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My Stubborn Heart

by Becky Wade (Goodreads Author)

4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 · rating details · 692 ratings · 201 reviews

A Sensational CBA Debut in Contemporary Romance
Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother
asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance,
takes a leave of absence from her job as a social worker, and the two of them...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 1st 2012 by Bethany House (first published January 1st 2012)

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Best Christian Romance Novel EVER!

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May 03, 2012 Casey rated it 5 of 5 stars

You know that book you fall in love with and don’t want it to end, each page should NOT bring you closer to the ending and even though you have a dozen other books demanding a review, you keep dragging your feet on finishing this one, because you just don’t want it to end? That is more than just a long run-on sentence; THAT is my unadulterated emotion about “My Stubborn Heart.” I flat. Out. Loved. It.

Fitting into this novel was like stepping into a Cinderella fairy tale…and the glass slipper di...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! The struggles the characters go through seem very real, but the warmth and humor here are just as real. Kate is a single girl contemplating God's will for her life. Matt is reeling from the loss of his wife. They meet when Kate comes with her Grandmother (Gran) to help remodel the family home. Matt is the contractor they've hired. Gran's friends round out a heart-warming cast of characters. The "seniors" definitely keep the young people on their toes.

I related to Kate's strug...more

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May 22, 2012 Faye rated it 4 of 5 stars

A book that put a smile on my face.

My Stubborn Heart is a charming romance, with a cast of quirky characters. I loved how much of the book had a light humorous tone to it that definitely made me chuckle often.

I just loved the sweet yet at times totally hilarious relationship between two of the side characters, Morty and Velma develop, it was easily one of my favorite things about this book. And I really liked how Matt and Kate's relationship progressed naturally and how she really drew him out o...more

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May 12, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-themes, fiction, grief-loss, contemporary-romance, blog-review, litfuse-publicity-group

Quick synopsis: Spunky and persistent red-head, Kate Donovan, is determined to befriend (hunky) former-hockey star turned withdrawn loner, Matt Jarreau. Throw in a group of seventy-something matchmaker-wannabes racing against a three-month deadline to bring Kate and Matt together and you've got the makings of a touching read full of real and (somewhat) quirky characters.

I LOVED it! Addicted from page one. Author Becky Wade creates in Kate and Matt, characters that are deep, honest and complex. W...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-favorites

This was one of those books I had no doubt I would love from the very beginning. I literally began reading it the moment I received it in the mail.... even though I had weeks before I needed to write a review for the blog tour. I'd never heard of Becky Wade before Litfuse offered me the chance to be on the author's blog tour. I'd never heard of the book either, but something about it caught my attention from first sight. Perhaps it was the cover, which was done extremely well. Or perhaps it was...more This was one of those books I had no doubt I would love from the very beginning. I literally began reading it the moment I received it in the mail.... even though I had weeks before I needed to write a review for the blog tour. I'd never heard of Becky Wade before Litfuse offered me the chance to be on the author's blog tour. I'd never heard of the book either, but something about it caught my attention from first sight. Perhaps it was the cover, which was done extremely well. Or perhaps it was because it was about a rather hot, once-famous, wounded and brooding hockey legend hiding in his small hometown of Rosebud, PA working as a contractor just to stay busy. And btw, Rosebud is sincerely the cutest name of a town I have ever heard of. Oh, and the heroine is also as cute as a button, an Audrey Hepburn-look-alike with long red hair. Oh, and there's a two hundred year old elaborate mansion to be refinished, a seventy-something grandmother reconnecting with her school-hood friends-- and this gorgeous, silent man doing all of the renovations.
I wouldn't say that the book was divided 50/50 between the two main characters-- I think Kate's perspective took up more words than Matt's did-- and I have to say that I liked it. The reader got just enough of Matt's side of the story to understand what kind of torture he was going through.
I don't read a ton of contemporary romance-- mostly historical-- but I must say if there were more like this one, I would be eating them up. There was never a dull moment, and I just wanted to keep reading and reading and reading-- and I did so although I was sick with a head cold and really should have been getting my much-needed rest! I liked the title-- it described Kate to perfection-- though to her credit, she wasn't stubbornly seeking a romantic relationship with this broodingly handsome Adonis of men, but stubbornly offering him her friendship-- which ended up making all the difference. And I loved Matt's character. As a widower, still deeply disturbed by his young wife's death, Becky Wade did a masterful job in getting him through his grief and to a place where he could love again. He was so well-written!
I also have to say something about the prologue and the epilogue. They were written omnisciently about the two main characters and turned out to be the perfect thing for “book-ending” his book cover to cover. I am so looking very forward to seeing what's next from Becky Wade. I love finding new authors to follow!
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Apr 22, 2012 Rachel Brand rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, bethany-house, christian, contemporary, 2012, almost-favourites, own, inspys-2013

GENRE: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: BETHANY HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 01, 2012
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5 – EXCELLENT

PROS: Quirky, humorous style of writing; relatable heroine; realistic spiritual journeys; great supporting characters

CONS: A few minor details may irritate or alienate certain readers

Kate Donovan has been praying for her future husband since she was in the fourth grade, but now that she’s thirty-one and still single, she’s starting to wonder whether she should buy a couple of cats an...more GENRE: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: BETHANY HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 01, 2012
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5 – EXCELLENT

PROS: Quirky, humorous style of writing; relatable heroine; realistic spiritual journeys; great supporting characters

CONS: A few minor details may irritate or alienate certain readers

Kate Donovan has been praying for her future husband since she was in the fourth grade, but now that she’s thirty-one and still single, she’s starting to wonder whether she should buy a couple of cats and be done with it. A trip to renovate the old family home, Chapel Bluff, in Pennsylvania with her grandmother provides Kate with a well-needed break from the monotony of everyday life. She’s looking forward to spending some quality time with Gran and having a look at the old antiques, buried inside Chapel Bluff. She’s not expecting that their building contractor would be the stunningly handsome Matt Jarreau, former NFL hockey legend. Matt gave up his sporting career when his wife died suddenly from brain cancer, and isn’t much of a talker. But Kate doesn’t give up easily, and soon Matt’s crawling out of his shell and participating in family meals and poker nights. Kate believes that her job in Redbud is done when Matt finally begins to discuss his wife and come to terms with moving on with his life. She certainly doesn’t think that her time spent with Matt could ever make it beyond the friend stage – but that’s just what happens. But as her time in Redbud draws to a close, Kate begins to question whether she was right in developing a relationship with Matt when he still has so many demons from his past that he needs to battle. Is there any hope for Kate and Matt, for a skinny social worker with a penchant for antiques and a former hockey legend with a lot of skeletons in the closet?

If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll know that my usual forte is historical or Amish romance. While I ate up plenty of chick-lit novels in my teen years, I’ve never been one for straight-up contemporary romances. Perhaps it’s because I’ve occasionally mused over my own romantic experiences and thought, “Wow, my life would make an incredibly boring romance novel!” I’ve dated one guy in my entire life and nothing particularly exciting has happened in our relationship, and I actually hope that nothing novel-worthy happens once we’re married. Most people’s lives aren’t anything like a book, thankfully. But we all want something a bit more exciting when we escape into the world of fiction, and perhaps that’s why I prefer historical or Amish novels to contemporary ones – they’re nothing like my life. Thus I began My Stubborn Heart a little cautiously, unsure of what I was getting myself into.

My other worry with My Stubborn Heart – beside it being totally outside my comfort zone – was that I wouldn’t be able to relate to the heroine. After all, what has an almost-married, curvy (not quite Christina Hendricks, but my hips do like to compete) twenty-year-old university student got in common with a single, skinny thirty-one-year-old social worker? I always have this fear with older, single heroines that I’m not going to be able to relate to them in any way, but this fear was completely unfounded when it came to Kate. She may have had more life experience than me (except in the wedding planning department) but I immediately fell in love with her down-to-earth sense of humour and brutal honesty when it came to all things in life – the dress sense of her grandmother’s best friends, her angst over her bra size or her belief that man’s role on earth is to empty the rubbish bins. Young or old, I’m sure any woman will be able to appreciate Kate on some level. As well as her wonderful personality and attitude towards life, I also loved her desire to do good, which ultimately fuelled her relationship with Matt. She saw someone hurting and wanted to help him. Her attraction for Matt wasn’t motivated by anything selfish. I honestly wish I could be more like that.

When it came to Matt, I appreciated that he didn’t completely follow the alpha male stereotype. I’m not one for muscled, dark, brooding heroes – my fiancé is a computer scientist, so he’s the pale, slightly skinny type who definitely doesn’t spend two hours in the gym every day. While I got a bit fed up with the descriptions of Matt’s toned figure or muscled chest, I did like the way that Becky handled his grief over the loss of his wife. Matt’s struggles with his past seemed realistic and his spiritual journey blended in nicely with his emotional difficulties. None of his actions seemed manufactured or forced to fit in with the romantic or faith aspects of the novel. On the other hand, I did find that Kate’s spiritual struggles at the end of the story didn’t quite fit with the vision I’d had of her throughout the novel. She seemed like a pretty firm Christian with a solid faith in God, so the changes that briefly occurred at the end of the book didn’t convince me. This part of Kate’s faith was also slightly glossed over and almost felt like it’d been thrown in to make a point, and definitely needed to be developed further to be truly believable.

Other than my slight qualms with Kate’s spiritual journey, I didn’t have any major issues with the plot of My Stubborn Heart. It was a fairly conventional storyline, but the quirky narrative style and realistic characters made me forget how many times this plot has been done before. The secondary characters of Kate’s grandmother and her friends definitely gave this novel some of its originality, and Velma in particular definitely got a few laughs out of me. However, there were a few, very minor plot details that niggled at me that I feel I should mention. I found it amusing the first time that Kate’s friend, Theresa, mentioned that she had a crush on Matt, but this was mentioned every time that Theresa appeared in the book and I found it a bit disconcerting that a married woman would make such a fuss over another man. It stopped being funny and ended up being a little bit sad. My other difficulties were with aspects of the story that I felt might alienate certain Christians; namely Kate taking yoga classes and celebrating Halloween. I know plenty of Christians who won’t participate in either activity, and for this reason I would have avoided mentioning either of them just to be on the safe side and not alienate any potential readers. I didn’t mind the yoga so much – it could easily have been aerobics or Zumba, considering how little it was mentioned – but I felt a little awkward during the Halloween scene, considering my personal convictions on the “holiday”.

Ultimately, my issues with My Stubborn Heart are fairly minor, and may even verge on nit-picking. It’s hard to rate a book from a genre I don’t normally read, but even I can tell that Becky Wade’s debut in the contemporary romance market is going to be a big hit with its usual readers. Becky has a strong voice that readers are going to love, and her novel is full of characters with well-developed personalities. This combination of factors grabbed me from the first page and made it very hard for me to put this book down. Contemporary romance won’t be taking the place of Amish fiction in my life, but it may have made a convert of me already. For that, My Stubborn Heart can take all the credit.

Review title provided by Bethany House.(less)

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May 04, 2012 Sally Bradley rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Stubborn Heart was such a fun, heartwarming book. I loved every second of it and hope to hear the author has another one coming soon.

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Mar 29, 2013 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well, National Single Awareness Day or Valentines Day, as those of you who have a significant other in your life probably refer to it, is behind us. I hope your day was filled with flowers, chocolate, and promises you did not intend to keep (see Cogsworth’s romantic advice in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), but mostly chocolate. Definitely chocolate. If you’re still in a romantic mood, Becky Wade’s novel, My Stubborn Heart, might be worth your time.

The Story

Thirty-something Kate Donovan has b...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Jelly Bean rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ms Kate just wants to be married. Find the man the God meant for her to have and raise a family. However, at the age of 32, this still has not happened.

Matt has been married, to a former Miss America. He was a star Hockey player. But no longer. He has become a shell of the man he was.

Kate travels with her Grandmother to Pennsylvania to open and restore Chapel Bluff. She did not expect to meet Matt who is the handy man that is working to update and restore the house and the chapel. Matt is a one...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Kay Bsomething rated it 5 of 5 stars

You can’t beat a book with a sassy lady and a strong-silent type hero, and Becky Wade delivers that with spades in her first novel, My Stubborn Heart.
I absolutely adored this book! My Stubborn Heart wasn’t the book I was supposed to read next, but after reading the intro by Becky Wade I couldn’t put it down.
One of the best threads of this story was what it means to be single… Kate Donovan is over 30, and still looking for Mr. Right. Matt Jarreau has been married once, and is definitely not loo...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Kaylea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: see-blog-for-more-info, interview-with-author

Sometimes picking up a book by an unknown author feels a bit like Russian Roulette.

You never know just what you'll find.

Fortunately, I took a chance and picked up the debut book by Becky Wade - and I wasn't disappointed.

In My Stubborn Heart, Wade introduces readers to Kate and Matt. For Kate, life hasn't been going great at work or in her love life. So when her grandma asks her to help get the family home in shape, she jumps at the chance for a slightly fresh start.

Along the way she meets Matt J...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Jolene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Withering under a load of burn out, Kate Donovan agrees to accompany her grandmother to Pennsylvania and spend a few months restoring the old house that her grandmother grew up in. Matt Jarreau, the handsome man her grandmother hired to renovate the house, is a loner. When Kate's innocent attempts at friendship with him are rebuffed, her stubborn heart refuses to let her stop reaching out. As tension grows between Kate and Matt, so does something else. A love that leads them to a greater revelat...more Withering under a load of burn out, Kate Donovan agrees to accompany her grandmother to Pennsylvania and spend a few months restoring the old house that her grandmother grew up in. Matt Jarreau, the handsome man her grandmother hired to renovate the house, is a loner. When Kate's innocent attempts at friendship with him are rebuffed, her stubborn heart refuses to let her stop reaching out. As tension grows between Kate and Matt, so does something else. A love that leads them to a greater revelation of God's love for them. As they both face career decisions and the pain of Matt's past, only a love stronger than themselves will be able to hold them together. Can they accept God's will? Or must they sacrifice their hope and love?

My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade far exceeded my expectations. From the explanatory, yet intriguing prologue, I was hooked on the story line. I would love to see this book made into a movie. To me, it has has all the great elements: authentic characters complete with flaws and pain, a strong mysterious male, romantic tension between the two main characters, personal tension internal to each character, and redemptive love. Kate essentially sums up the theme of the book during a conversation with Matt: “He [God] never promised us that we wouldn't suffer. But He's too good just not to redeem it. And He does promise us that He won't leave us. That He'll be with us through the worst. That He loves us.” (Page 180) This theme, woven into both the plot and characters, is strong enough to touch the reader's heart. My Stubborn Heart is one of the best books I've read this year and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic fiction. I'll definitely be looking forward to more books by Becky Wade!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."(less)

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Sep 11, 2012 Susan M. Baganz rated it 5 of 5 stars

On a whim I had clicked to download a free ebook on amazon as I so often do – and yesterday My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade just happened to be the book I decided to open and read. It seems that lately every book I pick up by Bethany House, whether historical or contemporary romance – have been beautifully written and have touched my heart. This book is no exception.

Kate is on a break from her job as a social worker and on a three month stint to help her Grandmother restore an old family estate...more On a whim I had clicked to download a free ebook on amazon as I so often do – and yesterday My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade just happened to be the book I decided to open and read. It seems that lately every book I pick up by Bethany House, whether historical or contemporary romance – have been beautifully written and have touched my heart. This book is no exception.

Kate is on a break from her job as a social worker and on a three month stint to help her Grandmother restore an old family estate. She has reached the advanced age of 31 with no husband and is constantly reminded of her lack by those around her – as well as the loneliness she feels deep inside. Yet she has determined and prayed that she would never settle for any man – but only the one God would have for her.

Matt has had a career, fame and beautiful wife but after his lovely bride died of cancer he walked away from everything he knew, even shutting out family and friends, to live a hermit’s life and live with his grief and subsequent anger at God for not answering his prayers. Accepting the job to work at renovating an old home, he shows up to work to find that there is an annoying woman who keeps coming by to talk. He doesn’t want to talk, he wants to be left alone.

Over time though Matt has a change of heart as Kate worms her way in with her light banter and teasing. She is not afraid to challenge him as she is determined to help him escape his self made prison. Definitely attracted to this “hottie” she feels that he is above her reach and tells herself they could only be friends. The heart doesn’t always listen to logic.

I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but I loved the challenge of this book as it looked spiritually at two key issues: 1) Can you trust a sovereign God with your prayers and that He, knowing what’s best will answer them in His perfect timing? 2) How far are you willing to go to obey Him?

This book is not preachy at all – but it deals with the honest gut-wrenching decisions we all at times have to face at the foot of the cross and as we deal with the painful realities of life. Becky Wade does a beautiful job weaving that all together in a compelling story.
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Sep 02, 2012 Renae Sattazahn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bethany House is branching out, and I'm so happy to see it! Considering Bethany House's undefeated streak with their historical novels, I was eager to try this contemporary novel. I wasn't disappointed. You'll feel its newness when you read things like "I'm holding out for Prince Harry." There are parts that are serious, but mostly this is a light, fun romance novel with believable characters facing today's issues.
The plot centers around thirty-one year old Kate, disappointed (but resigned) to...more Bethany House is branching out, and I'm so happy to see it! Considering Bethany House's undefeated streak with their historical novels, I was eager to try this contemporary novel. I wasn't disappointed. You'll feel its newness when you read things like "I'm holding out for Prince Harry." There are parts that are serious, but mostly this is a light, fun romance novel with believable characters facing today's issues.
The plot centers around thirty-one year old Kate, disappointed (but resigned) to her singleness and athletic Matt Jarreau, an ex-professional hockey player with tragedy in his past. When her grandma hires him to remodel their historical house in Pennsylvania, a this-could-maybe-happen-to-me romance ensues.
The author didn't overdo it with too many characters. In fact, the majority of the time you spend reading dialogue between the two main characters. This makes for fast, easy reading that keeps you hooked. My attention span never wandered. I was so addicted to this book I read it straight through in one day. Thank goodness I started it on the morning of my day off, or I would have had to go through withdrawal to put it down for work!
My only criticism for the author is directed toward the end in chapters twenty and twenty-one. I didn't feel like the crisis was necessary. Okay, a crisis was necessary for the plot to dip and rise like it should, but this particular crisis didn't feel justified from the characters' perspectives. I think a juicy secret one person had deliberately kept from the other person might have justified it, though. Certainly food for thought.
That said, I adored the author's writing and can't wait to see more from her. In fact, I had to search Amazon just to see if there were any others released yet. Sadly, no. Thank you, Becky Wade, for one of the most enjoyable novels I've read all year! Please don't make us wait too long for the next one!
This book was a gift from the publisher in exchange for my objective opinion.(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 Cheryl Ann Roberts rated it 5 of 5 stars

Some say not to judge a book by it's cover. I found it very hard not to get excited about "My Stubborn Heart" because of such an attractive cover. I didn't have to create imagines of Kate and Matt; their pictures were right on the cover. (Although they do leave enough of Matt to my imagination!) I loved the fresh yellow band and the title script is textured. This book felt so good in my hands!

This was my first Christian romance novel. I was initially nervous as this is a genre I normally steer c...more

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Jul 31, 2012 IrenesChristianReviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a very well developed Christian romance book. This author is a great writer and I will be reading every book she writes.

This book is about Kate Donovan and Matt Jarreau. How they meet and fall in love is the majority of the story. I personally liked the ending the best. It is realistic yet romantic. I thought the relationship that Kate had with the other important characters in the story was well written and believable. I liked how Matt interacted with the people in the town. The author...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Tynea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Thirty-one year old Kate Donovan is in need of an escape from her everyday life where she’s burned out on work and tired of failed relationships. She and her grandmother return to Pennsylvania, where Kate’s grandmother grew up. Their mission? Restore Chapel Bluff, the house that has been in the family since 1820.

Matt, an ex ice hockey player, is the one who is helping them renovate Chapel Bluff. His reserved personality makes Kate curious. She can tell he’s hurting from something, and she wants...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Rambling Readers rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Stubborn Heart is a story about waiting for love, with a fresh spin for modern young women. Becky Wade creates an engaging tale with a strong message of faith, especially as it relates to finding the right future husband. Wade sets the tone for My Stubborn Heart with the prologue- it is witty, conversational, and modern.

The cast of My Stubborn Heart carries the plot with ease. Kate and Matt are both likable characters who display depth and emotion. They both deal with realistic matters of th...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feeling burned out with her career as a social worker, Kate jumps at the chance to help restore her grandmother’s childhood home in Redbud, Pennsylvania. She hopes to spend some time making something beautiful again and recharging her batteries, but she’ll get more than she hoped for when she meets Matt, the former hockey star and current home repairman.

What makes this such a great debut novel is Wade’s voice. The plot is nothing standout although it’s solid: Matt has anger at God since his wif...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Virginia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, humor, inspirational, romance, womens-fiction

"My Stubborn Heart", from author Becky Wade, is such a delight! I expected a good read, and I was rewarded with a great read. The heroine, Kate Donovan, is a woman of heart and faith. She thinks herself "to be plain", and she doesn't realize her own special appeal. However, someone else does find her very appealing, much to his dismay. Former hockey superstar Matt Jarreau lost his young wife to cancer, and his grief caused him to leave his success and celebrity life behind. He headed home to Red...more "My Stubborn Heart", from author Becky Wade, is such a delight! I expected a good read, and I was rewarded with a great read. The heroine, Kate Donovan, is a woman of heart and faith. She thinks herself "to be plain", and she doesn't realize her own special appeal. However, someone else does find her very appealing, much to his dismay. Former hockey superstar Matt Jarreau lost his young wife to cancer, and his grief caused him to leave his success and celebrity life behind. He headed home to Redbud, PA and began to work as a house renovator. When Kate and her grandmother journey to Redbud to restore their grand old family home, Matt is hired to bring the old house back to life. Kate is more than ready for a change, having suffered through two painful relationships and feeling stress from work-related issues. She works at an emergency residential center for abused and at-risk children, and the suicide of one of the young girls who had been in and out of emergency care left a deep emotional impact on Kate. Matt wants to be left alone in misery and memories, but Kate takes an interest in bringing him back to the land of the living. Each day, no matter how he objects, she spends time with him, talking to him, and gradually drawing him in to the circle of friends that she and her grandmother share. Her grandmother is quite a lady! A fantastic cook, a wise woman, and a determined matchmaker. She thinks Kate and Matt are just right for each other. In time, against his will, Matt's frozen heart begins to thaw, and he becomes intrigued by Kate, whom he compares to Audrey Hepburn. He even starts to watch movies featuring Audrey Hepburn. Kate follows her heart, praying for healing for Matt, and seeking guidance in how to help such a troubled man. She sees that he wants and needs to return to thing he does best, professional hockey, and she encourages him to go back to the career at which he excelled. Along the way, they meet and become friends with a very interesting group of characters, and there are many entertaining moments in the story line. The relationship between Kate and Matt, with its humor and poignancy, and its great heart and faith, is really something special. It takes a strong person to let someone go for their own good and hope that they will come back to you. You have to be "right with yourself" before you can really be right for someone else. A recommended read for lovers of inspirational romance.

Review Copy Gratis Bethany House
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Jul 18, 2012 Rebecca Holland rated it 5 of 5 stars

Becky Wade: My Stubborn Heart, Bethany House, ISBN 978-0-7642-0974: The day I received "My Stubborn Heart" from Bethany House, I had to smile. Number one, the author's name is Becky, and number two, the artistry of the book cover is simple, and focusing on the faces of characters and not the flowers and the colors and the abstract that don't seem to match what's inside.

Wade's story centers around Kate Donovan - a thirty-something single woman who has tired - she is burned out on work and dating....more

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Jul 12, 2012 Louise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Story Description:

Baker Publishing Group|May 1, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-7642-0974-1

A Sensational CBA Debut in Contemporary Romance Kate Donovan is burnt out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance, takes a leave of absence from her job as a social worker, and the two of them set off. Upon her arrival in Redb...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Bluerose's Heart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, romance

I'm going to let you know right up front that I'd definitely list My Stubborn Heart as an "edgy" Christian romance.

Kate loves antiques and peppermint taffies and she looks a little like Audrey Hepburn. She's been saving herself for her future husband. At 31, despite the many prayers, she's became a little discouraged that God hasn't sent her the man she's been waiting for. While helping her grandmother over the summer, she meets Matt.

Matt is an ex-hockey player. He lost his wife to cancer a few...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Sarah Baughman rated it 3 of 5 stars

Got this book from Bethany House to read and review. I liked this book. Didn't love it, although I really wanted to. Plot premise was great. By the end, the faith element was well-written and actually felt quite naturally part of the plot; near the beginning and even some of the middle of the book, it almost seemed like an afterthought (to me).

Brand-name dropping throughout was distracting to me personally, as I didn't know half of the brand names mentioned and it derailed the flow of the storyl...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Tammi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-review, read-in-2012, christian-fiction, christian-romance

My Stubborn Heart is the first novel that I have read by Becky Wade.

Overall I enjoyed the story. I found the characters to be very likeable, although at times, a little quirky. The problems were realistic, and at times seemed overwhelming to the characters, but they were solved in believable ways. The book also was humorous at times, as well as, heartbreaking. I liked the way Becky was able to make the characters pop off the page, and her scene description is impeccable.

There were some things I...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Jodi Janz rated it 5 of 5 stars

In one word, what did I love most about this story ... honesty. But that is not all. I loved so many things - the characters, the drama, the love story, the redemption of the hero, the portrayal of God, the setting ... the list is endless.

I felt the story world that Becky Wade created felt rich and real. The open meadow filled with the fall sunshine and memories of family traditions that lured both of the main characters in, lured me in as well. The old house, the old church and the excitement...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Manuela rated it 3 of 5 stars

My honest reactions – well I have quite a few issues with this novel. The first deals with Kate’s need to befriend Matt. The reason why Kate is so stubborn to this is because she is really captivated to the quiet, intense, intimidating man who has built up an impenetrable wall that no one has been able to break. I believe the author is definitely accurate in the truth in which most women see wounded men and instinctively try to fix them. Although this is true, the author has encouraged this matt...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Sherrinda rated it 5 of 5 stars

It has been a long time since I have read a whole book in a day. It's been a really long time since I've read a book I just couldn't put down, that gripped me from the start, that kept me turning the page, even when I had laundry to do and supper to cook. My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade was that book for me this past weekend.

Wade's debut Christian novel tells the story of Kate Donovan, a single woman who travels to Redbud, Pennsylvania with her grandmother to orchestrate the renovation of the fa...more It has been a long time since I have read a whole book in a day. It's been a really long time since I've read a book I just couldn't put down, that gripped me from the start, that kept me turning the page, even when I had laundry to do and supper to cook. My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade was that book for me this past weekend.

Wade's debut Christian novel tells the story of Kate Donovan, a single woman who travels to Redbud, Pennsylvania with her grandmother to orchestrate the renovation of the family homestead. Matt Jarreau is the man hired renovate the house, and he has baggage. Lots of baggage. Matt is an ex-hockey player who can't get over the death of his wife. It is only through Kate's stubborn persistence that he begins to open up and feel again.

It is difficult to explain how much this book affected me...stayed with me. The pain and hurt in Matt's heart was palatable and I could feel Kate's empathy and growing love for him. There were moments when I would find myself holding my breath, listening for Kate's words of encouragement, waiting to hear Matt's heart speak, anticipating the moment when the two would connect on an emotional and spiritual level.

Secondary characters played a big role in the book and made for some comic relief. It reminded me of the movie Return to Me, with a group of seniors hanging out with the young couple, having fun, being merry, and being a HOOT! Loved these seniors!

The romantic tension between Kate and Matt was FABULOUS (yes, there were definitely some swoon moments!) and they were paced in a satisfying way. Seriously, this was a romantic book. Well done. Satisfying in every way.

I have to tell you, the characters stayed with me for quite awhile. I think it was because the author did such a great job in getting into the character's mind and heart, going deep, delving into the dark parts. She didn't just tell about their inner selves, she showed it in every gesture, thought, action, glance. It was brilliant and I highly recommend it!(less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Shalini Ayre rated it 5 of 5 stars

'Burned out' social worker, Kate Donovan is desperate for some excitement in her life; so when her grandmother asks her to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania to restore the family home that she grew up in, Kate doesn't hesitate to say yes.

Arriving at the battered home, Kate meets the handsome ex-hockey player Matt Jarreau. Hired by her grandmother to renovate the house Kate can't help but be drawn to him. He's obviously hiding something as no-one is that quiet and brooding without good reason...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Wanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Kate Donovan takes a three month leave of absence from her job to go with her grandmother to Redbud, Pennsylvania and restore the grand old house she grew up in years ago. Kate enjoys her grandmother and her friends even though Kate is the only young person in the group. In between the “high teas” and hard work Kate also gets to know the local celebrity, Matt Jarreau, a former hockey player with a tragic past. As they grow to become friends, Kate wonders if there could ever be something more bet...more Kate Donovan takes a three month leave of absence from her job to go with her grandmother to Redbud, Pennsylvania and restore the grand old house she grew up in years ago. Kate enjoys her grandmother and her friends even though Kate is the only young person in the group. In between the “high teas” and hard work Kate also gets to know the local celebrity, Matt Jarreau, a former hockey player with a tragic past. As they grow to become friends, Kate wonders if there could ever be something more between them.

I thought the story line of this book sounded really good and was thrilled with the beginning as I saw the wonderfully funny descriptions the author used in Kate’s interaction with the seniors in her life. Her vivid descriptions, along with the absolutely hilarious antics of the characters, had me rolling as I eagerly delved into the book, anxious to see how it all turned out.

But alas, once again I came face to face with the realization that every book sold as Christian fiction does not necessarily bear fruit in that genre. This book had so much going for it in the beginning, but I quickly grew tired of several aspects that I could not overlook.

While I must give the author credit and say that the story did not in any way cross any boundaries in the relationship of Kate and Matt (no sex scenes), I was still offended that I had to read about a Christian girl having “the hots” for a man. Scattered throughout the book, there were several inappropriate phrases (in my opinion) that did not need to be in a Christian’s vocabulary and did nothing to honor God. I also was disappointed to see her date a man who drank. Yes, there was talk of God and letting him rule your life, there were scripture references and heartfelt prayers. But these did not help to cancel out the worldly and shallow behaviors of the characters who were supposed to have a genuine relationship with Him.

The sad thing about this book is that it is so well written and SO FUNNY without taking the next step to also being spiritually uplifting. I really wanted to like it but could not because of that very thing. I cannot begin to express how very, very tired I am of picking up a Christian fiction book only to find that it does nothing to glorify God but rather leaves me feeling that I have wasted my time. This was one of those books.

I received this complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers for this review. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.

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About Becky Wade

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.
Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad...more

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“He was defeated. Competitive him, who'd spent most of his life perfecting the art of winning. He'd been trounced by a woman. Killed with one look from those hazel eyes.” — 8 people liked it

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