This book was a surprise! I read the abstract of Waiting For You and have read and enjoyed several of Ms. Spencer’s previous books. What I was not ready for was how intriguing I found this story.

Lindsay Hall is an artist living in a small town called Salt Creek, Massachusetts. She has developed quite a reputation of being able to paint portraits which truly depict the individual’s personality and make the subject come alive. Lindsay is a divorcee who has a teenage daughter, Brooke. The ex-husband is not a nice man and has turned his family against her. Lindsay’s friends and town folks know her as a talented, sensitive, and kind person. What they do not know about her is that, since she was a young teenager, she has been having reincarnation dreams about a woman and has started painting this woman.

Ren Christopher is an extraordinarily successful businesswoman. She has received a promotion and will be
moving to Paris. Before she leaves, she decides to take a vacation, get some rest, and visit her best friend who lives in Salt Creek. When Lindsay runs into Ren, she faints because Ren looks like the woman of her past life.

Ms. Spencer has created a fun and interesting plot. She has developed all the characters, both the main ones and the supporting characters, so well. There is depth to all of them which will cause the reader to develop a connection. You will find the book hard to put down. In addition to writing a great romance, but Ms. Spencer has infused a wonderful element of humor.

Waiting For You is definitely one of pure pleasure and fun. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Elle Spencer has become one of my favorite authors and her latest book is no exception. Waiting for you is a 'bit' different plot in that you will need to expand your imagination to past life belief. Lindsay Hall believes she has led a past life with a true love (and as we learn later, a child) and that she believes Ren Christopher is the reincarnation of Roo (the past life love of her life).

The characters are fun to take the ride with, the dialog in the book is so Ms. Spencer with lots of it and funny as hell. With the support of the small town community (and some loveable characters there), Lindsay and Ren fall together (Lindsay in a very physical way :-)) and work through the 'issue' of Linday's belief with some twist and turns along the way.

Loved this book, a fun read for the summer, and a must have if you are a fan of Elle Spencer's writing.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-A summer fun read

The book is about Lindsay Hall, who saw her past life’s lover in a dream and since then she can’t forget it. Her ex husband and even her daughter tries to make her realize that she should leave it behind. But everything changes when she meets with Ren Christopher, and seems like it’s they fate to be together. Lindsay is too much into her past life that she sometimes gets worried in her present life because of that.
A beautifuly written romance novel about love and doubt spiced up with some supernatural, filled with emotions and a good amount of humor. Surely a charming, immersive story which makes everyone turn the pages fast till the end. For me it was a bit too short, and I wasn’t really a fan of the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the free copy.

The only reason I did not read this book in one sitting was because life intervened, but I devoured this one! I absolutely loved Lindsay and Ren's story, but it was Miss Stokely who stole my heart. Or so I thought until the Epilogue. I need two more books, please!

I absolutely LOVED this book. It is a story of 2 women who are brought together through fate. Lindsay Hall had a vision in high school of someone that she used to be in a previous life and the girl that she loved. It was a vision that had haunted her for years. After painting her lost love for the first time, Ren Christofer comes to town. At first sight, Lindsay knows this was her lost love. The two connect instantly and their passion for each other is on point, this being Lindsay's first relationship with a woman. As their relationship is taking off, they grow closer to one of Lindsay's old teachers who had been a closeted lesbian for years since it was not accepted in her age. As things develop, a surprise is revealed and Lindsay's past with it.

This story is just an amazing work of fiction that takes the reader through 3 generations of lesbians in this small town and how society treated each of them. It touches on so many ways that people have hurt others through bigotry of someone else's sexual preference. The story is sweet, funny, and at times, heart-wrenching. This one will go on my favorites list to be read again. It is highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Setting aside the fact that this book deals with people meeting in another life and someday will meet again. Not usually my things but seeing as the author is Ms Spencer I decided to give it a go. Took me a while to actually read it but now I’m glad I did.
Ren Christopher just wants to get on with her life after a relationship that was allowed to go on for too long, finally ends. Now she’s ready to start working out of London but not before she spends some time with her best college friend, Patty.
Lindsay Hall is an artist that seems to only paint pictures where the same woman makes an appearance every time. The same woman that shows up in her dreams. She feels like she should know her, perhaps from the time she and her best friend Patty discovered they had lived before. That task was helped along with a few drinks; they were both too young. She does remember her being part of her past life and apparently she was someone Lindsey loved. But life didn’t lead her in that direction because after all she did marry a man but now she’s divorced, mainly because Lindsay just couldn’t leave the past behind her. Even her teenage daughter tells her to get over it.
Ms Spencer has actually written a book dealing with ‘past lives’ that I enjoyed reading. With some laugh out loud moments along with a cast of characters that enrich the whole experience. All in all a great read that will make me at least not be so quick to pass over a book dealing with creepy stuff. Don’t get me wrong this story isn’t creepy like most books exploring this genre. Very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

Elle Spencer, PLEASE don't be finished with Lindsay and Ren!

Much has been made of the past lives aspect of this book, and admittedly when I read the synopsis I was iffy on the premise. But ultimately, for me, it fit seamlessly into the story and made complete sense.

The two main characters are inexplicably drawn to each other and the chemistry between them in palpable. There are so many good side stories and backstories involved that I literally couldn't put this book down. The friendships between Lindsay and Patty and Ren and Deb were realistic and fun to follow. The mother/daughter relationships really rang true for me as well. But Mrs. Stokely's backstory was absolutely emotional and touching. I agree with other reviewers that the ending was rushed, but for me, the brave and interesting story line made this worth five stars.

Elle Spencer has become almost Robin Alexander-like in terms of physical comedy and witty dialogue (which really surprised me in her story in the Hot Ice trilogy) and Kris Bryant-like in terms of the hotness level of the love scenes.

Even if you think you won't like the past lives flavor, take a chance on this book. It's the kind of story that requires a day or two of contemplation before moving on.

To like this story you are going to need to be into supernatural events. Lindsey believes in past lives. Sinds she was a teenager she saw the face of a woman in her dreams who she believes she met in a past life. Only her best friend Patty and her ex-husband know this. Not even her daughter knows. Lindsey named this woman, Roo.

Lindsey lives in a small town, she is an artist. Her most famous painting is of a young boy, Whom she also sees in her dreams. She paints on commission and sells her painting in Patty's gallery.

Ren Christopher is in between jobs, Her new job starts in Paris in two weeks. Meanwhile she is in town visiting her old college friend Deb. Deb owns the coffee and pastry shop in town. One when Lindsey meets Ren there, she faints when she set sights on Ren. She's sure of it, Ren is Roo.

Cue hilarity and some serious issues in between while these two fall in love, Lindsey piece by piece figures out her past life, and Ren finds out. Meanwhile Ren is in doubt about going to Paris or staying with Lindsey.

The book would have been 5 stars but the end wasn't to my liking. I felt like Ren accepted too easily that their time was over. It took Patty to get her moving.

I’m not a fan of romance stories based on people who had met in previous lives. I don’t know why but it’s a trope that makes me cringe. However, Elle Spencer is among my favourite lesfic authors so I decided to give it a go. I’m happy that I did because I really enjoyed ‘Waiting for You’.

All her adult life artist Lindsay Hall has been obsessed with a woman of her past life. Recently divorced from her husband and with a teenage daughter, the mysterious woman is in her dreams and her paintings. But when Ren Christopher appears in her small town on a short vacation before moving to Paris, Lindsay realises that the woman of her dreams might be very real…

I thought that I had a grasp on Elle Spencer’s writing style: she can produce great rom-coms such in ‘30 Dates in 30 Days‘, good dramas like in ‘The Road to Madison‘ or a mix of both like in her debut ‘Casting Lacey‘. But ‘Waiting for You’ doesn’t fit into those types of stories. In certain moments I thought I was reading a book by Ann Mac Man because of the witty, nerdy, intelligent humour and clever dialogues. Some other times, it sounded like the ridiculous situations out of Robin Alexander’s stories. A very interesting combination.

From my point of view, the problem with the reincarnation romance trope is that it’s got the potential to quickly become a melodrama and I’m not a fan. Ms. Spencer avoids this by not taking anything too seriously and with a heavy dose of humour. The flashbacks to the past are a great excuse to explore life as a lesbian decades ago when homophobia was more commonplace than nowadays. Some of those flashbacks were heartbreaking.

The main characters have amazing chemistry which Ms. Spencer exploits in and out of the bedroom. Every single character was written with such knowledge of the writing craft that they all seem to come alive out of the page. They are complex and endearing, very easy to relate to. My favourite was Mrs. Stokely, who is a colleague of Lindsay’s, an old lady with a beautiful story to tell.

Overall, a very good reincarnation romance book, another enjoyable story by Elle Spencer. 4.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lindsay Hall's discovery of her past-life has gotten in the way of relationships and greatly influences her work. Ren Christopher is taking a few days of no-drama vacation visiting her best friend before moving to Paris and start her new job. However, when Lindsay sees Ren, everything changes for both of them.

I have to say I was a bit skeptic about this book. I don't know how I feel about past-life believes, much less about past-life romance books. But damn, this book was really, really GOOD!

The way Elle Spencer craft the story made it believable and intriguing. Both main characters were lovable and their chemistry was palpable. The supporting characters were funny and interesting too, and they added to the story instead of just being there to fill up pages.

This was one of those books where I didn't know how they would be wrapped up, and I have to say it was done beautifully. I completely recommend this book to fellow readers.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stares.
I have mixed feelings about this story. I definitely found it interesting but it is a very small story that expands a bit in the final few chapters. It's sort of a cross between supernatural , ghost story and coming out. I am left a bit confused though about many things. For example I don't understand why Lindsey fainted when she saw Ren for the first time. When reading that event, I assumed Ren looked identical to Roo, Lindsey's dream girl. But later I am told they don't look alike...What? So I "suspend my disbelief " and read on.
The romance was sweet but again I wasn't sure if it was supernatural/ghostly intervention that was supposed to be driving it......I don't know....I was just enjoying the 2 mc.
What I didn't enjoy, and (I'm sure I'm in the minority), was the many scenes that were just pure clever banter between many of the characters. I appreciate that the author is a talented dialog writer but I found the bouts of chatting was very clever but did not advance the story at all. So I skimmed a bit cause I really wanted to know where this story was going to take me. Well the simi-mystery got all sumed up in the last chapter and the epilogue. Somewhat satisfactorily.
Overall I found it an enjoyable read but sort of an unsatisfactory story.

I enjoyed this book. I’m not a huge fan of the belief in past lives and being destined to meet, but the concept is handled so beautifully here that it works well and is rather lovely. I really like the banter between the leads and their best friends. Patty Cakes is the best; she deserves her own book because she’s adorable. The author creates an excellent picture of the place, the people and the art. I want to see the paintings. The front cover should have had a painting on it. It looks more like a Melissa Brayden book. Actually the dialogue, the humour in particular, really remind me of Ms Brayden’s books. Nothing wrong with that. If you’re going to be influence, you may as well be influenced by one of the best romance writers.

I nearly didn't request this book because it looked like so many others, but on another reviewer's urging to give this author a try - I took a chance.
Am I ever glad I did! This story was funny, it was heart-breaking, it was brave, it was so much more than what I expected.
All of the characters are individuals in their own right, with their own voices and views. Even the smallest of them.
This is not a book to read in bed beside your partner who is sleeping. Because I'll tell you right now, you're going to wake them up. I mean, check this passage out, an adult doing their impression of a two-year-old talking to Alexa (the A.I)
"Awexka, I need five hundred and two bananas, and a million fwoot snacks. And no socks, I don't like socks."

How do you not dissolve into fits of laughter at that? And that wasn't the only hilarious passage, but I won't ruin it for you.

The cover did not win me over, but the author sure did. Any author that can write so well that I have an asthma attack from laughing is tops in my book. So to speak.

Get this book, but don't read it at night while people are trying to sleep. They'll be grumbling at you the next day.

Lindsay is a recently divorced single mom, to Brooke, and an artist who paints predominately portraits in a small town called Salt Creek. Ren Christopher is in Salt Creek for two weeks to spend time with her college friend, Deb, before heading to Paris for a new job opportunity.

Lindsay believes in past lives and some of her painting reflects people from past lives. When Lindsay goes to a local coffee shop one day she literally faints when she meets Ren who reminds her of a past life obsession named Roo.

The past life concept was interesting, but even if you don't believe in that kind of thing, this book was quite interesting. The lead characters of Lindsay and Ren are well developed. The secondary characters of Brooke, Deb, PattyCakes, and Mrs. Stokley all had unique personalities and there were many laugh out loud moments with this cast of characters. There were also some unique lessons to be learned by reading this book.

I highly recommend the others read this latest book from Elle Spencer.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about those we knew in past lives and reconnecting with them later in life. If you have difficulty believing in it, this story has characters that are fully fleshed out, it won't matter. Lindsey and her best friend in high school got a CD about past lives. While her best friend didn't understand it, Lindsey got a glimpse of who she was and who she spent her life with. Years later, she meets her lover from her past life. The only problem, that person, Ren, is only visiting for a short while before relocating to Paris.
This is a quick read that is enjoyable. I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As usual with an Elle Spencer novel, it has very likable characters, and such great banter between them that you actually want to be there!

Although I was a bit worried about the past-life aspect of the story, I think it was a nice romance.

Living in the past.

Lindsay is a recently divorced artist and mother. She sells her work through a gallery her best friend, Patty, owns and operates in town. They have lived in their small town their whole lives. And that whole time, Lindsay has been thinking of a woman she knows she was in love with before her time as well as repeatedly panting the same small boy.

Ren rolls into town to stay with a long-time friend before heading overseas for a new job. She is drawn to a painting in a local art gallery. Later, she is drawn to the artist. Then, Lindsay draws Ren.

This was an ambitious story to tell. A woman who believes she was in love with a woman in a previous life only to be confronted with someone who she just feels and knows is that love of her (past)life. It was really interesting experiencing everything unfold. From the two meeting, Lindsay's reaction, and gently navigating an acquaintance without seeming like a complete crazy-person.

I love Spencer's books. They are all written so well, with great dialogue, and a good amount of drama to give me throat lumps and blurry eyes. While I really liked this one, it didn't feel like books that she has written in the past. Given the story line, I figured it would be rampant with angst. It was there, don't get me wrong. It just wasn't the telenovela level I've grown to enjoy. This seemed more calculated, mature, and tame.

I liked the relationships she had with her best friend and her daughter. The friend that Ren comes to see felt a little bit made-up for plot purposes and I was a bit bored whenever there were scenes with her. And her character didn't come through for me very well. My imagination kept switching from same-age friend of Ren to older aged friend of Ren.

Overall I did enjoy this story for the unique concept in a sea of pure romance lesbian books.

I recommend to those who like to read about romance, re-incarnation, family drama, art, ridiculous stakeouts, and safe kitchen islands.

Heavy, Heartfelt, Sighs…
Ren is an art expert who is taking a vacation with her BFF Deb before she starts a new job in Paris. While in town, she sees a gallery and finds an amazing painting of a boy. Lindsay has spent her life haunted by a past life memories. Her family is less than understanding and thinks she needs to leave the past in the past, and maybe start selling off those paintings of a boy she calls Timmy… When Lindsay meets Ren things get complicated….

I liked this book so much! There was so much going on! There was a mystery, a bit of history, good friends, family drama, romances that span years and lifetimes…. It’s a very emotional book too, which makes it all the better. I love, love, love being able to connect with the characters in a deep and real way. I loved that this story wasn’t just about the romance, although that was wonderful! (The sexy bits were spot on too!!) There were lots of people involved in the tale and every one of them was needed to make this story as great as it is. So many things happen during this drama to keep it moving that you won’t even notice the passage of time, you will be so immersed that you might just read the book cover to cover without even realizing it! This is another must read from Ms Spencer!!

The book was fantastic!! It was a different kind of story that Elle usually tells but it was amazing. As teenager Lindsay and her best friend Patty, after some Peach Schnapps, listen to a past life CD. Patty went to sleep but Lindsay was affected by the CD and saw herself with a beautiful woman named Roo. She ends up marrying her high school sweetheart and had a kid. They eventually divorced. Lindsay became a painter and her best friend Patty is a art dealer. Lindsay keeps painting this little boy and Roo but won't sell. After some coaching from Patty, Lindsay gives up the boy to be sold. Enter Ren Christopher. She is staying with her best friend Deb for a couple of weeks before going off to Paris. She wanders into the gallery and buys the painting. Then she goes to get a coffee and Lindsay faints when she see her. Lindsay is convinced that she is the reincarnated Roo and they start a relationship. The chemistry between Ren and Lindsay is off the charts. The secondary characters Deb and Patty are a big part of the story and they are funny. But the epilogue just tied the whole story together. This was a beautiful and moving read.

I’ve been a fan of Elle Spencer for a while now, her last two books especially are permanently located in my favorite-book list. I’m happy to tell you that her current novel, ‘Waiting for You’ is now also added to that favorites list.

This story has all of the wonderful traits that I’ve come to expect from Ms. Spencer’s novels. It is interesting, different, and believable even with the idea of characters from past lives meeting again. The characters themselves become real to the reader. I’m sure I could go to Salt Creek and meet Ren, Lindsey, Patty, Deb, and even Mrs. Stokely at Deb’s coffee shop, “You Mocha Me Crazy”. The striking humor that I expect to see in Ms. Spencer’s books is front and center in this story as well, along with the angst that she uses to break your heart as you read. Don’t worry, she does a good job of mending those broken hearts as well.
‘Waiting for You’ is a fitting addition to Ms. Spencer’s catalog. I’m happy to be able to recommend it to all who love a book that is full of laughter, tears, and a great deal of love.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.