Book Review: Wait for You

Wait for You
(Wait for You #1)

Author: J. Lynn

Published By:  William Morrow Paperbacks

Publication Date: September 3rd, 2013

Page Count:  384 Pages

Buy it at:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound

Source:  Purchased by Reviewer

Audience:  New Adult Contemporary Romance

This story was a definite favourite...and a nice break from my usual fantasy, dystopian and paranormal reads.  It was a deliciously sexy, hot, heart-breaking and triumphant story about two people—one who was incredibly patient, and one who tried to escape her past—trying to overcome bad places in their lives and searching for that trust…that leap of faith…into happiness.

This contemporary, new adult romance was centered around two characters…Avery Morgensten and Cam Hamilton.  Avery has moved clear across the country in hopes of a fresh start, hoping to leave painful memories and the mess that was her life behind her.  About to start her freshmen year in college far away from home, with a new apartment all to herself, with new furnishings, and with the hope of making new friends, she thinks she has set herself on the right path.  However, as you probably guessed it, you can’t run from your troubles and your past.  They always have a way of catching up with you…and they certainly did in a big way for Avery.

As much as most people--and probably fictional characters could be included here if they could speak of their own free will--would never want your pity, Avery, did have mine.  I’ll try to explain what I mean and why I didn’t just stick with empathy as the word I would use.  Avery had a very different life, while not perfect by any means, before a traumatizing incident shattered her world.  Following said incident and totally abandoned by everyone around her—and that was not an exaggeration—my heart did break for her.  The previous events completely knocked down her self esteem and made her very introverted.  The pity came from when there were literal life-preservers being thrown at her (from namely Cam), and she refused them despite her wish for a fresh start because she couldn't fathom why.  I get why she refused him SO.MANY.TIMES. but it got to be too much for even me (I usually give the benefit of the doubt).  So I initially didn’t think I could really root for her.  But something did change in my thoughts about her, even as she continued to turn Cam down…perhaps it was her inner-dialogue and getting to know what the incident was that changed her life so (the incident itself, I suspected throughout but was still pivotal with the big reveal).  I can’t explain it but she soon took on a different tone…one that changed over to empathy.  She SO wanted her life to change, and she just couldn’t put the pieces together to move forward, despite going through the motions, when the past wouldn’t let go.  She was still smart and witty when she let herself just be her true self, but she was mostly guarded in the beginning and couldn’t comprehend the interest that was bestowed upon her by Cam.

Cam.  Perhaps the perfect, no-so-perfect, fictional love interest.  Cam is a guy.  And by that, I mean, a guy who acts probably like most men do in their early 20’s.  He’s a college boy who loves to party, often has girls hanging all over him, is confident and cocky with a mouth to match.  He was quick-witted and had a penchant for baking up mouth-watering cookies and banana loaves and eggs.  BUT…don’t let that popular-and-fun-loving persona fool you…he comes from a really awesome and loving family and he knows it and appreciates them immensely…and THAT was when I fell for him...hard.  BUT…he did have his own baggage, too.  What I loved about him though, he didn’t let that baggage consume him as much as it reminded him every now and then...unlike Avery's baggage (although both sets of baggage were very, very different, and these were two very, very different people handling their respective baggage).  But when Avery literally bumped into him (more accurately plowing him over despite her diminutive size), his play-boy ways quickly did an about face.  If there was such a thing as love at first sight, I would classify Cam’s attentions towards Avery as just that.  Although, he logically didn’t admit it right away,  but I think he knew without question she had his heart from the beginning.  And he was relentless when it came to winning her over…and what I was getting at before about Avery…she turned him down PLENTY OF TIMES.   He had the patience of Job when it came to her…but I think his heart and mind knew she would be worth waiting for.

The slow and simmering evolution of these characters was addictive though, as was the story itself.  I had a hard time putting the book down, and couldn’t wait to see if they emerged from the depths of their demons and would find happiness in each other.

J. Lynn is better known as her other author alias, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and so far, everything I’ve read from her, I have really liked.  And I’ve got miles to go to catch up with her bevy of books she currently has out.  I will say that there is something very enveloping and addictive about her writing.  The stories I’ve read so far are the ones where you curl up snuggly into your favourite comfy chair and just get lost in…my heart has swooned (often), broken and soared many times throughout her stories…including this one. I will definitely be carrying on with this series!

This is definitely new adult…with emphasis on the adult.  Probably not for the younger audience.

Goodreads

Some things are worth waiting for.

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago--an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe--please God--make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she's building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing.

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that's just so... so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet.

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she's has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for.