Falling for You by Becky Wade

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I generally enjoy reading books that I can read quickly because they work well with my busy schedule and in completing them, there is a sense of accomplishment. But, I also enjoy reading longer books, where I can linger and be part of the characters' adventure for a longer stay. I most recently finished reading the great contemporary romance novel, Falling for You by Becky Wade. With the way that Becky Wade develops her characters and lets things unfold naturally, the reader can't help but feel like they know these people and want to spend time with them, experiencing the highs and lows of their emotions. You find yourself pulling for them to find resolution and happiness.

I liked Wade's utilization of phone calls, e-mail, Messenger, and text message exchanges and text from the contents of Josephine's box at the end of each chapter to help transition and provide more context to the exchanges happening in the story. It not only keeps the story moving, but it also provided another way for her to showcase the witty banter and the flirting between the characters (even if it was one sided early on). It also made the book feel very contemporary, as compared to some contemporary books that are relatively 'timeless' in their setting.

Falling for You was an enjoyable story filled with forgiveness, faith and second chances. There is a nice amount of suspense and mystery within the story, an anticipation that pulls the reader in wanting to know what they might learn next and whether there is a connection. It is when Charlotte asks Willow and Corbin to help her uncover the mystery of her grandma's sister's disappearance that they find themselves partnering and working together for the first time since their break-up. Through the time that they work on the mystery, they are able to reconnect and Corbin is finally able to get time with Willow to have the conversation that they should have had before they broke-up and share with her his perspective on the events leading up to their break up and how he acted. As they spend time together, he shares with her about his discovery of faith, his childhood and caring for his father. As the story winds down, there is still uncertainty, but we see true character shine through and discover the power of forgiveness.

I truly enjoyed this engaging, suspenseful story with characters that I liked hanging out with. I look forward to the next book in this series. (This is the 2nd book in the Bradford Sisters Romance series, but don't worry, it reads well even if you didn't read True to You.)

About the book:

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?

About the author:

Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and now lives in Dallas. A favorite among readers of Christian contemporary romance, Becky has won a Christy Award, a Carol Award, an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and an INSPY Award. Learn more at www.beckywade.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.

Fatal Recall by Carol J Post

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

From the very first page, I was pulled into the story in the recent release from Carol J. Post, Fatal Recall. The pace of the story never slowed, even as the author provided the details necessary to develop the characters and share the back story. I found myself unwilling to put down this suspenseful, action-packed, fast-paced story that kept me wondering what would happen next. The suspense was furthered by the fact that one of the main characters suffered from trauma induced amnesia and was as equally uncertain about what had happened and who was after her.

As the story opens, Tanner Brody is in his kayak on the river, enjoying the peace of the natural setting in his new home state. The peace is shattered, first by gun shots and then by a woman's scream. A police officer, Tanner needs to find out what happened. He soon comes upon a woman who appears to have fallen, who has amnesia and probably a concussion. As he is trying to get her to medical attention, he soon discovers that she is still in danger as someone is following them and starts shooting at them. This danger fires up a sense of responsibility in Tanner, now not only does he need to get her medical attention, but also feels a need to keep her safe and help answer the questions surrounding her. Who is this woman? Who is searching for her and why? What is the box in her pocket? Does the tan line around her ring finger mean she is married or engaged or recently divorced? As the story progresses, the answers to the questions and more are slowly learned.

Fatal Recall is a great suspense novel that does not shy away from themes of faith and Christianity. The author did a great job of weaving in the faith in a believable way. Tanner and Paige each had a difficult youth, causing them to each have trust issues and feel a lack of self-worth. As Paige remembers more about her self, one of the first things she remembers is how her finding faith helped her overcome her past. Tanner, because of his experiences, does not have confidence in God or feel the need for faith, but as he watches Paige and how she has faith in spite of her upbringing, we see him open to the idea and begin to discover faith. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book from the danger, to the mystery, to the romance, to the discovery of the power of faith.

If you enjoy suspense stories, you should definitely check out this book and the others by Carol J. Post.

About the Book:
Amnesia stole her memory—

a killer wants her dead

When Paige Tatem loses her memory, she knows just two things: she has a target on her back, and police officer Tanner Brody is the only man she trusts to protect her. As they piece together her past, Tanner wonders what lies hidden in Paige’s mind. And as the truth begins to emerge, it becomes clear that a ruthless enemy wants certain secrets to stay buried.

About the Author:
From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol's resume reads like someone who doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She started as a child writing poetry for family and friends, then graduated to articles which actually made it into some religious and children's publications. Several years ago (more than she's willing to admit), she penned her first novel. In 2010, she decided to get serious about writing fiction for publication and joined Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter.

Carol lives in sunshiny Central Florida with her husband of thirty-two years, who is her own real-life hero, and writes her stories under the shade of the huge oaks in her yard. Besides writing, she works alongside her music minister husband singing and playing the piano and holds the position of church treasurer. She enjoys sailing, hiking, camping, almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of three fat and sassy cats and one highly spoiled dog.

You can learn more about the author on her blog.

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.