I liked it. However, I didn’t love it. I think this had some great potential to be a favorite.

Anabelle starts over in a new city near her close friend after two failed marriages before the age of 30. She moves into the guest house of this recluse (hottest man alive) who is struggling with PTSD and some other medical issues. You can guess where the storyline goes. There were some cute parts that I wish continued like their “love notes”. The story branches out into multiple topics and smaller storylines that I think it took away from the overall romance of the story. Not to mention Nick was very much dislike able main character.

I liked Annabelle in her work environment life, except for the fact she was literally always running late. Like how are you not setting your alarm?! But besides that she had some negative and hard things to deal with while navigating her new job and I think she handled them very respectfully and polished. If a coworker called me a bitch in an elevator and continually was sabotaging me I don’t think I’d have handled it with as much class as her. That being said I hated Carson. I wrote while reading EW EW EWWW. Carson is a disgusting POS how has nobody seen this yet or done anything.

For steam this rated kind of low. While there are some steamy scenes it just felt lack luster. Plus they don’t actually meet until halfway through the book! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Either way it was still a fun read and I really enjoyed chatting with everyone.

I did not enjoy this book. I found the characters very unlikable, especially for a rom com and found that their decisions throughout the book did not make sense to me. I will not be reviewing this on other platforms.

This book was such an easy read; I adored the characters, the environments and the ridiculous but realistic shenanigans,

The only downfall is that it is romance, and I barely show any until the last 1/3 of the book when they met face to face. However, while you'd think that and a weird repeat of an early problem would have really hit my rating of it, it had a certain charm that didn't quit!

I love a good romance but this one fell a little flat for me. Annabelle accepts a job offer from her best friend and moves to Phoenix from Boston to avoid an awkward proposal from her ex-husband.

This book had a lot of cliches that was hard for me to look past. The grumpy millionaire love interest with mommy & daddy issues, the perfect best friend, the threatening man at work, the sister who also just so happens to find love with someone in the same circle, etc.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but probably won’t be one that sticks out in my memory.

Spoiler Warning: also the ending was too perfect and unrealistic which made me mad for some reason.

I think the characterization in the book was everything. I adored following Annabelle in her personal life as well as in her work environment, and I thought that she was overall just a likable character. She was truly a go getter throughout the book and I thought it was fun to read from the perspective of someone who just simply went for it. I loved Jackson and Lexi, and would've loved to see more from them. I think this is more of a selfish request on my part than anything that actually took away from the novel haha, I just thought they were so fun!! Characters that weren't as fun for me were probably the exes, I can see why the author included them but a lot of times I found that they just got on my nerves if anything. Nick also at times was just frustrating to deal with. I think it was because Annabelle was seemingly the polar opposite and had everything together and then she was almost putting in double the effort to try to pull things from Nick that he should been willing to give in the first place. I understand this from a character arc and development perspective, but I just think I loved Annabelle so much that I wanted nothing but the best for her and at times I didn't know if Nick was or was ever even interested in being his best. I wanted a little bit more from the end, but overall I truly enjoyed this book. I thought it was a story that made you feel all of the emotions and characters that were simultaneously lovable and also had the ability to get under your skin. I think Jenn McKinlay is totally an author to look out for, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first book from her.

Short Review:Funny, sexy, PERFECT!! This one had me laughing out loud, swooning, and loving it all the way through.

"The neat script on the front read <i>Tenant</i>. As a graphic designer who had a special place in my heart for fonts and the feelings they could evoke, like the global loathing for Comic Sans, I tended to look at people's handwriting with the same critical eye. Mr. Daire's handwriting was very square, very neat, and almost painfully precise."

Long Review:What can I say? I loved everything about this book. The romance, the comedy, the characters, and especially the humanity. Annabelle and Nick are the couple you want to chill with on the weekends. I loved getting to know them, laughing with them, crying with them, and cheering them on.

You see, fun loving Annabelle needs a fresh start. She's had a bit of ex trouble lately so she takes her best friend up on a new job offer with her company. Nick, needs a fresh start too. He needs to recover and he's given in to his curmudgeon tendencies a little too much. He has his reasons, but he needs someone to help push him...enter Annabelle who will be renting his guest house for a few months.

Rules are laid out. Notes are taped to front doors. Grounds are set. But rules are meant to be broken.....

Get this one on your must read list! It's a perfect Summer rom com.

I have to admit! The cover did it for me but the book ultimately fell flat.

I was expecting a PWMOV vibe but really didn't get that. The relationship moved incredibly quick, and not in a cute insta-love way, more like an oh.... that was fast way.

It reminded me a lot of The Hating Game, which I'm not a fan of, so yeah I didn't enjoy this one as much unfortunately and don't have much to say!

First up, thank you to the Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Okay here's the thing, this book was just not for me. The synopsis had me really intrigued, and I was so excited to dive in, but the story fell flat. I just couldn't get into the story because I absolutely hated the male love interest. I get that at the beginning of the story he's meant to be a jerk, but some of the things he said were just...yikes!! And this is coming from someone who loves to read sunshine/grump KU romances. It took me so long to get through this because it was just not for me.

HOWEVER, just because it didn't work out for me doesn't mean it won't work out for you!

A great book with a really good premise. This book had so much more depth than I was expecting/anticipating. I love the complete change in our main character once she actually meets her landlord. I enjoyed watching both characters grown and change and their relationship form. I look forward to reading more from Jenn Mckinlay in the future.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

✦Review: WAIT FOR IT by Jenn McKinlay https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bQX
Publication Date: August 10, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars

I loved this romance. A quick summer read that had it all for me. Annabelle was so easy to like, with her quirky attitude, and moxie. Surprisingly, Nick was also easy to like despite his grumpy reclusive behavior. Enough of his internal struggles were clear, that I couldn’t help but hope for him. (I love the notes!) They were a great couple, managing to help each other recognize issues from their pasts while giving hope for their futures.

The storyline around them was intriguing as well. I enjoyed watching Annabelle maneuver around the jealous misogynistic jerk in the office with nothing more than her professionalism and talent. Nick’s part of the tale was deeper and had many layers, mostly showing how he fought his deep desire for love and friendship. Thankfully the people around him did their best to yank him out of that abys with Annabelle’s help. I love when a story is full of friends, camaraderie, and banter. That always pulls me in when done well…and this was done well. The story dipped into some heavy issues that made me tear up a few times, but overall, it made me smile.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle https://amzn.to/2VGVvAQ

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁
Annabelle is impulsive, talented, and willing to take chances and, at 28, she’s twice divorced and just turned down her second ex-husband’s proposal.

-She’s offered a great job to lead a creative design team at a firm owned by her married college friends and, thinking a change of scenery would do her good, leaves Boston for Phoenix, Arizona.

- Annabelle moves into the guest cottage on the property of a reclusive and grouchy self-made millionaire, Nick. The rental comes with a ridiculous amount of strict tenant rules, which she takes in stride.

-Nick suffered a stroke several months ago, has shut off the world, and lives in seclusion.

-Annabelle likes her new colleagues and her team except for one who was bypassed for promotion, resents Annabelle and will do almost anything to sabotage her success

𝗜 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁
-This enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract, slow-burn romance is a perfect book to pick up for that end-of-summer read.

- I was so pleased that this story takes place in Arizona, which was a refreshing change from the typical romance novel location.

-Annabelle is a great character, and I loved that she could be persuasive, work deals, and lead her team without having to “take the bull by the horns” but by being good at what she does—which is a positive portrayal of the stereotypical “flighty” artist trope.

-Nick was Fitzwilliam Darcy-level grumpy and watching him move forward from his physical pain to metaphorically opening the curtains to let the sun in as much fun.

-The steam needle in the aNeedleinMyBookstack steam-o-meter is in the middle for this romance.

Thank you to @berkleypub, @berittalksbooks @dg_reads for the eARC and hosting this #BerkleyBuddyRead. Opinions are mine.

This book was an absolute delight.

A perfect, slow burn, i hate everyone but you romance that charms readers from the first page.

This was my first book from this author and I had so much fun while reading it. I was expecting a light hearted rom com and instead was brought on a journey with two characters learning to start over and heal from their past.

This story is one for you to try if you enjoy enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, and most importantly character growth & development.

The writing is fresh, the chapters are quick, and if you’re not convinced from the GR synopsis allow me to just confirm that the plot and characters are WORTH IT.

My only issue is that I wish the author used mental health differently, it gets used as a difficulty to overcome in the plot and when the characters finally face it, there isn't enough time to properly show how important it is to heal from your past trauma.

I went into this one with such high hopes, and unfortunately it was not my favorite.
:
Hot Takes:
-I absolutely loved the workplace aspect of this. Annabelle's handling of the ridiculousness happening at work was fantastic and I loved watching the drama unfold.
- Loved the disability representation!
- I loved the concept of a grumpy landlord and Annabelle assuming it was a crotchety old man, but it being hot Nick. Loved this concept and how it played out in the first half of the book. However, when they finally met in person, it was like HARD instalove and I was not a fan.
- I wanted more notes on the door between them!!!
- The ending severely pissed me off. I don't want to spoil it, but has Annabelle not learned anything from all this?

Read If You Like:
- Love Scenes and Boyfriend Project for interesting workplace drama.
- Grumpy dudes
- Disability rep

Thank you Berkley Romance and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of Wait for It in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored this book (so much that I immediately downloaded Paris is Always a Good Idea from my library.)
I loved Annabelle and her carefree nature. She's determined to get the most of out of life. I really liked how she pushed pack against her landlord Nick's very strict rules. I loved their instant chemistry and how they seemed to really challenge and support one another. Annabelle completely upended her life when her best friend offers her a job at her company, but I loved how she made a place for herself in Arizona.

I purchased a copy of the audiobook and alternated between that and the ebook. The narrator was fantastic!

Jenn McKinlay is now an autobuy author for me and I cannot wait to read what she writes next.

This book started off really strong. I was very interested to see what would happen between the two main characters and I liked their chemistry. I also liked the setting of Phoenix - it is nice when a book is set in a place that isn't typical (small town, NYC or SoCal). However, I started to get a little lost in the story because so much was going on in the plot. Each character had multiple things they were dealing with and it started to drag as the author tried to wrap up each issue.

DNF. Unfortunately this book wasn’t a great match for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Annabelle Martin is a graphic designer working freelance. She has been married and divorced twice, and is sick of the Boston winters. Receiving a marriage proposal from one of her exes tips to scale for her to accept a job offer in sunny Arizona.

Nick Daire is a wealthy businessman who has become a recluse in his palatial home following a stroke. He is in a wheelchair and receives daily physical therapy even though there is no physical reason for his recovery delay.

When Annabelle rents Nick’s guest house with firm instructions to keep her distance from her landlord she looks at it as more than a challenge than a rule especially after she receives his list of rules and his numerous notes taped to her door. As the days go by she knows her sunny personality could win the old man over. She is blown away when she finds out Nick is closer to her age than the old man she imagined and feels she could be the one to help him face his fears and maybe he could help her get over hers.

I loved the way Ms. McKinlay told this story. The chapters alternating between Nick and Annabelle’s point of view allowed the reader to get to know each character and their backstories. They were both relatable and easy to root for. Annabelle faces some conflict at her new job that she has to deal with. Nick’s sister comes back into his life after 20 years and he needs to handle that while keeping his disability a secret. You have Annabelle’s bosses and friends, Sophia and Miquel urging Annabelle to stay away from her landlord and Jackson, Nick’s physical trainer and his groundskeeper, Juan and his wife Lupita, his housekeeper and chef hoping that she finds a way into his life. I found all the characters to be cleverly written and easy to identify with.

Annabelle is a determined woman and we share the trait of not getting places on time no matter how good our intentions are. Nick’s health journey really grabbed me. Life in a wheelchair sucks and I was so happy with the way his journey played out. Their romance evolved at a comfortable pace for me but once they came together it amped up to a breakneck speed with just a few bumps. I appreciated the way mental health issues were addressed. The workplace drama and the way Annabelle handled it also pulled me in. I also enjoyed the special place Annabelle took Nick where the title of this book really was met.

While Jenn McKinlay is better known to me for her cozy mysteries I am thrilled she has penned several romantic stories. She brings strong complex characters to the scene and envelopes them in emotional stories. Wait For It grabbed my attention from the cold dreary weather of Boston and took me on an entertaining ride in sunny Arizona. A great beach read or book to snuggle up with in your cozy chair. This book was truly a Perfect Escape.

Annabelle has had it with the cold winter of Boston. Add onto that her ex-husband proposing to her unexpected and she’s more than happy to take a new job in Arizona offered to her by her best friend Sophie. When Annabelle arrives in Arizona, her new home, owned by recluse Nick Daire, is perfect except for all the rules Daire has for his tenant.

This was such a cute read! The characters were easily my favorite thing about the story. They’re each so unique and while flawed are easy to love. Our lead character Annabelle is a firecracker that is ready to take the world on. With her sunny disposition she is a great leader and is able to really see the best in people. I loved that she was a career woman who wasn’t about to let love stand in her way. McKinlay did a fabulous job of creating her character and I’m really loved getting to read her perspective. Honestly, would love another book with Annabelle in it.

Nick Daire our second POV, is the exact opposite of Annabelle. While at first he seems cold, he is a wonderful character with a big heart. He just needs to face his fears and overcome his past trauma. His back story was surprising deep and his inner commentary really made me enjoy his character.

I really enjoyed this romance. It was an easy read that actually tackled some sensitive topics such as stroke, addition, sabotage at work, and trauma. It was the perfect mix of an airy romance with actual substance. I highly recommend this read. Especially as a late summer read.


Wait for It is out now! Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my advanced copy for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof_books.

This book is extremely fast-paced and quick to work through! I was shocked by the story because I thought it would be more focused on only romance and/or Women's fiction. There is so much more in this quick hitter that makes it a very worthwhile read. I cannot recommend it enough!

A huge thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Jen McKinlay for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am leaving a review voluntarily, all opinions are my own.

This was definitely a quick little romance novel, which made it easy to just dive right in.

It's a book about moving on and starting fresh and I did enjoy that aspect. I just had such a hard time really connecting to the characters. I wanted to know what happened, but I wasn't as invested as I could've been.

Perfect for fans of quick, not overly emotional romance novels with a hot setting perfect for those cold winter nights or summer if you're looking for that matching weather.