When Elise’s mother died, she promised to take care of her father. It was a pledge she took seriously even if it meant giving up on love. When she met Nick, she was intrigued but knew she couldn’t marry him because of her promise.
My Review of Waiting on Love
Waiting on Love offered an interesting look at life on the ships that sailed the great lakes, but a lot of the times, the story dragged because it had too much minutiae. I struggled to get into the story because it seemed as if there was too much focus on recounting every single detail which at times got repetitive.
Also, the moments that should have been high tension were dropped in almost as an afterthought.
The Characters in Waiting on Love
There were some likable characters such as Elise, Nick, Captain Wright and Tom but they were pretty flat and it was hard to get invested in the characters’ stories.
Elise seemed like a sweet character but on some ways she was too good. She mentioned having an issue with anger but that didn’t really come out in the story though there were several opportunities when it could have.
Nick was a bit more believable but even his story was difficult to get into. When he finally comes face to face with his past things seemed to wrap up a bit too easily and conveniently.
I did not like Elise’s sister, Caroline, as she seemed shallow and selfish…even near the end when the plot was unraveling. In the beginning she was cold, entitled, and rude. When she tried to change, I wasn’t convinced especially as she tended to flip back to being selfish and oblivious to the people around her.
Duran was a completely horrid character and I didn’t quite buy into Captain Wright’s reason to keep giving him “second” chances when it was obvious he didn’t want them.
Duran’s character teaches an important lesson though, when we look at ourselves and realize how bad we are, do we want redemption? Do we want Someone to reach out to us and imbue us with their righteousness?
If we don’t want to change, we won’t recognize our need for a Savior and our won’t accept the gift of salvation that’s freely offered through Jesus Christ .
I did enjoy the fact that Elise, Nick, and Captain Wright actively pursued a relationship with God. Their faith encourages us to pursue the same.
The Themes in Waiting on Love
There are several themes running through Waiting on Love one of which is the fact that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Tied to this theme was that of forgiveness, especially forgiveness of self.
We will make mistakes but when we are in Christ, healing, forgiveness, and redemption are readily available. We need to remind ourselves that when we confess our sins, God hears and forgives us so we need to accept His forgiveness and extend the same to ourselves.
Final Thoughts on Waiting on Love
Waiting on Love will give you a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who sailed in the Great Lakes.
Three of the main characters had a strong faith and will remind readers to hold on to God when things get hard because He is our refuge and strength.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.
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About Waiting on Love
She’s made big promises. It’ll take everything she’s got to keep them.
Crisscrossing the Great Lakes onboard her father’s freighter ship, the Mary Elise, Elise Wright has grown up cooking and caring for the crew. It is a life she loves. Unlike her estranged sister, Elise has turned down numerous opportunities for a “respectable life” with their wealthy relatives. And now, because of promises she made to her dying mother, she’s bound to the ship and her deeply grieving father more than ever.
Nick Clark is grateful to be hired on as the Mary Elise‘s first mate as he works to overcome his own guilt and others’ censure for a fatal decision he made captaining another ship. He feels protective of the Wrights and their generous natures, especially when a rough new sailor seems intent on causing serious trouble.
As the sailor’s misdeeds grow, tragedy swells up from another corner. Left to pick up the pieces of the commitments they’ve made to themselves and to each other, Nick and Elise will have to rely on their faith to see them through.
About Tracie Peterson
Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over 100 novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit www.traciepeterson.com to learn more.