WAITING FOR WYATT : A RED DIRT NOVEL by SD HENDRICKSON

“You underestimate me, Wyatt Caulfield.”
“And you’re too good for me, Emma Sawyer.”

This was our first book by SD Hendrickson and it’s one we thoroughly enjoyed. We adored this authors writing style and the sweet characters who melted our hearts and whilst the romance was beautiful and gripping, it wasn’t the only aspect of this story which stole our hearts. What completely and utterly had our hearts practically beating out of our chests was the background stories of the abandoned and abused dogs which featured in Waiting for Wyatt and related so much to Wyatt and Emma’s love story.

‘Each of the dogs at the kennel had some story. Some were worse than others, but they were all outsiders in some way, fighting to stay alive or just become a pawn in someone else’s game.’

We’re both huge dog lovers, so a romance wrapped around the rescue, care and love of some adorable four legged friends who only wanted to love and be loved in return, really spoke to us. Their painful, cruel and pitiful backstories completely broke our hearts, yet on the flipside the way in which Wyatt related to them, looked after them and in some ways relied upon them for his own sanity and the way he genuinely loved them lifted our hearts and made them soar.

So too was the way in which Wyatt’s past was allowed to develop. We were continually wondering when he would open up to Emma and reveal why he chose to live out in the sticks with so few creature comforts to his name, taking care of these lonely and unloved dogs and why he was possessed such self-loathing.

“You seem so alone. Do you have anyone, Wyatt? Anyone who knows if you even come home at night.”

Emma never gave up on Wyatt. She was such a beautiful soul with an inherent need to save people and animals. Emma loved to save lost souls and Wyatt most certainly needed saving even if he did take a while to crack.

We felt the push and pull between Emma and Wyatt, his reluctance to confide and share his secrets with her, fearing to do so would turn her away, but Emma is made of stern stuff and wouldn’t let Wyatt go without a fight.

“It’s not wrong to want me.”
“I don’t want you. It’s like I…..I crave you. And its scares me. Because I think you make all of this better.”

We did feel the immediacy in which Emma came to the conclusion that Wyatt was haunted by his past a little unbelievable but this didn’t affect the story moving forward. We loved the way the author stayed true to Wyatt’s character. We did fear his story could ‘change ‘which would have had us feeling a little cheated but this absolutely wasn’t the case as the author delivered Wyatt and Emma’s story with feeling and honesty.

“I know the person I see now. And I know right here.” I rested my hand over his heart. “That person is not bad. He’s just a little lost and broken.”

Dog lovers and romantics….this book was written for you! We’re telling you….Wyatt and those four legged little pookies will STEAL YOUR HEART as they did ours! SD Hendrickson gave these mistreated and unwanted dogs a voice and through Wyatt and Emma we were able to give them a big hug and lots of love. Waiting for Wyatt was a moving and heartfelt story we both adored and we know you will too.