I liked this second book in the Sons of Scandal series even better than the first, Memory Lane. Jude and Gemma are both interesting characters and I liked getting to see the events from both sides. It was a little scary when they had to go undercover, but it worked out fine. Becky Wade never disappoints--her stories are always hard to put down. Can't wait for the third one, which I'm guessing will focus on the other (half) brother.

3.5 stars
Jude and Gemma are forced to fake date to solve a mystery going on around town and catch a crook. As they "date" they grow closer and the banter and chemistry pick up. What was once just an assignment for Jude starts to become more real, but he's not allowed to date clientes.
I am a sucker for a fake dating trope, but the insta-love in this book was not my favorite. I need a slow burn angsty book and this one moved the romance a little too quickly for me.

Was I thrown in what felt like halfway through the sorry here? I believe so? About 50 pages in and having no clue what was happening? Sadly hay to dnf! I really like the premise and tropes for this so I was pretty excited, but sadly it fell flat for me

I LOVED this! I absolutely loved it and read it again as soon as I finished it the first time. The romance, the characters, the plot and dialogue were absolutely perfect. I unfortunately can only five 5 stars, yet it deserved so much more. A perfect Valentine's day treat!!!

FBI agent Jude Camden needs to catch the man a world-famous criminal, and the only way he can do that is by going undercover. His assignment? Posing as Gemma Clare's boyfriend. To Jude, Gemma is part of his assignment, if a distracting, annoying, and ridiculously attractive one. She is wild spontaneity in a redheaded girl. To Gemma, Jude is a straight-laced, by the book professional who needs some loosening up. While Jude is trying to catch the bad guy and Gemma is trying to annoy Jude at every turn, the two realize that their fake relationship has turned real. However, the FBI forbids undercover relationships from getting involved with case subjects.

This fake-dating Christian romance has a fast start as rule-follow Jude and feisty Gemma are thrown together to pose as a couple for a sting. As in any fake relationship, what was once fake becomes real quickly as they fall into insta-love over their mutual attraction. They enjoy some excellent repartee as Gemma teases Jude and stretches his carefully erected walls.

I enjoy Becky Wade's writing, but this was not my favorite of her books. For one, I don't like the fake dating trope. I also felt that the romance moved far too quickly and I didn't enjoy until 50% into the story. The insta-love seemed wrapped in attraction rather than actual feelings, and they said they loved each other far too quickly. Did they even know each other? Hard to tell. Gemma's motivation felt unclear to me, and while I related to Jude a lot, I was confused about what Gemma wanted and why she made her choices. She just seemed to act on impulse and I didn't sympathize with her. Additionally, the Great-Grandma Gracie storyline felt extraneous and didn't add to the overarching story. On the other hand, I loved Jude and appreciated his wholehearted love for her despite his caution. The dialogue was pretty great and the two had an interesting rapport. Wade does a great job at balancing religion and romance without preaching. Overall, it was good but not my favorite of hers. I'm interested to see how Max's story develops!

3.75/5

I had a hard time getting started on this book. For me personally, if I don’t get hooked in the first few chapters to the characters’ story lines, then I have a hard time getting through it. For me personally, it was just a slow read. Not that it was bad writing, just not my cup of tea.

Rocky Road was such a good book. In this story we meet Gemma Claire who has her own shop Perfumed by Gemma Claire. And Jude Camden who is an FBI agent as well as the brother of Jeremiah Camden an retired Formula 1 driver. We met Jeremiah I'm the first book Memory Lane and got to see glimpses of Jude here and there. Jude visits Gemma's store in order to discuss her helping him out with a case that involves her cousin and the long held family secret for the making of Rhapsodie, a scent that has been treasured for centuries. Jude and Gemma embark on a fake relationship to connect Jude with Gemma' cousin Cedric. During this time Gracie, Gemma's great grandmother, asks Gemma to help her remember her love story with Paul. Due to Alzheimer's Gracie has forgotten parts of the story for her and her husband Paul. Gemma goes on a hunt for the story and begins to learn things about Gracie she never expected. Jude in the meantime is trying hard to follow the rules and not fall for Gemma. In this story we get themes of forgiveness and second chances. Gemma and Jude both have to learn that trusting your heart to someone else is the hardest thing, however sometimes those hard things turn out to be the best things.

** Thank you to Netgalley and Becky Wade for the advanced copy of this book. These opinions are mine.

Rocky Road by Becky Wade is a great read to add to your TBR this Valentine’s season! Gemma and Jude’s relationship is super sweet, and their professions are so interesting and kept me engaged the whole book. I liked that Becky gave us snippets of other characters’ perspectives, which just made me more excited for book three. Definitely add Becky’s books to your TBR! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rocky Road is book 2 in the Sons of Scandal Series by Becky Wade.
A well-paced romance with captivating characters. I had the absolute best time reading this story.
The mystery and everything this book had to offer really tied it all so nicely.
An engaging and well written book and I’m looking forward to seeing what Wade creates next!
Now I’m about to buy book one Memory Lane.

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Rocky Road by Becky Wade was so much fun. It was the first book I’ve read by her and I plan on reading many more. The voice on page one had my hooked. The characters well developed and multifaceted. I loved all the vivid and thorough description. My favorite part was the banter between Gemma and Jude. I was never sure if she pushed his buttons on purpose, but it was delightful seeing how he squirmed.
I can’t wait for the next book.

Aaaah, Jude! I've been waiting for your book. Your story. But I could not have imagined Gemma. A true opposites attract! And it works!
Jude and Emma are complete opposites of each other. Jude the straight laced, follow the rules, protect those you care for FBI Agent. And Gemma the perfumer that loves antiques and has a habit of just leaving throw blankets wherever they fall. She stands strong for what she believes in even if its a bit out of the “norm”.
A case brings them together. And that same case keeps them apart. FBI rules do not allow Agents and cooperating witnesses date.
Besides Jude and Gemma's story Becky Wade weaved a little mystery regarding Gemma's family into the story. I loved that part! And she also snuck in enough mystery about Max, the third son of scandal to have me already excited about book 3!

What a great fake dating romance! This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I adored the first book, and this sequel did not disappoint. It features wonderful characters, strong family dynamics, lots of laughs, some serious moments, suspense, mystery, and so much more! I enjoyed it so much!

I loved Jude. He’s a serious, no-nonsense, rule-following kind of guy who has a heart of gold. He’s the grumpy to Gemma’s sunshine. Their first meeting was a hilarious misunderstanding that had me literally laughing out loud. I liked Gemma instantly. She had a joyfulness about her that was contagious. Even when things were tough, she kept a level head, which I admired. I really enjoyed getting to know her family. I especially loved, and was completely invested in, the mystery surrounding her great-grandmother.

I had such a great time reading this book and am very much looking forward to the next in the series. This could technically be read as a stand-alone, but I’d still recommend starting with book one.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

This book had me hooked in no time! I was hesitant about it, but my doubts were quickly corrected. The main characters are all super loveable. Obviously, Gemma and Jude take the cake. Gemma's family will have you wishing they were yours. I feel like there were so many fun elements of the story: family drama/secrets celebrity drama, FBI cases, fake dating, forbidden romance, Maine life, NYC life...and more! I definitely do recommend this one if you're looking for a fun, swoony read!

#BookReview : ROCKY ROAD by Becky Wade

While I enjoyed Memory Lane, I love this book more. The grumpy-sunshine trope is not new but Jude and Gemma did it so well! I can just imagine Jude in his crisp clothing and Gemma with her eyes sparkling in mischief at Jude. They just made me laugh and cry with them. Oh, it would have been better if I could just smell the scents through Gemma’s words! They sounded so good.

I have truly enjoyed all the characters in this book. Gemma’s family is different but they care for each other deeply. I enjoyed Jude’s interactions with Jeremiah and Max.

This book had a little bit of everything I could ask for in a book. It was a delightful blend of heartwarming romance, faith, family drama, and a dash of mystery and suspense.It kept me guessing and engaged. I can’t wait to read Max’s story next.

Rating: 5 ⭐
Series: Sons of Scandal Series, Book 2
Pub date: 14 Feb 2024

Thank you to the author and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

When I first met FBI Agent Jude Camden in Memory Lane, I could not wait for his story! Jude displays the utmost integrity and follows all the rules as he prepares for his upcoming assignment as “fake boyfriend” to perfume designer Gemma Clare. From the very beginning we see these 2 definitely have chemistry. I love how their friendly banter draws them together, and also makes it harder for them to differentiate their “fake dating” from the underlying feelings they develop for one another.

I also enjoyed the background story of Gemma helping her great grandmother uncover her lost memories of her own love story years ago. Rocky Road is an enjoyable sequel in the story of the Sons of Scandal.

I received an ARC from the author for early review. The opinion expressed is my own.

Such a fun, sweet story! If you're looking for a clean, light, romantic read with a hint of mystery, look no further. Becky Wade has done it again with the second book in her Sons of Scandal series.
Even before the title of this book was announced, I was eagerly anticipating it. Jude grabbed my attention in book one, and he sure didn't let me down. While a lot of readers will probably fall for him, I just appreciated having a character I could relate to (uptight, organized, workaholic . . . LOL). He's a Darcy-style character in all the best ways.
And Gemma was such a fun character! She wasn't who I expected after reading the blurb-she was better. All of the characters in this novel sparkled. And I'm particularly interested in Max's upcoming story now.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Clean! Plenty of sweet romance, a little bit of tension/violence (due to the MMC's job in the FBI). Mentions of affairs, scandals, etc. (I mean, it's in the series title), but all handled tactfully and from a Christian perspective.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this novel. A positive review was not required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This was super sweet! If you like the fake dating trope, I highly recommend checking this one out!

Even though it’s the second book in the series, it doesn’t give any spoilers (aside from knowing who ends up together) from the first book: Memory Lane.

Rocky Road is set in coastal Maine but you do a little traveling to NYC and there are French influences as well. Along the way you encounter FBI agents, perfume makers (I forgot the correct word), family secrets (I won’t say it here and spoil it, but it’s a good one), and a whole family of eccentric redheads!

Huge Thank You to Becky Wade, NetGalley, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Another fun one from Becky Wade. I always look forward to her new releases, and this one did not disappoint! Good story, great character development, and excellent banter. You just can't go wrong with a Becky Wade book.

Throughout the story, there were several separate storylines. I found myself dying to find out how all the storylines came together which kept me reading. I enjoyed Jude and thought he was a great character. I enjoyed Gemma’s storyline of drying to discover her grandparents love story. However, I was disappointed how the storylines didn’t come all together like I was hoping.

Rocky Road was my first book of the rom-com mystery genre and I’m not sure if I will be returning anytime soon. 🫣

Rocky Road by Becky Wade is like watching a romantic comedy in book form. The characters are endearing and the plot is light and fun. It is an enjoyable read for any mood.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Rocky Road by Becky Wade