Colton Masters:
I have no idea why I’m being so rude to her. She hasn’t done anything wrong to me. She seems nice actually, sweet. She’s attractive, that’s for sure, but she certainly isn’t trying to capitalize on it. A baggy sweatshirt and a pair of jeans? Maybe it’s the UGGS that piss me off. The screaming designer label on her sweatshirt. Maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t stopped fantasizing … fantasizing about what she might look underneath it.
Lauren Percy:
Why is he being so rude to me? He has a face that has that boy charm. Dimples, big brown eyes, sandy hair, clear skin. But as I travel to his chest, I can see this is no innocent boy. Through his white t-shirt that grips his biceps, I see the black ink of tattoos. Where I come from, I have never seen a tattoo up close and personal. His hands are calloused, his fingernails slightly bitten, and he has a slight scar on his collarbone, but it’s hard to see under the hemp choker he’s wearing. He’s sexy as hell.
Colton Masters: “You done staring, Princess?”
Lauren Percy: Damn it. Why I am so drawn to him?
Play Only For Me is a standalone New Adult Romance of two college music majors discovering themselves but ultimately discovering love. It will send you back all those years ago, to the first time you, yourself, fell in love…and prayed: He’d play, only for you.
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This is an emotional, heart wrenching story of two young people immediately attracted to each other, while struggling with fragile feelings tucked in the depths of their psyche.
Lauren is a University freshman taking an advanced music class. She is immediately paired with Colton to complete a homework assignment. He is older and much more experienced in life. For some reason, his attraction to her manifests itself as sarcasm and cruelty.
Colton grew up almost destitute; Lauren experienced wealth. He was beaten; she was pampered. While one is rich and the other poor, both are suffering deep physical, mental and emotional scars that can never be forgotten. Each has experienced a loss that can never be filled. Will they find their solace in each other? Can they learn how to become closer, more intimate, more open and honest about what truly matters? Is this love? How do they know? What should they do if it is?
This is a beautiful exploration of experience versus naiveté, past versus present, attraction versus aversion and much, much more. As these two unique individuals struggle with their feelings, we are drawn more intimately into their hopes and desires for a future that will fulfill their dreams. Reading this story touched every hidden part of my heart, and I recommend it highly.
This book is absolutely amazing! The emotional journey of Colton and Lauren is one of the best books I’ve read. They meet in a college music class and he judges her from the beginning. They get paired up for an assignment and he’s nothing but rude to her. The more time they spend together, though, the more neither wants to resist the pull they feel. It’s a push and pull between the two as Colton wants her but knows he’s no good for her. And she is dealing with family drama that leaves her uncertain about her own worthiness. It takes time, but they finally see what they mean to each other only to have life get in the way. A wonderful opportunity presents itself to her and he knows he can’t hold her back.
I am volunteering my honest review for an ARC copy of this book.
I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story.
Lauren and Colton are YA/NA with typical wants and fears, and a not so typical background. Both had more pain and grief in their life than most people suffer in a lifetime. Then again, that probably makes them such greats artists.
Given this is a story by RB O’Brien, I wasn’t expecting a sappy romance and rightfully so. We have a lot of angst and tears and an unexpected ending.
What I love about Play Only For Me is how authentic the characters are, from Lauren and Colton to even the smallest side character, like Brian. Sometimes sweet, sometimes stupid- but hey, they’re young people finding their place in the world.
What I liked less was the frequent POV switching. It distracted me the first few chapters. Maybe, it became less further in Play Only For Me or I got sucked into story because I didn’t notice it after reading about 30%.
Disclaimer: I’m leaving a voluntary review and this is my honest opinion. I’m in no way, shape or form coerced, influenced, or paid to leave this review.
I’m not related nor friends with this author and I do not have a personal interest in this book.
Ah, so good! Two music majors in their early college years. He grew up very poor and abused. She is struggling with loss and insecurities. They meet head on. He is hot and cold. She is confused, but very attracted. This is their story. So emotional. So poetic. So darned entertaining! Will they only play for each other?
When first impressions are confusing and second chances provide hope…
While I’m familiar with R.B O’Brien’s engaging poetry and erotic/romance novels… this is her first foray into the New Adult genre. It would also be a genre entirely unfamiliar for me to read. I wasn’t sure what to expect when reading PLAY ONLY FOR ME. Simply read with an open mind. Like me… you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
WOW!! Impressive!! R.B O’Brien has gifted readers a beautifully charming, emotional, and inviting story. A page turner and a roller coaster of emotions from the get go. Throughout the book, there were plenty of moments, where I found myself swept up in past memories. For those reading… you too will find yourself reminiscing, connecting in someway to the story. For some, it will hold joyful moments that bring the tenderness of a smile, the groans and hilarity of youthful embarrassment, and for others, memories that leave you feeling stripped raw… overwhelmed… emotional…(insert, have tissues handy)
PLAY ONLY FOR ME — a story backdropped with college aged students. The emphasis being the music/theatre/song department. Amongst the lyrical notes, the strumming of guitar strings and tap of piano keys, witty and angsty banter abounds throughout the story. Students will discover themselves, if they’re willing to take the risk at more. Easy?? Never! When it comes to Lauren and Colton, the quintessential studious, awkward young lady meets tough talking, brash bad boy… they’ll set the scene of what’s to come. Sparks will ignite!
When we assume what’s on the surface level of a person, our first impressions often lead us astray. For both Colton and Lauren… despite the underlying tension, the simmering attraction, their first impressions of each other – are pretty dismal. Where friendship, trust, and love is not easily given. Colton is without a doubt, an experience.
Is it the facade we hide behind for the world to see or the vulnerability that makes us authentic and real? What is Colton and Lauren’s story and truth?
Can we learn from the past, too shape a better future and have all that we want and desire from life, love, and our education? Read PLAY ONLY FOR ME, to discover how those answers are fulfilled. After reading a few dark stories, it was well worth my time to be invested in angst and the blush of first love/romance. I know it’s going to be well worth your time to read also.
ONE UNBELIEVABLE JOURNEY!!!
Step up! O’Brien unleashes a killer storyline and gripping plot, spinning this brilliantly composed approach, imparting every sentiment and nuance as lines blur and boundaries are broken as reality gets bent, wrapping this baby up seamlessly. Sparks fly as drama, turmoil, intrigue, underlying currents and spiraling suspense, along with a boatload of confusion and perplexing situations, you have one block busting masterpiece. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, booting this gem into a tempest, bursting it into a frenzy with an eye-opening culmination. A tumultuous whirlwind of intimidating trials and challenging tribulations, exposing the shocking twists and wicked turns, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they’ve never imagined. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuine charismatic personalities. The scenes are written with such realism, impressive passion, imagination and unique insight, blasts this sparkling jewel wide open, making the storyline pop. Amazing job O’Brien, thanks for sharing this treasure with us.
The undertones of sadness and loss read throughout this story, and it makes it more real. Being poor, abused, neglected, feeling unloved. It is across the board whether you are wealthy or poor. It is just a sign of screwed up parents.
My heart broke with all the push-pull of emotions that Colton and Lauren shared. Their story of feeling broken, unloveable touches a part of us we all feel, even if it is only a small bit.
This was a sad but sweet read that has a happy ending and takes you on an emotional journey.
I read and reviewed a copy of this book.
This was an excellent book. I have an incredible book hangover now though. There better be a second book because I literally just sat shaking my kindle and muttering at the end. Such a beautiful romance, gritty and heart wrenching. The characters were believable and poignant. The story line was engaging and moved at a believable pace. Absolutely recommend this book! I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
This was an interesting read based in a college setting. Lauren is the new girl trying to find her way and footing, while Colton treats her poorly even though he cant understand his attraction to her. through their love of music, they find themselves and each other.
This raw, emotional story was wonderfully written with characters that were developed with great detail and depth! I was pulled right into Lauren and Colton’s story as it seamlessly unfolded throughout the entire book!
Ahhh, the complexities of young adulthood…
—>>> This author brings forth all the complexities of young adulthood mixed with its usual struggles of insecurities and vulnerabilities, layered onto life-situational struggles with Colton’s present and Lauren’s past. However, both find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other, in the vein of “opposites attract” law. Their hard-earned HEA finally comes after much emotional upheaval and angst.
I really tried… and it’s not that the story was bad or I hated the characters. It is more like there was so much potential and when it fell flat it broke my heart a bit. The story had a great plot: Lauren is an insanely talented freshman feeling like a fish out of water. She has, from the outside at least, everything going for her: two parents who want the best for her, money, amazing musical talent and a bright future. Everything that Colton wants and hates her for having. He’s the broody, wrong side of the tracks, hot musician that all the girls want. He sees Lauren and hates her for what he sees on the surface. Lauren wants him and hates herself for wanting a guy who for the most part wants nothing to do with her. Like I said – great potential. Here’s where it fell flat for me. One is the POV changes. They are back and forth frequently and don’t have smooth transitions. It got very confusing trying to figure out who was talking some of the time. Another issue is Lauren. She was too wishy washy and damsel in distress for me. A character can be vulnerable and emotional without crying all the time. She let Colton walk all over her and second guessed everything. I like my female characters stronger than how Lauren was portrayed. She seemed kind of weak and it didn’t sit well. I didn’t care for Beth either. She came off more a hypocritical jealous woman than concerned friend/roommate. I actually liked Angela a lot more. With her at least she seemed genuine and open with her feelings. Colton all around was a great character except that what I think was supposed to be a bully with a heart of gold, was really more of a little kid acting out because he can’t voice emotions. He was rude but even he didn’t really have reasons why. It just made him a jerk really. I do like how he progressed as a person… well until the end. Honestly, the last bit of the book almost ruined it for me. 100% one of the worst book endings ever. I don’t like how it ended, I don’t like how they acted… it seems unfinished and anticlimactic. This is supposed to be a standalone but it feels like it ended with a cliffhanger. I don’t regret reading the book and it had a lot of emotion that really resonated. There were moving parts scenes I really loved. Maybe I’m just pouting that it wasn’t a neat HEA. Read it and make your own judgement. **I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review**