Now a dedicated A&E nurse and single mum to her daughter, Lexi has built a peaceful life in the small town of Leytonsfield. But everything changes when Dr. Casey O’Connor walks into the emergency department as the new trauma consultant. The man she never thought she’d see again.
Casey didn’t expect to find Lexi again, but now that he has, walking away isn’t an option. As they navigate the tension of their shared past and the reality of working side by side, Lexi must decide whether to guard her heart…or take a chance on something real.
This was my first book by Jax Burrows and the first installment in The O’Connors contemporary romance series, and it made a strong first impression. The O’Connor family all work at the Leytonsfield Medical Center, and many scenes in this book—and I assume future books in the series—take place in the hospital setting, making this medical fiction as well. This story is so heartfelt and explores themes of second chances, surprise parenthood, found family, childhood trauma, and emotional healing, all in a very realistic way. The romance centers around nurse Lexi Granger and emergency physician Dr. Casey O’Connor, who shared a steamy one-night stand four years earlier before unexpectedly finding themselves working side by side in the same emergency department. As someone who reads a lot of twisty thrillers and is picky about the romances I choose to read, I was pleased that there were a few twists and turns in this story that caught me off guard and kept things fresh. But what I enjoyed most—and what has me excited to continue with this series—is the fast pacing, the straightforward but compelling writing style, and the cast of characters that felt real and that I quickly became invested in!
This is a dual POV, although it mostly follows Lexi’s POV, with interspersed chapters from Casey. You learn early on that Lexi was raised by the state and has learned to only depend on herself, but she’s also guarded and has unresolved childhood trauma—and I couldn’t help but empathize with her and root for her right from the start! She’s also a single mother to three-year-old Jade, and protecting her daughter is always her first priority, ahead of any romance, which made the second-chance romance in this story not only a slow burn but also very against the odds. When Casey walks into the emergency department on his first day and they lock eyes while treating a patient together, there’s an instant recognition between them—even though they never saw each other again after their one-night stand years earlier. You can literally feel their chemistry oozing off the page and get the sense that both of them have thought about that night many times.
Very early in the novel—and this isn’t a spoiler since it happens almost immediately—Casey discovers that Lexi’s three-year-old daughter is the child conceived during their one-night stand. From there, the story shifts in a direction I wasn’t expecting, focusing less on whether they’ll get together and more on Casey becoming part of Jade’s life. Their attraction doesn’t disappear, but both of them need healing from their pasts and are reluctant to get involved in a relationship. They also barely know each other, and a friends-with-benefits scenario is immediately off the table now that they’re co-parenting. I was really interested to see how the story would unfold, and watching them slowly get acquainted and build trust while navigating co-parenting through authentic conversations and outings was one of my favorite parts of the book.
As invested as I became in their relationship development, I did have to suspend my disbelief at a few plot points. Casey’s inner monologue early on repeatedly reinforces that his heart is closed to any relationship (because he hasn’t fully healed from his last one) and that romance isn’t something he wants in his life, yet once the physical tension between them intensifies, his convictions disappear quickly. Even still, there are many layers beyond their romance that kept me intrigued. There are numerous scenes in the hospital setting that introduce memorable patients whose stories become their own threads—particularly a troubled young addict, Shelly, whose healing journey becomes a catalyst for change in others later on.
I also loved the supporting cast. Lexi’s best friend and housemate, Jess, who’s raising her son Craig, adds warmth and humor and gives emotional support to Lexi throughout, while Casey’s close-knit family, the O’Connors, becomes more prominent as the story unfolds. Seeing as the series is named after them, I was pleased to find how likeable yet different they all are. His brother Riordan, Riordan’s son Tom, as well as Casey’s parents all leave lasting impressions, and I assume we’ll get to know his other siblings (who don’t appear here) in future books. I also appreciated that the author kept the cast intimate, making it easy to become invested in most of the characters and really immerse yourself in the authentic themes and evolving relationships. Because of that, I think this series will appeal not only to romance readers but also to anyone who enjoys layered family drama and second-chance stories.
The short-to-medium-length chapters, paired with authentic dialogue and a fast-moving narrative, make it easy to keep flipping the pages. The second half has even more emotional depth as it explores more of Lexi’s childhood trauma and character jealousy—which I thought was portrayed in a really realistic way and made me reconsider my opinions of certain characters. Casey’s and Lexi’s pasts resurface in unexpected ways, and they face challengesof shared parenthood, all of which feel very true to life. I also enjoyed how the story gradually moves into the Christmas season, with festive scenes, family gatherings, and traditions that highlighted just how tight-knit and loving the O’Connor family is.
My only minor criticism is that some of the compatibility issues and conflicts between Lexi and Casey that are established early on—and reinforced again around the midsection—feel a little too neatly resolved by the end. But this is a common occurrence in many romance books I read. Readers who love happily-ever-afters will be very satisfied here, but I would have liked to see more exploration of how their differences were worked through before everything fell into place. Even still, this is a great start to what seems to be a heartfelt, family-centered romance series, and I’m looking forward to seeing which member of the O’Connor family takes center stage next!
If you enjoy second-chance romances, stories of emotional healing, medical fiction, and found family, I highly recommend this one—and you may want to binge the entire series soon after reading it!
Narrator Performance
Worth Waiting For is narrated by award-winning narrator Charlie Albers, who narrates the first four books in The O’Connors series, giving listeners a top-notch consistent experience from one book to the next.
Albers gives protagonist Lexi Granger a warm, compassionate voice with an undertone of guardedness and resilience, perfectly reflecting someone who’s overcome a lot but still needs healing. From the moment Lexi unexpectedly comes face to face with Dr. Casey O’Connor in the A&E department, you can immediately hear her inner conflict. Albers makes it obvious that Lexi hasn’t forgotten their passionate one-night stand (from years earlier), and you can hear the attraction despite her trying to keep her emotions under control. Once Casey discovers that little Jade is his daughter—a revelation that happens early in the story—Albers subtly shifts her performance. She gives Lexi a more hesitant and uncertain voice as she begins processing what Casey’s sudden presence could mean for her and Jade’s future. At the same time, Albers consistently conveys Lexi’s fiercely independent personality, especially when she confesses to Casey that she grew up in foster care without parents and has learned to rely only on herself.
Some of my favorite scenes in the audiobook are the interactions Casey and Lexi share while working together in the emergency department, particularly those involving troubled young patient Shelley. Albers captures their professionalism, compassion, and partnership beautifully, and I found myself completely invested in Shelley’s story because of how authentic those scenes felt. She also gives their daughter, Jade, an adorable, age-appropriate voice that sounds innocent, curious, and, later on, a little bit obnoxious. The scenes between Casey and Jade are especially touching. You can hear Casey making every effort to become the father Jade deserves, and those scenes are some of the most heartfelt. Lexi’s housemate Jess, Jess’s son Craig, and the rest of the supporting cast are each given distinct voices and personalities that make the audiobook almost sound like a multicast production!
Although most of the story follows Lexi’s POV, Casey’s chapters are often during some key moments, and Albers portrays him in a dynamic performance that conveys his growth throughout the story. Early on, it’s clear that Casey has closed himself off after being hurt in a previous relationship, and Albers gives him a noticeable emotional distance in his voice. As he begins making a serious effort to become part of Jade’s life and contemplates how to approach a relationship with Lexi, you can hear both the uncertainty and determination in his voice. Later, when someone from his past unexpectedly re-enters his life, Albers conveys the discomfort and lingering guilt he feels extremely well. By the final chapters, as Casey begins making life-changing decisions about his future, he sounds much more optimistic and self-assured. The Christmas scenes toward the end are memorable, with Albers emphasizing just how close-knit the O’Connor family is, and the final scenes between Lexi and Casey leave listeners with hopeful, feel-good vibes!
Overall, this is a fantastic start to the O’Connors series, really elevated by Charlie Albers’ excellent narration. Her expert pacing, dynamic expression, and excellent character voices make this audiobook entertaining from start to finish.
If you enjoy second-chance romances, medical fiction, found family, and stories of emotional healing with characters you’ll be invested in, I highly recommend giving this audiobook—and the entire series—a listen!
Narrator Performance
Worth Waiting For is narrated by award-winning narrator Charlie Albers, who narrates the first four books in The O’Connors series, giving listeners a top-notch consistent experience from one book to the next.
Albers gives protagonist Lexi Granger a warm, compassionate voice with an undertone of guardedness and resilience, perfectly reflecting someone who’s overcome a lot but still needs healing. From the moment Lexi unexpectedly comes face to face with Dr. Casey O’Connor in the A&E department, you can immediately hear her inner conflict. Albers makes it obvious that Lexi hasn’t forgotten their passionate one-night stand (from years earlier), and you can hear the attraction despite her trying to keep her emotions under control. Once Casey discovers that little Jade is his daughter—a revelation that happens early in the story—Albers subtly shifts her performance. She gives Lexi a more hesitant and uncertain voice as she begins processing what Casey’s sudden presence could mean for her and Jade’s future. At the same time, Albers consistently conveys Lexi’s fiercely independent personality, especially when she confesses to Casey that she grew up in foster care without parents and has learned to rely only on herself.
Some of my favorite scenes in the audiobook are the interactions Casey and Lexi share while working together in the emergency department, particularly those involving troubled young patient Shelley. Albers captures their professionalism, compassion, and partnership beautifully, and I found myself completely invested in Shelley’s story because of how authentic those scenes felt. She also gives their daughter, Jade, an adorable, age-appropriate voice that sounds innocent, curious, and, later on, a little bit obnoxious. The scenes between Casey and Jade are especially touching. You can hear Casey making every effort to become the father Jade deserves, and those scenes are some of the most heartfelt. Lexi’s housemate Jess, Jess’s son Craig, and the rest of the supporting cast are each given distinct voices and personalities that make the audiobook almost sound like a multicast production!
Although most of the story follows Lexi’s POV, Casey’s chapters are often during some key moments, and Albers portrays him in a dynamic performance that conveys his growth throughout the story. Early on, it’s clear that Casey has closed himself off after being hurt in a previous relationship, and Albers gives him a noticeable emotional distance in his voice. As he begins making a serious effort to become part of Jade’s life and contemplates how to approach a relationship with Lexi, you can hear both the uncertainty and determination in his voice. Later, when someone from his past unexpectedly re-enters his life, Albers conveys the discomfort and lingering guilt he feels extremely well. By the final chapters, as Casey begins making life-changing decisions about his future, he sounds much more optimistic and self-assured. The Christmas scenes toward the end are memorable, with Albers emphasizing just how close-knit the O’Connor family is, and the final scenes between Lexi and Casey leave listeners with hopeful, feel-good vibes!
Overall, this is a fantastic start to the O’Connors series, really elevated by Charlie Albers’ excellent narration. Her expert pacing, dynamic expression, and excellent character voices make this audiobook entertaining from start to finish.
If you enjoy second-chance romances, medical fiction, found family, and stories of emotional healing with characters you’ll be invested in, I highly recommend giving this audiobook—and the entire series—a listen!
Worth Waiting For is narrated by award-winning narrator Charlie Albers, who narrates the first four books in The O’Connors series, giving listeners a top-notch consistent experience from one book to the next.
Albers gives protagonist Lexi Granger a warm, compassionate voice with an undertone of guardedness and resilience, perfectly reflecting someone who’s overcome a lot but still needs healing. From the moment Lexi unexpectedly comes face to face with Dr. Casey O’Connor in the A&E department, you can immediately hear her inner conflict. Albers makes it obvious that Lexi hasn’t forgotten their passionate one-night stand (from years earlier), and you can hear the attraction despite her trying to keep her emotions under control. Once Casey discovers that little Jade is his daughter—a revelation that happens early in the story—Albers subtly shifts her performance. She gives Lexi a more hesitant and uncertain voice as she begins processing what Casey’s sudden presence could mean for her and Jade’s future. At the same time, Albers consistently conveys Lexi’s fiercely independent personality, especially when she confesses to Casey that she grew up in foster care without parents and has learned to rely only on herself.
Some of my favorite scenes in the audiobook are the interactions Casey and Lexi share while working together in the emergency department, particularly those involving troubled young patient Shelley. Albers captures their professionalism, compassion, and partnership beautifully, and I found myself completely invested in Shelley’s story because of how authentic those scenes felt. She also gives their daughter, Jade, an adorable, age-appropriate voice that sounds innocent, curious, and, later on, a little bit obnoxious. The scenes between Casey and Jade are especially touching. You can hear Casey making every effort to become the father Jade deserves, and those scenes are some of the most heartfelt. Lexi’s housemate Jess, Jess’s son Craig, and the rest of the supporting cast are each given distinct voices and personalities that make the audiobook almost sound like a multicast production!
Although most of the story follows Lexi’s POV, Casey’s chapters are often during some key moments, and Albers portrays him in a dynamic performance that conveys his growth throughout the story. Early on, it’s clear that Casey has closed himself off after being hurt in a previous relationship, and Albers gives him a noticeable emotional distance in his voice. As he begins making a serious effort to become part of Jade’s life and contemplates how to approach a relationship with Lexi, you can hear both the uncertainty and determination in his voice. Later, when someone from his past unexpectedly re-enters his life, Albers conveys the discomfort and lingering guilt he feels extremely well. By the final chapters, as Casey begins making life-changing decisions about his future, he sounds much more optimistic and self-assured. The Christmas scenes toward the end are memorable, with Albers emphasizing just how close-knit the O’Connor family is, and the final scenes between Lexi and Casey leave listeners with hopeful, feel-good vibes!
Overall, this is a fantastic start to the O’Connors series, really elevated by Charlie Albers’ excellent narration. Her expert pacing, dynamic expression, and excellent character voices make this audiobook entertaining from start to finish.
If you enjoy second-chance romances, medical fiction, found family, and stories of emotional healing with characters you’ll be invested in, I highly recommend giving this audiobook—and the entire series—a listen!
