Turn to Me

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY

TURN TO ME

His promise will cost him far more than he imagined.

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey's life, but it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lay dying shortly before Luke's release, the older man revealed he left a string of clues for his daughter, Finley, that will lead her to the treasure he's hidden. Worried that she won't be the only one pursuing the treasure, he gains Luke's promise to protect her until the end of her search.

Spunky and idealistic, Finley Sutherland is the owner of an animal rescue centre and a defender of lost causes. She accepts Luke's help on the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return -- by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he's long denied himself.

As they draw closer to the final clue, their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble, and Luke realizes his promise will push him to the limit in more ways than one. He'll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats, but who's going to shield him from losing his heart?

My Review:

"Your faithlessness doesn't affect God's faithfulness at all." 

So...yeah, think about that for a second. This book is full of simple truths we can all stand to hear on repeat for the rest of our lives. Absolutely love that aspect of Becky Wade's writing. Her characters are perfectly imperfect and there's something honest and raw about being invited into their lives and growing along with them.

Which brings me to Luke. Helllloooo .....brooding bad boy hero who wears his Grump crown proudly. His backstory is heartbreaking and frustrating all at the same time. Yes, he survived something horrific and it's left emotional scars but he is determined to never let them heal! And grrrrouch to anyone who tries to get past that wall around his heart.

Enter Finley. Miss Susie Sunshine, marching to the beat of her own drum with confidence and so much...well, sunshiney goodness that you practically need to wear sunglasses in her presence. She's a survivor of her own heartache, though, and she hasn't emerged completely unscathed, but she's still living and striving and reaching out and doing good. 

And she rescues dogs!!!! I love her just for that alone. When she applies her canine rehabilitation tactics on Luke....bwahahahahaha! Laugh out loud funny! And then there's sweet little Agatha...snort...you have to read the book just for all the Agatha/Luke drama.

There's even a treasure hunt in the middle of this prickly love story. It's why Luke ended up working at Finley's animal rescue. He promised Finley's dying father that he would protect her and he takes that promise very seriously. And it turns out that he should because....danger lurks. Eeeepppp!!! Love the hint of mystery that plays out at the end.

Oh, and did I mention the toe-curling kisses? And the second romance plot that is oh so sweetly satisfying? Turn to Me might just be my favourite Becky Wade book ever, and that's saying something!

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Barbara McCulloh and enjoyed every blessed minute of my listening experience.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Turn to Me, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the Draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 4 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

 

Stay With Me

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY

STAY WITH ME

When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents' past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge Mountains to chase down her family's secret. However, it's Genevieve's own secret that catches up with her when Sam Turner, owner of a historic farm, uncovers the sources of shame she's worked so hard to hide.

Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He's spent years carving out both career success and peace of min. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?

My Review:

Wry humour paired with brutal honesty and amazing grace. I was riveted from the time I hit play. (Yes, this is another book I listened to, enticed by the lure of Amy Rubinate's excellent narration style.)

Wade knows how to speak truth into her readers' lives through her characters' struggles. So much meat and grit and need-to-talk-about-it moments here. This would make a fabulous book club selection for all the thought-provoking content.

Ironically, I was in the midst of watching an IF: Gathering conference featuring a number of 'celebrity status' women at the same time I read Stay With Me and it really opened my eyes to the personal demands Christian fame status can bring. Because that's something Gen struggles with -- becoming a personality instead of a just a person. 

But that's not Gen's only issue. She's in crisis mode for a number of reasons and her life only gets more complicated when she meets up with Sam. Be. Still. My. Heart. Do you hear my 'brooding hero' squeals echoing throughout this review? Tight-lipped. Taciturn. Major introvert. And nursing a wounded heart. He is not prepared for Gen's unexpected entrance into his very mundanely predictable life.

Because Gen's an extrovert. And a talker. Energetic and bubbly. Wicked wit. Wears her heart on her sleeve. Snort -- poor Sam doesn't stand a chance and it comes to the point where he doesn't care. Clever banter -- Gen tries so hard to make him laugh! Her sass paired with his increasing failure to hide his oh-so-reluctant amusement!!! Priceless. And toe-curling. Have multiple fans and a sturdy fainting couch handy. 

Then there's the family mystery to be sorted out which adds a whole other dimension to an already enthralling read.

A redemptive story that covers a lot of social issues with grace and humour. It's heavy in places, light in others and Christ-centered throughout. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is a paperback or ebook copy of the title you choose

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Stay With Me, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 10 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Take a Chance On Me

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother's family through a medical crisis, she's forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule -- she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he's now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli's spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he's set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

My Review:

So, should we just get the cover love out of the way right off the top? I mean, seriously, in real life those eyes follow you everywhere. Paired with that hint of a smile...smelling salts may be required every time you reach for this book. Just sayin'.

This short and zippy novella is the perfect introduction to Misty River and don't be fooled by the shorter word count (131 p.) because Wade delivers the same type of detail in plot and characterization that she does with her full-length novels. And her word choice! Sheer magic!

Penelope with her reservations paired with Eli's single-minded pursuit make for plenty of delightful dialogue, flirty dances and bonding over newborn babysitting. Consider this your toe-curl alert.

You can bet I'll be hunting down the first book in the Misty River Romance series, Stay With Me, ASAP! But then we have to wait until the new year before book two releases. :-(

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a  gently read copy of  Take a Chance On Me, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 5 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Christmas Heirloom : Four Holiday Novellas

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

WITEMEYER, KAREN
HUNTER, KRISTI ANN
THOMAS, SARAH LOUDIN
WADE BECKY
THE CHRISTMAS HEIRLOOM : FOUR HOLIDAY NOVELLAS

Four festive and heartwarming romance novellas that celebrate the magic of Christmas.

Perfect for the Christmas season, four beloved authors bring their bestselling, award-winning talents to a multigenerational collection of romantic holiday novellas. In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?

In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job...and introduce her to the woman's grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can't help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.

In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.

In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

My Review:

published in 2018

One of my favourite Christmas reads so far this year (and yes I know I'm a year late to the party.) I don't read a ton of novellas but I'm fond of Christmas collections and these stories do justice to that beautiful cover. I love the heirloom brooch connection to all four stories and the way we get to follow it through the generations.

Loved the opportunity to time travel with four of my favourite authors, savoring spectacular love stories that span centuries. Each one reads like a full length novel with all the complexities of character and plot. Think toe-curls and swoons time four! Leaves a romantical reader kinda breathless! And you can't beat four happily-ever-after Christmas themed love stories to get you in the holiday spirit! A perfect pre-Christmas gift for any avid reader on your list (including you!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Christmas Heirloom, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 16 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Sweet on You

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
SWEET ON YOU

Britt Bradford and Zander Ford have been the best friends since they met thirteen years ago. Unbeknown to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long.

Independent and adventurous Britt channels her talent into creating chocolates at her hometown shop. Zander is a bestselling author who has spend the past eighteen months traveling the world. He's achieved a great deal but still lacks the only thing that ever truly mattered to him -- Britt's heart.

When Zander's uncle dies under mysterious circumstances, he returns to Merrywather, Washington, to investigate, and Britt is immediately there to help. Although this throws them into close proximity, both understand that an attempt at romance could jeopardize their once-in-a-lifetime friendship. Britt is determined to resit any change in their relationship, but Zander finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings hidden.

As they work together to uncover his uncle's tangled past, will the truth of what lies between them also finally come to light?

My Review:

Heaving Sigh.
Shuddering hiccoughs.
Chronic sniffles.

Excuse the state I'm in but this is the last Bradford Sister Romance and...it's Zander's story! I've been rooting for him the whole series. He's been Britt's shadow since high school. The angry kid with a troubled past prepared to hate the entire town but Britt blithely blew through all his defenses. He fell in love. She didn't. But they've been the best of friends for thirteen years. That's over a decade of unrequited love, people! Oh, the angst and the turmoil and the hopes dashed! My tummy is still in knots and my heart still beats erratically! I might not recover -- especially since we've run out of series.

Honestly, Zander could do no wrong for me...even though he insisted on being all stubbornly silent about his love for Britt. I wanted to shake some action into him, but mostly I just wanted to hug the stuffing right out of him! Britt, on the other hand...well, I might have had some bloodthirsty thoughts about her. I mean, what she put Zander (and me!) through!!!! That girl was clueless while being all sweet and endearing and unknowingly beguiling! And then, when she suddenly starts to feel attracted to Zander she doesn't say peep either. Gah! Love a good friends to lovers romance and this is excellent if somewhat nerve-wracking for readers with gentle sensibilities like moi. :-)

But when these two finally connect -- ahem! -- roll in the fainting couch and prepare for some rigorous toe-curling calisthenics! There's nothing quite like a love that builds out of the firm foundation of an enduring friendship.

There's even a bonus mystery to round out the story -- and lots of sisterly snippets to savor one last time. (Excuse me while I quietly weep into my lace hankie.) Definitely a blockbuster conclusion to a memorable series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Sweet on You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 29 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Falling for You

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
FALLING FOR YOU

Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is reveling in the peace and quiet of her hometown right up until the moment she comes face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend, Corbin Stewart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants...except where Willow is concerned. He's never been able to forget her, but Willow makes it crystal clear she's unwilling to risk her heart again.

When a decades-old mystery in Corbin's family brings them together, will the heartbreak in their past and the complications in their present keep them from falling for one another all over again?

My Review:

Warning: Ugly Cry Book!!! Proceed reading with caution. My eyes are so swollen I can barely see the keyboard so excuse any typos. And you might want to add a pair of sunglasses to your Reader Emergency Kit -- you know, to disguise the reader hangover if you must go out in public any time during the read or for quite some time afterwards.

I love the Bradford sisters! I am so invested in this family I'm about ready to go over there and knock some heads together. That's because Wade has expertly set up Britt's story (at least, I hope that's what she was doing!) As if there wasn't enough angst to go around with Willow and Corbin. But that's why I love these sisters because they are there for each other and aren't afraid to speak the truth while knowing when to back off and be quietly supportive. And they understand chocolate!

"Eat chocolate. Chocolate helps clarify thinking." (p 202)

Which brings me to my second warning: Copious amounts of chocolate may be required as fortification during this read. Have an extra supply on hand.

Now, can we talk Corbin? (the hero who is going to turn you into a chocoholic.) Be still my heart -- and I mean that literally since it's been caterwauling at an outrageous pace since page one. Corbin with his niece. Sigh. Corbin wounded in love. Sigh. Sigh. Corbin who is putty in his niece's hands and makes the greatest sacrifice ever -- contacting ex-girlfriend Willow Bradford. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh! And I'm just getting started.

He has a wicked sense of humour and this book has some of the best flirty banter I've ever read. Drooled over actually. He just can't help himself. And Willow can't either.When Corbin decides he wants Willow in his life again, well, there's no stopping him. He proceeds with the same kind of dogged take-no-enemies approach that made him a football hero. I do believe Corbin might the most romantical of all romance heroes. At least he sets the bar pretty high.

Willow, on the other hand, has been deeply hurt. She knows she needs to forgive, but that would mean letting go of the bitterness that has become the shield that guards her heart. And it's not just Corbin she's mad at. She blames herself as well.

And this is where I need to issue a third warning: copious amounts of tissues will be consumed during this read. Be well stocked before even thinking about opening up this book! I bawled my eyes out over Willow. Her personal story turned me inside out. Hers is an excruciating journey towards understanding that she doesn't have to work at being good enough because Jesus made sure she is enough. Right now. In all her brokenness. Saved and redeemed and reconciled. Such a powerfully moving inspirational love story.

God bless this author for sharing the truth about Jesus in a format that has the power to touch lives and transform hearts while bringing comfort and peace. And that right there is why I keep reading Becky Wade's novels.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win a copy of Falling for You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title in the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 12 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Then Came You

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
THEN CAME YOU

A leather-bound journal.
A single father.
A woman in pursuit of freedom.

Garner Bradford, heir to the troubled Bradford Shipping empire, doesn't know much about babies. But he's going to have to learn fast because he's just become a single father to his newborn daughter. As he confesses through his journal entries, he's not entirely sure how to keep a newborn alive, whether or not he'll ever patch together his shattered heart, or how to forgive himself for his mistakes.

Career girl Kathleen Burke is wholly uninterested in settling down. She has big dreams, and none of them include Garner and his small hometown in Washington State. Yet she can't seem to get her handsome boss out of her head or her heart. There's something extraordinarily tempting about his beautifully sad green eyes...

Told through journal entries, phone conversations, and letters, Then Came You is a unique, heart-stirring romance novella by acclaimed author Becky Wade.

My Review:

A stunning novella that introduces Becky Wade's Bradford Sisters series. It's been offered free on Kindle off and on since it's release in March but if you are looking for a paperback copy to add to your keeper shelf along with the rest of the series (as the books release) read on!

I love the format of this story -- it's told through letters, phone messages, notes and journaling as well as some hysterically funny telephone conversations between Kathleen and her best friend, Rose. There's angst and drama along with splashes of humour as Garner and Kathleen navigate their complicated lives.

Garner, a survivor of tragedies and struggling single dad who has grown staid and serious before his time. And exuberant Kathleen, so busy searching for freedom she doesn't realize it's already within her grasp. And then there are gems of spiritual truth like this:

"God's grace is like a rushing river. It's far more powerful than I am. My sins don't stand a chance against it." (p. 138)

The perfect start to what is already proving to be an incredible series. (True to You, May 2017 and Falling for You, May 2018)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like to win a copy of Then Came You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 10 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

True to You

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
TRUE TO YOU

After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. However, when John, an adoptee, is diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his ancestry.

John enlists Nora's help to uncover the identity of his birth mother, and as they work side by side, this pair of opposites begins to suspect that they just might be a perfect match. But can their hope for a future survive their wounds from the past?

My Review:

Oh merciful heavens, I'm in such a tizzy over this one! In fact -- and this is totally a FIRST for me -- I actually read this book twice -- back to back. Literally reached the end and flipped it back open to the first chapter and started all over again. It tickled my fancy that much.

Why you ask? I think because I totally connected with Nora. Maybe more than that -- she's kind of my clone in some ways. In fact I think the author has created the most relatable heroine in romantic comedy history. A bit nerdy, she spends her nights fangirling over a fictional character in a British drama. I was so convinced that Adolphus Brook and Northamptonshire were actually real that I spent quite a while googling both to see what all the fuss was about. :-) In short, Nora is just like us, ladies! Enjoying romance vicariously through the heroines in stories.

And the whole thing starts off so snappy and funny and easy to read with plenty of laugh out loud moments. In fact the first time Nora meets John is sweet (and toe-curling) perfection. In fact she is so impressed with him that she uses her Ninja librarian skills to research him and then starts majorly crushing on him.

For his part, John is oblivious. Nora is a means to an end and if he feels some unusual zings in the air when she's around, well, he's not going acknowledge it...much. He just finds her quirky and a little intense...and when there's a clash of opinions -- well, "redheaded librarians who use big words didn't scare him." (p.33) Ha! Dream on, oh clueless hero. There is such great dialogue and almost-dialogue between these two. Especially with Nora. John will ask her a question or make a comment and we are privy to her outrageous love-lorn inner comebacks before she manages to vocalize something benignly appropriate. Honestly, those bits just stuffed me full of giddy.

So there I am happily giggling my way through these pages when suddenly...shut the front door...what just happened? The author did not...she wouldn't...oh my goodness gracious, she did! Ms. Wade you have some explaining to do!!!!! And suddenly the romantic comedy has turned into something deep and desperate and achingly heart-wrenching and all I could do was silently (well, except for screaming insults at the author) watch helplessly on the sidelines.

Seriously. My heart hurts. But it's grown some too because I've learned some important lessons right along with John and Nora. Like: "...the past might be challenging and the future might be unsure. And that's okay. The present is all we're given anyway.When we get to the future, God will be there." (p 275)

And did I mention that this is only the first of the Bradford Sisters Romance series? The author has done an excellent job of setting up the future books which will feature Britt and Willow. I think I might just have to read True to You a couple of more times in anticipation.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of True to You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 10 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Her One and Only

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
HER ONE AND ONLY

After ten years in the NFL, superstar Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt -- none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she's determined to find Gray's stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they'll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives -- and their hearts -- to one another.

My Review:

Contemporary romance with a side of suspense? Yes please! Such delicious fare! A fitting grand finale for the Porter Family Novels, even if it is bittersweet since we have come to the end. I'm going to miss losing myself in the midst of Porter mania. Nothing like sibling banter, incorrigible big brother teasing and the sweet glimpse of three happily ever afters in full bloom. There's also a bonus Meg/Bo side story that had me blubbering like a baby...and expanded this last book to nearly 400 pages. An added bonus of reader bliss for sure!

Haven't read any of the books in this series? (Why ever not?!) No worries -- you can still enjoy Dru and Gray's story. You just won't get the full Porter impact that will leave seasoned fans cheering.

Okay -- it's true confession time. I wasn't that into Gray....at first. Hunky football player with plenty of charisma -- sure. But his attitude left me cold. He's everything you might imagine a mega super sports star to be. Way too macho for his own good. Women and booze and a love 'em and leave 'em mentality did not endear him to me. But Wade works her magic -- in fact there's one teensy little piece of information at the very beginning that I clung to. It gave me hope for the scarred soul of a man clearly on the run.

Dru is the perfect foil for Gray. She's tough and feisty and not about to take any nonsense from her latest client. Some of the best dialogue ever in a contemporary romance. Unexpected jabs of humour in the midst of intense conversation had me chortling out loud. And no subject was taboo -- they talked about sex and faith with equal candor. And that's what I love about Wade's characters -- she writes them real and flawed and grappling with the same issues the rest of us are.

Dru is a recommitted Christian. She's made significant changes in her life and achieved a certain level of peace with who she is and what her faith means to her. Gray thinks of himself as a Christian, but his lifestyle doesn't speak of conviction. His faith journey is profound. It brought to light the fact that Jesus can make a difference in even the most jaded and broken heart. And Gray has a lot of hurt. His story, slowly revealed throughout the book, explains a lot and I found myself feeling ashamed for judging him so harshly when I first met him. (Yes, I know he's a character and this is a novel but it feels that real to me!)

An incredible conclusion to an unforgettable series that I'm sure to read over and over again.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Her One and Only please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 19 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Love Like Ours

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
A LOVE LIKE OURS

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?

My Review:

Seriously, gut-wrenchingly, 5-tissue-box-alert good. I love an emotional read and Wade always succeeds in delivering one. Plus she gets me thinking...and squirming...as I grow right along with her characters.

There's something so delicate about the fragile link Jake and Lyndie share from childhood. The thinnest of threads is all that is left when they reconnect as adults but it turns into a solid life line for Jake. But, oh my, it's a painful journey until he figures out how to hold on.

Exquisite storytelling delves deep into the tormented psyche of a man struggling with PTSD. I ached for Jake even as I fumed at him. And Wade does an incredible job of slowly edging him out of his self-imposed isolation. When we first meet him he's surviving more than living. And then Lyndie breezes in -- a whirlwind of tenacity and faith and unconditional love. She's like a breath of fresh air and Jake's defences don't stand a chance. Though he does make a valiant effort.

The beauty of their romance is that it isn't always pretty. And complications take on a whole new meaning after you've read their story. I was wrenched into the depths of despair and then buoyed up in a hope so bright it actually hurt.

My takeaway message from this read: God is good. You just need to let Him into your life to realize how good He really is.

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Bethany House for supplying a review copy of this book.

 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/bwade

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Love Like Ours please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 17 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

 

To celebrate the release of her new book, Becky is giving away a $100 cash card and a book-inspired prize pack!

 
One grand prize winner will receive:




A $100 cash card

A copy of A Love Like Ours

A copy of the Secretariat DVD

A scarf

A dog-tag/cross keychain

A pair of earrings

A Scarf

A Texas-shaped cutting board

A Jake Porter mug

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 26th. Winner will be announced May 27th on Becky's site. 



Meant to Be Mine

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
MEANT TO BE MINE

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?

My Review:

Astonishingly good! Mind boggling, actually. I about devoured this book in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down. Wade has such a way with characters. They are real, flawed and completely relatable.

I really empathized with Celia. I felt like I was right there, in her skin, feeling absolutely everything from outrage to hurt to desperation. And I actually joined her in a good crying jag. I still have the stuffy nose to prove it!

Ty is the most frustrating/adorable hero I've ever met. He's totally incorrigible. A major flirt. Completely self-absorbed (when we first meet him) in a generous kind of way...if that makes any sense. If it doesn't, you just need to read the book to understand. But he hurt Celia terribly...really, really, really hurt her. I felt the knife plunge through my heart so I know. Watching him grow was both exasperating and euphoric.

Meant to Be Mine has one of the best inspirational threads I've ever read. Honest and raw and uplifting all at the same time. This should definitely be on your summer reading list and be sure it makes its way to the top of your TBR pile lickety-split. It's was so good I might just read it again.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Meant to Be Mine please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you email me, please be sure to put the title in the subject line so it is easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 11  2014. Offer open to international readers. Good luck.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Undeniably Yours

GIVEAWAY

WADE, BECKY
UNDENIABLY YOURS

When Meg Cole's father dies unexpectedly, she's forced to return home to Texas and to Whispering Creek Ranch to take up the reins of his 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 knows he ought to resent the woman who's determined to take from him the only job he ever wanted. 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 and earn her love.

Just when Meg realizes she can no longer deny the depth of her feelings for Bo, their fragile bond is broken by a force from Meg's past. Can their relationship--and their belief that God can work through every circumstance--survive?

My Review:

A gut-wrenching, realistic read on so many levels. I just love the way Wade isn't afraid to create flawed characters that readers can easily relate to. Meg is so determined...so contained...trying desperately to be something she is not while visions of her true self burst out in incredible ways. I love her story arc -- the way her destiny unfolds as she puts her trust in God. This is a captivating story about reaching your potential in unexpected ways.

Bo fills the page in true heroly fashion from our very first meeting. His determination to  change Meg's mind about closing the Thoroughbred racehorse farm provides a palpable tension that is constantly tugging at their romance. Wade has created an impossible scenario with which to share the power of love's triumph.

The author keeps her readers on their toes by filling the plot with surprising twists that keeps this romance fresh and beautiful and left me uttering a huge sigh of pure contentment at its conclusion.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Undeniably Yours, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 12 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

My Stubborn Heart

Giveaway!

WADE, BECKY
MY STUBBORN HEART

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?

My Review:

What a spectacular new voice Christian Fiction has in Becky Wade! Engaging doesn't begin to describe her style. Funny and light with a touch of sarcastic wit coupled with some of the most poignant and touching moments in my fiction reading experience. I read with relish and put the book down with great reluctance and only because I'd get fired for reading at work! Word to the wise: start this one on the weekend and make no plans until you are done.

Wade has the uncanny ability to project her readers into the story from the get go. I experienced an immediate connection with Kate. Loved being party to her private and all-too-often humourous thoughts. And her exuberance is contagious. She just leaps off the page smack dab in the centre of poor Matt's carefully guarded path. He's a challenge that Kate can't seem to resist, but she pursues him with measured amounts of grace, grit and gumption. Everyone needs an advocate like Kate in their life.

Of course, Matt doesn't realize it at first. I marvel at how Wade created such an opposite to her heroine. Where Kate is joy, Matt is despair. Kate's enthusiasm is only matched by Matt's reluctance. He's frozen in time and, in a way, so is she and that's their common ground at first, I think. Because Kate has taken three months off from a stressful work situation. It's under the guise of helping her grandmother but, in her own way, she's running too. Definitely not as far or as fast as Matt, but I think her own life experience gives her the kind of empathy Matt needs.

I won't even try to describe their love story. It's magnificent -- fueled by pain, soothed by tenderness. The way Kate draws Matt out -- sigh -- I reveled in that first half smile right along with her. Wade made Kate work hard and wasn't above taking everything away from her before the wisdom of God's path shines with incredible brightness. Stunning love story -- all the fuller for the beautifully detailed ups and downs along the way.

Seriously -- don't miss this one. It's an incredible faith-stirring, heart-warming read!

Giveaway Opportunity:


If you would like a chance to win a copy of this amazing book, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. Please remember to put the title in the subject line so your entry is easy for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 27 2012.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".