True to You by Becky Wade is a Christian romance that has several parts that are funny, and emotional. This is a wonderful book. The characters are well developed and relatable. The dynamics of the sister's is well-thoughtout. 

There are two main characters. The first; is Nora, is a cautious and studious young woman. The second; John, is a modern-day Navy SEAL who comes into Nora's life and turns it upside down.

Nora had a really bad relationship in the past that caused her to build a wall to protect herself from being hurt that she did in her last relationship. The obstacles she puts in her way consist of unfashionable clothing, old hairstyles, and work. Eventually John and Nora meet and the wall that she has built slowly begins to break down. 

John has an ego but deep down he was hurting and there was an uncertainty of his future that bothered him.  Recently, John was diagnosed with a genetic condition that will affect him for the rest of his life. John was not attracted to Nora at first but the most time he spent with her the more he saw a wonderful young lady. Through his friendship with Nora, John learns some important lessons in trusting God with his past as well as his future. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#TrueToYou is the first story of the new Bradford Sisters series and by introducing Nora Bradford, the simplest and sweetest of the sisters, Becky has won hearts of all the 'girl's next door.' As a smart, pretty and an excellent businesswoman who is also a workaholic trying to keep her emotions and beauty buried under work and dull clothes, Nora is perfect but she doesn't know it.

John is a Navy Seal – need I say more? Yes, he is handsome, drool worthy, honest as well as kind even though he is diagnosed with a disease that can’t be stopped. His list of attributes is pretty much endless but I loved him just for his sincerity. Becky has managed to mix and successfully present a perfect combination of old world charm with a modern-day romance. At times, I felt lost in the historical village and the sweet, obsolete words. Indubitably, she has spun a book that will be much-loved for the romance that blooms along with the delicate handling of such sensitive issues of finding one's birth parents.

The author has handled the issue of adoption and the case of difficult birth parents as well as the devastation of the crimes against women that unfold when they search for John’s birth mother with such delicate finesse. While reading I felt the author herself had witnessed such emotions to write so expressively. Family relations are never easy and when life and death along with love mix then it is more so. Becky does a superb job in #TrueToYou and I look forward to reading the next books in the series.

The book has a lot of heavy stuff knitted within the romance, familial love despite the troubles Nora and her sisters have faced, and it is not just heartbreak. The faith and trust displayed by John and Nora as well as her grandmother in this #ChrisFic helped me realise how paths are smoothed when we trust. This is the first book and it expertly introduces the sisters as well as their ‘interests’ and we get a glimpse into the love lives of all three of them. It has whetted my appetite to read about the others as well.

I found the surprise entry of Corbin decidedly fun, sending Willow in a spin. Britt and Alexander “Zander” Ford and their friendship meanwhile showed the difficult path of true love. Adolphus Brook or Duncan Bartholomew adds a juicy twist to the story and of course, deserves his own love story, I can see enough twists and turns while he finds love. This could be a series of many books, friends, family and not just the three sisters. I am off to read the prequel Then Came You (Bradford Sisters Romance #0.5) 

A book filled with desperation, doubt and so much sincere love. True To You made me laugh, cry and reaffirm my faith in love, good romances and a power that keeps all things just right. Enjoy this romance and celebrate life.

(I received a copy of the book #TrueToYou via Litfuse from Netgalley)

I'm a Becky Wade fan. Anything new she has coming out gets my attention, so I was quite excited to get this book. In my opinion, she didn't disappoint.

Nora owns an historical village and loves helping people engage in history and research their genealogies. What she doesn't love is her romantic past. She's spent the last several years telling everyone she's content and great, but slowly realizing she's closer to miserable being alone. She has her own unique flair in how she wears her hair, dresses and even the vocabulary she uses. It will take a certain kind of man to see beyond the baggy clothes and intellectual exterior to the beauty and whimsy within.

John is a former Navy SEAL who has been heralded as a hero, but is struggling to feel like much of one. He's just learned of an inherited genetic disorder that could change his future prospects significantly and decides to start digging into finding his birth parents. He enlists the help of Nora and together they find out that digging into the past can be painful beyond what they can bear.

This novel is so much more than a Christian Romance. The writing is wonderful and the characters are delightful, fun and real. I wasn't expecting the conflict that came and it was wretched and made me cry, but the process of healing was so beautiful and real. It wasn't forced and it wasn't preachy. Becky Wade just has a way with words and spinning her tales. I can't wait for the next in the series.

I am always interested in reading military-themed novels, and this one was no exception. I've read some of Becky Wade's work before, and I think this was my favorite by far.

The story was not far-fetched, and the characters were believable. The struggle John has with his condition, and the fact that Nora feels like she can't love again, all that was relatable to me as a reader. I like that this is the first in a series, and I will certainly read the rest once they are out.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

She was capable and scholarly and disinclined to gamble ever again on romance. Yet, something in John called out to something in her. It was unexplainable. Foolhardy, even. ~excerpt

True to You is INDUBITABLY good! Oh, how I love this story. I’m so happy this is part of a series, because I’ll be able to revisit these incredibly easy-to-love characters I’ve become enamored with.

Becky Wade is an absurdly talented storyteller. She flavors her books with perfect measures of faith, humor, and romance. She is climbing so high on my list of favorite authors that she risks altitude sickness.

One of the greatest features of this book is its uniqueness. I’ve never read a story that battles the same struggles and obstacles as this one does. True to You is unpredictable, endearing, and extraordinarily memorable. (Try as I might, I can’t seem to keep the adverbs from this review. Saying it’s good, unique, and memorable just doesn’t do it justice. So I’m peppering it with LY words because I just can’t help myself.)

Nora Bradford is quirky, funny, and genuine. I sunk into her life with ease, and fell in love with her privately owned historical village. I adore her personality, her vocabulary, and the way she relates to others. Her sisters are a hoot, and I even grew to enjoy her irritable grandmother.

John Lawson is the perfect hero. He’s gentlemanly, strong, and everything else yummy. He’s the type of fictional hero that makes you forget all other fictional heroes. Seriously, I can’t think of another male lead in a book that compares. He has his flaws, he has his limits, and he has rough days ahead, but all those things make him even more desirable and praiseworthy.

This book is one of THOSE books. You know, one of those that pulls you in, drags you through the dirt, wrings the tears out of you, and makes you giggle and swoon. It’s also one that makes you sigh as you read the final page, and has you counting the days until the next book in the series is released.


5 Indubitable Stars!

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 384
Series: A Bradford Sisters Romance Book 1
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0764219368
First Line: Finding oneself at the mercy of a crazed gunman isn’t all fun and games.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and NetGalley.

I love Becky Wade. Truly, anything that she writes is yummy.
Nora gets dragged into a "pretend hostage situation" by her sister and let's just say she's horrible at it. But through the events meets John and ends up trying to help him figure out who his biological parents are. I liked the effort in the search and the genealogical insight gained.
The interaction with some of the characters took different turns than I was expecting.
All in all a good read.

Content: Clean, Christian elements
Source: Netgalley for an honest review

I absolutely fell in love with this charming novel! We have sweet and kind Nora, who has given up on romance but still feels the tug at her heart for someone to love her and love them back. She just lacks the confidence in herself! Then she meets the handsome, strong, adventurous John – who is her complete opposite but who attracts her in every way.

He confides the tip of an important secret with her and together they set out to find his birth mother in a race against time. While working together both develop feelings for each other! They are both shy and unsure about these feelings and it was heart warming to watch them realize their feelings and how it developed throughout the novel. We watch as they struggle, learn to accept and try to learn to move forward.

I loved watching Nora blossom as both a person and a woman. She started off shy and so unsure of herself. As the novel continues, she becomes more confident in herself and fights to get over her fear of romance. It was so lovely to see her grow and I found myself keeping my fingers crossed for her! You can’t just help but fall in love with her.

This was a truly lovely novel that had me giggling, praying and hoping for the best. A great weekend read!

At first I thought I was just reading a lovely light romance with Christian overtones but when Sherry reveals who the father is, suddenly there is a much deeper exploration of Christian identity and how God can turn evil to good for those that love him. I look forward to more from this author!

Becky Wade has written a lovely story that truly delves into the character of her characters. We find Nora Bradford, a very eccentric, librarian who loves tea, cinnamon toast and genealogy but mostly her books. She lives in Bookish Cottage.


By happenstance she meets John Lawson when she participates in a practice rescue with her sister and put on by John's Company. John comes to her rescue, a quiet, intimidating presence, ruggedly good looking, he is a former Navy Seal (actually a Medal of Honor winning Navy Seal).


Nora mentions to John what she does for a living and he indicates he might seek her out. She is surprised when he follows through and thus begins an adventure as they seek to find John's birth mother.


The twists and turns of plot occur because John has a secret, the reason he needs to find his birth mother; add to that Nora's quirkiness, her family members with their own quirkiness, and the old fashioned village she has restored and brought to life for others to enjoy.


You find yourself rooting for John even more so when it seems life goes from bad to worse--and falling in love with the traditional old fashioned Nora...a very lovely story indeed; but I have to warn you it has some tear jerking moments.


My favorite part are the spiritual struggles that the author deftly uses her characters to depict...the kinds similar to what we all go through. The answers are never easy. Sometimes there aren't any answers; but the important part for all of us as well as for Ms. Wade's characters is from where do we go to find the source for wisdom and strength to help us through the dark times in our lives.


Read "Tell Me True" for some thought provoking revelations. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for your keeper shelf. I received this novel from Netgalley and through Bethany House Blogger Review Program for an honest review.

True to you is a book that touches your heart in such a deep and tender way that you- yes you- may let some tears fall, the book is about adoption and that can be a sensitive topic for some because the characters arqe looking for the biological parents, there is also the love and romance between John and Nora which also touches the heart and there is such a stark contrast between the two and yet they are perfect for each other, love abounds in this book and so does hurt and most of all and THE most important thing is GOD abounds. Remember, "You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me.", and they do.

Becky Wade is one of my must-read authors, I have to read every book of hers as soon as it's available, every single one is that good!  "True to You" is the first book in her brand-new Bradford Sisters series.  However, Becky wrote a prequel novel to the series, "Then Came You," that I highly recommend.  This novella is the story of the Bradford Sisters father and their mothers, and it is so unique as it is filled in various forms of correspondence between the various characters and through Garner's journal entries.  "True to You" focuses on the middle Bradford sister, Nora.  Nora whom is sweet, serious and single and agrees to volunteer on a Saturday morning with her younger sister and meets John Lawson.  John is a former NAVY Seal and when he learns that Nora is a genealogist he enlists her help.  As the two work together they are complete opposites but seemingly a good team at the same time.
I loved this story!  I also loved the bits and pieces about the other sisters whom will each have their own stories (hopefully sooner than later!).  Becky does such a great job with creating characters who I cannot help but love, but I can also picture completely and empathize with.  I highly recommend this book to contemporary romance fans!

First I have to say how much I love the cover. There is something so innocent about the woman but yet mysterious. It is definitely perfect for this story. I absolutely adore Nora. She has such a cool job as a historian, genealogist and village owner. That is one busy lady with a resume that would impress anyone. I have been doing some genealogy research and I have to say it is one of the most fascinating things I have ever done. Nora craves details and loves to dig deep to get answers. With the help of her sisters they have quite a village going . I was very impressed with the chocolate store. Can you imagine working there everyday?

John is a former Navy Seal and with the authors great description he must be easy on the eye. He is humble about what he accomplished as a Seal and I loved how the author portrayed him. It's not hard to fall in love with these characters as the author makes them so likeable. John is on a quest to find his birth mother and maybe with Nora's help he will succeed. I did enjoy the banter between them. Nora is quite funny trying to intimidate John but she is having no luck. I think she may be just a bit school girl crush over him. Will she let her guard down as they start to develop a relationship?

I loved the makeover Nora got thanks to her sister. I can remember having my makeup done once. I walked out of the store feeling on top of the world. Nora has confidence she never had before and I think it made her character very relatable to readers. The author really knows how to keeps readers attention with details of the three sisters background. Oh my goodness it is such good reading. I have to come back to John for a moment. The vivid details the author gives about Navy Seals and their missions are so tension filled I was grasping the arm of my chair.

To say that I loved this book is not enough. There are so many details and intricate scenes throughout the book that I couldn't possibly do justice to them. All I can say is well done Becky Wade. You have captured a story with poise, faith and compassion. I hope readers will run and grab a copy for themselves.

I received a copy of this book from LitFuse and Bethany House. The review is my own opinion.

True to You reminds me of every reason why I love Becky Wade’s novels so much. It’s funny, charming, romantic, sexy, and it hits me in all the feels. And that’s just John’s character. Kidding. Kidding. (Mostly.)

I’ll get back to John in a minute but “Great Scott” do I love Nora!! For starters, she is delightfully bookish and has a tendency to fall in love with fictional characters. She’s a librarian, a historian and a genealogist. She uses words like “indubitable” and “tout” on a regular basis. She owns a historic village (because of course she does). Nora is just endearingly quirky, relatable and cute.

And then there’s John…. blissful sigh. Former Navy-SEAL-hero John. He has a book and a movie based on his heroism (Hold your swooning until the end, please.) (Ok, who am I kidding? Go ahead. Start swooning.) Besides running his emergency/terrorism training company, he is searching for his birth family. John’s understandably a little angsty and broody but he’s also charming and sexy. (Seriously, keep a fan handy) And he finds Nora absolutely adorable. (Because she is.)

What starts out as a cute and lighthearted romance – with perhaps a meaningful thread or two – takes some surprising turns that left me feeling as gut-punched as the characters. I even gasped out loud in horrified sympathy at one point, as though these are my real friends. (You see why I love Nora so much … she’s not the only one who occasionally considers fictional characters to be as real as real people lol) Coating every word – of the hard and the sweet – is sincere grace wrapped in truth.

Bottom Line: True to You is perhaps my favorite Becky Wade novel to date! And considering how much I love Meant to be Mine, this is saying quite a lot. Wade is not afraid to tackle real life through fiction, with messy, painful situations and characters who love Jesus but remain as flawed as you or me. At the same time, this novel is endearing and fun and oh-so-romantic. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick, light read or a story with more substance, True to You fits the bill!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

It thought this was a sweet romance. I loved watching Nora and John fall for each other. I will admit that I read this late into the night. I was really drawn to this couple and their story. I felt like their struggle with things in their life was real. I also appreciated that they were shown as struggling with their faith and how to let it help them. I was also eager to find out if John found his birth mother or not.

It did bother me a bit that John had a girlfriend when he met Nora. As his feelings for her seemed to grow, he did do the right thing by distancing himself from Nora before anything inappropriate happened. So, that made me feel a bit better about the situation.

I do recommend book. I ended up really enjoying it. I can't wait to read Willow and Britt's stories. Britt really needs to wake up and see what it standing right next to her!

There are three Bradford sisters in this novel, which sets the stage for two more novels to come. There are characters that correspond to the three sisters, which kind of gives huge hints as to what's working in Becky Wade's mind.

Nora is the focus in True to You, she is the middle sister, a genealogist, and she quite doesn't know what to do when a larger than life man rescues her in a training exercise for a security company. The man is John Lawson, the owner of the company, a former Navy SEAL, and a man who is in search for his birth mother.

Becky writes great novels with believable characters set in incredible settings. While Washington State has some unbelievable settings, Becky placed this in a fictional town that is near some towns that are real. I live in Washington State, and I know the area where this takes place. It is a beautiful place, but it rains a lot on that side of the mountains. Rain was an infrequent visitor to this novel, but if that is the worst I can say about this novel, it's a pretty good novel for sure.

There is a bit of intensity in the novel that makes it move along and creates an entertaining read. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a well-researched family tree.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.

There's something so deliciously perfect about an opposites attracting story. John is a slightly tortured Navy SEAL, who is set on discovering secrets of his past. Nora is a very old-fashioned, vintage librarian who thrives on genealogy. This story completely captured my heart, hard subject matters and all.

I absolutely adored Nora and her sisters. I have two sisters and there's such a special bond and relationship they all share and it makes me miss my sisters. I can't wait to read their stories and dig into more of this family's lives. The importance of family is prevalent in these pages.

John's quest is a tug on the heart, but I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story came together, especially the gradual way the friendship and romance develops. I love the way John and Nora incorporate their strengths and faith into the story and come to fully rely on God to do so. As I mentioned before, I can't wait for more in this series!

Content: moderate+ religious elements; mild romance; talk of abuse/rape, nothing to graphic. 

*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not required.*

This book was an interesting look at researching ancestry for medical purposes when you're adopted. I thought it was insightful into how much effort it took. I also liked how the friendship progressed and examination of the morals and values made them question their relationship. I really liked reading this book!

So, the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is something I do not follow. As soon has this book cover and the back of the book was released, I put this on my to read list. This is my first Becky Wade book that I have tried and I liked it. The main female lead Nora was very well written. Wade made her so realistic—to me at least. When I was reading this book, I kept thinking “I am just like her, except I do not have a handsome Navy SEAL.” I loved this quote: “She was bookish! She had no experience with holding eye contact with Navy SEALs. All the practice she put in with Mr. Darcy and Rochester and Adolphus didn’t seem to be holding her in good stead.” There were many other quotes in the book that were just as humorous. Within the first few chapters, Wade has her main female lead mention Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Richard Armitage has Mr. Thornton. That is when I knew the book was good.
The huge downfall is that there is not another book in this series published yet. I will be reading the next book as soon as it is released.

This book has its good parts, its sad parts, its romantic parts and its ups and downs but it had me reading way into the night. I would highly recommend this book to mature readers since it deals with sensitive issues that happens to each of their mothers. Since this is my first Becky Wade book, I am very pleased with my first impression of her books and am looking forward to seeing what comes out next!

This book is less light-hearted than I thought it was going to be based on the cover and summary. With that being said, with a Navy SEAL and a person who loves genealogy, it's quite a match. They are on a genealogy hunt together and it’s entertaining to read the journey it led them on. Just like in the name, they are true to each other. By the end of the story it was made clear that they were resting in their identity in Christ which is very encouraging.
Spoiler warning: be aware that suicide is part of the story of this one along with other tough subjects/topics.
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this light-hearted but deeply emotional story about a cautious and studious young woman and the modern-day Navy SEAL who sweeps into her life and turns it upside down.

After the heartbreak of her last relationship, Nora has barricaded herself behind a facade of dowdy clothing, old fashioned hairstyles, and her work as a genealogist and the owner of a historical village. Who better to break through this barricade than a Navy SEAL?! With his gruff gentleness and his forced need to dig into his past, John breaks through those defenses quickly.

Nora's character was so much fun. The first scene with her had me laughing and I thoroughly enjoyed her transformation throughout the book as she comes out of her self-imposed shell and let's herself fall in love and trust again. I loved how sure she was of herself when she is engaged in her work of genealogy and how she turns to books, period TV dramas, and hot tea when she needs comfort. :) By the end of the book, Nora learns some important lessons in love, faith, and self-worth.

John's character grabbed my attention from the beginning with the whole macho Navy SEAL exterior and hurting, uncertain of his future, inner man. His world is in a tail-spin since being diagnosed with an inherited condition that will affect him the rest of his life. When he first meets Nora, he's not immediately attracted to her but as he spends more time with her, he starts to see beneath the surface to the wonderful young lady behind the facade. He also has a girlfriend so when he starts feeling attracted to Nora, he has to decide if he wants a "safe" girlfriend or if he wants to risk a deeper relationship. John also learns some important lessons in faith and trusting God with his future and his past.

I loved Nora's interactions with her sisters and look forward to reading their stories in future books. I also enjoyed the scenes with her employees (a ROFL moment when one employee in particular meets John!) and the teenager she has taken under her wing.

This is a light-hearted, funny, but also deeply emotional story with some swoony romance and a twist that made me gasp! You'll want to read this book! :) Although I believe this book can be read as a stand alone, you'll get a better grasp of the three sisters background if you read the novella, Then Came You, first.

*Thanks to Litfuse for a complimentary copy of this book. I was not paid or required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*