Anything for You

By: Kristan Higgins

Narrated by: Amy Rubinate

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Before you get down on bended knee...you should be pretty darn sure the answer will be yes.

For 10 years, Connor O'Rourke has been waiting for Jessica Dunn to take their on-again, off-again relationship public, and he thinks the time has come. His restaurant is thriving, she's got her dream job at Blue Heron Vineyard - it's the perfect time to get married. When he pops the question, however, her answer is a fond but firm no. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

Jess has her hands full with her younger brother, who's now living with her full time, and a great career after years of waitressing. What she and Connor have is perfect: friends with an excellent benefits package. Besides, with her difficult past (and reputation), she's positive married life isn't for her. But this time Connor says it's all or nothing. If she doesn't want to marry him, he'll find someone who does. Easier said than done, given that he's never loved anyone but her. And maybe Jessica isn't quite as sure as she thinks.

©2016 Kristan Higgins (P)2016 Recorded Books

Finally--Connor's book!

CONNOR'S BOOK!!!

I have been waiting (not-so-patiently) for Connor's book ever since his twin Colleen's book (Waiting On You) came out ages ago. (To be honest, I think I've been waiting for it since he first graced the pages of the first Blue Heron series book--but my need became more urgent while reading Colleen's book.) Ms. Higgins is a cruel, cruel writer--teasing us (and Colleen) with a possible relationship drama in Connor's life but denying us the details.

And then making us wait through TWO OTHER BOOKS.

Which naturally were awesome, because they're Kristan Higgins books, but still. I needed me some Connor O'Rourke!

And I finally got him--yay! Anything for You was soooo worth the wait, thank goodness!

Poor Connor definitely had to work for his HEA, which it turns out he'd been trying to do since sixth grade, when he first fell for Jessica Dunn. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't at all a "meet cute"--it was more a "meet pretty horrific"--and its repercussions were going to haunt him literally for years to come.

The book starts with his proposal to Jessica, whom he's been secretly dating for quite some time. She turns him down, rather blase about it, and I spent the next 2/3 or so of the book mentally glaring at her every time she showed up. How could she be so cruel? It's Connor O'Rourke. (Have I mentioned I love him? Yes? I'll just continue on then, shall I?) Ms. Higgins takes us on a tour of their relationship up to that point, starting with that first early meeting and then bringing us back up to the present day. We gradually come to see why Jessica's turned him down so definitely (though neither Connor nor I was very accepting of it still) and the story continues on from there. Somehow Connor just got even better as the story went on, and eventually I stopped glaring at Jessica quite so much.

By the end, I wasn't even looking askance at her.

Ms. Higgins eventually gives them their HEA, and it's glorious. There was so much that the two of them had to work though--both individually and together--and she did a stellar job giving us a great story and dealing with some pretty heavy issues: the long-term repercussions of alcoholism and fetal alcohol syndrome, forgiving family members that have done the unforgivable, the way your teenaged past never seems to truly go away when you live in a small town, and more. Once again this book put me in the middle of the book lover's favorite dilemma: wanting to keep reading the book you're loving so much because you love it so much, yet wanting time to slow down as you do so because you just don't want it to come to an end.

Ever. (Happy sigh!)

The audio version was well done--the same narrator has read other books in the series, and she does a nice job.

If you've read the other series books, everyone is back for this one--Colleen, as Connor's twin and business partner, has a major role and goes through a major life-changing event during the course of the novel. It's like visiting once again with old friends. (If you haven't read the rest, it should work fine as a standalone, but why? Why haven't you read the rest???) I'm really going to miss Manningsport, since this is apparently the last book in the series (Sob! Though surely Ned Vanderbeek and Sarah Cooper have story-worthy drama, Ms. Higgins? Seeing as how her brother's the police chief and all?) though I'm sure whatever she writes from here on in will be awesome too.

Even though, you know, Connor won't be in it.

In the meantime, I think I'll re-read Colleen's book, which will be all the more entertaining because now I KNOW what's going on with Connor behind the scenes.

But Colleen still won't. :D

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

good, I like the series

really good series, wish it was longer. this book was my keast favorite of all but still a good book

Anything For You

I love Connor! Jessica made me want to slap her but once we got the back story it was easier to understand why she couldn't accept his proposal (even though he shouldn't have proposed to her when he did). It was so fun watching these two circle each other and even better watching Collin woo Davey. Definitely a perfect way to end this series!

Nice ending to the series

I just binge listened to the Blue Heron series. They were fun stories. I actually laughed out loud a couple times. Some of the characters seem real because they aren't cookie cutter gorgeous and some even have realistic flaws.

I love Connor!

Ms Higgins creates the most delicious characters. Conner seemed so nerdy and awkward early on but soon his sexy and vulnerability shined thru. Enjoyed this book immensely!!

Worth the wait

Kristan Higgins has written the perfect follow up for her series based in Manningsport, New York. In this edition, Connor O'Rourke has been in an on again/off again secret relationship with Jessica Dunn. He has been in love with her since they were in grade school and her brother's dog attacked him and his sister Colleen.

The book opens with Connor proposing to Jessica and her turning him down. Then the reader is taken on an emotional journey through the last twenty years of their lives together and apart. Jessica is solely responsible for her younger brother with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Davey, since the day he was born, as both of their parents are practicing alcoholics.

This is a great series and I have loved each and every story. In Anything for You, the characters from all of the other books make cameo appearances so the reader catches up with their lives (Jack and Emmaline are still my favorites).

Amy Rubinate is a great narrator and one of my favorites.

Unique.

Excellent story as always from Kristan Higgins. Her writing is fresh, funny and delightful every read and reread. This story's construction is unique. Loved it.

Very romantic and sweet book!

This book was excellent! The characters love story seemed realistic and the love that Jessica has for her brother is so true! Great feel good book!

Blue Heron is the place to be - or Roark's too

This was a good book from a good series. Connor is a great character. He is strong, handsome and kind. His love interest, Jessica, is really not good enough for him in my opinion. She made me very angry and disgusted several times during this book. The characters from previous books were all included in this final, I believe, book in the series. It was great to revisit with them. The narration is excellent - she does male and female voices quite well.

"You're not easy Jessica Dunn" "Actually I am ..."

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Higgins' books usually make me LOL and or cry. This one was more crying. Conner has loved Jessica since they were 12 and he will do anything to have a relationship with her. Even sneak around so her disabled brother won't know.