Reviewer's Bookshelf: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

Book Summary (from Goodreads):

Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake’s childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion’s reluctance to run.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake’s will, Lyndie’s sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he’d thought he’d lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

My thoughts...

From the front cover to the last page, I just can't get enough of this book! I absolutely loved the story of Jake and Lyndie.  But it wasn't just their story I loved...I loved the side stories that were also going on throughout the novel.  Amber, a character we met in a previous novel, is now good friends with Lyndie and wants to honor God with her dating life. Other members of the Porter family play small roles in supporting Jake.  These supporting characters were interesting and helped make Jake and Lyndie's story even better.

Jake makes an appearance in some of Becky Wade's previous novels about the Porter family, but you only have a glimpse of him before.  In A Love Like Ours, Jake's struggle with PTSD is at the forefront of the novel.  I was drawn in by the pain he was suffering and the story behind the deep wounds that were only hinted at before.  A dark and brooding hero, or a pirate as Lyndie likes to call him, was the kind of character that causes and emotional reaction.  My response was of compassion.  Although I know Jake is a fictional character, his story was so relevant to what is going on with so many of our soldiers who are coming home from the battlefield, broken physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Lyndie's character was the perfect compliment to Jake's.  She has a sunny disposition and finds beauty in so many things.  Her hope in Jake and care of him plays a huge role in his road to healing.  I love the chemistry these two characters have.  There is definite physical chemistry that is tastefully displayed between the two of them, which creates some nice moments in the story...very nice moments!

Becky Wade has created yet another fictional story that feels like real life.  I could relate to a variety of the characters' feelings of compassion, insecurity, love for family, and protectiveness.  All of this along with humor and passion created an all around fantastic read.  I would highly recommend it!

**I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher, Bethany House, to give an honest review, which I gave.**