Waiting For You Review

Title:  Waiting For You
Series: The McKinney Brothers #5 - Walker Brothers #2
Author:  Claudia Connor
Published by:  Claudia Connor
Release Date:  March 15, 2019
Buy Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  3.5 Heart-Warming Hearts

*Many thanks to the author & publisher for an arc of this book.

Synopsis:
When ER nurse Nora Sellers is hurt in a hospital scuffle, firefighter Zach Walker blames himself. Blaming himself is nothing new. He’s been blaming himself for years for the trauma his baby sister endured as a teenager. Though with his happy–go–lucky attitude no one would know it. He’s good at his job, he’s a good brother, and a good friend, but Zach decided long ago he wasn’t husband and father material.


Even so, when Zach learns Nora is a single mother with a house that needs his help, he can’t walk away. After a few days with Nora and her ten month old son, he knows he doesn’t want to.


But Nora’s wary. She learned at a young age that the only person she can count on is herself. Now with a baby, a job, and a fixer–upper house, the last thing Nora wants is a sexy firefighter, making her heart flutter. But Zach is more than what he seems, and the more she gets to know him the harder he is to resist.


She’s been brave all her life. Can she be brave one more time and take a chance of a lifetime with her heart?

Review:

There's nothing like a good, warm, heartfelt romance, and I love that I can count on Connor to deliver exactly that with every new release.  I'm a big fan of The McKinney/Walker Brothers and have enjoyed each book - although I must admit that Nick & Mia stole my heart in Worth the Wait.  And here's where I'll go ahead and say you're going to want to indulge in all these books in order of release.  The author does an outstanding job of filling in the background in each additional book, meaning they can be read as standalones; however, you're cheating yourself out of some great romance stories and characters if you don't read in order and enjoy them all!

Waiting For You is Zach Walker and Nora Sellers story.  Zach is a firefighter, and Nora is a single mother and nurse working the ER when they meet.  Zach accompanies the EMT's bringing in a belligerent male suspected of DUI who's been involved in a car crash.  Things get out of hand, and Nora is accosted and hurt.  Zach feels responsible and insists on driving the nurse and her 10 month old baby (Will) home.  As this story unfolds, Zach and Nora engage in an age-old dance around one another even as they hold each other at arm's length . . . each for their own reasons.  Zach's gorgeous face and drool-worthy body belong on a Firefighter of the Month calendar - a fact supported by his "never spend the night" but "always treat them right" ladies man reputation.  But more importantly, Zach's a conflicted man - one haunted by what he sees as a failure on his part to protect family members in the past.  He may be attracted to the lovely nurse, but he knows she and her son deserve someone better.  Nora is a single mom who's been burned once - a woman with trust and family issues of her own who refuses to rely on any man to ensure her and her son's future.  Having experienced the hurt of being let down in the past, she won't risk it again.  So is a friendship the only thing in their future? 

Waiting For You is very much a story of family and commitments as readers will see examples of both the good and the bad play out in this one.  It's a warm, heartfelt story about forgiving both others and yourself and opening the door to trust again.  The support cast is strong with appearances by several other McKinney/Walker couples from past stories.  I loved the interaction and family dynamics that played out and was thrilled to catch up with past couples in this story.  While I would have liked a little more depth of story and plot in this book, I greatly enjoyed the characters and their quest for happiness.  As always, Connor brings the emotions and heat to this romance as well as a side of funny banter making Waiting For You another Must Read in an awesome series.  And I might add . . . there's nothing sexier than a gorgeous hunk falling head over heels over an adorable baby!  You don't want to miss this one!

My Rating:  3.5 Heart-Warming Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra