I really enjoyed reading Let It Be Me. Leah is an unusual main female character: she is a genius mathematician and is not interested in romance in the least. However, all of her self proclaimed insistence of not being attracted to men and love interests changes when she meets renowned surgeon Sebastian. I was interested in the switched at birth subplot throughout the book, but I did feel like the book lagged some in the middle and it was hard to push through. The ending definitely picked up! I am very excited to read the next book about Luke!

I love Wade's writing, and this installment did not disappoint. Her character development is always on point.

As a "smart" person, I loved the banter between Sebastian and Leah.

I read an advanced copy via NetGalley--all opinions are my own!

Let It Be Me is another winner from Becky Wade. This book is the second in her series entitled A Misty River Romance. The story features Sebastian Grant, a pediatric heart surgeon and his love interest Leah Montgomery. She is a mathematician who is raising her younger brother. The book really does center on Leah because she is trying to find out the mystery of who her biological parents are. This is a twist on most stories because this is a matter of being switched at birth. I found it fascinating and multi layered with both Sebastian and Leah dealing with issues from childhood. I really enjoyed the novel and can't wait to read the next one in the series featuring bad boy Luke.
*I was given a copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

Everything about this book is sweet and perfect. The heroine is unique and quirky, so deeply inside her head and in love with math. And Sebastian is so strong yet broken. Take a genius in medicine and a genius in math, both with brokeness in their pasts, and you have the ingredients for a good romance. I loved the way Leah made great sacrifices for her brother Dylan. And Sebastian is willing to give up a chance at love for the sake of a friendship. There's a mystery with potentially life changing implications and there is such a spark between these two. A beautiful, delightful contemporary romance.

I jumped into this book without having read its predecessor because I enjoy Becky Wade's writing. The story read and developed just fine without having read Genevieve's story, but I will want to go back and read it. Becky Wade has such a unique writing style that is straightforward and fun. I did not want to put this book down and I made bad bedtime decisions because of how wrapped up I was in the characters and the story. There was a lot going on in this story; both main characters had a lot of baggage to unpack. There was a love triangle (it really wasn't awful, I promise) and then there was a mystery and navigation of friend and family relationships besides the romantic relationship's struggles and the MCs' character arcs and faith journeys. I was starting to get concerned when I was past 90% in the book and there were still so many loose ends to tie up, but Becky managed to do it without feeling too rushed or unfulfilled! I was actually surprised at how satisfied I was with the characters' faith journeys at the end when it was so dicey in the middle and was afraid it would get smoothed over too easily. But Becky always has a decent amount of depth in her books and I appreciate that. I was laughing and crying in this book, but by far the best part was the chemistry of the two MCs. They were just made for each other. I don't always feel this amount of chemistry in books- attraction, yes, but not this. They had a great connection, great personalities, and great secondary characters around them. I could feel the tension between them and their kissing was perfectly satisfying. I mean that in a positive way like, it didn't take my desire for them or their relationship beyond the kiss, it was just right. Because of all their baggage, I was concerned about dependency issues - the man especially seemed to be leaning on/"needing" the woman too much, which would cause red flags irl, girls - but thankfully that was part of his arc. His struggle was tied up with his relationship with God, which is always the proper solution for these things. I thought this book was a great addition to Misty River and look forward to enjoying more of Becky Wade's books.

Let it Be Me tells the story of two insanely intelligent, independent people who fall for each other despite numerous obstacles that try to stand in their way. Sebastian is a pediatric heart surgeon who lost his family as a child and relies on his best friend Ben for any sense of belonging, though he’s always felt like an outsider. Leah is a former genius child who skipped going to Yale for her PhD to raise her younger brother, and has recently discovered that she may have been switched at birth. What follows is a relatable story as the two fall in love but struggle with their own fears and identities.

Overall, I loved this story. Becky Wade is one of my favorite Christian authors. She knows how to talk about faith in a way that is so relatable without being sappy or overly sentimental. The story is heartrending and relatable and I love her characters. There were a few places where I felt like the characters’ desires, strengths, and weaknesses didn’t necessarily match their actions. I also would have liked a final conflict that was a little more singular rather than a few final problems. Overall though a great story! I’m ready for the next in the series!

Ah, *swoon*

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the newest Becky Wade book (which is pretty much the case every year), and Let It Be Me DID NOT disappoint. The banter between Sebastian and Leah was so entertaining and captivating, that I literally laughed out loud at several points in this book. The struggles the characters face are so well rounded and really take you along on the journey. If you haven't started with the Misty River Romance series, START TODAY so you can read book 2 asap. (Stay With Me, book 1, is seriously one of my favorite books of all time. I actually re-read it last month to get reacquainted with all of the characters. FUN FACT: Sebastian and Leah make their first appearances in Stay With Me)

Let It Be Me is the second book in Becky Wade's Misty River romance series. The stories surround the Miracle Five, five teens who miraculously survived a collapsed building during an earthquake. This is Sebastian Grant's story.

Highly intelligent, a highly skilled pediatric cardiac surgeon, Sebastian meets Leah in a most unusual way. She is his angel when he is in a car accident. And he is instantly smitten. The problem arrives when he discovers that Ben Coleman, his best friend is also smitten with her. Being a foster kid, and having no family, Ben's family had taken Sebastian under their wing after they survived the earthquake.

Leah is a math protégé and has had the care of her younger brother since she was 18 years old. Having sacrificed her PhD to care and support her brother, she learns through DNA testing that she is not the biological child of her parents. Nor the biological sister of her young brother. She asks Sebastian for his help dealing with hospital records trying to find out about her birth, and the possibility of her being switched with another baby.

Leah values Ben as a friend, but has no other feelings for him. She fights the attraction she has for Sebastian, as she doesn't want to come between his and Ben's friendship.

Wow! What an intriguing mystery and story line. Becky Wade has written the most interesting characters in this book. I really felt that Leah had the spotlight in this story. The complexity of Leah's and Sebastian's romance was a great draw. You could sense their struggles in wanting to do the right thing. Very well written, contemporary Christian romance.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another great novel by Becky Wade. And what a great reminder that God has a beautiful plan for our lives, and He's so worthy of our trust through the hardest of times.

Becky Wade without fail tackles the tough stuff with her characters. You’ll quickly be drawn in to the plight of everyone involved.

Direct talking Sebastian & Leah each have some monumental challenges to work through, and it’s clear from the start that despite the obvious odds - they’ll be much stronger together than apart.

A solid page-turner, with plenty of surprises along the way!

As always the inspirational elements leave me feeling God’s love.

5*. Highly recommended.

#mustread #contemporary #christianfictionromance #bookquotes #wadeintoagoodbook

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC. I love this so much there’s a paperback on order from Baker!!

Sebastian and Leah meet in an unexpected incident and Sebastian is instantly attracted. Sebastian is a former foster child who grew up to be a pediatric cardiac surgeon. Leah is a mathematical genius who gave up on her PhD to raise a younger sibling. She now teaches High School math. Add to the picture Leah’ recent discovery about her genealogy and the fact that Sebastian’s best friend has long had a thing for Leah. And both of them distrust relationships and are conflicted about that stance and their budding attraction. This is a fun story. I hope there is another story coming into this series.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Lately, I've been unimpressed with a lot of the heroines I've read. It's easy to love a good hero, and Sebastian is great, but Leah is the star of this show IMO. She's thoroughly true to character, a logical mathematician with an overdeveloped sense of responsibility that flows through her thoughts, decisions, motivations, and even her ability to fall for Sebastian. Their relationship is complicated by a few twisted tropes that work well together to create an intriguing and unusual story.
Highs: Leah, their highly-educated and yet highly-quotable banter, true plot twists, excellent side characters
Lows: bit of a slow start for me
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me as part of Ms. Wade's Advance Reader crew. I loved this book and am willingly and freely leaving my personal opinions under no expectations or obligation.

Sebastian is an ambitious, hard-working pediatric heart surgeon and Leah is a math prodigy who has been teaching high school for the past 10 years to support her brother after their parents abandoned them and her mother gave her custody. When Leah discovers a surprising truth after having genetic testing done, she goes to Sebastian for help, but he is already smitten with her after he crashed his car and she happened to be the one who found him and called for help. Trouble is, his best friend Ben has been in love with her for two years.

The story of how these two overcome their individual obstacles is a testament to how God works in people's lives. As with all of Becky Wade's books, you can count on a storyline that has a lot more than romance in it, and characters that have their share of wounds. Leah's mystery helps move the plot along, and supporting characters include Sam and Genevieve from "Stay With Me," as well as who I hope will be the future protagonist, Luke.

The Misty River series has delved deeply into the lives of real people facing real life situations that don't get magically fixed or avoided because someone becomes a Christian. The issues of faith in the book are authentic and not easily resolved. But there is hope, and God breaks through when the characters let Him.

I highly recommend this book to fans of Christian fiction or anyone who likes a good story. As someone who has read all of Becky Wade's books, Let It Be Me is another delight for the reader in the finest Becky Wade tradition.

I am amazed at the power of this novel! The heroine, Leah, is a math prodigy (think of a female Sheldon Cooper), and the hero, Sebastian, is a pediatric heart surgeon (all the sighs) with a painful childhood. Becky Wade seriously nailed everything a contemporary Christian romance should be with this book. It’s a must-read for sure.

Really enjoyed the second book in this series. It can be read as a standalone book however. the series definitely adds context and I can't wait for the next one! I read this book in one sitting as it was compelling and I wanted to know what happened next.

I loved the mystery element of the story and guessing what exactly went on. The characters were multi-layered and complex which added both to the mystery and to my enjoyment of the story. I liked the themes in the book of forgiveness, Friendship and love.

I got this book free in exchange for an honest review. I do recommend buying it - It's worth the money and the time!

Let It Be Me is another heartwarming contemporary, Christian romance from Becky Wade. Like her previous book, Let It Be Me features one of the Miracle Five, five teens who had been miraculously saved after a building collapsed on them during an earthquake. Now adults, we follow them as they sort through their past hurts and journey on the road to love. This time it’s Sebastian’s turn.

Sebastian is a gifted surgeon. After the events of the earthquake, he turned his life around. Drawn into the Coleman family, he didn’t let being a foster kid define him. They saved him and offered what he most wanted - to belong. That’s way he would do anything for his best friend and closest person he has to family, Ben Coleman. When Sebastian meets and is instantly drawn to Leah Montgomery, he knows he has to get to know her better. The one problem is that it’s the same Leah Ben has been crushing on for two years. Sebastian does the right thing and withdraws but when Leah asks for his help to untangle a mystery involving DNA and hospital logistics, they spend more time together and Sebastian finds it increasingly difficult to stay honorable to his best friend.

I think this book has one of the few love triangles I’ve truly enjoyed. Maybe that’s because all along Leah has no feelings but those of friendship for Ben and it’s so clear that she and Sebastian are perfect for each other. Everyone is respectful of the other and mindful not to hurt anyone’s feelings. There is an intense connection between Sebastian and Leah but there are many obstacle in the path, firstly Ben and Sebastian’s duty of friendship but also Leah’s desire to remain single and Sebastian’s own habit of not getting to close to people.

Leah and Sebastian have such a formal, educated way of speaking. I’m not entirely sure most people use that many four syllable words in everyday sentences but it does give the characters a sense of being different and reinforces their rightness for each other. While Sebastian is instantly drawn to Leah (he has just been in a car crash and bumped his head, so his exuberance is allowable), Leah’s attraction is much slower to build. She a math genius, has sacrificed her dreams to care for her younger brother and has her sights set firmly on one day completing her PhD. Romance and dating are not on her radar at all. Sebastian has to work really hard to first ignore the attraction between them and later woo her and get her to agree to spend time with him. For Leah, being attracted and interested in a guy is new, but Sebastian is hard to resist.

Alongside this story of romance is the mystery surrounding Leah’s unexpected DNA results. This is how the book starts - with Leah discovering that she is not related to her family. While it explains how she is different in every way from her absentee father and adventure seeking mother, it’s hard to believe the brother she loves and has cared for since he was little is not her blood relation. She begins to uncover what happened. Her mother claims she was never adopted so she starts to dig into hospital records and that’s when she has time to get to know Sebastian better.

This book really is delightful. And, side note, there are finally some black characters in Christian fiction!! About time. I’m thinking the next book in this series might feature Luke, but I’m hoping Ben gets his own book soon and we get to experience more of his amazing family.

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.com">Madison's Library</a>

This is the second book in a series by Becky Wade, but it reads well as a stand-alone. This is not the first novel I've read by this author and I love her writings. Whenever she comes up in a list on NetGalley.com, you will be sure that I will be requesting her books.

Leah has been given a DNA test by her mother to help her find more of her roots. Her mother thinks nothing is amiss when Leah gets the results that prove she's not related to her family at all. Her mother is aghast and believes the DNA company messed up, but when the second results come back the same as the first, Leah begins to dig. From the very beginning, the plot goes sideways and gets rather convoluted, but the way Becky has tied all the elements together in this book make it a very satisfying read.

Through Leah's friend, Ben, she meets a man whom she had helped in a car accident about six months previously. Leah fights her attraction to Sebastian because she feels that romance is not for her, and Sebastian fights his attraction to Leah because Ben has had a huge crush on her for the longest time. When Sebastian is given the green light by Ben to pursue Leah, she is not really accepting of his advances. It takes a lot of work for Sebastian to get through her defenses and to touch Leah in a way that is lasting.

The premise of Leah's story in this book is that she was switched at birth in the hospital where she was born. As she investigates all the information she can find about the circumstances of her birth, she finds the one key to the whole conundrum--her friend, Tess Coventry. This is the one part of the book that does not make sense to me. Tess has switched two healthy babies for no other reason that revenge, but neither set of parents ever suspect a thing. There was no good basis for Tess's actions--the revenge she wanted never came about.

There are plots and subplots that are left hanging in the book that would lend themselves to another book or two in the series. To be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing a novel come out about some of the other characters--Ben is one I'd like to see find his one true love. There is a subplot about the "Miracle Five," who were caught in an earthquake in El Salvador during youth missions trip, and Luke, one of the five, has just come out of prison. I'd like to see how his story plays out. I'm never really happy until all the loose ends have been tied up satisfactorily.

Four Strong Stars, it would have been five except for Tess's reasons for switching Leah at birth.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

4.5 stars✨

*excuse me while I go fangirl over Sebastian for the foreseeable future*

Okay, first the review. THEN the fangirling ;)

I loved this book! I don't even know how to begin reviewing it - it's even harder to review than Stay With Me (book 1 in the Misty River series). I was a bit apprehensive because I knew going into this that we'd have a love triangle and that's one of my least favourite tropes, but I shouldn't have worried because ... this is Becky Wade! That aspect (which did drive the plot for the first bit) was skillfully executed. I knew it would end happily-ever-after, but I still felt the tension and intricate balance of every conversation between Leah and Sebastian and Ben. Normally I pick sides right away on who I want to 'win' the girl, but both men were just so good, and wonderfully kind, and intensely deep that it was so hard to let go of either!

Becky Wade has mastered the craft of developing characters, each one endearingly imperfect, authentically complex, and three-dimensional - even the background characters! Ben's wisdom and overall awesomeness :D Leah's logical, math-empowered brain and the control she manages over her life. Sebastian's depth, emotion, kindness, the way his mind processes life, and he's a pediatric heart surgeon!!! and my goodness I could just keep talking about him! 😍 I was torn between wanting Sebastian's story first or Luke's and now that I have Sebastian's, I really don't know how I'll wait a WHOLE year to get Luke's! Between Zander, Jake, Sam, and Sebastian... my standards are impossibly high now.

I was especially excited reading chapter 12 and simultaneously a little heartbroken for Sebastian.

As expected, Becky delivers some beautiful spiritual truths woven throughout this story, and tackled hard but relevant issues of today. Seeing Leah struggling to let go of the tight control she presumes to have over her life and Dylan's really hit home as I too often struggle with control. Let It Be Me is a brilliantly complex contemporary romance that was truly a joy to read.

*A big thank you to the author and publisher for a complimentary eARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are purely my own and all that important stuff - seriously, what are you doing still reading this? Get the book for yourself!!

LET IT BE ME by BECKY WADE is a beautifully written love story in which the author deals sensitively with many subjects, such as pediatric heart surgery, loyalty amongst friends, forgiveness, second chances and unselfish love; and through it all we get the sense of a loving Father God, being in control and bringing good out of all things. We also see God's miracle power at work as He protects and heals broken people, both physically and emotionally.
Leah Montgomery is very young when she becomes her brother Dylan's caregiver due to their father's disappearance and their mother's maternal ineptitude. Leah is a mathematical genius and gave up her chance of studying at Princeton and becoming a math professor in order to provide a stable life for her beloved brother. She is a woman of logic and reason and tells everyone she does not "do romance". When she finds out that she is not related to her biological parents, she searches everywhere to find out what went wrong on the day she was born.
Dr Sebastion Grant is a pediatric heart surgeon who does not let anyone close to him, except for his friend Ben Coleman and Ben's family. When his mother, his only living relative, died, he became rebellious and fought his way through school.
I do not want to tell you any more, but there is a great deal more to Let It Be Me. I really loved this novel and cannot recommend it highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers, The opinions in this review are completely my own.

"Everything in him was demanding that he tear down heaven and earth to make Leah his."

Let It Be Me, the second installment in award-winning author Becky Wade’s Misty River Romance series, is guaranteed to be a hit with fans of contemporary romance. With a fabulous cast of characters, Becky Wade immediately draws readers in and keeps them interested until the very last page.

The author is a master at creating witty banter between the hero and heroine, and she continues to shine throughout this novel. With two best friends realizing they are interested in the same girl and an intriguing ancestry angle, readers will not want to miss this incredible story.

Becky Wade shares the beautiful message of God’s unconditional love and grace for us. Let It Be Me is highly recommended for readers of contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy books by authors such as Courtney Walsh, Denise Hunter and Susan May Warren.

Now the anticipation is extremely high for book #3, in which Luke Dempsey finally gets his own story. He first captured my attention during his brief mentions in book #1, and I absolutely cannot wait for his story next year!

"Despite his many sins and failures, Luke was a man of his word. He'd returned to his hometown to fulfill the promise he'd made to his friend and fellow inmate, Ed Sutherland."

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

"She'd spent a lifetime trusting in the answers math provided. The world was not always logical. But math was. And she loved math for that."