Waiting for Lana

Rating:
Summary: A Real Love Story
Review: A beautiful, but lengthy love story of a teenager named Lana Black; Waiting for Lana is wonderfully written to profile the life of an exceptional young person. Told from 3 major voices, Lana Black, her brother King Black, Jr. and Lana's most steady boyfriend, Jason Stapleton, this story has the power to grip you and keep you interested. Although not thrilled with the layout of the book, I was anxious to read the ending and I'll admit that at times I was ready to flip to the last few chapters to see if my suspicions were correct but I resisted that temptation.

Lana Black became a teenaged unwed mother at the age of 19. Coming from a "good" family her parents, in particular her father, were not thrilled that their oldest daughter chose not to marry the man because she didn't see their relationship as loving. Here was a man that was willing to marry her out of duty or obligation and with the feelings of love and Lana openly turned him down. Not to be daunted by her parents' insistence that marriage was the right step for her, she pursued her life as she envisioned. Her dearest confident, her older brother King, Jr. was also searching for love, this story as much as it is about Lana, is also the metamorphosis of his love life as well.

Jason Stapleton has enamored Lana but ill placed words and outside influences have soured their relationship to the point that it seems irreconcilable. It is apparent that they are unable to exist without the presence of each other in their lives but they gallantly try. Lana even marries someone else. As the story unfolds, the reader will become enthralled with the level of maturity Lana has, the wonderful supportive backbone of friends and family and the general good nature of the story itself. Waiting for Lana is a wonderful story to kick back and read over the course of a weekend. This story didn't dwell on negatives but chose to accentuate the positives that are found in every situation. This alone kept me reading. It definitely wasn't a story that glorified teenage pregnancy but rather glorified the fact that being a teenaged parent wasn't the end of a life but the end of a chapter, more pages can be turned and positive outcomes can be obtained. Inspirational would be a fitting adjective.

A storybook ending if ever there was one, Waiting for Lana captures the essence of romance found in sappy romance novels without being sappy. A well-written story that leaves the reader refreshed.

Rating:
Summary: A Real Love Story
Review: A beautiful, but lengthy love story of a teenager named Lana Black; Waiting for Lana is wonderfully written to profile the life of an exceptional young person. Told from 3 major voices, Lana Black, her brother King Black, Jr. and Lana's most steady boyfriend, Jason Stapleton, this story has the power to grip you and keep you interested. Although not thrilled with the layout of the book, I was anxious to read the ending and I'll admit that at times I was ready to flip to the last few chapters to see if my suspicions were correct but I resisted that temptation.

Lana Black became a teenaged unwed mother at the age of 19. Coming from a "good" family her parents, in particular her father, were not thrilled that their oldest daughter chose not to marry the man because she didn't see their relationship as loving. Here was a man that was willing to marry her out of duty or obligation and with the feelings of love and Lana openly turned him down. Not to be daunted by her parents' insistence that marriage was the right step for her, she pursued her life as she envisioned. Her dearest confident, her older brother King, Jr. was also searching for love, this story as much as it is about Lana, is also the metamorphosis of his love life as well.

Jason Stapleton has enamored Lana but ill placed words and outside influences have soured their relationship to the point that it seems irreconcilable. It is apparent that they are unable to exist without the presence of each other in their lives but they gallantly try. Lana even marries someone else. As the story unfolds, the reader will become enthralled with the level of maturity Lana has, the wonderful supportive backbone of friends and family and the general good nature of the story itself. Waiting for Lana is a wonderful story to kick back and read over the course of a weekend. This story didn't dwell on negatives but chose to accentuate the positives that are found in every situation. This alone kept me reading. It definitely wasn't a story that glorified teenage pregnancy but rather glorified the fact that being a teenaged parent wasn't the end of a life but the end of a chapter, more pages can be turned and positive outcomes can be obtained. Inspirational would be a fitting adjective.

A storybook ending if ever there was one, Waiting for Lana captures the essence of romance found in sappy romance novels without being sappy. A well-written story that leaves the reader refreshed.

Rating:
Summary: A great reader
Review: A friend suggested I read this book. The cover picture already had me wanting to read it, but I didn't let on to it. The first chapter was real, too real. I felt the pain of the character Lana and wanted to continue reading just to see if she would get over it. I was then surprised to see chapters written by (males) Jason and King. I could actually picture the reality of their situations. I then had to check the picture on the back cover of the book to see if Allisa McVea was actually a woman. Somebody must have helped her with those male characters, if not, my question to her would be, "how did you know?" I thought her character developement was excellent. You learned just enough about the character at the right time, never knowing what was to happen next. Before I read this book, I thought I knew the story that began with a pregnant teen, but I'm glad I read it because I had only assumed.

Rating:
Summary: A great reader
Review: A friend suggested I read this book. The cover picture already had me wanting to read it, but I didn't let on to it. The first chapter was real, too real. I felt the pain of the character Lana and wanted to continue reading just to see if she would get over it. I was then surprised to see chapters written by (males) Jason and King. I could actually picture the reality of their situations. I then had to check the picture on the back cover of the book to see if Allisa McVea was actually a woman. Somebody must have helped her with those male characters, if not, my question to her would be, "how did you know?" I thought her character developement was excellent. You learned just enough about the character at the right time, never knowing what was to happen next. Before I read this book, I thought I knew the story that began with a pregnant teen, but I'm glad I read it because I had only assumed.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable Journey
Review: Such great writing. Fiction writing is not my favorite, but this "Waiting for Lana" was well worth the reading. When I first begin my journey, I thought "oh no, another male basher." But midway through, I realized that there was much more to the story. And upon my conclusion I knew that "Waiting for Lana" was a very entertaining selection. It is very hard to talk about the writing without telling the story, so I can only say "when will there be another (possibly non-fiction)?

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable Journey
Review: Such great writing. Fiction writing is not my favorite, but this "Waiting for Lana" was well worth the reading. When I first begin my journey, I thought "oh no, another male basher." But midway through, I realized that there was much more to the story. And upon my conclusion I knew that "Waiting for Lana" was a very entertaining selection. It is very hard to talk about the writing without telling the story, so I can only say "when will there be another (possibly non-fiction)?

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable Journey
Review: Such great writing. Fiction writing is not my favorite, but this "Waiting for Lana" was well worth the reading. When I first begin my journey, I thought "oh no, another male basher." But midway through, I realized that there was much more to the story. And upon my conclusion I knew that "Waiting for Lana" was a very entertaining selection. It is very hard to talk about the writing without telling the story, so I can only say "when will there be another (possibly non-fiction)?

Rating:
Summary: BRILLIANT!!
Review: The story of Lana and Jason will go down in the history books. Allisa McVea is truly a talented author. By the time you reach the end of this book, there will be no questions as to what next. I feel as if I've been liberated and have the ability to see twenty years out, the lives of the characters.

Allisa McVea, thank you for bringing such a well thought out novel. I am a White Female and I read every page and have not one complaint.

I hope to see more from you.

Rating:
Summary: In The Game of Love
Review: Waiting for Lana is the story of love and commitment. We are introduced to Lana Black, her brother King Black and Jason Stapleton. From them we learn different perspectives on love, relationships and commitment.

Lana Black is a teen mother who has had several relationships, some good some not so good. She has no desire to marry the father of her child or any man for that matter. Her family pressures her to get married, but Lana has no interest in getting married for the sake of a child. After enduring several heartbreaks, she meets Jason Stapleton, who could very well turn her views on love and marriage around. But Lana is a tough cookie to crack, is Jason up for the challenge?

Jason Stapleton is a very successful businessman who has had his share of women. Jason is all for love and marriage and living happily ever after if he could just find that ONE woman to share his life with. When he meets Lana he feels she is the one for him. He accepts her son as his own and they go to the finest restaurants and on lavish trips together. Everything seems to finally be working out for them in the game of love, until a relationship from Jason's past comes into play. Will yet another relationship fail or will love prevail?

King Black is Lana's older and wiser brother, who owns two businesses and is happily involved. His family isn't to keen on his girlfriend and Lana personally can't stand her. But as they say love is blind and King sees no wrong in his girlfriend. The truth comes to light when King learns the real deal regarding his girlfriend. The relationship ends and King again is on the search for someone to share his life with. He has everything life has to offer except a queen to share it with. Can he find a diamond in a sea of jewels?

Waiting for Lana takes us on a voyage in the minds of three very different individuals regarding love and commitment. We delve into the life of single parenthood and starting life anew. We also see just how it is when all life seems to do is throw curve balls. We realize there is light at the end of the tunnel or is there?

Reviewed by Eraina B. Tinnin