Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade

Celia Park always had a thing for handsome Ty Porter, but he's always had a thing for someone else. When they meet up in Las Vegas, a crazy romance develops, culminating in a hasty marriage at a wedding chapel. The next morning, the fun is over and Ty's certainly not ready to be married to Celia. Celia leaves with a broken heart and wounded soul. Ty, while perhaps less cognizant of his own pain, is no less wounded. Over five years later, Ty insists on meeting Celia for a final time to apologize and move on. A left-behind bracelet leads him to Celia's home and to the child living with her – his child. Ty cannot abandon his child, no matter what his feelings are toward her mother. As Ty and Celia co-parent their daughter, romance begins to simmer. But can Celia ever trust Ty? And will Ty be willing to sacrifice his long-held dreams to be the husband Celia needs?

Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade was hard for me to put down. Seriously. When I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking of certain parts of the story I'd read or wondering how everything was going to turn out. Wade certainly knows how to craft a story and keep it moving. I've liked Wade's writing style since I read My Stubborn Heart and I still like it now. With a twist on the old “one-night-stand-produces-a-child-that-only-one-parent-knows-about” storyline, the story still felt mostly original as plenty of unique circumstances were added. Ty and Celia's chemistry and subsequent romance were delightful. The supporting characters were engaging and complemented the story.

While Meant to Be Mine is a clean romance, I would still recommend parental guidance for teens. There are a few questionable messages throughout the book. However, I see these as good opportunities to have a conversation. For instance, what constitutes faithfulness in marriage? Is it simply not engaging in a sexual act with anyone except your spouse? Is flirting outside of the marriage relationship considered okay? How about being in love with someone other than your spouse? I won't give away any spoilers, but I will say that my definition of faithfulness in marriage does not line up with marital faithfulness as defined by certain characters. I'm sure there will be different opinions and, like I said, it is an opportunity to start up a conversation.

Lastly, Meant to Be Mine is a stand-alone novel that includes a handful of characters from Wade's previous book, Undeniably Yours, but all necessary background information is supplied.

I recommend this book to fans of Christian romance. It's a keeper for me and I'll definitely read it again!

Read an excerpt from Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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."