Stay with Me by Becky Wade: A Review

Stay with Me is the first novel in Becky Wade’s Misty Rivers Romance series. (There is a prequel novella, Take a Chance on Me, that I highly recommend you read.) This sweet romance features Genevieve Woodward, a Bible study author with a secret, and Sam Turner, a farmer with a troubled past. When the paths of these two characters collide, they force each other to face uncomfortable truths.

I don’t want to spoil Genevieve’s secret for you. But let me say, her struggle is something we can all relate with. Trying to act perfect is exhausting, and sometimes we need to be reminded that we are human and make mistakes. That’s what makes God’s grace so amazing. Most of all, it’s what makes His grace so freeing.

Wade weaves this lesson through both Genevieve’s and Sam’s struggles. And those struggles made me identify with the characters and root for them even more. I didn’t always agree with the decisions the characters made, or even their conclusions, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this novel.

Now let me talk about the setting for a moment. I have been so excited about Becky Wade’s newest release ever since I heard it would be based in the North Georgia Mountains. As a North Georgia native, seeing my home mentioned in a book is always exciting. Stay with Me is set in Rabun County, which is right next to my county, Habersham. And the mention of Habersham, seeing it in print, may have made me a little too giddy. But I think Wade did a great job of highlighting the beauty of the mountains and the charm of small-town life.

I also love how she incorporated the story of the Miracle Five throughout the novel. Wade intersperses bits and pieces of flashbacks from the perspective of all five children, and she does this in a way that highlights the main story. I don’t even know how to explain the way she does it and the impact it has on the story as a whole. All I can say is that it’s phenomenal and you’d have to read the novel and see for yourself.

Overall, Stay with Me provides a heartwarming romance mixed in with a timeless spiritual lesson. The perfect read for a cozy afternoon, this novel will keep you engaged as you experience the ups and downs with the main characters.

Further Information

Stay with Me releases on May 5. To pre-order, click the book cover above. And don’t forget to read the prequel novella Take a Chance on Me. As of writing this, it’s free on Kindle.

For more Becky Wade, check out her website and subscribe to her newsletter. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

And if you’re interested in more of her books, check out my review for Sweet on You.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of Stay with Me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.