True to You by Becky Wade

About the Book
After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.
Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother.
The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

My Thoughts
I'm going to start by saying that when all was said and done, I LOVED this book...but we got off to a shaky start. I honestly have never experienced the feelings (or maybe lack there of?) that I had for the first chunk of this book. I couldn't put my finger on my thoughts about the story, it was so weird, I wasn't loving it, I wasn't hating it, and I wasn't meh about it. There was a strange disconnect yet I could barely stand to put it down. About 150 pages in it finally clicked, this book was written in a completely unique yet classic way. It was kind of how I would imagine Jane Austen or the Bronte sisters would write if this was the era they lived in. It had that elegant, almost other-worldly feel but was still very much a contemporary, a perfect marriage of the two styles. I think my brain was trying to fit it in the normal contemporary box when it was crafted to be in a box all of it's own and that's why I struggled at the beginning. But as soon as my brain caught up to this author's brilliance I was completely entranced and I kind of want to go reread the beginning with the right mindset. And now that I've gotten that very long explanation of the craziness of my brain lets dive into all the amazing things that made up this book!
Nora and John were absolutely wonderful characters! I could relate in many ways to Nora, her love of books and history, her quiet nature that came alive in the right settings, and many other ways too. I loved her desire to help people and her love and care for everyone around her. I also liked the way she picked up on things about people and was good at knowing what they needed in the moment.
John was your typical straight-laced soldier but he also had a vulnerable side that he wasn't afraid to show, at least with Nora, that you don't often get from the tough soldier types. I loved it though, you could tangibly feel everything he was feeling.
On paper these two may have not made sense as a couple but they complimented each other in all the right ways, like two puzzle pieces fitting together into a beautiful picture.
All the other characters were great too, Willow and Britt (can't wait for their books), the girls' not-so-cheerful grandma, and the amusing Nikki. I also enjoyed the various texts, emails, conversations, and letters included at the end of each chapter, a nice tie in to the epistolary prequel novella.
I could go on about this book but this review is already starting to resemble a novel so I will end by saying that this book was absolutely amazing, even with my brain's weirdness at the start, and I loved it! There are some unexpected twists I can guarantee you won't see coming!

Meet the Author
Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, took time off to raise her children, then felt God nudging her to pursue contemporary Christian fiction. Becky is the Carol Award-, INSPY Award-, and International Reader's Choice Award-winning author of the Porter Family Novels. Learn more at www.beckywade.com

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.