Cover Image: Stay with Me

Stay with Me

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Member Reviews

Another beautiful story by Becky Wade! I loved the themes of forgiveness and redemption that were threaded throughout this story.

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A sweet modern romance. A good read for the beach or just to relax and get away for a bit. It’s well written and the plot keeps you interested.

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Not sure how I didn’t give this book feed back after release, but man oh man, this is my FAVORITE of all Becky’s books.

As I post this, the Misty River Romance series has all been released and Stay with Me is still my favorite.

Read this series NOW

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DNF @22%
Yep. Nope. Could not finish it. The book tried to be so many things; mystery? Healing romance? I was confused and bored. It was so many characters that came in so randomly and I disliked it so bad.

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Becky Wade's new book Stay with Me is full of falling in love, growing in faith, and learning to lean on those you trust.
Genevieve is struggling with the pressures of her career in the spotlight as well a dangerous secret that is tearing her apart. She comes to her hometown after a letter comes her way hinting at her parents hiding dangerous secrets. She is forced to seek help from the owner of the cottage she wakes up in, Sam. Sam, the owner of a large farm, is a disciplined and solitary man, who does not want to have Genevieve stay in his cottage. However, she needs help and he cannot refuse.
I really enjoyed this book! It was sweet and so suspenseful! Genevieve and Sam were so different and they really balanced one another. She needed his steady support and convictions. He needed her vibrancy and tugging out into life. They helped one another grow and forced them to be honest about their trials.
I could relate to Gen’s feelings of not wanting to share troubles and trials. It is difficult to share your failings, especially when you feel like you ought to be responsible and an example. I also appreciated how Genevieve grew closer to her family. They had a great relationship and really loved one another. However, they still had to learn how to adjust their relationships as the children grew up.
It was also a great set up to the Misty River series! I loved meeting the characters, (hopefully some that will have their own books!) and am already theorizing about what comes next! I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to those who are looking for a Christian romance with a touch of mystery. However, it does deal with some significant issues so be prepared if you are sensitive.

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

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A sweet story, loved the chemistry between the two main characters. The redemption story was heartwarming.

However this book was not my cup of tea.
Not quite the romance I was looking for.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me an eARC copy in return for my honest review.

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Becky Wade has penned another emotional, realistic, and heart-touching story in Stay with Me, the first book in her Misty River Romance series. The characters are realistic, flawed, and engaging. I loved Genevieve’s fun-loving personality and Sam’s more subdued, but compassionate, one. Their dialogue went from witty and playful to serious and intense and everywhere in between. I enjoyed seeing their relationship change and grow.

“It didn’t feel like he was coming in from the cold of one autumn night. It felt like he was coming in from seven years of cold.”
“She could not pay God back for saving her. Goodness knows, she’d tried.”

This is a story of redemption, of grace, of hope under difficult circumstances. Wade is great at tackling difficult subjects sensitively and beautifully. I’m looking forward to the other books in this series. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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This is one of those stories that's so difficult to review because I don't want to give a single thing away, but at the same token, want to portray how powerfully impactful it is! It's deeply emotional, thought provoking, and resonates with so much spiritual truths that they slammed into my heart. The end sucker-punched me, stole my breath, and left tears trickling down my face...but wow, some seriously good stuff. I won't walk away from this unaffected and reminded in such a powerful way just how much God loves me; in spite of my mistakes, in spite of times where I’ve turned away from God, in spite of my doubts and fears, in spite of how stupidly human I can be sometimes.

Okay, whew, I still can't catch my breath, but I'll try to finish my review on this beautifully written story. There were times where I felt so entrenched in this that it became real, the characters felt real, and everything around me dissipated except the world in the pages. Becky Wade has a way to weave her words so that the reader can connect to the story practically right away. At least it does for me with every book I've read by her. I'm a fairly new fan, having just discovered Wade's writing through her recent Bradford Sisters series. So when this new one came out, I was almost desperate to read it! I knew I was in for a real treat and Wade did not disappoint. I was fully invested in the lives of Genevieve & Sam as soon as he found her passed out in his guesthouse. These two are deeply layered characters and Wade had a way of peeling back those layers to lay bare the deep-seated struggles and issues they've hidden for years. Also, the family secrets that Genevieve & her sister Natasha have come to investigate after threatening letters arrived at their parents house kept me on tenterhooks. I could not believe what was revealed at the end! Emotions ran high for me throughout the book and I had such a hard time putting it down. Wade also introduces other members of what's called “the miracle five”; five teens on a missionary trip who survived an earthquake 18 years ago. What they went through is sprinkled throughout the book. I can't wait to learn more about Luke, Sebastian, and Ben!

In conclusion, Wade consistently delivers spiritual truth, emotions so real you can feel them, flawed characters redeemed by God's mercy, a love story that's deep & abiding, and an overall satisfied feeling that leaves you smiling at the end. If this first book in the Misty River Romance series is any indication of what's to come, I cannot wait for the rest!


*I received a complimentary digital copy through Netgalley and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are my own. *

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As always, I loved this book by Becky Wade. When she came on the Christian fiction scene a few years ago, I immediately added her to my to be read pile. Every. Single. Book. Stay with Me is the beginning of the Misty River Romance series. It features Genevieve who finds herself awakening in a strange cottage near her hometown. She's stressed from her career and having received some disturbing news is now crashing the property of the cottages owner, Sam. He's not interested in a tenant. He's sort of a loner and wants to live a quiet life. It's an interesting read. Very romantic and has a mystery. Highly recommended!

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I read Becky Wade romances for her wonderful characters, her great storylines, and the romance! Ms. Wade is definitely one of my favorite authors. Sadly, this book just didn’t work for me. It felt so different from what I was expecting and the subject matter was just too heavy. That being said, I really cannot wait for Becky Wade’s next story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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Lovely offering from Becky Wade with such a rich and redemptive message. As always her characters draw you in and keep you glued to the pages with a unique blend of broken people finding grace in difficult situations. Looking forward to the next for sure!

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Realistic fiction. Trauma. Heartache. Drug addiction. But within it all, is wrapped a romantic love story and a mystery, complete with Jane Austen quotes. I was not sure how this book would end and when it did, I was not sure I got all my answers. But I see there are more books coming, which is always good. This book was one that had me torn on if I liked it at all or if there were any better books out there. In the end, I did really enjoy it! There were quote I highlighted, ones I wanted to keep to my memory. I loved how she captured the face of trauma, and yet, did not rehearse it to death.

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Our heroine has misplaced God in her life. She’s a celebrity among Christians, so her personal relationship with Him matters. So does her idolatry. What a great conflict.

Our hero is in hiding, of sorts. He’s avoiding dealing with a painful issue from the past, and yet trouble finds him.

This story had multiple layers. Our heroine survived a catastrophe as a child, along with a few others. So she has seen God work a miracle in her life—at close range. We visit the other players in that crisis on and off as the novel progresses. I liked this aspect.

Becky injects humor into insightful prose, which kept me busy highlighting various sections. Her descriptions help readers feel, taste, hear, experience what her characters do. So well done.

One element I felt could have used more umph was the heroine’s devotional time. She did not strike me as a student of Scriptures, but her career would demand it, ongoing. (More on this in a bit.)

Relatable, though, were the heroine’s doubts about God’s personal care of her. She keeps a sizeable secret from the world—one that could destroy her career if news got out. Because of her failure, she questions whether God is still with her, still cares, will still help her. Who hasn’t felt like that?

However, the lack of spiritual maturity did lead me to doubt her career’s apparent success. If she really doesn’t know God deeply, isn’t a student of Scripture, how could she carry out the career she’s in? Instead, she struck me as an interior decorator, or designer, without the substance she’d need to lead others. Unfortunately, her career element wasn’t believable. Especially, when we see her choice for music that will cheer her up.

I enjoyed the therapy thread. And the therapist was zany enough to bring a few chuckles.

Oh, the romance! Becky is exceptional at keeping the narrative clean but digging deep to give us a delightful romance. We feel the characters’ chemistry for each other. She gives us outstanding why-nots that keep the characters apart.

The other thread that engages readers the entire story relates with the heroine’s family of origin. This element surprised me, but again, it was engaging. You’ll have to read the story to see what I mean.

While I read this book, I interacted with a few folks in a reader’s group online. All of us loved this story. Very enjoyable! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and hoping we learn more about the kids who survived that catastrophe.

Highly recommended!

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Wow!! I'm still reeling from the emotions of this story!
Becky Wade writes such emotional, realistic, yet charming stories, that my heart comes out changed at the end because I always live the characters struggles in an intense way! That's what happens to me in her books, I always feel part of the story, related to the characters in some way. They are always flawed, but the author shows me that even if we can break sometimes, God is the absolute Healer, and He doesn't mind our brokenness as long as we put our trust in Him and let Him bring good out of every -even bad- situation. It's not easy to render God the control of our lives, and Becky Wade portrays this human trait to perfection, but the outcome when we surrender to God is a sight to behold!
Genevieve has lived a high profile perfect life, a perfect example for so many years, being a Bible Study author and speaker, but her facade is about to fall, when her addiction to Oxycontin becomes difficult to overcome and the exhaustion of keeping appearances just takes its toll on her. Sam Turner finds her asleep, deeply asleep in his cottage, and knows from the beginning this woman means trouble. He wants a quiet life for himself, even if loveless, but peaceful, to overcome a past that still haunts him. Is Genevieve a person sent from God to redeem himself or is God wanting him to be his instrument in Gen's overcoming her med addiction and remaking of herself?
This is a very realistic and relatable story that will tug at your heartstrings. It will make you -at least it made me- cry -no sob- and laugh out loud at the same time. It will make you reflect upon your own life and make you want to be a better person after reading it. There's also a mystery related to Gen's parents that keeps you intrigued...
I have a family member that struggles with another type of addiction, and I felt related, and felt it was very realistically portrayed. A hard struggle to be sure, but I love that her stories are full of hope and redemption.
I loved Gen's sister, Natasha, and hope to read her story in a future book in the series.
A heartfelt novel that will leave you satisfied and inspired! One of Becky's best stories! Next to True to You, my favorite!
I definitely recommend this story and the beginning of what promises to be a wonderful series!

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Upon second read, 3 months after originally reading it, I have to change my rating to a 3.5 star rating. I did take away a half star because the plot was a bit all over. I felt like the plot with the parents was a bit much considering this was a contemporary romance and not a mystery. I also feel like the addiction portion could have been more centered in the story.

I still loved Gen and Sam and how they came together. They were absolutely adorable. I did have an issue with the flashbacks that Gen and the miracle five had concerning black kids and their experience with the earthquake. I think that could have been written a bit differently or not at all -- but that's personal preference as a black reader. I also feel that this story was dragged out, could have been better as a 200 page read and not almost 400 pages. I loved Natasha, Sebastian and Ben. Luke still confuses me a bit.

Overall, its still a good read, but I had to be a bit more critical upon my re-read.

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What better way to "Stay Home" than to "Stay With Me" - Becky Wade's newest gem. I received an ARC, and was blown away, once again, by Becky's talent. She continues to bring new depth to the table with unconventional characters, heart-stopping romance, and spot-on theology that never feels preachy or forced.

Stay With Me's leading lady is Genevieve Woodward - a bestselling author of women's Bible Studies, and motivational speaker with a generous following. She's a light to a dark world, but secretly battling her own demons that she fears will invalidate her message.

This was a timely read for me, since I devoured it on the heels of finishing Jennie Allen's non-fiction "Get Out of Your Head." Jennie Allen is the real life counterpart to Genevieve Woodward - a notorious Christian speaker and author. In "Get Out of Your Head" she shares that she went through a season of serious doubt, while simultaneously carrying out her work for Christ.

I love Becky's authenticity. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this:
"Why was it so hard for Christians to come clean to one another about the sins that had them by their throats? Because of pride? Because every Christian wanted every other Christian to think they were doing it right? That they were strong and good? If so, that was idiotic."

Yes!

But this was also a story of love, forgiveness, friendship, and grace - not to mention smokin' romance and gut-busting humor!

I haven't found a Becky Wade book that has disappointed me yet, and I can't wait to read the next installation of the Misty River series. Write faster, Becky!

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"Time does not heal all wounds. Some things burrow into you like a splinter, and no amount of ignoring the splinter will help."

I was expecting a romance that would make me swoon and I certainly got that. I was NOT expecting everything else this book had to offer, though, and I was completely blown away. The storytelling is magnificent. The characters are real. The spiritual thread is deep and convicting.

Stay with Me is much more than a romance, and I applaud Becky Wade for masterfully handling the content while entertaining readers. This book is so well done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

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I really loved this book. I so admire the courage Becky Wade had in tackling a subject like opioid addiction in a Contemporary Christian Romance and pulling it off in an authentic, raw way.
Genevieve is picture perfect from the outside looking in, but not all is as it seems. And isn’t that the way with all of us? I loved the theme of breaking silence and letting people in to help us with our struggles and to hold us accountable. It’s such a valuable lesson, and so often hard learned.
Sam as well deals with the difficulty of hanging in there for people, and allowing God to work in our weaknesses, when all we want to do is run away.
The themes of grace and truth walking hand in hand and God being present in our weaknesses are powerful in this book, and ones that encouraged me personally.
Aside from that, this is a very entertaining book, with a mystery that I had to see to the end, and a romance that pulled me in.
Truthfully, I can say that this is one of the best books I’ve ever read by Becky Wade. Well done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

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Our female protagonist Genevieve gets an anonymous letter hinting at her parents' pasts prompting her to return to her hometown and uncover her family's secrets. There she meets Sam Turner. Genevieve reminds Sam of all the things he's trying to forget from his pasts; however, their paths keep intersecting. Slowly their relationship blossoms from not-quite strangers to something more.

This is the first book in a new series that centers around the "Miracle Five"—five people who miraculously survived an earthquake while on a mission trip as teenagers. Genevieve and her sister are two of the five along with Sebastian and Ben who are also present in this story, as well as Luke who is only seen in flashbacks.

Becky Wade has a way of writing about such difficult topics while also giving us a lighthearted and sweet romance, and always weaves strong spiritual threads throughout the story that remind us of God's love.

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This is book one in A Misty River Romance series. What a great place to start. I love the writing style of Becky Wade. Her characters are well developed with real life problems. She always has sparks, romance and lots of laughter.
I enjoyed getting to know the people of Misty River and look forward to hearing more from them. Genevieve Woodward has much to overcome. Sam Turner can not believe what he is feeling again. Sam and Gen have a lot to learn, give and experience.

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