Waiting for Her, an all-new emotional, standalone second chance romance from Jennifer Van Wyk is available NOW!

Amazon US  |  Amazon Universal  |  Audio

 

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Blurb

Our relationship was such a cliché.
Friends to lovers. High school sweethearts.
Then… driven by insecurities, I broke Grady Ryan’s heart.
I was weak, afraid to love, and even more afraid to be loved.
There are secrets I’ve kept buried but I can’t forget what we once shared.
I’ve been given a second chance and this time, I’m prepared to fight for him.

After six long years of silence, Bri Jameson is back in my life.
I never expected to see her again, especially not to share in the biggest opportunity of my career.
When she walks toward me across my football field, I can’t stop my heart from racing.
But time hasn’t stopped me from knowing her – and I know she’s hiding something.
I just hope whatever it is doesn’t ruin me.
I’ve finally moved on and I won’t fall into her trap again.
I just wish I could tell my heart the same thing – it’s just been waiting for her.

 

 

Find Waiting for Her on GOODREADS

 

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Review

4.5 stars!

A gorgeously emotional second-chance-romance that is sweet, functional and full of swoon!

Grady and Bri were childhood best friends who fell in love as teenagers and (eventually) made the leap from friends-to-lovers, becoming each other’s whole worlds and knowing that they were going to be together forever. But Bri’s life got shaken up and she reacted badly, running in order to ‘protect’ herself and triggering a downward spiral that she found it impossible to pull herself out of.

It’s been six long years since Grady and Bri have seen each other, but Grady has just been appointed the youngest coach of a division 1 college football team, and Bri is the sports reporter assigned to write an in-depth article about him – forcing the former lovers together and giving them the chance to finally face up to what happened all those years ago, and to address the feelings for each other that have never gone away.

“I went through some of the best and worst moments of my life, and you weren’t there. It was always supposed to be you by my side. Me by yours.”

I love second-chance-romances, and this one is full of feels from the very beginning. Despite their separation, Grady and Bri still love each other deeply, and they are both fully aware of that fact. The chemistry zings from the first moment they lay eyes on each other, neither of them deny it, and they don’t hide the pain they’ve been in since they parted. But they have a lot to work through, starting with the secrets of their past and all that they have missed.

“I need to understand, and yet, I’m not sure I ever will. I can’t fall back into you again. It hurt too much to lose you the first time. Not just as my girlfriend, but as my best friend.

Jennifer Van Wyk writes the most amazingly irresistible heroes and OMG, I absolutely adore Grady! He is SUCH a sweetheart! He’s been through hell in the time they’ve been apart, but he’s also made a good life for himself, with great friends and family, and now his new amazing career opportunity. He’s a genuinely good guy who is open, honest and very in touch with his feelings. He never moved on from his first love, and he is not afraid to pour his heart out to Bri, putting it all out there and holding nothing back, and I love that!

I shift, framing her face in the palms of my hands, and lean down, letting my forehead rest against hers.
“Don’t you get it, yet, Bri?”
“Get what?”
“It doesn’t matter what happened in your past. What mistakes you made. My love for you, it doesn’t have a beginning or an end, I would have waited for you forever.”

Oh swoon!

I admit, I had some issues with Bri early on. Grady is so amazing that I was mad at her for hurting him the way she did, and I found it difficult to sympathise with her. But seeing her so willing to own her mistakes and make things right helped warm me to her. There is a bit of back and forth as she and Grady sort things out, but I loved the honesty between them, and when her full story is finally revealed I could understand how she became as lost as she did. And though I was still pissed at her, I loved that she was willing to put herself out there for Grady, determined to do whatever he needed to make things right.

“I don’t need any more chances, Grady. No more time. I’m here. With you. Yours, for as long as you’ll have me.”

And Grady’s unwavering love for her made it impossible not to love her too.

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness and yet here I am, receiving it.”
“Who am I to say you don’t deserve forgiveness? My love for you isn’t conditional, Bri. I fell in love with you, my heart never allowed me to fall out.”

*dreamy sigh*

It’s a beautifully written love story, with lots of feels, and I was completely swept up in the reunion between these two who were so clearly meant to be. It’s not all serious, with moments of fun, flirting, teasing and banter, and I loved that their families were both so involved in everything that was going on between them. This is a fantastic bunch of characters who are so closely intertwined, and the dynamics add something special to the story.

Although this book can be read as a standalone, I loved having all of the background details about Grady and Bri, and their families, before diving into this one. Even knowing most of the characters, I needed to reread over some of the details in the book to remember who they were and make sure I had all of the relationships straight in my head. Plus, I had an added build up to Grady and Bri’s story which began in Van Wyk’s first book, From the Ground Up (featuring Grady’s parents and introducing a teenage Grady), and Bri’s downfall which began in the last book, Feels Like Home (the story of Bri’s mother and now-stepfather). And in the six years since the last book ended, there have been some really interesting developments that I really appreciated and loved seeing.

Like Van Wyk’s other books, this one completely captured my heart and had me in a world of swoon as Grady and Bri fought hard for their happy ever after. Beautifully written and absolutely captivating, I loved it!

“I love you … Time didn’t change that, and it never will.”

4.5 swoony stars.

An Advanced Review Copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Jennifer Van Wyk Interconnected Standalones

 

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Excerpt

“It’s Bri.” Mia says, both shock and confusion in her voice.

“Yeah, that’s what I said.”

“No, Grady. It’s. Bri.” Savannah says, nodding her head with wide eyes.

Mia’s eyes are narrowed, and Cole looks like he’s seen a ghost.

Actually, he’s not even looking at me. None of them are.

They’re looking behind me.

I turn in my seat to see what they’re all gawking at, and wouldn’t you know it, the object of conversation is right there.

Standing behind me.

Bright green eyes glistening.

Top teeth biting down on her plush bright red bottom lip.

Dark hair down, curling over her shoulders.

Beautiful.

To anyone else, she would look like she’s going to a St. Patrick’s Day party, but I know Bri. She has more green and white in her closet than anyone I know.

If I bleed the colors, she may as well paint them on her body.

I’m sure it’s at least part of the reason she was chosen to do the story on me. She knows Warrior football better than anyone I know.

My eyes can’t decide which part of her to catalogue first.

When I was younger, I was positive there was nothing sexier than Bri Jameson. It’s shockingly apparent nothing’s changed, at least in my reaction to her  appearance. I take in the rest of her, wanting so badly to reach out and pull her into my arms. She’s grown into a beautiful woman.

“Bri,” I breathe out her name, stumbling like a moron to get out of my chair. The effects of two shots in less than a few minutes time hitting me more than I
care to admit. Surprisingly, I have a low alcohol tolerance. With my size, one would think I’d be able to handle a lot of liquor. Not so much.

“Hi, Grady.”

The sound of her voice causing my heart to speed up triple time.

I haven’t heard it in years.

Except for in my dreams.

Or nightmares, depending on the night.

And it still hits me direct in the gut.

“What am I missing?” I hear Drew murmur behind me only to be shushed by the girls.

“Um. What…” I trail off, clear my throat, look down at the dirty bar floor, shake my head and look back at her, standing up in the process. She takes a small step back to allow me room. She’s a little thing. Only about 5 feet tall. When we were dating, I would have to practically bend in half to kiss her. A lifetime ago. My chin meets my chest when I tilt my head down to her. “What are you doing here?” I ask, finally finding my voice.

She looks away quickly before returning those eyes that always drew me to her. I never could resist her shining emerald eyes. She simply had to flutter her long lashes at me, and I was putty in her hands. “Um, I heard about this incredible band and wanted to check them out since…” Her voice trails off as she glances at the table of my friends and family uncomfortably.

She’s back in town, is what she failed to finish saying.

She swallows and closes her eyes.

I lick my lips, blow out a breath, and wait for her to open them back up.

“Wait. A. Minute.” Cole’s voice breaks through our stare down.

“Bri?” Mia sneers. Or as close to sneering as she gets. “What the hell are you doing here?” I turn in time to see her waddle her pregnant body out of the chair, shove Cole’s hand away from her shoulder and come to stand in front of me, effectively pushing Bri away a few steps considering Mia’s, well, she’s not little at the moment.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize everyone would…”

“Realize what? That we would be here to support Brandon?”

Mia crosses her arms over her chest and taps her foot.

I press my lips together to keep from laughing.

Mia’s hardly a threat, but she’s also protective of me.

I place a hand on Mia’s shoulder and she twists her head to peek at me. She raises her eyebrows and tilts her head to the side, narrowing her eyes at me in a silent challenge for me to let her be.

“Easy, mama bear,” I murmur.

Bri looks down at Mia’s protruding belly then in Cole’s direction. She smiles faintly, her eyes glossing over slightly. I doubt if anyone else noticed, but I’ve always been a little more in tune to Bri than anyone else.

“Mom mentioned you were expecting. When are you due?” she asks quietly.

Mia lifts her chin, probably determined not to answer her because she’s a stubborn little shit, but Cole pipes up.

“Two weeks.”

“Congratulations.” She smiles but it’s sad.

“Yup. We got married, too,” Mia says, a hint of snark in her voice, raising her hand to show her ring finger.

“Mia,” Cole murmurs a quiet warning.

“Yes, I heard that.”

Of course she’d heard. Her entire family was there, celebrating with us. I’d swallowed down the hurt all day, enjoyed the moment of celebrating with my brother and Mia. Pushed away the jealousy I felt toward him and Mia, who’d also been friends before they started dating. It had been a little over two years at that point since she had walked out on our relationship. Walked out of my life.

Part of me had wondered if she’d show up at the wedding.

A bigger part of me held out hope it would happen. I missed the hell out of her and as pathetic as it may make me sound, I was still waiting for her to come back to me.

That night, more changed for me than only getting a new sister.

With Bri’s stepdad working for our dads, who own a construction company together, it’s not as if we’re strangers. Our families don’t just know each other, we’re connected in every way that matters. Which leads me to believe she knew Mia and Cole were expecting, too.

“You missed a lot,” Mia reminds her, hurt and anger lacing her voice.

In another time, Bri would have been one of Mia’s bridesmaids. It was a hole that was missing on the special day that everyone felt, not just me.

I was always waiting.

Waiting for her to come back.

Waiting for her to come to her senses.

Waiting for her to love me enough to fight.

“I did,” she nods her head sadly. “I wish I hadn’t.”

Me too.

I can’t take my eyes off her.

Can’t believe she’s here.

Standing in front of me.

Still looking too beautiful for her own damn good.

Life, man. What a mother-effing bitch it is.

“Yeah, well. It’s done,” Mia snaps. Bri breaking up with me didn’t hurt just me. That hurt and pain extended far and wide.

“Mia,” Bri whispers. Raising her eyes from where they’ve been fixated on the floor between us, she looks directly at me, rather than Mia. My gut clenches when our eyes lock, afraid she’ll see the hurt still living inside me. The sound of a chair scraping along the floor behind me startles me, breaking our stare down. She turns and starts to reach out a hand to Mia but pulls back. Rather, she lifts a hand and twists a finger through the thick strands. I used to be obsessed with running my fingers through her hair A flash of déjà vu hits me when I remember she would always mess with it when she was nervous, especially in front of a crowd of people.

“I’m so sorry I missed it. I have no excuse. I won’t pretend any of what I did was okay.”

“You’re right. It wasn’t. But like I said, it’s done,” Mia says dismissively.

She doesn’t accept Bri’s apology, but I know Mia. She will eventually. The only reason she’s holding a grudge right now is because she thinks I need her to and because she’s more hurt than she’s letting on.

If Bri wants forgiveness, she’s going to have to earn it.

“So. You’re back?”

Bri takes a step in my direction, and I see realization hit Cole’s features.

He points a finger at her then me. “Wait. Is she the one?”

Out of the corner of my eye I see Drew’s head going back and forth like he’s at a tennis match, but I ignore him. I should introduce them, but I figure they’ll get to know each other soon enough.

Irritation suddenly settles in my veins. Being this close to Bri used to provide me with a sense of calm. “The one, what?” I growl, staring down at the girl I once thought was my forever.

“The one doing the article,” he explains. Cole’s not stupid. He knows she’s a reporter and who she works for. Her showing up after all this time obviously isn’t a coincidence.

I pause a few beats, breathe in deep as her eyes, so expressive and beautiful, blink up at me. “Yeah,” I admit, my heart in my throat. “She is.”

 

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About the Author

From the Ground Up was Jennifer’s first published novel and now that she was bitten by the writing bug, has no intention of ever stopping. Jennifer makes her home in small town Iowa with her high school sweetheart, three beautiful, hilarious and amazing kids, one crazy Jack Russell terrier. This is where her love for all things reading, baking, and cooking happen.  Jennifer’s family enjoys camping, boating, and spending time outside as much as possible. You’ll be her best friend if you can make her laugh and follow up with asking her what to read next. When she’s not writing, you can find her cheering the loudest at her kids’ sporting events (read as: embarrassing them), sipping coffee or iced tea out of a mason jar with her Kindle in her lap or binging on Netflix.

 

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