Turn to Me - (Misty River Romance, a) by Becky Wade (Paperback)

WOW. I read a lot of Christian Fiction, and Turn to Me is now one of my favorite Christian romances that I've ever read. Thank you Becky Wade for continuing to write such faith-filled romance novels with depth. Turn to Me has everything you love & would expect in a romance novel, but it has so much more to keep you reading to find out what happens next. I appreciated how the author made the character's faith a part of the story, and wasn't afraid to address their relationship and issues with God. So many "Christian romance" novels don't talk about God at all, but Becky Wade addresses their faith to add more depth to the story which also makes it more realistic. Luke's character was just released from prison, and I appreciated this trope as I don't see this background too often in other romance novels. Since faith was a big part of Tenley's life, I would have liked to see Luke's past and his hesitation with God addressed more, and why this could be an issue in their relationship. Rather, she seemed a bit naïve at times thinking that she could just fix Luke and everything would work out. I also liked how their was an element of mystery and suspense in the romance that kept me reading until the very end. Finley embarks on a treasure hunt with Luke by her side, and it was a nice way to build their romance while adding suspense to leave me guessing. Overall, if you are looking for true Christian romance, Turn to Me is a page turner that won't disappoint.

4.5 stars " . . . . she needed time to ask God what He would have her do regarding the 'Restoration of Luke'. Whenever new animals came into her universe, she assessed them and formulated a plan. She'd now confidently arrived at a five-step program that had worked well with wounded canines in the past." "She staunchly refused to surrender Luke Dempsey to darkness." Finley Sutherland was amazing when it came to restoring life back into the menagerie that came into her Furry Tails animal rescue center .. . . . but wounded men? Luke Dempsey had breezed into her life most reluctantly; after all, she was only a stop along his way to a brand new life in Montana, simply fulfilling a dying promise that he had made to her father. And what a promise it turned out to be . . . . helping Finley solve a somewhat mysterious series of clues; a birthday treasure hunt, the last one she would ever take; and apparently for this one, she needed a bodyguard. "Since meeting her, he'd been unable to get her out of his head. He'd existed alone in his apartment before starting work at Furry Tails. Now she existed in these rooms with him." Finley was all life and light and good and cheery; in contrast to Luke's pessimism, she was a sunbeam . . . a very irritating little sunbeam. She knew he avoided people, and pets for that matter, but that didn't stop the little energizer from pulling him into projects against his will. . . . . like Agatha!(the little sleep snatcher!) On that other hand, Luke couldn't resist Finley, and that was becoming a problem. He would move heaven and earth to keep Finley safe; he couldn't, wouldn't, fail. This story's deep, magnetic pull of a broken, brooding hero towards his lady love is nothing short of amazing. On some level (very faint at first) Luke and Finley share common ground; guilt. Having both suffered extreme loss for which they feel responsible, their lives traversed totally different paths; Luke was determined to self-destruct while Finley tried her best to self-construct; both a form of the same emotional wall. Ultimately, it's their perspective of grace that is going to make all the difference. . . for both of them. (and don't forget about that treasure hunt!) "His economy isn't about works. It's about grace . . . . You're free . . . every chain is broken. . . . "

I will preface this review by saying that I had some expectations that are not hinted at in the synopsis, but rather what I wanted to see based on my love for a certain side character throughout the rest of the series. I have adored Ben for over two years and wanted more of him. I was fully anticipating more page time for him in this book than what is actual. I would have loved to see him have his own time as center stage! That aside, Becky pulls out all the stops for the bad boy, Luke, of the Miracle Five. As with the other novels in this series, there are heavier topics dealt with (death, grief, survivor's guilt, etc) and they're handled with a deft hand. There's adventure through a treasure hunt, themes of healing and forgiveness, family drama, and a beautiful love that develops between the MCs. Finley is an ideal match for Luke with her ability to look past flaws and encourage others to overcome obstacles. Luke lost his brother in a disaster on a missions trip as a kid. His survivor's guilt is strong and he pursues a life best described as self-destructive. While imprisoned, he meets and befriends Finley's father, leading him to meet and join her efforts upon his release. Finley's life isn't all roses, however, her lemons to lemonade attitude smooths out what could be a contentious beginning. A note for audiobook fans: I listened to a good chunk of this book via audio and would recommend physically reading this series instead. The narrator, Barbara McCulloh, lacks the youthful tone I think this book needs. Her matronly voice would be more suited to either a historical fiction or nonfiction book. Thank you to the author and Bethany House for the gifted copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Oh my goodness, what a completely wonderful story! I love this Misty River Romance series. 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 his destructive behavior that followed. Turn to Me was a perfect wrap up for the series, and I am not at all ready to say goodbye to all the wonderful characters. After major guilt over his brother's death, followed by years of self-destructive behavior and a stint in prison, Luke Dempsey appears to be a lost cause to many, including himself, but it's a good thing Finley Sutherland doesn't see him that way. "Luke Dempsey was a tragic and thorny case. Many would say he was a lost cause. Thing was, she had a soft spot for lost causes. It ran contrary to her nature to abandon any creature to its lostness." Finley truly believes that no animal or person on earth was beyond redemption. Luke made a promise to her father in prison to protect her until she completed the last treasure hunt her Dad had planned for her, and Luke is intent on keeping that promise. Besides being devastatingly handsome and brooding, Luke is a loner, and much prefers to be left alone rather than let anyone near, including his family and friends. The mostly-in-his-head responses Luke has to other people crack me up. (Luke in his head: Harry was not gorgeous. And Furry Tails was a lame thing to call a shelter.) Finley is the complete opposite, she is outgoing, friendly, passionate about her causes, and a bit too much for Luke at the beginning. She holds her own with him and it is fun to watch. Finley owns and operates the local animal shelter called Furry Tales. She too has experienced a devastating loss, but has been working through it. She cracks me when she plans to use her five-step program on Luke that has worked well with wounded canines in the past. The secondary characters are great too: Finley's friends Bridget and Meadow, her misfit co-workers, their extended families, and Luke's friends from the earlier stories make a few cameo appearances. Author Becky Wade knows just how to pen a pitch perfect story! I love character driven stories and she knows just how to create them. Her characters are authentic and the issues they face resonate with people. She is definitely one of my go-to authors! Fans of fabulous stories with great character development, swoony romance, and with a touch of mystery will LOVE Turn to Me and the entire Misty River Romance Series. I highly recommend them! Thank you to the author, publisher, and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Becky Wade has delivered another beautiful story with the third book in the Misty River series, Turn to Me. It is a heart-tugging story of pain from loss, but also redemption and healing and what He can do with a life given to Him. One cannot help but love the gruff, almost-reformed bad boy, Luke and the tender-hearted, dog rescuer, Finley from the opening pages of the book. I was drawn into their relationship and turned pages as quickly as possible to get to their happy ending. I love that Finley first sees Luke as one of her “projects” and Luke tried to see Finley as only an obligation to a promise made to her father. The banter between the two main characters is delightful – funny, sarcastic, heart-breaking, and romantic – whatever fits the setting and circumstances of that part of the novel. The inclusion of an intriguing treasure hunt and cute puppies only added to my enjoyment of this book. Other characters from the first two novels appear and their stories are tied up as well. I am always amazed at Wade’s manner of crafting words into wonderful word pictures while telling a story, and she delivers in Turn to Me. Her romantic heart is evident as is her sense of humor. I highly recommend this latest novel by Becky Wade for readers of contemporary romance and Christian fiction. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions stated are my own.

Turn to Me is the third and final installment of Becky Wade’s Misty River Romance series. Having devoured the other books in the series, I was looking forward to getting to know the elusive and reclusive member of the Miracle Five, Luke Dempsey. He’s a dark, broody man–one who harbors heaps of guilt and shame. And yet, he makes a perfect hero–handsome, loyal, and fiercely protective. His bad-boy persona is merely a cover for his soft heart. In this opposites-attract story, Finley is the perfect person to get under Luke’s skin. Becky does a fabulous job (like usual) of having witty, meaningful, and genuine dialogue. I don’t know how many times I was asked to explain why I was giggling while looking at my phone. It wasn’t because of some cat video–it was the banter between Finley and Luke. I kept cheering on The Restoration of Luke so I could witness his dead-pan one-word responses to her flowery invitations of change. I was so glad Turn to Me also gave Ben another chance at love. I love Ben (who doesn’t?), but I will confess that my excitement in reading more of his story meant more time with his mom Cece. She. Is. The. Best. Painfully honest and bold in her extension of love to others, especially those who need it most. I’d love to sit at her dining room table one day! While the chemistry between Finley and Luke kept me smiling through most of the story, like most of Becky’s books, this story had some hard issues to work through. Guilt. Shame. Grief. Redemption. Goodness, the tears flowed as Luke fought hard against the truth. I hope we all have a Finley in our life who sees us the way our Creator does, loves us through the pain, and points us to the Truth. The inspirational arc of this book was so powerful and challenging, it made the story infinitely more meaningful outside its pages. Overall, Turn to Me was a fabulous story. Contemporary romance fans, like those of Courtney Walsh, will enjoy this novel (and the entire series!) I highly recommend this book to any Christian fiction fan. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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.

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 ARC copy of this book from from the publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review.*