FOR EVERLY BY RAINE THOMAS

ISBN: 978-1939453051
ASIN: B00D0TB1CE
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages/File Size: 310pages/724KB
Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

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

BLURB from Goodreads
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.

INITIAL THOUGHTS
Truthfully I was a little unsure as to whether I would get along with this book as lately I tend not to read much of this genre. that however changed when I began reading. The first impressions I have of the main characters are that Everly has had a rough time in life but is a hardworking sensitive woman. Cole is a player as well as a ball player! Used to everything he ever wanted being there at hand for him, definitely used to getting his own way and having women fall at his feet in admiration. Having said that about him I can't help but kind like the guy! 

MY REVIEW
I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. One of the reasons I requested this book was as I had read Defy,First Born Bk#1 and really loved that, though that book is paranormal and this one is New Adult, so different genres. The cover I'd say depicts Everly and Cole. Though I'd say that the cover doesn't show Everly's innocence as much as it could The look on the models on the covers face is more challenging than I think Everly's would ever be. The model representing Cole is not as gorgeous as I imagined Cole to be or as muscly looking but I suppose that is personal opinion/imagination/imagery. So would the cover of this book make me pick up from a bookstore shelf? Being totally honest . . no. Even when reading the blurb I would be in two minds. I'd say totally honestly I read this book as I like how the author Raine Thomas writes, and that was one of the main reasons I wanted to give the book a go. As well as the fact I wanted to try reading more of the New Adult genre. I do have to say I certainly did not regret choosing to read the book I really liked it a lot!
So I already explained in my initial thought what I had thought to the main characters in the beginning. There are quite a few characters in this book, such as the father of Everly, Mason who turns up when he realises his daughter is making money and perhaps he can get some of it from her. 
What starts out of as a secret business arrangement done through a good friend Wyatt, ends up with Everly (Wyatts friend from work and his partner Rowan's employee) and Wyatt's brother Cole (the injured pitcher who doesn't want the world to know he is injured as it could end his career) starting a fake romance. 
Everly and Cole come from totally different background. Everly is a hard working, has to account for every penny coming into her home and going out. Everly is training to be a Physical Therapist, so studying and volunteering and rehab gyms as well as working as a waitress in Rowan's restaurant.
Cole has had a more privileged up bringing, is a famous baseball player with plenty of money. 
The fake romance is to explain Everly's presence in Cole's life and home. However as time progresses the baseball player begins to see the brilliant qualities that Everly has in comparison to his former girlfriends and actually ends up falling for her. The path for their love is not a straight forward one. Someone seems to be stalking Everly, beginning with slashing her tires and then she is attacked with a baseball bat and put in hospital. It's whilst she is hospital that Cole hears that Everly has many remodeled injuries which means she has broken many bones and had mulitple injuries before. Everly is a quiet reserved person and has not discussed her private earlier life with Cole. Though other people seem determined to drag things up and to try and form a wedge between them. Cole does however learn to trust Everly and is really patient with her and eventually coaxes her to trust in him and tell him her problems and about her earlier life. 
I love the characters of Everly and Cole and really love how their relationship develops. I love how his family welcomes Everly and her Grandpa into the fold of their family and immediately like her. I also like the camaraderie of the baseball players within the storyline. They also help to boost Everly's confidence. Though there is still someone trying to set her up and drive a wedge between her and Cole and when you find out who you kind of say oh yes and several clues come to mind and you comprehend who and why the guilty party has been so nasty to Everly. I think Cole handles the situation really well.
This book has friendship, love, tragedy, betrayal, violence and suspense.
So did I enjoy the book? I really did yes, even though I don't read a lot of this genre. Would I recommend the book? I've already recommended it to my mum as I think she will enjoy the story. Would I read a BK#2? How this book ends doesn't seem as though there will be a BK#1. Would I read more books by Raine Thomas? As I've read Defy I have read other books by Raine, though I do definitely intend to read more.

PURCHASE LINK

FOR EVERLY BY RAINE THOMAS 

REVIEW BY ENA

ENA'S REVIEW

My daughter Sandra/Jeanz recommended the book to me shortly after she had read it. So I requested it on my Netgalley Account and was accepted and allowed to download a mobi file copy to my kindle to read. Yes I'm of an "older" generation and have my own kindle, two of my younger sisters have them too. To be honest I'd be totally lost without my kindle now! It allows me (well Sandra) to adjust the print size for me to read the book comforably. So many paperback books these days have such small print.

Anyhow to my review, I immediately fell in love with the character of Cole. He comes across as a proper old fashioned gentleman with Everly and genuinely learns to truly care about her. What a "dreamboat" he sounds! Do such characters actually exist in real life? I also liked the tough exterior yet vulnerability of Everly, how she finally lets Cole into her life, and slowly learns to rely on him.  

There are of course the "bad" characters in the book too. Marshall is Everly's dad who seems to want to cash in on whatever he can get from his daughter or whoever she associates with. It's sad how Marshall treats his father who so wants to love him and for him to be a decent son. Then there's the "bitches" who hang around the baseball players. 

The book is well written with great descriptions within it. The pace of the book made it a fantastic read.

What can I say? I loved this book.  Would I like to read more books by Raine Thomas? Yes please, this book really suited my reading tastes. It had its ups and downs but you are left with an uplifting feeling once she finished the book.