The messes and mistakes of one’s life usually don’t happen by accident but by choice…Grace, a budding junior accountant, desires a family and a home with the ideal mate. After three years of a torrid romance with her college sweetheart, Maurice, she fully expected he would propose. But Maurice, focused on his art career, continually negates any marriage plans.Rather than continue waiting, Grace chooses to move on.Maurice has his own experience of personal trauma. His mother drops a bombshell on her death bed, causing him to reevaluate his relationship with Grace and his position on marriage.When Grace embarks on a promising new romance with a coworker named Trevor, she believes he will be the one to fulfill her dreams. Maurice attempts to intercede and convince her that he is the one, not Trevor.Forced to choose between a spontaneous, passionate love and a calm safe one with security, Grace settles on the latter. But Trevor has secrets lurking in the shadows....and what Grace doesn`t know can hurt her…. possibly even kill her.
This love triangle ended with death. Who did it was on my mind near the end. This story was so captivating. The duality that love concurs all, but at the same time, love is blind was my thought at the end of the book. I would strongly recommend this novel to friends. It would also be a great book club choice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book had a lot of potential but didn’t deliver in the end. I really wanted to like this one. It started off interesting, but all of the time hopping got a little confusing along with the multiple plots. Also, all of the characters were pretentious and unlikeable. I couldn’t stand any of them and didn’t care either way what their outcomes were.
This was a page turner for me.I LIKED the suspense that kept me turning pages. I thought I knew who tried to kill Grace,the twist unexpected.Will read sequel.
The opening chapter did a great job of grabbing my attention. I wanted to know who was trying to hurt Grace. The general plot was entertaining enough for me to stick with it. I just struggled with the actual writing. It felt a little elementary. Parts of the story were so overly dramatized. It was hard to buy into it. The big reveal of who the culprit was made for a good plot twist. I didn’t see it coming. Neither of the two men in the love triangle seemed like a good catch, but Grace got what she wanted. I guess that was cool.
2.5 ⭐️/🌶️🌶️ I would first like to say that I did not like any of the main characters or the author’s writing style. I was so confused at first, and she kept switching between past and present, but at weird times, it didn’t flow well. The love triangle trope is not for me, especially when it’s not a “ why choose.” The FMC was very naïve and probably too young to be in a relationship. The main MMC was just trying to make a name for himself, and he was not ready to be in a relationship. The other MMC was a big cheater, and even after he was exposed, she did not listen to her friends or her ex and still married this man. I was very annoyed most of this book because this girl is so dumb.
I enjoyed the book because it kept my interest. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be married but not to take this path but to learn the lesson of waiting longer and trusting God on the journey. I rate this book a 5 star.
There were like 10 storylines going on in this less than 300 page book. It had potential to be awesome, but just too much going on and the time jumping was wild. I give 3 stars because it really had potential and some parts were great. It was just…a lot. Took me a few days to read when usually I could finish in a day or two because there was just SO MUCH.
I am reviewing this book as a member of our book club. The author, Lorilyn White, is also a member. What follows is my honest opinion.
A brief synopsis: Grace, the MC, is torn between two lovers. Her first love is Maurice, a handsome artist from New Orleans with all the sophistication of a French Aristocrat. He is far beyond the naive and timid church-going girl who now studies in NYU. Later, as a new hire to a prestigious accounting firm, she meets Trevor, the IT co-worker. Trevor is immediately taken by her wholesome beauty and plans to woo her. He has desires to make her his wife. Grace wants desperately to marry Maurice, but he puts his art career above all else, including Grace. Grace marries Trevor, the steady and practical choice, but nothing is ever so cut and dry. The story starts in October 1985 with a pregnant Grace jumping from the window of her burning house to save her life. We land in August 1984, and travel back and forth through Grace’s life to learn how and why she ends up in a comma fighting for her life.
My opinion: This is a well-told women’s fiction story. It starts off at the exciting moment and grips your attention. The characters are intriguing, and you genuinely care what happens to them. The author carefully weaves the past with the present so you never lose sight of the mystery of Grace’s life story. You will find yourself continuing to try and solve the mystery as you are pulled deeper into each person’s life. As in most contemporary women’s fiction the sex is tantalizing with the familiar kissy, feely, fade to black rendering. It gives you an insight into which of the men to root for, and a good feeling of who the bad guy should be. Lorilyn also sprinkles in the characters’ inner monologues, which lets the reader know their true nature, while still withholding enough information to keep the suspense alive. Sometimes, not an easy thing to do. The author gave good descriptions of the New York scene, I felt right at home. And a good feeling for the other places in the story. A character’s life is not only built by who they are, but also where they are, and where they are from. She builds real people from real places. The only weakness I found in the book was the overuse of date stamps. As the whole story unfolds in about a year, it was easy to distinguish between the past and present. And knowing exactly which month something occurred didn’t enhance the story. For me, it slowed it down, as I found myself calculating the time differences. I considered this to be a formatting error, she should have used the date stamp as a chapter break, or left them out after the first two. She used them haphazardly, as chapter breaks and in the middle of chapters. It is a minor flaw that I quickly ignored as I delved into the story. This is a good women’s fiction mystery and a solid beginning to a series about these characters. I highly recommend it (4 stars) and look forward to Lorilyn’s next book, No Big Easy Love.
"She Wouldn't Wait" by Lorilyn White is a captivating exploration of love, choices, and the intricate web of consequences that follow. The narrative skillfully weaves together the lives of the central characters, Grace, Maurice, and Trevor, in a tale that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
The strength of this novel lies in its compelling storyline. Lorilyn White introduces us to a world where the messes and mistakes of life are portrayed not as accidents but as intentional choices. The central theme of the story is powerful and resonates throughout the book, prompting readers to reflect on their own decisions and the impact they can have on the course of their life.
While the overall story is excellent, there were moments when the narrative became a bit confusing, particularly in chapters involving flashbacks. However, this slight confusion did not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions are portrayed with depth and authenticity, making it easy for readers to connect with their struggles and dilemmas.
The love triangle involving Grace, Maurice, and Trevor adds a layer of suspense and drama to the plot, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages to discover how their intertwined destinies unfold. The exploration of personal trauma, reevaluation of relationships, and the consequences of choices are themes that resonate universally, adding depth to the narrative.
One of the strengths of Lorilyn White's writing is the ability to create a vivid and evocative atmosphere. The reader is transported into the world of the characters, feeling the tension, passion, and uncertainty that permeate their lives. The author's descriptive prose brings the settings to life and enhances the overall reading experience.
"She Wouldn't Wait" is a compelling debut novel that explores the complexities of love and the profound impact of the choices we make. Despite some moments of confusion in certain chapters, the overall story is engaging and thought-provoking. Lorilyn White's skillful storytelling and intriguing characters make this novel a worthy addition to the shelves of anyone who enjoys a blend of romance, drama, and suspense.
Solid 3 stars because it had the potential to be great.
Overall, I was disappointed with the format of the book, though the storyline itself kept me invested. The novel would have benefited from being more concise and focusing on the point. Was it a murder mystery or a love story? And if it was supposed to be both it struggled to coexist. It was messy.. drama for the girls!
I never fully connected with the main characters, Grace and Trevor. Once the author started diving into the backstory of the ex, Maurice, things got confusing. I learned so much about him and his family dynamic—most of which felt unnecessary and didn’t help me build trust or interest in his character. Maybe those details were meant to distract from the plot twist, because I definitely thought I had this book figured out—but I didn’t fully.
A major issue I had was the lack of clear format changes when the story shifted timelines or perspectives. Books that jump between timelines or character arcs need to be careful, concise, and clear—and this one wasn’t. The absence of formatting cues (like chapter breaks or headers) to signal a change made it hard to tell where I was in the story. I found myself flipping back often just to reorient myself, which made the reading experience less enjoyable.
With all this in mind, I wasn’t excited to find out there’s a second book continuing this new love story. I didn’t feel like I had enough time to truly root for the couple or them as individuals, and I’m not sure I like or trust the main characters enough to follow them into another storyline.
However, I’ll be keeping an eye on Lorilyn White. For a debut novel, it’s clear she has strong ideas and storytelling potential. I look forward to seeing how she continues to grow and refine her craft.
Maurice met Grace in college. They were together for three years. However, Maurice was an artist and was constantly leaving Grace to fly around the world for his art. For three years Grace was faithful and waited patiently for him.
Then 2 weeks before her graduation he was off again. Putting his art and desires before Grace…and she was finally done. So they break up.
A year later Grace is engaged to another man. Maurice comes back thinking he can win her back. But Grace decides to choose stability and normalcy, and the things she’s always dreamed of instead of Maurice.
The book asks would you choose a great love knowing it won’t be stable or what you expect? Or would you choose a quiet life that’s stable and normal?
That’s the essence of the book. Though the book starts with a traumatic event that hooks you right away. Then it tells Maurice & Grace’s story through flashbacks while telling Grace & Trevor’s story (her new love) in the present.
It’s an interesting take and the story keeps you engaged. That’s why I rated this 3.5⭐️. Borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited.
A love triangle is center stage in this women's fiction contemporary romance/suspense. Main character Grace meets the love of her life, Maurice, who's chasing his dream ands isn't ready to settle down. When she mets Trevor at her job, he captures her attention as he's looking to get married and start a family. Lies and betrayal have a huge bearing on this story, causing an outcome the reader isn't expecting.
Throughout the story, the characters are authentic, making it easy for the reader to relate to the personal struggles they are going through. Loriyln White's use of flashbacks helps the reader to understand the dynamics of these multi-layered characters. The perfect blend of suspense, romance, drama, family and friendship, rounds out this wonderfully written story.
i’ve had this book for awhile, so i decided to pick it up because before the end of the year, i’m taking matters into my own hands by reading books that i feel like aren’t really worth my while but i paid for the books so i need to try to read them. so that’s what this book was for me, no shade to the author. i went into this book not expecting much, but it ended up being a storyline, i mean trying to choose between two men, not knowing which is right for you, i feel that. nonetheless i appreciated the dynamic of the story with not knowing what’s in store with having a love life. i’m glad grace gets her happy ending, and i love how maurice fought for her while she was with the other ole dude (forgot his name lol), he was there for her while she was in the hospital and he protected her and stayed by her side. like i said, cool story, i liked it. 3/5.
Author White's novel, She Wouldn't Wait, is a jarring example of what can happen when one settles for practicality over true love. Grace is a kind and like-able character, deserving of someone equally kind and trustworthy. But sometimes timing gets in the way and rash decisions are made that lead to consequences. In Grace's case, those consequences could get her killed. This women's fiction story has all of the elements of a good romance - loyalty, jealousy, passion, and suspense. Sprinkled with the french language, it is both a romantic and riveting read that kept me turning the pages and did not disappoint.
Grace meets the love of her life sexy French speaking Maurice who is a talented artist. She is ready to settle down but Maurice is still chasing his dream. Meanwhile Trevor is hardworking and wants a family. But neither of them are exactly who they portray to be. Secrets, infidelity, deception, love, revenge and tragedy were evident in this book. I couldn't put it down. What I can say is follow your heart when it comes to love. Can't wait to read the sequel.
At first I couldn’t really tell where the story was going. I thought we would kind of follow the FMC after the decisions she made with her ex boyfriend. But then the story took a shift and became more of a domestic drama. I didn’t see the story going that direction but it did make it more interesting.
I was a bit confused with the timeline. We got chapter breaks that were current time but because the timeline was in the late 80’s I was confused at first. It was a good time on the 2nd half. Not sure if I’m going to read the sequel. It sounds promising.
Grace was a really sweet lady that met an artist that she absolutely loved. However, he was a free spirit. She traded him in for Trevor. Then you go on that journey of love with Grace.
This book was unhinged. If Betty Wright and Shirley Brown wrote a book this is it. It was a view of love with all of its ups and downs. If you love drama and mess this is the book for you. I wish there had been a little more to the ending.
This was a cute story. Grace reminded me so much if myself at times. Trevor's karma for sneaking around in Grace costed his life. This is why you have to be careful. Grace was such a loving caring spirit . People try go push over on you. I'm glad Grace finally had gotten her HEA
Sooo I feel like it was a slow and confusing start.. the back and forth timeframes were a lot.. I’d much rather it had been chronological.. however, once we got to moving.. it really got to moving.. I still gave 5 stars as I couldn’t put it down, however, I’m not sure how I will find book 2.. we shall see
I really enjoyed this. It has a captivating plot with interesting characters. A lot happens in the book but I had no trouble following the storyline or the time jumps. I loved how all the events just spilled into the next, everything flowed well. This book cured my reading slump and made a Lorilyn White fan out of me!
This was a great read. I enjoyed the descriptiveness overall, nothing was left unexplained. The twist and turns of the story definitely contributed to my overall rating as it was not boring at all. I’m glad I decided to check this out from a recommendation. I look forward to more books from this author
⭐️⭐️ This felt all over the place. I did enjoy the plot itself and the idea. But it was hard to stay interested because the writing felt unnatural. Like the characters were talking as figments and not really taking on their own personalities. The end was a little shocking, but kind of underwhelming based on the title.
Absolutely did not like it. I was compelled to finish it because I had to know who Grace would end up with but the writing was trash. The storyline was trash. I don’t know why this book suggested as Christian fiction. It is definitely not! Please don’t waste your time and the fact that there’s a sequel is outrageous. Smh!
The book was a decent read, although it confused me. Maurice was said to be white early on, but during the last chapters the author referenced "being black" when speaking of him. It was definitely an oversight, and I am infamous for catching stuff like this because it's annoying.
A double dose of romance & intrigue. I love the combination! The ending was not as I expected it would be, which made it even better. It was actually more than I expected since the author was new to me. I'm a FAN!!!