I'll Be Waiting

The Men of Crestview #3.5

by A.M. Hargrove

I went to fight for my country and for freedom.
When the IED exploded, it took part of my leg … and ended my career.
Fighting back was harder than I imagined, but I did it.
Putting the pieces back together was even worse.
But I refused to let it defeat me.
I climbed that mountain only to discover I was flawed.
Damaged.
Scarred.
And always would be.


Then my life took a turn and a different kind of explosion occurred.
This one affected my heart.
Perfection in every sense of the word stood before me …
Something I wasn't or would ever be.
Because I was disfigured.
Broken.
Defective.
Why is it the things you want most are those you can never have?
I've learned the most important battles are the ones worth fighting for… and maybe some things are worth waiting a lifetime for.

*This is a spin-off of Craving Midnight
Bonus content included

Genres: Ebooks

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2018

About the author

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, USA Today bestselling author, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she made a quick decision to quit her job and reinvented herself as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author.

Reader, Writer, #WalterThePuppy Owner, Dark Chocolate Lover, Ice Cream Worshipper, Vodka Aficionado, Coffee Drinker, she believes coffee and ice cream should be added as part of the USDA food groups.

Connect with Annie here
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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amhargroveauthor
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Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/amhargrove
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-m-h...

Reviews

[Alex ♈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Such a brave heroine!
The blurb is told from her POV!

Sweet and safe love story. I wish it were longer, it had a great potential.
Despite it was insta and too short, I enjoyed it.
Strong heroine, who didn’t become hormonal mess after meeting the hot man *lol*.
Strong caring hero.
Safe.
I absolutely loved how he wasn't negatively 'affected' by her disability, and how he helped her to gain her self-esteem again.

Poignant story.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really wanted to like this novella, but the writing was just not good. It read very elementary to me, as in, there was a lot of telling and not showing. I understand that since this is a novella, a lot has to be established and explained in a short amount of time, but the way the characters spoke was very mechanical, for lack of a better word. The dialogue was clunky and didn't flow naturally. If someone in real life talked to me the way the characters talked to one another, I'd be like 'wtf is wrong with you? Do you not know what contractions are?"

I don't really have any complaints about the story itself (I can forgive the insta-love because it's a novella, but I still stand by my statement that novellas work best when they are second-chance romance or feature secondary characters in a series). I just could not get past the sub-par writing, so I can't bring myself to rate this any higher, even though I thought the story was sweet.
Better luck next time, I guess

[EpicRomanceReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

¸.•´¸.•⭐´¨) ¸.•⭐'¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`
❤~🌟~❤ 4 HEALING STARS! ❤~🌟~❤

“I’ll always be waiting.”

A.M. Hargrove weaves a soul-stirring military romance teeming with sizzle and swoon and a surplus of warm, fuzzy feels!

THE STORY:
Corporal Lilou “Lee” Marston is hailed a hero for her brave act of valor in Afghanistan, which saved the lives of her fellow comrades but left her seriously mauled by an IED.

Many weeks later, after a long, grueling rehabilitation, the wounded former marine returns home to Drummond, VA feeling aimless and drift, and battle scarred on the inside and out, due to her career-ending injury. But hope for a brighter future beckons when she partners up with her best friend Jackson to help her put her restaurant, The Depot Cafe, on the map. And her love life perks up too when she meets Navy SEAL Rusty Garrett who happens into the restaurant while is visiting on leave.

An immediate, all-consuming attraction flares between Lee and the hunky military man who also carries heavy burdens on his impossibly broad shoulders. They find a shot at true happiness with each other, but when Rusty is called away on a dangerous mission, everything they hold dear is in jeopardy. Will Lee still
be waiting for her man with open arms when he returns?

MY MUSINGS:
I am a sucker for wounded warrior tales and I think A.M. Hargrove did an exceptional job with this small town military romance. I’LL BE WAITING is a powerful story of love and survival amid incredible odds!

Ms. Hargrove is quickly becoming a go-to author for me. She never fails to uplift and inspire and titillate. Though this amazing book, which is a spin-off of Craving Midnight and part of her Vault Collection, is short in length there is no shortage of emotional impact! I was swept up into sexy, insta love tale that, at its core, is a fateful, life affirming journey into soul deep healing and embracing a New tomorrow. The action scenes on the battlefield were mesmerizing but the emotional aftermath was even more provocative.

I so admired this heroine! Lee is so beautiful and brave, feisty and adorably badass. My heart was in my throat during those opening sequences depicting the chain of events that led to the IED blast that led to her losing her left leg below the knee. Her road back to wellness was an uphill battle, as she struggled not only to get back on her feet but also in combating her residual PTSD. I rooted for her every step of the way and TOTALLY REJOICED when she found a kindred spirit in Rusty, a fellow military man who understands the toll of the sacrifices made in the tour of duty.

Omg! I swooned hard over this hero! “Tall, built like a brick wall, and sexy as hell,” Rusty is so strong and stalwart, and has a sweet, protective streak that melts hearts. Like Lee, Rusty is a wonderfully nuanced character with a rich backstory and my heart ached for this lonesome soldier’s harrowing childhood, but triumphing over his tumultuous life experiences made him the amazing, honorable man he is today.

Though it took a bit longer for the hero and heroine to meet than I would have liked, when they finally do come face to face they sure do make up for lost time!! The combustible connection between this duo took my breath away!

However, fair warning...Rusty gives new meaning to the term insta love!! Lee was not kidding when she dubbed him “speedy “ because he is indeed a fast mover when he sets his sights on his girl! Not that's she's complaining. The attraction is MORE than mutual, and I quickly became as obsessed with this couple as they were with each other!

And, SIGHHH, if any man can make Lee feel beautiful and whole, not disfigured and defective, it's Rusty! I adored how he cherished the heroine who quickly became the light of his world!!!

“Where my world was dark and murky, filled with storm clouds and doom, she represented brightness and sunshine, joy and laughter.”

I also liked the little fateful twist regarding the heroine’s great grandad that had a hand in bringing these two lovers together!

In all honesty, I did find the HEA ending a tad rushed for my taste, and wanted a bit more of a deeply emotional payoff for this special couple, but ultimately I give the author high marks for this wondrous romance which concluded on a very sweet note!

BOTTOM LINE:
I’LL BE WAITING is a deeply touching tale about how the miraculous hands of fate unites two, lost broken souls who fuse together as one and discover the healing power of love!

[Heather Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be Waiting by A.M. Hargrove is a great read. Lilou (Lee) lost a part of herself while overseas doing her duty to the country and now her life has changed forever. When she comes home she finds her best friend owns a small restaurant and she wants to help her in the restaurant. Rusty visits the little town where Lee lives and meets Lee at the restaurant and they hit it off. But Rusty has to leave unexpectedly and Lee does not have contact with him while he is away and is a complete mess. Will this put a damper in their forming relationship? A.M. Hargrove wrote an amazing story for the Vault collection that I would recommend you one click because it is hot and an amazing story.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, sexy, steamy, but way too short for me.
I loved MC, no cheating,no om/ow drama. Low angst.
I liked a lot this story!!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll Be Waiting is a sweet story of two soldiers in a small town setting. How Lee and Rusty meets is intriguing and mysterious. This emotional story has some angst. This is my first book by A.M. Hargrove and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Review copy was received for an honest opinion.

[Anakalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

That’s a hell of a book!

The characters are intriguing from the first moment on, the plot even more…
I was immediately hooked to the story and to both protagonists.
Their family stories are… whoa….!

This novel is very emotional. It covered the whole range from laughing out loud to crying ugly tears… and I loved every single second and every single page!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Sunny Shelly Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll Be Waiting is a short and sweet novella from AM Hargrove that is a spin-off of Craving Midnight. Rusty (Midnight's brother) has some major emotional scars from his abusive past, but he finds a kindred soul in Lee, a wounded Marine, when they meet in a small town.

The story was fast-paced, as it is a novella, and there is an instant obsession with one another that these characters have. Generally, I'm not an instalove fan, but it needed to be that way for the condensed story to work. I did get a bit of whiplash when Lee walked away from Rusty, though. Having been a Marine herself, she knew what kind of danger Rusty is in as a SEAL. I didn't really buy into her reasoning, but the story comes around full circle nicely enough after she realizes her mistake.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

[Nikki Costello ***Crazy Cajun Book Addicts Blog*** · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read for the Vault Collection. I'll be Waiting is beautifully written, sexy and emotionally charged it had me from the very first page.
Lee has been medically discharged from the forces after she was caught up in an IED blast and finds herself back in her small home town.

Rusty is a Navy Seal and has a couple of weeks leave he needs to get out on the open road and finds himself in Lee's town.

They have no idea now fate is about to step in and force them to cross paths.

A great read from A.M Hargrove, I would definitely recommend you one click now!

[Upd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short and sweet story. We have met the hero before in one of Annie’s books.

Rusty had always fascinated me and even in this book he remained the same fascinating character.

Lee is nothing like a typical heroine Annie has written before. She is rough around the edges and a really tough woman. She is a survivor just like Rusty

They both meet with the help of a special character (one of my favs in the book) who’s watching over Lee and everyone who is waiting for love.

It’s a great read make sure you grab your copy today. Honest Arc review.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet story of finding your one that will be there waiting and supporting you through life. Lee’s life was turned upside down when injured serving her country as a Marine. Now back home after her accident she is starting over. Rusty is a Navy Seal on leave and plans a trip to Lee’s hometown for some R&R. Once Rusty and Lee meet there is an instant connection. This story has you turning the pages for the history of the train station in town, the story of her great-grandfather and how it plays a part in their their love story!
ARC provided by author - this is a voluntary review

[Kasey McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee was a Marine until an Ied exploded and she landed on it to protect other marines. She had serious injuries to her body and her life as a marine is over. When she goes back home she finds out best friend opened a restaurant and she helps friend by waitressing. One day Rusty a navy seal comes to town for a break and goes to eat at cafe. He can’t stop attraction to Lee. They both feel atttraction but will they act on it? Can Lee look past her injury and find love?

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll Be Waiting is a short, sweet, sexy novella from AM Hargrove. It is a spin-off of Craving Midnight, as Rusty is Midnight's foster brother. He continues to harbor emotional scars from an abusive, ugly childhood.

When Lee, a wounded Marine, comes home after losing part of her leg from an IED explosion. She wants to just get back to a normal life. Her character is so different from Hargrove's past heroines. But I LOVED her character!!!

The story was fast-paced, and an insta-love between Rusty and Lee. I really enjoyed their storyline, and their connection. Another FANTASTIC hit from the fabulous AM Hargrove!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my stars! A.M. Hargrove has given us such a beautiful story that packs such a punch right from the start. I love the tie in with Craving Midnight. That was epic. But the most epic part of the story was the leading lady! Lee is a tough as nails soldier but went through something so horrific. What I loved about how Hargrove wrote her is that she is raw and gritty but very real. The emotions aside from the pain she had to endure. Then enter Rusty. Holy swoon Batman! I love how these two just click. Right off the bat there is something that connects these two. Their banter is hilarious. The little PNR aspect to it was really cool too. You so have to read it to understand what I am talking about. It isn’t huge per say but has a impact.
Overall, this was a beautiful read of love and lost but also finding yourself along the way. I really enjoyed this one as Hargrove is one of my go to authors. She so did not disappoint!

[Heather Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this story and thought it was a super sweet story with the right amount of angst to keep me wanting to flip the pages!! Though, I’m a sucker for the sweet romances I don’t need all the angst.

I really liked Lee and Rusty. You could feel the emotions each of them had. It felt like you were living right there with them. Love it when authors can do that!!

I’m intrigued by Jackson and her story. I would love to get a novella on her.

Another job well done A.m. Hargrove!

[Ira · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that I love A.M. Hargrove's books, I think, considering the fact that the last three of her that I reviewed were all five-star-reads. I'll be waiting is a spin-off of Craving Midnight, the last one of those five-star-books and I loved it.
The moment I saw Midnight's name, I was doomed. I couldn't not love this book. Okay, no, actually that's not true, I fell for Lee and Rusty right from the beginning but Midnight being mentioned and realizing the connection, well, that sealed it.

Lee and Rusty are both such amazing and strong characters and you just want them to be happy. Add those characters, an intriguing story and a pinch of mystery, lots of feelings and wonderful friends and you get a story that'll keep you reading till the end - and never wanting it to end.
Seeing Lee and Rusty fall for each other after everything they've been through, Lee's story and the way her story is linked to the depot café and her great-grandfather's story, - I loved every single page of this book!
It was funny, captivating, romantic and simply great, a wonderful albeit somewhat short read that I can definitely and wholeheartedly recommend.

[Tara Horowitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story. It was sweet and lovely. It had just the right amount of angst and it had me guessing on something’s.

Lee and Rusty’s story is really sweet on how they meet. I loved how everything came full circle for them and how their relationship and Lee’s story was identical to her great-grandfathers. You can feel the emotions coming off the pages and those are the type of books I love.

A.M. Hargrove as another great hit on her hands with this one.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's no secret that I love the author's previous work and you can imagine how excited I was for this book especially since I love military books. While the story started out really good, it took quite a while for the characters to meet and that's when it started to get somewhat odd for me. I was never a fan of instant love but it's not impossible for me to like it only very rare. In this case though I just couldn't get into the story because of how the characters were all over each other from the moment they met. If you like that kind of thing, then go for it. It just wasn't for me and I feel bad for giving it a low rating just because it wasn't my taste.

I did like that it was all very honest, open and very upfront without secrecy or lots of self-consciousness from the characters, but it almost felt a bit too much and kind of clinical. I didn't feel the emotions despite all the stuff that happened which is a shame because there was a lot that could have had me in tears. Especially with the stuff Rusty went through. I'm still not quite sure if he had managed to work through the things he endured as a kid or if he was still working on it.

It was a bit weird how instantly obsessed Rusty was with Lee and his thoughts and plans after he'd only met her. Everything was moving so fast and was a little too much for my liking. It was all a bit too fairytale-like.

Maybe I went about it the wrong way because the story was obviously intended to be like that regarding the characters and how they acted. They knew it was ridiculous to feel this way so fast and how they rushed into things but I was missing the spark. And the story with her grandfather was sweet but again, I'm just not into stuff like that.

Yeah, sorry. It was an okay read with some good stuff and some things I wasn't fond of. But it's a matter of personal opinion and I still hope you give it a chance to see for yourself if you like it.

-- I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given by the author. --

[Diana Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Sweet

Lee was a pretty tough woman to withstand being in the Marines, that is until an IED ruined her lifelong career. She was a hero for saving her fellow Marines but her body to most of the blast from the explosion. It took several months filled with surgeries, rehab and therapy to not just overcome the physical limitations but the mental and emotional ones too.

Lee is back home in Drummond, Virginia and runs into her best friend from high school. Jackson has opened up a diner in the old train station depot. Lee always loved the Depot and it’s history has a lot of meaning to her because of her grandfathers military history. At the depot she meets Rusty, a Navy Seal.

Rusty and Lee’s story is a sweet one and they are perfect for each other!! Read this story and see who exactly sent Rusty to Lee!!

[Shani · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's refreshing to read a book where their is a female lead who is the war veteran. Its a good reminder than the stereotypical stuff/people. I also think it was done in a heartwarming way that reminds you that life is so much more and you can do anything. Lee and Rusty have the type of connection that sparks and catches fire quickly! Insta love at its finest. Awesome read! 4/5 stars

[Danielle Pullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok

I'll Be Waiting is not one of A.M. Hargrove's books that I have read. It's probably my least liked one. It wasn't my cup of tea. It had elements to the storyline that I don't buy in it. Not a bad story just not for me.

[Nikkita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

This story spoke to me on so many levels. Not only did Lee and Rusty overcome many obstacles that would break most people. They bettered themselves because of them. Insta-love, little other worldly such a fantastic read!

[Joan Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I just loved this story how it brought the past into the present in such a loving and romantic setting. A.M. Hargrove is an excellent author. I have read quite a few of her books and love them all. This is definitely worth the read and the tears.

[K3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie from Love N Books has a great review for this little gem.
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