Summary
Summary
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?
Praise for Becky Wade
"I wasn't ready for this story to end, but when it did, I sighed the happy/longing sort of sigh that romance readers know so well..."--"USA Today" on "Undeniably Yours
""They are a couple you'll be rooting for to have their Texas fairy-tale ending."--"Romantic Times "on "Undeniably Yours
""I adored this book. It was hilariously funny, heartwarming, and too cute I laughed. I cried. It made me smile countless times."--"Will Bake for Books "blog on "Meant to Be Mine"
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Love finds its way back around in this third installment of Wade's (Meant to be Mine) Porter Family contemporary romance series. Lyndie James knew and loved Jake Porter back when they were children, before life intruded and separated them. Now back in Holley, Texas, with her family, Lyndie is older and wiser-and she's never forgotten the boy who taught her how to skip stones. Iraq War veteran Jake is plagued by the demons of war and a sense of loss, but Lyndie's warmth streams back into his life, making him feel again. While she struggles with fitting in and taking care of her ill sister, Jake struggles with opening his heart back to a god he felt was a fairy tale. The Christian element is gentle, and the overall message is one of hope. Filled with genuine emotion and overflowing with positive examples of faith, the story captures the imagination while warming the heart. A parallel relationship between Amber Richardson, Lyndie's neighbor, and firefighter Will McGrath is a bonus romance. Agent: Linda Kruger.(May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Lyndie James and Jake Porter were best friends as children. When she moves back to the small town of Holley, Texas, where they both grew up, Lyndie finds her that her old companion is much changed. Hardened by his experiences as a marine, Jake refuses to allow anyone see behind his tough facade. Lyndie takes a chance as she begins working for him, exercising horses at Whispering Creek, his brother and sister-in-law's horse ranch, and tries to reach through his defenses and find the boy she once treasured. This is the third title in Wade's series about the Porter brothers (Meant to Be Mine, 2014) and perhaps the most relatable. As Jake struggles with PTSD and an absence of faith, Lyndie faces what it means to love someone who doesn't share her beliefs. The two unite over their shared passion for horses, despite Jake's desire to keep Lyndie away from danger, including racing his prized Thoroughbred. Lyndie perseveres and keeps riding and loving Jake in this inspirational tale about how someone who is severely broken can become whole again.--Richard, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist