Wait For It | McKinlay, Jenn

Lange Beschreibung
A woman looking for a new lease on life moves to Arizona where she rents a guest house on a gorgeous property with a mysterious owner a man who teaches her about resilience, courage, and ultimately true love, in this funny, bighearted novel about hope and healing from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.
 
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.

Rezensierung
Both fans and readers who are not already smitten with McKinlay s zingy prose and effervescent wit will soon find themselves happily succumbing to this author s many literary charms, including the effortless way in which she deftly pivots from moments of comic absurdity to heartfelt emotion without missing a beat.
Booklist (starred review)

Overall, this book was incredibly enjoyable and very engaging. I would definitely recommend Wait For It to friends who enjoy reading romance novels that deal with more serious topics.
The Nerd Daily

Praise for Paris Is Always a Good Idea

A playful breezy read that I couldn't put down! ­
Abby Jimenez, USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zone

  A delightful romance with characters I adored! Jenn McKinlay takes readers along on a fun and charming adventure in Paris Is Always a Good Idea.
Emily March, New York Times bestselling author of Teardrop Lane

Eat Pray Love meets Mamma Mia! I devoured this clever novel in one sitting!'
Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

Delivers a fun, feel-good, stand-alone novel that will delight readers. [They] will savor the feisty, adventurous journey of McKinlay's self-deprecating protagonist as she re-examines her past in order to chart her future. Navigating many complications and bumps in the road, Chelsea finds romance and enlightenment over the course of her travels, and discovers how living life can change people altering destinies, dreams and priorities for the better.
Shelf Awareness

  Witty, warm and wonderful an American Fleabag, told with heart, hope and joie de vivre.
Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author of The Moonglow Sisters

McKinlay spins a funny yet poignant tale.
Jen DeLuca, author of Well Met

A funny and charming romp of self-discovery . You ll feel like you ve been on a European vacation even if you didn t make it out of your own back yard.
Kwana Jackson, USA Today bestselling author of Real Men Knit

'Sparkles with wit yet is profoundly humane at its core. You will be rooting for Chelsea through all her travels.'
Jenny Holiday, USA Today bestselling author of Mermaid Inn

Paris Is Always a Good Idea made me smile, cry, swoon, and cheer. It's a beautiful, funny, and relatable story about finding yourself.
Sarah Smith, author of Faker

This book ticked so many of my boxes: a perfectly imperfect protagonist on a bittersweet journey of self-discovery, relatable family tensions, vividly portrayed international settings, and an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers subplot that made me smile from ear to ear. A thoroughly satisfying read that tugged at my heart and made me happy-sigh when I reached the end!'
Mia Sosa, USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man

Paris Is Always A Good Idea is the must-have summer read of the year.
Fresh Fiction

An entertaining romance along with a story with ever changing scenery makes this the perfect summer read.
Parkersburg News

Readers will have no trouble investing in Chelsea and Jason s enemies-to-lovers romance. This flawless rom-com is sure to delight.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

McKinlay proves she is also a master at romantic women s fiction with this dazzling novel that delivers everything McKinlay s fans expect deliciously acerbic wit, delightfully relatable characters, and deeply funny dialogue all deftly poured into a plot that also thoughtfully examines what true happiness really means.
Booklist

Praise for Jenn McKinlay s romance novels
 
'Jenn McKinlay writes sexy, funny romances that will leave you begging for more!'
Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author of Almost Just Friends

'Funny, charming, and heart-stoppingly romantic. Jenn McKinlay is a rising star.'
Jaci Burton, New York Times bestselling author of The Best Man Plan

McKinlay once again serves up her signature literary cocktail of sassy humor and sexy romance expertly spiked with a surfeit of small-town charm and holiday cheer.
Booklist (starred review)

'Witty dialogue and a charming small town filled with warm, loving characters will keep readers coming back to this tender series.'
Publishers Weekly

As cozy as the hero s favorite Christmas sweater, with a warm, home-for-the-holidays feel.
Library Journal

'[Every Dog Has His Day is] superbly satisfying....A contemporary romance that is practically perfect is every way.'
Booklist (starred review) 
 
'[Every Dog Has His Day] enchants from the very first page....A sparkling gem of a book that is sure to lift your spirits!'
RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)
  
'McKinlay delivers heartwarming humor at its finest.'
Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author of The Moonglow Sisters
 
'Clever writing, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sizzling romance. This one is a keeper.'
Delores Fossen, USA Today bestselling author of A Coldwater Christmas

Buchausschnitt
Annabelle

Chapter One

Annabelle, please tell me you are not meeting Jeremy at the Top of the Hub for your annual un-anniversary celebration, Sophie Vasquez, my former college roommate, life partner in all shenanigans, and best friend forever, said.

Fine, I won t tell you, I muttered into my cell phone. My breath came out in a plume of steam in the freezing February air.

I was walk-jogging because I was late. Little-known fact, I, Annabelle Martin, am always late. As my father liked to say, Sunshine, you were born late. He s not even joking. According to my mother, I was two weeks late and wouldn t leave the womb without an eviction notice. Having since learned that life is hard, I think in utero me was onto something.

In my defense, my lateness is not on purpose. I m not trying to be rude, it s just that my comprehension of the human construct of time is marginal at best. Like, I know that it takes at least twenty minutes to walk to the Prudential Center from my studio apartment on Marlborough Street, and while I had every intention of leaving twenty-five minutes ahead of time, I got sidelined by an idea for a sketch because of the way the moonlight shone through my windowpane, making patterns on the floor.

As an artist, I m constantly distracted by the details that most people can filter out. Shapes, light, shadows, the subtle nuances that make up the world around me, I m in their thrall. Naturally, my quick sketch made me late, and now it was fifteen minutes until I was supposed to be at the restaurant, and I was running through Back Bay in the frigid winter cold, in high-heeled boots, with my thick wool coat flapping behind me, no doubt looking like a crazy person.

Belle, this is such a bad idea, Sophie said.

Why? We do it every year. It s tradition. My tone was defensive because I knew how Sophie felt about my relationship with my first ex-husband.

Yes, you read that right. First ex-husband. And yes, I am only twenty-eight and have two ex-husbands. I ve had a few people give me side-eye over this fact, and I even had one woman accuse me of taking all the men. Yes, she did! I told her she owed me a thank-you for vetting them for the rest of womankind. Honestly.

I mean, it s not like I wanted to be a twice-divorced twenty-something. It s just that life stuff happened big bad life stuff and my coping skills in my early twenties had not been awesome. Besides, I m impulsive, and when I m in love, I m sooooo in love, I lose all sense of reason. Clearly.

Considering her tone, I supposed I should have let Sophie s call go to voicemail, but when your bestie calls from Arizona, you answer even when you know she s going to challenge your life choices. I heard the distinct sound of water in the background.

Soph, if you re calling me from a swimming pool, I m hanging up on you, I said.

Laughter greeted me. I m not, she said. I swear I m not.

A suspicious splash punctuated her words.

You are such a liar, I accused. I hurried down the sidewalk, feeling the bitter wind sweep in from Boston Harbor.

Technically, it s a hot tub. What gave it away?
Splashing.

Sorry, she said. She didn t sound a bit sorry. How s the weather there? Another blizzard on the way?

It s Boston in February, I said. Cold, gray, and sad. It s just horribly sad. In fact, I think I have a case of seasonal affective disorder brewing.

Aw, that is SAD, poor Belle, she said. You should come visit me in Phoenix. It s