The best part of this book is the merry rapport between sarcastic Carla, moody Michael, and cheerful Tim. The trio comes together halfway through the novel, and immediately the story perks up under the influence of their amusing interactions.

However, once you've heard one story about a women slowly being maneuvered into believing herself mad, you've heard them all. Wait for What Will Come doesn't add anything new to this traditional plot. Additionally, the book is inexplicably burdened with a dozen overt references to Jane Eyre. There's no real point of comparison between the two novels, beyond the generic idea of a young woman coming home to a creepy manor. Which makes it so very strange to keep coming across the characters talking about Jane Eyre; you keep expecting a governess to show up or a madwoman to drop out of the attic or something. But, no. Unless there's a plot twist concerning lusty sea-demons in Eyre that I've forgotten, the two books are entirely different. ( )

I have read several of Michael's books, and have enjoyed them. Not so this one. I didn't like the characters--not even the Carla, the main one. I thought the plot was convoluted and ending ridiculously trite. ( )

Sometimes I really need a Gothic fix. When I do, Barbara Michaels is perfect for it. This book takes place in Cornwall and has all the requisite parts: a mysterious death 200 years ago of a person who looks just like our heroine and the anniversary is approaching, the ancestral home in Cornwall, the sweet housekeeper who is trying to keep our heroine safe, and a plenitude of potential suitors. Of course, the story is how all these parts tie together.

If you like Gothics, then you probably already know about Barbara Michaels. If you want a good place to start, this book is a standard one of hers. ( )

Summary from Goodreads:

"She was the last of an ancient Cornish clan, and Carla Tregellas had inherited the pride of her family name - a huge mansion that loomed high above the jagged cliffs of Cornwall. She felt at home there right from the start, for everyone seemed so kind and welcoming. Everyone except Mrs. Pendennis, the eccentric housekeeper who advised Carla to leave at once to deter a tragic and inevitable fate. But Carla could not leave - for the invisible bonds of an ancestral curse were just beginning to take hold..."

My Thoughts:

Wait For What Will Come is my 3rd book by Michaels and has cemented my determination to read all of her books firmly in place. I adored the creepy atmosphere that the author created with this book; it reminded me of a gothic horror novel. It had all of the elements in place with an eerie, decrepit old house, an ancient legend, and of course mysterious happenings with little to no explanations. I found myself instantly caught up in the web that the author created...this book had me hooked and didn't want to let me go. And even though I found the book to be slightly predictable at times, overall I found that it didn't detract from my enjoyment whatsoever. I found myself lost in the mystery surrounding the house and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. The ending of the book did take me by surprise and I found it to be overall very satisfying.

All in all, I found this to be a very entertaining read and I'm eager to read more by this author! I love the gothic atmosphere and elements that she uses in her novels. Luckily enough for me, she has an extensive back list of books that I can choose from. I would highly recommend this author and this book!

Bottom Line: A creepy, atmospheric read...what more could you ask for???

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library. Now I'm off to check my library catalog to see what other books by her that they have available :) ( )

Wait For What Will Come was a quick read, and a novel much in the vein of Mary Stewart. Carla Tregellas, a young American schoolteacher, inherits an old house on the Cornwall coast from a distant cousin. Upon arriving in Cornwall (in the midst of a storm, no less), Carla discovers the legend of a young woman who disappeared, nearly 200 years previously, in the arms of her so-called lover from the sea. In the present day, Carla finds a surplus of handsome, eligible men, including a handsome lawyer, a mild-mannered country doctor, and an artistic, temperamental type.

The story itself is a bit campy and over the top, but I love Gothic stories, so I wasn’t bothered by all that too much. There’s something about old houses that really captures the imagination, isn’t there? And the author infuses the novel with enough humor so that the tension of the plot is relieved somewhat.

The novel is admittedly a bit dated—references to the feminist movement and 1970s music abound. Still, there were some aspects of this novel that were downright creepy—definitely don’t read this book at night before going to bed! I was engrossed enough in this book that I managed to finish it in fewer than two days, reading comfortably in bed for nearly a whole Saturday and Sunday. Undoubtedly, this was an enjoyable read. ( )