Elle Spencer

When passionate past-life lovers meet again in the present day, one remembers it vividly and the other isn't so sure.

Waiting for You

Izza

4 stars | Elle Spencer’s books keep getting better and better. While I found Casting Lacey to be just okay, I enjoyed Spencer’s rom-com 30 Dates in 30 Days a lot. There was none of that ~cheap angst I hate in her two latest releases, and I enjoyed Waiting For You even more.

I’m not too sure how to categorize this novel. Is it a paranormal romance? Magical realism? Anyway, when I first read the synopsis, I was a little hesitant, but the cover is gorgeous and it convinced me to give it a shot. Waiting For You has a little bit of everything: humour, drama, a good romance and a bunch of strong women.

The characters in this one are fantastic. The MCs have this intense chemistry between them. The supporting cast is the best I’ve read about in a long while. Most side characters are well-fleshed out, and I loved Mrs. Stockely’s backstory and her forbidden love. It had me teared up quite a few times, especially on Millie’s birthday.

My only real complaint is that I found the end to be a little rushed. Everything was wrapped up quickly, and I didn’t find the ending quite satisfying.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

Jude Silberfeld

I love stories of attraction so strong it rips everything in its wake.

A teenage experiment completely turned Lindsay’s life upside down: she re-lived a past life moment, in which she was desperately in love with another girl, Roo, an experience that left her unsettled enough that that same day, she went all the way with her boyfriend for the first time and got pregnant. Years later, she’s the recently divorced mother of a seventeen-year-old daughter and a respected portrait painter. In between paying clients, she keeps painting the same boy no one knows but with whom she feels a powerful connection. Then, suddenly, one night she paints the woman who hasn’t left her thoughts for so many years. The next day, Ren arrives in town for a two-week visit with her best friend Deb before moving to Paris for her new job. When her eyes fall on her, Lindsay knows Ren is a new incarnation of Roo.

Past lives and reincarnation are not really my thing, and I don’t think I’ve read many lesfic stories on this theme. I really liked that, to those who don’t know about that part of her life, Lindsay mostly appears as a kind and interesting person, a woman who overcame the difficulties of a teenage pregnancy to become a cool and supportive mom, a talented artist without a hint of arrogance. There’s a lot more going on inside her than meets the eye and Ren would probably have fallen for her even without fate playing tricks.

While I loved each and every character (except Lindsay’s ex-husband, Ben, whose name is creepily close to Ren’s, is that fate also?), the MCs and everyone around them, I never completely felt pulled all in. For some reason, I stayed on the surface. I very much Elle Spencer’s writing, however, she’s great with dialogues and banter, which is up there with Melissa Brayden's, and she writes an excellent sex scene. All in all, I had a really good time reading and recommend this novel without hesitation to anyone who wants a smart and very sexy read.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Megan Cooper

I've been waiting for this book - and was not disappointed. I've really enjoyed Ms Spencer's writing and she has a deft hand with humour - both through physical situations and banter. She keeps the tone light and fun and her characters are particularly engaging. There's some familiar tropes in this one but there's enough originality in their presentation that it made the overall story fresh. The story is well paced, with lots of secondary action and characters that propel the main characters and the romance along.

Lindsay Hall, recently divorced and questioning her sexuality, is a successful artist in a small town who is haunted by memories of a past life and love. When Ren Christopher blows into town to visit an old friend before she jets off to a new job in Paris, she isn't looking for a relationship, but her quirky interactions with Lindsay begin to chip away at her resolve. The romance has a good build up and the big reveal/drama isn't quite as angsty as I had expected (and a good thing ... a light bit of angst is all this needed).

There's a well developed chemistry between the two and the dialogue is bright and snappy - add to that the utter likability of the two mains and you've got a winner. The supporting characters provided an added layer of humour but they are all well developed beyond just being comic foils. 

Overall, a great read.

Waiting for You

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