I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since I finished the first book in the series. Since I don't have any sisters, I have enjoyed the closeness of sisters vicariously by reading these books! I love the relationship these 3 sisters have and wish I had sisters! This book, however, is about Willow....the international super model. Everyone thinks she's got it made. She's gorgeous, she is wealthy, has a great family and WAS dating a famous NFL quarterback....until she wasn't. At first, I sort of didn't like Willow! I know, that doesn't sound very nice but it was solely on the fact that I didn't like the way she treat Corbin, the NFL Quarterback! She was fine when she was just with her family but whenever she was with Corbin, I didn't like the way she treated him. I knew they had broken up and I didn't know the reasons until later but still, I thought, "why can't she be civil to the man?" She was so nice and gracious to everyone else, why not him? Oh, the reasons come as the story unfolds! Another reason, just like real life, that we shouldn't judge because we never know what someone has truly been through! I have to give Corbin an A+ for his determination because he never gave up in his quest to win back Willow! I would have quit a long time ago but he never gave up! He was definitely, "long suffering"!!!!

So many takeaways in this book....forgiveness (of oneself and others), true love and what it really means, never giving up on someone (especially a family member) and others that are hard to put into words. As others have mentioned in their reviews, there is also a mystery involved and that was interesting to follow! It didn't have anything to do with Willow but Corbin's niece asked her if she would help and she did. Just a fantastic book all the way around. So much heart - you'll be thinking of the characters long after you finish the book! Pick up a copy and be prepared to enter the world of the Bradford sisters, once again! You'll be glad you did!

While this is billed as a romance, there is a solid mystery, decades old, to solve as well. In a strange twist of events, Willow, a model; Corbin, an injured NFL quarterback; and Charlotte, a 7th grader, team up to solve it. Willow and Corbin have history and aren’t too happy about being forced together. Their relationship is complicated. I laughed when they tried to figure out who was to blame for their breakup.
The banter between Willow and Corbin is fun. Corbin is ridiculously incorrigible. He LOVES to push Willow’s buttons and break all her rules. Corbin “was a veteran at every pleasure the world had to offer” (location 528) and a rookie Christian. In him we see the power of God to transform a life. It’s amazing and beautiful. This story also deals with forgiveness and shows how gut-wrenching and freeing it can be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to watching Britt’s eyes open to Xander’s feelings for her and whatever adventure awaits in the next book. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Bradford Sisters Romance
Book 1: True to You
Book 2: Falling for You

I love this book! The only part i could have done without was the the mystery with Charlotte, but I realize this what brought Willow and Colton together. The banter between the two was wonderful !. (I might have reread some of those parts over and over.) Colton was the perfect guy - funny, tender and dependable. The side story with his father made the story richer and real. All in all a very satisfying, wonderful read!

Model and a football player? Yes please. Christian themes? Hm. Not my favorite. But I'm going to try it. I'm not a practicing Christian but I've read books with religious undertones that I have enjoyed (as long as I'm warned about it ahead of time)

And the book starts off well. I generally like Willow Bradford and Corbin Stewart. They were a couple a few years ago but broke up. Now they're both in Washington and his "niece" wants help. Specifically, she wants help from Willow. And this was a bit of a stretch for me. Why her? Just because she's nearby? But I enjoyed Wade's writing and kept going. Then we're told over and over that Willow's ashamed because she's illegitimate. Um, in this day and age that seems odd -- and why would she feel ashamed? Okay... still reading. Then we find out that Willow always thought God would break them up because they were having sex outside of marriage. That... is an incredibly narrow view but I'm still liking Wade's writing. The thing that made me DNF this book? That Corbin told Willow that she HAD to forgive him because Jesus told her to. Um. No. That is not how forgiveness works, you do not get forced into it.

I definitely enjoyed Wade's writing but the narrow view of Christianity really turned me off.



DNF

This book comes out May 1

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Enjoyable story but I felt it was somewhat dragged out. The characters were very likeable but flawed in areas as in real life. I thought the mystery of the great aunt needed more closure. This story was just okay for me.

This is a sweet, inspirational romance. It isn't heavy-handed on the faith aspect but adds realistic touches to choices, guilt, and forgiveness. It left me cheering for the hero and heroine to connect. They were enjoyable characters with realistic flaws and good story arcs. The subplot was intriguing and added a sense of mystery to the plot. Good read.

Falling for You

This story made me literally laugh out loud at times, but other moments it had me thinking serious, deep thoughts about God, His love for us, grace, and forgiveness. I loved the balance this book found between humor and serious. It also included a wonderful love story - probably my favorite type - the “reunion romance.”

I loved Corbin and Willow’s story. It held so many truths about both relationships with the opposite sex but also with God. These two can carry on some serious banter back and forth. I loved so much of their dialogue and couldn’t wait to read their comebacks. And Corbin was quite fun as he found ways to get under Willow’s skin throughout the book.

Throughout the book the girls kind of downplay football. I’m not like those girls. I LOVE football. So it wasn’t hard for me to fall for Corbin either. And I found his story quite understandable while not on a personal level but as someone I grew up with suffered an almost career ending injury just this past football season and is still waiting for a team as a free agent. I could really feel for Corbin in his situation. I also know how painful and long physical therapy can be and could relate to him in that area too.

I really liked Willow too. She had a lot of internal things she was dealing with too. She was letting the past keep her in the grasp of guilt and it was holding her back. The spiritual growth Willow shows in this book was really encouraging. I love it when a book calls me closer to God and reminds me that He loves, forgives, and accepts us. I also loved her commitment to family in this book and especially her relationship with her sisters.

Honestly though, Charlotte just about stole the show. I loved this little girl’s spunk. I first knew I loved her when she was bossing Corbin around during his physical therapy. But as I got to know her I found I really loved her diligence and drive in all areas of life. She wasn’t afraid of anything and was a little strong willed and I loved it. I really loved the secret she brought to life and watching the mystery unfold in the book.

Last but not least, I loved the romance in this book. It was so realistic and true to life. This book easily can be classified as a kissing book because it is full of amazing kisses. Corbin is quite the romantic and the two of them together definitely do not lack passion. I loved watching them fall in love.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Love the Bradford Sisters series. Excellent read! Good characterization and plot development.

Falling for You (sequel to Becky Wade’s True to You) gives us a peak at the next Bradford sister: Willow. Calm and controlled, Willow seems to carry both success and humility everywhere she goes. A highly sought-after model, she is attractive and in-demand and yet Wade has written her to be a family-oriented woman with a deep level of compassion. She is wise, benevolent, and trustworthy. Willow Bradford is, on the outside, picture perfect.

It’s all rather irksome, in fact. And that’s why this story works.

As I’ve worked through the story in my head, trying to get past my simple feelings on the narrative (which are mostly positive, but a little bland) – I’ve been hit by several thoughts. Most revolve around Willow’s character because I feel she is the most well-written in the story.

On the surface, her apparent perfection is bothersome. Poorly written stories often include characters like her – pleasant and sweet so they can be liked by the readers…and then given one slight fault that, really, isn’t much of anything. All in all those stories don’t give themselves a leg to stand on because the tension and difficulty is mostly manufactured.

The thing is – though I initially may have tried to lump this story in with those kinds…it really doesn’t belong there. It’s a story of the prodigal’s older brother (sister…) who has it all together, is controlled to her own detriment, and cannot see the grace she so desperately needs. Until she needs it – but then she can’t accept it.

It’s a pretty common problem, actually. People who seem to do most everything right but are still really just as sinful as everyone else. And where this story shone for me is in the dichotomy of how various people in the story view Willow. Her sisters know she is fallible, but still mostly just view her as the sweet and competent sibling. Her fans believe her kind, loving, and giving. But enter her former-boyfriend Corbin, and he knows how capable she is of inflicting pain – even if he admits she’s not the only one at fault for their break-up.

The reality of life is that some people are easy to read by almost everyone. They are open books that clearly point to their own trials, errors, and successes. But other individuals are cool and reserved, and hard to truly get to know (even if some people erroneously believe they have seen their true heart and character). In the cases of these people, it’s hard to open up, hard to be known, and even hard to accept oneself.

This is where Falling for You shines.

Willow is a character who really lives a solitary life…until Corbin enters it because he truly sees her – he’s gifted with the ability to see her faults. And that is altogether scary for a cool, reserved, and in-control character like Willow. But it’s a beautiful thing to be known even in your brokenness. And THAT is my favorite part of this story.

The rest of the novel (the mystery, in particular) did little for me. It’s tacked on and not incredibly integral to anything except for how it allows Willow and Corbin to re-enter each other’s lives. The relationship between Willow and Corbin is a fair one, offers some sarcasm and sass (which I always appreciate), and offers up Corbin as a confident yet fallible boyfriend. It mostly works, though still didn’t pull at my emotions as much as I’d have liked.

But all in all, this was worth a read. Willow’s character, by the end, offers a glimpse at some raw truths that can help us as we examine ourselves — and any book that gives you moments of Truth like that are plenty worthwhile.

I know I've just read one of my favorite books of the year and I will definitely be re-reading it!

I haven't read the first book in the series YET so I hadn't met grown-up Willow Bradford until I picked up this book. I have read the novella and do recommend starting from there, though the novels don't necessarily need to be read in order.

Let me tell you something, I had a not very fetching preconceived idea of what Willow would be like, and I'm glad to say her journey turned out to be completely different from expected. Willow is quiet, dependable, strong, and trustworthy. She's responsible to a fault and has her share of vulnerabilities - from feeling unlovable, unworthy, and as if she has to all perform well in order to keep people around her. I can't say Willow hides behind a mask because she has two younger sisters who know her well and have no hesitation to meddle in her life.

So when ex-boyfriend, ex-football player Corbin Stewart walks back into her life, the rope tightening around Willow's lungs is pretty clear and Nora and Britt know they are on Ben&Jerry's duty, as well as some good rounds of heart to heart talks.

Corbin is definitely a rascal, with his teasing mood and easy smile, he could write a list of all the hearts he's left in puddles. But there is only one heart he is worried about at the moment; well, make it three - his dad, who has terminal cancer, his "niece" Charlotte, who engages him in detective duty, and Willow, his former girlfriend who he'll have to bear to get along with for Charlotte's sake. As awkward and bitter as their interaction might be in the beginning, Corbin starts to see this as an opportunity to talk with Willow honestly about what happened to them four years ago and to seek her forgiveness (though he doesn't exactly agree she's only 15% punishable for their breakup). However, things become truly vexing when Corbin actually starts to enjoy being around Willow, tormenting her and coming up with mischievous ways to break all her rules.

At first, I had trouble coming up with a word to describe Corbin. Controlling? I cringed at that idea. Maybe a fixer? It seemed close but not quite not. Then I knew, and it was so obvious I don't know how I hadn't thought of it before: Corbin is a fighter: he cares deeply and takes care of his dear ones the way he knows how, by helping them run towards the goal of what's best for them and bringing down any giant on the way. Willow is determined to keep her walls up though she's been having trouble to assimilate the present Corbin with the one who broke her heart in the past. Could he truly have changed? Can she still hold on to a selfish idea of him when he gives so much of himself to take care of his dad? When he's patient and kind to a 12-year-old girl who probably has them on a wild-goose chase?

Time will tell... and the truth might be that it's time to face the giants head on too, to be honest, cry, but to always chose the possibility of miracles, and to find the precious gift brought by grace: freedom.

Sometimes in contemporary stories, I feel like some threads are a bit lose as if something that strains our energy has to be added to the story to keep the tension going. So, I'm always wary when I see this storyline being considered. Many times I still enjoy the story overall though these issues are not dwelt upon deeply; nevertheless, sometimes I just wish they hadn't been a random mention.
Let me tell you that Becky Wade writes with purpose with every layer added, going deep into the heart of the characters, bringing fullness to the story. A box of tissues might be recommended.
There's tangible openness throughout the pages of this book, immersing you into each tear of the character portrayed, past or present, each triumph, each bit of hopelessness felt, and the moment of finding everlasting and steadfast peace. There's tension, laughter, compassion written throughout this story about how we shouldn't take each day for granted, how we should never think twice before offering forgiveness and about letting our expectations fall and breathe. Beautifully well done.

I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
Now I'm off to read my other books in my TBR pile so I can dive into Nora's story :)

Falling for You by Becky Wade is the second book in her Bradford Sisters Romance series. In the first book, I learned about Nora and her life. In the second book, we are introduced to Willow, the oldest sister, and the sister with the most to lose. I was introduced to her in the first book and couldn't wait to see her story. Wade does not disappoint. With the inception of Willow's story, Wade drew me into the plot pretty quickly. I liked Willow and seeing her hurts. They stuck out to me as I watched her struggle with her identity, past forgiveness, and love. Willow transforms by the end of the novel, which is what I enjoy seeing from my characters. As for Corbin, he transformed before the pages of this story started. He already transformed to the man Willow needed. This story flows like a contemporary romance with a predictable ending, but I do enjoy how Wade dives deep into her character's hurts and make them relatable. I had a really hard time putting down the book. I finished it in one day. As an added bonus, Wade threw in a mystery with a hunt for a missing person. As an avid suspense reader, this captured my attention too. Fans of Wade's other works or contemporary romance novels might enjoy this book. I sure did. Can't wait to read the third sister, Brit's story.

I received a complimentary copy of Falling for You by Becky Wade from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Becky sure must have the best cover designer ever, because each of the covers in her Bradford Sisters series have been 100% on pointe! These stories have been hard-hitting from the beginning. I really struggled with the novella that introduced us to this series, and to be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to like what came next. The darkness that comes from dealing with the topic of rape & murder and the direct relationship that it has on the 3 major players of this series was not somewhere I really wanted to go, in my escapism act of reading each night. However, it was a necessary part of the plot in order to establish the unique status of these 3 sisters, their undeniably strong bond AND the unconventional way this family came together.

If you've read these books in order, then you will know that we were given a sneak peek, ever so slight into this mystery that is the relationship between Corbin and the oldest sister, Willow. You are left questioning the magnitude of the event that brought her to this point, that the brief encounter we were given and the reaction that both of them had. Sometimes I think there's a tendency when reading series based on family members, to make assumptions that they will all be alike. Posses the same traits. By giving each of these sisters different mothers, but sharing the same father, we don't assume so much that they will mirror each other, however I very easily thought - given her career choice, that she may turn out alot like her mother. Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact it almost seems that her desire to distance herself from her mother's personality and mark out clearly how very different she is - plays a large part in the guilt and conflict that she goes through personally as she makes certain choices, and then the remorse later on. I admire so much the way the method of personal forgiveness is portrayed by the author. We have 2 very public - celebrity even - characters, who have done nothing but strive to protect and guard their privacy. Yet because of the public status, events snowballed and caused so much more damage than was necessary. Leading to misunderstandings, miscommunications and then a carrying around of this animosity that keeps those barriers held up nice and high and then inability to remove the hurdles to forgiveness.

Yet again, interwoven through this story of reconciliation between 2 people who have already had the relationship and are being brought back together - we have such a clever plot that follows through from yet more, sensitive subjects. Crime, disappearance, extortion, scandal, affairs. Its so intricate and clever, there was not one moment when I could anticipate the resolution in the end. It gives so much more depth to this family, the community and story. It embellishes this series and works to remind the reader of the difficulties the Bradford family have endured.

Of course, there's the extra chapters thread throughout with youngest sister Britt, and the coming conclusion that will be, if it follows a similar pattern, a resolution to beat all conflict resolutions, the unrequited love of best friend Zander. The poor guy has headed off on his round the world trip to escape what has to be the endless torture of watching the woman he has loved for so very long, continue to have relationship after relationship and remain blind to what is right in front of her face. I do love these kind of plots and I can't wait to see where Becky takes us.

Get this on your TBR pile for the summer. This series just keeps getting better and better.

Thanks to Netgalley & Bethany House for the eARC. This is my honest review.

Not a big fan, which is unfortunate after I thoroughly enjoyed the first of the series. This one felt repetitive and mildly depressing. Too much darkness without enough character development. I was also missing the complex and enjoyable cast that was so developed and present in the first. Wish I loved it more, but liked it enough that I'd probably still try the next.

Becky Wade is always a go-to author and I've enjoyed every one of her books. I appreciate very much that in this new story she dealt head-on with past sinful behavior in a blunt but compassionate way that I think will speak well to the younger generation. As always her romance sparkles and I especially enjoyed Corbin as a hero who is working his way through early understanding of Jesus.

My heart just sighed with happiness. There is so much to love about Falling For You - a beautifully sweet love story of second chances, a return to wonderful sibling relationships, a decades-old mystery to solve, love, humour, faith, and family all wrapped up in a parcel of deliciousness.

Willow has returned to her family home - taking time off from her modelling career and stepping in to help run her parents’ BnB. Willow doesn’t expect to run into her ex-boyfriend and biggest regret, Corbin Stewart. Willow’s plan is to avoid and ignore Corbin and the hurt she still carries over the way their relationship ended, but when Corbin’s niece Charlotte requests Willow’s help to solve a family mystery, Willow finds it hard to say no, even if it means working (and spending time) with Corbin.

Ahhhh. The sweet romance of second chances. Relationship do-overs are so much fun, and I particularly liked Corbin and Willow’s journey from hurt and shame to reconciliation. At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked Corbin all that much. He seemed a little too showman-like, sure of himself and loudly confident. But he grew on me and, as Willow similarly discovered, it is hard to resist Corbin’s charm. As the story unfolds, it was also easier to see Corbin’s charisma as a protective facade, and the times he lets his vulnerability show were precious.

Willow is a relatable character (aside from the fact that she is a gorgeous model), and she struggles with the desire to be perfect, feeling like she must earn love, and with shame and guilt from her mistakes. She also has a strong desire to protect herself from future pain, and does that by keeping Corbin at arm’s length. The hurt she felt from the past, and her determination to keep her distance from Corbin or see the good in him was palpable. These intense feelings made their change in relationship so enjoyable to read.

I particularly like that alongside the romance, Falling For You had a good helping of mystery. The detective work Corbin and Willow undertake gave them a natural reason for sharing so much of each other’s company, even when they might not have wanted to. Charlotte-12 years old, confident, witty and unafraid to speak her mind- was a wonderful addition to the grouping, offsetting Corbin and Willow’s awkwardness perfectly. The mystery itself was intriguing, well-paced and a great addition to the storyline.

There was so much that I enjoyed about Falling For You: the sisterly relationships Willow shared with Britt and Nora; the honest and forthright way that sexual relationship were discussed; the journey of faith that Willow, Corbin and Corbin’s father all continue or begin; the undeniable connection that Willow and Corbin share; the way the characters grew on me, how they made me fall in love with them, not because of any perfection they might have had, but because of their honesty, vulnerability and humanness. And did I mention how much I liked the romance?

Falling for You is totally delightful and such a sweet story of reconciliation, second chances and forgiveness. It is the second full-length novel in the Bradford Sisters Romance series, and while each book can be read as a stand-alone, the lives of the sisters and their stories overlap a little. As such, it was fun to start Britt’s story. Her story, which will feature in book three, promises to be as wonderful as Falling For You.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog <a href="‪https://madisonslibrary.wordpress.com‬/">Madison's Library.</a>

This is not a genre of book I typically read, but I have the author booked to be part of an event I am putting together for my library. She's sweet as can be, so I was excited to check out her book when I saw it was available for review. While, I don't share some of the views/beliefs of the characters in the book, I really enjoyed it. It is very well-written and has such an engaging story. The characters are really likable and you can't help but root for them. There is a mystery they are unraveling as the story progresses, along with a slow-burn romance that develops over the course of the book. Both are well-plotted. I look forward to checking out other books of Wade's and having her as part of my upcoming event. I will definitely recommend her to readers here at my library looking for Christian romance. as it is a request I often hear.

FALLING FOR YOU is a heartfelt and enjoyable inspirational romance even if you aren't already familiar with the series. This novel was my entry point and now I'm eager to catch up what I've missed. Willow and Corbin are likable characters with realistic struggles and flaws. Corbin's "niece" Charlotte is darling and, even if the initial setup strains credulity a bit, it's charming enough to keep the reader's interest. I wasn't sure the attention/stalker subplot was necessary for the novel's development except that it showed Corbin in a protective type role. Although the plot gets bogged down at times by exposition (especially when detailing the character's background and even secondary characters' appearances) the theology is strong and I especially enjoyed the message of grace as it relates to Willow's perfectionist tendencies. The mystery subplot with Josephine is intriguing and kept my interest as the love story developed alongside. Overall FALLING FOR YOU is a lovely story with a touching message of God's grace.