Becky Wade's "True to You" - both fun and thought-provoking

Of the three Bradford sisters, Nora might be the plain one, but she's also the smart one, making her living as as a genealogist and the owner of a historical village. When former Navy SEAL John Lawson is diagnosed with an inherited condition, he needs the help of a genealogist to find his birth parents. With Nora's research skills, they begin digging into his background, but will the answers they find be what John was looking for?

I was definitely not expecting the turn the story takes! There are moments that are fun, light, and cute (everything I look forward to in a novel by Becky Wade), and others that are significantly more serious, sometimes dark, and definitely thought-provoking. She strikes an excellent balance between the two. There are some really good scenes delving into identity, both in stripping away the identity one builds up for oneself and the identity created for us in Christ.

The story fits really well with what my bible study has been focusing on--Ephesians 3:20-21. It showcases God's ability to do exceedingly and abundantly above and beyond what one asks and thinks--not necessarily what would be easiest or the most fun, but by what is far and away the best: not just for individuals, or as a couple, but all the lives the situation touches. Kingdom advancement!

I love the little text messages and emails and letters that appear at the end of the chapters; they provide fun hints at things to come, but they also become increasingly poignant, offering glimpses into the hearts of people who are being impacted by Nora and John. They also fit really well with the style of the prequel, which provides a deeper look into the Bradford girls' family background. I loved how Nora and John endeavor to keep their relationship honorable (in spite of significant early-on obstacles), and the relationship between the three sisters is great. I can't wait for Willow and Britt's stories!

And, it is the winner of not one, but TWO 2018 Christy Awards--Best Contemporary Romance and Book of the Year!

Thank you Bethany House for providing a free book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Bradford Sisters Romances
0.5: "Then Came You"
1. True to You
2. Falling for You
2.5 "Because of You" (published in the Christmas Heirloom novella collection)
3. Sweet on You