Okay, this book was a winner!! I loved it from start to finish. The beginning was interesting; how Kate was praying for a mate, and then how Matt's Mom was praying for him to find himself again after losing his wife. The interaction between these two and their thoughts through the story were so good. And I was laughing out loud at times with the interaction of some of the secondary characters in this book. I will be keeping this book and reading it again sometime.

Now if you want a good description of the story, here it is, from Amazon:
"Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother
asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance,
takes a leave of absence from her job as a social worker, and the two of them set off.

Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man her grandmother has hired to renovate the house. From the first moment
she meets Matt, Kate can't help but be attracted to him--he's got a combination of good looks and charisma that draw and tug at her. But she knows there's zero chance of a romance between them. Matt's in love with his dead wife, and even if he weren't, Kate realizes that she's way too ordinary for him. For Matt Jarreau is no ordinary guy. Kate discovers that he was once a great NHL hockey player who left the sport when his wife--an honest-to-goodness former Miss America--was diagnosed with brain cancer. Matt's been hiding from people, from God, and from his past ever since. Yet Kate is absolutely determined to befriend him, to try to reach him, to help him in some small way." ( )

4.5 stars. My Stubborn Heart is an engaging story with genuine characters, a unique storyline and witty dialogue. To read my review in its entirety, pleas visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/2012/07/19/my-stubborn-heart/ ( )

My Stubborn Heart was one of the sweetest romances I have read in a long time. Two hurting individuals meet while renovating an old home in the reclusive town of Redbud, Pennsylvania. Kate Donovan and her grandmother had arrived to renovate Gran's childhood home, Chapel Bluff, and return it to its old glory. It was a massive job, requiring them to hire a local contractor for the work. That's where Matt Jarreau came in. He specialized in working on old homes and restoring them.

Kate's first impression of Matt was that of tragedy. He had a heart-breaking story filled with sadness and bitterness. She could sense it. Matt was reclusive. He preferred working alone. He didn't socialize much. People in the small town knew who he was but left him alone. Matt was the local celebrity. He had been a world champion hockey player. He had married a sweet girl, an actual Miss America, but after being on top of the world as a married couple, his wife died of cancer. He was so ripped up about it, he left hockey behind. Kate didn't know this at first, but she could see that he needed a friend. She was determined to be that friend.

Kate lived in Dallas. She was a social worker. The job was demanding, but she loved it. That is, she did until one of her children she had worked closely with had committed suicide. It sucked the joy out of her life. She needed a break so that she could get her head on straight about her purpose in life. So she joined her grandmother in a journey up north to remodel Gran's old childhood home. The break was just what she needed. She loved antiques and old homes and this was just the therapy she needed. She joined Matt daily in taking down wallpaper, designing rooms, painting walls, and so on. Matt was reluctant to work with her, but she was persistent. Keeping everything on a friendly note, she knew God had a purpose for her to be there.

I love the simplicity of the story. It's not overly complicated. There are a few other subplots, but the story stays true to the major theme--renovation. Not just the home, but Matt's heart as well. It took a lot of time and patience, but eventually he started to warm up to her friendship. Kate didn't try for anything deeper than that. She had already set her heart on not reading anything personal in their relationship. She felt that God had sent her for only one thing...to bring Matt's heart alive again.

The part of the story I like best is the relationship Kate has with God. She prays and listens to Him. She tries hard not to insert her own personal interests in what she thinks God wants her to do. I really like her humble spirit and teachability. So many of us struggle with these character qualities. I felt encouraged in my own prayer life just by watching how Kate kept her expectations in line with what she felt God wanted her to do. Many of us try to do that, but often fail if we don't use the Bible as a guideline. We often want to read into situations things that aren't there because we fail to know and understand the God of the Bible as it teaches us. Kate demonstrated a good balance between knowledge and personal application. The author accomplished this in such a natural manner. There was no awkwardness, no preachiness, no finger wagging, no guilt trips. The issue of faith in God was not overtalked or forced. This was truly an enjoyable book to read. ( )

Kate leaves her worn down and burnt out life to go to Rosebud, Pennsylvania, for an adventure. Her grandmother has asked her to help restore her old childhood home. Will she restore more than the house?

Becky Wade is becoming one of my top favorite Authors. Her stories keep me involved from the first line to the back page. Her characters are very believable and someone you might want as your best friend. You can't help but root for them. I feel you could read any of her books and not be disappointed. ( )