Waiting For You
by Mari Carr
Self-Published
Book 1 in the Sparks in Texas Series
How do you protect the woman you love…when the greatest danger is sleeping in her bed?
Sydney Sparks can’t remember a time when Chas wasn’t part of her life—from childhood playmates, to high-school sweethearts, to long-distance friends. Now, after twelve long years, Chas is leaving the Marines and coming home. Sydney’s thrilled to have him back on American soil, safe and sound, even if his return is doing funny things to her heart.
The second he stepped off the plane and locked gazes with Sydney, Chas refused to waste a minute more on their “just friends” status quo. Together again, it feels as if they were never apart, the love they’d shared as innocent teens now vastly more intense as adults—with a sexual hunger to match.
However, despite his newfound happiness, Chas can’t seem to shake the memories of his tours in the Middle East, of the firefights, the killing…the deaths of his friends. When the flashbacks grow stronger, Chas struggles to hide his increasing lack of control, terrified of losing everything he’d just regained—including Sydney.
Genre
Triggers
PTSD from war/military
I love a friends to lovers story. Especially a childhood friends to lovers one. So I was thrilled when I saw that the next book in the Sparks in Texas series was a friends to lovers story. When I saw that it was a novella, and centered around a character struggling with PTSD, I was curious to see if Mari Carr could pull it off.
I was pleasantly surprised.
Now, just like the short story before this book, it was quick. To the point. Predictable.
But it still hit all my buttons.
It had me smiling. It had me crying. It was hot. Really, really hot.
And while I sometimes feel like writers use the PTSD trope without properly researching it, I actually think Chas's symptoms felt realistic.
For a short little book, it did the job for me. If I had to complain about anything, its that I wish we got some more bits and pieces of their friendship and short relationship before he enlisted. A little more substance between these two could have added more to the story, but it wouldn't have added more to their chemistry, which they had in spades.
If you like short and spicy romances, that skip over a lot of the build up, but still have substance, this book - this series - is for you.
Sydney: “What the hell are you up to?”
He tugged her hair playfully.
Chas: “I kind of thought that was obvious.”
Sydney: “We’re having a long talk later.”
Chas: “I look forward to it.”
Jeannette: “Oh my God. Those two will not catch a clue.”
Macie: “They like you,”
Macie said with a wicked grin, provoking Jeannette’s irritation even more.
Jeannette: “They. Do you hear what you’re saying, Mace? They like me. The rest of Maris may turn a blind eye to their exploits, may pat them on the back for their dating habits, but I have no issue calling them out for it. It’s not normal for two grown-assed men to date women together. When did threesomes become an acceptable practice around here?”
Macie: “When Diego and Luc started doing it,”
Jeannette: “Call him, Syd.”
Frustration hit hard.
Sydney: “And say what, Nettie? Hey Chas. What’s up? Want to get together tonight for dinner or to fuck like rabbits or to get married?”
Chas: “I’d be up for any of those.”
Sydney whirled at the sound of Chas’ voice in the doorway. Macie stood next to him with an expression that was equal parts horrified and amused.
Chas: “I’m going to take you over my knee and spank you, Sydney.”
Sydney: “Finally. I was afraid I was going to have to throw a temper tantrum and start breaking stuff.”
Chas: “What do I do?”
Julian: “You go see that doctor friend of Tyson’s. You stop pushing the people you love away. You find Sydney, apologize again—even though those words will be for you, not her—and then you propose to the girl. She’s waited a hell of a long time for you.”
Chas chuckled.
Chas: “According to her, she didn’t wait at all.”
Julian: “She’s a damn liar.”
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