Review: For Everly by Raine Thomas

For Everly by Raine Thomas

Release date: May 27th 2013

Iambe Books
Source: Author

Blurb:

**Mature Content Warning** This is a New Adult novel recommended for ages 17+ due to language, sexual content, and mature subject matter.

Determined to overcome a dark and tragic past, college student Everly Wallace is only months away from earning her degree in physical therapy. She’s consumed with school, caring for her ailing grandfather, and figuring out how to pay the next bill. The last thing she wants is a relationship, but it just might be the one thing she needs.

Major League pitcher Cole Parker hasn’t fought for anything in his life. He went from a privileged upbringing to a multimillion dollar All-Star career. But when his pitching shoulder starts to give him trouble at only twenty-four years old, he faces the possibility of his injury becoming public knowledge and costing him everything.

In a desperate bid to save his career, Cole decides to hire someone to treat his injury, someone who will keep things off the record and out of the media. He finds the perfect solution in Everly. As mysterious as she is beautiful, she provides an enticing distraction from his pain. Soon, physical therapy is the last thing on his mind.

When an act of betrayal brings the truths they both fear to light, Cole will have to fight for the first time in his life…not just for his career, but for Everly’s love.

Buy Links :   Barnes & Noble | Amazon

AUTHOR BIO AND LINKS:

Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a bestselling series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. Her latest book is a New Adult Contemporary Romance titled For Everly. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

 http://www.RaineThomas.com | http://twitter.com/Raine_Thomas
http://facebook.com/RaineThomas | http://pinterest.com/RaineThomas

My Review:  

So, Raine Thomas is known for writing Young Adult novels that tend fall under the paranormal romance genre. When I heard she was writing a New Adult romance that was realistic fiction, I became really curious. I wondered how that transition would go. And I'm here to inform you all that it went extremely well. For Everly is a book that is jam-packed with romance, intrigue, and great character development. I always felt like I was seeing a movie. There is never a dull moment in this book.

What shines in this book, to me, is the characterization. The characters in this book are extremely well thought out and layered. Our female lead, Everly, is a girl in her early 20s who is not only studying but has a tremendous amount of responsibility as the caretaker for her ailing grandfather. Cole, our male lead, is a pitcher in the Major League with a lot of wealth and fame, who is also in his early 20s. As different as these characters are in terms of background and personality, they both face the same dilemma which is: trust issues. Through each other, they learn to overcome these issues. Granted, Everly has a much darker past than Cole. Cole had a great upbringing and great family. Everly didn't. Because of this, she always keeps people at arm's length. She has been hurt too much. Cole on the other hand struggles with the issues that all famous people deal with: Is this person who is approaching me doing it for me or do they want to get something out of knowing me because of my fame?

What I loved about Everly, the female lead of this book, is just how real she was.  She tackles on so much and I think many people could relate to her struggles because there are many young people out there with really tough lives. Through her journey and story, we get to learn more about topics such as depression, suicide, post traumatic stress disorder, stress, stalking, emotional abuse, abandonment, and poverty. It was not only enlightening, but so interesting. Furthermore, what was really a highlight of the novel, was seeing Cole, the male lead, learning to deal with these issues that are so foreign to his life as he got to know Everly. 

As challenging as the topics are in this novel, it also has a very light hearted feel to it because both main characters are really good people who desire to live the best life possible. Cole especially helps Everly a lot in breaking out of her shell. She is so stuck on solving problems, she forgets to be young.

The romance in this novel is not only really cute, but intense as well. This is a new adult novel, so both main characters are in their early 20s and there is definitely mature content in this book. In my opinion, I thought that all of the scenes that were relevant to sex were tastefully done. Some New Adult novels tend to get carried away and forget about the literature aspect of the book. Not this one. Eveyrthing in this book is well balanced. The writing is great. The pacing. And the dialogue felt very real and authentic to what people in their early 20s sound like. Oh, and the secondary characters in this novel are awesome. I thought the cast of characters in this book were really well-developed and that they had a lot of layers and charisma.

Oh, and another highlight of this book. The intrigue. The story of the main character, Everly, unravels throughout the book. The reader doesn't get everything upfront. That was really a nice touch. Oh, and the villains in this book. Were so manipulative and deceitful. All I can say, is that there was this one scene that reminded me of Fatal Attraction. I was surprised at the people that turned out to be the instigators in this story. It was a huge surprise.

Overall, this is an amazing book. It's psychological, romantic, and real. If you are a fan of the New Adult genre, read it. It is good!

My rating: 5/5

 

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