I was so excited for this book and I am left with mixed feelings. There were conversations in the book that I loved and highlighted but others that were too far fetched for me.

I liked how Gen struggled with facades and an image she had to live up too. Some of her family dynamics were intriguing and the suspense was good.

What lost me was the opioid addiction. It seemed like she only lost other people’s opinions of her based on it. Her recovery and secrecy during those 90 days just didn’t sit well with me. I know it’s fiction but to me if you’re gonna cover such a heavy topic you should cover it. It was too clean and controlled for the addictions of people I’ve known and worked with. So that I’m unsettled on.

Also setting the love story during the beginning of her recovery bothered me. If she would have written it more time lapsed over a longer period of time I would have felt more drawn in and connected.

I do like Sam and Kaydens story and watching him heal throughout it. That was probably my favorite part, as he let go of her to fall in love with Gen.

Stay With Me by Becky Wade is a Christian fiction book. This book is first in the Misty River series starts off with excitement. Becky Wade won the Christy and Carol awards. the reader will be drawn into the trials of Genevieve . very early in the book. The predominant themes are forgiveness, grace, romance. Sam Turner is faithful and supportive . There is also a family mystery for Genevieve to solve. She works with her sister to solve the puzzle. How will it turn out? How will they resolve their questions? The characters, scenes are described well . The book is w ell written. I look forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to the publisher, netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions are my own. I will post my review on facebook, Amazon, my blog, bookbub, kobo, for our church staff.

Becky Wade is one author I make a point to NEVER miss one of her books. Time and again she delivers a story that is more than a light romance. There are layers and complexities to her irresistible writing style that insure you will not be able to put her books down. And such is definitely the case in her newest book Stay With Me.

In this book, we truly have it all. A sense of mystery, a battle to overcome drug addiction, relational struggles of transparency and identity, and a tender romance. Witty dialogue, pacing perfection, and ever deepening story development hallmark this tale. I am thrilled this is only the first book in the series, because these are characters I most certainly want to see again.

I highly recommend this book and all of Wade’s novels. I guarantee she will soon become a favorite of yours!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I've long been a fan of Becky Wade's books but sadly this one just wasn't for me. There were a lot of hard topics all in one book and the heroine really wasn't overly likable. The hero started out pretty great and I admired him but as the book went on I found myself disappointed with his choices and really wanted better for him.
Overall not my favorite Wade book but I'm looking forward to what else she has in store for us.

(No Spoilers!)

I absolutely love a book that takes me on an emotional rollercoaster ride and 'Stay with Me' certainly pummeled my heart, stomped my toes, and quickened my pulse till the very last page!

Australian raised, Sam Turner, is completely bumfuzzled when he discovers the beautiful Genevieve Woodward lying asleep in his cottage on his beautiful farm and wants no part of her. In my opinion Sam is a total stuffed shirt and I'm not talking about muscles here. Although there is that. ;) He's taciturn, arrogant, standoffish, and well—a fabulous cook so that accounts for something. However, when I caught a glimpse into his heart, I completely loved what I saw.

In some ways Gen reminds me a bit of myself (no wonder I loved her so much-lol)...always wearing a smile appearing to be fine, is light-hearted and kind, and has a witty sense of humor no matter what she's going through. And she's going through alot! Her family is hiding a terrible secret and so is Gen—one that could ruin her reputation as an acclaimed Bible study teacher/author.

Becky Wade's writing is off the charts and this is beyond a doubt my favorite book of hers. The rather chilling suspense element caught me a bit off-guard...the angsty romance and spiritual theme is something I've come to expect with Wade's books. I'm anxiously awaiting the next novel in the Misty River Romance series!

What a beautiful story of redemption.

Genevieve has been through some seriously bad things in her life. She has been able to turn those bad things around and make it into a successful career, touring around and telling other women about their identity in Christ. But when circumstances spiral out of her control, Genevieve must come to terms with the past and admit her present distress. But what will people think? She has spent her life's work spreading the word of God. What if others knew what she had become? Is she a fraud?

Sam becomes an unwilling friend and ally, after discovering Genevieve sleeping in a secluded cabin on his property. He wants nothing to do with all her baggage, but will he find his own sort of redemption helping her? Sam is forced to confront his own past as Genevieve slowly makes him reconsider all the protective hedges he had carefully constructed around his heart.

In true Becky Wade fashion, she presents us with two strong lead characters who must walk through some serious fire in order to grow. She makes a work of fiction feel so relatable, and that is a gift. If something that isn't true can ring so close to home and create an opportunity for introspection, then you know you've found a gem.

I know you will be blessed by reading this book. Put on the coffee because once you start, you won't put it down.

I LOVE Becky Wade no question but I take each book as they come and this one did not disappoint. The characters, the setting, the backstory, the ministering, the falling in love and the love, all of it just captivated me and kept me glued to this book.
Although this book plays out in current time, the reader is taken along with snippets of an earlier time to a particular event for a few of the characters. Those had me intrigued just as much as the main story because I kept trying to put it together. Don't worry they fit together and you never have any doubt about it but how does the past affect the present and the future. I told you intriguing.
I love a love story that without a doubt the reader can pick up on the chemistry of the main couple without being told. If you're the same way then you are going to love this book just as much as I do. The banter, the little things that go along with attraction are there, so effortlessly and naturally played out that you fall in love too.
This book tackles a couple heavy topics that were beautifully handled and the ministering that went along with it fed my soul. I highlighted and journaled quite a bit through this book and it's fiction but very quotable. This book dives deep even as it entertains.
Bonus after reading this you will be excited for the next book in the series.

Book one in the Misty River captured my imagination and lightened my heart while intriguing me. Sam is a hero and half, while Gen is inspiring in her determination to stand strong and not fold when trouble hits hard. The romance is a very sweet story wrapped around some major life issues of family, faith and future. I'd highly recommend this book if you love a great romance that transports you, holds you enchanted and then lets you go with a gentle sigh. Becky Wade at her best.

(4.5 stars) - A beautiful love story within a beautiful love story! 

This was a riveting story with 3 interwoven plot threads: Genevieve's relationship with Sam, her anonymous letters mystery, & her experience with 4 others being buried by an earthquake for 8 days. 

The overarching story in all that is Genevieve's relationship with God. The beauty of it is how it all works together Providentially to help repair her damage - and thru her healing, Sam's as well. 

The author mentions at the beginning about how Christians don't typically admit their failings. I've no doubt at all that pride is a significant factor in that, but it's important to recognize that it's also because we know those flaws will frequently get used against us personally, as a group, and worst of all, against God in particular.  

It's already so humiliating when we fall, but to hear atheists hold us up as proof that God doesn't exist is just that much more shame. We don't want to be a source of scandal to our faith. The book does hint at this in Genevieve's journey, but I wish it had been addressed a little more directly & strongly. 

We need the reminder that when we admit our failures & our dependence on God, it's actually a witness to believers as well as unbelievers, of God's incredible mercy. He doesn't save us once, but is there every time we fall.  

Still, the story succeeds wonderfully in portraying God's Providential care even when we've made a mess of things & struggle to trust or even find Him - it's a beautiful love story within a beautiful love story! 

*Clean romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic 
*Religion: overtly Christian but organic to the story, not preachy

I'm so excited about this first novel in Becky Wade's new Misty River series! Stay With Me is a fresh, thoroughly engaging, and humorous story complete with quirky characters, including one who likes to thread Pride and Prejudice quotes in her everyday language! A breathtaking romance develops when a real-life Southern Goldilocks meets an Australian farmer/chef.

And then there's the mystery: "I know what your parents did. And after all we've suffered, it's hard to watch you bask in your fame and money. Your parents aren't going to get away with it."

In Stay with Me, Becky tackles the relevant and challenging subject of opioid addiction with natural aplomb. She explores the theme of secrets, those shameful hidden parts of us that we fail to acknowledge to God and each other, and the importance of being transparent to experience the greater intimacy, freedom, and grace it brings.

It's such a compelling story! I enthusiastically recommend it to all who enjoy inspirational fiction filled with a strong message of God's hope and redemption. I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel, for this my honest review.

I admit that I am struggling a little to write a review for this book, because how do you review such an absolutely wonderful book? I feel as though any praise I give it will be inadequate to how fantastic it truly is! Suffice it to say, this novel has all the things that make any Becky Wade book great—characters with realistic struggles and imperfect lives with which we as readers can easily identify, raw spiritual truths that strike a chord in our own spiritual walk, and clean romance that makes us swoon! I absolutely loved Sam! He is shaped by past mistakes but it has made him into such a wonderful man! (And not only is he handsome but he can cook?! Yes please!) And I really liked how Becky handled a sensitive addiction in the novel, with careful research and accurate, often less than rosy, portrayals of its consequences. The themes of forgiveness, mercy, and grace were strong in the story and really made me think and, at times, made me cry as the characters realized the same truths. I love how her writing is so seamless that you can spend hours reading and still find yourself completely immersed in the book. I enjoyed the setting of Misty River and the other characters in the novel and I am very excited to read more about them in the rest of the series. The family mystery in the story had twists and turns that surprised me and further added to the complexity of the book. I truly could go on and on about how much I love this book, but instead I’ll just say, go buy a copy yourself and enjoy this highly recommend novel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Becky Wade has a talent for blending emotion-squealing romance with a thread of suspense that carries through her novels. Just like in her previous novels, Wade develops characters in new release, Stay with Me, that allows the reader to root for them through all of their heartache and eventually delivered joys. Genevieve Woodward, the starlit in Stay with Me, has a heavy secret that involves an addiction fully present in her life. Uncovering secrets is a theme in Wade's novel that when brought to light may just lead to the road of redemption the entire family needs.

Becky Wade does so much so well in this book. I mean, getting the reader to identify with a hero as taciturn as Sam is tough. (And if he's not narrated in audiobook format with his Aussie accent, it's a crime.)

Most of all, I was impressed with how a story that deals with heavy topics (opioid addiction, childhood trauma, and, uh, something I can't divulge because it would be a spoiler) did not drag me down in the least. Genevieve's sparkling personality kept things sunny, even when they weren't.

Great story, tension-building mystery, beautifully developed spiritual themes organic to the story, and a slow-building romance with loads of chemistry. The only thing that pulled me a wee bit out of the story were some lengthy backstory passages I'd rather have seen slipped into scenes bit by bit as necessary.

4.5/5 stars!

The thing I love most about Becky Wade's books are her characters. They're real and raw, with real-life issues. This book is the first book in the Misty River Romance saga. While there is a prequel novella, it's not necessary to read that one before this. The male main character of that book, Eli, shows up in this one once or twice, but not knowing his history is not problematic to this story at all. This book follows Sam (Eli's friend), who is striving to make a new start with a completely ordered life in Misty River, and Genevieve, one of the "Miracle 5", a group of 5 who 15 or so years ago survived an earthquake on a Jr. High mission trip to El Salvador. The book travels back in time every so often to tell the story of the Miracle 5, which gives us some of Genevieve's history.

This story is a beautiful one of grace and second chances. I love how God brought Sam and Genevieve together and used each of their strengths and weaknesses to help the other rise above their current struggles. While this is definitely a romance novel, the thing I like about this author's books is that the romance flows naturally, out of the circumstances of the characters. This novel is a character-driven novel, which makes it much better (in my opinion) than a romance-driven novel. Sam and Genevieve are both completely relatable and very likable characters. They have real life struggles and their struggles actually push them together in a realistic way. I enjoyed the history of the Miracle 5, the mystery surrounding Genevieve's parents, as well as the overcoming of great struggles. The strong theme of God's grace was throughout and really pulled a punch at the end. I would advise that any who have experienced first-hand or second-hand the effects of prescription drug abuse, this may have some triggering scenes, but I believe they were well done and offered grace.

Special thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Talk about a book that pulls you in and doesn't let go to the end! This one will have you quickly looking for answers, and will they all unfold?
One story line quickly became another, and then another, and on, more like real life!
When I think of it, we have survivors here, from what? Life, and all that goes with it, and most you really won't see coming, most you would not imagine, and yet, the secrets started to fall.
Through it all, there is a love of God, that is so strong and yet we are all sinners, but they never loose their faith!
There is a sense of loss with the last page turning, but, there are going to be more, I just don't know which of the survivors story we will see, so stay tuned!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

I wasn't a fan of this particular book. I found the main character very hard to like and the actual plot of the book didn't really suit my taste. It was hard for me to root for the romance between the characters because I fundamentally didn't really think that they would be good for each other. The mystery element was interesting, however I was extremely disappointed in how it concluded. It left me feeling odd and wishing for a conclusion that involved telling the truth and accepting the consequences of actions. I am a huge fan of the author and that has not changed, but this book wasn't for me.

Unfortunately, this book didn't resonate with me, and I'm not sure if it was the content or just my state of mind when reading. I found the start of the book to be a bit slow, and it gradually sped up as the story progressed. However, I never made a connection with the characters. I found it odd how their relationship started out, with her literally blacked out in his guesthouse from the opioids she's addicted to, and yet, he's not really that upset. I would definitely be upset if a drug addict broke into my guesthouse, and I felt that interaction was too lukewarm to feel realistic to me. I found myself warming a little bit to Sam, but I never did with Genevieve. Perfect persona on the outside but with serious problems, she's realistic but not super relatable for me. I know how opioids are, and I think I would take my butt to an NA meeting the minute I decided to detox.

I am definitely in the minority, and I would try another of Becky Wade's books just based on others' feedback of her work. This one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Genevieve Woodward is a famous bible teacher and speaker. Sam Turner is a restaurant owner/ farmer living on his own. When they meet, it is not in the best circumstances and Genevieve needs Sam’s help. Sam agrees on a few conditions; one of them being that she not fall in love with him. Soon secrets from their past come to light and threats toward Genevieve’s family cause her to question everything her parents taught and her relationship with God.
This book is not just a suspenseful, romance, Becky shares the importance of forgiveness.

I graciously received an advance e-copy from netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This book has it all! Becky Wade does not shy away from tackling some very difficult topics, but does so in a way that shows care and respect. All the while packing it full of laughter, tears, friendship, family, and enough chemistry to sizzle! It also rips into the need that most Christians have struggled with at one time or another, to maintain a certain façade of perfection. This story is powerful yet easy to read. It'll leave you feeling satisfied yet anxiously awaiting the next story in the Misty River Romance series. I know I can't wait to see what happens next!

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

"Like Papa Bear in the Goldilocks story, Sam Turner had discovered a strange woman sleeping in the bed of a house he owned" (location 38). What a great start to the story. I really enjoy Wade's writing style. "The morning after Genevieve Woodward had interrupted his life like an unwelcome news bulletin in the middle of regularly scheduled programming...." (location 399). I loved all the Jane Austen references thanks to Gen's sister spending a year "living Austenly."

Becky Wade's covers are so whimsical that I am caught off guard by the content. I'm expecting a light-hearted sweet romance and then am surprised when things turn to drug addiction, serial killers, secrets, earthquakes and more. It's a wonderful surprise. Wade deals with the realities of drug addiction and withdrawal well. It was amazing watching Sam help Gen even though she made him crazy much of the time. He doesn't realize how much she is also helping him.

At first I was confused by the changing perspective of the children in the earthquake chapters. I didn't realize that they were going to be the subjects of future books at the outset. I appreciated their commitment to each other even as adults and am looking forward to learning more about them.

This was a poignant book that highlighted the importance of relationships and the power of grace in our lives. I'd highly recommend it.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.