Update:

I’ve long since finished this, and have been meaning to add an addendum to my review.  The story gets better, and better, and ends with a strong, believable finish.  I enjoyed it so much that I bought the print version available on Lulu as a Christmas present for a friend.

Original Review (September 30, 2008):

This review is based on the first 16 chapters.

Waiting for Spring is a very well-written, consistent story with a skillful eye for characterization.  It’s not a showy fantasy or clever comedy or groundbreaking genre-maker—but it accomplishes something even better.  It shows you a main character and unfolding group of secondary characters, that live and breathe and reach out of the computer screen to touch the reader’s heart and mind.

I found myself identifying with Tess deeply, even though I haven’t been through her experiences.  Well, not most of them, not exactly, but that’s where the author’s talent for characterization shines through.  I felt like I knew Tess’s life and understood how it was to live/have lived that life.  I wanted to leap to her defense against characters that judged her.

The unfolding romance between Tess and Brian helps bring hope to what can often be a very depressing narrative about a downtrodden person whose life is filled with pain and regret.  At Chapter 16 their love is still blossoming and sweet—in fact my only semi-critical comment about the story at the moment is that things are going so well between them currently that it’s starting to slow the story’s drive a little.  It can be difficult to balance conflict with some relief (I’d have trouble reading a story that did nothing but make me want to slit my wrists) and I still think the author is doing a good job.  But I’ve started to find it easier to tear myself away than when I read the first ten or so chapters, so I’m interested in the romantic troubles ahead that the summary promises.

All in all, I highly recommend the story to anyone who likes good characterization, slice of life, romance, good writing, and clean, easily navigable site design.

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A great book!  Insightful and real.  The characters are well-developed; I felt like I knew them shortly after starting the book.  I shared their happiness and their pain.  I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.  And as I said, the story is real – it isn’t all rosebuds and champagne.  Life is a struggle and the reader [more . . .]

I was hooked on this story before I was halfway through Chapter 1. There was so much longing, hope and despair in this story but it was tempered with a sweetness and gritty realism that drew me right in and kept me hanging on. As the story begins, Tess, the central character, is facing the stark reality of divorce, trying [more . . .]