MINI-REVIEWS: ALL FOR YOU by MARQUITA VALENTINE AND IF I RETURN by SAWYER BENNETT (THE TWELVE NA'S OF CHRISTMAS

The Twelve NA's of Christmas Anthology was recently released, and like many, I love holiday anthologies. Today I am sharing my thoughts on two of the novellas, All for You by Marquita Valentine and If I Return by Sawyer Bennett.

Series: Boys of the South #2.5
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 11/1/13
Format: Beta/ARC
Source: Received from author
Rating: 4.5 stars

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.

(I don't normally rate beta reads, but I made zero change suggestions for this story.) All For You was so good! I was blown away by the quiet intensity of the characters and their story. Do I wish this was a full-length book? You bet. I would've loved to have learned so much more about West and McKenzie. Having said that, Valentine did a great job of fitting a full story in a small space. All For You is a heart-touching story of redemption, forgiveness, and love. PS- It was so nice to get the li...more (I would like to point out that while I don't normally rate/review a book I have beta read, I am making an exception in this case because I made zero change suggestions for this story. ) All For You was so, so good. I can easily say that it is my favorite of this series and author Marquita Valentine. This is an extremely heart-touching and powerful story about first love, bullying, redemption and the power of forgiveness. Both for the person forgiven, but just as much for the person who can finally let go of the pain and forgive. I was blown away by the quiet intensity of West, McKenzie and their story. Do I wish this was a full-length book? You bet, though not because I felt it was lacking in any way whatsoever. I want more because I truly embraced West and McKenzie and would've loved to have learned so much more about them. Having said that, Valentine did a great job of fitting a full story in a small space. Oh... I almost forgot to mention, but it was NICE to get a cameo from one of my favorite dudes, Parker Morgan! All For You is a wonderful novella that will squeeze your holiday heart. Favorite Quote:   "Do you want to go home?"   "No."   Relief, so palpable that I can taste it, buzzes through me, heightening my need for her. "Do you want to go somewhere else...with me, where we can be alone?"   One heartbeat, two, then three, and about a million more before she answers. "Yes."   ~eARC, 48% Genre: NA Contemporary Romance Publication Date: 11/1/13 Format: eARC Source: Received from author Rating: 4.5 stars

Would you wait?

College student, Hope Camden, is relentlessly serious, awkwardly shy and in complete need of taking a walk on the wilder side. At least, that’s what her sister tells her when she drags her off for an impromptu Christmas getaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Hope’s plans to keep her nose in a book the entire vacation are thwarted when she meets Jack Freeman, the gorgeous and enigmatic Army helicopter pilot staying at the same resort. What was supposed to be a quiet Christmas holiday turns into a life changing event for Hope and Jack. The only problem? Jack is headed off to war, and there is no guarantee he will come back.

If I Return... wow, it was a sweet and touching love story. What makes it so special, besides the fact that I adore anything Sawyer Bennett writes, is the premise.

If I Return is the story of a chance encounter over the holidays. Upon meeting, Hope and Jack have an instantaneous chemistry, which quickly forms into a whirlwind and sexy week of romance and fun. Jack and Hope, they seem to be made for one another. But maybe it is not meant to be. Jack is a helicopter pilot, soon leaving for a tour of duty in Afghanistan. And though Hope wants to stay connected while he's away, Jack can't face leaving her behind, waiting for him. But, Jack can't leave Hope behind without promising her to meet her in the same place, one year later, "If I Return".

That's a beautiful promise, right? I love that Sawyer Bennett created such a gorgeous story around one very haunting sentence. She did this story justice. I'm a big fan of novellas, particularly those centering around a holiday or a theme. And I can easily say that though I would have been so happy with a full-length novel, If I Return was a very fulfilling novella.

Favorite Quote:

  "You're just so beautiful," he says reverently. "With your hair all splayed out in the snow...your cheeks and nose red from the cold. Fuck the snow angels...I just want to get to the kissing part."   ~eARC, 51%

Purchase All For You

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Purchase If I Return
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

About Marquita Valentine

New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.

 Marquita 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.

Website  |  Twitter   |  Facebook  |  GoodReads  |  Pinterest

 About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Connect with Sawyer:

Sawyer Bennett | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads