True to You by Becky Wade

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

After a recent run of Historic and Amish fiction, I most recently finished reading a work of contemporary fiction, True to You by Becky Wade. It was a nice change of pace and a reminder that love and challenges transcends time and setting.

"What I've learned is that 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. He'll supply whatever we need for each day."

True to You was an enjoyable story filled with heartache and triumph, as the two main characters discovered about themselves and each other and found a path for their own story. I enjoy the way in which she develops her characters and lets things unfold naturally. There is a nice amount of suspense and uncertainty within the story, an anticipation that pulls the reader in wanting to know how things will unfold. In fact, it is the uncovering of the mystery of John's birth mother that brings them together in the first place, as John enlists Nora's aid. But even beyond that, there is that unknown of where things will go and how they will individually and collectively weather what they learn on their journey of discovery. They find strength in their faith, even at times where they feel most certain that it is failing them. I liked Wade's utilization of e-mail, Messenger, and text message exchanges at the end of each chapter to shed light into thoughts and to help provide context to the exchanges happening in the story.

About the book:

It's the exciting start of a brand-new series by a contemporary romance fan favorite!

After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has 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 and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother.

The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Becky Wade is a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market before putting her career on hold for several years to care for her three children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. She loves writing funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She's the Carol Award, INSPY Award, and Inspirational Reader's Choice Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, and the Bradford Sisters Romance series.

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No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I recently finished reading Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano, the first book in the Apart from the Crowd series. Set in New York City in the Spring of 1883, the story centers around Miss Permilia Griswold and those around her. A known wallflower, Permilia has a way of blending in and going unnoticed amongst members of society, until at the Vanderbilt Ball where she suddenly finds herself the recipient of additional attention and it turns into a pivot point in many aspects of her life. Permilia was my kind of girl, able to spend time around society but one who had other priorities and many other things which were more dear to her than the need to be accepted by society.

In good part, Behind the Scenes was a story of acceptance - acceptance of others, acceptance of self, acceptance of God's plan and acceptance of family and past. Permilia had plans for her life and being part of New York society was never on her list, but as the story unfolds and she faces many challenges, she finds herself visiting with Reverend Perry who reminds her that 'some of our life experiences should be looked upon as stepping stones, needed in order to cross the stream at large, but not meant to be lingered on' and that sometimes we have to turn our troubles over to God and be willing to accept what He may have in store for you. It was only after that pivotal conversation that she seemed to come to accept the changes that were happening and really found a path to happiness.

I thoroughly enjoyed Behind the Scenes. The author did a great job setting the scene and establishing the development of the characters through the backdrop of the Vanderbilt Ball, including details on the clothing, dancing and other details of the ball. The book drew me in from the beginning and surprisingly, with almost 1/3 of the book focused of establishing the situation and characters at the ball, the story never slowed. There was a great mix of love, intrigue, mystery and suspense within the story through which the reader grew closer with the characters and the challenges that they faced and successes that they achieved. I really look forward to the next book in the series, which I am sure will cast light onto Permilia's continuing story, as her friend Gertrude is the center of the story.

If you enjoy a good love story with a little mystery mixed in, I would recommend checking out Behind the Scenes.

About
After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, Miss Permilia Griswold has finally figured out a way to pass the time at all the New York high-society events she attends. Under the pseudonym "Miss Quill," she is the author of society gossip columns filled with tidbits only an insider in society--albeit one on the fringes--would know.

When she overhears a threat against Mr. Asher Rutherford, the owner of one of the most up-and-coming department stores in the city, she's determined to warn him. But the irritatingly handsome man doesn't believe her, leaving her no choice but to take matters into her own hands. What she doesn't anticipate is that she'll end up putting herself at risk in the process--or that she and Mr. Rutherford, a man with secrets of his own, just might end up joining forces after all.

Author
Jen Turano, author of eight books and two novellas, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.