Review: Book Lives Up to the Title
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 26, 2011
Lately, I've been searching (mostly in vain) for a sweet inter-racial romance that was not erotica or an inspirational love story.  I wanted something that had a plot, characters I could sink my teeth into and that little extra something to capture my imagination.  While, Delaney Diamond's "Worth the Wait" doesn't hit the ball out the park completely, it is the solid read that I was looking for.Julia Newman is a successful, 35 year old venture capitalist living in Atlanta.  She is smart, attractive, wealthy and well educated.  She is also alone.  Julia hasn't been in a relationship for years.  After being hurt by a past lover, she has poured herself into her work and shifted her focus from romance to career.  Imagine her shock when for the first time in years, she meets a man that she has an instant spark with.  That man happens to be her slightly younger, Puerto Rican contractor Frederico Mendoza.Freddie Mendoza feels an instant attraction to his latest client, Julia Newman.  But she is an uptown professional.  He's been burned in the past when he's tried to cross the barrier of class and he isn't interested in being another professional woman's blue collar fantasy.  But there is something about Julia that he is drawn to.  He can't shake the feeling and after  a few false starts neither can she.I liked and respected both of these characters.  I understood why they were drawn to each other and why they were initially resistant to pursue the relationship.  Julia's aloof and cool exterior hid a vulnerable, lonely soul with a loving and giving heart.  Freddie was a sweet, kind, handsome man who was gun shy, but ultimately knew what he wanted.  And while he had patience with Julia, he wasn't a cardboard cut-out that didn't call her out when he needed to.These characters had plenty of chemistry, but if you are looking for a "hot" read, this isn't the book for you.  This novella is not erotica.  It is a simple love story with some intimacy, but it is not explicit at all.  I found that to be refreshing and a welcome change.This story had a plot, great characters, believable dialogue and that little extra something that I haven't been finding lately.  It wasn't a full length book, so it lacked some of the depth that I look for. Also, the author did not fully flesh out the side story of Julia's father and his romantic life.  But it was a solid, sweet read that I found to be worth the money, time and wait.