I really enjoyed this one! I absolutely loved Annabelle’s characters, she was spunky and relatable, and I loved how she dealt with the all drama with Carson at work. I wasn’t a big fan of Nick throughout the book, I know he had a lot going on in his life with his past and the present, but he was a jerk. I did enjoy seeing his character evolve by the end.

Overall, this was a sweet book filled with romance. It was fun reading about Annabelle and Nick’s relationship blossom, and “Sir” the cat was my favorite!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkely for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Oh yes, this couple had me hooked. I love love love an "opposites attract" couple where one is grumpy and reclusive and the other is a bubbly people pleaser. Both Annabelle and Nick were well developed, intriguing characters that I was instantly rooting for, both in the romance and in their life goals.

I also don't usually love office drama storylines, especially when it's a narcissistic man who is trying to crush a female employee who he has never even met. However, this one had me fired up and interested.  I saw a lot of myself in Annabelle in this situation because I would absolutely be upset and defensive, and I was so impressed by the way she switched to an offensive mode and it didn't keep her from crushing her new job.

I also appreciated the way that Nick's panic and trauma was handled.  At first I was worried because he had such a macho attitude; he kept harping on the fact that he couldn't stand people to see him in a wheelchair and know that he was weak. This made me a bit upset because being in a wheelchair does not make a person weak or less-than.  But, as we can see it is his anxiety and panic that is truly steering his mindset, it made more sense and that it wasn't in a discriminatory way, but was in fact a traumatic response. I also loved how this tied in with his past and explored the hardships he faced as a child and how he and his sister fought to change this for future kids.

Annabelle worried me for just a smidge, because I didn't want her to jump into this new life change and lose herself in people pleasing (and also be all over the place). But no, she impressed me with her poise and ability to jump in feet first with all her heart and really nail it.

The romance was great, though being an impatient person, I wish it had started sooner than halfway through. Still, it was so fun to read about both the steamy and not steamy bits. I love how they both pushed each other and called each other out when needed.  They really learned a lot about themselves after being together and how they treat others.

A true HEA and wonderful book that I highly recommend!

This was cute. I enjoyed the characters, but there was something forced (for me) in them getting together. But I loved the setting, the evolving of the characters and their relationship.

This is the first book of Jenn McKinlay’s that i have read.
It was … fine.
Somehow, the story just fell flat for me. There was lots of build up but the ending just didn’t make it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Annabelle Martin is a funny, free spirited and intelligent woman who just needs to get away from home for awhile.... and when her best friend begs her to come visit and work for her company....Annabelle rushes to the rescue.

Living in her best friend's guest cottage comes with so many rules and she winds up breaking too many of them and meets her reclusive landlord. There is mysterious happenings at work too, in her new position.

What I loved: The writing is clear and detailed, easy to get a clear view of the characters and setting. This book is funny! "Sir" the cat is adorable and I want him! The romance is cute! Definitely a worthwhile rom com with a light mystery attached!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and author Jenn McKinlay for the advance free digital review copy for me to enjoy! As always, my opinions are my own and my reviews are voluntary!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Wait for It by Jenn McKinlay is a romance, but that is not all that it is. It is also a heart felt story of overcoming obstacles to ones’ own better life. But don’t be fooled – there are comedic elements as well. In my estimation – an all around great book. Good storyline that kept this reader totally engaged from page one to the final page.

Annabelle Martin, the lead female protagonist, has just had to fend of another proposal from her first ex-husband Jeremy (and yes – she has a second ex-husband named Greg). Previously to this dinner with Jeremy, Annabelle’s good friend, Sophie Vasquez, co-owner with her husband Miguel, of a graphic design firm, had called to offer Sophie a position as creative director in Phoenix. How timely was this offer? VERY, since she has to break her Jeremy’s heart again and thwart his intent to propose over dinner – after of course swallowing the engagement ring (accidentally). What better way than to avoid but this unpleasantness than to leave town for a job!

In Phoenix, Annabelle has secured a temporary home at the “estate” of the illusive Nick Daire. Essentially a” sweet little guest house on his property”. But what comes with this rental is quite funny – a long list of do’s and don’ts. And the list gets longer as Annabelle pushes the limits. Not surprisingly, Annabelle does not meet the recluse until many, many chapters have passed and a few infractions occur from the “Don’t list”. One of which is the taking in of a stray cat (now named “Sir”), a very cute tuxedo with attitude.

Annabelle has some challenges work wise, the least of which are some questionably acting employee’s who are intent on thwarting her success in her new position. Jealous much? These actions also stir up some corporate strife. The rest will be revealed as you read this lovely book yourself!

I chuckled when I read the following (definitely got a sense of who Annabelle is ☺) as don’t we all know someone who runs on their own timeclock?:

“I was walk-jogging because I was late. Little-known fact, I, Annabelle Martin, am always late….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…. As an artist, I’m constantly distracted by the details that most people can filter out.”

By my estimation there is lots of activity, intrigue and romance in Wait for It. An all around fulsome story which caught my attention early on and kept me reading with anticipation until the end. Does not hurt that there was a cute cat in the mix ☺If you enjoy rom com at its best, then I suggest picking up Wait for It by Jenn McKinlay, make a cup of tea (or whatever beverage you like actually), get comfy and read. You will not be disappointed.

Wow! What a story! As a Phoenix resident I LOVED reading a story about the place that I live in. The story is very well-written, witty and mature. Only a Bostonian would swim in Phoenix in February. Lol I really enjoyed how the relationships were mature and there was no ridiculous miscommunication. The story kind of gave me Me Before You vibes, but told in a refreshed manner. I gave this book all the stars, I inhaled this book. It was exactly what I needed and I need to read more from this author. Can we talk about Sir the cat? That has to be the best sidekick there can ever be.This was fun, refreshing and so witty. I laughed out loud so many times, did I mention that this in public?

This was a fun rom-com with characters that were easy to connect with. I enjoyed the story, but it felt just a bit slow at times. I would have liked the two characters to meet a bit earlier because I really enjoyed them together.

Wait for It is the first book I've read from Jenn McKinlay. This romance novel has the grumpy millionaire/sunshine creative type troupe. I really liked the premise of the story, but I felt like there were too many cliches and unrealistic subplots in the story. One part of the writing style that drew me in was the characters' complexities and seeing them grow throughout the book. While Annabelle and Nick had great chemistry, I felt that the way the conflict was resolved was too neat and didn't make a realistic ending. One aspect I really liked was Nick's character and the aftermath of surviving a stroke. Overall, this was a nice read and it was three stars for me. I'd recommend this one if you love the grumpy/sunshine troupe.

Annabelle is in need of a dramatic life change. She moves to Phoenix to work for her best friends in her dream job. Everything looks like it is going to be great expect for the bossy recluse of a landlord and the conniving coworker gunning for her position.
It is a great story that has all the aspects needed for a contemporary novel.

Wait For It by Jenn McKinlay
This is my first by the author and it is a solid, enjoyable read, with a satisfying romance and workplace drama!  Both characters are relatable, flawed, and I admired their ability to move from challenges they've faced. It took a bit too long for the two main characters to meet, but once they did, the story changed dramatically and I became much more invested in their characters and arc. Add this one to your end of summer TBR for a semi steamy romance read and a sunshine/grumpy main character trope!

Thank you @berkleyromance for my gifted copy! This book is out now.

I might be from Oregon, but I lived in Arizona for 10 years and I absolutely love the desert. I hate that more books aren’t set in Phoenix. This summer I was going to spend a month in Phoenix and I was really excited to read a book set in Phoenix that was also a romance! Needless to say I times my review for this book with my trip, I couldn’t wait to read this one.

I have read one of McKinlay’s books prior to this and I thought it was good so going into this desert setting book, I was hopeful that I would enjoy it and escape but also find a book that would capture the beauty and desert culture. The desert can be such a romantic place and I was super excited to see how the setting played into this one.

Reading this book went fairly quick. I picked it up and finished it on a matter of a couple of days and I liked it just fine but I don’t know that I loved it. I liked the enemies to lovers troupe but I just don’t know that it was as impactful as I was hoping it would be. But it was a nice quick read that left me feeling content and happy I read it but I would have liked to have something with a bit more something.

Summary
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 Timesbestselling 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 (summary from Goodreads)

Review
There is something about Phoenix and the desert that is a magnet for people wanting to start over. I know when I moved there it felt like I was starting over in a new place full of adventure and different scenery that I had never seen before. Phoenix has become a source of romance for me and I was so excited to see how this one turned out with the setting. Yes I loved the setting and I loved how Phoenix was portrayed in this book but I wish it had been more of a part of the story.

the characters had a lot going on in this one too. Sometimes it felt a little overwhelming and I also felt that Annabelle was a bit scattered and not what I would expect for someone at that point in life. I mean she wasn’t awful but I just felt like she could have been a bit more mature or maybe just a bit more structured. I am not sure, but there was something that I just didn’t enjoy about her character. I also felt that Annabelle and Nick went from enemies to lovers/friends too quick. I thought there could have been a lot more chemistry to be had with a different approach and tension. It just didn’t work for me and I felt like the characters became less and less dimensional the longer the book went on.

But did I hate it? No I didn’t. I was invested enough to read it in a couple of days and it was ok, but it wasn’t my favorite book by this author. I did feel disappointed in some ways simply because I had such high hopes for how this one was going to turn out but it just fell a little flat for me. I wanted more for the characters and the romance was too slow burn for me. I needed more chemistry and heat but it wasn’t necessarily a bad story, it was ok but not a favorite. If you are looking for something with a different location with a slow burn this one might be for you—-for me, I needed more.

Book Info and Rating
Format333 pages, Paperback

PublishedAugust 10, 2021 by Berkley Books

ISBN9780593101377 (ISBN10: 0593101375)

Free review copy provided by publisher, Berkley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 3 stars

Genre: romance

In my eyes Jenn Mckinlay does no wrong. She's an auto-buy author of mine. I stayed up way past my bedtime and devoured this book in one day. I love a Gump vs sunshine trope. Especially when you have a grumpy, troubled wealthy man and a ball of fire, maybe a little reckless artist. Annabella and Nick's relationship was everything I wanted it to be. Plenty of banter, tension, and some added drama. I was a fan of it all.

A pretty fantastic read by Ms. Jenn McKinlay. I highly recommend this book. This is a fun light hearted romance.

There's really nothing I love more than a grumpy, rich, hero who gets absolutely obliterated by love for the quirky girl who storms into his life. Is it my early introduction to Professor Higgins? Probably.

Wait For It nails this trope. I devoured this book in one sitting.

Thanks to Berkley for the arc of this title!

One sentence review: I couldn't get enough of this fun romance that combines a feisty graphic designer with a reclusive former building developer who is recovering from a stroke.⁣
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This book centers around Annabelle Martin, a graphic designer, who moves to Phoenix for a new job. Her friends find her a guest house to rent. Her landlord, Nick Daire, is a recluse who communicates through terse notes left on her door. And so the fun begins!⁣
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My thoughts:⁣
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- I loved this opposites attract romance. Annabelle and Nick both have such great stories.⁣
- I really like how the author handled Nick's story and his recovery, both physically and mentally, from his stroke.⁣
- I liked the eco slant of the story. It was an interesting element that really lent to the feel of the story.⁣
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If you are looking for a quick read romance with likable characters that will have you rooting for them right from the start - Wait For It would be a fantastic choice.

I was really excited for this one but I just could not do it. I dnf'd it at around 50%. It was super full of clichés. The main character was late to EVERYTHING. I get that it's a personality trait but it was ridiculous and so freaking annoying. I did like the notes sent back and forth between the two MC's but that was about it. I hated the sub plots, I hated the stereotypes. Overall this one was not a good fit for me.

This was a rely average read. While I enjoyed the bubbly-rude trope (it's a really trope but a diff name maybe?), it was cliche and predictable. The book discussed some heavy topics like mental health and coming to accept your shortcomings. Annabelle is really passionate about her work, her work-life ethic, her morals were fun to read about. Her interactions with Nick were also fun.

One thing that seemed word to me was Nick's quick change of mind for getting therapy. The story was wrapped up way too quickly, the ending seemed rushed.

3.5 ⭐️

Pretty cute, standard, contemporary romance about a professional two-time divorcee and a silent, broody rich guy with a traumatic past. It takes a bit for things to get going between the two of them and there’s a lot of story happening outside of the romance that while decent, was a bit slow paced for my personal preference. I took a few weeks off from reading it around 60-65% but when I finally returned to it, I did finish it in one sit. It was cute, but not anything super unique. Just a feel good book that is among my likes, not loves.

This was a cute and entertaining read. Both characters had there own issues that they needed to come to terms with and work on. Watching Nick go from the grumpy landlord to this amazing man with the heart of gold was so endearing. Loved it and highly recommend picking this up.