Wait for Me by Elisabeth Naughton – a Review
Wait for Me is a Romantic Suspense novel by Elisabeth Naughton. When I started this book, I expected a quick and fast read, since I am more into these days romance with paranormal or fantasy themes. I was not expecting something that pretty early on in the story, would pull me totally in,with varying degrees of emotions along the way.
Wait for Me begins with Kate Alexander trying to calm her nerves from losing her cool, as she is having a CAT scan done. Much to her relief, she completes her test, and as she leaves the clinic, her world turns upside down. A plane crash is shown on the TV screen with no survivors, and Kate’s husband is on that plane.
After the funeral, Kate goes through her husband’s papers and discovers things about her life that made no sense. Kate knows that she woke from a coma, 18 months ago, with permanent memory loss, and did not remember her husband Jake, nor her 4 year old son, Reed. Relying on her husband to fill in the blanks, Kate got on with her life. Until now, when she reviews the papers in front of her, Kate begins to suspect that her husband has been lying to her. The medical records show that what she was told that she was in a 4 day coma, was actually 3 years. She finds a picture of a little girl, and is shocked to see herself in that girl. Kate knows beyond a shadow of doubt, that the young girl in the picture is her daughter.
Kate is determined to find out the truth, and why did her husband lie to her. She decides to leave her home, and take her son to San Francisco, where she will embark on her own fact finding mission. At this point, you are totally pulled into her world, and be prepared for a mix of emotions that will glue you to this wonderful book.
Ryan Harrison, lost his pregnant wife 5 years ago, when she died in a plane crash. The tragedy devastated him, and it took him years to move on, mainly because of his daughter, Julia, who is now 9 years old. His love for Julia, was what allowed him to pick up the pieces, but Ryan will never open his heart again. He has no problems getting women, as he is rich, and handsome, but he will never love again. All he wants to do is take care of Julia, and bury himself into running his pharmaceutical company, of which he is the President.
Ryan’s life also takes an unexpected turn, when he sees Julia talking to a strange woman across from their house. From afar, he is shell-shocked and as he gets closer, he is looking at a woman who looks exactly like his deceased wife, Annie. Kate, tries to explain about her memory loss, is not sure who she really is, and just needs to know about her past. Ryan, listening to her unbelievable story, is convinced she is his dead wife, but cannot handle his anger, as she does not know him, and probably ever will. He dreamed of her all these years, and now he feels that perhaps she has come back, but he is losing her again.
Kate is determined to find out everything, though she does not want to hurt Ryan and Julia. But she needs to know if Julia is her daughter, and if she really is Annie Harrison. Kate needs to know why the man whom proclaimed himself to be her husband, lied to her the last 5 years.
Naughton brings us such wonderful characters in Kate & Ryan, as well as the secondary characters you come to care about…Mitch, who is Annie’s brother, and Ryan’s best friend, he was fun, lots of charisma, not to mention handsome too; Simone, who is Annie’s friend, and Julia, the daughter who cannot handle the possibility that her mother has returned.
To watch Kate discover she has another husband, and a daughter, and both of them expressing anger at her, even if she is truly the innocent one, is very emotional. You know Kate is hurting, and you find yourself angry at Ryan and Julia, for the way they are treating her and blaming her. You are protective of Kate, and at times would have liked to smack Ryan a few times, though you do understand his anguish, but you are torn at his behavior, the way he blamed her for everything, and this part of the book is totally intense.
Eventually, Ryan was finally able to come to terms with his anger, and Kate also begins to feel something for Ryan. At this point, Ryan is in protective mode, as things begin to become dangerous for them all. Whatever happened to Kate, has been hidden very well, and now someone is going out of their way to kill off anyone who remembers Kate when she was in the coma. As they work together..Kate, Ryan, Mitch and Simone to find the truth, your emotions are now turned completely into watching them both fall in love again. Kate though, holds back a little, in fear that Ryan expects her to be his beloved Annie, whom she is, but now very different. Ryan, begins to see the differences between Kate and Annie, and at one point during one of their hot steamy sex, he calls her Katie, which was a blend of both of them. Kate recognizes that Ryan has melded her and Annie as one, and she realizes how much she does want to stay with Ryan.
The mystery becomes a major focal point at this time, as the danger increases for all of them. Julia, who still harbors resentment toward Kate, is forced to spend the afternoon with her, and both end up in a fight for their lives, as the car they were in was tampered with. Also another emotional point, as after this harrowing experience, Julia having been saved by Kate, begins to look at her as her mom again. Very well done by Naughton. Then things come to an exciting ending, where lives are on the brink of being lost, and a surprising twist as to who is the killer. The end is another emotional pull by Naughton, as we watch Katie and Ryan decide on their fate.
Wait for Me was a wonderful book, very emotional, with a mixed bag of emotions, and I fully recommend you to read this book The characters are great, as you become part of their lives. Great story, great writing by Elisabeth Naughton.
Reviewed by Barb
