Tag Archives: Becky Wade

Top 10 Tuesday — Let’s Cook!

3 Sep

Happy Tuesday! Today my TTT list features books with characters that cook. The list includes characters ranging from seasoned chefs to newbie bakers to ice cream makers, plus a few chocolatiers! And they cover a variety of genres — something for everyone’s tastes. 😉 Don’t forget to load up on some snacks for your reading time!

For more mouth-watering lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books That Feature Characters That Cook!

All’s Fair in Love And Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant

The Baker’s Wife by Erin Healy

A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz

Invisible by Ginny Yttrup

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer

The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Sweet on You by Becky Wade

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns

Top 10 Tuesday — What’s Your Favorite Color?

2 Jul

I am pretty partial to pink. I even had a house once that was painted pink (kind of a salmon color) and had pink carpet. It was the 80s, what can I say? While I don’t do pink decorating anymore, I am drawn to pink clothing. And I am getting pink streaks in my hair next week (the previous pink streaks washed out too quickly). So it is only fitting that I spotlight books with pink covers, girls in pink dresses, or pink in the titles! Let me know what you think of my choices. Books, not hair color. 😉

For more colorful blogger lists, check out That Arty Reader Girl.

Top 10 Pink-ish Books!

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander

Betsy: Miss Grumps Don’t Fall for Mr. Sunshines by Sarah Monzon

The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell

The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma

Sweet on You by Becky Wade

Tickled Pink by Debby Mayne

The Trouble with Love by Toni Shiloh

Top 10 Tuesday — Quick Reads!

6 Feb

When time is short, but you still want to read, I think the best choice is a novella. I don’t read a lot of novellas; I really prefer a full length novel. But I do appreciate a quick read during those busy times of life. Novellas and novella collections have been my go-to for a quick reading getaway from all the hustle and bustle of life. A novella is also good when you want to try out a new author. My list includes novellas in a variety of genres, so no matter what you are in the mood for, there’s a book for you.

For more quick reads from bloggers, head over to That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Quick Reads

Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters

The Christmas Heirloom (novella collection) by Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, and Becky Wade

Her Country Gentleman (novella collection) by Sian Ann Bessey, Sarah M. Eden, and Rebecca Connolly

Medical Mystery by Richard L. Mabry, MD

Protecting Tanner Hollow (novella collection) by Lynette Eason

The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey

Targeted (novella collection) by Lynette Eason, Lynn Blackburn, and Natalie Walters

The Unbroken Song by Jennifer Q. Hunt

Read A Romance Month! — Contemporary

7 Aug

Did you know that August is Read A Romance Month?! Do we really need a month to remind us! LOL. Anyway, I thought I would feature romance writers in a 3-part series — Contemporary, Historical, and Suspense. These are go-to authors for me. I’ve listed their newest offerings, but be sure to check out their backlists as well. I hope you find one to love. See what I did there? 😉

Must-Read Contemporary Romance Authors

Victoria Bylin

Nicole Deese

Janet W. Ferguson

Irene Hannon

Denise Hunter

Carla Laureano

Toni Shiloh

Beth K. Vogt

Becky Wade

Top Ten Tuesday — Throwing It Way Back(list)

1 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is Backlist Love. So what’s a backlist? Older books still in print are considered part of an author’s backlist. I thought about going way back and listing the author’s debut novels (and some of those on the list are), but some authors wrote for the general market back in the day or the books are no longer available (unless you want to pay an Amazon seller several hundred dollars 😉 ). I’ve listed books that I still need to read from the backlists of favorite authors. In some cases, it’s the only book I haven’t read by an author! There are lots of genres to pick from — hope you find one to love too!

For more amazing backlist suggestions, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Backlist Books

Deadly Pursuit (2011) by Irene Hannon

Evidence of Mercy (2010) by Terri Blackstock

The Haven (2012) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Harvest of Rubies (2012) by Tessa Afshar

Magdelene (2011) by Angela Hunt

A Memory Between Us (2010) by Sarah Sundin

Mine Is The Night (2011) by Liz Curtis Higgs

No Where to Turn (2014) by Lynette Eason

Paint Chips (2013) by Susie Finkbeiner

My Stubborn Heart (2012) by Becky Wade

Top 10 Tuesday — Book Turn-Ons

30 May

Happy Tuesday! This week’s TTT topic is Book Turn-Offs. I really hate to hate on books and by extension the authors. So I did a little research into what other readers find to be turn-offs and twisted it up. I’ve listed books that did each category really well.

For more about book turn-offs/ons, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Book Turn-Ons

Some people don’t like “bad” covers. Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe has a fantastic cover!

Some people don’t like multiple points of view. I do. Especially in dual timeline novels. The Vanishing At Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright is spot on with its POVS.

Some people believe a male author can’t write a strong female character. Tom Threadgill did it twice with his Amara Alvarez series. Collision of Lies is book 1.

Some people don’t like horror. I get that, but Billy Coffey writes stories that sneak up on you. It’s horror without the gore. But there sure are spine tingles. The Devil Walks in Mattingly is excellent.

Main characters that are too perfect turn people off. I guess that would be true of me too, but sometimes an author explores a “perfect” character to show that no one lives a life of perfection. Struggles are real and universal. Becky Wade‘s Stay With Me is a good example.

Some people don’t like long book series. I sure am glad Irene Hannon doesn’t feel that way. I love my return visits to Hope Harbor, Oregon. The latest book, #9!, Windswept Way is a favorite.

Some people don’t like cliff-hangers. One of the biggest I have come across is Life Support by Robert Whitlow. Some of the members of my book club were a little miffed when we read it. But we clamored for the rest of the story in Life Everlasting. Both books are available, so make sure you buy both. 😉

Top 10 Tuesday — Things That Get In The Way Of Reading

16 May

This week’s TTT topic is an easy one. EVERYTHING gets in the way of reading. There, done. 😉 Seriously, if you have a reading addiction habit problem passion then you know what I’m talking about. Chores, errands, cooking, cleaning, driving, sleeping, exercising — all are the everyday things that keep me from reading. I refuse to include social obligations and family events, because that would be wrong of me. 😉

So what do I do when I can’t physically hold a book to read? I listen to audiobooks. Because TTT is basically an excuse to talk about books, I’ve listed the last 5 audi0books I have enjoyed while trying to get a little more reading time in.

For more blogger’s non-reading woes, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Last 5 Audiobooks I Have Listened To

The Chase by Lisa Harris

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Turn to Me by Becky Wade

Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green

Mini-Review — Turn to Me

15 May

I love a book by Becky Wade! While contemporary romance is not my go-to genre, her books are. Turn to Me, the final book in the Misty River series, was a delight. Its setting is my happy place — the North Georgia mountains. While that might be inducement enough to fall into the book, the engaging and relatable characters are the star of this novel. Luke, one of the Miracle 5 from previous books, has been a bad boy since the event that took his younger brother and changed his life. He has lots of baggage, but is determined to live on the straight and narrow. Finley, whose father was a friend to Luke in prison, is a flower child with all the charm and quirks that entails. The two come together to embark on a treasure hunt set up by Finley’s now deceased father. It is certainly a puzzler that keeps Luke and Finley on their toes while requiring they spend more and more time together. There is definite chemistry there! Fans of romance will love their relationship. If you don’t mind a mystery, it’s a great one. It kept this reader guessing until the end. For those who have been following the returning characters, you will love how Wade finishes their stories.

Turn to Me was such a fun book — some lighthearted moments, some soul-searching, a mystery to keep the pages turning. I’m a bit sad that my time in Misty River is at an end — it’s such a fabulous series. If you haven’t read it, you are in for a big treat. make sure you get all the books. You’ll want your stay to continue.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

His promise will cost him far more than he imagined.

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey’s life, but it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lay dying shortly before Luke’s release, the older man revealed he left a string of clues for his daughter, Finley, that will lead her to the treasure he’s hidden. Worried that she won’t be the only one pursuing the treasure, he gains Luke’s promise to protect her until the end of her search.

Spunky and idealistic, Finley Sutherland is the owner of an animal rescue center and a defender of lost causes. She accepts Luke’s help on the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return–by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he’s long denied himself.

As they draw closer to the final clue, their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble, and Luke realizes his promise will push him to the limit in more ways than one. He’ll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats, but who’s going to shield him from losing his heart?

Becky Wade is a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas with their three children and one Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She loves writing sweet contemporary romances laced with sizzling chemistry, mystery, faith, banter, and humor. Her eleven novels and five novellas have been recognized with a Carol Award, INSPY awards, and a spot in the Christy Award Hall of Fame.

If You Liked . . . Finding Me

1 May

My book club read Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman in April. We haven’t discussed it yet, but I am sure we will have a good conversation. The novel involves a runaway dad and how his deception affected his family. Main character, Kelly, struggles with the memories of a loving father and the very real evidence that her life has been based on a lie. Finding Me is women’s fiction, but I have a few recommendations for further reading that span several genres. All three reading recs involve a main character who discovers that what she has always known may not be the truth. I hope you find another book to love.

Deception by Patricia Bradley

After being forced to kill an FBI agent gone rogue in self-defense while working in the violent crimes unit for the Investigative Services Branch, ranger Madison Thorn is comfortable with her move to the fraud and cyber division. At least numbers don’t lie. So she’s less than thrilled when a white-collar crime investigation in Natchez, Mississippi, turns violent. She could also do without being forced to work with former-childhood-enemy-turned-infuriatingly-handsome park ranger Clayton Bradshaw.

When a woman who looks just like Madison is attacked on the same night Madison’s grandfather is shot, it becomes clear that there is something much bigger going on here and that Madison herself is in danger. Madison and Clayton will have to work together–and suppress their growing feelings for one another–if they are to discover the truth before it’s too late.

The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale, she soon discovers that her grandmother left behind more than trinkets and photo frames–she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy’s adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.

Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he’s ever loved.

In this dual-time story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth–both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others–takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.

Let It Be Me by Becky Wade

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.

Top 10 Tuesday — Audiobook Narrators

25 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT is talking favorite audiobook narrators. To be honest, I really only notice the narrators of the books I listen to when they are bad. LOL! I know that pacing is important and accents can make or break a good listen, but I guess if I find myself deep in the story and not paying attention to the narrator, then they are doing a good job. So today I am going to list the last 10 audiobooks I listened to that I loved — those will be my favorite narrators 😉 .

For more from discriminating audiobook listeners, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Favorite Audiobook Narrators

Breach of Honor, written by Janice Cantore, narrated by Melie Williams

Crossfire, written by Lynette Eason, narrated by Sara Sheckells

Every Word Unsaid, written by Kimberly Duffy, narrated by Pilar Witherspoon and Sneha Mathan

Healing Skye, written by Janet W. Ferguson, narrated by Connie Shabshab

Heirlooms, written by Sandra Byrd, narrated by Melie Williams

The Kitchen Front, written by Jennifer Ryan, narrated by Jasmine Blackborow

Next Year in Havana, written by Chanel Cleeton, narrated by Kyla Garcia and Frankie Maria Corzo

The Souls of Lost Lake, written by Jaime Jo Wright, narrated by Kathryn Markey

Turn to Me, written by Becky Wade, narrated by Barbara McCulloh

When We Were Young And Brave, written by Hazel Gaynor, narrated by Rosie Jones and Imogen Church