The Waiting Game

by Elizabeth Cadell

While Laura Mirren determines to reconcile herself to the return of an old love, and her son Ross must wait for the woman he loves to sort out her feelings, the hidden past of Gianna Hargreaves produces mysterious consequences

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Christmas, British Literature, London

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Violet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.

Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.

She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.

Reviews

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟 A roller coaster ride of romance during the Christmas season!

I've only read one or two Elizabeth Cadell books so far, but now I remember how "active" her narrative is throughout the book. Whoa!

The Waiting Game is a combination of light and cozy Christmas descriptions (food, clothes, weather, home, people) and, at the same time, following a whirlwind romance (concerning at least a few people).

The story centers on the English village of Downpass along with Laura and her step-son, Ross Mirren. Then, the reader is introduced to the Hargreaves family—weak-willed James, his French daughter Gianna, his Buddha-obsessed brother Walter and his incredibly bossy sister Beatrice.

Between both families, there is affection (in various ways), frustration and also intrigue. This domestic novel completely takes you along on a swift ride of new love, love lost, double family mysteries and humor.

I really, really enjoyed this book and, especially, the characters of Laura and Ross. They have such a great relationship—their conversations are brilliant and amusing! The author's writing style reminded me a little bit of D.E. Stevenson, Molly Clavering and a dash of Rosamunde Pilcher (but with much more energy!)

Many thanks to my lovely friend Caro (@carosbookcase on Instagram) for buddy reading this book with me! We both wanted to read another Elizabeth Cadell title and, when Caro found that this one was set around Christmas, it was the perfect choice for this time of year!

Highly recommended!

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ross falls in love with his stepmother's former fiance's impetuous daughter but she has become involved with a sports-obsessed Scot she met on the ferry. As usual in a Cadell novel, it takes a while for the characters to become untangled and reassembled.

[Melanie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not even know where to begin. Ms. Cadell's books are being republished at this time and I am so happy!
Friends, family and coworkers all know my passion for books. They are always bringing them to me and this book happened to catch my interest, even though it is outside of the genre that I usually read.
This book was slow at first, but I fell in love with the characters, village and story. I just wanted to jump into the pages and be there. I laughed and even got a little misty eyed, but do not tell anyone. The story had a story within in it, but you do not know this until the end. All I can say about the ending is.....holy shock, Batman! Did not see that one!
I will be reading more of Ms. Cadell's books and I hope they are as good as this one.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

While I enjoyed reading this book, it wasn't really the Christmas themed story I was anticipating. The fact that the story began a few days before Christmas was meaningless. There was a little bit of chatter about mince pies, and that was it.

I felt that the book description here on GR was very misleading. There were only a few pages that dealt with that Christmas Eve Party, and there was nothing "Christmas-y" about it.

What a very strange ending! I really didn't expect to have to contemplate whether or not my heroine had committed incest with her brother. I wonder why the author decided to throw that in? It was not at all necessary.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle romance with some surprising twists, the book is what I have come to expect from Ms. Cadell in that she shows a wonderful understanding of people and what drives them to do what they do. This one was a bit unexpected since it deals with a previous generation's infidelities and the results of those infidelities. I disagreed with the ending. I think Gianna should have been told what Ross had discovered, unless the relationship between Alexander and Gianna had gone further than the book indicated, a point obscured by the customs of writing of this time where sexual matters are not treated in the lurid and detailed manner they are today.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Architect Ross Mirren is spending a quiet weekend with his stepmother Laura when he meets, and falls in love with, Gianna Hargreaves, half-French daughter of the man who jilted Laura many years before. But Gianna has just fallen in love with Alexander Rannoch, a hearty, rugby playing Scot. Gianna and Alexander felt an instant attraction when they met, and Ross hopes for Gianna's happiness, although he realizes that Alexander doesn't have room for a cultured woman in his sports-conscious life.

[Benita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Elizabeth Cadell's books. I have read several and have never been disappointed. The Waiting Game was listed as a "gentle romance" and that fits it perfectly. A little humor and some crazy twists make it a great read.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, with its Christmassy cover, was just what I needed, in the middle of a heatwave. Not that the book is particularly Christmassy - the story just happens to start in the middle of December. In essence, it's the story of a group of young people who descend upon the sleepy village of Downpass, and their various amorous couplings and uncouplings, under the benevolent and sometimes bewildered eye of the older generation. Laura and James were once engaged, but he "jilted" her and married a French girl. Now, a widower with an adult daughter, he's come back to Downpass, a passive and exhausted figure. But his daughter, Gianna, has enough energy for two, and soon her home is hosting parties and weekends for her friends, including the young man she's fallen in love with, Alexander. Laura's stepson is often pressed into service, especially whenever Gianna needs to be driven to one of Alexander's rugby matches, and he can't help but see how Gianna slowly realizes that Alexander is too sports-obsessed to make place in his life for her. This, however, is all the more to the liking of the glamorous Daphne, Alexander's assistant, who has her own plans for the muscular young man.

This must have been one of Elizabeth Cadell's last books, and it does seem a bit disjointed in time and space sometimes. But I like her books, and her spunky heroines (neither Daphne nor Gianna is a shrinking violet), and this was a quick, escapist read. The little mystery about Gianna's parentage was slightly disturbing, but it was glossed over rather insouciantly.

[JR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel from Elizabeth Cadell is, if nothing else, aptly titled - for 240 pages I was literally waiting for something to happen - but alas, it never really did.

Basically, the book tells a very long winded tale of how the hero, separated architect Ross, and heroine, wealthy Italian music-lover Gianna get together - eventually.

While author writes with her usual charm, it doesn't compensate for the meandering story-line, and none of the plethora of secondary characters is engaging enough to add real spice either. On reflection, I think it's the lack of a mystery sub-plot/ lynch-pin in the story that's ultimately the book's missing ingredient.

I'm rating 'The Waiting Game' a cosy, but ultimately uninspiring three-star vintage romance read.

If you've not tried Cadell before, I'd skip this book and opt instead for one of her titles in the mystery-romance/ crime-romance vein, such as The Yellow Brick Road or Canary Yellow, which are far more enjoyable.

[Michele Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catching up on Cadell books! This one is a sweet little tale about being jilted at the alter and finding love again after all. Architect Ross, goes to visit his step mom, Laura, in a sweet little English village and becomes smitten with Laura's ex-fiance's, half Italian daughter, Gianna, who has fallen in love with a Scottish Rugby player. The last few male characters in Caddell's book are a bit full of themselves, but finally settle in to the cool men they are meant to be, after a bit of reality checks by the patient women in their lives. Anyway, I do like Cadell's books. Some much stronger than others, but nevertheless, good reads.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you fall in love because some attractive man volunteered to help put your car on a ferry? Would you marry a person strange or known due to a pregnancy by an unknown father? Would you commandeer your brother's estate to open a training center to get gangs of hooligans off the streets? Would you marry just to provide freedom of choice to another? How long would you wait to have the person you love fall in love with you? You can find out how others handled these situations if you read this book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title refers to the 'waiting' that Ross Mirren does for Gianna. who has decided she is in love with a guy she met on the ferry. The guy turns out to be a sports enthusiast, and slowly Gianna realizes that she comes second to rugby in his life. Not the best of the Cadell books I've read, but still entertaining.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

better than most

I typically find Cadell’s books disappointing although Amazon is sure I will like them. I read this because it was on KU.
I liked the characters better than I usually do, although the ending was odd. There were a couple of coincidences but not outrageous, well one was outrageous…but still pretty good. I don’t feel cheated for having read it.

[Juliflemin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her style doesn't work as well for the '80's setting. Also this plot line is dated. I'll probably still read everything Elizabeth Cadell wrote. The hero's relationship with his stepmother was a big plus.

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally I really like Elizabeth Cadell's stories, but this one seemed more so-so. Characters are interesting but the story moves slowly. Lots of dialogue--her usual style--but not much action. Half-way through it was obvious Ross would eventually get the girl. One surprise twist of sorts at the end.

[Gypsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, enjoyable, and not always predictable, The Waiting Game is one of Cadell's last novels. Taking place in the 1980s, it lacks a little of the charm and grace of her books of earlier decades, but is still satisfying and entertaining.

[ALM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 3 1/2 star like most of Elizabeth Cadell's novels. Always enjoyable and pleasant. Her novels are well written as well. I've read many and most are very good. The formula is some romance as part of a good storyline not just romance.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in nearly a day! Such a fun escape from reality story with a funny twist.

[Jannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow burn but fun

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am re-reading all on this author's books that I can find (Thriftbooks.com has been great) and am enjoying them. The story pace is easy to slow, just day-to-day living in small English villages, no gory murder descriptions, no really horrible bad guys, no graphic sex (and mostly only slight referrals to that anyway)..brings back a lot of memories from years ago reading.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet - one of my favorites by Cadell
Reread by audiobook - very good narrator