Waiting for Forever (Hope Valley Book 8)

Jessica Prince; Goddess Divine, has gifted us with book eight in the Hope Valley Series, Waiting for Forever. I love the entirety of the Hope Valley series, so if you haven’t read it, I do recommend reading them in order, you can however read it as a standalone.

Waiting for Forever is a classic story with a sweet twist that will wrap you up and never let you go (not that you would want too). Shy, nerdy girl falls in love with the cute neighbor boy, life happens and years later they meet again as new people.

Nerdy girl next door, Danika “Dani” Parrish falls in love with the boy next store. Meeting as children, but never really knowing one another. Dani is shy, and awkward as a child, then a teenager, but finally as an adult grows into the person she is meant to be. Kind, loving, giving, but still shy, and still holding on to that crush on the boy next store. Dani opens her own shop, the most popular bakery in Hope Valley, she has her friends, her family and her bakery. A normal little life, but alone. Little does she know, life is about to change.

Leo Drake. High school hottie, prince of the school, married his high school sweet heart and gets his dream job as a cop. Life was good, or at least he thought that was it was meant to be. After ten plus years in an unhappy marriage, Leo finally divorces his hateful, mean wife and moves on to greener pastures. After getting his kids settled, and life as normal as they can make it, Leo visits the famous “Muffin Top”. Nothing prepared him for the woman behind the counter, nothing prepared him for Dani.

I can’t express how much I not only love this book, but this entire series! I get major Kristen Ashley vibes reading it, but it also gives the reader a warm happiness while reading it. A contemporary love story of first love, loss, pain and forgiveness. You will laugh, you will cry over the sweet, rage at the bad, swoon at the naughty and even want to kick Leo’s booty for a little while, but you will LOVE it. It’s a Taylor Swift song, rolled in sugar, coated in sprinkles and dipped in the naughtiest chocolate. Five out five star!!

I loved this story, I loved this series. This 5 star story was just plain amazing and a page turner. Read it in one sitting.

Danika was an awkward teenager who had a massive crush on her neighbor, Leo. He didn’t know she existed. Now years later, he notices and she can’t believe he’s interested. Long gone is the awkward teenager.

This was an amazing story that sucked me in and held me captive for an entire night. I couldn’t go to sleep, I needed to see the end. It’s highly entertaining and addicting. Great characters that made me feel for them. Bottomline this is a must read.

Although it’s part of a series, I think it could be read as a standalone. But for better enjoyed read them all. Told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.

The Hope Valley series from Jessica Prince has become so precious to me. The town and it’s characters are so endearing. Waiting for Forever, book #8 will hold a special place in my heart. It spoke volumes to me and my life experience.
Danika was the nerdy girl growing up. She was quiet and shy and kept to herself. Next door was this amazing young man that she admired from afar. Why would he ever notice the “fat geek” from across the street? Fast forward to adult life and Danika owns the amazing “Muffin Top” coffee and baked goods store that all the town loves. She is still nerdy but she grew into herself as she grew up.
The amazing young man across the street ended up being the King of the School – all the girls wanted to be his and needless to say, the head cheerleader was his girl. The “It” couple married and moved away but eventually return divorced but with children.
When Danika runs into Leo, all the feelings return and she falls for him all over again. He falls for her too but sometimes the evil EX still seems to win in the end!
I was on the verge of tears through most of this when memories of my childhood bullies came back to haunt me. Jessica Prince pulled me back together in the end and for this I am eternally grateful.

***5 Team Danika’ Stars***

And we have another winner!

I swear, every book in this series and it’s spinoff Redemption, just hit all my small town romance buttons in the best way every time, and this baby truly brings the small town of Hope Valley to life in a big way with a cast of amazing characters I love spending time with.

I ADORED Danika. She’s sweet, shy, sassy and owns all that she is. She has a golden heart, and though she is nice to everyone, she doesn’t let anyone walk all over her. Leo. It was hard not to love the guy. He is a good man who wants to do right by everyone that matters in his life, including himself.

I loved Danika and Leo together. They had a flow that made me want to spend more time with them and see them get their HEA because they both deserved it. Their bantering was funny and sweet and their chemistry was intense…and then that big ‘ole roadblock happened. Hands down, I was team Danika, though I could understand why Leo went where he did ~ not like it, but understand it. Thankfully, the grovelling ended up being on point, and I loved how Danika stood her ground until she was truly ready to let Leo back in and my heart did a happy dance at how things were with them when I read the words ‘The End’

This book was a great addition to the series. I loved catching up with the rest of the HV gang and seeing how all of their relationships are evolving and I absolutely adored Jed, Hardin and Macie and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book to see who will fall next!

~ Copy provided by LAwF & voluntarily reviewed ~

I can’t say that enough: this is one of my favorite series EVER!

I loved everything about this book. The characters, the plot, the chemistry between the main characters, the mistakes, the redemption. There was just so much to love.

Leo has finally gotten out of a toxic marriage that lasted more than enough. His kids (Macie and Hardin), even though are both wonderful, are in the middle of a turmoil built by their evil mother (Leo’s ex). The personification of the devil only cares about herself and doesn’t mind hurting their children as she spews her venom everywhere.

But it’s in the middle of that havoc that Leo finally sees the marvelous, shy, pure sweet woman that had lived across from him and crushed him from afar for so many years. And once he gets a taste, he can’t get enough.

Dani is so amazing. She is nurturing, caring, always so willing to help and adorably shy. She is always the nerdy girl who had to watch her dreams crumble when the guy she wanted married the devil himself.

Leo is sexy, protective, a wonderful father who loves his kids more than anything, but that couldn’t keep living that miserable life. He has such a heavy baggage (aka, his ex-wife and the scars she left), but all he needed was the sweet balm only his Danika could provide.

They were so hot and adorable together. They matched beautifully and the way they dealed with Leo’s kids was a sight to behold.
I loved Dani’s interactions with Macie and Hardin almost as much as I loved Dani and Leo together.

It was so wonderful watching everything the four of them were building together: their trust, their respect for each other, the loyalty they all earned, the love that bloomed despite all odds. It wasn’t and easy nor a straight path in any way.
It was full of curves, rocks, what looked like dead ends. But at every turn, every obstacle, they seemed to find a way to overcome and go to where they all belonged – together.

Their love was powerful and they cherished each other so beautifully. Leo, Macie and Hardin finally learned what is like to be loved by a woman (a lover and a mother figure). And even if they didn’t know they were wainting for it, with Danika, the four of the them finally found the forever the were waiting for.