Worth the Wait (St. James, #1)

by Jamie Beck

Thirteen years ago, Vivi LeBrun was sketching a rooster and eating Oreos when she first met—and fell for—her friend’s brother, David St. James. Since then, her love for David has only intensified thanks to years of friendship with his family, who rescued her from a lonely, tumultuous childhood. As she travels to Block Island to vacation with the St. James siblings, Vivi daydreams about reuniting with David, hoping he’ll finally see her as his soul mate.

After his mother’s death, David distanced himself from his siblings, determined to hide a devastating family secret. Now, he’s brought a new girlfriend along to his homecoming—one who’s pushing for a serious commitment. The last thing he needs on his growing list of problems is his budding attraction to Vivi.

With tensions running high, David’s behavior triggers a series of events that might cost him the love he’s always taken for granted and Vivi the only real family she’s ever known.

• ISBN10: 1477820442
• ISBN13: 9781477820445
• Publish Date: 17 March 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Montlake Romance
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[Jeff Sexton]

Excellent Romance. This is a hardcore romantic drama, quite different in that respect from my typical romance fare of late - and an excellent example of why I like the entire breadth of the genre. The author is a touch more realistic than some of her peers, and it shines here. Both leads are believable, and the supporting cast - most of which is destined to appear in future books as leads themselves - are fully fleshed out for purposes of this story as well. (Obviously for those featuring in future books, we should get better views of them there.) Very much looking forward to the next book in the series - indeed, I've already started it.

[Lynn]

This is a beautifully written, emotional love story about unrequited love. How a young girl carries the burden of her feelings for many years, only to risk everything she loves and cherishes in life.

Vivienne LeBrun or Vivi as she's known seeks refuge at the house of her best friend, preferring to spend time there, rather than with her father who is drunk most of the time. Sadly since his wife and son were killed in a car accident, he's sought solace at the bottle of a liquor bottle. So, Vivi hangs out with her best friend Catalina (Cat), where she is treated just like any other member of their family.

David is intrigued by the thirteen year old friend of his kid sister. Not only for her quirky pink streaks in her hair, but also by her artistic talent and warm, friendly personality. He asks Vivi to sketch his portrait on a whim, never realising that her drawing would cement the beginning of a relationship which is mutually meaningful to them both.

Over the course of the following years, David and Vivi become best friends until a death changes everything. David not only pushes Vivi away but also puts distance between himself and the rest of his family – escaping to Hong Kong to create the space he thinks he needs.

I really wanted to dislike David at times, but I just couldn't. Whilst I don't condone his behavior towards his family and Vivi, I did pity him because of the difficult position he'd been put in. I love that Vivi potentially has the strength to walk away from the heartbreak situation. Finally deciding she needs to start believing in herself and not pinning for someone who doesn't return the compliment.

The plot is based in the present, but we are treated to flashbacks from David and Vivi's past to enable us to build a full picture of their relationship. We see that not all things are as perfect as we believe. The author does a fantastic job in creating a heroine who is strong, compassionate and wise. A woman that sees a problem but looks at the broader picture rather than just deal with the issue at hand. This acts as a trigger to help re-build communication bridges with her Father and also to convince David that he needs to adopt the same thought process with his family too.

This was a book I just couldn't put down once I began reading and I'll be looking to read more from this author in the future. Whilst I read ebooks 99.9% of the time, Worth The Wait is one I want as a paperback on my bookshelf too.

5 Stars

***arc received generously from the publisher via NetGalley***