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St. James #1
No solo amigos
Escapando de una infancia solitaria y convulsa, Vivi ha crecido junto a los St. James, la familia de su mejor amiga, y desde hace trece años vive enamorada de David, el introvertido hermano mayor. Hace tiempo que cada uno tiene su vida, pero Vivi no puede evitar seguir esperando que David se fije en ella durante las próximas vacaciones familiares en Block Island. Él acude a la isla con su nueva novia, una chica con las miras puestas en el compromiso, pero pronto se da cuenta de que en su corazón va creciendo despacio y sin remedio una incipiente atracción por Vivi. ¿Es posible que la esté empezando a ver como algo más que una amiga?
Solo cierto secreto que desde la muerte de su madre lo ha ido alejando de los demás podría costarle a él un amor verdadero y a ella, la única familia real que ha conocido.
Solo cierto secreto que desde la muerte de su madre lo ha ido alejando de los demás podría costarle a él un amor verdadero y a ella, la única familia real que ha conocido.
348 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2015
5347 people are currently reading
10070 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Beck
22 books2,620 followersJamie Beck is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 18 novels, which have been translated into multiple languages and have sold more than three million copies worldwide. She is a two-time Booksellers' Best Award finalist, a Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR award finalist, a National Readers' Choice Award winner, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work "smart," "uplifting," and "entertaining." In addition to writing novels, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.
Fans can learn more about her on the web (www.jamiebeck.com). She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks) and Instagram (@writerjamiebeck).
My newsletter subscribers get monthly fun tips, a chance to win a reader gift box, and other exclusive content. Sign up now! https://bit.ly/JBeckNewsletter. For updates on discounts and new releases, follow me on BookBub at http://bit.ly/2GBcLM3. NO SPAM--EVER.
Fans can learn more about her on the web (www.jamiebeck.com). She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks) and Instagram (@writerjamiebeck).
My newsletter subscribers get monthly fun tips, a chance to win a reader gift box, and other exclusive content. Sign up now! https://bit.ly/JBeckNewsletter. For updates on discounts and new releases, follow me on BookBub at http://bit.ly/2GBcLM3. NO SPAM--EVER.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 876 reviews
January 19, 2015
I am so torn with my rating for this book. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the author's writing style. On the other, I detested the subplot involving David's dad, his mother and another woman.
So...3.5 stars?
Worth the Wait is an unrequited-friends to lovers story which I love. Vivi has been in love with David the moment they met 13 years ago in his mother's kitchen. Vivi just lost her mother and brother in a car accident, which left her father an alcoholic and Vivi fending for herself most of the time. It was David's family through Vivi's best friend Cat who gave her a sense of normalcy growing up.
Over the years, their friendship grew despite David being away at college. Vivi wore her heart on her sleeves and although David does not return her affection in that way, he was never embarrassed by Vivi's feelings for him. Although, as the book progresses, it's obvious that one of them was the giver while the other was the taker.
Fast forward to 13 years later, Vivi is about to see David again. But things have changed, and David is not the same guy that Vivi fell in love with. He lost his mother and he's also hiding a big secret that could destroy his family. Not only that, David now has a girlfriend and Vivi realized that David would never return her feelings for him.
Unbeknownst to her, David is starting to see her differently as well. You know the expression, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"? That's certainly true in this case except that David's feelings for Vivi goes beyond fondness. For the first time, he's become physically and sexually aware of her, which is one of the best part of this book.
I liked that Vivi actually made efforts to move on and show David she can move on, although she wasn't always successful with it but she attempted to. David acted like a jerkface but I got to say, the boy has issues a mile long. Which brings me to my rant about the subplot.
RANTY SPOILERS AHEAD...
So yeah, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I was really upset by it. To me, it took the focus away from David and Vivi's own issues. And poor David...my heart just went out to him. Everybody was against him and judging him even Vivi. It ruined the whole story for me. It really did. Don't even get me started on Cat...geez!
So there you have it. While I liked the book, the subplot kinda ruined it for me. I wanted to love it for the writing alone but I can't get on board with it. It ruined Vivi for me. I couldn't believe she did that. Her of all people. Tsk, tsk...
ARC courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
So...3.5 stars?
Worth the Wait is an unrequited-friends to lovers story which I love. Vivi has been in love with David the moment they met 13 years ago in his mother's kitchen. Vivi just lost her mother and brother in a car accident, which left her father an alcoholic and Vivi fending for herself most of the time. It was David's family through Vivi's best friend Cat who gave her a sense of normalcy growing up.
Over the years, their friendship grew despite David being away at college. Vivi wore her heart on her sleeves and although David does not return her affection in that way, he was never embarrassed by Vivi's feelings for him. Although, as the book progresses, it's obvious that one of them was the giver while the other was the taker.
Fast forward to 13 years later, Vivi is about to see David again. But things have changed, and David is not the same guy that Vivi fell in love with. He lost his mother and he's also hiding a big secret that could destroy his family. Not only that, David now has a girlfriend and Vivi realized that David would never return her feelings for him.
Unbeknownst to her, David is starting to see her differently as well. You know the expression, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"? That's certainly true in this case except that David's feelings for Vivi goes beyond fondness. For the first time, he's become physically and sexually aware of her, which is one of the best part of this book.
I liked that Vivi actually made efforts to move on and show David she can move on, although she wasn't always successful with it but she attempted to. David acted like a jerkface but I got to say, the boy has issues a mile long. Which brings me to my rant about the subplot.
RANTY SPOILERS AHEAD...
So yeah, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I was really upset by it. To me, it took the focus away from David and Vivi's own issues. And poor David...my heart just went out to him. Everybody was against him and judging him even Vivi. It ruined the whole story for me. It really did. Don't even get me started on Cat...geez!
So there you have it. While I liked the book, the subplot kinda ruined it for me. I wanted to love it for the writing alone but I can't get on board with it. It ruined Vivi for me. I couldn't believe she did that. Her of all people. Tsk, tsk...
ARC courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2015
It started out pretty good but then it got super slow. It took over half of the story for them to actually do anything. I really liked David even though it took him a while to catch up with his heart. I liked Vivi's strength when it came to refusing David's advance. I didn't like the way she blackmailed David to forgive his father though. In fact, I didn't like the whole father situation. David's father was banging another woman while his mother was dying of cancer. Vivi kept saying how his father not asking David for forgiveness didn't mean that he wasn't remorseful. Actually he wasn't or else he wouldn't have married the same woman a year later. I thought it kind of gave a wrong message to the reader. Because it basically said that it's ok to make morally wrong mistakes as long as people forgive you even if you don't ask for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2022
O poveste de dragoste și mai mult decât atât! O lecție emoționantă despre iertare, vindecare și lăsatul trecutului în urmă.
Vivi LeBrun este o tânără care are o viață grea și trebuie să facă față atât pierderii mamei și fratelui său într-un accident de mașină, cât și alcoolismului tatălui ei.
Totuși, găsește un cămin în familia prietenei sale Cat.
David St. James este iubirea vieții ei, un bărbat a cărui viață a pornit pe o cale diferită odată cu decesul mamei lui... După mai mult de un an de zile în care a întrerupt orice legătură cu familia și cu Vivi, acesta revine brusc în viața lor.
Dar vacanța în care spera să se reapropie de frații lui și să le-o prezinte pe prietena lui se dovedește a fi o săptămână în purgatoriu. O călătorie în timp, spre vremuri mai fericite.
Și astfel, David și Vivi trebuie să facă față surprizelor, să încerce să reînnoade o prietenie care a avut de suferit, iar Vivi să învețe să lase în urmă iubirea pe care i-o poartă încă din adolescență.
O călătorie într-o lume unde secretele ies la iveală, unde minciunile se dovedesc a fi un rău necesar pentru a-i proteja pe cei dragi de suferință.
Suntem martorii interacțiunii unei familii încercate, în care secretul lui David amenință să distrugă relații. Vedem greșelile fiecăruia, suferințele și modul în care aleg să meargă mai departe.
O noapte de pasiune pare a însemna începutul sfârșitului pentru Vivi și David. Fiecare dintre ei trebuie să își reevalueze prioritătile, să-și cerceteze sufletul și să descopere direcția în care își doresc să meargă.
Autoarea Jamie Beck m-a surprins într-un mod extrem de plăcut cu acest prim volum impresionant al seriei "Frații St. James".
O poveste cu multiple răsturnări de situație, cu sentimente puse la încercare și piedici ce pot însemna sfârșitul sau un nou început.
Doar Vivi și David sunt în măsură să decidă dacă sunt capabili să facă față propriilor emoții și sentimente, dacă își asumă sau nu o posibilă relație.
O carte surprinzătoare!
July 7, 2019
Hated the cheater father got a HEA after what he had done. The annoying heroine had no right to blackmail H to forgive his father. The same father who remarried almost straight away and changed everything in his home by his former wife because new wife didn’t like it. He even got rid of family pics around the house because new wife didn’t want those around either. This man did not deserve forgiveness and I really disliked the female lead for interfering!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2015
Oh.My.GOSH!!!!!! 5 stars isn't enough!!!!!!!
This is the first book I've read by Jamie Beck & it is a winner!! I'm not going to spoil a dang thing for you. I just highly recommend you reading this book. It is SO good!!
This is the first book I've read by Jamie Beck & it is a winner!! I'm not going to spoil a dang thing for you. I just highly recommend you reading this book. It is SO good!!
March 9, 2015
When Vivi travels with her closest friend Cat to Block Island she's expecting a relaxing holiday and a chance to catch up with Cat's brother David, who she has loved since she was thirteen. But almost immediately she learns that David has a girlfriend and he's brought her along.
She's determined to salvage her pride and make the most of her time on the island. But it's not so easy to brush off a decade of love and making matters worse, David is sending her mixed signals.
Worth the Wait is great. If I have a criticism, it's that I think there is just a little too much going on in this book. The story of Cat and her troubled relationship, Jackson and Hank didn't quite fit and were a bit of a distraction.
Having said that, I all but abandoned Contemporary Romance a year or two ago –– the genre felt dated and most of the books I was reading felt recycled, but there are a few authors right now who are delivering fresh and exciting stories and bringing me back. Jamie Beck is one of those authors.
Many thanks to Montlake Romance and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
She's determined to salvage her pride and make the most of her time on the island. But it's not so easy to brush off a decade of love and making matters worse, David is sending her mixed signals.
Worth the Wait is great. If I have a criticism, it's that I think there is just a little too much going on in this book. The story of Cat and her troubled relationship, Jackson and Hank didn't quite fit and were a bit of a distraction.
Having said that, I all but abandoned Contemporary Romance a year or two ago –– the genre felt dated and most of the books I was reading felt recycled, but there are a few authors right now who are delivering fresh and exciting stories and bringing me back. Jamie Beck is one of those authors.
Many thanks to Montlake Romance and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
July 31, 2017
3 Star read
Story type: Contemporary, Unrequeted love, Best friend's brother
Storyline: This is the story of Vivi and David. Vivi first meets David when she goes home with her friend Cat (because he is Cat's much older big brother) from middle school one day. The story takes off many many years later when they are all reunited at Cat's family beach house. Vivi has always been in love with David so it comes as a major shock to know that he is there with a girlfriend. David and Vivi were best of friends up until his mother died two years prior and he took off to Hong Kong for his job and to escape , which is where he had met the girlfriend and she followed him back to NY. After two years of cutting everyone off after his mothers death, David has a lot of making up to do with his siblings and Vivi. There's some pleading, drama with the girlfriend, a tearful separation, some family drama, a run-in with a psycho ex boyfriend...and then they finally get their act together and find their HEA.
POV: 3rd person narrative...not my favorite
H rating: 2 stars. David. I think all I can really say is that he was often in a crap situation, so I felt for him...I also liked that he was so loyal to his mama.
h rating: 3 stars. Vivi. She was sweet, loyal, and I appreciate that she finally grew some lady balls and stood up for herself...at least for a while.
Angst level: Moderate. I did shed a few tears in this one. I am a sucker for unrequeted love stories, and for a while this was pulling at my heartstrings.
Heat level: Low. 3 scenes total.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: This book had a really abrupt ending. I know it had an epilogue, but I still feel like it was too soon
Story type: Contemporary, Unrequeted love, Best friend's brother
Storyline: This is the story of Vivi and David. Vivi first meets David when she goes home with her friend Cat (because he is Cat's much older big brother) from middle school one day. The story takes off many many years later when they are all reunited at Cat's family beach house. Vivi has always been in love with David so it comes as a major shock to know that he is there with a girlfriend. David and Vivi were best of friends up until his mother died two years prior and he took off to Hong Kong for his job and to escape , which is where he had met the girlfriend and she followed him back to NY. After two years of cutting everyone off after his mothers death, David has a lot of making up to do with his siblings and Vivi. There's some pleading, drama with the girlfriend, a tearful separation, some family drama, a run-in with a psycho ex boyfriend...and then they finally get their act together and find their HEA.
POV: 3rd person narrative...not my favorite
H rating: 2 stars. David. I think all I can really say is that he was often in a crap situation, so I felt for him...I also liked that he was so loyal to his mama.
h rating: 3 stars. Vivi. She was sweet, loyal, and I appreciate that she finally grew some lady balls and stood up for herself...at least for a while.
Angst level: Moderate. I did shed a few tears in this one. I am a sucker for unrequeted love stories, and for a while this was pulling at my heartstrings.
Heat level: Low. 3 scenes total.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: This book had a really abrupt ending. I know it had an epilogue, but I still feel like it was too soon
February 1, 2018
Cat, Jackson, David and Vivi grew up together. Vivi was the girl their parents took under their wing when they realized what little she had at home with her drunken father. From the first time she met him, the light shone out of David's arse for Vivi. And everyone knew it, but David wasn't interested in anything more than friendship. A very close and binding friendship. The sibling's mother died and David's love for his father is shaken by an awful truth that he has promised not to share with anyone else. He leaves for over a year remaining out of contact with everyone, including Vivi. Now he is back for his father's wedding to his 'new' love.
It would have been a lovely reunion, but David brings with him his asshat snooty girlfriend. Vivi finally realizes that her crush on him will never be returned and even her friendship with him has died a slow crushing death after a year of neglect.
Gotta say, I would have loved this one if David hadn't been so dead set on NOT admitting his feelings to himself til almost the end of the book. It got tired after a while, the way he kept trying to put his relationship with Vivi back the way it used to be (like that would be fair to Vivi). Can't put the Genie back in the bottle dude! . After him being a standoffish, self absorbed, self pitying ass for most of the book, his change to desperate lover was too quick and too contrived. (And imho didn't make up for the YEARS of holding Vivi at arms length.
So I skimmed quite a bit, but I would try the author again. The story is from both MCs POVs, with a wee bit too much self analysis. The timeline jumps into the past every now and then, I totally skimmed those bits. Kinda wrecks the flow of the story for me and reads more like filler.
Really liked Vivi's character!
############
I revisited this one today and well... no, I doubt I would read this author again. Her characters seem to wallow in self pity and martyrdom. Too much hashing and rehashing, lying and pushing away. It's depressing.
It would have been a lovely reunion, but David brings with him his asshat snooty girlfriend. Vivi finally realizes that her crush on him will never be returned and even her friendship with him has died a slow crushing death after a year of neglect.
Gotta say, I would have loved this one if David hadn't been so dead set on NOT admitting his feelings to himself til almost the end of the book. It got tired after a while, the way he kept trying to put his relationship with Vivi back the way it used to be (like that would be fair to Vivi). Can't put the Genie back in the bottle dude! . After him being a standoffish, self absorbed, self pitying ass for most of the book, his change to desperate lover was too quick and too contrived. (And imho didn't make up for the YEARS of holding Vivi at arms length.
So I skimmed quite a bit, but I would try the author again. The story is from both MCs POVs, with a wee bit too much self analysis. The timeline jumps into the past every now and then, I totally skimmed those bits. Kinda wrecks the flow of the story for me and reads more like filler.
Really liked Vivi's character!
############
I revisited this one today and well... no, I doubt I would read this author again. Her characters seem to wallow in self pity and martyrdom. Too much hashing and rehashing, lying and pushing away. It's depressing.
no-way-jose
December 30, 2018Hero’s father cheats on his mother. His mother had cancer and died and the father married the woman he was cheating on his wife with. 🤭😤🤮🤢
Heroine kind of blackmailed hero into forgiving his father because he deserved to be happy 😤🤣😤😖🤮🤢. I think she had to forgive the hero for something but she would only if he forgave the father. I have no words for the character of this woman. Would she forgive someone who cheated on her?
Without mentioning the hero’s mother put all this weight on hero’s shoulder. It’s not a kid responsibility to keep a family together. It’s the parents’. IMO
These people have some misguided morals.
More in the reviews bellow:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heroine kind of blackmailed hero into forgiving his father because he deserved to be happy 😤🤣😤😖🤮🤢. I think she had to forgive the hero for something but she would only if he forgave the father. I have no words for the character of this woman. Would she forgive someone who cheated on her?
Without mentioning the hero’s mother put all this weight on hero’s shoulder. It’s not a kid responsibility to keep a family together. It’s the parents’. IMO
These people have some misguided morals.
More in the reviews bellow:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 27, 2019
The first 50% of this book, i am at 3 stars. The dialog, the charactet development, the banter is dry and stiff. I almost giving up.
Tjen the second half of the book, the plot thickening, the story get more angst and the character develop nicely. I can feel the chemistry between David and Vivi. Their attraction to each other gradually picking up. This book is more invested into emotional development and not lust/ sex. The only minor thing about this book is David. He acts upon his attraction toward Vivi while he is still in relationship with other woman.
The ending is abrupt and does not execute really well. But nevertheless i do enjoy this book very much.
4 stars
Tjen the second half of the book, the plot thickening, the story get more angst and the character develop nicely. I can feel the chemistry between David and Vivi. Their attraction to each other gradually picking up. This book is more invested into emotional development and not lust/ sex. The only minor thing about this book is David. He acts upon his attraction toward Vivi while he is still in relationship with other woman.
The ending is abrupt and does not execute really well. But nevertheless i do enjoy this book very much.
4 stars
July 7, 2019
Nope! The message being issued concerning David’s fathers infidelity is not ok. Bullying David into forgiving is not ok either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2019
Es la tipica historia de amor en la que la prota está enamorada del hermano mayor de su mejor amiga, pero me ha gustado. Como es de imaginar las cosas no son de color de rosa para ella, y tienen un ni contigo ni sin ti que da rollito.
El que esté escrito en 3ª persona es quizás lo qu emenos me ha gustado del estilo dela autora, por lo demas se lee bien y facilito.
El epílogo es precioso.
El que esté escrito en 3ª persona es quizás lo qu emenos me ha gustado del estilo dela autora, por lo demas se lee bien y facilito.
El epílogo es precioso.
January 12, 2016
3.5 Stars
This story was about David and Vivi. Vivi is best friends with David's younger sister Cat and she's always been around the family. Her and David have always had a close friendship but Vivi has always wanted more. David moves away after the death of his mother and practically cuts off all contact with his family and Vivi. They see each other again when Vivi accompanies Cat on a summer getaway to Cat's family's summer home. Vivi doesn't know that David will be there or that he'll be there with a girlfriend.
I didn't really love Vivi or David. Vivi was naive and she pined for David for a considerable amount of time and her affection for him superseded everything. It allowed him to treat her poorly with no consequences. While she made efforts to get over David she was never successful and while on this vacation he was a constant presence impeding her efforts to connect with anyone new she met on this vacation.
David harbors a secret which was the driving force for the distance between him and the people in his life including his siblings, his father, and Vivi. He refuses to tell anyone about this secret and this prevents everyone being able to forgive his absence from their lives. Of course he ends up confiding in Vivi and swearing her to secrecy. Now Vivi shares this burden with David but she has to keep this secret from her best friend. It was selfish of David to confide in her and ask her to lie to her best friend. David's also not the best to his current girlfriend Laney he brings her on this trip and kind of ignores her.
This book was decent, there were a lot of characters in it and because of that there was a lot of other stuff going on aside from David and Vivi's problems. The other character problems were distracting and I would have liked less of that.
*Audio Book Stuff
**I read this as part of my Kindle Unlimited Subscription**
December 10, 2018
I thought I’d try something I usually avoid: a romance novel with another woman/man. I’m not sure what I thought would happen 🙄😂 but there’s cheating, which I hate in my novels. I don’t care that the hero has “made no promises of commitment” to his current girlfriend: he should dump her if he’s into another woman, no matter how long he’s known that OW for. So there. That was a big fat HELL NO for me.
Other things I didn’t like:
-The inconsistencies (everything shows on the heroine’s face but she can fake not being in love with David anymore? At one point the author writes that if the heroine’s relationships with the hero’s siblings were negatively affected by their own, it would kill her... but she repeatedly mentions how resilient she is 🤔...).
-There are way too many sentences/paragraphs/pages devoted to emotions. Felt like I was reading something meant for teenagers, like I was reading about teenagers experiencing crazy emotional rollercoasters. It got annoying pretty quickly.
-The stupid reason the hero believes he can’t be with the heroine. 🤦🏻♀️ and then his sudden change of heart... 🙄
-The childishness at times (ie. the heroine “enlisting the help of Hank to pretend she’s over David”... 🙄).
-The hero being so goddamn stubborn about not forgiving his dad for cheating on their mom WHILE HE DID THE SAME TO HIS GIRLFRIEND with the heroine 🤦🏻♀️ hypocrite much?
So what DID I like? Hmm... 🤔 I don’t know 😂 but I finished it 🤷🏻♀️ and I have this rule that if I finish a book, no matter how bad it is, I should give it 2 stars. So I’m giving this thing 2 stars (and I absolutely think those ratings are fake - no way people out there gave this thing so many 4 and 5 star ratings... sheesh, can’t even trust book ratings anymore because people cheat and get fake ones 🤦🏻♀️ 🙄).
Was it worth my time? Not really. Was it funny? Nope. Do I recommend it? HELL NO. Unless you’re into 26-30yo adults acting like teenagers. And that emotion galore is your thing. And that you really love when your hero lacks values and you’re fine with him having a girlfriend for 3/4 of the book, all while longing to be with another woman.
Other things I didn’t like:
-The inconsistencies (everything shows on the heroine’s face but she can fake not being in love with David anymore? At one point the author writes that if the heroine’s relationships with the hero’s siblings were negatively affected by their own, it would kill her... but she repeatedly mentions how resilient she is 🤔...).
-There are way too many sentences/paragraphs/pages devoted to emotions. Felt like I was reading something meant for teenagers, like I was reading about teenagers experiencing crazy emotional rollercoasters. It got annoying pretty quickly.
-The stupid reason the hero believes he can’t be with the heroine. 🤦🏻♀️ and then his sudden change of heart... 🙄
-The childishness at times (ie. the heroine “enlisting the help of Hank to pretend she’s over David”... 🙄).
-The hero being so goddamn stubborn about not forgiving his dad for cheating on their mom WHILE HE DID THE SAME TO HIS GIRLFRIEND with the heroine 🤦🏻♀️ hypocrite much?
So what DID I like? Hmm... 🤔 I don’t know 😂 but I finished it 🤷🏻♀️ and I have this rule that if I finish a book, no matter how bad it is, I should give it 2 stars. So I’m giving this thing 2 stars (and I absolutely think those ratings are fake - no way people out there gave this thing so many 4 and 5 star ratings... sheesh, can’t even trust book ratings anymore because people cheat and get fake ones 🤦🏻♀️ 🙄).
Was it worth my time? Not really. Was it funny? Nope. Do I recommend it? HELL NO. Unless you’re into 26-30yo adults acting like teenagers. And that emotion galore is your thing. And that you really love when your hero lacks values and you’re fine with him having a girlfriend for 3/4 of the book, all while longing to be with another woman.
August 12, 2016
First time reading something by this author and it was pretty good! I think it definitely helped that I took a sneaky little peak at everyone else's review before cracking this one open as it was *fairly* squeaky clean and I was in the mood for a nice beach read while at the beach, haha.
I will say that I was very impressed by Miss Beck's ability to write such angsty goodness, you could just feel the want and genuine desire to be with one one from both characters. But, this one definitely lost points for the dick-ish ways of the David the Fool. There were waaaaaaay too many moments where I just wanted to shake him for his stupidity. I also found it annoying that he just wouldn't reveal "the big secret," to his siblings. It was a bit of a stretch to make it one of the focal points of the story.
I also have mixed feelings about Vivi and David together as I simultaneously wanted them to have a HEA because of how badly Vivi had pinned over David and I genuinely wanted her to be happy, but at the same time I felt that she deserved better. Ah, such conundrums.
Worth a quick read on a sunny summer day!
I will say that I was very impressed by Miss Beck's ability to write such angsty goodness, you could just feel the want and genuine desire to be with one one from both characters. But, this one definitely lost points for the dick-ish ways of the David the Fool. There were waaaaaaay too many moments where I just wanted to shake him for his stupidity. I also found it annoying that he just wouldn't reveal "the big secret," to his siblings. It was a bit of a stretch to make it one of the focal points of the story.
I also have mixed feelings about Vivi and David together as I simultaneously wanted them to have a HEA because of how badly Vivi had pinned over David and I genuinely wanted her to be happy, but at the same time I felt that she deserved better. Ah, such conundrums.
Worth a quick read on a sunny summer day!
February 2, 2018
OMG my heart.
I loved absolutely everything about Vivi and David. Seriously, since the beginning I was completely enamored and shipped the hell out of it.
Worth the Wait is a dual POV, from David and Vivi, and it's definitely a second chance kind of romance. Now it doesn't exactly say it's a second chance but Vivi has basically pined for David since they first met. Throughout the book he constantly tells her they wouldn't be good couple because it would ruin their friendship and the groups dynamic but it was all bullshit. WHY? Well because it was painfully obvious that they loved the heck out of each other and I just wanted David to man up, grow a pair, and tell her his feelings.
Eventually he does but of course he comes to this realization after he finds out she was attacked and in the hospital. Talk about cliché but I ate all that shit up. I seriously loved this book and I can't wait to dive into the second book of this series.
I loved absolutely everything about Vivi and David. Seriously, since the beginning I was completely enamored and shipped the hell out of it.
Worth the Wait is a dual POV, from David and Vivi, and it's definitely a second chance kind of romance. Now it doesn't exactly say it's a second chance but Vivi has basically pined for David since they first met. Throughout the book he constantly tells her they wouldn't be good couple because it would ruin their friendship and the groups dynamic but it was all bullshit. WHY? Well because it was painfully obvious that they loved the heck out of each other and I just wanted David to man up, grow a pair, and tell her his feelings.
Eventually he does but of course he comes to this realization after he finds out she was attacked and in the hospital. Talk about cliché but I ate all that shit up. I seriously loved this book and I can't wait to dive into the second book of this series.
March 17, 2015
Vivi LeBrun not only lost her brother and mother in a car crash. She lost her father too. His alcoholism adds a new responsibility and burden for young Vivi. She finds shelter within her best friend’s family. The St. James family is wealthy and down-to-earth. They are a loving family, and accept Vivi as one of their own. Yet there is one family member that she has long adored. Vivi is all grown up and ready for more than friendship with David St. James.
A promise is tormenting David. His mother made a dying wish. He fled overseas in his effort to honor it. Now there is a rift in his family. No one understands him anymore, especially Vivi, his staunchest devotee.
The St. James siblings attempt to reconnect during a vacation. Vivi is also invited. Maybe this is her chance to finally get David to see they belong together.
“Worth the Wait” has a good story at its heart. A nice girl with a long-time crush on her best friend’s brother has appealing qualities. A friends-to-lovers romance versus falling- fast romance – well, friends-to-lovers stories are usually highly enjoyable reads for this reader. The narrative is just a bit too heavy. Plus, elements of the plot and characters are reminiscent of a teen holiday romance.
The hero and heroine seem much younger than their age. Vivi, the heroine, is very much like a young girl crushing on a college boy. There is too much time where adoring Vivi and moody David are on unequal ground. Eventually, she develops a backbone. Also, David is a hard hero to embrace. Teen David revealed a very promising hero; he was so sweet and kind. He does improve near the end. Vivi’s road to happiness is very rocky, but she does find David worth the wait.
Grade: C-
ARC courtesy of Montlake via Netgalley
A promise is tormenting David. His mother made a dying wish. He fled overseas in his effort to honor it. Now there is a rift in his family. No one understands him anymore, especially Vivi, his staunchest devotee.
The St. James siblings attempt to reconnect during a vacation. Vivi is also invited. Maybe this is her chance to finally get David to see they belong together.
“Worth the Wait” has a good story at its heart. A nice girl with a long-time crush on her best friend’s brother has appealing qualities. A friends-to-lovers romance versus falling- fast romance – well, friends-to-lovers stories are usually highly enjoyable reads for this reader. The narrative is just a bit too heavy. Plus, elements of the plot and characters are reminiscent of a teen holiday romance.
The hero and heroine seem much younger than their age. Vivi, the heroine, is very much like a young girl crushing on a college boy. There is too much time where adoring Vivi and moody David are on unequal ground. Eventually, she develops a backbone. Also, David is a hard hero to embrace. Teen David revealed a very promising hero; he was so sweet and kind. He does improve near the end. Vivi’s road to happiness is very rocky, but she does find David worth the wait.
Grade: C-
ARC courtesy of Montlake via Netgalley
March 23, 2017
As a classic take on the brother's best friend story, I hadn't expected the sheer amount of drama that was strangely absorbing, as drawn out as it was - possibly unnecessarily. Familial treachery and loyalties lie at the heart of the book and there are parallels of it sketched out in most of the relationships highlighted in them.
As much as I wanted David and Vivi together, there were some questionable behaviour traits that made me hesitate about them (Vivi's staunch insistence that the adulterous relationship that David's father was carrying out was really 'happiness' he deserved in the end?!). I felt strongly let down however, that the cheating issue wasn't resolved at all - this is a line I can't even accept in my reading - and that the tension present in the family existed because of a deathbed secret that just had to be kept.
As much as I wanted David and Vivi together, there were some questionable behaviour traits that made me hesitate about them (Vivi's staunch insistence that the adulterous relationship that David's father was carrying out was really 'happiness' he deserved in the end?!). I felt strongly let down however, that the cheating issue wasn't resolved at all - this is a line I can't even accept in my reading - and that the tension present in the family existed because of a deathbed secret that just had to be kept.
April 17, 2015
2.5 - 3 stars.
It took a little over half the book for them to do anything physical with each other.
It took al,oat the whole book to actually be together and when they were the book ended quickly.
I didn't like David's dad and that whole situation. If there is another book with Cat or Jackson I hope something goes wrong with the dads situation.
There really wasn't too much I liked about this book aside from the taboo best friends older brother storyline.
Wished we could of had more Vivi and David, less of Laney and a quicker get together. I like to read about my hero and heroine actually in a relationship.
It took a little over half the book for them to do anything physical with each other.
It took al,oat the whole book to actually be together and when they were the book ended quickly.
I didn't like David's dad and that whole situation. If there is another book with Cat or Jackson I hope something goes wrong with the dads situation.
There really wasn't too much I liked about this book aside from the taboo best friends older brother storyline.
Wished we could of had more Vivi and David, less of Laney and a quicker get together. I like to read about my hero and heroine actually in a relationship.
March 29, 2016
A solid read, but the hero was rather dense in a bad way. You get a slow build to his realization that he loves the heroine, which can be nice, but here it was just too slow. I found myself skimming and not super engaged with the characters and the book felt long.
April 22, 2015
Kindle Unlimited. Glad I didn't pay for this one. Didn't feel the chemistry at all.
September 19, 2020
Great summer read!
April 13, 2018
לצערי אני לא יכולה לתת לספר הזה 3 כוכבים בלב שלם והניקוד שלו עומד על 2.5 כוכבים למרות שהוא לא סטנדרטי לז'אנר.
ויוי מאוהבת בדייויד 13 שנים. מאז שאימא שלה ואחיה נהרגו בתאונת דרכים, אביה שקע באדי האלכוהול והיא מצאה נחמה בבית חברתה קאת.
אימא של קאת ודייויד, גרסיאלה, אימצה אותה לחיק משפחתם והעניקה לה חום ואהבה. גם דייויד העניק לה חברות ואהבה. הוא לא נרתע מהרגשות המופגנים של הילדונת שהבטיחה לכבוש את ליבו.
עתה 13 שנים מאוחר יותר דייויד חוזר מהונג קונג עם לייני. גרסיאלה נפטרה כתוצאה מסרטן שנה וחצי לפני כן ודייויד ניתק מגע עם אחיו ועם ויוי. ויוי נוסע עם קאת לבית המשפחה באי בולוק (או משהו כזה) שם דייויד מנסה לחדש את החברות הקרובה שלהם. אבל ויוי מבינה כי הרבה דברים השתנו ואולי דיויד מחבב אותה, אבל הוא לא אוהב אותה כפי שהיא רוצה וצריכה. וגם ישנה לייני שחצתה חצי עולם בשביל דייויד.
הסיפור מסתבך עם סוד שמעיק על נפשו הפצועה של דיויד ואינו מאפשר לו להתקדם בחיו.
למרות שהספר זורם, ולפחות במחצית הראשונה של הספר הוא גם כתוב היטב, לדעתי הסופרת פשוט התברדקה והתבשבשה עם כל הסוד הזה ומתחה אותו כמו מסטיק עד הקצה, בלי שהתוספת הזו תסייע לעלילה להתקדם ולהתפתח. נהפוך הוא המחצית השניה של הספר היא התדרדרות עיקבית ללתהום הקשקשת.
המתיחה הזו פשוט גרמה לי לרפרף על חלק מהדפים כי העלילה פשוט שוקעת במצולות כמו הטיטאניק.
אף פעם לא הצלחתי להבין מדוע סופרים לא מבינים שיותר זה פחות. גם לא הבנתי את הצורך שלהם להערים על הקורא ועל הדמויות המרכזיות את כל סבלות העולם האכזר והמר.
****ספויילר****
כשגרסיאלה חולה בסרטן, במקביל דייויד תופס את אביו בוגד באימו עם חברה מהקנטרי קלאב באוטו במרכז מסחרי. כשהוא מתעמת עם אביו, אימו מגלה את דבר חשיפת הסוד ומשביעה אותו לשמור את דבר הבגידה מהאחים שלו כדי שהמשפחה לא תתפרק, דבר שקורה בכל מקרה כי דייויד בורח להונג קונג כדי להתנקות מהרעלים שחנקו אותו.
לא רק זה שהילד המסכן לא זוכה לניקוי רעלים נפשיים, ולא רק שהאב הסורר נהנה מהחסינות של הסוד אלא שהאב שאותו דיוויד העריץ נוטש את משפחתו ונותן לאחים להאשים את דייויד בפירוק המשפחה ולא לוקח אחריות.
האב גם לא רואה בכך בעיה שהבן שלו תפס אותו ואחרי שנה וחצי בוחר להינשא לאישה איתה בגד.
וכל הירידה הזו לבירא עמיקתא למה היא נועדה? כדי ללמדנו הקוראים שיעור בנצרות על חסד הסליחה.
עוד יכלתי לסבול את הקישקוש הזה של לשמור סוד וכו. אבל הסופרת בונה כאלה סצנות של סליחה וחמלה סביב הסיפור הזה שפשוט בא לי להקיא.
איזה ילד שפוי בדעתו יוכל לסלוח לאביו שאותו תפס בוגד באימא שלו שחולה בסרטן?
והדרך לסליחה המיוחלת ארוכה היא ורבה ועוברת דרך ליבה של ויוי שכמעט שוברת לדייויד את היד כדי שיסלח לאביו.
****סוף ספויילר****
אז כן היה לספר הזה פוטנציאל אבל הוא נעלם בערפילי הנמסטה והסליחות.
ויוי מאוהבת בדייויד 13 שנים. מאז שאימא שלה ואחיה נהרגו בתאונת דרכים, אביה שקע באדי האלכוהול והיא מצאה נחמה בבית חברתה קאת.
אימא של קאת ודייויד, גרסיאלה, אימצה אותה לחיק משפחתם והעניקה לה חום ואהבה. גם דייויד העניק לה חברות ואהבה. הוא לא נרתע מהרגשות המופגנים של הילדונת שהבטיחה לכבוש את ליבו.
עתה 13 שנים מאוחר יותר דייויד חוזר מהונג קונג עם לייני. גרסיאלה נפטרה כתוצאה מסרטן שנה וחצי לפני כן ודייויד ניתק מגע עם אחיו ועם ויוי. ויוי נוסע עם קאת לבית המשפחה באי בולוק (או משהו כזה) שם דייויד מנסה לחדש את החברות הקרובה שלהם. אבל ויוי מבינה כי הרבה דברים השתנו ואולי דיויד מחבב אותה, אבל הוא לא אוהב אותה כפי שהיא רוצה וצריכה. וגם ישנה לייני שחצתה חצי עולם בשביל דייויד.
הסיפור מסתבך עם סוד שמעיק על נפשו הפצועה של דיויד ואינו מאפשר לו להתקדם בחיו.
למרות שהספר זורם, ולפחות במחצית הראשונה של הספר הוא גם כתוב היטב, לדעתי הסופרת פשוט התברדקה והתבשבשה עם כל הסוד הזה ומתחה אותו כמו מסטיק עד הקצה, בלי שהתוספת הזו תסייע לעלילה להתקדם ולהתפתח. נהפוך הוא המחצית השניה של הספר היא התדרדרות עיקבית ללתהום הקשקשת.
המתיחה הזו פשוט גרמה לי לרפרף על חלק מהדפים כי העלילה פשוט שוקעת במצולות כמו הטיטאניק.
אף פעם לא הצלחתי להבין מדוע סופרים לא מבינים שיותר זה פחות. גם לא הבנתי את הצורך שלהם להערים על הקורא ועל הדמויות המרכזיות את כל סבלות העולם האכזר והמר.
****ספויילר****
כשגרסיאלה חולה בסרטן, במקביל דייויד תופס את אביו בוגד באימו עם חברה מהקנטרי קלאב באוטו במרכז מסחרי. כשהוא מתעמת עם אביו, אימו מגלה את דבר חשיפת הסוד ומשביעה אותו לשמור את דבר הבגידה מהאחים שלו כדי שהמשפחה לא תתפרק, דבר שקורה בכל מקרה כי דייויד בורח להונג קונג כדי להתנקות מהרעלים שחנקו אותו.
לא רק זה שהילד המסכן לא זוכה לניקוי רעלים נפשיים, ולא רק שהאב הסורר נהנה מהחסינות של הסוד אלא שהאב שאותו דיוויד העריץ נוטש את משפחתו ונותן לאחים להאשים את דייויד בפירוק המשפחה ולא לוקח אחריות.
האב גם לא רואה בכך בעיה שהבן שלו תפס אותו ואחרי שנה וחצי בוחר להינשא לאישה איתה בגד.
וכל הירידה הזו לבירא עמיקתא למה היא נועדה? כדי ללמדנו הקוראים שיעור בנצרות על חסד הסליחה.
עוד יכלתי לסבול את הקישקוש הזה של לשמור סוד וכו. אבל הסופרת בונה כאלה סצנות של סליחה וחמלה סביב הסיפור הזה שפשוט בא לי להקיא.
איזה ילד שפוי בדעתו יוכל לסלוח לאביו שאותו תפס בוגד באימא שלו שחולה בסרטן?
והדרך לסליחה המיוחלת ארוכה היא ורבה ועוברת דרך ליבה של ויוי שכמעט שוברת לדייויד את היד כדי שיסלח לאביו.
****סוף ספויילר****
אז כן היה לספר הזה פוטנציאל אבל הוא נעלם בערפילי הנמסטה והסליחות.
May 23, 2019
No sé por qué, porque es el primer libro que leo de esta autora, pero esperaba más de la historia.
A ver, la trama y los personajes parecían interesantes, pero no me han convencido. Por un lado, me cansan las historias en las que a los protagonistas parece que no paran de pasarles desgracias una tras otra y otra más; por otro, ha habido momentos en los que me han resultado un poco ñoños.
Tampoco me ha convencido la traducción.
Es una serie y me han llamado la atención los otros personajes, así que casi seguro que le daré otra oportunidad.
Lo lamento, pero mi puntuación es un 5.
A ver, la trama y los personajes parecían interesantes, pero no me han convencido. Por un lado, me cansan las historias en las que a los protagonistas parece que no paran de pasarles desgracias una tras otra y otra más; por otro, ha habido momentos en los que me han resultado un poco ñoños.
Tampoco me ha convencido la traducción.
Es una serie y me han llamado la atención los otros personajes, así que casi seguro que le daré otra oportunidad.
Lo lamento, pero mi puntuación es un 5.
March 16, 2015
ARC given by netgalley for an honest review
I've read the first book by JA In the Cards, it was good but this book is a keeper. The book is written in third POV, but trust me you'll be living in the world of main characters as you read it. It is an emotional journey btw the heroine, Vivi love story and David. Love at first sight for Vivi in the kitchen of St. James's household as she met David that time the captain of lacrosse captain, as she sketches his face. For 13 years she love him unconditionally (at far) as confidant during his stressful collage years and as an emotional support during his mother death and but he left soon after for 18 months in Hong Kong without any explanation. Her first meeting back home let her to meet with his cool lawyer girlfriend from his Hong Kong office left her devastated and pursue her journey in forgetting him once and for all. With her Italian vacation fling and family's friend help, can she finally over her love with David. or will this emotional distance finally push David to realise his feeling for Vivi and not taking her for granted?
I do love this story more than the first book, it has more depth, the main character even though involved in certain scene (mostly towards 70% of the story) but the emotional interaction btw them is building up and not in instance (it is an emotional journey as I did tear up once a while). Of course in paper the hero seems perfect by he is by far from, the secret his keeping (which he told Vivi eventually) is eating their friendship and I don't know how we can coop with the burden. The supporting character give more depth to the plot, although the sibling were tad annoying, not really supportive to the main in my opinion, still a good adiition. Overall it is a great story by the author. 5 stars
I've read the first book by JA In the Cards, it was good but this book is a keeper. The book is written in third POV, but trust me you'll be living in the world of main characters as you read it. It is an emotional journey btw the heroine, Vivi love story and David. Love at first sight for Vivi in the kitchen of St. James's household as she met David that time the captain of lacrosse captain, as she sketches his face. For 13 years she love him unconditionally (at far) as confidant during his stressful collage years and as an emotional support during his mother death and but he left soon after for 18 months in Hong Kong without any explanation. Her first meeting back home let her to meet with his cool lawyer girlfriend from his Hong Kong office left her devastated and pursue her journey in forgetting him once and for all. With her Italian vacation fling and family's friend help, can she finally over her love with David. or will this emotional distance finally push David to realise his feeling for Vivi and not taking her for granted?
I do love this story more than the first book, it has more depth, the main character even though involved in certain scene (mostly towards 70% of the story) but the emotional interaction btw them is building up and not in instance (it is an emotional journey as I did tear up once a while). Of course in paper the hero seems perfect by he is by far from, the secret his keeping (which he told Vivi eventually) is eating their friendship and I don't know how we can coop with the burden. The supporting character give more depth to the plot, although the sibling were tad annoying, not really supportive to the main in my opinion, still a good adiition. Overall it is a great story by the author. 5 stars
December 26, 2015
I read the first thirty pages of this story a couple years back in a contest and loved the opening so much the author gave me an advanced copy. She did NOT ask me to review it in exchange, but as a thank you for my encouraging words.
As soon as I opened the pages I was once again sucked back into the story, which is so much more than just a romance. As a person with a complicated family, I totally understand the characters. Siblings in real life very rarely cut each other slack, and Cat and Jacks came across as living, breathing, honest-to-God family members. They gave David a bad time, yet they were doing the same thing. So typical.
David has issues (don’t we all), and I loved how he wanted to honor his mom’s request and protect his brother and sister, even if the two things were conflicting with each other. Was he a jerk? At times, but with reason. Yet at the same time his attitude and opinion toward/about Vivi remained steadfast. He’s always been her friend, always stood up for her and always seen her as a special and wonderful person. In the midst of his turmoil, this hasn’t changed.
Vivi is delightful and fun and so full of life. She’s full of love and loyal to a fault and at times you just want to be her. But she’s not perfect, so there are times she loses her patience with David. I love how she tries to bury her long-time feelings and go on, even if she can’t. I loved that even though she was hurting, she never stopped being David’s friend (real love isn’t easy to push away), but that she stood up for herself too.
Overall, I thought this was a well-delivered, well-written story about love, family, and friendship. I really hope the author gives us Cat’s and Jacks’ stories so we can see them grow and find happiness.
As soon as I opened the pages I was once again sucked back into the story, which is so much more than just a romance. As a person with a complicated family, I totally understand the characters. Siblings in real life very rarely cut each other slack, and Cat and Jacks came across as living, breathing, honest-to-God family members. They gave David a bad time, yet they were doing the same thing. So typical.
David has issues (don’t we all), and I loved how he wanted to honor his mom’s request and protect his brother and sister, even if the two things were conflicting with each other. Was he a jerk? At times, but with reason. Yet at the same time his attitude and opinion toward/about Vivi remained steadfast. He’s always been her friend, always stood up for her and always seen her as a special and wonderful person. In the midst of his turmoil, this hasn’t changed.
Vivi is delightful and fun and so full of life. She’s full of love and loyal to a fault and at times you just want to be her. But she’s not perfect, so there are times she loses her patience with David. I love how she tries to bury her long-time feelings and go on, even if she can’t. I loved that even though she was hurting, she never stopped being David’s friend (real love isn’t easy to push away), but that she stood up for herself too.
Overall, I thought this was a well-delivered, well-written story about love, family, and friendship. I really hope the author gives us Cat’s and Jacks’ stories so we can see them grow and find happiness.
March 23, 2019
Story 3.5 rounded up only because it just seemed a bit drawn out with way more problems than there should have been. And a lot of angst as well. However, listening made it for me. Kate Rudd gets 5 stars from me for her, as always, excellent narration. I liked Vivi, but David was not the best hero, I must say. Having said that, he did have reasons for some of the problems he had-particularly his not so great father. He is an excellent secret keeper, but I don't think his mother would have held him to the promise that causes him so much grief. These characters are grown ups and should not have to be shielded from problems that they have a right to know. My opinion only, but that part got a bit much after awhile. ***SPOILER** I noticed a lot of people considered this book cheating. I get it, but I don't really believe it, the hero had already broken it off with his girlfriend, so yeah, not sure why all the fuss. It only took me one day to listen so I did enjoy a lot of aspects of it.
January 22, 2015
Vivi, an artsy gal, falls for a friends older brother, David, in their teenage years. So begins the story of unrequited love. David's mother dies and many years pass where David and Vivi don't see each other.
They all meet up again at Block Island for a vacation and the action takes off. David is aloof since the death of their mother many years earlier and no one can understand why, especially Vivi. He has brought a new girlfriend along who is the polar opposite of Vivi. Unrequited love turns into a love triangle as sparks start flying between David and Vivi.
The book continues with action and emotion and is a page turner until the very end. A strong theme of forgiveness runs through the story line with each character well developed, believable and vulnerable.
A truly wonderful book!
They all meet up again at Block Island for a vacation and the action takes off. David is aloof since the death of their mother many years earlier and no one can understand why, especially Vivi. He has brought a new girlfriend along who is the polar opposite of Vivi. Unrequited love turns into a love triangle as sparks start flying between David and Vivi.
The book continues with action and emotion and is a page turner until the very end. A strong theme of forgiveness runs through the story line with each character well developed, believable and vulnerable.
A truly wonderful book!
November 19, 2015
I hung in there and got through the book and must say if I was rating the book by the last few chapters it would probably be 4.5 Stars. However I am rating it overall at 3 stars which I think is quit generous due to the frustrations it caused me. The biggest thing for me was how everyone treated Vivy and the constant drama that was the same on and on. The author had very few grammatical errors and such it was just the story line, won't give up just yet on this author there may be a good one yet.
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