Waiting on Forever, an all-new standalone romance full of steam and angst in The Walker Brothers Series from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Connor is available now!
Amazon | Amazon Worldwide | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo
Blurb
Dallas Walker is haunted. He won’t ever forget the horrors he witnessed while working undercover to bust a human trafficking ring, but he has a plan to start a new life. Coming home to his family is step one. Getting to know his alluring new neighbor could be step two. If only she’d give him a chance…
Maggie Ellis just wants to be left alone. She’d rather spend her days spinning clay into art and feel nothing than open herself up to another devastating loss. But her sexy new neighbor with a lonely look in his eyes isn’t giving up. And he makes her question everything
Together, Dallas and Maggie might have a shot at happily ever after. But only if they can let go of the past and hold on to each other when it matters most.
Review
4 stars
The fourth and final book in the McKinney/Walker Brothers series, this is an emotional story with a beautiful romance between a man desperate for a fresh start, and a grieving woman who has forgotten how to truly live.
Dallas Walker is back in town after working a brutal undercover case that saw him leave the Police force and left him emotionally tormented and desperate for change. He has returned to the loving comfort of his family, and is setting down roots near the people he loves the most. He’s just bought himself a house, and he’s become somewhat infatuated with his new neighbour.
After experiencing a devastating loss, Maggie uprooted her life and moved to a remote small town where she lives a life of isolation, only interacting with others when it’s completely necessary, and drowning in her grief and sadness.
“I’ve been caught between not dying and not really living.”
Dallas is immediately smitten by Maggie, but it’s clear she wants nothing to do with him, or anybody else. She is dismissive and guarded, but there’s something about her new neighbour – his determined friendliness, the hint of turmoil in his eyes, and his own obvious loneliness – that get to her, and she tentatively begins to let him in.
Over backyard fence chats, outdoor work and shared dinners, they grow close. They slowly start to open up to each other, and they naturally, easily and sweetly fall for each other. They’re so good together, their relationship full of laughter, sweet moments, romance and passion, and they help each other heal from the past and truly start to move on.
But there are some unexpected twists and turns that come their way, and they will need to confront the past once and for all, and let it all go, in order to have the happy ending that they both so desperately want.
Life brought joy and pain. The joy of love was worth the pain.
I really enjoyed this book. Dallas and Maggie are wonderful characters, their story is beautifully heartfelt, and I loved the direction that their story took. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was perfect for the story, and for them, and it made their HEA even better.
The rest of the Walker crew is a big part of the story as Dallas revels in being back with his brothers, sister and their families, and Maggie is welcomed with open arms. I loved the scenes with them all together, and seeing the couples from the previous books all living out their own happy endings.
This is a really sweet read, I loved it.
4 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
McKinney/Walker Brothers
Spin-off from the McKinney Brothers series, to make the Walker/McKinney Brothers series
Worth the Wait (#1) (Nick)
Review
Buy: Amazon
Waiting for You (#2) (Zach)
Review
Buy: Amazon
Excerpt
Her motion activated lights cast faint shadows near the house, but the light didn’t nearly reach the back of the yard. She searched the dense brush along the back, saw movement and fired a warning shot into the air, then another.
She heard the rustling of an animal scurrying away then the sound of leaves crunching and twigs breaking behind her and to her left. She swung around, gun raised.
“Jesus!”
“Nope, just me.”
Dallas stood just a few yards away, stock still, chest bare, in a dark shade of boxer briefs and his hands up in surrender.
“That’s a good way to get shot.” She lowered the weapon. “Sorry.”
He took a step forward toward the faint light she stood in. “I thought you were getting shot. What the hell are you doing?”
“Scaring away whatever was snooping around the chicken coop. Raccoon maybe, or a fox.”
“I guess you know how to use that?”
“I do.” Her lips twitched. “I have a permit and everything, officer.” She lifted the butt a few inches off the ground.
Still looking distressed, he rubbed the heel of his hand up his forehead and into his hair.
“I’m sorry if I scared you. And woke you up.” Obviously, because again, he was standing there in his boxers and…yeah. Just boxers.
“You didn’t wake me. I was outside. With my popcorn.”
“Do you always come outside in your underwear to eat popcorn?”
“I burned it.”
“Ahh.” She grimaced. “That’s a bad smell. Guess you weren’t kidding when you said you couldn’t cook.”
“Mmm. Is this a usual thing?” he asked with a nod to the gun, closing the distance between them even more. “Scaring away predators?”
“Oh. Every now and then. I lost one last year.” She kept talking, kept looking at the man.
Her gaze skimmed over a muscled chest, sculpted arms, over a tattoo on his upper right bicep that she couldn’t make out.
“Holly’s not much of a guard dog,” she went on. “But her hearing’s still good, so when her ears perk up I know something’s amiss. Were you coming to save me?”
“I didn’t know what I was coming to do, but I heard gunshots and—”
“And you came bounding over. I hope you didn’t um…scratch anything.”
Dallas glanced down, winced, then looked back up. “Nah. I’m good.”
Uh, huh. Well. She forced her attention up to his face and not on the dark boxers that hugged his thighs…annnnd… she was staring. How could she not?
But when her eyes finally met his she saw he was staring too. And it dawned on her that she was also barefooted and in her underwear. She tugged the tank top she slept in,
stretching it until it covered the juncture between her thighs.
“Well, I…uh…”
A cool breeze rippled over her and she shivered. Or maybe that was the man now just a couple of feet away giving her chills. What had she been about to say?
And when had he gotten so close? Or had she? Just an arm’s length apart now and she found herself imagining all kinds of things. Like what would she do if he moved closer? If he touched her?
The feeling changed like a coin flipping from heads to tails and even with the cool wind she felt hot. It was uncomfortable and also layered with a ripple of nervous excitement. Standing in her backyard at night with a man—this man. And both of them barely dressed.
When Holly barked from inside the back door, she glanced toward the house. When she looked back, the moment was gone. “Guess I should go back in. Holly’s probably worried.” She shifted the gun hanging at her side.
“Probably so,” he said. “I’ll get myself back. Finish airing out the house.”
“Yeah. Maybe try another bag. Listen for the popping. More than a second between pops and it’s done.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
He still wasn’t moving and she swallowed hard. Had a ludicrous thought of asking him in. To make popcorn. To watch Downton Abbey?
He nodded toward her house. “I’ll wait until you’re inside.”
“Oh. Right. Thank you.” She turned, went inside, locking the door behind her. It’d been a long time since she’d been in the position for someone to care about her getting safely inside. She had to admit it didn’t totally suck.
About the Author
Claudia Connor is an award winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance, including the beloved McKinney Brothers series.
Claudia writes, warm, heartfelt romances with a bit of steam, a lot of family and always a happily ever after.
Claudia attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. When she’s not writing, she enjoys movies, reading, and travel, with a heavy dose of daydreaming during all three. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.
Connect with Claudia:
Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter | Website