husband and two sons eyes J
Favorite food?
Sushi. I LOVE sushi. I could eat it every day and never tire of it.
Favorite place you ever visited so far?
I
love to travel! Paris is very high on my list; it is so beautiful and
the food is delicious, but I also love relaxing on a beach with a book.
It’s a toss-up.
What are the things that you normally do when you are not writing or just relaxing?
I
can usually be found with my family. I have two young sons who
constantly keep me on my toes, when I’m writing and when I’m not. I
have a variety of activities I love when I can find the time: reading
(obsessively), listening to music, and traveling. I’m also a total
massage junky, which I don’t get to indulge in nearly as often as I
would like!
Any words for the people who haven’t read Only For You yet?
If
you haven’t read it yet, then you are trying to decide if this is the
write book for you. I get it, I have been there a million times when
picking my next book. Here is my bullet points about what defines the
story so you can determine if it is a good fit. Only For You, is
full of witty banter, the characters actually say all the things that
we don’t think of till after the fact. It has a romance that covers all
the bases from enemies to friends to lovers, but it’s a journey to get
there—not an instant gratification relationship. It celebrates the
importance of dear friends, who become like family. There is a mystery
that will keep you second guessing what you think you know. Finally, it
is about the ways we react to difficult situations and how our
reactions define us. If any or most of those aspects appeal to you,
then please give Only For You a try, you will hopefully enjoy it.
Any other things you want to tell or share to your readers/fans out there? (Upcoming events, books, etc.)
Yes!
I am having a huge sweepstakes to celebrate the launch of Only For
You. There are several different giveaways and lots of chances to win,
including $50 Amazon Gift Cards or fashion accessories similar to what
Everleigh wore in Only For You. For full details on how to enter you can visit my website: www.gennarulon.com/free
Also, if you enjoy Only For You, keep your eyes peeled for the next book in the For You series, which is Sam’s story; Pieces For You will be released December 17, 2013.
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).
You can find Genna online at: www.gennarulon.com
Be sure to join the mailing list for updates about future books, as well as giveaways, and other fun facts.
Genna would love to hear from you, and will personally respond to all messages!
You can contact her as follows:
Email: genna@gennarulon.com
You can also follow Genna online at:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GennaRulon
Facebook: www.facebook.com/genna.rulon
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/gennarulon
Pintrest: www.pinterest.com/gennarulon
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