He’s my new roommate. The best friend I’ve loved forever. But now he’s a scorching-hot single dad and there’s only one bed.
I am so screwed.
You know the story about “that girl” in high school? Well, that was me, but I’d never let a lousy rumour rule my life. I took every word and rewrote the script. Abigail Ellison: all game, no shame.
It’s kind of my brand.
Will Kidd is an irresistible bartender with a rep of his own. He wants me. I want him. But I refuse to be a notch on his bedpost or let him be another on mine.
When a baby wearing his dimples lands on Will’s doorstep the same day I come begging for a place to crash, Will finally gets serious—and his overprotective daddy vibe is seriously hot.
Now we’re raising a baby in Will’s loft. It’s tense. We’re stressed. Will can’t keep sleeping on the sofa and I’m months into a never-ending man-drought, but we know one way to blow off steam…
In no time at all, everything good in my world looks like all the things I never wanted. The man, the home, the business, the baby… But it’s impossible to believe this life is mine to keep.
After all, former bad girls and reformed playboys don’t get happily-ever-afters… Do they?
Only For You is a first-person, dual POV contemporary romance with lots of steam and a satisfying happily ever after.
Samantha Leigh is the author of hot and heartfelt small town romance. Her heroes are dirty but her heroines like it that way, and they always get their happily-ever-afters.
Sam lives in Sydney, Australia, with her book boyfriend husband and their two soccer-obsessed kids.
“The universe makes plans whether we like it or not, and our story was etched in the sky long before we knew our own truths.”
Finally, we got Will and Abbey’s story! These four books in the series follows a group of friends in this small town and finding their person. To understand Abbey and Will’s story, I would start from the first book as you feel the tension and chemistry come through. I love how we got the reformed playboy look from Will but it still had elements of fun with Abbey and the bingo challenge it just made you smile. I honestly love this friend group so much and each of their stories. I do recommend this whole series if you want to give it a go!
If you love:
🔹Small Town Romance 🔹Best Friend To Lovers 🔹Roommates 🔹One Bed 🔹Its Always Been You 🔹Perfect Amount Of Spice
Genre/Type: Small Town Romance 18+ APK: Physical Book Pages: 461 Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶 Series or Stand Alone: Fourth And Final Book In The Valentine Bay Series Tropes or Themes: Roommate, Best Friends To Lovers, Single Dad, One Bed, Reformed Playboy, Protective, Touch Her Or Die Vibes, It’s Always Been You, Third Act Breakup, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Praise, Quickie Scene, Violence and Cursing Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
I am so grateful to be part of Samantha's ARC team - Her debut series just keeps getting better & better!
- Friends to Lovers - Reformed Playboy - Single Dad - Forced Proximity / Room Mates - "Always been you"
Will. Do I need to say more? I have had a crush on him since book 1; Ready for you. And Abbie? I definitely have had a girl crush on her since that book too! So I was more excited to jump into Only For You knowing these two has the chemistry - They just needed to make it work!
Will & Abbie have been best friends since high school. After high school / when all their friends starting coupling up - They were always the two "single bachelor" friends. With commitment making them both feel uncomfortable - They both found their love in their own careers with Will having the number one bar in Valentine Bay & Abbie owning her own yoga studio.
When Abbie's yoga studio floods, she finds herself homeless & lonely. When her parents give her the advice of "growing up and finally make if official with Will", this is how she finds herself on her best friends doorstep. And when she discovers he isn't just her best friend anymore, but a dad as well.
Will is thriving with his Bar but he feels like he wants & needs more. When the space next door to his Bar opens, he has the perfect idea to open a brewery. The only step back is when an one night stand from his past turns up on this door with a 6 month baby claiming he is his son. When Abbie shows up on his door step only a moment after, he automatically leans on his best friend & she agrees to helping him adjust to fatherhood, with the agreed free bed till her apartment is ready for her to move back into.
But what if Abbie suddenly finds herself in love with Will's son? And what if, Will finally wants to settle down, including finally admitting his love for Abbie?
As Will & Abbie juggle parenthood, they also juggle their feelings and if they are ready to fully commit to each other & take the plunge. And when they do, the STEAM!! Their emotional connection is special, but their physical connection is even hotter. But will it last?
Holy cow!! I could not, did not, want to put this book down. The rollercoaster of emotions, the oohs and ahhs of the swoon-worthy moments....all wonderful.
And don't even get me started on chapters 45 and 46; my favorite chapters of the story. Only because what they said made me laugh (and it was so different!). Read to find out. But really, watching the love morph and grow between Will and Abs was so amazing. In fact, I felt like an intruder in their life and that doesn't happen often.
Want a sweet, best friends to lovers and reforming of Playboy, and PLAYGIRL ways...yes..you read that right. Then pick this up...you won't regret it.
I am so happy we finally got Will’s story! I have adored him throughout and this was the perfect addition to the Valentines Bay Series.
Daddy Will is a cocky & handsome bar owner. Abbie is a Yoga studio owner. After her pipes burst she lands herself at her best friend’s doorstep… only to find the cutest baby ever & what she thought would be a few night sleepover, quickly turned into so much more.
I adored the banter between Abs and Will. The side characters from previous books are seen several times throughout. So that was fun!
The storyline was great. I really appreciated Will’s work ethic and hard work to pull off the towns Valentine Festival!
I really liked the 2 mamas (of A + W) and I was irritated with A’s mama in the beginning, but she quickly redeemed herself 😁 - with her not so subtle self.
💜 single daddy 💜 one bed 💜 forced proximity 💜 F2L 💜 strong mc’s 💜 small town
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was probably my favourite of the series, because what’s better than found family, single dad, and absolute SPICE? Nothing at all, that’s what.
I loved this book and Abbie & Will generally as characters- their stories and development both in their relationship and as people, were absolutely brilliant.
Loved this series, loved this book. Love love love
“ I wish we were teenagers, Will, then you’d really be my first.”
“ I can’t be your first, babe ,but I’m going to be your last.”
MY. HEART.
I received a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review. Ok HANDS DOWN, DADDY WILL STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT FOR THIS SERIES. This book was incredible, once I opened it I couldn’t put it down. I was absolutely enamored! I have been waiting for Will and Abbie’s story since book one, and now I understand why it was saved for last. It is THE BEST. 100% worth the wait. Will is known as Valentine Bay’s playboy, and his best friend Abbie is not much different. The two always avoiding commitment, have never given in to the attraction they have for one another. When a woman shows up at Will’s door, with his baby son he didn’t know about, his life takes a quick turn. Abbie’s yoga studio and home gets water damage after a pipe bursting, and she moves into WIll’s loft for a few days. Her few days living with Will and helping with his baby, turn into weeks. These two realize maybe they could be more to one another aside from just friends. Taking care of his baby changes the both of them. I think the growth of these characters is what we’ve all hoped for throughout this entire series. They both mature so much in this story. Watching Will go from the playboy bar owner to a father was incredibly heart melting. Abbie finally admitting to herself her feelings for Will, had me practically bouncing in my seat. These two were without a doubt my favorite. Daddy Will has sky rocketed to the top of my list as #1 book husband material. These two were nothing short of DYNAM!T3 together. The spice scenes were PERFECT. The bathroom scene? Not a dry seat in the house. Freaking LOVED THIS! 5 🌟
That tiny statement changed everything for Will and Abbie. But so did the surprise baby being left with Will, at least it came with instructions.
Will and Abbie have been teasing us from the very first book with their flirtatious ways, longing looks and banter. Boy, they did not disappoint!
These two have been best friends since school, their friendship is the most important thing to them. They swore they would never do anything to ruin it and promised to marry each other when they got older.
I freaking loved seeing Abbie and Will with baby Seb. The way these two softened for the baby as well as each other, was everything.
I also really enjoyed how Samantha was realistic when it came to baby Seb teething. The emotions, fear and physical drain Abbie experienced in this book is everything a parent goes through.
The same can be said about what Will experiences too, his struggles to balance fatherhood, his business and a new business venture as well as his love life is all very real.
These two characters have had so much growth throughout this entire series as side characters and now that they are main characters you can’t help but love how far they have come.
I will forever adore Abbie, Will and Seb.
Samantha Leigh has beautifully written another fantastic Valentine Bay book. The plot is perfect, the character development is everything and the chemistry is off the charts.
It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to this series but I don’t believe it could not have ended with a better book.
Highly recommend this entire series.
Massive thank you to Samantha for letting me read an ARC copy.
Abbie and Will 🥹 my heart. I just love these two, and their story was perfection!
📖 Only for You 📝 Samantha Leigh 🗓️ 02/12/2024 💜 Contemporary Romance 📚 Book 4 • Valentine Bay series
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
It’s official. Best friends to lovers has taken over as my favorite trope.
Nothing can beat the history between two characters, the push and pull of will they/won’t they, the pining, the denial… I love it all.
Only For You delivers on everything. Will and Abbie have been best friends for FOREVER, agreeing to keep it that way to not risk what they have.
After SURPRISE - Will has a baby! - things begin to change. They suddenly see another side of one another, and themselves, and how perfectly they fit.
While this is the last book in the Valentine Bay series, it really can be read as a standalone. I started this series with book 3 (Perfect for You) and didn’t feel lost at all. I do want to go back and read the others though, I love Samantha Leigh’s writing!
We do get all the couples from the previous books, bringing an awesome friend group that is their found family.
Tropes & stuff: 🫶🏼 best friends to lovers 🥳 reformed playboy & playgirl 🏠 temporary roommates 🍼 (surprise) single dad 🍺 bar owner mmc 🧘🏼♀️ yoga teacher fmc 🤍 found family 🌳 small town 💞 dual pov/first person
Thank you to Samantha Leigh & the Author Agency for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
“Maybe I can ask the Daddy Will Fan Club to come up with a bunch of bingo cards” Abbie and Will have been friends forever, stand in dates for weddings and family events. Abbie has never opened her heart to more than one night stands to stay in control of her life and Will was the hot bar owner having the time of his life. They could always count on each other. Heather, a weekend fling, lands at Will’s loft to drop off his baby the same day Abbie needs a place to stay. Navigating life changes them both. 🔥 Single Dad 🔥 One Bed 🔥 Playboy/Playgirl 🔥 Small town romance
Only For You by Samantha Leigh is a small town contemporary romance novel with a bit of spice. This story combines romance with the relatable challenges of love and parenthood. The engagement of friends and family within the story, along with real life struggles made it very engaging to read. This is an easy to read, lovable story. A must read
Will and Abbie, best friends since high school, both play hard, but Will’s playing too hard ended up with a surprise on his doorstep and immediately a dad. Abbie, has no where to go, but shows up needing a place to crash at the same time her best friend finds out he is a father.
These two learn and get closer as they live and learn in raising a kiddo together. All the feelings are creeping in the forefront of their friendship. Will it ruin their friendship? What’s going to happen?!! I really love their friendship, their love for each other, their group of friends and all the quirky people in their town. This book was fun and such a cute story.
Only for You is the last book, book #4, in the Valentine Bay series. I've loved this series so much and this book was no exception.
Will & Abbie have been best friends forever. Neither one of them ever wanted to get married or have kids. One day, Abbie needs a place to stay, thanks to a flood at her place. The same day, Will has a surprise baby dropped off at his door step. He's a daddy! This makes them work together trying to figure out how raise a baby and in turn, the one bed & forced proximity forces them to face the feelings they have for each other. I loved seeing Will turn into the hot, protective daddy. Abbie obviously couldn't resist it either. I loved the real parenting aspect to it. It's not all rainbows and butterflies: parenting is hard and exhausting! Their chemistry was undeniable. This relationship has been a slowwww burn over the last 3 books of this series. It was inevitable. There was a little 3rd act breakup but it was resolved really quickly. Overall, really enjoyed this one! The epilogue at the end was perfect too.
Thank you Samantha Leigh and the Author Agency for this ARC! This is my honest review.
Abbie and Will have been best friends forever and I’ve been anticipating this book for ages. This is book 4 in the series I will say to her a glimpse of their story and build up you have e to read book 1-3 to see it as although this is a bit of a slow burn it jumps right into their story. I loved how Abbie become everything he needed right when he became a single dad. Yes he was a playboy but it’s misunderstood but loved the attention. Abbie was hurt in the past so she guarded her heart but together they are perfect and with Seb the little guy who stole both their hearts.
- single dad - small town romance - friends to lovers - reformed playboy - bad girl
This was the perfect ending to the Valentine Bay series! Samantha saved the best for last - Will & Abbie’s love was just everything. This book sent me on a total emotional roller coaster, I laughed, I cried, I swooned. . The tropes in this book were top tier: 💜Reforming Playboy and Playgirl 💜It’s Always Been You 💜Best Friends to Lovers 💜Forced Proximity 💜Only One Bed 💜Single Dad . If you are looking for a feel good romance series, check out Valentine Bay! Each book and each couple will have you falling in love!
When I flipped to the last page of Only For You, my heart was so happy for these characters. It was the ending I wanted, and it was written perfectly, in my opinion.
(Don’t forget to subscribe to Samantha Leigh’s newsletter to get the bonus scene – you won’t regret it!!)
This story is about Will and Abbie, who have been best friends since childhood, written in the first person POV. They made a pact as young adults that they would be friends without benefits, forever wedding date & family function partners. Despite the pact being “without” benefits, Will & Abbie are still very comfortable with each other, they flirt, and Will frequently makes s e xually suggestive comments to Abbie with his dimpled grin. Deep down, they’ve both always been attracted to one another; however, neither will admit it to the other and both fear what would happen if they crossed the line beyond friendship. Plus, they are both known around town as folks who hook up without attachments to others, no relationships. A twist of fate pushes them together: Will abruptly finds out he has a son when he is dropped off at his loft, while at the same time, Abbie’s yoga studio + apartment experiences a pipe burst that floods the place, leaving her with a need for somewhere to stay while it is being repaired. This poses a challenge that will forever change their lives, whether they are ready for it or not.
Abbie is yoga instructor and enthusiast, which led to me picking up very calm and introspective vibes from her character. I felt this worked well when pairing with Will, who you can feel carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was abandoned by his father when he was younger, and he’s always wanted to prove he is NOT his father. Unfortunately, with this much weight on one’s shoulders, it increases the level of potential disappointment or let down tremendously, leaving no room for mistakes. Abbie has a calming impact on Will, most of the time, and it was sweet to read. They really meshed well together. Oh, and how could I not mention the steamy scenes. Abbie and Will bring their chemistry to life in open-door scenes that are hot and steamy🔥, also fantastically written!
The attraction and connection between Will & Abbie is undeniable and beautifully written. You can feel how guarded these characters are, while at the same time, they have an indescribable amount of love for one another. In the beginning, I found it a little far-fetched Heather leaving Sebastian (aka “Seb”) so abruptly and Will never questioning that he was the father or considering alternate methods of how this child could be taken care of, such as adoption, etc. Will immediately went in to “daddy mode” and from a self-proclaimed playboy, this was quite a bit of sudden maturity and responsibility I didn’t expect to see coming; I would have anticipated his character would have struggled with this for longer than a few minutes, but once I got past it and moved on with the book, I found it easy to forget this little tidbit because the rest of their story really knocks it out of the park.
When sharing on IG that Only For You was my current read, I mentioned Samantha Leigh got my ovaries swooning with little Seb, which I never expected to be a thing after having two children of my own, and not having a desire to have more, yet this little fictional character brought those feels on! The quote that started the baby swooning was this one:
“’Good morning, little guy.’ Seb smiled around the bottle’s plastic teat, and warm milk leaked out the sides of his mouth.”
I mean, come on. Even if you aren’t a parent but you’ve fed an infant a bottle, you know exactly what Samantha Leigh is describing here and it stirred up so many memories of my own children doing this exact thing as I fed them when they were younger. *Sigh* Thanks for the run of memory lane, little Seb.
From the bonus scene, 10 years later, I loved so much about this extra scene! It was fantastic to read about where their friend group is now, how many children they have amongst them, and how everyone has grown over time. I especially loved with Samantha did with Birdie & Isaac becoming parents. Although it wasn’t directly mentioned, I assumed based on the ages of the children mentioned in the bonus scene and it made my heart so happy for those characters, to see them turn in to parents in a non-traditional sense, because that’s what works for them. My favorite part of the bonus scene is reading Will’s internal dialogue about how Ivy being born on Valentine’s Day makes her believe the entire town decorates and celebrates Valentine’s Day at Valentine’s Bay for her birthday. This mention also had memories of my youngest son coming to mind because his birthday is July 3rd, therefore every year when we celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July in the US, he has always believed everyone is celebrating for him. His favorite Avenger is Captain America, because his colors are red, white, and blue “Just like my birthday, Mom!” 😊 Just as Will says about Ivy, I hope he believes this is the case for as long as possible because it’s the sweetest thing to witness as a parent.
Only For You is a feel good romance where friends turn in to lovers. If you are a romance fan and enjoy rather drama-free romance stories, this is a book for you. It is not completely drama-free but it is not drawn out drama like some novels. The obstacles our characters faced around 75-85% through the book were realistic and believable. This was a refreshing read for me as many romances these days involve lots of drama where I am yelling at characters to just speak with each other and work out their differences instead of further drawing out friction unnecessarily. Lastly, I’ll mention this book is the 4th and final in a series; I did not read the first three books prior to reading Only For You and I was able to follow the storyline well, just without a deep background of supporting characters from Will & Abbie’s friend group. I will say, I have added the first three books to my TBR list so I can go back and “meet” those characters for the first time and get to know their stories more closely.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🔘Friends to lovers 🔘Reformed player 🔘Former bad girl 🔘Single dad 🔘Only one bed 🔘Forced proximity 🔘Small town 🔘Steamy
4⭐️, 1.75🌶️
So this was the 4th book in a debut series of a new to me author. As much as it could be read as a standalone, I did feel like I missed some big story points for the side characters, so I'd recommend reading the first 3 books before this one. But that being said, I liked this book enough to know that I'm going to go back through and read the whole series now, which says quite a bit about how much I liked this one.
As far as the story, it wasn't anything earth shattering or terribly original, but I really liked the way the author told it. Will is a bar owner playboy with a female best friend, Abbie. Abbie is also a player, and the two have agreed to be each other's platonic life partner's to keep their families off their backs as well as warding off impending loneliness as the hookup lifestyle inevitably gets old in later years. Both have their reasons for this approach, and both are denying their true feelings, of course. Enter a burst pipe that damages Abbie's studio and apartment, and a surprise baby that Will is nowhere near ready to care for by himself, and you've got yourself a recipe for a great friends to lovers mild burn love story.
I liked watching both MCs journeys to their HEA, even though I wanted to shake them more than a few times and tell them to just talk to each other and stop guessing at what the other one actually wanted. And I love a single parent trope, so I was pretty hooked from there, too. I also liked how there was the potential for them to jump into the physical aspect of a relationship right away, but Abbie especially held back and really made sure they were both taking things seriously if they were going to go that far. There was no reason to jeopardize a decades-long friendship if it was only going to be physical. But when they did take it there, whew 🥵🔥. They had so much chemistry, and Daddy Will? Normally not my thing, but it worked in this... 🤤
Overall, this was a good, light, sweet, sexy read with relatively low angst and some spice. I definitely recommend it, especially if you like small town, interconnected stories. And I would read the first 3 books before this to get everyone's full stories, but you don't have to in order to follow this story.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After having that tease of the idea of Will & Abbie for the past 3 books, I was so, so excited to jump into their book! And honestly it didn't disappoint. Although it did flow so differently to what I ever could have imagined. Childhood friends to lovers, single dad, forced proximity, only one bed and reformed playboy x bad girl?! Honestly, give me it all any day of the week. Seeing them be able to lean on each other and be the support the other needed was honestly the best way their romantic relationship could have begun. Abbie needing somewhere to stay and Will being thrust into the deep of all the crazy life can bring. But somehow them working together and being their for one another was all they needed. They were always bound to be in each others orbit, so it just happened to be happy coincidence that the arrival of a child into their lives was exactly what they needed to give them that final shove.
Both Will and Abbie had dark shadows looming over them from their pasts that jad made them into the people they were. Will being the playboy and Abbie being the bad girl. And for both of them, they had been playing on those characters for so long, that switching out of that and finally letting the love they had for each other shine through was just so sweet to see. Although they had a minor blip at the end, I'm actually this book didn't have any major third act breakup. It never would have fit the vibe of these two. They deserved that HEA with each other.
I also love that this book was just so raw and real and honest. Dealing with the difficulties and struggles of having a child, trying to expand your business and dealing with all the stress and lack of sleep both those comes with it. And on top of that, also trying to nurture a new relationship when the concept of such a thing for both people is so new. Talk about a whirlwind of emotions. But both Will & Abbie managed to protray it in such a beautiful way. They were there for each other and learnt to grow and become these new and beautiful people without loosing sight of who they were. Oh and Seb really was the cutest addition to their story.
I am honestly so sad this series is now over but it really did end on the sweetest note with Will & Abbie. I love that the bonus epilogue gave us that little bit more of the group too. Overall this one was a 4 ⭐️ read for me.
What to expect?? 🧘🏼♀️SINGLE DAD 🏄🏼♂️FORCED PROXIMITY 🧘🏼♀️ONLY ONE BED 🏄🏼♂️FRIENDS TO LOVERS 🧘🏼♀️FORMER BAD GIRL 🏄🏼♂️REFORMED PLAYER 🧘🏼♀️SEXY YOGA INSTRUCTOR 🏄🏼♂️BAD BOY BARTENDER
Mmm…Only For You was an adorable best friends to lovers romance (who were already in a secret relationship 😂). Will and Abbie have been lifelong friends who didn’t want the pressure from their families to be in committed relationships, so they concocted a ruse that would convince their families they were together. This worked until Abbie’s yoga studio flooded and she had nowhere else go….only when she shows up to Will’s loft he’s just found out that he has a baby with one of his former flings. On top of this, Will has just set a deal to expand his business, but in order to do so he has to host a poker tournament as part of the town’s festivities for valentines day.
Will feels in over his head, but Abbie has total faith in him and decides to stay and help Will take care of Seb through all of this chaos. However, being forced to be around each other 24/7 starts making their true feelings come out and they start to realize that they cannot fight their love for each other any longer.
Watching Daddy Will take control and be successful and fall into his feelings for Abbie is wonderful and the more he watches Abbie with Seb the more he falls in love with her. Watching them take responsibility and be mature in this story is everything and makes for an even better story.
Daddy Will is definitely at the top of the book boyfriend list and the spice between them is explosive!! Lets just say there’s a stock room scene with tequila involved that will have you wanting more. 🥵 🥵
Samantha Leigh is a new to me author this year, but let’s just say I’ll be diving into her books from now on!! Also, I hope to see more of Adam and Liberty beyond the bonus epilogue. 😻
Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
This book was so addicting! This was such a darling romance that captured a little piece of my heart.
Samantha Leigh has a fluid and easygoing writing style that I immediately connected with. I just love opening a book and finding that the writing style feels as if it were tailored just for me. The plot of the story was very entertaining. I loved the execution of tropes used in the story.
These characters were so vivid and fleshed out. I loved the complex characterizations and distinct character voices. The character development was fantastic. The secondary characters were a delight and rounded out the story perfectly.
The friends-to-lovers trope was especially well done. I felt the emotion and connection between Abbie and Will. The single dad trope played well into the story and added some feels. It was so obvious that these two belonged together. Their flirty banter and longing looks were dead giveaways. They had such an organic and electric chemistry. I was rooting for this couple the whole time.
Overall, this was a brilliant small-town single dad friends-to-lovers romance that closes out the Valentine Bay series beautifully. If you enjoy books with well-developed characters, an engaging plot, and flawless storytelling then you should pick this one up. This is an author that will be staying on my radar!
🔥 Single Dad 🔥 One Bed 🔥 Friends to Lovers 🔥 Reformed Playboy/Bad Girl 🔥 Steam Small Town
Star: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Only For You" by Samantha Leigh is a contemporary romance novel with an intriguing premise of roommates becoming entangled in a complex situation involving love, parenthood, and personal growth. The story blends elements of romance, humor, and the challenges that come with unexpected responsibilities.
The novel offers a fresh take on the classic roommates-to-lovers trope, injecting additional complexity with the introduction of a baby into the mix. The characters, Abigail and Will, are well-developed with their own histories and personal struggles, making them relatable to readers. The tension and stress go beyond the typical lighthearted romance and delves into the realistic challenges of combining love and parenthood.
The writing style is engaging and witty, with Abigail's perspective promising a strong and independent female protagonist. The dynamics between Abigail and Will seem promising, highlighting the struggle between their desires and the responsibilities that life throws at them.
The inclusion of humor and the playful banter between the characters can add depth to the narrative, making it not only emotionally charged but also entertaining for readers who enjoy a mix of romance and humor. The exploration of themes such as personal growth, overcoming past reputations, and the unexpected joys and difficulties of parenthood adds layers to the story.
If you enjoy romance novels with a touch of humor, realistic challenges, and well-developed characters, "Only For You" by Samantha Leigh is a book worth checking out. Keep in mind that individual preferences may vary, so if these themes align with your reading preferences, it could be an enjoyable read for you.
Only for You by @samanthaleigh.author had a hold over me in a way I would have never expected and I legitimately was upset every time I had to put it down for work or other real-life responsibilities. This is the fourth book in a series, but it's the first Samantha Leigh book I have read and it all made perfect sense, so you absolutely can read it as a standalone like I did. Only for You tells the story of single dad Will navigating new parenthood while also simultaneously falling head over heels in love with his childhood best friend Abbie.
Will and Abbie are the best sort of couple that I love to read about in books! They are supportive, uplifting, and downright respectful of one another and their respective past traumas, always understanding one another and the needs of the other person. Their dynamic together already was off-the-charts prior to the addition of six-month-old Sebastian, but when Will tries to navigate single parenthood when he didn't even know he was a parent prior to an hour before Abbie unexpectedly moves in to Will's apartment, there is a steep learning curve for everyone involved. I absolutely adored the scenes where Will and Abbie are caring for Sebastian, and I loved that Sebastian was actually a fleshed out, utilized character and not just a plot device for the Daddy Will Fan Club. Although, let's be real, Abbie is the number one woman in charge of the Daddy Will Fan Club... 🫣💕 I am such a firm believer in writing healthy romances, especially for people who have overcome trauma in relationships as Abbie did. Will's protection of Abbie when her ex shows up is just even more of a reason why I am on the Will/Abbie train. ❤️
The characters are extremely well written and even with their respective flaws, I as a reader wanted them to succeed, not only to be happy in their own personal lives, but as a couple, and as Sebastian's two most important people as well. All in all, the chemistry between the two main characters, the family dynamics of Will's and Abbie's supportive family members, and the found family of all their mutual friends led to a whole lot of love being explored in this book. This was an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read!
5⭐|4🌶|3🥵 I got an ARC copy of this book to write an honest review. I don't know what to say. I wanted to read this book not just after I finished book one, I already knew I needed to read it while I read book one. Abbie and Will have so much chemistry. So much tension. They could provide all of Australia with energy with it. I can't describe it, but Samantha can 😉 It's incredible. I read all four books this month and they got better and better with each book. Don't get me wrong, book one already was incredible! Maybe they got better because I felt more included in the gang 🤷♀️ I would have loved to have such good friends, so I think I adopted them 😎 I can't say how much I'll miss them now. Because with this book this series is done 😭 Yes, I'm sitting here crying while I write this review. And yes, I cried a lot while I read the whole series too 🙈 When Heather brought Seb to Will I was a little shocked. Sure, I knew that would happen... But the reasons? I also was shocked by Will's reaction. God, can a man be any better? And then there was Abbie's reaction too... Oh and not to forget Will's mother and Abbie's parents. And the whole gang... I can't say which of the four guys is my favorite. They are all so special. But Will is WOW and HOT and a wonderful daddy 😉 The whole thing with the bingo card, OMG 🤣 and the Will Kid Fan Club... 🤣 As I said, Daddy Will is HOT 😁 I hope Samantha won't take long for another book series. I definitely need more! I can't recommend this series more 🤩
- Friends to lovers - Small town - Single father - Close proximity - Only one bed
This book is the conclusion to the Valentine Bay series, but can be read as a standalone. I do recommend, however, reading the other books because this series is wonderful!
Free spirited yoga instructor Abbie finds herself needing a place to stay while her house is being repaired after a pipe bursts. Her parents suggest she stay with her "boyfriend" Will. Abbie may have told them that fabrication to keep them from worrying that she'd be single forever. She and her best friend Will have made a pact to be each other's plus ones when needed.
Will is dealing with some upheaval of his own after a former fling drops off a baby - stating he is Will's - and that she is giving him the baby permanently and signing away her rights. Will has some daddy issues of his own, so he wants to be the best father possible for little Seb. Lucky for Will, Abbie volunteers to help with Seb and they settle into a routine. But being this close to each other all of the time makes it difficult to keep their relationship platonic. Both of them have been in love with the other for a while, but don't want to mess up their friendship...
The pining in this book was so good! However, I did want to reach through my tablet to shake both of them at times for being so stubborn! But the payout was so worth it! The bingo card on social media was probably one of my favorite things ever!
There is also the most satisfying epilogue and bonus content that wraps up the series with all of the sighs you would want. I highly recommend this book!
This is my formal submission to be president of the Daddy Will Fan Club.
We returned to Valentine Bay for the final instalment of the series and boy was it worth the wait.
Will and Abbie’s story has been written in the stars for years but both have done an excellent job at denying their feelings for each other. Until one day Abbie needs a place to stay and Will finds out that he’s a dad - que the shenanigans!
Seeing them grow together as a couple and as individuals over the course of this book was a joy, all while still sticking to their authentic selves. Furthermore, their individual relationships with Seb and together as a family was just heartwarmingly swoon worthy! They had me laughing but I also shed a few tears as they navigated their way through the events that occurred.
This was a book that will convince you that friends to lovers is a top tier trope! And having it teased for 3 previous books over the course of a year (talk about a slow burn!) just adds a little something extra. That being said, when they finally give in 😮💨🔥 you just knew it was going to GOOOOD!!
Being back in the Bay with all its wonderful characters was perfect and had me giggling on more than one occasion. While I am sad to be leaving the bay, I know this won’t be the last of this crew and I CANNOT WAIT for what Sam has in store for us next (👀🤐)
If you love the below, you’ll love this book: 🤍single dad 🤍forced proximity only one bed 🤍reformed player + former bad girl 🤍friends to lovers steamy small town
5 ⭐ 4 ❤️🔥 Plot- or character-driven? A mix Strong character development? Yes Loveable characters? Yes Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
💖Small-town romance 💖Friends-to-Lovers 💖Forced proximity 💖Single dad 💖Only one bed 💖Former bad girl/ Reformed playboy
How does Samantha keep topping herself? Every book has been better than the last even when I'm *sure* nothing can top it. I have been waiting for Abbie and Will since Ready for You and ohmygod they were worth the wait. I really struggled picking favourite quotes here because I highlighted at least 50% of the book.
A series of complications leads to Abbie and Will living together, sharing a bed, with a 6 month old baby and sexual tension between them that could start a fire. The baby fever hit HARD with this book because daddy Will made me FERAL.
Friends-to-lovers is perhaps my favourite trope and I loved seeing Abbie and Will realize that their friendship actually runs deeper. Having them both learn that they are loveable and deserve to be loved was so heartwarming. Self-worth is a big theme of this book and I loved that they grew together. Seeing Will step up as a dad was so good after we only got to see his flirty playboy side previously. The same with Abbie's more vulnerable side and seeing how they bend over backwards to support each other even when they are "just friends".
Absolutely my favourite book of the Valentine Bay series and a perfect wrap-up of Samantha's debut series. I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Will & Abbie are purely platonic bffs, however, when Abbie rocks up at Will’s apartment looking for a place to stay just mere minutes after Will’s former ONS thrust a baby into his arms & told him he was a father, Abbie & Will are forced to juggle parenthood as well as their not so platonic feelings towards one another…
This was so freaking cute but also so freaking hot! I’m not usually a fan of the friends to lovers trope but I really enjoyed this one, & add the single dad trope & it’s bound to be great🤭 this book explored the very realistic challenges of parenthood as well as love instead of having it all seem like it’s sunshine & rainbows, which I really liked.
Abbie is an absolute gem of a human. The way she immediately jumped into the role of helping Will raise his child without any hesitation was so selfless of her. She went above & beyond to give this child so much of her time, energy & love so that Will could have the chance to chase his career dreams. I admired her lack of caring about how other people perceive her, her courage, generosity, kindness, hard work, & determination. Daddy Will omg🤭 his pining had me kicking my feet in the air. He was so hardworking, charming, hot, protective & loyal. He was so terrified of becoming a deadbeat dad like his own dad, so he was constantly putting his all into being a good father, even if it meant sacrificing his dreams🥹
I loved the way these two toyed with each other🤭 their banter, tension, & the emotional & physical connections were all wonderful, & their love & care for one another clearly ran so deeply. This little family of 3 had my heart bursting with joy because of how wholesome & cute they were🥹
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: friends to lovers, single dad, reformed playboy x former bad girl, forced proximity, small town romance, one bed
Thank you to Samantha & The author agency for this arc.
Will and Abbie have been best friends since high school, both not into commitment but pleasure and having a good time. When Abbie’s yoga studio and room is flooded she’s left with no choice but to go to Will’s place hoping to bunk in with him until her room is safe.
At the same time, Will’s past has come back in the form of a baby. A one night stand arrives on his doorstep with a baby, saying she doesn’t want the child anymore so it’s now his.
Abbie vows to help Will whilst she’s at his place but they start to see each other in a new light. Will true and unsaid feelings arise between them?
This is a witty, fun and wonderful story of love, parenting and navigating the world with a baby. Will is cocky and self assured but not when it comes to being a good Dad or boyfriend. His past has clouded judgement. Abbie’s past and her experiences have clouded her self worth and self esteem. The two of them together are fun, hot and spicy. The physical and emotional connection they share is steamy and special. I enjoyed their connection and character development, it was realistic, believable and explored the friends to lovers trope in an interesting way.
This is the fourth book in the Valentine Bay series, but can be read as a stand-alone. It’s steamy, delicious and full of fabulous characters. The writing flows effortlessly and makes you feel for the characters and their journey together.
Only For You is the last book in Samantha's Valentine Bay series, these are interconnected standalones set in a small beach town, they can be read as standalones, but I would always recommend reading all of them as they were all great, Only For You was easily my favourite.
I have been obsessed with Will since we first met him in book 1. He's cocky, he's a playboy and he has no responsibilities. Oh how that can change in the matter of a second when a one night stand turns up on his doorstep with his baby. I thought I loved Will, but I was not ready for Daddy Will. Seeing him as a dad just melted my cold heart.
Abbie has always reminded me of Will. Throughout the series I always saw her as the female version of him, but what I loved was how headstrong she was, she knew exactly what she wanted out of life. I thought single mum was my favourite trope as I've always loved watching the MMC melt for the child. But single dad just hits so differently, watching an FMC not only fall for the MMC, but watching her become everything that child needs is honestly just so heartwarming.
I can't wait to see what Samantha has up her sleeve next, but I'm really hoping we're going to be taking a trip to the Silver Leaf
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and I am so thankful because I just fell in love with this whole series! The small town, the friend group, the secret book club, all the girl nights! I loved it all!
Only For You stars Abbie and Will who are childhood best friends. Abbie is the yogi bad girl who is only up for a good time and Will is the hottie bar owner/bartender who always has a different girl every weekend. Abbie's yoga studio and home floods leaving her to turn to her best friend to crash at his place for the time being. On this same day one of Will's one night stands shows up with a 6 month old baby saying that its his and she doesn't want the baby anymore. Will leans on Abbie during this huge change in his life. They both learn to grow up fast and realize that the way they are living their lives maybe isn't really how they want to live it anymore.
I adored these two characters and was so ready for their story from the very first book. Their banter with each other was amazing and you could just feel their chemistry throughout all the books. I loved Daddy Will and how he embraced Seb without question. I loved Abbie's sass and how she owned who she was. She was quick to help Will adjust to fatherhood and was learning what she actually wanted out of life. This was a great small town romance and I loved every book! Definitely recommend the whole Valentine Bay series. I am looking forward to what Samantha comes up with next!
ARC Review - An advance copy was provided to me by the author via Nerdy Babes ARC Readers. All opinions are my own.
Only For You by Samantha Leigh
A Small Town Single Dad Romance
Book 4 in the Valentine Bay series
friends to lovers reformed playboy / badgirl one bed (surprise) single dad found family small town dual pov/first person
THIS...this is the one I was looking forward to most in the series. Abbie and Will are EVERYTHING and I knew I was going to love their story, I was not disappointed.
If you've read the first three in the Valentine Bay series you know that Will and Abbie are besties and also have a sexual tension that's obvious to EVERY SINGLE person in their lives. Neither is into commitment though, one believing she doesn't want it and the other believing he isn't worthy of it. Both of them wrong.
When a weekend hookup drops off his baby and minutes later Abbie knocks on his door needing a place to stay Will is in for a ride. Abbie who will do anything for her friends decides Will needs her help and she will stay as long as it takes to settle Sebastian into Will's life. There are some bumps in the journey but there is a HEA.
I honestly could not be more thankful to find this series and being given the opportunity to ARC read this final installment. Now I need the cousins story about saving their family business and also Adam and Liberty's story. I'll be (mostly) patiently waiting.