I always enjoy Becky Wade's books, and True to You is no exception. Its setting in Washington State makes it even more enjoyable!

Having recently read Then Came You, this series' prequel novella, I was particularly eager to read True to You. It did not disappoint, and I'm eager for the next installment already!

Merryweather may be a fictional town - think Leavenworth, if it were not limited to Bavaria - but remains absolutely charming. I truly wish it were a real place, so I could visit it!

Wade continues to paint vivid mental pictures in this book; you'll half expect to see Nora walk around the corner any second. The story line is creative and faintly reminiscent of the Minnie Driver and David Duchovny movie Return to Me.

I had just two beefs with True to You. One: I didn't find it entirely realistic for John and Nora to "just go" to downtown Seattle's Nordstrom flagship. Merryweather seems far enough away (per my rough guesstimates) as to be an intentional day trip -- not one to do on a whim. Maybe I'm biased as a weekday commuter to downtown, however. I wouldn't go downtown on a day off if I could help it! Secondly, there were a couple sensual moments where I wasn't quite sure what direction they'd go. All turned out well, but my antennae went up briefly there.

Overall a read I'd recommend picking up. Good vacation read -- or before bed -- or anytime!

Nora Bradford is a history-loving, period drama-watching, book lover. She prefers being immersed in her work and the world of books than having her own romance. John Lawson is a former Navy SEAL who likes to live in the present. He was adopted as an infant. When he's diagnosed with a hereditary condition he enlists Nora help to find out about his past.

This book was a little different than Becky's usual style but I enjoyed it. It was a great start as the first book in the series. There was great backstory and we got to know about all three sisters. It was a great story about love, faith and family. I enjoyed the romance. I enjoyed the close relationship between Nora and her sisters. I related to Nora a lot because she's a bookish person like I am. If you love Becky Wade's novels or enjoy Contemporary Christian Romance novels you'll have a wonderful time reading this book.

True to You by Becky Wade

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Becky Wade's latest foray into the world of fiction will leave her readers pondering their ability to forgive, take on tough issues, and love again.

Again I have been presented with a new-to-me author, and this one I am most certainly going to add to my "must read" list. I had an idea of how I thought this story would go and although I had some aspects of it right, Ms. Wade just blew all of my preconceptions out of the water and delivered a story that really made me consider the issues at hand. She began with a young genealogist/librarian named Nora Bradford who has decided to focus all her attention on the books, TV dramas, and village she loves rather than her love life, which in recent years has taken a devastating hit. Her fiance Harrison fell in love with another woman and has since married her and started a family - all in the same town where Nora lives. Finding more comfort in her books and projects, Nora has decided that God will have to bring her the right person, although she's not sure He can as she believes He betrayed her with Harrison. Enter John Lawson, former Navy Seal and current emergency preparedness instructor who literally sweeps Nora off her feet. Only one problem: John already has a girlfriend. But when John discovers Nora's occupation he immediately employs her to find his biological mother. John is mysterious about his reasons for finding his mother, but that doesn't stop Nora from jumping feet first into this quest for information. As they follow all the clues to find out John's history they will find real friendship, and perhaps, something more. I loved the way which Ms. Wade presented this story - well developed plot and characters with excellent dialogue and some great vocabulary thrown in that made the story really fun. And it was interesting to see that she ended each of her chapters with a text message or email that gave a hint of where her story was going next - what a great idea! I loved the razzing that went on between the sisters that was fun but never went beyond teasing to hurtful words. I could tell Ms. Wade really wanted you to get to know both her main characters and the sub characters who are in their lives. She was careful to have the three sisters respond respectfully and graciously in spite of their grandmother's unkind diatribes while making sure their grandmother knew she was wrong. I further enjoyed her way of writing the growing romance between Nora and John - they both are attracted to each other but are unsure how to proceed given that John has a girlfriend and Nora is wary of relationships. I was glad to see that Ms. Wade had John break things off nicely with his girlfriend, Allie, before she allowed him and Nora to get together. Their relationship was so well described it made me feel I was one of Nora's sisters watching it play out. I loved their conversations and how John was always asking Nora if she had really just used an advanced vocabulary word in everyday speech. But when their search for John's mother brings good as well as heartbreaking news, their relationship with each other and with God will face the greatest test of all: trust. How good it was that Ms. Wade did not shy away from the difficult topics of rape conception and whether a child of a rapist can have any tendencies passed on in genetics. I was happy to see she made it very clear that our faith in God, our families and our choices are what define us rather than the circumstances of our conception or birth. And Ms. Wade also took on the topic of trust with both John and Nora. John had to remember that God made him exactly the way He wanted him and that He could be trusted to redeem that which John's father had destroyed. Nora had to learn that God is the one she must trust first of all if she is going to have any hope of a real relationship with John. She will have to lay aside her anger and hurt if she is to find her true identity in God. The "Redeeming" theme that Ms. Wade's story carried is what made it to very special to me. Too often we forget that we have all been redeemed by a Savior and everyone is a new creation in Him. And when we come face-to-face with a situation that demands that we decide if we believe that's true, that is how we see the enormity of what was done for us. I truly look forward to sharing this story with others as well as the stories of the other two Bradford sisters as I hear this will be the first in a trilogy called "The Bradford Sisters Romance". I have also placed several of Ms. Wade's former works on hold at my library to enjoy very soon as well.

I received this E-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

A very heart-warming story! An adoptee will be able to relate to searching for answers about biological parents. This story shows how God has a hand in everything. His ways are perfect.. The only thing that I didn't care for was the way the author composed the text-like dialogue between characters occasionally throughout the book. I prefer reading a paragraph verses the way it was written. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

True to You is oh-so-good! It totally made me cry... and that's a good thing. By the end of the book I felt so much compassion for John and his struggle to accept and overcome some pretty tough things. As a mother who adopted her children, I completely related to the theme of adoption and was fascinated by Nora and John's search for his biological parents. The contrasts between Nora and John were stark, but their differences complemented each other and the chemistry between them was awesome. I loved the emotional journey they went on as they learned to trust God and rely on Him for peace and resolution. Nora's sisters were a fun and integral presence and I can't wait to read their stories! Some scenes were written from Willow's perspective so I wonder if her book is coming next... I highly recommend reading the prequel novella for details about Nora's parents which influenced her in this story.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Nora Bradford's librarian prowess combined with her love of history makes her a capable and successful genealogist. Nora is without a doubt a kindred spirit. John Lawson is a rugged, modern-day warrior. He's a quiet and reserved man of integrity and chivalry. John is a keeper!!!

This book will be on my year-end favorites list, I'm calling it right now and it shall be so. The supporting cast of tight-knit family members and friends has me all kinds of giddy and squealing excited for the rest of the series!!!

I requested the opportunity to read this book through LitFuse, the author, and the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! I have been eagerly anticipating this book, but I did not see that coming! What an introduction to Becky Wade’s new series. It has a really fresh feel to it, and yet it is still indubitably Becky Wade. (When you read the book, you’ll see what I just did there!)

Wade pin 2I’m not sure you could find two characters who are more different to the Porters and their wives than Nora Bradford and John Lawson. In Nora, Becky Wade has managed to capture all the endearing quirks you might expect from a genealogist/historian/bookish person without making her awkward or clichéd. And I loved her voice! So often when a character is remarkable for their use of ‘big’ words it comes across as though the author has simply dusted off their thesaurus, but with Nora it was done much more subtly and sounded completely authentic. It also added a nice dynamic to her relationship with John, but you’ll have to read the book yourself to discover how!

Speaking of John, I have to admit I’m a sucker for the strong, silent type. He might be a Medal of Honor winner, but he doesn’t give off the high-energy, alpha-male vibe that you often see in military characters. He’s not a talker, he doesn’t like to bring attention to himself, and throughout this novel his integrity and strength of character shines through. And oh, sweet mercy, those kisses! I loved the way he loves Nora!

I will admit there were times when the first half of this novel dragged just a little for me—times when I felt there was a lot of exposition that could have been trimmed down—but there are some fabulous one- or two-liners all through this novel, and I loved the dynamic between Nora and her sisters. We also get a tantalizing glimpse of where the next two books in the series will be headed, and I like what I see!

For all its strengths, where this book really excelled for me was in Wade pin1the last third of the book when John grapples with the discoveries his search has brought to light. He’s got the answers he was looking for, but they really aren’t the answers he was looking for! His anguish was so authentic, and I LOVED the way in which the character worked through it. Yes, there were a few tears!

If this is what we have to look forward to in Becky Wade’s new series, bring it on!

Genealogist Nora Bradford has a passion for history and after being burned by love once three years ago, would rather read about romance in the past.

John Lawson is a former Navy SEAL and national hero, he runs Lawson Training Incorp. where he teaches people how to respond to emergencies. He hires Nora to help him find his birth-mother because he has recently received an unsettling health diagnosis about an inherited condition.

Nora and John work together to find clues when the normal channels fail. Nora knows what she is doing, and is intelligent, articulate, organized, friendly, and compassionate. She has a way of putting strangers instantly at ease, which comes in handy when they are asking for help in their investigation. She has two sisters, Willow and Britt, Willow is a model, while Britt owns an operates a candy shop.

John is a real-life hero, with a book and a movie written about him, but he believes that the real heroes are the ones that didn't make it home. He is a strong Christian and share his faith in his book, he has a great relationship with his parents, and has been dating Alice. So he feels guilty when he can't help noticing little things about Nora that make him smile.

I like both Nora and John, they both share a strong faith, but they realize that they ave been holding on to things that they need to surrender to God. There is also a lot of great humorous dialog between Nora and John, and quite a bit going on. I loved the ending, and this was a great book, romantic, and well worth the read!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

I love this book! I was literally unable to put it down. Becky Wade couldn't be a more talented writer. I easily fell in love with the characters and am dying to read the next Bradford Sisters book. Each character was unique and totally unlike any I've read before. I loved the bond between sisters and how different their talents and goals were. True to You follows Nora, the middle sister as she helps John in the process of locating his birth parents.

Nora loves history. Finding the birth parents of people who were adopted isn't an easy task. Luckily for John it's one of Nora's favorite things to do. John needs to find his birth parents and he needs all the help he can get. As a team they are not only getting closer to finding his mother, but are also having fun while doing it. Regardless of how opposite they are, they have both felt sparks. The only problem is, neither of them want a relationship. John already has a girlfriend and is loyal to a fault. Nora enjoys having crushes on people she feels would never like her, and therefore she is safe from heartbreak. Can they figure out the perfect match that is right in front of them? Or will their past keep them both from true happiness.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Romance. I had fun learning more about what goes into finding birth parents. I don't know how I will wait another year until the next book comes out! Wade has he ability to draw me in and make me love the characters. I can easily see myself in some of the things they feel or do. I'll be counting down the months until she draws me in again. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars actually.
There is a prequel to this series, The Bradford Series called Then Came You. However it is not necessary to read to understand anything going on in this novel. This is actually the first in the series and I look forward to reading them all.

I fell in love with all three sisters, Willow, Britt and of course Nora. Nora is a fun character to get to know. She is used to being in the background and is ok in that situation. She loves helping people. When the handsome Navy Seal needs her help is there more to discover than his ancestry?

Nora is not what John Lawson expected. He is a strong, handsome, caring well known Navy Seal. When secrets reveal things he may not understand, can he trust God to always know what is best?

I love the relationship Nora has with her sisters. They each have their own unique personalities and qualities, When John comes into the picture I instantly fell in love with him.

This book is full of love, friendships, some mystery, forgiveness and more. I can not wait for the next one to come out, I already know who I would like to see a lot more of in the next book. I loved all the characters in this one and look forward to learning more about each one.

Bestselling author, Becky Wade, has done it again, written an absolutely amazing novel! I didn't think she could top her prior reads, but in my eyes she sure did!

True to You was a compelling read with extraordinarily deep characters. Though Becky writes in third person, reading the story felt intimate, kind of like first-person narrative. The plot was unique and irresistible, and surprisingly there were twists I didn't expect at all. The series follows three sisters and the two supporting sisters had remarkable depth in True to You. Nora Bradford and John Lawson were exceptionally flawed characters who came alive on the page. I didn't want this novel to end, alas it did. I am salivating as I await The Bradford Sisters Romance #2, about eldest sister Willow Bradford and hunky NFL quarterback Corbin Stewart.

Grab the free Then Came You: A Bradford Sisters Novella that tells the story of Garner Bradford, the father of the three Bradford sisters, to give you a preview of the series. It also includes an extended preview of True to You at the end. Or pick up your copy of True to You today!

After reading the novella Then Came You, I couldn't wait to dive into this story! It was so nice to see the three girls already grown up, living their own lives. And I have to say that I'm glad the first story was about Nora because I felt like I connected with her the most out of the three sisters. (Although I am excited to see their stories in the future)

Nora is probably my favorite female character of the year. She is this "ordinary" woman stuck between two "beautiful and talented" sisters. But here's the thing - Nora is beautiful and talented too. She kind of reminds me of the song "You Don't Know You're Beautiful". She was lost in this fantasy world of tv and romance, and just needed someone to come in and show her that romance can be in the real world too. Someone who could make her feel talented, beautiful, and special.

Enter John. I liked him from the very beginning, but he had this deep dark secret that I couldn't put my finger on until the author revealed it later in the book. My favorite scenes with John actually came in the last third of the book. He learns something that really rocks his world and his relationship, and I was a little nervous to see his reaction. Not to fear, Ms. Wade does a marvelous job at showing his emotions, his struggles, and a realistic reaction from him. During these few chapters his character shows great development and growth, and I found myself being so proud of him for figuring it all out.

On top of great characters, this book offers romance. Not in your face, but rather little subtle glimpses here and there, that build up throughout the book and almost leave you begging for something to happen. The relationship between John and Nora is sweet, endearing, and such a joy to read about. On top of that, the book's theme really struck a chord with me. More than once you see the characters mention and learn that God is enough. Even when times are tough, God is even. When you don't get the relationship you are looking for, God is enough. This is such a great message for readers of all ages!

I am impatiently waiting for the next book in this series to be released. And if you're given the opportunity, I highly recommend you read the novella titled Then Came You! It gives a great foundation to this story! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

True to You marks the first book in Becky Wade's new series The Bradford Sisters' Romance, and it starts it off with a bang. The storyline is interesting and well written, and I found myself glued to the pages to find out what happens next to Nora. I liked how many of the chapters began or ended with texts, Facebook messages, or emails between different characters, particularly the ones between the Bradford sisters. Many of the messages were amusing, and they gave a little background information to what was occurring behind the scenes and into the feelings of some of the minor characters. The dialogue between the characters was well written and helped me to really identify with their emotions and to understand the relationships between them. I also thought that the characters were realistic and well developed. I loved Nora's quirkiness and her sisters' attempts to 'pruce her up a bit.' I could relate to her bookishness and desire for her own "Mr. Darcy." I liked watching Nora and John grow more as individuals and slowly learn more about each other as they searched for John's mother. I thought their interactions were amusing and also realistic. I enjoyed seeing Nora's interactions with her sisters and her extended family, and I am glad that there will be more books so that I learn more about her other sisters! Overally, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I cannot wait to see what is in store in the following books!

I'm going to gush for just a minute. The one consistent thing I do for me is read. I read when I'm brushing my teeth, blow-drying my hair, eating breakfast...you get the picture. This week I've been working through Becky Wade's latest True to You. What started as a sweet romance, turned into an amazingly deep, life-changing book in the last 15%. I literally can't imagine many more emotions she could pack into the end. It is sheer perfection! Wow oh wow. Or Great Scott! I've just been challenged to write deeper by an author I admire. And that makes the book a keeper.

True to You solidified Becky Wade's spot as my favorite contemporary Christian romance author. There's so much to love about this unlikely pairing of former Navy SEAL John Lawson and bookish Nora Bradford.

To her credit, Becky Wade takes two wealthy, extremely accomplished individuals, reveals their flaws, and makes them sympathetic and relatable. And then she makes them smart and straightforward, avoiding cheap tactics such as cliched misunderstandings and instead demonstrating how people with real character behave, in spite of their fears and insecurities.

Despite a scene or two that had me near tears, the novel includes levity, delivered mainly by Nora's internal thoughts and her cantankerous grandmother. From wry one-liners like, "She valued proper nomenclature," to ridiculous dialogue like, "Gotta love cabbage," there is plenty to make you smile.

There is wisdom, too, about the beauty of life in all its imperfection, living in the here and now, and discovering the truth of our identities and our self-worth.

If you enjoyed the prequel novella Then Came You, you'll be pleased to know True to You includes more of the epistolary style with each chapter, including text messages and beautifully-written, heart-warming personal letters.

The writing is smooth and crisp, and the book hard to put down. "Sweet and clean" best describes the romance, but with enough physical attraction to keep things real. And, to my surprise, a dramatic twist added an unexpected complication and depth to the story. (Can't say any more. Sorry.)

The stage has been set for Nora's sisters' romances with each of the heroes enjoying minor roles in True to You. (One you may recognize from the Porter Family series.) I'm looking forward to revisiting John and Nora as their romance progresses and they continue to work through the coming challenges they'll face. (Look at me, talking about them like they're real people! That's what a good book will do.)

True to You is one of those books that captures your heart in the first chapter. I absolutely fell in love with Nora. She is one of my top five female book characters of all time. I loved this book so much I emailed the author when I was only one fourth of the way into the book.

Nora is the middle daughter, a librarian, and the perfect blend of quirkiness and intellect. The descriptions were so realistic that you feel you are there with Nora as she is carried out of the building, or when she is buying his book and his movie, or when she is driving with her nose 2 inches from the windshield. We have all shared her obsession with a fictional character (Thor or Nicholas from A Knight in Shining Armor).

John is a former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient. He has enlisted Nora’s help to find his birth mother after finding out he has an inherited disease. I did not see that coming… Their interactions and his thoughts were heartwarming and humorous.

This is the first book in the Bradford Sisters series. Each of the sisters is unique and fascinating in her own way. They have a great relationship and support each other beautifully. I loved the scene between Britt and Willow’s ex-boyfriend. Becky teases us enough with their stories that there is no way we cannot read the next two books.

After reading so many books you may feel that they most of them feel the same; that is definitely not the case with this book!

This book made me feel good inside. Sure they have problems to overcome but this book is the reason I love to read so much. You can escape into another world with characters you want to hang out with.

I will be shocked if this book doesn't make it into by top 10 of 2017.

Sexual content: kissing, great chemistry between the characters but still clean, some unwed pregnancies in the past are mentioned
Violence: someone in the past was raped and killed; few details are given

I discovered Becky Wade had free novella available—Then Came You—the prequel to her new series. I downloaded it, and read it, and discovered my review copy of the first book in the series was already sitting on my Kindle. So I read that as well, and now I have to wait months for the next in the series. Yes, True to You was good. Excellent. The best romance I’ve read so far in 2017.

True to You is Nora’s story.

She’s a bookish librarian-researcher-genealogist who is a devotee of a certain British period drama, and one of the minor actors (the way she describes him, I see him as a slightly more foppish version of Benedict Cumberbatch). Nora also happens to own a historic village (as you do). She meets the handsome John Lawson when her sister volunteers her as a hostage for a training exercise run by John’s company, and the attraction would have been immediate if it wasn’t for the existence of Allie, John’s perfect girlfriend.

John is adopted and wants to find his birth parents.

Nora seems the perfect person to help him. Only she’s too perfect … and he’s too much of a Christian and a gentleman to be able to do anything with that perfection when he already has the perfect girlfriend in Allie. Allie, who knows his secret and still wants him.

The plot was excellent, with the perfect (!) combination of predictable and surprising.

There were several plot points that I didn’t see coming, but which made perfect sense. The characters were excellent—intelligent, funny, and quirky, and I’m already looking forward to the next two books in the series, to find out how Willow and Britt get their happy-ever-afters (the who has been pretty well identified already. The how … that’s going to be fun to watch. And I don’t know which I want to read more—the story of the ex who’s back in town, or the story of the boy next door who’s been in love with her forever).

The writing was outstanding. There were so many great lines, but I can’t quote most of them because *spoilers*. I especially loved the faith thread. Both Nora and John are Christians, and while the plot never makes a big deal about it, it is central to both their characters and both their stories. It comes across as entirely natural, and that’s tough to pull off.

I think you’ve figured by now that I loved this book. Recommended for all contemporary Christian romance fans.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This book is a meandering journey, at times I wanted the pace to pick up and at other times I wanted to pause and enjoy the moment more. At the mid-point, I began to wonder what kind of rating I would give this one, I am a fan of Becky Wade and this was set to be a new favourite but I was struggling to pull the pieces of the puzzle together into a collective picture. Wow, am I glad I stuck with it, the twists in the end are awesome and I can now, honestly, say I am hooked on this series, these three interesting ladies and the adventure ahead of our romantic leads. Nora is easy to relate to and I recognised myself in her, a fellow bookworm and researcher. John was more opaque, though I am sure that was intentional, the book hit its stride for me when his character opened up. The writing is beautiful and these are a few of my favourite lines:

“Since sleep had served her divorce papers without her consent, she’d read late into the night each evening.”

“There was a peace to be found in surrendering. There was. But the Holy Spirit’s peace at this particular point in her life, was a hard-earned peace accompanied by tears.”

“…we so often long for a change in our circumstances. What’s ultimately of more value is God’s ability to strengthen us with power through His Spirit, so that we’ll be able to deal with the circumstances He doesn’t change. “
I have decided on 4 out of 5 on the en-JOY-ment scale, this one is full of laughter, reflections and unexpected turns! Sit back, take it easy and enjoy!

This was a book where I found myself struggling to read and enjoy. Having not read the back cover prior to reading, I merely dove in not knowing the premise of the story.

Nora Bradford is a mousy looking woman, who has a great personality, but has failed to attempt in any form to make herself attractive. On a fluke, she ends up volunteering for a emergency test system with her sister. They are to be hostages and to be rescued. Well, they are rescued minus a few hiccups, but a former Navy SEAL whom Nora immediately swoons for as he carries her out of the building.

There's no reason for them to ever connect again, but the Navy SEAL, is an adoptee who has a sudden need to find out his family history. Nora agrees that she will help out, especially since her specialty is researching.

The first few chapters I had some difficulty getting into it. The play between Nora and her sister Britt and Willow had me all in a twitter confused and not really sure if I liked this book. BUT, somewhere along the way I because interested in Nora and John. I wondered what was going to happen, would John find his mom. What is happening?

Let's just say, this is a book well worth the slow and confusing beginning chapters. The bombshell news scattered throughout will definitely leave you wondering and amazed. Kudo's to Becky Wade for spinning together this tale.

I received this complimentary book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the concept of this novel. I thought Nora and John had moments of real chemistry and humor that I enjoyed. And I liked most of the secondary characters, and the fact that there were so many and they all had their own things going. It made the novel seem broader in scope. However, I was just never able to get totally into this one. I found the entertaining, engaging scenes were few and far between, scattered among long, often unnecessary info dumps, and boring, meandering internal dialogue/introspection. Because of this, the pacing always seemed a bit off, and I had trouble staying interested in the storyline.

I also had a lot of trouble relating to Nora. I'm all for the smart, introverted heroine and whatnot, but man. I often found her thoughts and actions either totally implausible or incredibly cringeworthy. I was so uncomfortable with her throughout the book. I didn't feel John added much to the story himself. I mean he drove the plot, but he didn't seem to have much depth or personality. I never felt like we really got to know him. The romance seemed very rushed and unrealistic to me. Between that and my lack of connection to the characters, it really didn't do anything for me.

I've read all of Becky Wade's other books, some I've loved, others haven't worked for me at all. I hate to give up on a writer who's written some of my favorite characters in the past. But even though I did kind of like Nora's sisters in this book, I'm not sure it's enough to make me want to come back for the rest of the series.