The Waiting by Carol James

The Waiting

Carol James

January, 2019

White Rose, an imprint of Pelican Ventures LLC

Ebook $5.99

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About the Book

When Katherine Herrington was a teenager, she made "The List" and believed God would bring her the husband she desired. That faith helped her to keep life under control just the way she likes it. But then Katherine loses her mother, her job, and her boyfriend, and after years of praying, she accepts the probability that God's answer is, "No." 

A professional soccer player, Sam Tucker has lived the life of a celebrity in the UK only to discover that, despite all the wealth and fame he has acquired, his life is empty. He returns to the one place where life last had meaning, and goes in search of the one woman he's loved since he was a teenager—Katherine. He wonders if she'll remember him after all these years... And fears she just might.

As God weaves together a rejected proposal, a mission trip, and a devastating storm to turn their hearts toward Him and toward each other, Katherine and Sam will have to let go of their fears, find forgiveness and trust, and realize that their future together was worth the wait.

My Review

Yes, I needed tissues at the end, which is saying a lot since at the beginning I really didn’t think I was going to like these people. They were too…realistic. I like my take-me-away fiction to take me away from all that. But I was compelled to follow these two oddball people in The Waiting, which is not Amish fiction, by the way; just really sweet and wholesome even with some pretty significant tension. Hence the reality part; hence the tension.

I am accused of not letting my characters out of the bag of life when I choose to let them exercise self-control and not use sex for recreational purposes. I think it’s awkward to forcedfeed vicarious lifestyle choices on others without opportunity to make choices and changes. James’s characters, Katherine and Sam, are certainly flawed, but modernly appropriate. Katherine is so wound-up following rules she made for herself, in being so regulated that she forgets to stop and enjoy life. Sam, the professional athlete with a self-realized dream life, wakes up alone one day and realizes his life is one meaningless mess, lived for all the wrong reasons. When these two hook up, you want to cheer for them. They have issues to deal with, of course. And they frustrated me, but in a good way. This is a romance, so of course it has a given outcome, but this is one journey readers of romance will enjoy.

Told in multiple perspectives, this lovingly created romance hits all the right highs and lows.

About the Author

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell "Terrorist," Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she'd been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Retired from her "real" job, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, volunteering at and serving on the board of a nearby Christian school, and serving in the production department at her church.

She is also a soccer fan extraordinaire and keeps her DVR busy recording Atlanta United and English Premier League games.

And, most days in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.