Into the Fire

                            (Free for a review from the CFBA Tour)

Becky Wade's new release Undeniably Yours, published by Bethany House, fits snugly into that publisher's wheel house for romance novels. Unlike Becky's unnecessarily controversial first CBA release My Stubborn Heart, Undeniably Yours shouldn't present any outrage from the staid demographic of Christian romance fans.

Megan Cole inherits an oil empire when her father dies unexpectedly. Overwhelmed by the oil business and forced to make decisions she knows she's unqualified to make, one of her first chores is to close down her father's Thoroughbred farm. When she makes the unenviable trip to the farm, knowing she will be ending the jobs for all those who work there, she meets the farm manager Bo Porter who gives her a tour of the place and introduces her to the staff that keeps it operational. Although her father loved the horses, Meg does not, but Bo manages to convince her to give him six months to get the operation in the black before she closes it which she agrees to do.

Megan Cole is plagued with daddy issues. Her mom died young and her distant dad worked seemingly all the time. Her nanny, now quite old but still sharp, keeps her steady and smothered with love whenever they're together. She never wanted to work in the oil business so her dad gave her 10 years to do her own thing before the traditional heiress duty of running Cole Oil fell to her. While at college, she married a thieving scam artist, and he robbed her blind before their divorce was final five years later. She no longer trusts any man to get close to her. Until Bo Porter.

You can guess what happens next as with 99% of all romances. Isn't that how romances work? The wider look at the story involves the soothing of Meg's soul, the climax of those final trust issues and what it takes to produce that, plus the inspiration of ministry, and eventually, after some trauma, the happily-ever-after. Undeniably Yours is the classic romance.

There are no "questionable" words used in this novel. Nothing for the majority segment of Christian romance readers to fuss about, and certainly fans of Karen Kingsbury will enjoy Becky's second CBA book. "Clean and chaste" readers should be ecstatic to add Undeniably Yours to their book collections.

The strengths for me in this little romance are the attraction descriptions, the romantic obsessions of two people who can't figure out how to be together, and the innate difficulties of two people who come from starkly different backgrounds but whose hearts and visions of values and worth intersect.    

Weaknesses for me, and let me emphasize here, for me, are the typical usage of faith elements, some cliché romance factors which make it predictable and formulaic because that's how romance is "supposed to be", and the two "golden" Christian characters. My impression of this novel is that Bethany House wanted a more typical and "cleaner" story from Becky Wade than her first CBA attempt in My Stubborn Heart which was "undeniably" my favorite of the two and showed off Becky's excellent writing skills and voice much better than in this book.

If you're a fan of the typical Christian romance and enjoy a well-written novel, Becky Wade's Undeniably Yours will be perfect for you. 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764209752

Father, you've gifted Becky in this romance writing endeavor. I pray you would continue to give her meaningful stories that honor you, and I ask that you bless her with your truth in storytelling and your abundance in her life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.