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yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first book by this author. I was pleasantly surprised to like her work. I found her characters interesting, their issues realistic without being drama rama ridiculous. I liked them I found it easy to connect with them and wanted them to succeed.
Two children from broken families, fall in love and crash in disaster. His mother died and his father was sent to prison. He is sent to live with his uncle and his wife who makes sure he feels unwelcome. She has a father who cheated and left her and her twin alone with their broken hearted mother to raise another family. There are some serious issues that need to be resolved.
Two high school sweethearts break up after a dramatic event is kept from her. She is understandably upset things are said that put their futures on different paths. He heads off the college where he she stays in her town waiting till loneliness drives her to try living. An unexpected surprise take them farther from each other, all hope finally gone. Then an illness brings him back to town where they are forced to reunite and finally hash out what should have been discussed 10 years earlier. The side characters are fantastic with all their quirky problems. Rufus, steals the spot light every scene he's in. It gets, ugly, funny, sad, angry, sigh worthy and intense.
I already reserved more books from her
Two children from broken families, fall in love and crash in disaster. His mother died and his father was sent to prison. He is sent to live with his uncle and his wife who makes sure he feels unwelcome. She has a father who cheated and left her and her twin alone with their broken hearted mother to raise another family. There are some serious issues that need to be resolved.
Two high school sweethearts break up after a dramatic event is kept from her. She is understandably upset things are said that put their futures on different paths. He heads off the college where he she stays in her town waiting till loneliness drives her to try living. An unexpected surprise take them farther from each other, all hope finally gone. Then an illness brings him back to town where they are forced to reunite and finally hash out what should have been discussed 10 years earlier. The side characters are fantastic with all their quirky problems. Rufus, steals the spot light every scene he's in. It gets, ugly, funny, sad, angry, sigh worthy and intense.
I already reserved more books from her
joanna1905's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh this was a mediocre read - I liked the stories premise but it just fell flat. There was quite a lot of content that kind of upset me - i.e. the way Colleen was so desperate to get Pauline to change and act like a weak helpless woman to get a guy to notice her. Pauline was a really cool character (probably my favorite) and it was really sad to see her try and change herself especially when in the next breath she got mad at her step mum for trying to change her stepsister to be more pretty.
It was also annoying how Colleen lets the adults around her act like children, she never ever tells them off and tells them to grow the hell up. Her mother acts like a baby, her dad is an asshole and her stepmother is pretty crap too (though I liked how we got to know her a bit better closer to the end).
Lucas is also an asshole, he swans back into her life and pushes her for sex even though she makes it clear she doesn't want to risk her heart again. HE lied to her, HE got someone else pregnant, HE married that women like 2 months after telling her he wasn't ready to get married then HE lied to her again crippling her self esteem for a decade but then gets mad that she slept with his cousin.
Also it was strongly insinuated that Ellen was up to something but then nothing ever happened.
All in all this was really, I didn't really root for the main couple and in fact I wish Colleen told Lucas to hit the road the same way her mother did with her father.
It was also annoying how Colleen lets the adults around her act like children, she never ever tells them off and tells them to grow the hell up. Her mother acts like a baby, her dad is an asshole and her stepmother is pretty crap too (though I liked how we got to know her a bit better closer to the end).
Lucas is also an asshole, he swans back into her life and pushes her for sex even though she makes it clear she doesn't want to risk her heart again. HE lied to her, HE got someone else pregnant, HE married that women like 2 months after telling her he wasn't ready to get married then HE lied to her again crippling her self esteem for a decade but then gets mad that she slept with his cousin.
Also it was strongly insinuated that Ellen was up to something but then nothing ever happened.
All in all this was really, I didn't really root for the main couple and in fact I wish Colleen told Lucas to hit the road the same way her mother did with her father.
laksita's review
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This author gives me a headache.
I know for a fact that this book could have been such a masterpiece… had the author actually cared about the storyline.
The thing is, this is the third book in the series (and by said author) that I’ve read so far. The previous two times disappointed me, but I kept at it and picked up the third one hoping for it to be a major improvement from the previous two. Why? BECAUSE THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY HAS GOOD PROSE, WRITING STYLE AND GREAT HUMOR. DO YOU KNOW HOW RARE THAT IS WITHIN THE ROMANCE GENRE?
BUT NOO. OF COURSE THE THIRD BOOK ALSO WOULD DISAPPOINT ME.
Like. This author seems to REALLY HATE making their MAIN characters (meaning the MAIN couple of each book) ACTUALLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND BOND FROM SAID CONVERSATIONS.
Again and again, I kept expecting these couples to TALK. Just. TALK. TO EACH OTHER. But nothing happened??? It’s always just smoldering gazes, flirty exchanges here and there and that’s it. HUH??? AND HOW WOULD YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT THESE COUPLES KNOW EACH OTHER INSIDE AND OUT, LET ALONE ARE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER?? WHAT DO THEY EVEN HAVE IN COMMON??? HELL IF I FUCKING KNOW.
Pisses me off so bad because I KNOW the author is VERY MUCH CAPABLE OF WRITING GOOD DIALOGUE. AND HOW DO I KNOW THIS?? BECAUSE THE MAIN COUPLES TALK TO EVERYONE AND THEIR MAMA BUT EACH OTHER. THATS THE FUCKING THING.
I know for a fact that this book could have been such a masterpiece… had the author actually cared about the storyline.
The thing is, this is the third book in the series (and by said author) that I’ve read so far. The previous two times disappointed me, but I kept at it and picked up the third one hoping for it to be a major improvement from the previous two. Why? BECAUSE THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY HAS GOOD PROSE, WRITING STYLE AND GREAT HUMOR. DO YOU KNOW HOW RARE THAT IS WITHIN THE ROMANCE GENRE?
BUT NOO. OF COURSE THE THIRD BOOK ALSO WOULD DISAPPOINT ME.
Like. This author seems to REALLY HATE making their MAIN characters (meaning the MAIN couple of each book) ACTUALLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND BOND FROM SAID CONVERSATIONS.
Again and again, I kept expecting these couples to TALK. Just. TALK. TO EACH OTHER. But nothing happened??? It’s always just smoldering gazes, flirty exchanges here and there and that’s it. HUH??? AND HOW WOULD YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT THESE COUPLES KNOW EACH OTHER INSIDE AND OUT, LET ALONE ARE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER?? WHAT DO THEY EVEN HAVE IN COMMON??? HELL IF I FUCKING KNOW.
Pisses me off so bad because I KNOW the author is VERY MUCH CAPABLE OF WRITING GOOD DIALOGUE. AND HOW DO I KNOW THIS?? BECAUSE THE MAIN COUPLES TALK TO EVERYONE AND THEIR MAMA BUT EACH OTHER. THATS THE FUCKING THING.
tayrod4594's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jackiehorne's review against another edition
2.0
Is it just me, or are Kristan Higgins' heroines growing more and more abject as time goes on? Colleen O'Rourke is the town "glue" girl of Manningsport, NY, the one who knows everyone, is friends with everyone, and spends much of her time matchmaking while she works in the restaurant/bar she co-owns with her twin brother. Ten years ago, her boyfriend of four years abruptly told her he was marrying another woman, and she's never had a serious relationship since. Of course, when now-divorced Lucas comes back to town to help out his dying uncle, the sparks fly again.
I really, really dislike stories where the protagonist protests and protests and protests to the person she's attracted to, while simultaneously caving to said attraction. And I really dislike scenes (like the one where culinarily-challenged Colleen is attempting to create a meal for Lucas before they have sex again for the first time) that feel more like an episode of I LOVE LUCY or LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY, scenes that set us up to laugh AT our protagonist for how stupid/foolish/incompetent she is rather than laugh WITH her. Throw in some "girls are this way, men are that way" sexist lines, some borderline culturally insensitive cuteness (Colleen's nickname for the half Puerto-Rican Lucas is "Spaniard"), not one but TWO stereotypically horrific gold-digging secondary female characters, and a frustratingly annoying black moment (where Lucas ends up judging Colleen for a one-night stand she had while he was MARRIED TO ANOTHER WOMAN!), and you have a book that I'm really regretting I bought.
Makes me wonder if Higgins's success has made her feel like she has to belittle herself (via her female characters) in order to have people keep liking her :-(
Want to go back now and re-read ONE OF THE BOYS or THE NEXT BEST THING, to get the bad taste of this one out of my head...
I really, really dislike stories where the protagonist protests and protests and protests to the person she's attracted to, while simultaneously caving to said attraction. And I really dislike scenes (like the one where culinarily-challenged Colleen is attempting to create a meal for Lucas before they have sex again for the first time) that feel more like an episode of I LOVE LUCY or LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY, scenes that set us up to laugh AT our protagonist for how stupid/foolish/incompetent she is rather than laugh WITH her. Throw in some "girls are this way, men are that way" sexist lines, some borderline culturally insensitive cuteness (Colleen's nickname for the half Puerto-Rican Lucas is "Spaniard"), not one but TWO stereotypically horrific gold-digging secondary female characters, and a frustratingly annoying black moment (where Lucas ends up judging Colleen for a one-night stand she had while he was MARRIED TO ANOTHER WOMAN!), and you have a book that I'm really regretting I bought.
Makes me wonder if Higgins's success has made her feel like she has to belittle herself (via her female characters) in order to have people keep liking her :-(
Want to go back now and re-read ONE OF THE BOYS or THE NEXT BEST THING, to get the bad taste of this one out of my head...
alwaysbooking's review against another edition
5.0
Love, Love, Love this book. It had me laughing, it had me crying. This is probably my favorite in this series... I adore Kristan Higgins she is a writer I can always count on to deliver a wonderful book.
tifferpok88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
I was annoyed by these characters from page one.
Colleen is a mean girl who peaked in highschool. She’s 31 and still holding a candle for a man who she dated for four year and never said he loved her, and kept a huge secret from her. Now he’s back in town to see his uncle through end of life care and apparently all he has to do is call Colleen “Mia” and she’s ready to lock him down. There is so much super cringey dialogue in this book. From the body shaming to trying to get her “friend” Paulie to pretend to be helpless and more feminine to win over a guy. The way Lucas speaks to Colleen throughout is so gross. And Colleen at the age of 31 is not even able to communicate how she feels. The entire book is a constant miscommunication between the two of them with a ton of unnecessary highschool drama between 31+ year olds.
Colleen is a mean girl who peaked in highschool. She’s 31 and still holding a candle for a man who she dated for four year and never said he loved her, and kept a huge secret from her. Now he’s back in town to see his uncle through end of life care and apparently all he has to do is call Colleen “Mia” and she’s ready to lock him down. There is so much super cringey dialogue in this book. From the body shaming to trying to get her “friend” Paulie to pretend to be helpless and more feminine to win over a guy. The way Lucas speaks to Colleen throughout is so gross. And Colleen at the age of 31 is not even able to communicate how she feels. The entire book is a constant miscommunication between the two of them with a ton of unnecessary highschool drama between 31+ year olds.
rebroxannape's review against another edition
4.0
Regrettably, to be fair to her other books which I enjoyed more, I'll have to give this one a 3. It had all the prerequisite Kristan Higginsisms. I really liked the hero and heroine (eventhough she was quite overbearing and full of herself), though they were more typical in their ways than some of her characters from other books. Funny scenes? check. but somehow, not laugh out loud funny. Touching situations? check. But not enough to bring tears to my eyes (much). Nice people are rewarded and Mean people get their comeuppance, but did not suffer quite enough. It would have been a 4 but for 2 very annoying characters: Bryce, the hero Lucas's brother, was just too stupid: and not in a funny way, but in a way that did real harm to those I really liked. The second was Colleen's mother. She provided some comic relief, but her overarching weakness was just a pall on the book. The third thing was that the reader was teased throughout the book about the identity of her twin Connor's new girlfriend, Likely the 4th Blue Heron will delve into that, which would be perfectly fine with me.
****revised review*****04/08/2017. some of my complete opposite reactions on this read might be to the fact that I listened to this one on audible rather than read it. This one had a lot more heartache and tragic situations than many of her books. Tears were shed, throat was aching, and the snorts of laughter were many. Some things did get tedious and trite: "Mia" and "Spaniard" nicknames, "sphincter", Brice's surfer vocabulary: Dude! Word!, the repetitive descriptions of Colleen and Lucas's sexual attraction, for example. Since I now know the out come of Connor's story, in one of her best books, the 5th Blue heron, which run's semi-concurrently with this one, the main reason for my 3 star rating is removed. So almost a 4 star this time around.
Spoiler
but the mystery is never answered. Kind of a cheat.****revised review*****04/08/2017. some of my complete opposite reactions on this read might be to the fact that I listened to this one on audible rather than read it. This one had a lot more heartache and tragic situations than many of her books.
Spoiler
Lucas' Dad, his treatment from his aunt, his aunts treatment of her husband Joe, Colleen's heartbreak. Even Ellen's unrequited love for her husband and loss of the baby, Colleen's dad's rejection of his children by his first wife, Gail's treatment of her daughter Savannah (redeemed near the end), Gramps, Brice's eulogy for his father, Joe's death. There's more. But it had it's share of triumphs and laughs as well. Evil villains are really evil, and other evil villains (Savannah's mother) are not as evil as you think.amym84's review against another edition
5.0
Waiting on You is the third book in the Blue Heron series. This time it's Colleen O'Rourke that gets the spotlight and I'll admit I never really thought that Kristan Higgins would venture away from the Holland family. I'm very happy she did however because I found Waiting on You to be better than [b:The Perfect Match|17738218|The Perfect Match (Blue Heron, #2)|Kristan Higgins|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1368430597s/17738218.jpg|24817721].
Colleen is known as the fun and outgoing bartender / part-owner of O'Rourke's. She gets along with most everyone and has quite a successful track record of set-ups and marriages between the people of Manningsport. If only her own love life were as simple. Ten years ago her heart was broken by Lucas Campbell her first love, her only love. She doesn't want to go through that again....ever. So she contends herself with everyone else's love life that is until Lucas returns to Manningsport to be there for a family emergency. They both realize that maybe there's still some unfinished business between them.
Probably one of my favorite romance tropes is the return of first love. Kristan Higgins always does a great job with giving the full background story while we work through the present daydilemma of our couple actually becoming a couple.
The chemistry between Lucas and Colleen is right there from the start even after ten years of separation. I liked that niether Colleen or Lucas denied their attraction to one another. It was their circumstances that made them hesitate. Colleen is happy, for the most part, in Manningsport. She's built a good life for herself and her family and friends are there. Lucas, on the other hand, was not originally from Manningsport. He moved there with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin his senior year in high school. He's orginally from Chicago and for him, his furture dreams were leading him back to Chicago one way or another. Colleen was a surprise to him, but he started to see her as part of his future too. As often with young love, it's very volatile and Lucas and Colleen broke up in a sad way. Being back in Manningsport in the present doesn't mean he will stay. He's here for his family and once that's done, he intends to head back to Chicago. Colleen knows this and it's the reason she's reluctant to start something with Lucas again. She knows that she will want something permanent with him, she doesn't want her heart broken again. I really liked seeing them work their way around / towards each other again even through all the heartbreak of the past.
We get to see glimpses of characters from the previous two books in the series which I liked, sort of like we get to see their stories continuing in a way but in a secondary capacity. Higgins also manages, again, to balance out the sad heart broken parts with plenty of humor. She's also set up quite a few possibilities for potential leads in her next book. I'm very interested to see who will find their HEA next. So far, the Blue Heron series has been really good. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a great contemporary romance.
Colleen is known as the fun and outgoing bartender / part-owner of O'Rourke's. She gets along with most everyone and has quite a successful track record of set-ups and marriages between the people of Manningsport. If only her own love life were as simple. Ten years ago her heart was broken by Lucas Campbell her first love, her only love. She doesn't want to go through that again....ever. So she contends herself with everyone else's love life that is until Lucas returns to Manningsport to be there for a family emergency. They both realize that maybe there's still some unfinished business between them.
Probably one of my favorite romance tropes is the return of first love. Kristan Higgins always does a great job with giving the full background story while we work through the present daydilemma of our couple actually becoming a couple.
The chemistry between Lucas and Colleen is right there from the start even after ten years of separation. I liked that niether Colleen or Lucas denied their attraction to one another. It was their circumstances that made them hesitate. Colleen is happy, for the most part, in Manningsport. She's built a good life for herself and her family and friends are there. Lucas, on the other hand, was not originally from Manningsport. He moved there with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin his senior year in high school. He's orginally from Chicago and for him, his furture dreams were leading him back to Chicago one way or another. Colleen was a surprise to him, but he started to see her as part of his future too. As often with young love, it's very volatile and Lucas and Colleen broke up in a sad way. Being back in Manningsport in the present doesn't mean he will stay. He's here for his family and once that's done, he intends to head back to Chicago. Colleen knows this and it's the reason she's reluctant to start something with Lucas again. She knows that she will want something permanent with him, she doesn't want her heart broken again. I really liked seeing them work their way around / towards each other again even through all the heartbreak of the past.
We get to see glimpses of characters from the previous two books in the series which I liked, sort of like we get to see their stories continuing in a way but in a secondary capacity. Higgins also manages, again, to balance out the sad heart broken parts with plenty of humor. She's also set up quite a few possibilities for potential leads in her next book. I'm very interested to see who will find their HEA next. So far, the Blue Heron series has been really good. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a great contemporary romance.
beyondevak's review against another edition
5.0
Waiting On You was tremendous! It was beautiful and heartbreaking and funny and warm. It was silly and surprising and plain old wonderful! The characters were varied and so likable. (Although, the twins dad was a dink.) The story was well-rounded and attention-grabbing. Lucas and Colleen had quite a story.
Regarding the Characters:
I loved the tragic story of Lucas' background. It added layers to him and made me want to know him more.
Colleen was feisty, passionate about what she believed in, and hilarious. Did I say hilarious? Well, multiply that by ten and you would just about have it. (That meal that she cooked...hahahahaha!!! I could not stop laughing.)
Bryce was interesting. On the one hand, he was someone I wanted to totally see for the hotness factor, but on the other hand, he was a nice pushover/mama's boy. But thank goodness for Paulie.
Speaking of Paulie, I liked her. She was strong physically but there was so much more to her. She was wise to be so inexperienced. Her heart was good and she had a sincerity about her.
The twins' mom was funny and then some. The whole menopause angle was a hoot and a holler. Hahahaha...
Suzanna...aww. Adorable!
The hairy guy from the art class was noteworthy in a not so good way. Yuck-o!
This second chance story was sweet. I'm so glad I had a chance to read it. I could say more, but instead I will encourage you to read it for yourself. It's worth a look.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
A complimentary e-copy of this title was made available by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.
Regarding the Characters:
I loved the tragic story of Lucas' background. It added layers to him and made me want to know him more.
Colleen was feisty, passionate about what she believed in, and hilarious. Did I say hilarious? Well, multiply that by ten and you would just about have it. (That meal that she cooked...hahahahaha!!! I could not stop laughing.)
Bryce was interesting. On the one hand, he was someone I wanted to totally see for the hotness factor, but on the other hand, he was a nice pushover/mama's boy. But thank goodness for Paulie.
Speaking of Paulie, I liked her. She was strong physically but there was so much more to her. She was wise to be so inexperienced. Her heart was good and she had a sincerity about her.
The twins' mom was funny and then some. The whole menopause angle was a hoot and a holler. Hahahaha...
Suzanna...aww. Adorable!
The hairy guy from the art class was noteworthy in a not so good way. Yuck-o!
This second chance story was sweet. I'm so glad I had a chance to read it. I could say more, but instead I will encourage you to read it for yourself. It's worth a look.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
A complimentary e-copy of this title was made available by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.