Book Sixty-Four of 2014: Only For You by E.L. Todd

When Scarlet realized Penelope was dumping Sean, her best friend, she was devastated. Penelope was the love of his life, the woman of his dreams. Scarlet knew how far her best friend was going to fall and she had to catch him. Scarlet became Sean’s rock and helped him through a very painful breakup, but her own hidden desires bubbled to the surface in the process. When they finally gave in and slept together, she thought it was the start of their new relationship. Unfortunately, Sean didn’t feel the same.
Humiliated and heartbroken, Scarlet moved across the country and found what she least expected. She rekindled her damaged relationship with her brother, who she hadn’t spoken to in a year, and her brother’s best friend was attractive and interesting. Their relationship was natural and unforced, and she was immediately drawn to him. Would she be able to get over Sean, forget about him, by sleeping with Cortland, or would that just be another repeated mistake?

Only For You is a contemporary new adult romance by E.L. Todd. It is the first in a long series. Watch out, there are 19 books currently and I’m sure the number will climb fast. E.L. Todd is rather prolific and churns out her stories quickly. I can never keep up.

The Forever and Always series, the series that Only For You begins, is a rather popular series among her fans. They are emotionally invested in these characters and keep asking more. And, to be honest, I can see why. In all of the books I’ve read by E.L. Todd, this one was my favorite.

I liked the first person narative and that you get the point of views from both heroine and hero. Neither character seem to be at their strongest in this book and there were times that I wanted to smack Scarlet upside the head. The issue with her boss is one instance that I wanted to smack her. That said, it is unfortunate that there is a percentage of women who would deal with that certain situation the same way she does. It isn’t because the women aren’t strong, it’s because there are moments in society that make women (really, anyone) feel the way Scarlet does. I had to remind myself that when I was reading.

That said, even Sean had moments of serious smackdown. I’d tell you why, but it is integral to the plot. He did show a more emotional side to himself though and it is that aspect of this book that I like. Most male characters are seen as the big brooding hero, but E. L. Todd writes Sean and the other male characters in this book as regular people.

I would call this series a guilty pleasure series where when I need a fix of contemporary and drama I would go to. Am I going to continue this series? Yeah, I think I will.