Review: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

love likeTitle: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade
Porter Family Series Book Three
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 369 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake’s childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion’s reluctance to run.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake’s will, Lyndie’s sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he’d thought he’d lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

Review:

A Love Like Ours is another heartwarming addition to Becky Wade’s delightfully charming Porter Family series. In this latest release, taciturn brother Jake is not at all happy when his childhood friend Lyndie James begins working at Whispering Creek ranch.

The glimpses of Jake in previous novels have been quite intriguing and it is incredibly gratifying to finally learn more information about this battle scarred man. He is haunted by the IED attack that killed the men he served with and he is wracked by survivor’s guilt. He is also suffering from PTSD and he relives the attack during horrific nightmares. Jake is extremely closed off from family and friends but even worse, he has lost his faith and turned his back on God.

Lyndie is bubbly, cheerful and unfailingly optimistic. Her life has not been all sunshine and rainbows but her unwavering faith has sustained her through some very trying times. She is very devoted to her family and although she lives on her own, she spends a lot of time helping her parents care for her disabled younger sister, Mollie. Lyndie is a bit stubborn but in Jake’s case, this works to her advantage because she refuses to let his standoffishness deter her from going after what she wants.

The relationship between Jake and Lyndie is very uneasy and fraught with tension. Jake is extremely reluctant to hire Lyndie, not because she is not qualified, but because of his irrational fear that she will be injured. Once she settles into her new job, Jake’s fears eventually lessen to some degree. Lyndie cleverly devises a plan for them to spend more time together in hopes that they will regain their easy friendship. Her patience pays off when Jake pursues a romantic relationship with her but Lyndie’s happiness is tempered by her reservations over Jake’s lack of faith.

A Love Like Ours is a wonderful novel of faith, forgiveness and grace. The characters are endearing and while they are flawed, they are very sympathetic. The storyline is realistic and the PTSD aspect of the plot is well researched and handled with sensitivity. Family plays a big role in the unfolding story and their support for one another is very uplifting. The romance between Lyndie and Jake is slow growing and very sweet. There is a strong spiritual element that adds another layer of complexity to the both the characters and the overall storyline. It is a lovely faith based romance that old and new fans of Becky Wade’s Porter Family series are going to love.

1 Comment

Filed under A Love Like Ours, Becky Wade, Bethany House Publishers, Contemporary, Porter Family Series, Rated B, Review, Romance

One Response to Review: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

  1. Timitra

    Thanks for the review Kathy