Waiting On You

( 80 )

Overview

Is your first love worth a second chance…?

Colleen O'Rourke is in love with love…just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell broke her heart…an experience Colleen doesn't want to have again, thanks. Since then, she's been happy with a fling ...

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Waiting On You

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More About This Book

Overview

Is your first love worth a second chance…?

Colleen O'Rourke is in love with love…just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell broke her heart…an experience Colleen doesn't want to have again, thanks. Since then, she's been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends.

But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who's ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they've got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she's ever loved.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
02/17/2014
Higgins revisits Manningsport, N.Y., and its large, sometimes confusing cast of characters in her satisfying third Blue Heron title (after The Perfect Match). Colleen O'Rourke runs a tavern with her twin brother, Connor, where she manages to be a matchmaker for everyone but herself. She's not prepared to see Lucas Campbell when he suddenly reappears, as he's the match who not only got away but also stomped so hard on her heart that it's still bruised. Lucas still carries a torch for Colleen, but youthful drama led to obligations that kept him away from her for 10 years. When Lucas is pulled back home by a family emergency, he and Colleen feel the old sparks immediately roar into flame, but the years apart have created wariness in each of them. Colleen's feelings of abandonment and Lucas's unstable early years offer compelling character traits that keep the pages turning despite a thin plot. Agent: Maria Carvainis, Maria Carvainis Agency. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
"Higgins [offers] strong storytelling and a refreshing, sarcastic wit...thoroughly entertaining."-People Magazine

"Well-placed flashbacks; snarky, snappy dialogue; and conflict both tender and traumatic will shove you into love with a perfectly irresistible array of imperfect characters. You'll adore every bit of this story...Higgins' latest is sexy, screwy, funny and fulfilling - a simply radiant read."-USA TODAY on The Best Man

"The result is a deliriously funny story...The Best Man is Kristan Higgin's best book — and that's saying a lot."-Eloisa James

"A funny, poignant romance."
-Publishers Weekly starred review, on My One and Only

"Romance fans and lovers of women's fiction will devour this witty and tender novel. Highly recommended." -Library Journal starred review on Somebody to Love

"Both gut-wrenchingly emotional and hysterically funny at the same time...Kristan Higgins writes the books you don't want to end."-#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr

"Higgins specializes in the kind of prose that makes you laugh out loud...hilarious on the surface, but with a bittersweet subtext."-National Public Radio

"Higgins has a special talent for creating characters readers love."-Romantic Times, 4½ stars on All I Ever Wanted

"A heartwarming, multi-generational tale of lost love, broken hearts and second chances."
-BookPage on The Next Best Thing

Kirkus Reviews
★ 2014-02-20
Since Lucas Campbell broke Colleen O'Rourke's heart 10 years ago, she's become a star matchmaker while avoiding romantic entanglements herself, which suits her just fine—until Lucas comes back to town. Colleen has been in love with Lucas ever since the first time she laid eyes on him, and for a time she thought they would be together forever. But after an argument led to a breakup, there were unexpected consequences on both sides. Lucas wound up in Chicago married to someone else, then divorced, and Colleen hid her broken heart behind a flirtatious, lighthearted attitude. Now, 10 years later, while his Uncle Joe lies dying and his cousin Bryce is in denial, Lucas is back in Manningsport to help navigate the situation. Lucas' family relationships are nothing if not complicated, and stepping back into the dynamics after 10 years of separation have only made them worse. At first he's determined to avoid Colleen, but they find themselves thrown together by other people and external circumstances, and he decides she's worth pursuing. Again. They have a decade of hurt and misunderstandings to overcome, but as they start to heal from the past, there are some explosive secrets that could blow them apart again. Romance star Higgins continues the Blue Heron series with her signature combination of wit, humor and soul-jarring emotional depth. Colleen and Lucas travel a bumpy road to their happy ending, replete with misunderstandings and catastrophically bad timing. Occasionally, their inability to communicate the most basic insecurities is annoying, and a couple of jaw-dropping missteps are hard to believe, though they do leaven the characters' flawed authenticity. At times their imperfections can almost make them unlikable, but their ability to forgive each other's worst aspects makes their ultimate reconciliation especially gratifying. Higgins' talent shines, as does her inimitable ability to hit romantic highs, make readers laugh and express heart-wrenching emotion.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780373778584
  • Publisher: Harlequin
  • Publication date: 3/25/2014
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Pages: 464
  • Sales rank: 58135
  • Product dimensions: 4.10 (w) x 6.60 (h) x 1.30 (d)

Meet the Author

Kristan Higgins is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author and two-time winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. Her books have been praised for their "genius level EQ, whippet-fast, funny dialogue and sweet plots with a deliciously tart edge" (USA TODAY). She lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband and two extremely advanced children, one shy little mutt and an occasionally affectionate cat.

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Read an Excerpt

"Drinks are on the house!"

A cheer went up from the gang, not just because Colleen O'Rourke-the bartender and half owner of the best (and only) bar in town-had just offered free booze, but because Brandy Morrison and Ted Standish had just gotten engaged.

Colleen hugged the happy couple once more, then went behind the bar and accepted high fives from her regulars as she pulled beers and mixed martinis, poured wine and slid glasses down the bar. After all, Brandy and Ted were her doing. That made…hmm.. fourteen couples she'd set on the road to matrimony? No, fifteen!

Not bad. Not bad at all.

"Good job, Coll," said Gerard Chartier, accepting his free Cooper's Cave IPA. He sat at the end of the bar, where the fire department was having a "meeting," the agenda of which seemed to be O'Rourke's list of microbrews. She wasn't complaining. They were good for business.

"Your sorry single state hasn't gone unnoticed," she said, rubbing his bald head. "Not to worry. You're next."

"I'd rather stay single."

"No, you wouldn't. Trust Auntie Colleen, ever wise and all-knowing."

"Colleen!" her brother, Connor, yelled from the kitchen. "Stop harassing the customers!"

"I'm part of our charm!" she yelled back. "Gang, are you feeling harassed?"

A satisfying chorus of no answered her. She breezed into the kitchen. "Hi, Rafe," she greeted the backup chef, who was making one of his famous cheesecakes. "Save some of that for me, okay?"

"Of course, my truest love," he said, not looking at her. He was gay. All the good ones were.

"Brother mine," Colleen said to her twin, "what bug is up your ass?"

"You just gave away three hundred dollars' worth of booze, that's what," he said.

"Brandy and Ted got engaged. Beautiful ring, too."

"Your work, Collie?" Rafe asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes. They'd been eyeing each other for weeks. I gave a gentle shove, and voilà. I expect I'll be a bridesmaid. Again."

Rafe smiled. "And when will you work your superpowers on your own self, lovey?"

"Oh, never. I'm too smart for all that. I like to use men for purely physical-"

"Stop! No one wants to hear about your sex life," Connor said.

"I do," said Rafe.

She grinned. Tormenting her brother, though they were both thirty-one, was still one of the great joys in life.

"It seems like such a waste. All that, unclaimed." Rafe gestured to her torso and face.

"She got burned when she was young," Connor told Rafe.

"Oh, please. That's not why I'm single. Besides, you're single, too. It's all part of our dysfunctional childhood, Rafe."

"Don't even try," he said, adding the sour cream layer to the cake. "I was a gay boy born to Jehovah's Witnesses and grew up in East Texas with five older brothers who all played football. It was Friday Night Lights meets The Birdcage meets Swamp People. No one can compete with me in the land of dysfunctional families."

"You totally win," Colleen said. "Con and I only had a cheating father and-

"Isn't tonight your night off?" Connor interrupted.

"Yep. But I came in because I sensed, using our magical twinsy bond, that you missed me."

"You sensed wrong," he muttered. "Get out of my kitchen. Your posse just came through the door."

"He has batlike hearing," Rafe said.

"I know. It's creepy. Bye, boys! Don't forget my piece of heaven, Rafe. Connor, come say hi. Everyone loves you, for some reason."

She went back out into the bar and sure enough, there were the girls: Faith Holland, her oldest pal in the world (and a newlywed, and while Colleen couldn't claim that one as her idea, she'd nonetheless helped keep them together); Honor, Faith's older sister (bone-dry martini, three olives), someone Colleen had definitely helped with sweet Tom Barlow-their wedding would be in early July; and Prudence, the oldest Holland sister (gin and tonic, now that it was spring), married for decades.

"How's tricks, Holland girls? Honor, you want your usual? Pru, a G&T? And what about you, Faithie? I have some strawberries I've been saving for you…a little vodka, a little mint, splash of lemon…want to try one?"

"Just water for me," Faith said.

"Oh, lordy, are you pregnant?" Colleen blurted. Faith and Levi had gotten married in January, and from the way he looked at her, those two got it on like weasels. And you know what they say about weasels.

"I didn't say that." But she blushed, and Honor smiled.

"Well, I hope you are," said Pru. "Nothing like the blessing of kids, even though I thought I would kill Abby the other day. She asked if she could get her tongue pierced. I said sure, I'd get a hammer and a nail and we could do it right now if she was that dumb, and the conversation devolved from there."

"Hi, girls," Connor said dutifully, having emerged from the kitchen.

"Con, bring Pru and Honor their regulars, and a big glass of ice water for Faith here."

"I thought you wanted me to say hi, not to wait on you," he said. "Faith, are you pregnant?"

"No! Maybe. Just shush," Faith said. "I'm thirsty, that's all."

"Connor Cooper would be a great name," he suggested.

"I think it sounds pretentious," Colleen said. "Colleen Cooper, or Colin for a boy…now we're talking. Con, how about those drinks? And some nachos?"

Her brother gave her a dark look but left obediently, and Colleen settled back in her seat. "Guess what you missed? Brandy Morrison and Ted Standish just got engaged! He got down on one knee and everything, and she was crying, and it was beautiful, ladies! Beautiful!"

Hannah, Colleen's cousin, brought over their food and drinks, and Prudence launched into a story of her latest adventure in keeping things fresh in the old conjugal bed. Very entertaining. Coll scanned the bar as Pru talked, making sure all was running smoothly.

It occurred to her that spending her night off at work was maybe not 100 percent healthy. Granted, options were limited in Manningsport, New York, a town of just over seven hundred. She could be home, reading and cuddling with Rufus, her enormous Irish wolfhound mutt, who would love nothing more than to stare into her eyes in adoration for several hours. One couldn't rule out the ego boost that provided.

Or, Colleen thought, she could be out on a date. Rafe had a point.

It's just that every guy she met seemed to be lacking something. She hadn't felt the tingle in a long, long time.

As the proprietor of the only year-round alcohol-serving establishment in town, Colleen saw a lot of relationships blossom or end in a fiery crash. When things went right, it was generally because the woman had cleverly manipulated the guy into good dating behavior. He'd call when he said he would. Put some thought into dates. He'd ask questions about her life because she didn't vomit up all her personal history in the first ten minutes.

Far more common, however, was the fiery crash model, when Colleen mixed a sympathy cosmo or poured an extra ounce of Pinot Grigio into a glass for a woman who had no idea what went wrong. Colleen could tell her, of course, and sometimes did… Maybe you shouldn't have talked about your ex for two hours, or Is telling him you were just clearedfor fertility treatments a good idea on the first date?

Happily, the nowengaged Brandy had asked Colleen for advice from the start. Should I go out with him again tomorrow? Is it okay to sleep with him yet? How about if I text him right now?

The answers: No, no and no.

"Colleen," said the bride-to-be now, "I just wanted to thank you again for everything." She bent down and gave Coll a hug. "Bridesmaid?"

"Of course!" Colleen said. "You two…mazel tov! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks, Coll," Ted said. "You're the best."

"My fifteenth couple," she said to the Holland sisters as the happy couple left for some monkey sex, one presumed.

"You have a gift," Faith said, taking a slab of nachos onto her plate.

"And yet just last night, there was some poor woman in here, begging the guy she was with not to dump her, and I took her aside and said, 'Honey, if you have to beg, do you really want this loser?' But of course, she kept crying and begging, and it was agony, I tell you." She finished her drink, one of the strawberry thingies Faith had passed on. "Maybe I should teach a class. Pru, when Abby starts dating, you send her to me."

"Will do. And thanks, because God knows, she's not listening to me these days."

"Excuse me," came a voice, and all three of them looked up.

"Hey, Paulie," Colleen said. "How are you? Have a seat!"

Paulina "Paulie" Petrosinsky pulled up a chair, swung it backward and straddled it. She'd been Faith and Colleen's classmate-not quite a friend back in the day, but really nice. She came into O'Rourke's once in a while, usually after a workout at the gym, where her weight lifting skills were the stuff of legend.

"Um…I overheard you say something about, uh, teaching people? Women?" she asked.

"Slut University," Pru said, and Faith and Honor snorted.

"Very funny," Colleen said. "My reputation is greatly exaggerated."

"And whose fault is that?" Faith asked. "You should stop spreading rumors about yourself."

Colleen smiled. Had she in fact written something flattering about herself on the men's room wall just last week? She had. "Ignore my so-called friends," she said. "What's up?"

"Um…can you really help a, um, a person? With, uh…you know. Love and men and stuff?" Paulie's face turned deep red, then purple.

"Are you all right?" Honor asked, frowning a little.

"Oh, that. My face. It's called idiopathic craniofacial erythema. I.I blush. A lot."

"Wish I could hang around," Prudence said. "We farm people have to get up early. Good luck with your man, Paulie! See you, girls!"

"So are you interested in someone in particular?" Colleen asked, scootching over into Pru's vacated chair to make more room at the table.

Paulie swallowed. "Yeah," she whispered, glancing around.

"Who?" Faith asked.

"Um.I'd rather not say."

Colleen nodded. "What do you like about him?"

"He's.he's just so nice. I mean, really kind, right?

And he's cheerful and good and smart, I think, too. I mean, he…well. He's great."

Colleen smiled. "And do you feel sick when you see him, and then hot, and then nauseous?"

"Exactly," Paulie said, her face purpling again.

"Do you imagine conversations with him, holding hands and moonlit walks and all that other mushy stuff?"

"I-yes. I do." Paulie took a shaky breath.

"Does he make your danger zone tingly? Does your skin get hot, do your knees wobble, does your tongue feel swollen-"

Faith stood up. "I miss Levi," she announced. She gave Colleen a kiss on the cheek and squeezed her sister's shoulder. "Good luck, Paulie! Take Colleen with a grain of salt."

"I'm going, too," Honor said. "Bye, matchmaker. Do no harm, mind you. See you, Paulina."

"So who is this guy?" Colleen asked when they were gone.

Paulie shot a nervous glance back to the bar. Aha! A hint. "You know what?" Paulie said. "Never mind. He's…he's out of my league."

"No, he's not!" Colleen cried. "Paulie, you're so nice! You are! Anyone would be lucky to have you." Besides, Colleen always felt a little guilty where Paulie was concerned.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"It's true," Colleen said firmly. Granted, Paulie hadn't been blessed with great beauty. And her dad was a little odd-Ronnie Petrosinsky, owner of four small restaurants called Chicken King that served fried chicken thirty-eight different ways, all of them very, very bad for you. He was locally famous for his commercials, where he pranced around dressed as a rooster wearing a crown. Poor Paulie was also featured in a fluffy yellow chick suit, wearing a crown-the Chicken Princess. Try getting out from under that title, especially in high school.

"Listen, Paulie. No one is out of your league. Go ahead, tell me."

Paulina sighed gustily and drained her Genesee (first order of business: get her to drink something more feminine). "It's Bryce Campbell."

Oh. Okay, so that might be tough.

Bryce was gorgeous. Jake Gyllenhaal DEFCON 4-gorgeous. He got his share of tail, as Colleen knew all too well. Bryce was a regular. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but sweet. He had a certain charm, and women threw themselves at him all the time.

Lots of women.

"That's fine," Colleen said, realizing she hadn't spoken for a moment. "Not a problem."

Paulie gave her a despairing look.

"I'm serious. We can work with this. So, tell me more about you and Bryce."

Paulie's expression grew dreamy, the severe blush fading. "He volunteers at the animal shelter, you know?" Colleen nodded; Bryce had in fact helped her choose Rufus the Doofus. "And the animals, they all love him. I go in a lot. I, um…I've adopted two dogs and four cats in the past year."

Colleen smiled. "That's a lot. But go on."

"And the other day, I was getting gas, and so was he, and I didn't even plan that! He just smiled at me and said, 'Hey, Paulie, how's it going?'" She sighed at the memory of the magical words. "It was amazing. I mean, that smile, right?"

Yes. Bryce had a beautiful smile. That was true.

"He's never in a bad mood," Paulie went on. "Never has a bad thing to say about anyone. Not that I talk to him. Not much, anyway. But sometimes we lift weights at the same time, and…well, I try to talk to him. But my mind goes blank, and I never think of anything good to say. But last week? I had to walk past him, and I said 'Excuse me,' and he said, and I quote, 'No problem.' Colleen, he smelled so good."

The woman had it bad.

"And when we were in high school, he never made fun of me."

Colleen's heart gave a squeeze. Paulie had a solid, athletic build and held the school record for the number of push-ups, beating even Jeremy Lyon, football god, a record that stood to this day. Her father's business didn't help her social status; he'd started out as a chicken farmer, and Paulie hadn't grown up as comfortably as most of the kids in town, though not as poor as others. And then, when the Chicken King became so successful, well, that was different, too, and it was hard to be different at that age.

Though she was now the chief operating officer for the Chicken King franchises, Colleen had never seen Paulie out of gym clothes, and she always seemed on the fringe of things, as nice and smart as she was.

With a pang, Colleen realized Paulie reminded her of Savannah, her nine-year-old half sister.

"You know what? Let's forget about it, okay? I'm sorry," Paulie said now.

"Absolutely not," Colleen said. "He'd be lucky to have you. I'm serious. You're great, you have so many nice qualities…it's not gonna be that hard, Paulie. What have your other relationships been like?"

"Um…I…I've never had another relationship."

"That's fine. So, no experience with men?"

"I'm a virgin," she said.

"No worries. Nothing wrong with saving yourself for true love." Colleen herself had, after all. Not that hers was an exemplary story.

"It's more like no one's ever asked me."

Oh! Poor lamb! "Not a problem."

"He'd probably rather go out with you," Paulie said.

"Oh, please," Colleen said with a flinch. "Bryce? No. We're not… He's a sweetheart, but not my type. But you guys…you'd be great together."

Paulie's face lit up. "Really? You think so? Honest? I'll do whatever you say. You think I have a shot?"

"Absolutely."

Connor was back. "Dad called. Wants you to babysit. Apparently, Gail needs a break."

Ah. Gail Chianese O'Rourke, their stepmother, four years their senior, not so lovingly known as Gail-the-Tail-Chianese-Rhymes-with-Easy-Hyphen-O'Rourke.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 80 )
Rating Distribution

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(54)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed May 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Love it

    I love kristin higgins books. I especially love the manningsport group that she created 3 books from. I like her books about finding love even when you are starting to get a little older. I just got my 6th book from herand camt wait to read it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    4 Mixed Feelings Stars I want to start by saying Kristan Higgin

    4 Mixed Feelings Stars

    I want to start by saying Kristan Higgins is a great writer. The words flow smoothly off the pages and she is masterful drawing you in to the characters' lives. With that being said, I really had hoped to give the book more stars. Her writing is deserving of it, and second chance love stories are always my favorite. But unfortunately, this book had me feeling uneasy at the end, and honestly I really didn't like the hero and heroine of the story.

    Colleen O'Rourke has really made a name for herself as the town's matchmaker. Being successful setting her friends up, she has been a maid of honor many times and even has a few children named after her. The irony is that she has less luck with her own love life as she has never gotten over her first love Lucas Campbell. For her, in her senior year of high school, it was love at first sight. They spent four years in a long distance relationship, and one arguement and misunderstanding later, she is alone and he is getting married. Fast forward ten years from there, Lucas is back to help his ailing uncle and his family. He has been divorced for two years and apparently still has eyes for Colleen.

    Like I said I am a fan of second chance love stories but this one just didn't sit well with me. While Lucas' actions may have demonstrated how he felt for Colleen when they were together, it irked me that he could never tell her how he felt. But years later he could tell her when questioned, that he felt it for someone else. Even though he said he didn't love his ex enough, he still never said how he felt for Colleen. It also bothered me that he was so overly careful with Colleen, but then gets a girl pregnant due after one time, he wasn't that drunk. Such a contradiction. Making it worse, he gets upset with her about who she was with while he was off married and living the high life with someone else? I'm sorry, in my mind her lost that right. But to top it all off, he doesn't even come to her on his own. He needs his sister and his dumb as a box of rocks cousin to tell him. Annoying.

    While on ranting, Colleen was just a frustrating to me. Her one liners often had me laughing and I will get to that later, but when it was important, when it mattered, she just never seemed to be serious enough. I was not a fan of her because she just seemed too cocky. And honestly, I was upset with how she handled things with Lucas. So I guess that since they both annoyed me I should be happy that they get their HEA.

    Now despite my rant, I still enjoyed the writing and the secondary characters in this book. Colleen's brother(placenta hog) was funny and her mom is a hoot. I loved how Collen always commented on local people's drink preferences, and all the Hail Mary prayers had me laughing. Her helping Paulie get Bryce with the tire change almost had me in tears, I was laughing so hard. And yes there were some heartwarming moments also, like Colleen's final thoughts on her Gramps. I really just wished the heartwarming stuff actually came from Lucas and Colleen, and unfortunately, I just didn't feel it.

    Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Oct 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Great

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Love!!

    My new favorite

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I liked this book okay, at the end I didn't have that warm feeli

    I liked this book okay, at the end I didn't have that warm feeling in my heart that I usually have when I finish one of Kristan Higgins books.  At one point in the book Colleen said (to herself I guess) that she hadn't slept with as many men as she let people think (paraphrasing).  Yet the author didn't redeem her in Lucas' eyes, or with the reader, so I wasn't sure what to believe.  I was frustrated with the two characters, and frustrated with the book. This wasn't a happy, romantic love story, and that is what I am looking for when I buy a contemporary romance.  I hope the author goes back to the happy, romantic love stories, like her other books. 

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  • Posted Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Loved it! This one is absolutely my favorite of the Blue Heron s

    Loved it! This one is absolutely my favorite of the Blue Heron series so far. Colleen and Lucas were everything I love about second chance at love stories. Hopefully the next book in the series will feature Colleen's twin, because I am dying to know what is going on with his mysterious I'm-in-a-relationship-no-I'm-not-anymore storyline. (or lack of it, really)




    Can't wait! 

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  • Posted Thu Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Nice change in book#3.  This is the third book in the Blue Heron

    Nice change in book#3.  This is the third book in the Blue Heron Series and I have liked them all.  Colleen O'Rourke was not a character was was very interested in, however, so I was not first in line to buy the book when it came out, but I am glad I put that aside and read it, because no matter what, Kristan Higgins is a great writer.  Her characters are humorous and treat life as it should be treated, with a grain of salt.

    The Menopause crowd was hilarious and I will never feel bad about watching the construction guys ever again, because I am never that bad!

    It was a bit harder to care about these characters than some of the others in previous stories, but that is not the criticism it seems to be. I did not "struggle" to like them, they were just different and that in itself was a refreshing change.  No predictable men and women here! Growing up catholic I found the hail mary prayers so funny they kept me from putting the book down to go to bed. This story had some many primary and secondary characters and I Never lost track of who was who. They sounded, looked and acted uniquely individual and that more than anything is the best part of this romance book.  The characters seemed real  did normal things, ate too much ice cream and had flaws.  The resolution was not perfect and that made it all the more special.

    I enjoyed this book more than I expected to and will be waiting anxiously for another!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    nicely written

    Kept my attention

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  • Posted Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    WAITING ON YOU, the third book in The Blue Heron Series, was cer

    WAITING ON YOU, the third book in The Blue Heron Series, was certainly worth the wait.




    It is the latest book by one of my very favorite authors, Kristan Higgins! I enjoyed WAITING ON YOU very much. Honestly this didn’t come as a surprise to me because I have loved all of her books. 




    After my first KH book, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, I consumed her entire back list and have been with a fan ever since. She hasn't disappointed me. Her books are on auto-buy at Amazon.




    I think her stories, in general, appeal to just about everyone. Kristan’s great sense of humor shines through her characters. Their thoughts and witty dialogue is always entertaining as is and the funny I Love Lucy-esque antics—and while she’ll have you laughing out loud on one page, it isn’t unusual to be a little weepy on the next. She definitely pulls at a reader’s heartstrings.




    Her characters are people I would love to meet and become friends with! The good folks in WAITING ON YOU were no exception. 




    Colleen O’Rourke (great name by the way) and her twin Connor own a bar in the small town of Manningsport, New York. She is the straight-shooting bartender, spouting one-liners to everyone in town. A real beauty, yet isn’t conceited about it. And she is known for her matchmaking tendencies which is a little ironic since she is still single at 31 since the love of her life broke her heart 10 years earlier. 




    The bar reminds me of a small town version of the CHEERS bar… “Where everyone knows your name.” 
    The fine people of Mannningsport can be a little nutty--far from perfect, and the dysfunctional families make her stories more interesting. 




    In one laugh-out-loud scene, Colleen is going to make a dinner for the hero, Lucas. Think Bridget Jones Diary (the movie)! 




    “What are we going to do about this dinner, then?”
    “We can have blue soup to start, orange pudding to end, and...well, for main course, we have...uh, congealed green gunge.”
    “That is caper berry gravy.” “Ah.” 




    For those of us who are handicapped in a kitchen both scenes ring true!




    I really thought she couldn't top my favorite KH hero, however, I think she did with Lucas. The hero in WAITING ON YOU is Lucas Campbell. In her other books I would use the following adjectives (to name only a few) to describe the heroes: handsome, sweet, special, charming, intelligent, honorable, and funny.




    Lucas Campbell has all of these qualities, plus he is SEXY. Don’t get me wrong, there is certainly sex appeal to all of her heroes, but there is something different with Lucas. He is half-Puerto Rican with black curly hair, dark eyes and olive skin. Her descriptions of him “dark pirate eyes,” “he looked like a Spanish pirate, like Heathcliff of the moors, dark and slightly dangerous…” conjure up a very sexy image. His voice even fit the brooding type. Deep and mellow and just a little rough. His laugh was a smoky, ashen sound. Colleen’s nickname for him is Spaniard. Interestingly, the character has an Anglo-Saxon sounding name. His back story will definitely tug at her heart. But I think it also contributes to what makes him the man he is –and truly lovable as a hero.




    I also enjoyed the fact that this book had a little more “sexiness” in it. 




    I highly recommend this book. I don’t think you will be disappointed. 

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Not her best

    Not one of my favorites. Usually Higgin's books are funny and I like them a lot. I agree with another review that the main character is not very likeable. I think Higgins had her go too far when she didn't have to. Higgins is one of my favorite characters

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  • Posted Sat May 24 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins is another enchanting book in

    Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins is another enchanting book in the Blue Heron series. 




     




    Colleen O'Rourke is the match maker extraordinaire for the town of Manninsport, NY. Being part owner and head bartender at the bar she owns with her twin brother has her having a front row seat to finding others the perfect match.  Colleen hasn't had much luck finding a match for herself. She has tried but her heart can never get over the one that got away Lucas Campbell. Luck would have it Lucas is back in town to help his gravely ill uncle settle his affairs.




     




    Lucas Campbell has no love for his former hometown. He didn't have the easiest of upbringing and going to live with his uncle and aunt wasn't easy either. His uncle treated his like a son but his aunt made his life difficult. Lucas one bright spot was his love for Colleen O'Rourke. Seeing Colleen again has brought all those old feelings back to life. With Lucas only being in town for a short while is not a good reason to start a romance. But neither Lucas nor Colleen can fight the attraction brought back to life. 




     




    Putting her heart back out there is a challenge for Colleen, she is leery of getting her heart broken again.  Risking it all pay be just what these two former lovers need to do to find happiness.




     




    This Blue Heron series is wonderful. The wit is top notch as is the chemistry.  Colleen and Lucas's family had another layer to this exceptional series. Looking forward to Colleen's brother getting his story, hopefully soon. ¿

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  • Posted Fri May 16 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    What fun to revisit Colleen and her brother Colin and all the ot

    What fun to revisit Colleen and her brother Colin and all the other quirky Manninsport inhabitants. Meeting
    Luke, the love of Coleen's life was wonderful. I enjoyed seeing them find their way back to each other.

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  • Posted Wed May 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Paperback/Romance: I really, really wanted to love this book be

    Paperback/Romance: I really, really wanted to love this book because "Catch of the Day" made my keeper shelf. This book was just okay, but I struggled through it because it was 100 pages too long for what it was.

    The Good: Colleen's mom. The setting is quaint and lovable. The dog was cool too and didn't die. I liked that Colleen was a flawed character who gave out lots of love advice and couldn't get a man.

    The Bad: There are too many characters introduced in the first 50 pages and everybody has rich people problems. Seriously, no one has to worry about the rent, plane tickets are no problem, and money grows on trees. I just didn't care because I couldn't relate. Lucas and Colleen aren't cute together. He is stubborn and she is rude, not cute. And what was with the Catholic prayers when she never stepped foot in a church and was in no way religious. Characters showed up and got on my nerve. The side stories were kind of cute.

    I'm not going to recommend it. The first 20 chapters (345 pages) dragged by with too much detail. The next 12 chapters (112 pages) flew by with the better part of the book in more of the Harlequin genre.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed May 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Colleen O¿Rourke spends most of her time running the bar at the

    Colleen O’Rourke spends most of her time running the bar at the tavern she owns with her twin brother, Connor. She also enjoys playing matchmaker and many a wedding in Manningsport has happened due to her ministrations. Colleen would rather be a bridesmaid than a bride as she had her heart broken terribly ten years before by her one and only love, Lucas. Now Lucas is back in town for family reasons and maybe he and Colleen can finally resolve their unfinished business. Is Colleen ready to open herself up to heartbreak again?




    WAITING ON YOU is Colleen O’Rourke’s story – finally! After seeing her successfully unite myriad couples, it may be Colleen’s second chance at happiness. I thought Lucas and Colleen’s story was sweet at first and then when they had their explosive breakup, both parties acted a bit immaturely. However, they were very young at the time. It’s hard to imagine being totally and madly in love for years and then when the first fight arose, walking away. They both made some very bad choices and when Lucas came back to town this time, I wish they’d have taken the time to sit down and truly talk about what happened. There was a serious lack of communication between Colleen and Lucas, but there was plenty of heat and chemistry. WAITING ON YOU isn’t my favorite Blue Heron novel, but I still love the town, the characters, and the solid writing.

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  • Posted Fri May 09 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Loved!!

    I adore Kristan Higgins! She writes the most beautifully funny books. I always look forward to her books. The characters were perfectly written and there was so many emotions. I didn't want the story to end. This is a must read!

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  • Posted Fri May 09 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Not to be missed

    Although the book was part of a series it definitely could be read as a stand alone. The characters were easy to relate to. More than one dimensional and you liked them all the more for their flaws. I read all the books and I must say it was my favorite.

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  • Posted Thu May 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Hott Synopsis: It all comes down to Bryce. Joe is dying and ther

    Hott Synopsis:
    It all comes down to Bryce.
    Joe is dying and there are only two things that he needs to die peacefully – a divorce and for his 30-year-old son to become an adult. Seeing only one way to get what he wants, Joe calls home his nephew, Lucas, to help.

    Paulie is desperately in love with Bryce. No one knowns why – he’s unemployed, she’s an exec; he’s a player, she’s a virgin; he’s shallow, she’s amazing; he’s gorgeous, she’s ummm striking. The only thing they have in common is a gym membership – but even there Paulie works harder than Bryce.

    Colleen, the local matchmaker & bartender, is all in for helping Paulie fulfill her unrequited love… but it’s not as easy as it seems. Especially, when Lucas – Colleen’s one and only love – returns to town and starts interfering.

    Does Colleen have it in her to finish what they started so many years ago or will the fear of getting hurt keep her from a love she desperately wants?

    Hott Review:

    It occurred to me as I was reading this what a wonderful writer Kristin Higgins is. I dropped into this book and was immediately carried away. Plus, she has TONS of characters and because of the names and nicknames she uses I rarely get confused even in a long series or my first visit. Amazing!

    What I liked:I really enjoyed this book! The characters felt really true to me and I enjoyed visiting with them.
    I made a mistake though, I read another’s review and though she didn’t say why she said that one of the characters really disappointed her in the end. After finishing the book – and worrying throughout that I was going to be mortified – I was more shocked that the reviewer was shocked by the behavior. It wasn’t a tremendously shocking thing it was actually very true to the character and real life.

    What I didn’t like: The end bugged me… I wanted, well, more.

    More…
    Author: Kristan Higgins
    Source: Harlequin HQN via Netgalley
    Grade: A
    Steam: Adult — the thoughts were steamier than the actions.
    Setting: Manningsport, New York
    Series: Blue Heron, #3

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  • Posted Wed May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Book Three in the Blue Heron Series. We take a break from th

    Book Three in the Blue Heron Series.




    We take a break from the Holland family for a bit and follow the spunky, but jaded Colleen.  She loves playing matchmaker, but doesn't really believe in love for herself.  Now Luke, her former love, is back in town for his ailing uncle.  He just has to convince Colleen to give him another chance.




    If you're looking for a sweet, funny and emotional read, this is definitely the book for you!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue May 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    A GREAT FUNNY READ

    This was a great book and absolutely hilarious in places. I have read many of her books and have loved all of them. I read the book in one day as I have done with the others! Great book and I can't wait to read the next.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun May 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    This was a great book. I've read a few of this author's books, r

    This was a great book. I've read a few of this author's books, really liked one or two, liked most, didn't like one or 
    two. I really liked this one. Lovable characters, great chemistry, fantastic dialogue, great storyline. I loved it.
    Can't wait for the next one!

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