Only for You

by Hannah Howell

As wild as the rugged North Country where she was raised, Saxan Honey Todd has sworn to avenge the murder of her twin brother. Recklessly, she gallops across the English countryside in pursuit of the man she believes to be his murderer: Botolf, Earl of Regenford.

As hard and unyielding as the armor he wears in battle, Botolf is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has come to wage war with him. Saxan stirs his passion like no other woman has . . .

Now as a desperate enemy stalks him and the greensward runs with innocent blood, Botolf brings Saxan to his castle--as his bride. But Saxan needs to fight by Botolf's side and triumph over the danger that surrounds them before she can surrender her heart completely to him . . .

Praise for the novels of Hannah Howell

"Few authors portray the Scottish highlands as lovingly or colorfully as Hannah Howell."
--Publishers Weekly

"Expert storyteller Howell pens another Highland winner."
--RT Book Reviews

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 24, 2019

About the author

Hannah Dustin Howell is a best-selling American author of over 40 historical romance novels. Many of her novels are set in medieval Scotland. She also writes under the names Sarah Dustin, Sandra Dustin, and Anna Jennet (see below).

She has also used the following pseudonyms:
Anna Jennet, Sarah Dustin and Sandra Dustin

Reviews

[Ceanray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst hr I’ve read in a long time. Repetitive af, corny one dimensional MCs, and barely qualified as a romance. At least 200 pages of some weird medieval Taken vibe. Both thumbs down 👎

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I might enjoy a Medieval romance when I requested this one from LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. It failed to keep my interest in spite of a good narrator. The story line contained a bit more graphic portrayals of sexual nature than my comfort level permitted. Saxan set out to avenge her brother's death only to find him still alive. Then she found herself falling in love with the man she believed responsible for her brother's death. The man she dreamed killed her brother looks similar to the Earl, but he was trying to kill the Earl rather than her brother. That's enough of the story without providing spoilers. I'm probably not the best audience for this one. I received it in exchange for an honest review through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

[Hbeebti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so heres the deal. I confess that I struggle with these books. Not because of the book but because of me. Here is why, I hate, hate that the women from these times are like second class. Thats just drives me nuts. A lot of the time I find myself yelling at the book. But here is the thing. I am trying to get over that because in general the stories are great. So I have vowed that I will not over react to that and just enjoy. At the end of the day I truly love highlanders and knights!

So all I have to say is that I loved this book and since I let go of my issues I seriously enjoyed this book. This was more of a knights book than a highlander. But there was a juicy highlander in there at the end. The characters were great and so was the story. Overall is is about sibling rivalry. Love and the fight to keep it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story of Saxan and Botolf. There were so many other characters in the story as well that I felt I would love to read more on and I wish that Hannah Howell had made a series with many of the Todd family. It was also refreshing to read a romance where the two main characters didn't go through the merry-g-round of "he loves me/he doesn't love me/he loves me".
Definitely worth reading.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off really strong but by the end I was struggling to finish it. I find the books I've read by Hannah Howell follow a similiar formula. H meets/kidnaps (whatever) h and has to have her. The h falls in love rather quickly and then they solve a murder or a mystery (again-whatever) together and then confess their love to each other.

The heroine in Only For You is very likeable but I found the hero to be just kind of "there"...kind of a dud. The main plot itself should not have lasted as long as it did. Any hero with a set of b*lls would have corrected the situation alot quicker and more efficiently. This really was a 2 1/2 star book for me.

[TinaNoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty easy read without a lot of drama. Audiobook was well performed.

I liked the big sprawling family of the heroine. They were fun.

The romance was nice. I think I enjoyed the fact that the H&H didn't spend the book at cross purposes. She misunderstood something at the beginning (rather stupidly, honestly and solely for plot purposes) but that set up their meet. From there they basically want to get together and do. It isn't ILU right away but it isn't all sniping and hissing either. So it was nice to just sit back and enjoy their relationship unfold. The drama didn't come from the romance but rather from the villain.

Speaking of, the villain was probably the worst part of the book for me. I was absolutely the type of villain I dislike in a book. It was the type who seemed to have endless minions, always be everywhere and even privy to private conversations where there wasn't the possibility of him knowing about was a bit over the top. Actually it was a lot over the top. At least he had a motive for his actions so he wasn;t just evil for evil's sake. But he was kinda batshit because he really didn't think out things to their logical conclusion.

Also I hate it when you have this supposed big ruthless hero who tries to reason with the villain instead of just killing him. Uh, dude has been trying to kill you for ages and is now trying to kill your wife and unborn child and you are still gonna try to reason with his ass? GTFOH with that mess.

Overall though, this was pretty entertaining.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could go anywhere between 1.75 and 2.25 stars for me, so I'll just average it out to 2.

After having declared this to be the year I rediscover my love of romance novels, this was a bit of a let down for one of the first ones I selected to get the ball rolling on my goal. The premise was so promising, but what the summary promised played out quickly and left almost 2oo pages of filler. My biggest problem is that there was way too much talk and not a lot of show. Pretty much every chapter had a time jump of some sort and the main couple spent a good chunk of them explaining to other characters how their relationship was progressing. It is perhaps the type of storytelling that infuriates me the most. I would much rather read one on one interactions that build up the relationship, chemistry, and emotions of the main characters and not be told via a conversation between family members.

I had heard/read good things about this author and maybe other novels are better, but this one was a near total let down.

[ReadToBreathe · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don't think I ever read a book with such strong, fierce, courageous, witty, and outspoken heroine like Saxan. From the beginning she didn't hold her tongue and I loved her for that.I cannot give Saxan justice in my review so, you need to read the book to see how great she is. Although she did some foolish stuff at times but I love her non the less. I think authors should write all heroines like her instead of making the women in their books nothing but doormats for their heroes.

I don't read a lot of medieval books which is something I need to change soon and I'm glad I picked this book bc I enjoyed this book so much. Especially the family bond between Saxan and her brothers and sisters and their banter. This book left me with so many characters that I wish to know their stories.

[S Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars this should have been a great story but the writing style weakened it. I wasn’t moved by any of the many tension filled moments or invested in whether their relationship would work. They got together relatively quickly and the conflict wasn’t between the H/h but their mutual enemies. I thought with her bold reckless ways, there would have been more conflict and passion (not bedroom) between them. They were very much in sync at about 30%.

[MonicaBD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just what I was looking for; a romantic story with uncomplicated characters who treated each other with kindness and respect. Sounds boring, right? It wasn’t, because it has a super villain, brave and capable main characters and a great setting. This was a quick and satisfying read.

[Mar · Rating 1 out of 5]

disappointing...... Saxan goes from thinking the Hero of the book killed her brother to marrying him.

it may have been realistic of the times but, the questioning of Saxas as to how many children her sisters had etc..... it's like she was a breeding mare rather than a woman.

And it was comical that a man should be scared or complain that a woman enjoys love making. literally i laughed out loud at that part.

it took me forever to finish this book because i'd start reading, get disillusioned and then put it down for a day or two. Tough read..... not my favorite.

[Annette Drewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book quite a few times but have not reviewed it before. It is another of my comfort stories that I have accumulated over the years. Saxan is a vibrant character who initially clashes with Lord Botolf, but the more they are together, the closer their relationship becomes and the more he comes to trust and respect her. I love Saxan’s family members especially her uncle. This storyline has quite a few tense moments which will keep the reader’s interest. I absolutely recommend this book.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the heroine and the start had promise, but it’s like the author had a great initial idea and then stuck it on top of a plot formula and just Frankenstiened together a bunch of janky predictable scenarios. One star especially because I seriously loved the heroine and am disappointed she didn’t get to live in a more worthy book.

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Botolf and Saxan fated to be together.

Saxan Todd wakes one night after a frightening dream, it was of a man with dark hair and eyes, with a scar over one eye standing over her dead twin brother Pitney with blood on his hands. Not long after comes word of Pitneys death and the name of the man who killed him. Yet the message is in error, Pitney lives and the man she believes killed him is in fact actually the man whose life Pitney saved, by fighting off an assassin. Botolf has been defending himself from assassination attempt for too long, he knows who it is trying to kill him, his half brother Colin, but cannot find either Coolin or proof to use against him. Then Saxan catches up to him and very nearly succeeds on stabbing him, Botolf is left perplexed, Saxan is like no other Lady he has met, he knows he is running out of time before he must take a wife, he needs an heir after all. Botolf begins to look at Saxan with a view to marriage, but is it fair of him to offer marriage when it also comes with the danger of being widowed or maybe even murdered herself by Colin, if he succeeds in his plans to see Botolf dead. Saxan is a great character, along with her very large, unusual extended family. I hope to see more books written about the Todds.

[Genny KB · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, the setup for the story intrigued me (woman mistakenly believeS her brother was killed by the hands of an innocent man and seeks him out for vengeance) and I was ready for what may have been a bit overly dramatic but good old fashioned bodice ripper when I read the synopsis available through the library. I was prepared for the story to be overwrought at points, for belaboring, for quivering, for steel and silk and all the rest. While those elements were certainly there, the story was missing something foundational for me and I just couldn’t get into it. Instead I was left unengaged on the outskirts of a story that came off a bit childish. I’m not sure if it was the story’s pacing (the timing between the beginning of the heroine’s quest to when she finds out she was mistaken felt rushed, as did other elements after), the fact that I grabbed the audiobook (maybe it was the narrator that made the dialogue and interactions between the characters feel underdeveloped?), or that the author relied too heavily on tropes to get her through, but in the end I found my second DNF of the year. Maybe we’ll try again in a different format in 2022.

[Donna Nealey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This book kept my interest And after reading the previous reviews on it before I bought IT two said that they laughed out loud and throughout the book.I didn't get that and I'm a fairly humorous person so that was one of the reasons that I bought it I found it enjoyable I didn't want to put it down and I found myself reading it throughout the night.I will say that from a author I knew it was a different story that I wasn't used to so I thoroughly enjoyed that.She went away from Scotland and move down to England in the story at first I had to kind of readjust my thinking on this but It kept my interest to the end it really Is a book I would recommend. happy reading!

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Highland Captive and loving it, I was eager to read more of Hannah Howell's books. Unfortunately, Only for You did not live up to my expectations. Our two lead characters were okay. Although I did get annoyed with Botolf's high-handed ways rather early on. Maybe that's what kept me from really enjoying this one. One instance that really irked me was his having to ride her horse so he could determine if she could handle it. You know, the horse she had been riding for years... Anyway, the story was fine and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't annoyed by our "hero." Overall, fine just wasn't good enough.

[Petra Horváth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Életem első Hannah Howell regénye. A stílusa nekem nagyon hasonlított Julie Garwood könyveihez, középkor, skótok, vár, szerethető főhősök, egyszerű sztori mint a faék (nyilvánvaló mi fog történni), ugyanakkor egy kis humorral fűszerezve. :)

Az eleje kissé messziről indult, de érdekes volt. Jól mulattam a kezdetekben, viszont utána valahogy szépen elkezdett elfogyni a könyv. Lehet, hogy ha nem olvasnék annyit vagy nem J.G. regényeihez hasonlítottam volna, akkor magasabb értékelést adtam volna rá. A végére már annyira nem érdekelt a sztori és nehezen vettem rá magam az olvasására - bár ehhez a sok apró részletben történő nekiülés nem segített. :)

[Virginia Tican · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of Hannah Howell's Highlander Historical Romances and she has never disappointed me, She did not in this one. Ms. Howell is one of the last breed of Romance novelists who do take their craft seriously or at least whatever lapses there are (or there may be) in her writing or in the editing do not at least stick~out like a sore thumb to the reader. As always her women are strong, smart and opinionated a fitting match to their male counterparts and the interactions between them are not at all maudlin or even forced. A very entertaining read.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a medieval romance with both action and smutty scenes, this is the book for you. Saxon, the spirited and fiery maiden, fights alongside her brothers and the Earl Botolf to find the man responsible for multiple murder attempts on the Earl.
Only for you is a quick read. I loved the cast of characters that the reader is introduced to beyond the main couple. And with Howell’s usual finesse, the reader routes not only for love between Saxon and Botolf, but between a few other characters as well amid kidnappings, ransoms, and weddings. Five stars.

[JW Dillingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Howell does it again

As always Howell delivers a great romance with strong characters and interesting plot. This one introduces a new family without ties to the Murrays. Personally I fell in love with the Todd’s and hope Howell writes more about them.

I have actually read this book before and found even more to love about it the 2nd time around. Definitely recommend it to all those who love historical romance.

[Marilyn Upright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story except I got tired of Saxan and Botolf constantly getting kidnapped or almost murdered by Botolfs half brother. I liked the fact that Saxan Todd's family was big and loving and allowed their women to do more of what they wanted including fighting and choosing their own husbands. It was a pretty good read.

[Kore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of Only For You courtesy of Goodreads And Kensington publishing company.

I have always enjoyed Hannah Howell’s writing. If you like books that have a good storyline, strong women characters and some comedic moments then you will enjoy the story of Saxan and Botolf.

Simply wonderful..... :)

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was an ok book. By the cover and description I thought it was about knights & castles. Instead it's about some English people on the Scottish boarder with their family dynamic problems. It was ok, just not what I was expecting. Also, what romance book has the lead heroine preggers for a 3rd of the book?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Saxon when she thought her brother dead decided revenge . With almost killing an innocent man for her brother still lived then she learned her brother protected their liege lord Botolf. Botolf is intrigued by Saxon and decides to wed her. With his half brother on the loose with his own agenda he has his hands full with his inlaws and wife
Good book.

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong male warrior Botolf meets a strong female warrior Saxan. When they come together, they become a unstoppable force. Loved the story. Couldn't put this book down until the end of the story, as always with Hannah's stories.

[Julie Whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Howell

I always enjoy Hannah Howell’s novels, especially the Highlanders!!
But her newest release doesn’t disappoint either!!
The adventure & the love & passion do it again!!!

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read from Hannah Howell. Extremely well written with rich, deep characters. All this aside, I did not love it. I did not feel myself pulled in. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it ended, not because I loved the reading of it.

[Uzo Nnabuihe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written

With enough twists and turns to keep you at the edge of your seat. The main characters are like able, well rounded and relatable.

[Nicole Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book free in giveaway it was my first non Highlander book by Hannah Howell. For me the story dragged on the same issue and was lacking in the bonding between the two main characters.