Book Recommendation – Rocky Road by Becky Wade

Welcome to 2024! I have a book recommendation for your must-read in 2024 CCR (contemporary Christian romance) list. Becky Wade’s upcoming Valentine Day’s release, Rocky Road, is a fabulous book. In a few weeks we’ll be recording our StoryChats @ InspyRomance podcast/YouTube episode featuring Becky talking about Rocky Road that will drop on February 16.

Here’s the book description for Rocky Road:

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

FBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There’s no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.

Except Gemma is different. She’s creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.

The FBI has an iron-clad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude’s never met a rule he didn’t respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.

Buckle up! It’s going to be a rocky road.

Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy “fake romance”! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story.

Narelle’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Rocky Road, the second book in Becky Wade’s Sons of Scandal Romance series set in Maine. Jude Camden is a FBI agent who does his best to avoid the public spotlight that’s always on his famous family. He’s assigned to a case that involves working undercover with Gemma Clare and posing as her boyfriend.

Gemma is a talented perfume creator who has a perfume store in her Maine home town. Her French relatives own the centuries old secret recipe for the magnificent Rhapsodie perfume. Gemma is wary of the FBI due to her French cousin’s illegal business dealings that led to Gemma’s father taking the fall and serving time in prison.

The meet cute between Gemma and Jude at her perfume store is hilarious and adorable. Jude arranges their fake relationship and sets up a sting operation to arrest Gemma’s French cousin. What should be a simple business relationship becomes complicated when Jude and Gemma develop feelings that are against the rules and could compromise the FBI operation.

There are so many things to love about Rocky Road. Jude is a strong protector hero who is torn between duty and love. There are real world consequences if the fake relationship tips into real relationship territory. Gemma’s mother, grandmother, and her 103 year old great grandmother Gracie are all red heads who share a close family bond. I was intrigued by the historical mystery connected to Gracie and her life during WW2.

The series story thread involving Jude’s mother, Fiona, and past family scandals that’s introduced in Memory Lane (book 1) is explored further in the story. I recommend Rocky Road to contemporary romance readers who like law enforcement fake relationship romances with suspense and mystery story threads and a relevant faith element in the story.

Many thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy. Rocky Road releases on February 14, 2024, and is available for preorder. Learn more about Becky Wade and her books at her website.

Questions for you: Have you read the delightful Memory Lane, which is book 1 in the series? Is Rocky Road on your want-to-read wish list? Do you like reading fake relationship romances where the hero is in law enforcement? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Narelle Atkins (199 Posts)

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.