Book Review: Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade

Review by Andrea Grigg

Amazon Blurb:

Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school--irresistible. When their paths cross again after college--still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia's ready to be Ty's wife, but Ty's not ready to be her husband. He's a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he's long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he's known since childhood.

Five and a half years pass. Celia's buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty's achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn't forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia's trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

My Thoughts:

I’ve read Becky Wade’s two previous novels (My Stubborn Heart, Undeniably Yours) and given them four stars. Not this one. This one gets five.

I’m a romance reader through and through and Meant to Be Mine ticked every romantic box for me. The heroine is cute, the hero is hunky, the Secret Baby plot always does it for me (a little throat clearing going on here) and while I don’t always love being plunked in cowboy country, this time I found myself in the middle of Holley, Texas, like I belonged there.

So why a five-star story rather than a four? Because of the chemistry.

Ty is a rodeo star, used to getting what he wants with his charm and quick tongue, but he’s met his match in Celia. She’s sassy and feisty, and determined to do what’s best for her daughter, Addie. The attraction between Celia and Ty fairly sizzles off the page, and the banter between them is memorable. I laughed out loud several times.

I liked how Addie’s happiness is paramount for the pair of them. I liked when Ty found out about his child, his first thought was to get to know her rather than flounce off in a permanent huff, as often happens in this type of plot. I also liked how Ty and Celia both battle their way through forgiveness issues and come to a new and honest place not only with each other but in their relationships with God.

Meant to Be Mine is the second in the Porter family series, and it was also nice catch up with Meg and Bo after getting to know them in Undeniably Yours. Becky Wade’s next novel is about the third brother, Jake: ‘the one with the burning hazel stare and the scar across his face’ (quote taken from Becky’s author Facebook page).

I for one will be buying it.