WAITING FOR FRIDAY NIGHT – Synthia Williams
Peachtree Cove, Book 2
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1335430540
May 14, 2024
Contemporary Romance

Peachtree Cove, Georgia – Present Day

Single mom Halle Parker is a lot like other moms in that she has her share of headaches raising her fourteen-year-old daughter Shania. Unfortunately, Shania is asking too many questions about her father and Halle isn’t sure how to make them stop. Meanwhile, Shania is the only female on the high school’s football team and has the support of the coach, former NFL player Quinton Evans. One day, Shania reveals that she signed up for one of those DNA test sites, where she learned that her dad is none other than Quinton. Both Halle and Quinton are shocked at the news, but after connecting the dots, realize it’s true. Halle had gone through a sperm bank to get pregnant, and it turns out, Quinton had donated his sperm around the same time. It was supposed to be anonymous on both sides, but by a big coincidence, they now live in the same town. How will the three handle the new development?

Halle made the decision to keep how she came to birth to Shania a secret because she didn’t want her family and friends to think she was desperate and crazy at a young age to do IVF to become pregnant. She had lost her parents and felt all alone. Raising Shania is a blessing and having her love football enough to try and make the team is a big accomplishment for someone so young. Now Halle is confronted with the realization that her baby daddy is so close. Shania wants to get to know her father, while Halle isn’t sure that Quinton is the right role model for her daughter. He played in the NFL and did well enough, plus he dated a celebrity for a long time. Will bachelor Quinton think it’s cool to be a daddy at first and then lose interest? Halle can’t have Shania become disappointed.

There is a lot of emotion packed into WAITING FOR FRIDAY NIGHT by Synthia Willams. Who would have expected their sperm donor to move to town, even if it was unwitting? Shania has been asking about her father for a long time and Halle managed to shut it down—until now. Shania is uncertain about having her coach being her father. While Halle hopes the news doesn’t get out, it does, and soon there are questions about impartiality when it comes to football. Shania faces opposition from some people despite her having the ability to catch the ball. Then there is the growing attraction between Halle and Quinton. As news spreads of how they connected, so many people are speculating that they will get together as a couple. Will this happen? How would Shania feel about this?

WAITING FOR FRIDAY NIGHT is a great read for lovers of contemporary romance. Halle is used to being in control of her life but now it feels like it’s out of control. Quinton has fought hard to get where he is today and loves his job and life in Peachtree Cove. Now he has a daughter. Will he also end up with a wife? Find out the answer as Halle and Quinton navigate their new relationship in this sizzling tale.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Love this author and the premise is interesting…. The execution leaves me disappointed. The foreshadowing comes so early that I already know how the book is going to end. The heroine especially seems YOUNG… a silly girl mooning over a cute guy and not a professional educator. Coach was fine but I didn’t like how he ended up fitting into the story. Then the love story was fast and too deep too soon. I’ll wait for the next in series and hope it is an improvement.

This is book #2 in the Peachtree Cove series. Halle Parker, a single mother, and Quinton Evans, a former pro-football player turned coach, find themselves entangled in a whirlwind romance when Quinton discovers he has a daughter he never knew existed.

The chemistry between Halle and Quinton is electric, drawing readers into a story filled with love, forgiveness, and second chances. Williams's authentic characters and vibrant descriptions bring Peachtree Cove to life, making it the perfect backdrop for this enchanting romance.

'Waiting for Friday Night' is a delightful read that will warm your heart and leave you cheering for love. With its engaging plot and swoon-worthy romance, this book is a must-read for fans of small-town romance. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

𝕎𝕒𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕓𝕪 𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕞𝕤
Release Date: May 14, 2024


I really had high hopes for this book being that I was a fan of the first book of this series. This book follows Halle, the FMC, whom is a single parent to a 14 year old daughter by the name of Shania. Shania is a football player for her JV football team. The MMC, Quentin, is a former professional football player who is now coaching high school football.

Where this story becomes a little bit outlandish for me is that when these 2 young people at the age of 21 made some decisions that just normally would not be that of people so young. Halle decided that she wanted to be a mother so bad that she went to a sperm bank. And Quentin at a low point in his life and short on cash decided to donate sperm.

The book is not all bad, I did enjoy the relationships Halle had with her friends. Even with Quentin’s strange behavior around being a family when he finds out that Shania is his daughter, if you remove all of that he had great chemistry with Halle.

Despite my eye rolling at the timeline and decisions these two made very young, I’m still excited about this series and what’s next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - ARC Review: Waiting for Friday Night - Synithia Williams

Pub Date: May 14th 2024
Thank you so much to @harlaquinpublishing and @netgalley for sending me this advanced copy of this book!

Last year I read the first book in the Peachtree Cove Series and when I saw there was a follow up, I knew I had to read it! Now don’t get me wrong the first book in the series was a good, But I really enjoyed this book!!

In Waiting for Friday Night, we meet Halle Parker, a single mom who has been taking care of her teenage daughter on her own since she was born. Halle is holding on to a secret that can implode her whole world. We also meet Quinton Evans, a retired football player who is now the head coach of the high school football team with a few secrets of his own. Fate brings Halle and Quinton together in the craziest way possible and while learning to navigate a new normal, will the sparks between them really fly or will they go down in flames?!

I really really enjoyed this story! The chemistry between Halle and Quinton was apparent from the beginning of the book and how they came together was crazzzyy I think I literally gasped! And then once they were together the twists and turns through the story kept me so interested. I just had to know how everything worked out!! The small town aspect is something I really enjoyed. The everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everybody’s business kept me cracking up. And the family aspect as well. The way Quinton’s family embraced Halle and made her remember what family really means touched my heart! And let’s not forget the set up for the next book 😩 like what?! I hated that for Tracey but now I can’t wait to read her and Brian’s story!!

Listen sometimes the first story has to lay the foundation for the rest of the series to really flourish! And I think Synithia Williams has done a really good job building off of each story to lead into the next! And honestly you could reach each book as a standalone. I would definitely suggest yall give this a read when it comes out ✌🏾❤️

Review Posted on Instagram

I struggle to review this one because while it's a nice, albeit trope-y tale, I was challenged by the idea that Halle used a sperm donor at age 21 because she wanted a baby to love. Not being judgey about her choice, just surprised at how young she was when she opted to go that way. Now that baby, Shania, is a teen and Halle's looking for someone to marry so that Shania will leave her alone about the identity of her father, who turns out to be-wait for it-her coach Quinton. Now Halle and Quinton are building a relationship, Shania and Quinton are building a relationship and the three of them are forming a family. I liked the small town vibes, I liked Shania. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Over to others.

I received an e-ARC copy from Net Galley, Canary Press, and Harlequin Publishing; thank you! My review is honest.

I really enjoyed this book!

This is not the typical romance trope. This novel is also about belonging, both familial belonging and community belonging.

This story is set in small town Peachtree Cove. The FMC, Halle, likes to be in control, and she struggles with it throughout most of the book. But, she is also a good, supportive mother, friend, cousin, and pillar of the town. The MMC, Quinton, is introduced early on as the transplant high school football coach, but it is quickly revealed that he is also the father of Halle’s daughter. The supporting characters moved the story forward in some interesting ways.

Overall, this was a fun and easy read! I would definitely recommend!

This is book #2 of the Peachtree Cove series, and I cannot wait to read book #3!

This was such a cute, romantic and fun followup to SOASW. The main character was well written and well developed and the romance actually felt realistic.

I had the opportunity to review Waiting for Friday Night by Synithia Williams. This was a great second book to the Peachtree Cove Series. While I thought The Secret to a Southern Wedding was a cute read, this story was so good. I loved the story of Halle and her daughter Shania. Their relationship and the revelation of Coach "Q" Quinton becoming apart of there lives. I loved the family dynamics, as well as the romantic relationships that develop. I really enjoyed this story and I am excited for the next story in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Halle was pain in my behind 🙄 the way she was acting about Quinton parents being grandparents to Shania was extremely unnecessary! Now buying a 14 year old a car is crazy and I would be upset about that too but the shoes 😑 like bffr ! I love Quinton for her , I believe he can actually balance her out very well! But momma need to chill out fr.

For some reason, I just couldn't get invested in this book. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or the characters, but I had a really hard time following the story.

GENERAL INFO

Waiting for Friday Night- Book #2 Peachtree Cove

Year Pub: 5-14-24, Read 3-22-24

Thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press/Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-ARC 💜! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Setting: Peachtree Cove, GA

Genre: AA interests, Adult Fic, Contemporary Romance

Tropes: small town, 2nd chances, fate

HEA/HFN ending: HEA

Epilogue Included: no, but a peak @ Book #3

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary: Halle lost both parents at a young age so she used an anonymous donor to have a child. She wanted to salve off the loneliness and experience unconditional love. Quinton was a football player in high school, but his parents didn't have a lot of money for college. He decided to make a donation at a sperm bank for money and put his name in DNA database in case someone wanted to find him later on. Fourteen years later, Halle's daughter Shania wants answers about her father. She matches her DNA with her football coach who just happens to Quinton. Halle, Quinton, and Shania must navigate how to become a family in a small town of gossip.

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F

Flashbacks: The most devastating one was Quinton talking about being bullied and almost losing his football career due to being assaulted.

Jealy/Possy/OTT H/h : yes, Quinton and Halle's boyfriend Gregory are both jealous of each other

Amount of Sex In The Book: 1 or 2 scenes

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Halle Parker-36, teacher turned middle school principal

Quinton Evan-36, ex NFL player turned football coach and teacher

Shania Parker- Halle's 14 year old daughter, only female player on JV football team in school

Gregory Gaines- the new English teacher, Halle's bf

Tracey and Imani-Halle's BFFs

Willie and Laura-Quinton's parents

Dawn-Quinton's sister

Brian and Cyril-Quinton's BFFs

AUTHOR OVERVIEW

Synithia Williams- I read book #1 and gave it 4 *

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 5/5

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: This is another great installment of small town life with some big issues. From artificial insemination, marital infidelity, sexism, and bullying to name a few. Halle is an overprotective mother who is always in control until Quinton becomes apart of her life. He says he's willing to be patient and let her take the lead in forging their new family. He just doesn't play fair with his attraction to her. I thought Quinton's parents overstepped a few times with Shania, but their hearts were in the right place. I loved the found family Halle and Shania gains, and I can't wait for Brian and Tracey's story!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending me this ARC!

Where do I even begin to start? I love how Williams dove into the complexities of Halle's character and her reasonings for doing the things she did. While there were times I did not agree with her actions, I have a better understanding of her so I can empathize with her to some degree. Shania definitely balances Halle's cynical nature which I love, showing her ambition and optimism to find her father who is more close to her than she thinks....When all is revealed, Quinton refuses to lose any more time with his daughter and is willing to make up for it despite Halle's stone walling of him. Their dynamic was paced beautifully and the only thing I wish was more well made was the ending which I felt was too fast.

Overall, this is a solid read and I absolutely recommend!

I loved the first book in this series and was very excited for this one, and I really enjoy this author's work. That being said, this book really didn't work for me due to the numerous ethical issues and nonsensical choices by the characters.

Halle, the heroine, is a single parent of a 14 yo daughter Shania, who plays football for her school JV team. Halle had the baby either during her last year of college or in the first year after she graduated (there were numerous timeline errors) and has always let people believe her daughter was the result of a nameless one-night-stand. However, Halle has been keeping a secret, which is that she went to a sperm bank and got pregnant on purpose... at the age of 21? 22? That seemed like a really strange life choice. She flat-out refuses her daughter's request for more information in a way that felt uncomfortably dishonest, and decides she's going to marry someone she's been on two dates with so her daughter will have a stepdad and shut up about her bio-dad already.

The hero, Quentin, also made some strange choices. He's a former pro-football player who moved to this small town to find a quieter life, which - sure, whatever. He had a tough family history and his parents were very poor, and early on we learn that at a low point in his life he was so hard up for cash that he donated sperm. This was very early on, but felt just absolutely smacking the reader in the face with foreshadowing and I probably should have stopped reading. Of course it turns out he's Shania's biological father, which they find out when Shania herself does a genetics test online and brings him a printout (what teenager prints anything anymore?)

From there, things get stranger. Quentin gets all existential about his daughter and being a family, and tells Halle he's waiting in line to date her next as soon as she breaks up with her meh boyfriend. His family comes to town and gets irrationally excited about having a grandchild/neice, and Quentin comes to Halle's family reunion where his sperm donation gets outed. Finally after the halfway point Quentin and Halle get to explore their own relationship, but there's so much other drama that we didn't get to see them grow as a couple.

Through the whole book both characters mention several times that they made sure to research and choose an ethical sperm donation clinic, not one that used the same seed for several people. Quentin somehow got paid a lot for his "prime" donation that would only be used once, and there's no explanation to why Halle had prime sperm money as a 21 year old college student. It also seems like a really weird fixation for two 21-year-olds to have 15 years ago, before some of the perils of sperm donation clusters came to light.

Thinking of what I enjoyed most about the book, Halle's relationship with her friends was lovely, and she and Quentin had great chemistry. I really do enjoy the small town atmosphere and how the author humanizes social issues through her characters. Even though this book didn't work for me, I'll eagerly await the next book in this series.

This I believe is my second book by this author and I’m definitely becoming a fan. Some authors make storytelling so real that I feel like I really know the characters. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

Was provided this arc via HTP ! Loved this book and the characters, such a great story! I do wish I got a little more from the ending. However, besides that it’s a solid read and I can wait to read the next book in the series :)

I enjoyed Halle and Shania story so much! I loved that Shania was a football player start and thriving in her sport, well still displaying emotions to find her father was so sweet and unique. Quinton was so sweet and loving and was ready to care for Halle and Shania immediately. I thought pacing of the story was good, the community of Peachtree Cove and the whispers and support of a small town, I always enjoy. Overall I enjoyed this story.

If you are looking for a small town romance this book is for you. It was so good! The banter was so cute and the setting was perfect

Waiting for Friday Night

Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and NetGalley provided an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

I thought I wasn’t going to like this book. I REALLY thought I wasn’t going to like this book. I didn’t like the FMC’s behavior or way of thinking. And then we first big reveal of the book happened and we really got to know the MMC and whew! Quinton is the newest inductee in my book bae hall of fame!

The pacing is great, the small town setting really works, the supporting characters are interesting, and the story has depth and heart.

I definitely recommend.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review. This book was DELICIOUS! I loved all the characters and the twists and turns. I audibly gasped several times. Love Peachtree bad!