All I Need Is You

Over the Edge #1

by Julia London

Previously available as Wedding Survivor (Thrillseekers Anonymous series).

When a wedding planner’s first gig teams her up with a sexy stuntman, will she crash and burn…or be airlifted to love?

Tall, lithe ex-stuntman Eli McCain may speak with a Texas drawl, but this modern-day cowboy prefers hurricane windsurfing to herding cattle. Along with three friends, he cofounded Thrillseekers Anonymous, an extreme sports club that caters to the ultrarich and superfamous. But when the club agrees to stage a huge—and hugely profitable—extreme sports–themed celebrity wedding, Eli gets furious; he’s still bitter about getting jilted at the altar and wants nothing to do with veils or vows.

Copper-haired chatterbox Marnie Banks dove headfirst into wedding planning after she was laid off from a dot-com start-up. The union of megawatt stars Olivia Dagwood and Vincent Vittorio may be her first solo wedding job, but it could make all her dreams come true: She’ll make Hollywood connections. She’ll finally move out of her parents’ house. And she’ll meet a decent guy, for once.

But when the wedding turns from extreme to extremely disastrous, Eli and Marnie must work together against the elements, their bickering clients, and their own smoldering attraction to save the day. Will the sparks flying between them ignite into something real and passionate…or will they both end up burned?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Sports, Audiobook, Humor

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2005

About the author

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than two dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular historical romance series, the Cabot Sisters, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch, and The Perfect Homecoming.

Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon

Reviews

[Nefise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an easy and light read. It's not very good but not bad either that I couldn't keep reading.

[Angie Hulsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I Need Is You is the first book that I have read by Julia London. The great thing about this book is the writing. I love the humor and the witty banter. I also love the way the characters are mature characters. There are no silly misunderstandings, love triangles, or petty fighting. Eli is a sexy Texan who is addicted to extreme sports. I really like how Eli was not your typical alpha male. He has had his heart broke and he is still hurting. Marnie is a confident woman who is starting a new career after her job in the dotcom industry has crashed. She comes across as a little naïve, but I think it is because she sees the best in people. Eli and Marnie meet and it’s the beginning of a great friendship and an even greater romance. I really enjoyed reading about a hero that isn’t afraid to be friends with a woman and doesn’t really lie to himself about any of his feelings. He’s scared to fall in love, but he doesn’t run away from his feelings. He doesn’t really embrace those feelings either;). Another great aspect of this book is that there is no “insta love” with these two, you get to experience them falling in love. Great book, great writing and I will definitely read more from Julia London! I received this book as a first reads winner on Goodreads.

[Floripiquita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo que me pude reír al comienzo de este libro con el melón y las pruebas que le hacen pasar a la protagonista. El primer libro que leo de Julia London me ha parecido muy entretenido y divertido, pena que ese desenlace -extendido en demasía para mi gusto- desluzca un poco la historia. Recomendable si quieres una lectura ligera con la que pasar un buen rato. Le doy un 3,5.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this storyline Stuntman/extreme sports meets wedding planner

Marine is so bubbly & Eli is grumpy but working together the two starts to grow feelings for each other. One minute they are butting heads & the next they cant keep there hands off each other.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. I was literally laughing out loud throughout the entire book. Marnie and Eli were awesome together. The ending was really sweet too. I didn't want the book to end!

[Sonnie Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodread Giveaways!! I loved it. It was a slow start but once I got into I didnt want to put it down. I just looked up the read the rest of the series but it looks like its not available on my nook. All in all a very good read. Would highly recommend!!!!

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Musings

Cute book! Loved Marnie and Eli. What a hoot. Found my self laughing out loud. Listened to the audio and I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to read the next one in this series.Happy ☺reading 📚!

[Desi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terminado de leer el 21/07/2009

[Tiera McMillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Available to read and listen via KU. I'm a little on the fence here. I chose to listen to the story and in all actuality though it took me a bit to really get into it I felt the narrator did a pretty good job at least on the viewpoint of the FMC. However, I had a really hard time with the narration of the MMC viewpoint. I'm not sure if it was the accent, if the narrator portrayed the MMC as the most uninteresting and dry character to have ever existed, or the author actually wrote him that way. I mean I'm all for the strong silent types but this was pushing it for me. As for the story itself, I actually liked it just fine, though it did tend to drag on for quite some time during the "planning" stages.

Marnie, our FMC, has the perfect personality, and go get it attitude to be the most perfect of wedding planners. Now if only she could get some experience under her belt. Lucky for her Thrill Seekers Anonymous is looking for a no name wedding planner who can keep a secret and is willing to jump through hoops for some high profile clients to join their team and Marnie fits the bill. Marnie learns real fast that being a wedding planner for the "stars" isn't all its cracked up to be, and working with Eli McCain is trying every nerve and thread of patience she seems to possess. Marnie struggles to keep her sunny, positive disposition when everyone is constantly raining on her parade. Marnie ends up being drawn to Eli more and more, despite his gruff, nonexistent personality and the fact that he barely shows any interest if at all.. Eli isn't having Marnie though, hes been hurt before and hes done with women forever. Marnie must now battle through Eli's past in order to actually reach the person hidden behind all his walls, that is if this "Wedding of the Century" doesn't kill them all first...

I loved Marnie, she was bubbly, and kind of ditsy and just all around fun to read about. Eli though, he was just a tough nut to crack. Besides the fact that there seems to be no chemistry on Eli's side and no hint that he was into Marnie, the fact that he is a down right jerk to her most of the time would have made me move on way early. Marnie though she's not a quitter apparently lol. I don't feel like I'm done with this series yet, I'm hoping making in the next one I'll get the chemistry I'm looking for since the next book seems to be about different members of the group. Here's to hoping.

[Katherine 黄爱芬 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ketika Marnie mendapatkan pekerjaan sbg wedding planner bintang Hollywood berkelas dari Thrillseekers Anonymous, bukan kepalang senangnya Marnie. Apalagi plus bonus ditemani si ganteng Eli McCain. Perlahan tapi pasti, Marnie mulai frustrasi terutama kepada si Ratu Drama Agung, Olivia Dagwood, sang calon mempelai wanita. Sayangnya, harapan yg tersisa pun pupus sudah saat mereka berlima terjebak di gunung Colorado tsb.

Ini novel contemporary romance pertama yg baca dari author dan saya tidak kecewa. Alur dan plot twist nya menarik dan kocak sehingga jauh dari kata membosankan. Dan yg paling lucu ketika mereka semua terdampar di gunung keparat tsb dan Eli mengadakan kontes utk memenangkan air mandi dan kabin. Hadiah sederhana tsb menjadi hadiah sangat mewah ketika mereka tidak bisa berkutik sama sekali. Mirip dgn acara Survivor walau dgn versi agak konyol, di sana membuktikan Eli adalah hero terbaik utk Marnie yg pantang menyerah.

Sayangnya, karakter Eli yg mau-mau tapi ogah komitmen ini bikin kita pengen cekek lehernya. Bagusnya Marnie bisa meng-"handle" bocah tua ini dgn cukup baik. Jadi saya sudah tidak sabar utk mengetahui bujangan selanjutnya yg jatuh cinta dari seri ini.

[Darkand · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this prolific author has written quite a number of books, this book will have been my first by her. From what I can tell, it looks like Ms. London writes primarily historical romance which explains why I haven't read her before. (Not my cuppa tea.) However, this book, the first of the "Over The Edge" books (which were previously published in 2005 & also in 2011 as the "Thrillseeker's Anonymous" series)is a contemporary romance and is definitely up my alley. I enjoyed the story and both of the lead characters. I found the secondary characters to be entertaining, if a bit whiny & demanding which was certainly to be expected of them. The story moved at a good pace and I found that I really wanted to know what would happen next between Marnie and Eli. I will admit that I found Marnie to be a smidge immature at times and the description of her "maple pancake eyes" was a bit repetitive but her positive sunny disposition won me over in the long run. I'm glad that I dipped my toes into the water with Julia London and I will be happy to read the next installment when the reprint of it comes out.

FTC Advisory: I won a copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads program. No compensation for my review was given.

[Cyndee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Julia London's books. This one left me a little disappointed.
Good: This is a story that most contemporary romance readers would enjoy. The characters are firm in your mind and well written that way.

Bad: First I think it might have been the narration as I read it in Audible format. The narrator made Eli sound like a moron instead of a millionaire hunk. Having family in Texas why do people do that to "cowboys"??
Beside Eli sounding like a moron, Marnie was the the all time irritating cheerleader that has been dropped from a pyramid one to many times. -- again not sure if it was the narrator or what.

Now with that being said I plan on reading the rest of the books in the series and hope that it will improve! As I said I have always enjoyed Julia London's books.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually,4.5 stars.
It's been years since I've read anything by Julia London. I read the Lear Sister Trilogy, which I remember really enjoying. The first book in the Thrillseekers Anonymous series is no exception. I loved this book! Funny, sexy and entertaining! Looking forward to reading the rest of the series and other books by Ms. London.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like it. The author gave me no reason to admire or like Marnie.

She kept doing things that made me dislike her. I didn't like her mother or the bookclub ladies. The major romantic dilemma was that Eli was afraid of commitment. I never laughed or was surprised.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Eli! Swoon!! Why must all men be royal screw ups after being hurt by dumb b***hes?! I'm so glad that Eli was able to finally figure it out and convince Marnie they both deserve their happily every after!

[Kylie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope

Nope nope nope nope!
This book was the worst. I read number 3 first which i enjoyed so thought id start from the beginning. This one i found really painful to finish

[D.B. Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one took me by surprise. A fun and engaging adventure with lots of heart.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. The heroine, Marnie Banks, is immature, childish and I found her really annoying. As quoted "She hated it when people... talked to her as if she were a turnip." Well I can say one thing, she definitely was one.

After being hired by Thrillseekers Anonymous, to assit planning a wedding, she finds herself helping plan the wedding for a famous actor and actress. Using another quote to directed at Marnie "...why don't you just do the job we hired you to do and stop playing Hollywood Barbie?" this is directed at her, as she seems to have no clue about an arch that the bridezilla wants in her wedding, which happens to be a giant.

More whining to add to this, when she finds herself in a relationship with the hero, Eli McCain, she acts like a complete fool, and Eli wanting to keep things professional and once again using another quote: "can we just keep the conversation to the job at hand?" and "It's just that I think we ought to keep our personal lives separate from this gig..."

After finally getting the picture of keeping things professional, she acts like a brat insisting that "(she's) fine". But clearly she's not.

Possibly the reason Marnie is the way she is, is because of her nosy mother, who is a complete gossip, telling her friends about Marnie's job, which is meant to be confidential. But then again, why did Marnie even tell her mother in the first place???

More to add to this complaint, is the wedding disaster where Marnie finds herself along with TA camping out doors where she expects a chef to cook for them, which is immediately shut down. On top of this she is expecting things you get in a hotel such as showers and a proper bed. I wanted to scream out at the ficticious character IT'S CALL CAMPING!! But then again, what would she know. She doesn't even know how to put up a tent. During this time, she acts completely childish when she is fed a lie about Eli's apparent checking out a cocktail waitress.

When Marnie does learn the truth about the non-apparent relationship between Eli and the cocktail waitress, she once again acts all childish.

When the wedding fails and the wedding party finds themselves stranded after a storm, the story turns into survivor, and Marnie being Marnie, things she can side with bridezilla, only to be warned "... is the kind of girl who will cut you the first moment you aren't useful to her." only for Marnie being Marnie, saying she trusts her. Only to have everything thrown into her face when she learns the truth, and once again, she acts whiny and childish all about it.

To be honest I found bridezilla more likable then Marnie.

[Cathy P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

I recommend this book. I enjoyed the characters and the premise of the plot. Didn't quite make 5 stars for me for a couple reasons. Overall great read and great writing. Marnie drove me crazy until about half way through. Naive in some spots and kinda milk toast, yet with Eli, she pushed herself into bed and was pissed he didn't immediately return feelings. I totally understood Eli's situation. I loved them as a couple and had complimentary personalities. My 2nd issue was how can extreme stunt men not get millionaires with unlimited money off a dale on a mountain sooner than 3-4 days? That being said, I really enjoyed the antics of everyone on both sides of the bridge.
Those are my hangups and shouldn't detract for a lot of people. It was a sweet steady build to a great relationship. Great writing, great characters.

[Michaela Zankl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sassy and Funny

I instantly fell in love with Marnie's character. Full of sass and a bit of chaos lol. After being hired on as a wedding planner for a big celebrity wedding, her first wedding, she is thrown into celebrity chaos. The overly demanding bride and the laid back groom are at a constant battle of what they expect their wedding to be. Marnie's only grounding point is Eli, a stunt coordinator and relationship issues. Marnie quickly falls for Eli but his fears stop him from opening up about his feelings towards Marnie.
The banter between the characters is refreshing and funny. This is the first book in the series and beautifully written. Definitely a page turner.

[Audry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marnie is starting her wedding planner business, and her first job is for an extreme sports company for an extreme sports wedding. Eli is one of the owners. They are immediately physically attracted to each other. As I read, I'd became clear that the physical part of the attraction overshadowed any other part, and the story just went into the background. Basically a sex story. Discarded

Language: a lot
Sex: yes

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a busy book. They had so many places they had to go because of the TA job. Marly the wedding planner, does a great job with her demanding movie star. Olivia is constantly changing the wedding plans. I love what happens after the storm. (No spoilers)

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator did a fantastic job. Really brought out each character's trait. It had great humor and again, the narrator was able to portray it. However, I did not like her voice for Eli. She did make him sound like an 80-year-old man. Too bad, otherwise really enjoyed it.

[Ashley FL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite 4 stars but I am feeling generous. Light and breezy and fun.

[Cherye Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I need. ...

Another great book by Julia London. Loved it. Have to love the happily ever after experience in all of her books.

[Andrea Wheeler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marnie was a ditz

[Trisha Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Julia keeps the story moving and the main characters at odds in a way that even though you know they will end up together, you fear they won't. Love her writing!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes the characters seemed more like teenagers, but it was a light and fun story.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of athletic stuff with the romance.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh!

As usual, Julia London gives us another excellent book! Great characters, humor, romance and a wonderful story! I will definitely be reading her next books!