This book was just so good and I just lost myself in the story. I will most definitely be reading more books by this wonderful author.

Worth the Wait is a cute, quick, low heat read. The cover fits the content well: it's sweet, and will serve as good palate cleanser in between more challenging, emotional or consuming reads.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a charming read! Delightful beach reading. I really enjoyed the banter between Mandy and Alex.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Relatable and wonderful this story will keep you reading until the end. This story deals with PTSD, work injuries, and death. I loved the romance and sensual touch to the story. I loved the characters and how Mandy helped Alex.

Full review posted at Reader's Edyn on 03/25/20

Mandy didn’t exactly have a typical childhood, which ended up influencing many of her decisions in adulthood. Her mother was an incurable romantic and married several times. One of those marriages introduced her to the Noonan family and the best year she had growing up with her new family. But it didn’t last long and before too long, she and her mother were off to another new life. But Alex Noonan, brief step-brother, was gorgeous beyond belief and had Mandy pattering after him everywhere. She never forgot him – and she sure never thought she’d inherit half a house with him, gifted by her mother following her death. Never one to settle down, Mandy is more concerned with helping to push her acting career along and this house just might be the break she needs – once they fix it up and sell it. But the Alex she encounters seems to be a shadow of his former self, guarding dark secrets, with only the slightest of glimpses of the guy he used to be. It doesn’t take long for Mandy to decide that Alex is also a part of her fixer-upper journey. Except when you tangle emotions, unexpected things can happen and it doesn’t take long for Many to suddenly reevaluate her life and the path she is currently set on because the thought of leaving Alex behind suddenly seems like the worst possible scenario.

Alex is ecstatic with his sudden homeownership windfall. Searching for a way to break out of his depressing life and trying to start anew, this house offers him everything he wants … or so he thought. The whimsical and gorgeous Mandy quickly throws a wrench in his plans. First, she plans to sell the house, but as half-owner, he won’t let that happen. Then she goes and worms her way into his heart, reminding him of the carefree days filled with love and laughter they used to share. And the worst thing of all … she sets out to fix him. He’s having none of it. Except her meddling, while seemingly intrusive and boundary testing ultimately does end up helping him. But his anger at uncontrollable events that stole the life he had and anger at feeling things for Mandy that he refused to allow himself to get caught up in causes him to lash out at her – the one person he’s come to depend on and look forward to seeing. When the house suffers an enormous setback and Mandy simultaneously sets off to act for a movie part she landed, Alex is quickly forced to come to grips with all of the mistakes he’s been making. Continue to live in anger and regret and probably die miserably alone, or man up and start making some changes. And then, if he’s luckier than he deserves, he just might get a chance to win Mandy back for good.

This is my first experience with Ms. Douglass, which was a joy. The story actually contains some pretty serious content, but with the skillful addition of lighthearted banter and charming friends and family members, the book didn’t fall into a dark place as could have easily done. Some of the things addressed include: parental loss both permanent and temporary, anxiety/PTSD from uncontrollable circumstances, grief, fear of commitment – the list is endless with how many issues are dealt with in a small space of time. When the characters need to be serious, they are, but there is generally a bit of cajoling that follows to break out of the heavy and return to the quirky as evidenced in the first of the favorite lines I included. Alex says something about wood and Mandy quickly retorts jokingly with, “You said wood”. There are several instances such as this that keep the reader giggling as well as demonstrating how close Mandy and Alex once were when they were a family, even however brief. Now some might have a serious issue with Alex and Mandy having been step-brother and step-sister for a time. However, as far as I am concerned, given the back story and their brief span of being related, it had no negative impact on my opinion. Their parents were married about a year and with Mandy’s mother flitting from marriage to marriage, she never really stays long enough to create what would be seen as a sibling bond. Basically, she lived with friends for a while and that’s the extent of it. Regardless, she and Alex had a connection and when they are thrust together again, many years later as adults, despite a few bumps along the way they find their way back to that connection. I am also a bit of an 80s brat and declare on a regular basis that the 80s had some of the best music ever belted out, so the references to several of the familiar tunes were fun for me, throwing a bit of reminiscing of my own in with Alex and Mandy. Peter Gabriel and Rick Astley were just a couple of the several tossed in. Ironically, that small addition actually made Mandy and Alex even more relatable to me. All the cool kids love 80s music, so they could easily have been friends of mine. There was even a brief reference to Frozen which may or may not have been intentional, but whenever anyone says “for the first time in forever”, there is really nothing else to be done except start singing the song.

I did appreciate greatly that Alex is struggling with PTSD following a brutal attack with a gunman. No, he is not a war hero. For this I was grateful. Not that I do not appreciate any books in which our characters have been in service of their country. God bless them all. But the fact that PTSD is a very real condition that isn’t simply an aftereffect associated only with war. What I disliked was that his debilitating reactions to the unfamiliar and, most prevalent loud noises, were referred to as anxiety for a large portion of the book. I kept saying to myself that he was exhibiting what I would call PTSD and that the anxiety was an effect of something he endured. Eventually, it shifts and they start to relate his struggles to PTSD. Maybe it is just that there was too much of the word “anxiety” used in a row and then the shift to “PTSD”. Perhaps if it has toggled s bit more frequently I wouldn’t have even noticed. I also liked that his father really didn’t understand the gravity of what Alex was going through. Not that he doesn’t get it, but that he too is emotional and angry about what happened and the fact that Alex not only lost the life he knew, but he lost his son in a lot of ways as well. So there is a whole dynamic that Alex and his father go through as they come to terms with Alex’s consequential behaviors and an understanding of how to better deal with them.

It’s been a bit since I have read a book published by Entangled, and even longer for one within the Bliss category – but as I recall, the Bliss books are more clean romance. Sexual tension galore, but no sexual content. Instead, we are given to our own imaginations such as ending a scene with “Bet I can think of one thing that would make you happier …” And you know what? That’s perfectly OK. We don’t always need to be assaulted with crazy descriptive erotic content. I am in no way knocking it, but sometimes I hit a point of being almost desensitized, so books like this are perfect for bringing me back down to get my bearings again. For those of you who tend to fall more to the delicate sensibilities side of the spectrum, Entangled Bliss is perfect for you, as is this thoughtful and relevant story of second chances and rallying back from tragedy and loss. I enjoyed my time with Alex and his journey down a difficult path as he came to realize that suffering alone isn’t the best course of action. That having a network of support in the form of friends and family, and of course, love with that special someone is instrumental in healing and moving forward. Mandy, I found to be a fun mixture of all of my beautifully crazy friends from high school. They were always cracking jokes exactly like the wood one and screaming lyrics to the very 80s songs mentioned at the top of their lungs. Except instead of a handful of cherished friends who all had their own little quirks, Mandy somehow encompassed all of them as a single character. My time spent experiencing both Mandy and Alex unfolding themselves out of their old habits and into the amazing people they actually were was a pleasure. It was a joy seeing as they realized just how fundamental each was to the other. My first experience with Ms. Douglass was more than positive and will definitely not be the last. I look forward to discovering more of her imperfectly perfect characters as I continue in my reading obsession.

Kindle version provided by NetGalley/Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely story, it was sweet and heartwarming!Mandy and Alex are thrown together when Mandy's mother leaves a house to the two of them.The set up was easy to follow and it was enjoyable!While Alex and Mandy are technically former step-siblings, this doesn't feel like the typical step-sibling story. Which was good because I didn't expect to like it this much!

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion
Fantastic read from start to finish! Traci Douglass did an amazing showing the effects of PTSD.

This is a well written and entertaining story which I thoroughly enjoyed. This book was a short read so it was a quick read.

I loved this story and I couldn’t put it down from the moment I started it. I enjoyed it and I hope to own it one day.

4.5 stars
Worth the Wait is a stand-alone book that started off funny and grabbed my attention until the end of the book. It was a short book and a fast read, but it flowed smoothly. The characters were well developed, and it was easy to connect to Mandy and Alex and fun seeing how their relationship progressed.
Mandy Reynolds mother, Maureen had married Alex’s dad several years prior and Alex and Mandy hadn’t seen each other since the divorce of their parents. When Maureen dies after struggling with cancer, she leaves a house for Mandy and Alex. Mandy didn’t want to settle in Heavenly Falls and wasn’t sure why her mother had left her half of a home. She wanted to move to Hollywood to accomplish her dream of acting in a big movie.
Alex had worked for the IRS until he was shot, turning him into a grumpy man who wanted to live in solitude. He was looking for something to do with his life and restoring the house felt like a great plan while he was still recovering. As they start to repair the house, Alex and Mandy couldn’t continue to deny the attraction they had toward each other.
This was a wonderful book to read and it was very easy to connect with the characters. The author did a great job describing the feelings and anxieties someone with PTSD might have. She was able to address the difficulties and struggles someone with PTSD faced when trying to function in the world.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book via NetGalley.

At first I was a little skeptical about the direction of this book when I found out the main characters were ex-step siblings. However, it turned out to be a pretty good read.
Mandy is an actress looking for "the Role". After her mother passes away, she has to come back to her home town, where she runs into her ex-step brother Alex. Alex suffers from PTSD and is reluctant to let anyone get to close to him.

Mandy and Alex inherit the same house and are forced to live together. They are complete opposites and manage to challenge each other, as well as tearing each others walls down. They end up realizing their unexpected true feelings towards each other.

This was a decent read. I recommend it.
#netgalley, #worththewait

Worth the Wait was a fun romance and look into the effects of PTSD and anxiety in a relationship. The main characters both have to navigate how to handle moving through their grief, lost relationships and career changes. Alex goes through some major adjustments to finally land where he needs to be. I enjoyed their support for one another and the sub plot of renovating a Victorian home.

This story was cute over all, this book was a short read so it was a quick read. I did feel like some times it did drag and I felt like the author did repeat herself through out the story. I liked Mandy and Alex and however I felt like this story was completely predictable. There is sex implied but nothing in detail the language over all was very mild if not any I think maybe one or two words. Over all like I said the story was cute but predictable.

When Mandy's mother passed away, she left Mandy half ownership of a rental house she owned. The other half went to Mandy's ex-step brother Alex, the boy she had a crush on years ago.

There were some sweet, funny, and flirtatious moments between Mandy and Alex. However, I didn't feel the chemistry or connection between them. I think it just moved too quickly for me from just attraction to pretty serious feelings.

This one is around Mandy and Alex whom will give us their story and entertain us also. It is good to once in awhile read some romance that has life and bits of humor. This will unfold giving us the whys and then they are both on the horizon. Having known each other before this adds to it. You also will fall in love with Alex whom has his own issues. The realistic bit helps also making for when you are reading it is like someone next door you are watching, like nosy neighbors. There are trials also but the deeper we get into this the more we disappear into Heavenly Falls

Worth the Wait is a standalone romance that, with the addition of the secondary characters we’ve met, I would enjoy seeing become a series… but that’s me. I like knowing what happens to people I meet in stories later on, and I’d really like to know what happens with some of the people I met.

Take one broke actress who can’t get an acting break, and one recovering, former IRS criminal agent dealing with PTSD – toss in the fact that they are former step-siblings (their respective parents have divorced so it’s not an issue now) who have jointly inherited a house that one wants to sell fast and the other wants to keep as a refuge… and you have an interesting story, almost an enemies to lovers feeling to Mandy and Alex’s romance.

I enjoyed Worth the Wait, it’s full of banter, anger, laughter, and learning to adjust to a new, unexpected life. The story flowed smoothly, the characters believable, even though I do have questions (which is why I’d love to see a series) having those answers wouldn’t have changed my enjoyment of the story. Alex is in such a dark place, completely different from what Mandy remembers, certainly not the teen crush she once had. Watching them go from reluctant roommates, possibly friends, and then the chance at a happy future for them both was an emotional, at times intense, and fun journey.

I’d not hesitate to recommend Worth the Wait to any Romance reader who likes a good story, believable characters, and a feel-good experience.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Mandy who has been persuing her dream of Stardom has come home to handle her mother's affairs. Mandy finds out she had inherited a house and her first thought is how fast can it be put on the market. She soon finds out that she only owns half of the home. The other half of the home belongs to her former half-brother Alex. Alex does not want to sell the home. Mandy and Alex are forced to live in the home while making repairs. Mayhem insues with Mandy's fear of spiders. Alex' recovery from a gun shot wound and PtSd.
Mandy and Alex's story is worth the read.

I’ve read several books by Traci Douglass over the last year. And I’ve really enjoyed them. So when I saw ‘Worth The Wait’ on Netgalley, I requested it immediately and got super excited when I got the ARC in my mail. Traci Douglass has a way of writing ‘very easy to read’ romance stories, and this one definitely sounded like another fun one.

In ‘Worth The Wait’ we meet Mandy Reynolds. Mandy has had it hard the last view months. Losing her mother to cancer, and not being able to get her acting career going the way she’d like. So when her mother leaves her ‘half’ a house in her home town of Heavenly Falls, she is determined to make this in something great. This story starts right when Mandy is visiting her new ‘house’. And although I get why we missed out on Mandy losing her mother etc. It took me a long time to really get into this story.

Mandy only inherits half of the house. The other half is now owned by Alex, Mandy’s ex- step brother who she always had a crush on. Somehow Mandy’s mom left the house to both of them. Something I definitely didn’t get. I mean, Mandy’s mom rarely had any contact with Alex anymore.. So the reason that is given for leaving him the house just felt off to me.

Although I liked Mandy and Alex, and I liked their connection, I just didn’t really feel their chemistry all that much. There’s just so much going on with both Mandy and Alex, that I just couldn’t really seem to focus on their romance. And even in the end of this book, I still had so many unanswered questions.

The setting of the book in Heavenly Falls was something I really liked. I love small town stories. And this town definitely seemed charming.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but didn’t really love it. There was just to much going on that distracted me from Mandy and Alex.

Worth the Wait is a sweet romance about two ex-step siblings realizing their true feelings for each other after they are 'forced' to become roommates when they both inherit the same house. Alex and Mandy are opposites and I loved that it is their differences that make each other intrigued. All around beautiful romance about falling in love when you least expect it.

Mandy is an aspiring actress waiting for her big break. She has just lost her mom and learns that she inherits half of a home. When she heads back home to Heavenly Falls, Illinois she comes face to face with her ex-stepbrother. Alex might look the same on the outside but he is damaged on the inside. After he goes through a tough experience, Alex suffers from PTSD and anxiety. He doesn't want to let anyone in because he doesn't want to deal with any more loss in his life.

As Mandy and Alex start spending more time together, they drop their walls and start seeing hope powerful and healing love can be. Their support of one another is beautiful throughout the whole novel.

I give Worth the Wait 4 stars. It is a fast-paced romance that highlights the importance of being vulnerable and letting people into your life. Alex and Mandy are so lovable even in their tough times and you can't help but root for them in the end.

This is an entertaining romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. It has Mandy and Alex both inheriting half a house each. They are thrown together and forced to work together to renovate the house making it more salable and/or livable. Mandy is a broke actress who wants the money to allow her to move to LA, while Alex is an injured IRS special agent who will never be able to return to his job again after being shot on the job. He views the house as a place to live in solitude and deal with his PTSD in private.

While Alex and Mandy are technically former step-siblings, this doesn't feel like the typical step-sibling story. In fact, they barely know each other and only briefly lived in the same household and that was many years ago. For me, this was a plus and it removed the whole sibling ick thing that some books in this trope have. Instead, this felt more like an enemies to lovers type of book.

I loved the was the characters interacted and thoroughly enjoyed their story. Additionally, the author treated Alex's PTSD with respect and sensitivity.

If you enjoy contemporary romance, you will love this book. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.