A mysterious letter alluding to a secret in her parents’ past brings Genevieve Woodward back to her Blue Ridge Mountains hometown, but she’s also in need of a break from a high-profile career that has left her dangerously burned out and concealing a powerful secret of her own. When she wakes inside an unfamiliar cottage to find the confused owner staring down at her, she can no longer ignore the … the fact that she needs help.
Sam Turner has embraced his sorrow and his identity as an outsider. The solitary, disciplined life he lives on his historic farm is the life he’s chosen for himself. The last thing he wants is to rent his cottage to a woman as troubled as she is talkative. Yet, he can’t force himself to turn her away right when she needs him most.
As Genevieve researches her family’s history and her and Sam’s emotions deepen, they will have to let go of the facades and loneliness they’ve clung to and allow light to illuminate every hidden truth.
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Stay With Me is an incredibly powerful story of secrets, love, mystery, faith, and redemption…and the immense impact of love and a strong family structure. I am now simmering with anticipation to read the rest of this series and am excited to know that Sebastian’s story is next. Of course, I loved Genevieve with her struggles, her strength, and her compassion — and strong, silent, loyal Sam is definitely my new hero! But there’s obviously so much of the stories of the Miracle Give yet to be told!
“Stay With Me,” by Becky Wade is a wonderful piece of literary excellence. Wade masterfully develops the character of Genevieve Woodward, transforming her from emotionally distant to endearing in ways that the reader could not fathom early on. Upon her return to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, she comes into contact with Sam Turner, who is immediately endearing. The detailed writing of Becky Wade plays a key role in helping the reader to feel as though one is right alongside these characters in their journey to overcome a past that has been kept secret for so long.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and was not required to write a favorable. All opinions are my own.
There are many things to like about this book: the love story between Gen and Sam, Gen and Natasha’s sister bond and the way they supported each other and worked together to discover the secrets in their parents’ past after receiving mysterious letters, the Miracle Five story, and the bits of humor. But most important is the reminder that Christians aren’t perfect. Gen was a successful author of Bible studies with a speaking ministry. She also had an opioid addiction and struggled with that and the lies it brought. Sam had issues of grief and regret. We all sin and struggle and sometimes feel far from God. But yet, God loves us and is faithful. The truth will set us free. This is a Christian fiction romance that handles tough topics with grace in a very believable way. I highly recommend Stay With Me and look forward to the next book in the Misty River Romance series.
This book was powerful. I can’t say enough about the powerful effect it had on me. The author tackles current difficult subjects with grace and honest, but leaves the reader feeling completely satisfied in the end with the way these subjects are handled. I was so engrossed in the story that I read the book in two days. At first I didn’t particularly like Gen but I knew the author would change that if I gave her time, and she did! Sam, however, was my favorite character from the start! I just wanted to hug him in every paragraph! He had closed himself off to become a lonely human being and it was Gen’s job to bring love into his life again but also, he was the perfect man for Gen too! The other part of the book – the mystery in Gen’s family – was also engrossing to me. It helped round out the whole story! Just a fantastic, touching, superb book all around.
Feeling that this book comes from the author’s heart it has turned out to be her best one yet!
Wade gives us a little bit of everything in this book along with some life’s lessons
and she doesn’t beat around the bush about it.
Wade has done well with writing about these tough subjects and I loved the theme of love and forgiveness.
God works in mysterious ways doesn’t He?
Genevieve is just like any other human being. She is just trying to get through life the best way she knew how what with everything going on in it and all.
I think life is stressful at times but it can also be what you make of it. Only in my opinion Genevieve took some of it a little too far.
For this reason I really couldn’t warm up to her at all.
Sam is an amazing character! At first he got on my nerves but as I read on I grew to love him. I thought that he was perfect for a certain someone.
There were times when I wanted to knock both their heads together and put them in the closet to see which one came out first. However; I”m just as guilty of Sam and Genevieve are for some of the same reasons.
I enjoy Becky‘s writing to the fullest. I love walking away with my heart feeling full and satisfied. Wade has a way of doing that to you.
This is such a tenderhearted novel that will leave you thinking about the characters long after the book is finished.
The cover of this book is certainly beautiful!
I recommend this book to anyone who loves Becky Wade like I do.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. A book like this comes once in a lifetime!
I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
“Relationships were painful and messy and beautiful and important. The mess came with the beauty. The pain came with the importance. That was life. And God was calling him to live it.”
This is actually my first full-length novel by Becky Wade and I am so glad that I finally started my journey into the fandom of the author. The writing is easy to read and the plot is smoothly laid out. There are many surprises in the plot as well as secrets from the past that surface to add just the right amount of intrigue to this contemporary romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the subplot of how Genevieve and Natasha persistently dug through their parents’ past to figure out who is threatening their family as Genevieve and Sam figured out their relationship. Sam is the wounded hero in this story – so loyal, steadfast, and practical yet longing to belong and punishing himself for past mistakes – who will grab your heart from the very beginning. Genevieve is the complete opposite of him – unpredictable, emotional, and bursting with multiple colors – who wanders onto Sam’s farm, needing to stop her prescription medication addiction. Surprisingly, I did not like Genevieve at all, but my investment and commitment to see her story to the end clearly shows what a masterful storyteller Becky Wade is. Sam and Gen’s friendship/relationship is fun and incredibly tender but also heart-breaking and shrouded by a cloud of guilt, shame, and a sense of failure. The banter is witty and clever; their conversations will make you laugh out loud even as your heart is cracking for the pain they each carry.
The author addresses some heavy topics in this story like addiction, abuse, and survival after trauma as well as spiritual topics like need for transparency, forgiveness, and grace. I wasn’t sure how the “Miracle Five” and their first-person present tense interjections during an earthquake eighteen years prior to the current storyline would fit into the plot but understood its significance in Genevieve’s life by the end of the story. The next book about Sebastian, another of the “Miracle Five”, should be fascinating and I’m looking forward to finding out more about how surviving that earthquake shaped him.
When I first heard that Becky Wade was working on a new series, I fangirled! I was so happy to hear that the Bradford sisters and Porter family series were going to have another sibling series. Then I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Becky’s launch team and read stay with me early, which was such an honor! But when I read the book, I was blown away! It far exceeded my expectations as a novel! The wording, the storyline, all I have to say is that Becky gave us another winner! I loved Jen and Sam’s, characters I must say, Sam was probably my favorite because I love brooding heroes. (cough, cough, Jake Porter) In conclusion, stay with me will stay on my favorites list for many years to come!
I have read several books by Becky Wade and I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone. This book was no exception to that. “Stay with Me” was even better than I was anticipating. It had so much going on that you could not help but want to keep reading until the end. It had part mystery and part romance. The characters all had different issues they were dealing with. Given that, you can find at least something you could relate to even if it was just the imperfection of a person. There were some heavy issues in this novel but Becky Wade did an excellent job with going about writing about them. Without giving anything away about this first book in the “Misty River Romance” series, I will say that the way this book goes definitely makes me ready and wanting to read the next one when it comes out in 2021.
Ah-mazing. This author is seriously skilled at bringing out all the feels! I love that when I read a Becky Wade book I know I will emotionally connect to the characters, and that they don’t have to be perfect, but their flaws make them more realistic and relatable. The strong spiritual thread leaves me feeling inspired and uplifted, and the message of redemption and forgiveness is one that everyone can appreciate. There is a perfect balance struck between the introspective angst and the lighter moments that brought a smile to my face as I read. Sam is my favorite in this one with his compassion and kindness, and I loved the way he allowed Gen to bring him out of his darkness. Some of the themes and struggles tackled are pretty heavy, but they are explored with grace that prompts self-reflection in the reader. The history of the earthquake survivors and the mystery of Gen’s parents bring even more layers and depth to the story, and I’m so excited for the upcoming books in the series that will feature the Miracle Five.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)
There’s something to be said for an author who can handle tough topics without making a book heavy. Becky Wade weaves humor into this story, giving it a perfect balance. As is the case with all of her books, this one gave me plenty to think about and the lessons will stick with me long after I’ve moved on. The characters are real and may surprise you. The mystery introduced in the very beginning will keep you turning the pages! Pay attention to the flashbacks that are present at the start of each chapter, they are there for a reason. I wish I had picked up sooner on their importance but once I did I was amazed! I recommend this book to anyone looking for romance, humor, mystery, and topics relevant today.
What a FANTASTIC book! This may be Becky Wade’s best so far. I was hooked from the very beginning and had trouble putting it down.
I felt like there were four stories going on in this book and each one was fabulous.
First, Genevieve is one of the “Miracle Five” who survived an earthquake during a missions trip. Before each chapter there is a brief, first-person point of view from one of those five kids telling the story of their experience during the earthquake. I looked forward to this every time I finished a chapter!
Next, there was Genevieve’s prescription drug addiction. This is clearly an integral part of the story. I enjoyed watching her unwrap what the true reasons were for why she felt she needed the pills and how she dealt with those reasons in the end.
Also, there was the mystery surrounding the cryptic letters Genevieve received about what her parents did. It was interesting to find out what was behind those letters and so satisfying to see how the culmination/resolution of the mystery tied into Genevieve’s journey.
Finally, there is the relationship between Genevieve and Sam. Happy sigh.
I enjoyed the prequel novella in this series and am looking forward to the next book in the series!
“He’d been living in a black-and-white world. She was Technicolor.”
This book, y’all. Sometimes the books you love the most are the hardest to review because you have so much to say but can’t find words that will do it justice. Stay With Me is such a book.
One of the first things that sets this book apart for me is the way it respectfully and honestly deals with tough issues like addiction and at the same time maintains a sense of humor and tenderness throughout. (The scene where Sam gets roped into Gen’s therapy session had me laughing out loud.) Not many authors can achieve this balance well – Cynthia Ruchti & Pepper Basham are two others who come immediately to mind – but Wade has done a stellar job.
Both protagonists are infinitely likable and relatable. Sam is a charming-but-brooding hero with a yummy Australian accent, a farm-to-table restaurant (and the farm to go with it) and a secret shame. Genevieve is a tangle of energy, genuineness, wit, faith, and heart. Apart from her secret shame, she makes the perfect women’s Bible study leader (and anyone who’s done women’s Bible study will chuckle at Sam’s introduction to the teaching videos & workbook). The two of them together are truly a delight – even before the kissing starts but definitely after as well.
There are so many layers to Stay With Me. From addiction to family dynamics to even the Christian celebrity culture and our transparency (or lack thereof) with fellow Jesus-followers, it is a story that tackles these things head on but covers them all with grace and redemption. There’s also an underlying backstory to Gen, her sister and 3 of their friends that we receive through flashbacks from different characters’ perspectives – I’m really intrigued to see where the other characters’ stories go from here & if the bit of a teaser we get in the later chapters of Stay With Me is any indication, Sebastian’s story will be a doozie!
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.
Bottom Line: Wow. Becky Wade has always written exquisitely perfect books, but Stay With Me takes this exquisite perfection to new levels – with the exquisite imperfection of her characters. I loved every moment spent with Gen & Sam – the witty banter, the tender friendship, the smokin hot kisses. But this is so much more than a story of two people falling in love. It’s about broken people finding grace & healing. It’s heartfelt and sincere, often sobering & equally often hilarious as the scene allows. And every word is on pitch & thoughtful. This is definitely one of my top reads for 2020 so far – highly recommended!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Sometimes in life there’s a book or movie that resonates with me in my current circumstances. I think, like Sam, I shut down and shut out others in order to seek solace in my self-imposed aloneness. And, like Sam, I have to be reminded that we are meant to find joy and peace in relationships with others.
Sam finds a stranger in his dilapidated guest house and is not prepared for what she reminds him of. “He’d been living in a black-and-white world. She was Technicolor.”
Genevieve is in a downward spiral but goes back to her hometown of Misty River to get clean from a prescription drug addiction. Meeting Sam and his demands forces Genevieve to seek help in order to rent the cottage on his land.
Becky’s approach to drug addiction and loneliness is handled with grace and a powerful message. We are not meant to struggle on our own. “Relationships were painful and messy and beautiful and important. The mess came with the beauty. The pain came with the importance.”
It seems like with each story that Becky Wade writes, they just get better and better. Stay With Me was such a good read. Scratch that. It was a phenomenal read. There was such emotion, beautifully scripted scenes, flawed characters, and the realization that with God, we are nothing and can do nothing. There was character growth, surprise twists, mystery, and yes a swoony hero. I mean, it is a Becky Wade book after all.
Wade surprised me with this book, in a delightful way. Genevieve’s secret (which I don’t want to give away because of a spoiler, but I will say it could be a trigger point for some) was truly an eye opener for me. Not because I’m not familiar with the issue, because I am. More so because it made me realize that this issue can really affect so many people. It also reminded me that these people that we hold to such high esteem (I’m talking Christian speakers, bible study leaders, etc…) are just human. We look at them as though they are invincible and perfect, but they are not. And then shame on us when we judge them as soon as we see a story leaked about them on the internet. We don’t know their whole story! Gen’s story just really blew me away. I connected with her, I sympathized with her, I saw her struggle, and I saw her come to an understanding of what really needed to happen for her to overcome this difficult situation.
You know what wasn’t a surprise in the book? Having an amazing, swoony hero. I love all of Wade’s heroes, and so it was no surprise that I found myself drawn to Sam. Boy did he have this huge wall built – like in the beginning when he tells Gen that she can’t fall for him (yes I literally laughed out loud when I read that). But over time, he seemed to soften without even realizing it. I’m glad that Wade included his back story in a few chapters. I think you understand more when you can read the scenes instead of just hearing the character talk about it. Just another way for a reader to connect with the character – which Wade is a master at!
Then you have this mystery over Gen’s parents past which I found so unique and interesting. I almost saw the end coming, but at the same time was surprised, if that makes sense at all. It was a fun, engaging addition to the story, and I was happy to be along for the ride.
Contemporary romance fans are going to love Wade’s new series. Highly recommend Stay With Me, and am anxiously awaiting the release of book two! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Caution: This story is blatantly inspirational and steamy…in a very good way.
The romance between Sam and Genevieve was great. I completely understood Sam’s reluctance to get involved and got a few chuckles from how Genevieve pushed her way past his barriers. When they finally began to admit their feelings, the windows steamed up. It was just the right balance of heart pounding romance and innocence. The mystery of her parents past, which I was surprised about, made for a good reason to turn the pages. Full review is at my website.
Note: I received this book complimentary as a participant of the Prism book tour. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed are my own.
You know how sometimes you love a book so much that you just can’t even find the words? Yeah, that’s me right now!
More than just a romance (though what a romance it is!), Stay with Me tackles a variety of topics: Christian celebrity culture, addiction, long-buried secrets, and the power of grace.
I loved every second I spent reading this novel—Sam and Genevieve are wonderful, both together and separately, and I loved watching their romance unfold. I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding the letter Genevieve received about her parents, and that mystery led to one of the most touching scenes of forgiveness that I’ve ever read. The whole novel really is about redemption and grace, and it’s so beautiful.
This series centers around the “Miracle Five”—five people who miraculously survived an earthquake while on a mission trip as teenagers. Gen and her sister are two of the five; readers are also introduced to Sebastian and Ben in Stay with Me, while Luke doesn’t appear (except in the flashbacks to the earthquake). Sebastian’s story comes next, and, without spoiling anything, let me just say that I’m so excited to read it! The romance (and potential conflict) is set up in the final quarter of Stay with Me, and I gasped when I realized where Wade was going to take the story!
Stay with Me is a novel that will “stay with you” long after you finish reading, and I highly recommend it! 5 stars.
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
(4.5 Stars) This beautiful story has many facets and lessons embedded within. Gen and Sam are phenomenal characters with flaws and strengths that add depth and dimension to who they are. Wade does a fantastic job of embracing the hard and wrapping it up with hope and goodness, allowing the reader to follow along on an inspirational journey.
I love these character’s voices, as their personalities shine through their words and actions. Sam is steady and stalwart, while Gen is more vibrant and social. They way they come together, even with resistance, is heartwarming, especially as they each have demons they face and stories to unfold through the course of the book.
Amidst the small town charm, a small mystery develops, which succeeds to add another layer to this already great story. My only wish was to see the characters in the prequel show up more. All in all, this is a wonderfully engaging tale and I can’t wait for more.
Content: mild+ romance; moderate religion; talk of drug addiction, some vague/past abuse, and murder.
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Stay with Me is a deeply touching story of addiction and the hard road to recovery wrapped in God’s sweet mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Wade does not pull any punches with her latest contemporary, touching on issues that are often swept under the rug.
Genevieve and Sam are both hiding from the brutal fallout of opioid addiction but for different reasons. I was rooted to the pages of their story and could not help but feel the stress and expectations that are present for many people. Often times, we hide behind a mask of all-is-well when in reality it is definitely not. Who can we turn to and be vulnerable with, without feeling as if we will be judged? How quick a medication, or anything we put before God in our life, can become an idol of addiction.
If you are a fan of Becky Wade books, you will definitely like this one. She is a master at weaving a story with deep emotion and strong faith. She makes you cheer for fictional characters as if they’re friends.
I was provided an electronic copy of the book through the publisher and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I am a romance lover, so I was excited to be apart of this tour and read another awesome book from Becky Wade. I was first introduced to her Bradford Sisters Romance so I went into this with high hopes and I was happy with my reading experience. The characters were all amazing. From the main protagonists down to the rude characters. I loved them all.
This romance was well written. Not overly romantic, but didn’t skimp out on romantic bits either. I loved how quick of a read this was. I was able to fly through this book because I never wanted to put it down. I wanted to know about Sam and Genevieve. I wanted to see their banter and interaction. I was invested in their story.
I’m excited for the sequel and plan to get my hands on the prequel to read!
Becky Wade quickly became one of my favorite authors when I read her Porter Family series and she cemented that position with the amazing, swoon worthy and award-winning Bradford Sister Romance series. Stay With Me kicks off her new Misty River Romance series that promises to be AMAZING! I adored everything about this book. The characters were so intriguing from extreme people person Genevieve and borderline hermit Sam, Natasha and her “Year of Living Austenly,” unlikely brothers at heart Ben and Sebastian, who I hope to see in their own books, and Genevieve and Natasha’s quirky parents who aren’t as boring as they appear.
Wade tackles some heavy topics in this book and deals with themes of truth and transparency. You’ll probably want to have the tissues ready for this one as there are a couple moments that have the potential to be ugly cry inducing. The set up for the next installment in the series leads me to suspect it will be a beautiful, tearjerker as well. If you’re a romance fan Becky Wade is a must read, just be ready to binge her backlist once you finish this stunner.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. All opinions are my own.