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timitra's review against another edition
5.0
Rated 4.5 Stars
What a story! It was amazing. I truly enjoyed Pieces of a Life. I lost track of how many times it made me laugh. It was also much more than funny and sexy. It was strange, intriguing and interesting also., It kept me fully entertained and engaged throughout. It also had me wondering what was going on, where was this all leading to? Sadly, I have to wait for book two to get my answers. Well, it’s not really sadly since I love the anticipation of what comes next with cliffhanger endings. I loved the main characters, Josie and Colten. I loved their banter, their relationship, the dynamics within it and their chemistry. I think they complemented each other perfectly. I truly felt the connection between them and can’t wait to read the conclusion of their story. I very highly recommend this book. It’s something strange yet wonderful.
Copy provided by PR company
What a story! It was amazing. I truly enjoyed Pieces of a Life. I lost track of how many times it made me laugh. It was also much more than funny and sexy. It was strange, intriguing and interesting also., It kept me fully entertained and engaged throughout. It also had me wondering what was going on, where was this all leading to? Sadly, I have to wait for book two to get my answers. Well, it’s not really sadly since I love the anticipation of what comes next with cliffhanger endings. I loved the main characters, Josie and Colten. I loved their banter, their relationship, the dynamics within it and their chemistry. I think they complemented each other perfectly. I truly felt the connection between them and can’t wait to read the conclusion of their story. I very highly recommend this book. It’s something strange yet wonderful.
Copy provided by PR company
romancebookaddict's review against another edition
3.0
So after reading both books I’m coming back here to get my thoughts out. I can’t decide if I liked it or loved it. I keep going back on my rating.
Here are my thoughts. I loved the other Life Duet I was on the edge of my seat and loved the paranormal aspect of it. Had me asking so many questions. One story I’ll never forget. But this paranormal part of the storyline just wasn’t it and didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t care to much about that part of the story and honestly thought this whole storyline could of been wrapped up into one book.
I loved that she was a ME and he a detective now that made for a good storyline add in the second chance romance and you had me hooked. But the back and forth was just was so exhausting.
Also I would have liked the POV chapters to be labeled or titled.
Here are my thoughts. I loved the other Life Duet I was on the edge of my seat and loved the paranormal aspect of it. Had me asking so many questions. One story I’ll never forget. But this paranormal part of the storyline just wasn’t it and didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t care to much about that part of the story and honestly thought this whole storyline could of been wrapped up into one book.
I loved that she was a ME and he a detective now that made for a good storyline add in the second chance romance and you had me hooked. But the back and forth was just was so exhausting.
Also I would have liked the POV chapters to be labeled or titled.
profromance's review against another edition
5.0
Overall Grade: More than 5 ⭐️
“There’s so much in life that’s not black and white—so many things that require explanation before one can make accurate inferences. What if we learned to reserve judgment until we knew the whole story? I think I’d like that world.”
Let me begin with a promise, call it a premonition about your read of Jewel E. Ann’s Pieces of A Life: you will go back and re-read the “Prologue” of this book once you reach its end. I may not be Athelinda, the parapsychologist, of this story and the former Life Series duet, but I’m confident that you will go looking for the secrets of this story to carry you into the next book of this duet, Memories of A Life. And I hate to break it to you…you won’t find them. Not yet.
Pieces of A Life is special. It’s an example of Jewel E. Ann’s storytelling. It’s been over two years, and I am still shocked by the books she brings to life. Often, authors have a signature, a voice, and it can become “worn in”. Jewel has a bent for sure, a distinction to her storytelling that sets her apart from the other romance writers. I enter her books, knowing this, remembering it from her last story whether it’s a rom-com, romantic suspense, paranormal-light romance, or contemporary romance. Every. Dang. Time. I’m bowled over by her capacity to find places to inhabit that feel fresh in the world of romance. And I tell her, over and over again.
Pieces of A Life is more of this. Maybe it’s the dual POV that flashes between the past and the present with the past repeating itself in the present. Possibly it’s the insight about normality that infiltrates this story. I hate to use the word “quirky” for Josie, the book’s FMC. It feels reductive and childish to use that word to describe her. She is different from her peers (something that attracts Colten, the MMC), but Josie, in her youth, struggles with it only in contrast to her interest in Colten. He is the yin to her yang or vice versa, and his existence creates a pause in her understanding of herself. Josie sees the world differently from the average; it’s what makes her special to Colten, but it also brings a bit of pain to Josie. This is why she is my favorite character in this book (and the duet). Colten angered me. I didn’t like him for much of this story because, whether he understood it or not, he tries to normalize Josie. And you WANT Josie to exist as “an other.” I love that she’s a talented medical examiner, that she doesn’t want marriage and babies, that she eschews the expectations of both Colten and her parents. She’s decided and brilliant and the most exciting part of Pieces of A Life. Through her, Jewel challenges us to consider the question “what is normal.” She wants us to understand that difference should be celebrated because it’s better and more interesting.
And this story. Oh. My. Word. This story will break your heart one minute, seal the break back up, and leave you speechless and breathless in the end. I won’t tell you the details beyond the ones I proffered above. Just know…Pieces of A Life is an extraordinary book intent on a variety of things: it will make you laugh, it will make you tear up, and it will shock you. In a word, Jewel E. Ann is in the business of titillation, and she does that brilliantly. Buy, buy, buy this book. You will NOT regret it. Oh, and she writes the HECK out of her stories. There. That’s the final reason to grab this book TODAY.
“There’s so much in life that’s not black and white—so many things that require explanation before one can make accurate inferences. What if we learned to reserve judgment until we knew the whole story? I think I’d like that world.”
Let me begin with a promise, call it a premonition about your read of Jewel E. Ann’s Pieces of A Life: you will go back and re-read the “Prologue” of this book once you reach its end. I may not be Athelinda, the parapsychologist, of this story and the former Life Series duet, but I’m confident that you will go looking for the secrets of this story to carry you into the next book of this duet, Memories of A Life. And I hate to break it to you…you won’t find them. Not yet.
Pieces of A Life is special. It’s an example of Jewel E. Ann’s storytelling. It’s been over two years, and I am still shocked by the books she brings to life. Often, authors have a signature, a voice, and it can become “worn in”. Jewel has a bent for sure, a distinction to her storytelling that sets her apart from the other romance writers. I enter her books, knowing this, remembering it from her last story whether it’s a rom-com, romantic suspense, paranormal-light romance, or contemporary romance. Every. Dang. Time. I’m bowled over by her capacity to find places to inhabit that feel fresh in the world of romance. And I tell her, over and over again.
Pieces of A Life is more of this. Maybe it’s the dual POV that flashes between the past and the present with the past repeating itself in the present. Possibly it’s the insight about normality that infiltrates this story. I hate to use the word “quirky” for Josie, the book’s FMC. It feels reductive and childish to use that word to describe her. She is different from her peers (something that attracts Colten, the MMC), but Josie, in her youth, struggles with it only in contrast to her interest in Colten. He is the yin to her yang or vice versa, and his existence creates a pause in her understanding of herself. Josie sees the world differently from the average; it’s what makes her special to Colten, but it also brings a bit of pain to Josie. This is why she is my favorite character in this book (and the duet). Colten angered me. I didn’t like him for much of this story because, whether he understood it or not, he tries to normalize Josie. And you WANT Josie to exist as “an other.” I love that she’s a talented medical examiner, that she doesn’t want marriage and babies, that she eschews the expectations of both Colten and her parents. She’s decided and brilliant and the most exciting part of Pieces of A Life. Through her, Jewel challenges us to consider the question “what is normal.” She wants us to understand that difference should be celebrated because it’s better and more interesting.
And this story. Oh. My. Word. This story will break your heart one minute, seal the break back up, and leave you speechless and breathless in the end. I won’t tell you the details beyond the ones I proffered above. Just know…Pieces of A Life is an extraordinary book intent on a variety of things: it will make you laugh, it will make you tear up, and it will shock you. In a word, Jewel E. Ann is in the business of titillation, and she does that brilliantly. Buy, buy, buy this book. You will NOT regret it. Oh, and she writes the HECK out of her stories. There. That’s the final reason to grab this book TODAY.
bookspaced's review against another edition
5.0
Well.. this book has left me speechless. I can‘t even put into words how much I enjoyed Josie & Colten‘s story. Their story is unique and I don‘t think I‘ve read anything like it so far. The characters are so well thought out and the storyline itself is so amazing. You won‘t know what‘s going to happen at any time or rather how this is going to play out. I suspected the end to be a shocker due to it being a duet but I did not expect that and need to know what will happen in the next book literally right now!
I‘ve only read a handful of Jewel‘s books so I‘m not even sure what to expect going forward but if book one has anything to tell us it will probably end with a bang that no one will see coming at all!
Jewel‘s writting is addictive and pretty great. The book doesn‘t have a dull moment at all. However I hope we explore Josie‘s commitment issue more in book two as I did not really get why she was so against marrying Colten.
5⭐️
I‘ve only read a handful of Jewel‘s books so I‘m not even sure what to expect going forward but if book one has anything to tell us it will probably end with a bang that no one will see coming at all!
Jewel‘s writting is addictive and pretty great. The book doesn‘t have a dull moment at all. However I hope we explore Josie‘s commitment issue more in book two as I did not really get why she was so against marrying Colten.
5⭐️
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
I am not sure what I just read. Both of these main characters are assholes. One is selfish & thoughtless and the other is selfish & mean.
The twist was weird. I am not going to read the second book because I don’t care what happens to these two.
The twist was weird. I am not going to read the second book because I don’t care what happens to these two.
riareads_20's review against another edition
5.0
Me: Look, I’m reading a psychological thriller book!
Also me: Because its JEA’s book!
LOL! I never pick up books like this. Again, she can make me read anything
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition
4.0
This story was everything, I devoured this book a day really need the next installment
sugaaaaadigsbooks's review
4.0
This book was a mix between hilarious and angsty and I lovedddd it! Usually I’m a flashback’s biggest hater, but I loved learning about these two as they were children! This book was truly so entertaining and I never wanted to stop listening… oh and those narrators?? AMAZING
nerdy_gurl_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
⚆ _ ⚆𝙋𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚⚆ _ ⚆ 𝙗𝙮 𝙅𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙡 𝙀. 𝘼𝙣𝙣
❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️
4.5/5
This review of the audiobook. I received this from Valentine PR in exchange for my honest opinion.
Colton and Josie grew up across the street from one another. They spent every waking hour together. As they got older, it evolved into more, even when they were forbidden from being more than friends. A few weeks before high school graduation, Colton breaks Josie’s heart.
Now 17 years later they’re back in each other’s lives, professionally at least at first. Colton, is now Detective Colton Mosley, and Josie is the medical examiner. Colton is also, a single dad now 🥵 who doesn’t love a hot single dad!
While they’re investigating a murder, things started to speed up, and a sets off a string of events, that leaves them both scratching their heads. This story had me binge listening because I was so sucked into the plot!
I absolutely love romantic suspense, it’s the best of two worlds! Be prepared for a cliffhanger…. It’s not one I saw coming 🤯 I love who strong, Josie is as a fmc!
Includes
- Ex childhood best friends
- Friends to lovers
- Coworkers
- Second chance
- Spicy
- Alpha mmc
- Dual pot
- Past and present timelines
- Cliffhanger