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All or Nothing

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Leaving the Navy after the death of his best friend in the line of duty, ex-SEAL Ben Harper has returned home in search of some form of normalcy. He’s good at hiding his thoughts and feelings and is positive he has everyone around him fooled. After all, no one ever brings his service career up to him, and he likes it that way.

Presley James is drawn to the new Director of Security at the hospital where she works, just like every other nurse and employee in the building. Tall, dark, dangerous and sexy as hell. With a wicked grin and happy hello for everyone—he is a total contradiction. After spending most of her life caring for people, something about Ben is pulling at her. Something about his smile just doesn’t equal up to the rest of him. No matter how hard he tries, she isn’t fooled.

Will she be able to help him find his way when her own baggage is more than even she can handle?

Mature content, not intended for under 18 years of age.

Each book can be read as a stand alone, or in the following order.

259 pages, ebook

First published June 28, 2015

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Natalie Ann

251 books313 followers

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5 stars
364 (44%)
4 stars
288 (34%)
3 stars
130 (15%)
2 stars
23 (2%)
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18 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,901 reviews6 followers
May 19, 2016
I started off really enjoying this. There's the h, Presley, who is a confident, hardworking woman. She also speaks her mind and doesn't play games. Then you have the H, Ben, who is genuinely a nice guy. He might be a little emotionally unavailable, but he tries to connect. I'm also a sucker for an adult romance story told from the third person pov, so that might have swayed me a little.

The story progresses, their relationship develops, and then I find myself trying to find myself something else to read. Why, you ask? Well, part of the reason is that I really don't need to be told over and over again how the MCs are broken. This is their inner monologue in a nutshell. "Gosh, I really like him/her. I really, really do. More than I've ever liked anyone else in the past. But I'm just too messed up and I don't know if I have enough left of myself to give." The story goes on, reiterating with seemingly every chapter, that the MCs have secrets, want to hold onto them, and aren't sure if they're ever going to be ready to share them with each other. I get it. They like each other. They have secrets. They're broken and messed up and don't know what to do. Enough already!

I managed to finish this book, but just barely. I enjoyed the writing, but the plot of this story was too boring for me. I liked the writing enough that I'm going to give the second book of this series a try. I hope it's more fun or exciting!

What I liked:
1) The alternating, dual povs, told in the third person.
2) No ow/om drama at all. No playing games or anything.

What I didn't like:
1) The constant reminding that the MCs are messed up.
2) It got a little sappy toward the end. Not too sappy, but enough for me to roll my eyes a little. I honestly think that both the MCs needed to talk to someone professionally. Ben thinking that Presely helped him heal was nice, but he needed some professional help. Love isn't enough in this scenario.
3) This book was really slow.
4) The story was a little too boring.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews122 followers
Want to read
September 18, 2018
💝FREE on Amazon today (9/18/18)!💝

Blurb:
All books can be read as a stand alone or in order of the series.

Leaving the Navy after the death of his best friend in the line of duty, ex-SEAL Ben Harper has returned home in search of some form of normalcy. He’s good at hiding his thoughts and feelings and is positive he has everyone around him fooled. After all, no one ever brings his service career up to him, and he likes it that way.

Presley James is drawn to the new Director of Security at the hospital where she works, just like every other nurse and employee in the building. Tall, dark, dangerous and sexy as hell. With a wicked grin and happy hello for everyone—he is a total contradiction. After spending most of her life caring for people, something about Ben is pulling at her. Something about his smile just doesn’t equal up to the rest of him. No matter how hard he tries, she isn’t fooled.

Will she be able to help him find his way when her own baggage is more than even she can handle?
Profile Image for Sophie Bailey.
43 reviews3 followers
September 24, 2016
I’m a sucker for a love story and this is one in bucket loads.

Ben is an ex Navy SEAL, broken from War and losing his best friend and Presley is a nurse on a Children’s Cancer Unit but has also had a tough start to adulthood. They are brought together when Ben starts work as the head of Security at her hospital.

It’s a slow burner, their romance is a bit like cat and mouse with Ben doing the chasing and Presley backing off whilst she deals with her trust issues and insecurities. But when they do make it, my oh my its worth it! You can’t help but love Ben, even though he’s big in stature, he’s a softie at heart and Presley, although she comes across tough, it takes a special person to do her kind of job. You know these two are going to be good for each other and help heal each others souls and I’ll be looking forward to seeing glimpses of them in the other books to see how they are progressing!
Author 1 book1 follower
October 4, 2015
Good story, but too long and slow moving

I thought the story was good overall - sweet, troubled individuals finding each other. There are a few complaints though. As I was reading, the story seemed to all of a sudden jump into the two main characters dating. There was no real chase that it usually expected with romance novels, and then the story stood still for a REALLY long time. No advancements to the plot, and then there were all of these characters thrown in. I really with the first book would've been Kaitlin and Ryan. THAT would have made a better story, IMHO. All in all, the story was wayyyyyy too long for what I got out of it, and I thought about packing it up early. By that point, though, I was already halfway in and after all, the book was free.
Profile Image for Melissa J (Book Addicts Reviews).
1,204 reviews98 followers
October 17, 2016
4 funny, sexy and heart breaking stars...

Presley is a nurse in a pediatric unit. She grew up not having love and being let down so she went to a career to help. She is just fine being alone, actually she prefers it. Until Ben Harper finally notices her. But can she get past all her past demons and start on a future or will they drag her down?!?

Ben Harper is from a well to do family. He is a former Navy SEAL who has been through some heartbreaking things and one is losing his best friend. He knows he is damaged but he also knows he wants Preston as his. But can a woman except him with all his baggage?

I know the story is slow and not a super fast paced romance and some people are not for that but I thought it was incredibly sweet and different. It was like virgin slow I think it was what you would want in real life. I love their love story. I teared up quite a few times and I think this was such an emotionally beautiful book! I also want to say that I think the Harper family is so freaking awesome!!! The father is my fave!! I think this book touches on a lot of real life issues and I adore it. This was a very realistic romance and let me say OMG I LOVE BEN HARPER!!!!!! He is like the best boyfriend ever. And when he was talking to Sarah I felt my ovaries singing!! A very good read

**I received this book as an ARC from Book Enthusiast Promotions and in return I gave my honest review**
Profile Image for Elizabeth Neal.
1,778 reviews146 followers
October 14, 2016
**3.5 Stars**

Nineteen months ago, Ben, a Navy SEAL, was overseeing a mission with his best friend, Trent, and the rest of his team. Details were methodically planned, always leaving room for  possible variables, but Ben could've never planned for what happened. Now he's the Director of Security at Albany Medical Center and his best friend is gone. As he's currently avoiding being his only company, he's enjoying a drink at the local bar when he intervenes, adding his help as the woman he had been admiring tries to shake an aggressively bold man.

Presley, a nurse, recognizes the sexy Ben right away, purposefully making movements to showcase her "assets" for his benefit. Unfortunately, he doesn't recognize her, though as she reminded her friend and fellow nurse, Lucy, a lot of people are employed by the hospital. Though Presley did get, and immensely enjoy, the good night kiss Ben gave her after politely offering to take her home.

Two weeks later, Ben is delighted to run into Presley on the Pediatric floor during his last walk through of the day. He may not have recognized her that night, but he hasn't stopped thinking about her, plus he may have driven by her house a few times in the hopes of being able to visit.

As time goes by, Ben and Presley get to know each other during dates and stolen moments together here and there as their schedules allow. While both are falling fast, they can also see that the other is holding something back, not giving of themselves fully to each other.

Will Ben and Presley be able to share their past hurts with each other, emotionally changing ones that have made them who they are today? Can Ben share the secret he's been carrying about what happened to Trent? Can Presley trust that Ben won't be yet another person to leave her? Will they get their HEA?

One-click now to follow these two people as they find some peace with their pasts and look forward to a future filled with love and happiness. While this book tends to go at a slower pace and doesn't feature any of the usual type of conflicts one expects from a romance story, it does feature deep emotional struggles for both main characters and their fight to overcome them and embrace the love they're meant to have.

**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**
Profile Image for Sassy Southern Book Blog.
5,349 reviews271 followers
November 5, 2016
Nineteen months ago, Ben, a Navy SEAL, was overseeing a mission with his best friend, Trent, and the rest of his team. Details were methodically planned, always leaving room for possible variables, but Ben could've never planned for what happened. Now he's the Director of Security at Albany Medical Center and his best friend is gone. As he's currently avoiding being his only company, he's enjoying a drink at the local bar when he intervenes, adding his help as the woman he had been admiring tries to shake an aggressively bold man.

Presley, a nurse, recognizes the sexy Ben right away, purposefully making movements to showcase her "assets" for his benefit. Unfortunately, he doesn't recognize her, though as she reminded her friend and fellow nurse, Lucy, a lot of people are employed by the hospital. Though Presley did get, and immensely enjoy, the good night kiss Ben gave her after politely offering to take her home.

Two weeks later, Ben is delighted to run into Presley on the Pediatric floor during his last walk through of the day. He may not have recognized her that night, but he hasn't stopped thinking about her, plus he may have driven by her house a few times in the hopes of being able to visit.

As time goes by, Ben and Presley get to know each other during dates and stolen moments together here and there as their schedules allow. While both are falling fast, they can also see that the other is holding something back, not giving of themselves fully to each other.

Will Ben and Presley be able to share their past hurts with each other, emotionally changing ones that have made them who they are today? Can Ben share the secret he's been carrying about what happened to Trent? Can Presley trust that Ben won't be yet another person to leave her? Will they get their HEA?

One-click now to follow these two people as they find some peace with their pasts and look forward to a future filled with love and happiness. While this book tends to go at a slower pace and doesn't feature any of the usual type of conflicts one expects from a romance story, it does feature deep emotional struggles for both main characters and their fight to overcome them and embrace the love they're meant to have.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
3,201 reviews101 followers
November 10, 2017
Beautiful

Two hurting people come together to help each other. Presley is a great nurse but has been taking care if herself four awhile. Ben is dealing with losing a friend. But they find each other which is wonderful.
Profile Image for Cherye Elliott.
3,397 reviews24 followers
November 23, 2019
Wow

I am a serial reader. Books I read come and go. They make you happy, sad, laugh and groan. Not this book. This one grabbed my heart and ripped it out of my chest. Presley's childhood broke my heart. It made me think about there are so many children like her. So now I am crying. Natalie Ann told Presley's story a bit at a time to keep the emotions going. Ben's story wouldn't have been so bad....then the author told us Trent's story. Yikes. Patty is a nutcase. No spoilers but this is the 'bad guy'.

So to start my review the author did an excellent job in character development. The storyline was spot on. Different. Fresh ideas...thank goodness. I can not believe how many plots are the same just different name and city. Another thing that stood out is the respect they showed to privacy and personal space.

This is my first Natalie Ann book. At the end I find that there are series and browsing they are kind of connected...BUT each is a stand alone book. My dilemma though is to start at the author's first book or just move on to Book 2 in this series. May have to do both. One kindle downstairs and another upstairs.

Now the bad thing. I hate it when author's in a round about way feel guns are dangerous. Guns do not kill people. They are incapable of that. It is the person who is holding and discharging e gun either at others or themselves.

Best quote/words of wisdom: “Did Presley like her sweater?” Isabel asked Ben, hours later at his parents’ house. “She loved it. Got all teary-eyed the way women do. I don’t get it. It’s just a sweater,” he said, shrugging. “And that is why you’ve been single for so long, Ben,” Ryan said. “Because it’s never just a sweater.”
Profile Image for Merle.
2,386 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2019
Very good story in the Harper family's series, this one is about the veteran, Ben. He has come home from his SEAL career, somewhat broken by the death of his closest friend. As Director of Security at Albany Medical Center, he has changed and updated the daily security routine. After work one evening, not wanting to go home, he stops at a pub. He is mesmerized by a tall, auburn-haired beauty playing pool like a shark.
He finds out that she is a nurse in his hospital and gets to know her. They are both carrying heavy emotional baggage, and struggle to let themselves open up. There is emotion all over this story and an ending befitting their relationship.
62 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2018
Light Easy Read

This is the first book I have read by Natalie Ann. It was a good book. It's a typical contemporary novel with no surprises or twist. I enjoyed the fact that she addressed issues about soldiers - the trauma they face phycologically which effects people in all sorts of ways ei: Trent and Ben felt they were very similar yet had very opposite reactions. The helplessness family feels when these soldiers come home and so on.
I would be interested to see how the series develops within the other characters stories.
Profile Image for Lishy.
391 reviews15 followers
October 1, 2018
Fantastic!!

First book of this author it was a different style of writing and I loved it. Well developed characters!! I simply loved both Presley and Ben !! They were both strong and carried baggage . Author had done good job of developing the relationship before sex was involved. The story could be related to a normal day to day life. It was really fine tuned by the author.
Hoping to read Phil and Sophie story next !!
802 reviews6 followers
December 15, 2019
I just read the prequel and decided to try one of these books. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the prequel this book is not the type of book that I really find an enjoyable read. I tend toward relatively clean and just found myself doing a lot of skimming. This was a good story, repetitious in spots, but the author is at a much higher level now. I have read a couple of her more recent works.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
Profile Image for Lishy.
391 reviews15 followers
Read
August 30, 2021
First book of this author it was a different style of writing and I loved it. Well developed characters!! I simply loved both Presley and Ben !! They were both strong and carried baggage . Author had done good job of developing the relationship before sex was involved. The story could be related to a normal day to day life. It was really fine tuned by the author.
Hoping to read Phil and Sophie story next !!
9 reviews
February 21, 2019
Wonderful read!

Natalie Ann truly captured the essence of each character. The back stories and development of the entire story line was perfectly done. No spoiler here, but I wanted to wring Patty’s neck for being so self-absorbed. In this book, Natalie Ann shows us that the mental struggles our returning vets have are real and powerful. Great book!
Profile Image for Rosemary Hughes.
4,192 reviews22 followers
February 24, 2020
Two very strong, independent people attracted to each other. He has to convince her to take a chance on him.
They both have pasts that they are hiding from themselves, not dealing with their own emotions.
Together, they learn to share their past, and start the true healing process.
Great story!
Profile Image for Jennifer Oloughlin.
878 reviews3 followers
November 10, 2017

Ben was awesome! I loved his broody, disconnected self.
Presley was operating in the dark sometimes but, I think everything worked out perfectly. I love broody heroes!

*Read through Kindle Unlimited
Profile Image for Ruby Derouen.
33 reviews2 followers
December 21, 2017
All Or Nothing

Love the story! The author held your interest until the end to find out what happened to Ben's partner in the Navy. And also how he dealt with Trent's mother. A good story from beginning to end.
72 reviews
February 20, 2018
Wonderful journey

Such a great story of two people with so much baggage and then trying so hard not to let their emotions show. One party having such a loving and close family and the other without. Such a journey to find happiness.
1,834 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2018
Great romance

What a good read this was. I loved how Presley and Ben met. The author did a good job of character and plot building. There is a good balance of romance and intrigue to keep it interesting.
1 review1 follower
December 11, 2018
It was okay.

It was okay. I liked the premise of the story but at times it was difficult to follow and I became bored. I liked the characters but needed more from them. The story also felt very choppy and it became difficult to fully dive into the story.
Profile Image for Deb.
38 reviews
February 18, 2019
If you like a love story, then this is a book for you! The story is good, it keeps you wanting to read. Tho you may, May, get a little bored at times... don’t stop!

Go ahead, give it a read!

I’m Starting book 2 of the series now.
1,034 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2019
Enjoyable

Enjoyed the storyline. Baby Seal dealing with some PTSD but mostly dealing with guilt of his best friend dying. Meeting a strong willed women with her own baggage, these two lean on each other and help each other to move on!
Profile Image for Dawn Pressel.
1,675 reviews
April 13, 2018
I can't believe I waited so long to read this book, it seems it has been in my Kindle forever. I loved the story. Ben and Presley are both a little broken but together, they are amazing.
516 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2018
All or Nothing

They both have secrets from their pasts that are weighing heavily on them and affecting their lives. This was not a clean book, if that is what you are looking for.
Profile Image for Maria West-brauser.
39 reviews
October 11, 2018
All or nothing

Really enjoyed this book great storyline for both characters. Will have to go back and start at the beginning hopefully all are just as good
Profile Image for jean buck.
511 reviews2 followers
December 11, 2018
Perfect man

I enjoyed this story line. Very believable. Ben was the perfect suitor. If only every man could be this thoughtful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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