Lovin' los libros

Everything For Us (The Bad Boys #3)
   by: M. Leighton

Publication Date: Sept. 3, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult/Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by InkSlingerPR, NetGalley, and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Can I just say... I think Michelle ended this series PERFECTLY. The hopeless romantic that I am was absolutely SWOONING like crazy! Sigh. Ok. Let's see if I can write a coherent review.

First of all I fell in love with Cash and Olivia. I loved their chemistry, their desperate need for one another, and their journey to learn how to trust one another implicitly. With that being said, I was really unsure how I was going to like this book, especially since it is Marissa's story. Marissa was not a character many people liked in the first two books. She's a stuck-up, overly privileged daddy's girl who always gets what she wants. She doesn't care who she hurts in the process and only looks out for number one. Everything about her screams prissy socialite- her circle of friends, her clothing, and the way she looks down on others. How would I ever like this girl?

Marissa ended up surprising me, that's for sure. Her vulnerability really shows in this book. After having gone through a frightening ordeal- she's not quite the same. Having your life flash before your eyes will definitely do that to you. Her eyes were opened and could see things more clearly. The way she treated others (especially her cousin) were deplorable. And she really sees that in this book. She gets a lot of flack from the guys about her transformation, but she isn't concerned with what they think. She only wants to prove herself to Olivia and make things right with her. However, what starts out that way turns into something more. Marissa wants to prove herself for her. She doesn't want to be that vapid person she used to be. She is tired of being Daddy's perfect little girl.

"I've done this all my life- cater to Daddy, pander to Daddy, yield to Daddy. It's always come naturally. He's the type of man who demands it, without ever really having to ask for it. But today, for the first time I can remember, I choke a little bit on the words." (eARC 46)

It's not too late for Marissa to salvage the person she wants to be. She just needs to have others believe in her and to believe in herself. She really gets that with the male lead in this story. Both MC's have such baggage, self doubt, and self loathing that they end up seeking comfort in one another.

I really don't want to spoil who the male love interest is, because I've done such a good job keeping my reviews spoiler free in that aspect. Let me just say- the man has been through hell and back. He has had everything taken from him and has lived a shell of a life. His life has consisted of being on the outside always looking in, and save for his mother, has never really known the love of a woman. He is all hard edges and oozes bitterness. Upon meeting Marissa, he only wants to use her as a means of forgetting. He desires her and loves the chase associated with her. He is definitely not looking for a relationship, yet the more time he spends with her, the lines he's so carefully drawn for their interactions are beginning to blur. Yet even after confessing some of the horrible things he's done- she doesn't withdraw from him. He knows he's falling into a dangerous spiral he won't be able to come out of. Will he be able to let his need for revenge and justice go or will he let his anger consume him to the point of no return?

I loved watching these two together. He especially is relentless in fighting his feelings for her. He starts letting that self doubt creep in and makes himself believe he isn't good enough to be with her. She's his dream that he will never allow himself to have and he's the dream she would do anything to hold on to.

For my Cash/Olivia fans- do not fret! They do make quite a few appearances in this book and there is one in particular that will leave you very satisfied. :) We also get plot resolution in this book as to what had been occurring in the last two books concerning Cash and Nash's father and the trouble they found themselves in.

Marissa and her leading man's journey together is not an easy one- it is filled with heartache, passion, and love.  Yet, sometimes in order to truly appreciate the good things in life- you have to leave it all behind so you know exactly what it is you're missing.