A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

I liked this Christian romance. The plot may not have been all that unique but there was a twist that made the story great reading.

Lyndie and James were best friends in childhood. Their Texas families were close and the two did everything together. Then Lyndie's father was transferred and the family moved to California. They wrote letters but the frequency declined and then stopped altogether.

Now, about twenty years later, Lyndie's family has moved back to Texas and close to James' family. Though Lyndie has a life of her own, she has stayed with her family to help care for her special needs sister. She finds that James is a scarred man. He struggles with PTSD after his time in Iraq. While he is the trainer on his family's horse farm, he lives a solitary life and avoids relationships. He is convinced he is a man too damaged for any woman, even the woman he still loves from childhood.

Besides being a great romance, Wade has done an excellent job in expanding the plot so readers will be informed as well as entertained. I learned a great deal about PTSD and what sometimes works in therapy. James was the only survivor in his vehicle when they struck and IED and he suffers from survivor's guilt.

I also learned about horse training and racing. Although I found it odd to have horse racing (and betting) in a Christian novel, I did enjoy reading about horses. Lyndie loved horses from childhood and worked with trainers in California. Back in Texas, she applies for a job at the Porter family horse ranch, hoping to reconnect with Jake. He reluctantly hires her to exercise his horses.

The third interesting aspect of this novel was Lyndie's special needs sister. Severely damaged at birth, the parents fought for Molly's survival and care. Lyndie is devoted to her younger sister, and to making her limited life as good as possible. The mother's faith in the goodness of God, even dealing with this situation, is amazing.

What could a reader ask for besides a good romance and learning about several topics? Humor. Wade has delivered here too. A friend of Lyndie's thinks they should get to know some guys. The single's dance event was hilarious. The dialog made me laugh out loud. Single men – a single woman's worst nightmare.

There is much to think about in this novel. James sees himself as totally wrecked inside and good for no one. Is he right in rejecting others, especially Lyndie, because he thinks it is best for both of them? How can he possibly conquer his fear of not being able to protect her, as he failed to protect his men in Iraq? Lyndie, even with her optimism, finds is very difficult trying to break through to the James she once knew. Can their love for each other in childhood ever be recaptured?

This is the third in the Porter Family series but it can certainly be enjoyed all on its own. It is a wonderful novel of pain, suffering, healing, and redemption. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book and you can read other reviews here.

Becky Wade is a California native, attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She wrote historical romance for the general market and then took time to raise her family. When God called her back to writing, she moved to the Christian fiction genre, writing funny, modern romance. She has won the Carol Award and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award. You can find out more at http://beckywade.com/home.html.

Bethany House Publishers, 368 pages. You can purchase a copy here.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Litfuse for the purpose of an independent and honest review.