First off, I just want to warn you I loved most of “Stay With Me” by Becky Wade, I just have a bit of a beef with some of the things that happened. There will be some slight spoilers but I did my best to keep them to a minimum.

Okay, since I read “Take A Chance On Me” I’ve been waiting eagerly for “Stay With Me” just because Sam was so intriguing, the small parts we saw with him showed him as a man of mystery.

What I loved …

Sam! He has such a heartbreaking past and I loved seeing him with Gen, I loved their relationship and seeing them come to trust each other.
The cover is so beautiful! So cute! And the colors are so adorable together! I also loved the cover when Becky Wade did a blog post on the models, which was neat.
The flashbacks … Wow, it is crazy how good these flashbacks were, it isn't everyday that an author accomplishes flashbacks with such real detail.
The PRIDE AND PREJUDICE references. I just loved it! ( )

When we meet Genevieve she is not at her best. She is driving but having a hard time keeping the car under control and she stops at a cabin. The cabin turns out to be unlocked, and Genevieve manages to get inside and falls asleep on the bed. When the owner of the cabin - Sam - finds her there in the morning he is not pleased. Genevieve has intruded upon his neatly ordered world, but he also sees signs of drug abuse - signs he knows all to well. It turns out Genevieve was traveling to her parents house, where she was going to talk to them about an anonymous letter she received threatening to reveal secrets about their past. It turns out that Genevieve is a Christian speaker and author - and her fame has prompted someone to make these threats. More concerning to Sam, however, is Genevieve's dependence on pills (Oxycontin) to make it through her days. So when she asks him if he can stay in her cabin (bungalow - as she calls it) while she digs into her family's past, he makes her agree to detox from the pills - or else he will be forced to tell what he knows. Genevieve agrees, and the process is not easy but with Sam's help as well as that of her sister and a therapist she starts to recover from her addiction. Sam and Genevieve also start to feel an attraction toward each other. But Sam has secrets of his own - and so do Genevieve's parents - so there is a lot that has to happen before the expected happy ending can occur.
I enjoyed this romance, it dealt with some hairy issues - like Genevieve's addiction - in a fairly realistic way, though her recovery was maybe a bit to easy. I also felt like there were some loose ends that weren't tied up at the end. But overall it was a very satisfying romance. I really liked some of the characters, they were very memorable. And the pace was just right for me - not to fast but not so slow that I lost interest - the author threw in some good subplots to keep the action moving. I would definitely recommend this - for fans of Christian romances that don't shy away from real life issues. ( )

Becky Wade has penned another emotional, realistic, and heart-touching story in Stay with Me, the first book in her Misty River Romance series. The characters are realistic, flawed, and engaging. I loved Genevieve’s fun-loving personality and Sam’s more subdued, but compassionate, one. Their dialogue went from witty and playful to serious and intense and everywhere in between. I enjoyed seeing their relationship change and grow.

“It didn’t feel like he was coming in from the cold of one autumn night. It felt like he was coming in from seven years of cold.”
“She could not pay God back for saving her. Goodness knows, she’d tried.”

This is a story of redemption, of grace, of hope under difficult circumstances. Wade is great at tackling difficult subjects sensitively and beautifully. I’m looking forward to the other books in this series. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. ( )

I have never met a book written by Becky Wade that I didn’t like. Stay with Me, book 1 in her newest series, did not disappoint. It is now my favorite by this talented contemporary romance author. With characters that ring true just as they touch your heart and a light style that does doesn’t shy away from tough issues, this novel is truly a Becky Wade Romance. If you are a fan of hers you know what I mean. 😉 I loved it and give it a highly recommended rating.

Stay with Me drew me in with its north Georgia setting. I have a mountain cabin in the woods there, and Wade captured the down-home, easy living that embodies that part of the state. But it was the main characters, Genevieve and Sam, that kept me reading, sometimes way past my bedtime. Stay with Me is told in a 3rd person narrative, but includes unique 1st person flashbacks of a time when Genevieve, her sister, and three others experienced a huge trauma. These recollections go a long way to understanding Genevieve’s present day motivations, as well as setting the stage for more books to come. I probably didn’t explain that well, but trust me, it really works. The main storyline involves opioid addiction in an honest manner. I loved how Genevieve and Sam tackled the pitfalls that could beset their relationship. A past mystery involving Genevieve’s parents is the secondary story and it resolves in a surprising manner. Honestly, I am not sure how I feel about how it all ended up. That’s one of the reasons why Stay with Me would make a great choice for your book club. As always faith is the foundation of this novel — but Wade never comes across preachy. Each character’s faith journey is natural and genuine. For those who love all things romance, let me just say kissing scenes! 😉

Stay with Me cemented Becky Wade as a must-read author. It’s a good choice for your weekend or staycation getaway!

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

This story has it all characters to cheer for, mystery, suspense, splash of wholesome romance, heartache and well-timed humor. This author pens a beautifully written story of hope, healing and shows the meaning of family through the lives of her fun-loving complex cast of characters I enjoyed hanging out with.

I liked this authors Chapel Hill Series very much. Readers get to see another side of this talented author with a fun-loving cast of Southern women in Rural South GA – during the Great Depression (scary how we are currently experiencing a similar season). Maggie Parker, widow & single mom, captured my heart, as her faith is tested in surprising ways, as she remains hopeful, naturally pressing into the arms of Jesus.
I liked how the author showed life examples of tough times as well as the fun times. I enjoyed the natural non-preachy way the spiritual thread was handled in the characters struggles.

What a great surprise to have the author include some Depression Recipes that would be fun to serve at your book club meeting. Here is a list of some of them, Depression Casserole, Carrot Loaf, Macaroni Papoose, Meatless Loaf, and a few others along with Ginger Taffy. I also found it interesting how the author lists Maggie’s household hints for Upholstery cleaner, Window cleaner, Mold removal and a few others. Kind of handy when you are unable to find your favorite cleaner on the grocery shelf. Just saying! I look forward to reading next book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org ( )