Category Archives: Becky Wade

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.

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Review: Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade

meantTitle: Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
Porter Family Series Book Two
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school–irresistible. When their paths cross again after college–still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia’s ready to be Ty’s wife, but Ty’s not ready to be her husband. He’s a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he’s long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he’s known since childhood.

Five and a half years pass. Celia’s buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty’s achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn’t forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia’s trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

The Review:

Meant to Be Mine is a heartfelt addition to Becky Wade’s appealing Porter Family series. In this outing, Ty Porter is in for the shock of his life when he decides to track down his long abandoned bride, Celia.

Celia’s teenage crush on Ty is still alive and well when she meets him again in Las Vegas several years after they have both gone their separate ways. Ty is now a champion bull rider who travels the rodeo circuit while she is finally beginning her career as a sous chef. They find themselves caught up in the bright lights of Vegas and Ty convinces Celia to marry him. However, the next morning, he breaks her heart when he has second thoughts about their nuptials. Unbeknownst to Ty, their one night marriage results in an unexpected pregnancy and Celia gives birth to their daughter, Addie. Five and a half years later, Ty meets with Celia to make amends before he ends their marriage. But when he learns about Addie, he is determined to be a part of her life but Celia is equally determined to protect both herself and Addie from future heartache.

Celia has willingly put all of her dreams on hold to raise Addie and although they are struggling financially, they are happy. She is strong and independent but sometimes these traits do not work in her favor as she stubbornly refuses Ty’s offers of assistance. She is a bit overprotective of Addie and very reluctant to share her with Ty. While her reasons for keeping him at arm’s length are understandable, Celia is guilty of using Addie as her excuse for keeping their relationship casual.

It would be very easy to dislike Ty based on how badly he dealt with his marriage, but his infamous charm really is impossible to resist. It also helps that he truly regrets how badly he hurt Celia and his need to express this remorse in person shows maturity. Ty is a good-hearted, stand-up guy and despite Celia’s fears to the contrary, he keeps his promise to stay involved with Addie despite the fact his his bull riding career keeps him on the road much of the time.

Ty and Celia’s relationship is quite flirtatious but their unresolved history is always hovering in the background. The underlying themes of trust and forgiveness are keenly felt, but it is not until the later part of the novel that they become the focus of the story. Celia clings tightly to her hurt and anger and even as she regains her faith, she has a difficult time letting go of past resentments. Ty finds it easy to forgive Celia but his reluctance to give up his plan to reconcile with a woman from his past plays a huge role in her inability to trust him. It is incredibly satisfying and heartwarming watching them find their way back to each other and God.

In Meant to Be Mine, Becky Wade puts a fresh spin on the popular secret baby plot device and the resulting story is a moving journey of faith, trust and love. The writing is superb writing, the characters are appealing, and the storyline is realistic. The conflict is believable and the novel’s resolution is delightfully unexpected. The intriguing glimpses of Jake, Ty’s taciturn brother, leave me hoping his story will be the next installment in the Porter Family series.

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Review: Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade

Title: Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade
Porter Family Series Book One
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Winsome and Romantic–the Perfect Summer Read!

When Meg Cole’s father dies unexpectedly, she becomes the majority shareholder of his oil company and the single inheritor of his fortune. Though Meg is soft-spoken and tenderhearted–more interested in art than in oil–she’s forced to return home to Texas and to Whispering Creek Ranch to take up the reins of her father’s empire.

The last thing she has the patience or the sanity to deal with? Her father’s thoroughbred racehorse farm. She gives its manager, Bo Porter, six months to close the place down.

Bo’s determined to resent the woman who’s decided to rob him of his dream. But instead of anger, Meg evokes within him a profound desire to protect. The more time he spends with her, the more he longs to overcome every obstacle that separates them–her wealth, his unworthiness, her family’s outrage–and earn the right to love her.

But just when Meg begins to realize that Bo might be the one thing on the ranch worth keeping, their fragile bond is viciously broken by a force from Meg’s past. Can their love–and their belief that God can work through every circumstance–survive?

The Review:

If you enjoy faith based fiction then you will want to pick up a copy of Becky Wade’s Undeniably Yours. This novel has a sweet love story, an eclectic cast of likable characters and a storyline that is quite compelling.

Meg Cole is an oil company heiress who is struggling to live up to family expectations of running her late father’s company. Meg has never felt comfortable with her family’s wealth and until her father’s death, she lived a simple low key life. She is uncomfortable and out of her depth with her new role in the family business and her growing unhappiness leads to a resurgence of her anxiety and panic attacks. Emotionally scarred by her past, Meg steers clears of romantic entanglements.

Bo Porter is on the verge of success with the thoroughbred racehorse farm and he fights to gain the time he needs to prove to Meg that the business can be self-sustaining. Bo is kind and caring with old fashioned values. Although Bo is fairly self-confident, the lack of a college degree and the difference in their social classes keep him from pursuing a more serious relationship with Meg.

Bo and Meg’s relationship begins with friendship and their feelings for one another deepen over time. A romance between them seems impossible in the beginning. Meg has very real concerns about dating an employee while Bo worries that his motives for dating her will be misinterpreted. Well meaning interference from a relative and trust issues soon jeopardize their fragile relationship.

Undeniably Yours is a beautifully written romance with a well-developed cast of characters. The storyline is unique and realistic. Although there is strong religious content, it is never preachy. This delightful first installment of the Porter Family series is a wonderfully angst-free novel that old and new fans of Becky Wade are sure to enjoy.

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My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

Title: My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Imprint: Bethany House Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Inspirational, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher

Summary:

Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks her to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.

Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man hired to renovate the house. Kate can’t help being attracted to him, drawn by both his good looks and something else she can’t quite put her finger on. He’s clearly wounded–hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Yet Kate sets her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light… whether he likes it or not.

When the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?

The Review:

Becky Wade’s debut novel My Stubborn Heart is a heartwarming romance with a delightful cast of characters. It is a fabulous lesson in patience as Kate Donovan slowly slips past Matt Jarreau’s defenses and helps him rediscover his faith in God.

Kate Donovan is a wonderful and extremely likeable character. She is funny, smart and compassionate with a deep and abiding faith in God. Kate has a delightful relationship with her grandmother Beverly, and Beverly’s quirky yet loving group of friends. Although she is disappointed that her prayer for a husband has not yet been answered, she remains upbeat and optimistic and handles her dissatisfaction over her love life with self-deprecating humor that is laugh out loud funny. Kate is instantly smitten with their gorgeous yet brooding contractor, Matt Jarreau. Friendly and outgoing she persistently attempts to coax Matt out of his self-imposed exile.

Matt Jarreau has completely retreated from life. He walked away from a successful professional hockey career and shut himself off from his friends and family. He has lost his faith in God, and he is, in fact, quite angry with God. He slowly begins to open up to Kate and he reluctantly allows her to draw him into her circle of friends.

The relationship between Matt and Kate is slow growing and realistic. Matt has some very real obstacles to overcome and Kate shows tremendous strength in giving him the time and space he needs to work through his issues. Given the events of his past, his struggle with faith and his anger with God are understandable and his resolution of both felt natural.

My Stubborn Heart is an engaging story with genuine characters, a unique storyline and witty dialogue. Becky Wade beautifully demonstrates that patience is often the key to learning God’s answers to prayers. A wonderful book that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance with a gentle undercurrent of faith.

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Filed under Baker Publishing Group, Becky Wade, Bethany House Publishers, Christian, Contemporary, Inspirational, My Stubborn Heart, Rated B+, Romance