Waiting for Paint to Dry

by Lia Mack

From the author of "Hard-Hitting Fiction, with a Dose of Healing-Humor" comes a serious yet laughter-filled healing story of one's woman journey to reclaim her life, find inner-peace, and stumble into love...

For the past decade, Matty Bell has lived safe in a self-made monochromatic life of work-eat-sleep-survive. Living vicariously through her best friend Claire's perfect life wasn't the plan, nor her ideal. However, Matty learned long ago that it's easier to run and hide from life than to deal with the pain of the post-traumatic stress she’s suffered from since being raped at sixteen.

When Claire announces her family is moving, she asks Matty to come too. Having grown up Navy, Matty’s no stranger to picking up and starting over. However, moving half-way around the world to play nanny to Claire’s children doesn't sound like the new beginning Matty yearns for. Nor does she want to leave without first confronting her fears and coming full-healing-circle. She can’t let another decade slip by before she’s able to trust again.

Endorsed by Award-Winning Director and Survivor Advocate, Angela Shelton, WAITING FOR PAINT TO DRY is a late coming of age story of what it takes to save and find yourself again.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Ebooks, Adult, Womens Fiction

334 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Born in Kansas, Lia Mack has had the unique experience of growing up a military brat – go Airforce! – and living in many locations such as Michigan, Texas, Colorado, Latiano and San Vito dei Normanni, Italy, California and Maryland.

In addition to fiction, Lia’s creative non-fiction has been featured in such publications as The Washington Post, Nickelodeon Jr. Magazine, Advances in Bereavement Magazine, and Nesting Magazine.

Lia currently resides in Maryland with her husband, two children, a Green Tree Python, a plethora of saltwater fish and one quarantine rescue cat, Prince Meow Meow.

The debut author of WAITING FOR PAINT TO DRY (#waiting4paint2dry #forwardmotiononly), Mack is raising $10,000 through the sales of her novel to benefit RAINN's sexual assault hotline (1-800-656-HOPE).

PAINT BY NUMBERS is her second novel.

Learn more at www.LiaMack.com.

Reviews

[Lia Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is interesting that Goodreads allows me to rate my own book... Well, then I say...I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's my paper 'baby'. Of course I love it. I've lived with it for 10 long years....

It's purpose. It's soul. It's spunk. I love the characters. I love the plot and subplots. The multiple-climax element (because, seriously, who doesn't love multiple climaxes, lol...)

I also love how it touches on so many of life's struggles and celebrations.

So, dear reader, I give it to you. To take this book and love it too.

Lia Mack
author of Waiting for Paint to Dry

[Meg Dendler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Matty's journey and how each twist and turn was handled. Perfect for a book club that really wants to have some conversations. Hopefully helpful for other "survivors" and those still struggling. Well written and a great read. Highly recommend!

[Mary Latela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lia Mack's superb first novel, Waiting for Paint to Dry, takes up the story of a woman who was raped as a teenager, but who never told anyone, and after a while put the event so deep inside her that she "forgot" it. As a thirty year old, she still suffers from triggers and memory fragments.

Those who work with women who are sexually abused may understand the need for a victim to escape from the abuse by "going away," dis-associating. When terror is too great to handle, young girls and boys may do this, may lose time, in order not to feel the awful quality of the assault, to deny it, and to live through it.

The novel contains all the worst reactions to Matty’s decision to tell. She reports the rape to authorities, but it's too late to prosecute. She tells her mother, who says she must have wanted it. She tells her sisters, who do not want or have time to deal with her history, and treat her as an outcast. Eventually, Matty separates from the family, when she has told her story or not.

In her own life, she has difficulty with boundaries ... not having had a relationship or any sexual activity for a long, long time, she has challenges when meeting men, when trying to determine the truth from a “line.” She seems unable to walk away from troubling situations.

Rape is very difficult to think about, talk about, particularly as in Matty's case, where she continues to have significant symptoms. I don’t agree with the therapist, Dr. Linda, who may or may not be helping Matty. She advises think ahead, not back. A therapist is not the director of therapy, but a guide, a listener, a mostly silent helper, not a map maker.

The author, Lia Mack, develops some compelling insights. Matty is healing, slowly, but her partner is also healing, so there will need to be growth for each for them to make it work. For some readers, particularly victims, the book may be too much, too soon, or if taken in small doses, some very helpful steps toward facing one's own history. Mack gives the reader the results of excellent research, fine storytelling ability, and proof that truth-telling is tough, but can be transformative. Highly recommended.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My full review can be found here: https://thereadingwife.com/waiting-fo...

[Amanda Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book
Couldn't put it down
Was on a business trip and was able to read on the flight. I literally felt so connected with Maddy and felt as if she were my best friend and I was going through it with her
Now I want a sequel!!!!

[Danai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you net gally for providing me with a free copy of Waiting for Paint to Dry in exchange for a honest review.

My rating went through a roller coaster starting from four and lowering up to even two stars before I finally settled into a three star rating.

My issue with this book is that although it manages to successful portray the self destruction, guilt, rage, self hatred and prejudice victims of sexual assault often face, something that cannot be fixed easily or quickly, mid way through the book all this is thrown away to the side for a while and we see romance taking place. The problem with this, is that the book started way too heavy ,with the reader seeing exclusively the depressing state of the MC so when the author completely pushed that aside for a while, it felt really awkward and wasn't a smooth continuation of the story.


Further more when it came to the romance although I liked Ty as a character (god knows we stan for a single parent trope) the way he meets the MC along with the really quick progression of their relationship felt very insta-love like and made me consider dnfing.

Finally although I could see what the author was trying to do with the side characters, especially Eleanor, they we're all too simplistic and lacking, and with the Mcs sister in particular, it really felt like reading a cartoon villain at times.

The pacing as a whole was an issue as the ending was disappointingly rushed.

However I DO wanna leave this review in the positive note that this book did well in exploring the themes of the psychological state of someone who has went through sa along with the hopeful message to all survivors about healing being possible

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, a big round of applause to the author for dealing with such a painful and sensitive subject. Stories like this play out time and time again in the lives of women everywhere, and books like this one are important for healing and solidarity. I hope we can learn a lot from Matty's story.
Matty Bell's journey is rocky and tumultuous, spanning more than a decade. Healing doesn't happen overnight. The novel shows this, however painfully true, and at times it was hard to keep reading and wading through her struggles and crises. But I was definitely cheering for Matty to come through on the other side! I would have liked more details about the repaired relationships with her family, but I was glad they were going through the process. Again, it doesn't happen with the snap of the fingers. (Perhaps I just need to wait for the sequel?)

[Delta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the first quarter/first third of the book were difficult for me to get through, both on an emotional level and just how slow it was. Nothing really happens in this part of the book except some backstory on Matty's rape and slow recovery. The main character building points are repeated over and over and at one point I said out loud, "Okay we get it" because it felt like Mack was hammering Matty's turmoil into our head without any progression of the story or character. However, one Matty makes it to California everything changed for me. That was when it finally felt like Matty was #movingforward. The romance aspect was nice and although Matty's relationship with her sister El felt a bit exaggerated, I thought the resentment between the sisters felt authentic.

[Marji Morris]

Realistic

I enjoyed this novel. The narrative voice created sense of immediacy. The main character was credible and likeable. There were sections that I'd like to see rewritten to make smoother reading,. The secondary characters were two dimensional, but overall it was compelling. It dealt with the aftereffects of rape in a realistic way.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A survival story!

I like this story.... I like how it lends the reader a different side of how we cope and deal with life. How there are many faces of abuse and abusers. Thanks for writing from the other side!

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging story of a woman who battles and learns to contain the internal demons that haunt her after surviving rape at a young age. While it's a storyline you may have heard before, I found myself rooting for a happy ending for Matty.

[Cathy Demming · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE COVER: relevant and absolutely stunning!❤
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Sexual Assault

✒Waiting For Paint To Dry was a fantastic read! The protagonist Matilda Bell is recovering from an assault that took place years before by attending therapy. This book was all about healing, love and family, those themes were properly expressed throughout the novel.

✒Now I know this doesn't relate to the review, but I need to get this off my chest. One reviewer, who I shall not name, stated on goodreads after giving this title a 1 star rating that, and I quote, " Her boyfriend raped her when she was 16, and the next page she was 30, and still going on about it..." In a nutshell, I find that statement to be insensitive, inconsiderate, almost inhumane, and I feel sorry for you.

✒ Anyhoo, back to the review. Surprisingly, I thought I would've been shedding tears on this one, instead after about 40% in, all I could do was smile.
Smiling when Matilda began pulling herself out of her hole.
Smiling for the rekindling of an old friendship when she began opening up.
Overjoyed for the well-deserved hunk of a man that was Ty. Mhmmm.... he was perfect for her.

✒ I cared for all the characters and thought they balanced each other out in the plot. The arcs were beleivable and satisfying.
My only dissatisfaction, was that I didn't get to see a confrontation with Matty's parents.

✒Lia Mack has beautifully written a heartfelt, compelling story, that both resonated and helped me personally.

✒My "take-away" from this novel was that, the physical, mental and emotional scars that remain after such traumatic experiences, sometimes remain for years. If we don't take the initiative to deal with them head on, to get on that road to healing, then that hurt spills onto other areas of our lives.

✒Upon finishing this book I felt, understood. Hopeful, for I was reminded that there is life after trauma. To not let one incident ( or multiple ) rule your life, but propell you forward to a better one. One you deserve.

✒ A HUGE thank you to Lia Mack, Blissfully Beguiling Books and NetGalley, for gifting me this eArc in exchange for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

HAPPY READING!❤

[Meghan K · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/10! Amazing book I loved it. Once I really got into it I couldn’t put it down. I was disappointed there wasn’t much of a reunion with Matty and her parents. I felt that was a bit disappointing. I want to know more about how Matty moves on and her future. I am so excited for book two! And the view it’s going to be.

[Sheila Carsins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensitive Approach to a Traumatic and Difficult Topic-- Particularly as the First Time Book of This Author

The book was written for those women that still keep all of their pain from rape or trauma hidden from everyone, whether from shame, fear of ridicule, or fear that the victim will be blamed for bringing it on herself, or not believed. This book describes a healing journey-- from being isolated and lonely, and too hurt to talk about their emotional experiences, to reaching out for help, understanding, and possibly gaining justice. It's a story of empowerment through one baby step at a time, until she finally comes to terms with her issues of rape, betrayal, hurt, and lack of self-esteem and deals with then one at a time.. Matty finally makes peace with her life, and finds happiness by reuniting with her family, renewing old friendships, and finds two readymade families that need and want her, and a boyfriend named Ty, that didn't know how much he needed Matty too. The best surprise at the end is the icing on top of the cake. But you'll have to read this book yourself to figure it out. It's well worth it, even if you've never experienced what Matty went through. It gives a loving, insightful look into the work and stresses of trying to regain what was so violently taken away while struggling with getting through the normal day to day grind. I believe that men would also gain better insight into rape cases by reading this book. Nobody should have to bare the burden of being a victim alone. If you've never had any of these experiences, and you gain nothing else from this story, I would hope that you discover your humanity and your empathy to help others. Also, if you've been through this, I hope you find the inspiration to reach out and take back your life...one day at a time... Thanks Liam Mack, for providing the inspiration for the downtrodden and hurting. Everyone in the world has a higher purpose, and I believe that you've found yours.

[Stacey V · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Waiting for Paint to Dry" tells the story of a woman struggling to overcome the shadow of her rape ten years later. I was glad the book did not dwell in the past tense or the event itself. The reader wants to hear about the growth and survival story rather than following along with the main characters as a victim. I think Ms. Mack achieves that in her novel.

A lot of characters go through transformation in this story. In a sense, the reader is able to be transported along with the process noting how one major event in the past can have an effect on so many lives in the future.

I also think the reader feels rewarded when Matty finds love. I wouldn't classify this book as a romance novel so much as belonging in a late coming-of-age genre. And I appreciated that. The novel focuses on Matty coming to terms with her sister, her parents and above all, herself, rather than circulating solely around a love interest.

Additionally, two things regarding the report of the rape stand out to me. One is the proud reaction each of the officers has toward Matty for coming forward with her story, no matter how many years later. I think Matty's fears are justified--expecting that she will be met with hostility and annoyance. I hope in real life officers respond to such delayed, life-changing, self-purging, healing reports as Matty's similarly to the response Matty received in the story. Further, I think it's a shame but realistic that there is no finality to the report. And I think it shows us that this isn't what the victim needs to focus on. Closure comes within; that's the message I took away from the book.

[Debbie Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Survivor's Story

This novel begins its a warning from the author that it deals with sensitive topics which might cause some problems for those having dealt with rape and its after effects. So the story begins....

Matts truly had not dealt with her rape, which happened in her teen years, u till she was in her 30's. At one point, I felt the entire novel was going to be her memories of the rape and her anger at people who, in some part, caused the rape and her subsequent emotions.

However, at some point, thanks to a wonderful counselor, Matty does have a break through and life comes knocking at her door. While the issues with which she deals stemming from her rape lurk in the background all the time, eventually Matty learns to trust others and discover a real life. Family and friends become important and people she meets make her look at her life and finally realize life can be good.

The author does a good job showing a survivor and all the emotions dealt with..... One thing, as reading this, I thought what a shame we kept women from reporting raps for so long....so many women were made to feel a rape was their fault. Maybe this book will enable more young women to speak up and report rapes if not to punish the rapist but to also allow themselves to heal.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The strong topic of rape and recovery was seamlessly portrayed in a plot which kept me interested all throughout. Yes, a few parts of the book were a little rough to take in, but they added to the whole story, and helped someone like me (who's never experienced something like that), understand a little bit more about the victim's point of view of her therapist, about her train of thought, and her life in general, after such an awful experience. I enjoyed the development of the characters, and the detailed evolution of the main character. I chose to not give it five star, just because I thought the ending was too quick....expected a little bit more information on her reintegration issues with her mom and dad, the evolution of her new relationship with her sister, as well as maybe a little bit of follow through with the police investigation and the rapist. A little bit more on that, and the story would have been perfect. Overall, it's a great easy read, which touches a very "rarely discussed" subject, and exposes it all in a way for all to understand in a great story. Definitely recommend it.

[Beverly Munson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story of one woman's struggle with the aftermath of rape and her long, slow journey back to the life she wished to live (don't dispair the ending is wonderfully happy). For those who are sexual assault survivors this book may be difficult to read at times as it may bring back your own difficult memories, but reading it can also give sexual assault survivors healing hope as you emerge from the quick-sand of post-assault trauma along with the main character. For those who are lucky enough to have not had a sexual aggression or assault encounter, reading this book will give you insights into how such an experience lasts a lifetime, and often derails talented women from fulfilling their full potential. This novel is written with great insight from the author's own rape experience, and with empathy and loving encouragement for all in the "Survivor Sisterhood". Proceeds from this book are donated by the author to a rape survivor organization (sorry -- forgot the name).

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book where I wondered why I had downloaded it when I first began. The protagonist is a Navy brat who was raped on her 16th birthday, apparently with the permission of her sister. And then her mother and father basically tell her she must have wanted it to happen. Needless to say she has some issues dealing with family and recovering from the trauma. At the beginning I thought it was so dark that I didn´t know if I wanted to finish it. But, then things begin to pick up for her as she decides to go back and confront her family a decade later. In the process she meets new friends and creates a new career for herself painting murals. And finally she begins to also recreate her relationship with her family. So, after a questionable beginning, I finally liked the way it worked out.

[MaryEve Iwicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've learned very recently that someone I love very much was raped as a young girl. Her life has spun out of control in a completely different way than the heroine of this book, Matty. My loved one has still not recognized how the rape impacted her life and has chosen to bury it.

It takes Matty about 14 years to understand how the rape took the 'color' out of her life, but once she finally begins seeing a therapist her thought processes begins to change. It was very interesting how the author wove into the story actually therapeutic techniques, exercises and encouragements, and then see how Matty uses them in her life, to change her life.

Beautifully written, a real gift for anyone who has survived a major trauma and wants to learn it is possible to not only survive, but thrive.

I pray my loved one will follow in Matty's footsteps and find her own healing.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although "Waiting For Paint To Dry" deals with a difficult subject, the book is not graphic. The main characters are well developed and relate-able. At times I felt the author may have tried to tackle too many difficult life situations between all the characters, but mostly because I wanted to know more about each character's struggles. "Waiting For Paint To Dry" emphasizes that even in the darkest situations there are small rays of hope that make us want to see what tomorrow holds, instead of throwing in the towel. I think this is a great book for anyone who has dealt with a similar situation and provides great insight for those who have not. Can't wait to see where the Lia takes these characters next!

[B Ware · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. Young woman who suffered from sexual assault as a teenager learns how to recover, then must move on with life repairing her relationships with her sister and parents while finding a full life on her own.

My problem with this was the beginning section working thru her assault with the help of a therapist seemed to move right to the background in the next section where she's older and is doing a normal life as a young adult. It was like two different stories for a while, until she goes back to reconnect with her family, then it all blends together again. It just seemed disjointed to me.

The theme of moving on in recovery of the sexual assault and it's aftermath was well thought out throughout tho.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book much more, considering the author's intent, but I didn't find Matty to be an especially sympathetic character, and her behavior became more and more annoying as the story unfolded. The writing was redundant and increasingly over-the-top, with characters yelling and/or screaming every other line of dialogue in some scenes. The resolution, such as it was, seemed like an "oh, by the way" that lacked believability, and there was no resolution at all to Matty's search for her rapist in order to file charges against him. That story line seemed to have been dropped completely by the end of the book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all!

Lia Mack does a great job building Matty's character; revealing bits and pieces of her painful ordeal in flashback/flashforward; leading us thru the frustrations, setbacks, and increasing successes of her recovery process. Meanwhile, the supporting characters with whom Matty must interact, are also dealing with their own difficult problems. As Matty gradually grows and heals, she finds the courage to face her past, recapture long lost hopes and dreams, come to terms with the family she left behind, and "reinvent herself" once and for all. Recovery doesn't happen overnight...more often it's like "waiting for paint to dry".

[Sarah Nell Lader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this book from BookBub when I didn't have anything else to read. It was a little all over the place, but it sucked me in. It is important to know before you start this book that it is about sexual assault, and even though the events surrounding the incident are not particularly graphic, the emotions in the aftermath are. My only regret about this book was that it would jump from one period in Matty's life to another, and I wished I could've stayed with the different versions of Matty longer. That wasn't my decision, though, and it certainly doesn't impact the book negatively, in my opinion.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is amazing

This story is about so many things. A story regarding family with every day events and some things you'd never want to be in your life. Two sisters, one so jealous of the other. A military family moving all over the world. A sixteen year old who was raped. Her mother and sister denying that it happened. No support, a mother who abused alcohol. Running away was the only way she knew how to cope. A beautiful friendship and struggle to endure for ten years. I'm glad to have read this book. So much happens and is wonderfully put together. Love romance broken hearts mended families drawn together.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a "reading on the treadmill" book for me so it took forever to finish. A traumatic relationship and rape at 16 brings Matty's life as she's known it to a screeching halt. She guards herself by keeping her heart and person to herself, sharing love only with her best friend and her family. She hasn't seen her own family in years when, on the cusp of her 30th birthday her best friend informs Matty that she is moving over-seas and invites her to come along. Without going into a lot of detail, this was an OK book , not too many characters to keep track of, not too much graphic detail, and it made me see some things in my own life in a different way.

[Carolyn R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a while back and can't believe I didn't review it at that time. This is a fantastic book and it provides tremendous first-person insight into the long-term effects of a traumatizing event. Without giving away spoilers it is a remarkable account of one woman's journey back from the brink of disaster to the dawning of hope. It explores the complex relationship between siblings and family and has an emotional range that encompasses moments of sheer hilarity to sweetest tenderness.

Lia Mack has woven a tale for the modern age and I look forward to more from this author and soon!

[Tracey Chananie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb for this book really downplays an amazing read. Yes, it has a love story in it, but that is not what the book is about. Matty Bell, a "navy brat" is raped on her 16th birthday by her boyfriend/abuser. This is her story about how she curls up into a ball and lives inside if herself until she just can't anymore. Therapy and her best friend moving across the world get her moving in the right direction - healing herself. Yes, it has a small love story; yes, it has a happy ending, but this is definitely not a soppy type of book. Thoroughly enjoyed this read.

[Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will put a trigger warning first, this is a well written novel about rape and abusive relationship as a teenager, the walls it created in the victim, how she dealt with PTSD and how therapy years later helped heal and lead to a more fulfilling and expressive lifestyle. Some of the therapy session in the book although not an abuse survivor I could relate to coming from a mental health perspective, so they rang true to me. Anything that opens up conversations about these topics so they don't just get swept under the rug is useful.