Tag Archives: Worth the Wait

Worth The Wait by Traci Douglass – a Review

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Worth The Wait by Traci Douglass – a Review

 

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Description:

Mandy Reynolds needs a reset on life in so many ways. Her acting career isn’t exactly where she’d hoped it to be. She can’t even get a job as a germ for a commercial. When she inherits half a house she sees it as a sign and heads home to Heavenly Falls, Illinois. She’ll sell the house, and use the money to take her career to the next level in Los Angeles. That is if she can convince her hard-headed––and stupidly gorgeous–– ex-stepbrother, Alex Noonan, to sell fast.

The last time Alex saw Mandy, she was a gangly teen, who followed him around like a sad puppy. But she’s grown into a smart and funny woman, who is as frustrating as she is beautiful. The fact that they have to live in the house––together––while they fix it up, is one temptation he doesn’t need. And while he’s having fun spending time with her, she’s moving on soon, and he needs time to heal.

Plus, she has no idea he’s got a secret that could put a monkey wrench in all of her plans…

 

 

 Review:

Worth the Wait by Traci Douglass is a standalone novel.  Mandy needs help, her acting career isn’t where it should be (well in her opinion), so when she gets the news she’s to inherit half a house, it’s the answer to her prayers, fix it up… sell it on…. easy…. well it would be if it wasn’t for her brother, well stepbrother, well in fact not even that now their parents are  divorced, he won’t help her. 

Alex wants this house, he has plans, and they don’t include Mandy. He wants to use the house as a showpiece, to show potential customers what he can do. Being an ex-investigator for the IRS paid the bills, but after being shot, Alex now suffers with anxiety and PTSD. So working on the house, he’s hoping will help him. Neither can afford to buy one another out, so they agree to work together, fix the house, then Alex can buy her out. Then Mandy will be back on the road to stardom. 

The story trots along, with both Mandy and Alex fighting and repairing the house, they also take sneaky peeks at one another.

Mandy thinks she’s nothing like her mother, she was into being with “the one” the relationships never lasted. So subconsciously she’s always on the move, and never getting involved in any long term relationships. The love affair between her mother and Alex’s father lasted only for a year, but long enough for Mandy to have an enormous crush. 

Have to admit love affairs between siblings isn’t on my reading list. I know it’s only step-siblings, (but I have stepdaughters, and I just couldn’t see my son and his stepsister ever being a couple) but that’s my opinion.  But saying that, it’s a nice story. Plenty of loose ends that could have been sorted. And plenty of questions that went unanswered. A little frustrating at times. 

So will Mandy move on, once the house is ready? Will Alex be able to see past his failings? Can he forgive Mandy for caring, and wanting the best for him? And can they be more than step-siblings? 

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

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Worth the Wait (Guthrie Brothers #2) by Lori Foster-a review

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WORTH THE WAIT (Guthrie Brothers #2) by Lori Foster-a review

Worth The Wait

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 25, 2017

Ready or not…love will find a way

Single dad Hogan Guthrie is getting his life back on track, and working as the “barbecue master” at a local diner is just a temporary detour. He and restaurant owner Violet Shaw constantly butt heads…until one night they end up mingling other parts instead. Hogan thought he had the recipe for happiness all figured out. But loyal, carefree Violet is daring him to trust his impulses…and see just how sweet small-town living—and loving—can be.

Nathan Hawley traded his SWAT team credentials for a sheriff’s badge, but a gorgeous new neighbor is shaking up his orderly life. Nathan has a hunch there’s more to Brooklin Sweet than meets the eye—but given her caution about getting involved, he has his work cut out for him. Still, there’s something about the elusive beauty Nathan can’t walk away from—and helping her come to terms with her past might pave the way to the future they both secretly long for.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:  WORTH THE WAIT is the second installment in Lori Foster’s contemporary, adult GUTHRIE BROTHERS romance series. This is single father and accountant Hogan Guthrie, and diner owner Violet Shaw’s story line. There is a secondary romance developing between former SWAT team member and Sheriff Nathan Hawley, and jewelry designer Brooklin Sweet. WORTH THE WAIT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives WORTH THE WAIT follows two developing romances. Hogan Guthrie thought he had everything figured out but the death of his wife left Hogan a single father financially struggling to make good on a promise he made to his seventeen-year old son Colt. Working as the part-time barbecue master at Screwy Louie’s alongside the woman he can’t stop thinking about Hogan battles to separate business from pleasure. Enter diner owner Violet Shaw, his boss, and the woman with whom Hogan will fall in love. But all of Hogan’s attempts at seduction are pushed aside as Violet struggles with Hogan’s reputation as a one-night stand kinda guy. A bout of pneumonia, and a worrisome injury find Hogan playing nursemaid to a reluctant and ailing Violet. Slowly worming his way into Violet’s heart Hogan soon realizes that Violet may be the woman he claims for his happily ever after. But jealousy and temper will get the best of Violet Shaw threatening Hogan’s fragile hold on his new-found independence.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Nathan Hawley is desperate to get to know his gorgeous new neighbor but suspects Brooklin Sweet is keeping secret a dark and painful past. Nathan’s early morning runs with Brooklin, and flirty ‘hellos’ are rebuffed and ignored on more than one occasion but a late night scare finds Brooklin face to face with the man she had kept at a distance but a distance that is slowly closing as threats against Brooklin become personal and real.

WORTH THE WAIT follows numerous paths and several developing romances that intersect throughout the story. Brooklin’s past comes seeking revenge threatening many of the people she has come to love in the small town of Clearbrook Ohio. The premise is entertaining; the characters are playful; the romances are sexy and seductive. WORTH THE WAIT is a heartwarming, energetic and passionate story line by romance author Lori Foster.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one-DON’T TEMPT ME

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Worth the Wait by Claudia Connor – a Review

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Worth the Wait by Claudia Connor – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

Description:
He broke her heart. When he finds out just how badly, it will break his too.

Nick Walker found the love of his life when he was just nineteen.

Found her.
Loved her.
Lost her.

It’s been ten years since Nick watched the only woman he ever loved walk out of his life. Now this FBI Special Agent will do anything to win her back.

But it won’t be easy…

Mia’s heart was shattered by Nick. They’ll have to face their painful past if they want a future, including Mia’s own secret about that day it all fell apart.

Do you believe in second chances?

 

Review:

Worth the Wait begins with the death of Nick Walker’s parents and the enormous responsibility he had to assume:  taking care of 4 siblings, one of whom is an adorable two year old, Hannah.  Determined to finish college and be the kind of guardian he knew his parents would want, Nick soon discovers that Hannah does NOT like to be separated from him.  Thankfully, his professors gave it a chance.  One day, as he was headed to his next class, he has a chance encounter with a young woman, Mia, who piques his interest immediately…..and Hannah’s. 

As Nick and Mia’s friendship grows, he finally works up the nerve to take things to the next level, and to his relief, Mia is thrilled.  Both of them have a lot on their plate.  Nick is raising his siblings and going to college.  Mia is pre-med and knows that it will take everything the two of them have to make things work. Several years pass as they both work towards their goals, until one fateful day that will change everyone’s lives in the blink of an eye:  Hannah goes missing.  Days turn to weeks and no matter how hard Mia tries, Nick will not let her comfort him and has closed part of himself off to her.  What follows is an emotional journey that not only tears at the characters’ hearts, but the readers’ as well.

Worth the Wait is a nicely written story that intrigued me from the very beginning.  Nick Walker was immediately relatable and lovable.  The way he stepped in to take care of his siblings after the death of their parents will endear him to everyone.  His sense of honor knows no bounds, until that fateful day Hannah comes up missing.  During that portion of the story, I wanted to reach in and pop him upside of his hard head a few times.  Mia’s sense of family and her nurturing nature endears her as well.  The supporting characters are well written and have left me wanting to know more about their story.  Claudia Connor did a great job pulling the reader in.  Nick and Mia’s chemistry and commitment to each other was almost awe inspiring….almost.  Things fell apart so quickly once Hannah went missing, I found myself wondering if I’d missed something, some nuance of anything that would have led me to believe what happened to their relationship….  I eventually chalked it up to Nick not being mature enough to get past, or through, what happened.  Ten years passes before the two star crossed lovers meet up again and try to navigate their complicated feelings for each other.  Worth the Wait is ultimately a story about dealing with your past and coming to terms with “what was”in order to figure out “what can be”.  Well done, Claudia Connor!  Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied for review.

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