Wait For It by Jenn McKinlay – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Stuck in a dreary Boston winter, Annabelle Martin would like nothing more than to run away from her current life. She’s not even thirty years old, twice-divorced, and has just dodged a marriage proposal… from her ex-husband. When she’s offered her dream job as creative director at a cutting-edge graphic design studio in Phoenix, she jumps at the opportunity to start over.

When she arrives in the Valley of the Sun, Annabelle is instantly intrigued by her anonymous landlord. Based on the cranky, handwritten notes Nick Daire leaves her, she assumes he is an old, rich curmudgeon. Annabelle is shocked when she finally meets Nick and discovers that he’s her age and uses a wheelchair. Nick suffered from a stroke a year ago, and while there’s no physical reason for him not to recover, he is struggling to overcome the paralyzing fear that has kept him a prisoner in his own home.

Despite her promise to herself not to get involved, Annabelle finds herself irresistibly drawn to Nick. And soon she wonders if she and Nick might help each other find the courage to embrace life, happiness, and true love.

 

 

 

Review:

Wait for It by Jenn McKinley is a wonderful standalone novel.  We meet our heroine, Annabelle Martin, who lives in Boston and is a very good graphic designer; she has been married twice at 28 years old, remaining friends with her ex. Annabelle is fun, outgoing, impulsive, reckless, but she is a master at creating fabulous designs. Her best friend Sophia, begs her to move to Phoenix and become their creative director for her graphic design studio; since she knows that Annabelle is what she needs for her company.   When Annabelle’s ex starts what looks like another marriage proposal, she immediately shouts about her job offer, and is planning to move to Phoenix.  Annabelle is now on her way to Phoenix, to take over the creative director position with Sophia and Miquel’s company. 

Miquel (Sophia’s husband) is owed a favor, and manages to get 6 month lease on a guest house at a mansion for Annabelle to use.  The owner, Nick Daire, is retired and reclusive, and Annabelle never gets to see him, other than notes he leaves to her that give her strict rules (no use of pool, no guests, no pets, etc).  She assumes the cranky landlord is old and rich, and when she finally forces herself to meet him, she is shocked to see he is her age, and totally gorgeous.  Seems Nick suffered a stroke a year ago, and keeps this information private; he has a cook, gardener/driver and trainer.  In a short time, Nick begins to find himself attracted to the beautiful and outgoing Annabelle, who manages to push his buttons, and a sizzling romance begins. 

Nick trains to build his body, but he has anxiety attacks, due to fear of getting another stroke; but Annabelle senses his anxiety is holding him back, having had some of those signs after the loss of her mother.   Nick is very stubborn; will he allow Annabelle to help him?

Nick has not seen his family for over 20 years, and when his sister shows up out of nowhere, he refuses to help her.  Annabelle tries to convince him to open up to her, but his stubbornness forces the sister to leave.  When Nick finds out that someone at Annabelle’s company has been sabotaging her, he makes plans to put her in charge of a new client for the graphic design company, using his sister and Annabelle.  The nasty person in the company continues to try to cause damage, but together with her team, who has become loyal to her, she manages to be a step ahead.

I really loved Annabelle and Nick together, as they had amazing chemistry.  It was also wonderful to see Annabelle and her graphic design team work be her friends; as well as the sister becoming her friend too. The overall story was very well done, with some major issues such as, PTSD, trauma, anxiety, fear, family issues and emotional stress.  Very well written by McKinlay.

What follows is a wonderful, heartwarming romance, which as noted has some issues along the way.  Nick needs to come to terms to being able to step out into the public, and learn to deal with his fears.  Annabelle was a great heroine, though she too needed to learn when to step back a bit.  Wait for It was a fun fabulous read, which was so very well written by Jenn McKinlay.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Jenn McKinlay’s publisher,  is offering a paper copy of WAIT FOR IT  to ONE (1) commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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