Book Review: Meant to Be Mine

Meant to Be Mine
By Becky Wade
Bethany House, 2014
English, 384 pgs

From the Back Cover:
Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school--irresistible. When their paths cross again after college--still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia's ready to be Ty's wife, but Ty's not ready to be her husband. He's a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he's long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he's known since childhood.

Five and a half years pass. Celia's buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty's achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn't forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia's trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

Review:
I haven't read the first book in the series of the Porter boys (Undeniably Yours) but I don't think that I missed anything. Of course, since the major characters from that book are in this one and doing well, I probably won't pick that one up.

Anyway, you do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this one. It was a little hard for me to get into at first, but it picks up a bit and ends up being a sweet story.

There is a large portion devoted to a Christian message in the story. That is exactly to be expected since it's a Bethany House book.

Anyway... Ty and Celia have known each other since high school. They have each gone their own ways, but ended up getting married in Las Vegas on a whim. Then he realizes what he's done and splits. Celia ends up pregnant from their wedding night and hides the child from Ty. Not a lot is devoted to their backstory as we pick up when the child is 5 years old. Long story short, dad and daughter bond instantly. Dad has to continue on his career, to honor obligations to which he has agreed. Dad makes every effort to know daughter, to the dismay of the mother. Dad gets hurt. Mom and daughter agree to move to Dad's hometown to help out. Dad realizes he loves Mom. Mom realizes she loves Dad but doesn't want to admit it.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a review on my blog. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.