Review: Great New Adult Romance with refreshing role reversal
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 17, 2013
I really loved this book.  The role reversal from the typical bad boy and the girl who is a virgin, to the guy being the virgin was such a welcome change from so many of the new adult contemporary romances out there - like a breath of fresh air.  Avery Michaels is a nursing student in college pursuing her RN and is working at a nursing home as an LPN in the interim, while putting herself through college. She is really pretty, hardworking, independent, enjoys partying with her friends on the weekend, but there is one thing that she makes clear....Avery doesn't do relationships, at all, she only does hookups.Guys are east to figure out - at least the in the hormonal sense.  You needed only appear helpless or horny, and their pants instantly dropped to their ankles.Avery doesn't have to pursue guys, they come to her - that is until she meets Bennett Reynolds.  Bennett Reynolds is also in college.  He's an artist, and he also works as a tattoo artist.  He's sexy, cute, has eyes that you could just loose yourself in, a panty-dropping smile, and hotness just drips off him....I mean like you could just lick him he's so yummy.  Bennett doesn't do hookups, ever, he does relationships.......and he is waiting on the right girl to come along before he gives up his V-card."I want something real," he whispered.  "And I'm willing to wait for it."When Avery meets Bennett at a party, she wants him, really bad, but Bennett blows her off, something Avery isn't used to, and doesn't quite know how to deal with.Hot boy nodded before turning on his heels and heading out of the room, leaving my ego collapsing on the cold hard tile.  Chivalrous Hot Boy was so not into me.When Bennett ends up moving into her apartment complex, things really begin to get interesting.  She soon finds out that it's not that Bennett doesn't like her......he does, a lot, and whether she wants to admit it or not, she likes him a lot to.  Bennett awakens feelings in Avery she thought were long buried, and begins to crack the hard shell she has placed around her heart and emotions, something which is way out of her comfort zone.  When she understands Bennett's reasons for his choices, she respects him.  It doesn't make her want him any less, because she does, but she also figures she just can't go there.  Ironically, Bennett and Avery have very similar backgrounds.  Neither of their lives has been a bed of roses and they have both dealt with and continue to deal with some really tough family issues, they have just chosen to handle those issues differently.  As circumstances bring them together, they become closer, friends even, but also begin to be much more.  Bennett is crazy about Avery.  He sees something special about her.  He is so good with her and patient with her - now he does get aggravated with her and messes up some.  He's not perfect, and he has a jealous streak, but the way he responds to her, talks to her, and deals with her overall was amazing.As there relationship changes and crosses over into something more, Avery discovers her feelings go much deeper than anything she has ever experienced, something that both frightens and amazes her, and when Bennett kisses her, it is like nothing she's ever experienced."Baby," he whispered, and then gave me a slow molten kiss that stole my breath away.  All of my muscles went liquid, and I was thankful he was holding me up."Damn it, Bennett," I panted.  "How in the hell do you know exactly how to drive me insane?"........."I said I was a virgin, Avery.  Not a saint."Something happens and Avery is forced to make a choice regarding Bennett and their relationship.  Will she let him go, or is she willing to take a chance on love?This was such a wonderful story.  As I said above, the whole role reversal in the story was like a breath of fresh air.  The story line itself was so good, and I loved watching these two individuals who had such broken and hurtful pasts, deal with how they chose to face some really tough life situations both with their families, their pasts, and with each other.  There is also a suspenseful side to the story, which I don't want to say anything about because I don't want to spoil it, but it adds that extra bit of thrill to the story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages.  The romance was hot and steamy - don't let the fact that Bennett is a virgin make you think it's not, because it most definitely is.  Overall, I really loved All of You and if you are a fan of contemporary romance, especially the new adult variety, then All of You is a must read and I highly recommend it.