Book Review (and Giveaway info!): Let It Be Me by Becky Wade

LET IT BE ME
SERIES: A Misty River Romance #2
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: May 4, 2021
PAGES: 382

The one woman he wants is the one he cannot have.

Former foster kid Sebastian Grant has leveraged his intelligence and hard work to become a pediatric heart surgeon. But not even his career success can erase the void he’s tried so hard to fill. Then he meets high school teacher Leah Montgomery and his fast-spinning world comes to a sudden stop. He falls hard, only to make a devastating discovery–Leah is the woman his best friend set his heart on months before.

Leah’s a math prodigy who’s only ever had one big dream–to earn her PhD. Raising her little brother put that dream on hold. Now that her brother will soon be college bound, she’s not going to let anything stand in her way. Especially romance . . . which is far less dependable than algebra.

When Leah receives surprising results from the DNA test she submitted to a genealogy site, she solicits Sebastian’s help. Together, they comb through hospital records to uncover the secrets of her history. The more powerfully they’re drawn to each other, the more strongly Sebastian must resist, and the more Leah must admit that some things in life–like love–can’t be explained with numbers.

Other Books In This Series

I can always count on several things when I read a book by Becky Wade:

1. There will be pitch-perfect banter.
2. There will be delicious kisses.
3. There will be fabulous characters (main & supporting).
4. I will smile a lot. (Chuckles are also not to ruled out)
5. I will swoon a lot. (Safety precautions like a fainting couch & a couple of fans are recommended.)
6. I will get hit in all the feels & my heart will be encouraged.

Let It Be Me, the second book in Wade’s Misty River Romance series, checked all those boxes and more! Leah and Sebastian are immediately engaging characters, though we do have a bit of a history with them already from Stay With Me (and therefore are ready to jump into their story before we even start reading this book). While I am not nearly smart enough to keep pace with Leah or Sebastian – these are two prodigies, after all – Wade has written them in such a way that it’s easy to relate to them. Even if I don’t get Leah’s love for math (lol), let’s hear it for STEM heroines! I love seeing a super smart, strong heroine take center stage. (I also love seeing a super smart, wounded hero take center stage but we all knew that already.)

Themes of belonging and family weave seamlessly throughout this novel, adding layers and dimension to the plot and making it a romance that strengthens your heart in more ways than one. I was hooked from the moment Leah got her DNA results, and I stayed completely engrossed in that story line through some stunning twists. I was also eager to learn more about Sebastian and Ben and their friendship – and how it would withstand the fact that they were both unknowingly in love with the same woman. Normally I loathe love triangles because my heart gets so twisted up for the one left behind. But in Let It Be Me, the author does a fabulous job approaching the delicate situation in a way that’s easy on everyone’s hearts, mine included. And I really loved getting to know Ben’s family – what a hoot they are, and full of unconditional love. I can’t wait to spend more time with them when Ben gets his story.

I haven’t even talked about Sebastian’s personal story … or Leah’s brother … or all the geeky Star Wars references. Ack. Just trust me – you need to read it for yourself! And then we can talk about all the things.

Bottom Line: Wade consistently exceeds the already-high expectations I have with each new book of hers that I read. It’s hard to improve on perfection, but she seriously just keeps getting better & better. Let It Be Me is engaging from start to finish, full of forgiveness and grace, fabulous characters and swoonilicious kisses. Entertaining simply at its face value – as a story of two people who fall in love – it also allows the reader to also explore questions of belonging, faith, and the sovereignty of God. A must read for sure!

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

My Rating: 5 stars / in a class by itself

KissingBook Level: 4 / keep those fans & fainting couches handy

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Becky’s a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas with their three children and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She loves writing funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She’s the Christy and Carol award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, the Bradford Sisters series, and the Misty River Romance series.

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Other Books by Becky Wade

One winner will receive:

A $50 cash card
A paperback copy of Let It Be Me
A sterling silver star necklace
An “All you need is love” math tumbler
A book heartbeat t-shirt, size women’s large
A package of oatmeal chocolate chip cookie mix

The necklace, tumbler, t-shirt, and cookie mix all represent different aspects of the novel!

This giveaway will run through May 25th and is only open to residents of the USA.  It is hosted by Becky Wade & Bethany House Publishers, not RimSP. To enter, simply fill out this form.

What about you? What makes you want to read Let It Be Me by Becky Wade?