Cover Image: Turn to Me

Turn to Me

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Becky Wade has long been one of my go-to authors, and this series (and book) continue to illustrate why.

I loved the treasure-hunt component, in particular--even more than the romance. I'm a huge fan of stories like "National Treasure," and this reads like that combined with "Eight Below." Win. :)

_Turn to Me_ is book 3 in the Misty River Romance series, and I'd definitely recommend reading them in order; this builds on the other two (and is, apparently, the finale #weep). It's always hard to say farewell to characters and a town I've grown to love!

I loved the Georgia setting, and now I'd really like to visit some of the places mentioned.

4/5 stars as a whole.

Note: Some discussions of meditation (albeit "prayerful"--though still a bit of a fuzzy topic to me, or perhaps "wooly," to [ironically] borrow from Hermione Granger). Also, one statement of a current state of singleness being "my truth." (A phrase which, I'll own, is a pet peeve of mine, but still.) And finally, there was some talk about virginity/lack thereof.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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I loved Luke & Finley's story! I have been waiting in this series to hear Luke's story, and it did not disappoint! Luke is darkness and Finley is light; however, their shared losses draw them together and create something beautiful. Also loved the element of mystery - initially I was hesitant about that component of the book, but the "treasure hunt" was interesting and different, which I enjoyed. Highly recommend! And if you haven't read the whole series, go back and read the others!

I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, Bethany House!

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Turn to Me felt very different from the other books and novellas in the Misty River Romance series. Luke and Finley were both very unique main characters. Some of the conversations with Finley and her girlfriends were almost over the top with psychological phrases. Yet they seemed to miss the all-important facts that Luke was not walking with the Lord and that the attraction between him and Finley was almost entirely physical.

The added aspect of a mystery was honestly what kept me reading, but in the end I was left with a lot of unanswered questions regarding the treasure hunt, as well.

I wish Ben's story had been given a novella of its own, rather than trying to weave it into Turn to Me.

All in all, fans of Misty River and the Miracle Five will want to read Turn to Me for the conclusion of the series.

Content Warning: Some of the discussions regarding sexual history and attraction make the book more for mature audiences.

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I love this series. Love how the characters overlap so much but at the same time each story can be read individually or out of order and you don’t really miss anything. I feel like that’s really hard to do well and Ms Wade does it beautifully!
This story was interesting! I loved the treasure hunt aspect. Super unique. That being said, I felt like the story was lacking umph. It was good but wasn’t superb. I’m glad I read it and would recommend it to others but it lacked a depth and seemed like there were details that didn’t need to be there and other details that could have made the story stronger that weren’t included.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

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Luke reminded me so much of my husband! But you know without the incarceration. Left his small town right after high school. Hardworking and smart. Handyman. Rough and gruff on the outside but good on the inside. Quiet but full of sarcasm and wit. Into restoring old cars. Are we talking about my husband or Luke?!
Needless to say he was my favorite character and I loved his growth and progression!
This story kept my attention the whole time! The plot was intriguing and not always predictable. It was a great ending for the series!

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I have been eagerly waiting for Luke's story since the first Misty River book came out a couple of years ago. Five teens went on a mission trip in high school and were trapped by an earthquake. Miraculously, they survived and became known as the Miracle Five. This final book is about Luke, the one who rebelled and ended up in jail. Luke Dempsey has just gotten out of jail after serving his 7 year term. While in jail, he made a promise to fellow inmate, Ed Sutherland, that he would help Ed's daughter and keep her from danger. Ed's daughter, Finley, received a treasure hunt clue from her dad upon his death. Luke agrees to help her on the hunt while he also begrudgingly helps her at her animal rescue center. While he is assisting her, Finley sees him as a hurt soul in need of rescue and rehabilitation. As they search for the lost treasure, Finley and Luke fight their attraction as they help each other heal from past wounds. I wondered how Becky Wade would handle the misfit, the "bad" boy of the Miracle Five. She handled his situation with grace and redemption, with second chances and persistent pursuit. She gives us a glimpse of Jesus as Finley and the other 4 survivors never give up on Luke and love him even when he doesn't want their affection or attention. Finley sets out to rehabilitate Luke, but he stubbornly refuses all of her attempts in his endearingly grumpy way. However, she sees past his exterior to the hurting heart beneath and refuses to give up on him. I love how Finley realizes that along the way, Luke is rehabilitating her! Turn to Me is a great conclusion to a fantastic series.

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This is the third book in this series, but, yes it can be read alone. The books all talk of a devastating earth quake,one that happened when they were teens, and we focus on the 5 survivors, and the one of this group that didn't make it.

Luke Dempsey blames himself for his younger brothers death, he makes bad choices and figures he deserves what happens to him.

Then the author gifts us with Finley, a girl that has a deep heart for animals, and runs a animal rescue, and I loved this character!

This story has so much going on, including a treasure hunt, one way beyond my imagination, and in the end makes for a wonderful conclusion to this great series.

I'll be looking for more by Becky Wade!

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

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Turn to Me
by Becky Wade
Book 3 in the Misty River Romance series
Rating: 4.5/5

Becky Wade delivers an incredibly powerful story again! I'm alway so honored to be part of a launch team for a book that I've been anticipating and the author did not disappoint. This book could probably still be read as a standalone but why deprive yourself of the rest of the series? They are brilliant reads that touch on real issues and show character development you won't wanna miss. I highly recommend the entire series and anything else the author has written.

First, the book cover is gorgeous as always. This series has had some amazing looking covers.
Second, returning to Misty River is always a treat and I love catching up with old and new characters. The secondary love story was sweet but I actually liked the secondary love story in her second book, Let It Be Me, better. Some of the chemistry seemed lacking or maybe it was just rushed or less detailed? Either way, I loved seeing Ben and the rest of the Miracle Five again.
Third, the chemistry between Luke and Finley more than made up for it. They were so well written and fleshed-out as characters. I really enjoyed learning more about life after imprisonment and running an animal rescue shelter. I always appreciate how authentic the author's characters feel and the depth of their feelings. Finley's journey after her fiancé's tragic death was heartbreaking while the reader still felt sympathetic toward Luke as an ex-con. Finley's father's influence was felt and the reader can see how much of an impact he had on her life.
Fourth, the author is never afraid to incorporate her faith into these books. She shares the message of forgiveness and redemption with so much hope for change.

"She would always bear the mark that Chase’s death had left on her. But that didn’t have to stunt her future. It didn’t have to mean that scars couldn’t become a part of a beautiful whole. God held life in His palms, and He was calling her to continue living and growing."

Highly recommend if you enjoy Christian contemporary romance with mystery, humor and a lot of heart!

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

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Did I cry happy tears on more than one occasion while reading this book? Perhaps I did....

Not only did Becky Wade deliver a fantastic romance story but there are also fabulous sub plots of mystery and healing. This can be read a story a standalone, but I found this much more rewarding to read after reading the other two books in this series. I've been eagerly awaiting Luke's story after hearing about him and getting glimpses of him previously. It was such a delight to see how Luke adjusted to working with Finley, with someone who's temperament is so much different than his own. I also loved all the funny moments sprinkled throughout the book. I lost count of how many funny moments I highlighted because they made me chuckle.

If you love:
💙 Second chance romance
💙 Grumpy/sunshine
💙 Brooding hero with a past
💙 Scavenger hunts
💙 Animal shelters and puppies
💙 Healing after trauma and grief

then this story is definitely one that you need to check out! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

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Turn to Me is the third book in A Misty River Romance series. While I think this would be okay as a standalone, I do think it'd be best to read the series to truly have the full understanding of who the Miracle Five are.

This one focuses primarily on one of the five: Luke. After getting out of prison, he finds himself making an unlikely alliance with the animal loving Finley to help her with a scavenger hunt left to her by her father. This added a good amount of mystery, which I couldn't help but enjoy. One thing that I have come to love about Becky Wade's books is that she can write chemistry so believably, and I certainly felt this to be the case here. And while I did enjoy the chemistry between Luke and Finley of course, I must say that the occasional glimpses we got at Ben and Akira might have been even more enjoyable... I really enjoyed their banter back and forth and found that I would have loved to see even more than that. Still, this was a great romance with a good message of redemption as well. I really liked seeing Luke's growth throughout the story.

Overall, this was a very good read and one that fans of Christian fiction are sure to check out for themselves.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

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I've been looking forward to reading Luke's story. I have to admit that I had a soft spot for a reformed bad boy--or even better, a reforming bad boy who is finding out who he's going to be, what sort of man he really wants to be. The message of being able to be forgiven and move forward is one I just love. So, I was thrilled to read Luke's story, and I loved him as the hero of this book. I didn't quite click with Finley as female lead, though. I can't put my finger on why, but I just wasn't drawn in by her. I liked the side story of Ben and Akira--they were super cute--but I was put off by other side characters (specifically, Finley's other employees, who were so annoying!). I also wasn't totally drawn in by the treasure hunt. It just didn't enjoy this one as much the earlier books in the series, but I think plenty of other readers will totally adore it.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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What a perfect way to end the Misty River series—with my emotions in an angsty, tangled up mess one minute—laughing in glee another, and my heart in my throat the next! Yes, there's a touch of mystery, too.

The gruff, cantankerous, but super handsome Luke Dempsey, unwillingly accepts a job working with Finley Sutherland in her animal rescue center, keeping a promise to her dying father to help her find clues to hidden treasure. Luke, encumbered with guilt, full of sarcasm, and an aversion to puppies just wants to keep to himself! I found his tough self hilarious, but he certainly wasn't trying to be.

Enter Finley. Talk about a ray of sunshine! She loves rescuing animals, people, ex-cons—no matter what their pasts she holds no judgement against them. Finley believes God's call on her life is to remain single. Ha! All things change when bull-headed Luke enters the scene.

I especially enjoyed when the author reintroduced the main characters from the other two books in the series...however, don't panic. This book can be read as a standalone and although the author does a great job of recapping, you'll want to discover how each of these intriguing characters tie in together! And there's two spicy romances for the price of one! Add some danger to the mix and you'll find the recipe for the perfect book!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review.*

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4.5 stars
Oh, this was such a satisfying end to an amazing series! This series has been so good and I was super excited to finally get to read Luke’s book! Turn to Me is the third book in Becky Wade’s Misty River Series.
Luke was a complicated character but it was so fun to read about him. He hid his emotions and feelings, which are two different things, behind walls to protect himself. I liked Luke and it was fun to get to know him. I knew of him from previous books but I did not really know him. He had been through a lot and he had a lot of guilt to work through. It was sweet to read about Luke interacting with Finley. However, Luke had to learn to let God in and give God his guilt.
Finley was fun. She was a whimsical character, and I loved her personality. She was passionate about caring for animals, and she also cared for people. Finley was super sweet and I loved her quirkiness. She had a deep faith in God but there were times when she had to learn to trust Him again. I loved the growth of her faith, Finley had to learn to wait on God’s time.
Finley and Luke were a fun couple to read about. They were both working through different things and they had experienced life in different ways. I liked the development of their relationship. But there were times when I was a bit unsure of it because Finley was a believer and Luke was not. However, otherwise this was a good book.
The side characters were fun and I loved the little story about Ben! I loved his romance and getting to read more about him, amazing! The plot was also very interesting and it was a lot of fun to read about Finley and Luke trying to solve the treasure hunt together.
Turn to Me was a lovely book and I would totally recommend it! Turn to Me is a clean contemporary romance with interesting characters, sweet dogs, and an engaging plot.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

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Turn to Me
by Becky Wade
Pub Date: May 3, 2022
Bethany
# 3 A Misty River Romance
* Christian romance * contemporary
Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This series centers around the "Miracle Five"—five people who miraculously survived an earthquake while on a mission trip as teenagers. Luke is the last one to have his story told. He has avoided the other four for years. Then again, he has never really recovered from the guilt of losing his younger brother Ethan in that earthquake, and the destructive behavior that followed.
I loved this book and I am happy to recommend it.
5 stars

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Turn to Me is the final book in the Misty River Romance series and it finished with a bang!
We were very eager to read Luke's story. If you have read the other books, you know about the Miracle Five, the five children who survived an earthquake disaster and are now all grown up. Four of them have remained close and have longed to have the fifth join them again in friendship and in life. However, Luke will never consider it a miracle that he survived the earthquake all those years ago - because that same earthquake took his brother's life. Luke has been ridden with guilt ever since and made some poor choices in life that landed in prison. Now a free man, he has one final job to do before he can get on with his life and leave Misty River for good. Luke made a promise to his friend and fellow inmate on his deathbed to help protect his daughter as she unravels a treasure hunt he has set up for her. How hard can it be? Well, Luke has yet to meet Finley!


Finley Sutherland is a down to earth girl who loves animals. She owns an animal rescue center and is excited to go on one final treasure hunt her dad set up. Luke Dempsey, who insists he must help her as her father requested, intrigues Finley and she is destined to help him learn what forgiveness really means. Finley has overcome her fair share of pain and trials as well and longs to see Luke "restored," but little does she know just how much he will teach her!

We fell in love with these characters. Honestly, it took a little bit to get used to Luke in his raw state, but we were incredibly impressed with how real he was. He quickly grew on us and kept us laughing! Luke and Finley grow together and it's a beautiful story. We were also thrilled to see Ben have his own sub story in this book as well. We are sad to see this series come to an end, but we sure did enjoy the friends we met along the way.

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I love Becky Wade’s Misty Rivers series and I am sorry to see it end as this is the last book in the series. I wanted to love this one as much as the others. But I truly had a hard time identifying with or relating to the characters in this book. They were not like anyone I knew. And this story did not feel like what her stories usually feel like.
But the story was different and fun and I especially enjoyed the animal rescue parts.
I will certainly keep reading Becky’s books. And I encourage anyone who loves contemporary Christian fiction to not miss this one.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

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Full disclosure: Luke's story was the one I have been looking forward to reading the most out of this series.
I love redemption stories and this one promised to be just that.
There were things in this book I really did enjoy.
I loved the grumpy/sunshine banter between Luke and Finley.
I loved the chemistry between the two and the treasure hunt angle.
I LOVED protective Luke.
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However there were a few things that raised some flags for me.
Finley is a character who is supposed to be the one with the most spiritual maturity, yet she is the one who pursues a dating relationship with Luke when he is not a fellow believer and not in a place where he is even wanting to be. I don't like seeing that. I think "missionary dating " can be a slippery slope, and wished it were handled differently in this story.
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There were some other things that may not be big for some but they just stall my enjoyment of the story. I'm a bit over certain models of guns being used as "the bad guy". I'm just over gun control lingo and fear being in so many stories.
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These things caused a hiccup of my enjoyment, but it is well written and has a lovely story of second chances at life.
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I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are honest and completely my own.

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This is book three in A Misty River romance series. However each book is a stand alone, If you start with this book you do miss a little history of the sub characters and the town of Misty River. I love the writing style of Becky Wade. Her characters are well developed with real life problems. We were introduced to Luke Dempsey in previous books but this one we really get to know him. When Luke meets Finley. she is nothing like he expected. Finley and Luke must find the treasure even when it seems impossible and maybe dangerous.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

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This is an amazing love story focused on two people who have lived with loss and guilt, and God’s ability to bring self-forgiveness and hope, that touches the heart and makes this book a must read.
At fourteen Luke’s life went off the rails when his younger brother died. Now years later and just freed from prison he’s stuck in Furry Tails Animal Rescue Center because of a promise to a dead inmate.
Finley promised her father she’d give Luke a place to start out after he was released. Her heart for the wounded doesn’t just extend to animals. Her mission is to rehabilitate Luke.
Neither of them found what they expected in the other but as Luke helps Finley chase down clues to her father’s last wish they find there’s more to life than living in the past.
I loved the way the relationship between Luke and Finley progressed hand in hand with each journey to wholeness. I recommend this book.
I was given a copy courtesy of Baker Publishing Group. This is my personal opinion of the book.

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The third book in this series lives up to the standards of the first two! Some of my favourite romance novels have two couples in the plot and I was so pleasantly surprised to discover Ben’s story as well as the prompted story of Luke. Luke and Finley were fantastic to watch as they got to know each other and solve a treasure hunt. Ben’s story with Akira was a joy to read as well. I loved how she was recovering from a severe illness and how honest it made her. Ben is total sweetheart as well. They were so cute to watch as they started as friends and turned into more.
This series had me hooked on the characters and the town but it is so much more with mysteries and a depth to each romance. I can’t wait to read more from Becky Wade in the future.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

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