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brittineyb's review against another edition
5.0
***ARC Review***
“You deserve to be chased. Pursued. I fell in love with the girl I knew I could never contain. Let me chase you forever because I love that moment when you look back at me and grin. That moment when I know you love knowing that I always have your back.”
Josie and Colten meet at the age of 9, becoming neighbors which develops into friendship which grows into love over time. Josie and Colten take you on a journey between their past and present lives. Getting to know what they shared and endured throughout their childhood. How their friendship blossomed into love and ultimately into the greatest heartbreak.
17 years later their paths cross again. Will it be a story of star crossed lovers/second chance romance or will the hurt from the past ultimately define their fate?
Book 1 does end on a cliffy.
This book is as always fantastically written with an amazing plot, depth, growth, love, anger, angst, hurt, confusion, and passion.
I can not wait to read the final installment of Colten and Josie’s story.
“You deserve to be chased. Pursued. I fell in love with the girl I knew I could never contain. Let me chase you forever because I love that moment when you look back at me and grin. That moment when I know you love knowing that I always have your back.”
Josie and Colten meet at the age of 9, becoming neighbors which develops into friendship which grows into love over time. Josie and Colten take you on a journey between their past and present lives. Getting to know what they shared and endured throughout their childhood. How their friendship blossomed into love and ultimately into the greatest heartbreak.
17 years later their paths cross again. Will it be a story of star crossed lovers/second chance romance or will the hurt from the past ultimately define their fate?
Book 1 does end on a cliffy.
This book is as always fantastically written with an amazing plot, depth, growth, love, anger, angst, hurt, confusion, and passion.
I can not wait to read the final installment of Colten and Josie’s story.
audiobookingwithleah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Read this if you like…
- contemporary romance
- a splash of mystery suspense
- dual POVs
- past and present timelines
Themes at play…
- childhood friends
- second-chance at love
- single dad
Jewel E. Ann can write some compelling, outside-of-the-box contemporary romance and I am totally here for it. This is book #3 in the Life Series…but it isn’t necessary to read the first two books in the series because they are about a different unrelated couple. It will be necessary to read book #4, though, if you want to know how Colton and Josie’s story ends because it ends in the middle of their story. In fact…things were just getting interesting when it ended. So, I will be listening to the next book very soon.
- The narration by Emery Erickson and Alastair Haynesbridge was fantastic.
- ratings score = 9.07/10
- contemporary romance
- a splash of mystery suspense
- dual POVs
- past and present timelines
Themes at play…
- childhood friends
- second-chance at love
- single dad
Jewel E. Ann can write some compelling, outside-of-the-box contemporary romance and I am totally here for it. This is book #3 in the Life Series…but it isn’t necessary to read the first two books in the series because they are about a different unrelated couple. It will be necessary to read book #4, though, if you want to know how Colton and Josie’s story ends because it ends in the middle of their story. In fact…things were just getting interesting when it ended. So, I will be listening to the next book very soon.
- The narration by Emery Erickson and Alastair Haynesbridge was fantastic.
- ratings score = 9.07/10
beckyrendon's review against another edition
5.0
Jewel E. Ann has a preternatural ability to find a small window, a glimpse of what seems like nothing and unmask it's true glory. I think the best way to describe Pieces of a Life is this:
You, me, and everyone who hasn't read this story... yet are looking at the world through an opaque white piece of paper. We know it's there and in the right light it's hazy. When you start reading/looking at the paper, you see there are tiny pinpricks of light coming through. As the story progresses, your feelings (the anger, your hopeless love, the despair), slowly enlarge the pinprick until its the size of two. Not enough to see through. Eventually as you keep reading the hole gets bigger but not big- just enough that color is visible. You can't make it out but you know something incredible is there. You will continue to blindly search for discernable objects and still...nothing. The hole gets bigger, the emotions too intense to avoid, and then just as you can see the color green and imagine it's a plant or a tree because what else would be that green...Jewel slams the book shut.
You're left with the dying curiosity and an undeniable urge to discover more. You ache with longing. The despair of not knowing...your "truth" isn't enough to satisfy. You need more. You need to know it all and maybe then you'll sleep at night, maybe then you'll have peace. I doubt it but we'll cling to that hope...until we can close book two by ourselves.
You, me, and everyone who hasn't read this story... yet are looking at the world through an opaque white piece of paper. We know it's there and in the right light it's hazy. When you start reading/looking at the paper, you see there are tiny pinpricks of light coming through. As the story progresses, your feelings (the anger, your hopeless love, the despair), slowly enlarge the pinprick until its the size of two. Not enough to see through. Eventually as you keep reading the hole gets bigger but not big- just enough that color is visible. You can't make it out but you know something incredible is there. You will continue to blindly search for discernable objects and still...nothing. The hole gets bigger, the emotions too intense to avoid, and then just as you can see the color green and imagine it's a plant or a tree because what else would be that green...Jewel slams the book shut.
You're left with the dying curiosity and an undeniable urge to discover more. You ache with longing. The despair of not knowing...your "truth" isn't enough to satisfy. You need more. You need to know it all and maybe then you'll sleep at night, maybe then you'll have peace. I doubt it but we'll cling to that hope...until we can close book two by ourselves.
readfrenzy's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This hurts. I don’t think I’ve ever rated a Jewel E. Ann book less than four stars. After all, she is probably my favorite author. I love how she mixes humor with gut-wrenching emotions. Pieces of a Life isn’t bad, but it is missing Jewel E. Ann’s signature sparkle.
Josie and Colten were best friends growing up, but they also “dated” on and off again. They broke up and made up so many times I lost count. Just before high school graduation, Colten broke Josie's heart, and they didn’t see or speak to each other for the next seventeen years. Eventually, Josie, now a forensic pathologist, and Colten, a homicide detective, cross paths over a murder case.
The story is told from both points of view and there are flashbacks scattered throughout. I’m not a fan of flashbacks—especially here when the time jumps aren’t chronological. It’s confusing and makes the flow of the story choppy.
I can put that aside, but fundamentally I don’t vibe with Josie. She’s prickly with a frustrating push and pull nature and a tendency towards mind games. She holds a grudge longer than anyone I know, and I grew impatient with her unwillingness to (cue Elsa from “Frozen”) let it go. For some reason, Colten thinks the sun rises and sets on Josie. While I didn’t always like her behavior, I will say I respected Josie’s strength and intelligence. She’s a complex puzzle that I’m still interested in putting together.
Josie starts having creepy nightmares towards the end of the book. That’s when I got really hooked on the story. Jewel E. Ann does mind-bending romantic suspense very well, so I’m hopeful that Memories of a Life will build on that thrilling momentum.
Pieces of a Life is book 1 in Josie and Colten’s duet, which is a standalone story in the Life series.
Recommended for fans of:
Romantic suspense
Second chance romance
Paranormal mysteries
This hurts. I don’t think I’ve ever rated a Jewel E. Ann book less than four stars. After all, she is probably my favorite author. I love how she mixes humor with gut-wrenching emotions. Pieces of a Life isn’t bad, but it is missing Jewel E. Ann’s signature sparkle.
Josie and Colten were best friends growing up, but they also “dated” on and off again. They broke up and made up so many times I lost count. Just before high school graduation, Colten broke Josie's heart, and they didn’t see or speak to each other for the next seventeen years. Eventually, Josie, now a forensic pathologist, and Colten, a homicide detective, cross paths over a murder case.
The story is told from both points of view and there are flashbacks scattered throughout. I’m not a fan of flashbacks—especially here when the time jumps aren’t chronological. It’s confusing and makes the flow of the story choppy.
I can put that aside, but fundamentally I don’t vibe with Josie. She’s prickly with a frustrating push and pull nature and a tendency towards mind games. She holds a grudge longer than anyone I know, and I grew impatient with her unwillingness to (cue Elsa from “Frozen”) let it go. For some reason, Colten thinks the sun rises and sets on Josie. While I didn’t always like her behavior, I will say I respected Josie’s strength and intelligence. She’s a complex puzzle that I’m still interested in putting together.
Josie starts having creepy nightmares towards the end of the book. That’s when I got really hooked on the story. Jewel E. Ann does mind-bending romantic suspense very well, so I’m hopeful that Memories of a Life will build on that thrilling momentum.
Pieces of a Life is book 1 in Josie and Colten’s duet, which is a standalone story in the Life series.
Recommended for fans of:
Romantic suspense
Second chance romance
Paranormal mysteries
*I received an early copy. This does not affect the content of my review.*
daisybookattic's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I have read in a while ....FRSoon
" You lead. I follow. that's what we do. "
" You lead. I follow. that's what we do. "
jennyluvlitbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Trust this author to give you a perfect love story with all the angst and pain it brings and mix it with otherworldly vibes that will hook you from start to finish. Pieces of a Life is the third book in this series of standalone, childhood sweethearts, friends-to-lovers, second chance romance. Josie and Colten's passionate love story is rich and layered with all their history beginning when they met when they were nine years old. Josie from a young age is showing a truly interesting character that of course made our young Colten took notice. These two characters has so much depth and growth during their seventeen years apart. And as they reconnected, those feelings are still there as if they didn't end. I'm loving this new duet from this series and of course, that turn in the story of Josie and Colten just leaves me dying to read what's next!
ofbooksandromance's review against another edition
4.0
Super emotional second chance romances with a lot of push and pull and grovelling are probably my favourite books to read in the entire world, so let's just I was absolutely served with this one. This book was just such an experience and I just adored it.
Did I cry every tear in my body while reading this book? Yes.
Is that why I loved this book? Also yes.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
Did I cry every tear in my body while reading this book? Yes.
Is that why I loved this book? Also yes.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
heatheradoresbooks's review against another edition
4.0
4⭐
Part 1 duet ~ Colten & Josie
Features: dual 1st person POV, slow burn, childhood sweethearts, friends to lovers~ish to enemies to lovers, forbidden love, single dad, law enforcement, medical examiner, characters in their teens and then in their 30's, second chance
Colten and Josie's story is a complicated one. It's told in the present with some flashbacks of their childhood together beginning when they were 9. Something happened near high school graduation that made them not speak for 17 years. Now, they are working in parallel career fields that give them a chance to get to know each other again. Colten is a homicide detective and Josie is an medical examiner. One character is more reluctant than the other to reconnect.
For most of the book Josie was quite frustrating, and Colten at times too, but the story slowly takes us on the journey of why she's so upset with Colten. I don't want to give too much away, but there's a bit of an intriguing mystery that they try to solve. Note that there is a cliffhanger, which is to be expected with a duet.
CW ~ many suicide and dead children references
Jewel is quite the story teller that takes you on an emotional ride. It was lighter on the romance than I thought it would be, but fast paced with an interesting plot. I'm looking forward to the continuation of Colten and Josie's story in [b:Memories of a Life|57669011|Memories of a Life (Life, #4)|Jewel E. Ann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660024532l/57669011._SY75_.jpg|90330353] and I'm excited to see what's in store for their future.
*Thanks to [a:Jewel E. Ann|7505427|Jewel E. Ann|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1564594667p2/7505427.jpg] and Valentine PR for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Part 1 duet ~ Colten & Josie
Features: dual 1st person POV, slow burn, childhood sweethearts, friends to lovers~ish to enemies to lovers, forbidden love, single dad, law enforcement, medical examiner, characters in their teens and then in their 30's, second chance
Colten and Josie's story is a complicated one. It's told in the present with some flashbacks of their childhood together beginning when they were 9. Something happened near high school graduation that made them not speak for 17 years. Now, they are working in parallel career fields that give them a chance to get to know each other again. Colten is a homicide detective and Josie is an medical examiner. One character is more reluctant than the other to reconnect.
For most of the book Josie was quite frustrating, and Colten at times too, but the story slowly takes us on the journey of why she's so upset with Colten. I don't want to give too much away, but there's a bit of an intriguing mystery that they try to solve. Note that there is a cliffhanger, which is to be expected with a duet.
CW ~ many suicide and dead children references
Jewel is quite the story teller that takes you on an emotional ride. It was lighter on the romance than I thought it would be, but fast paced with an interesting plot. I'm looking forward to the continuation of Colten and Josie's story in [b:Memories of a Life|57669011|Memories of a Life (Life, #4)|Jewel E. Ann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1660024532l/57669011._SY75_.jpg|90330353] and I'm excited to see what's in store for their future.
*Thanks to [a:Jewel E. Ann|7505427|Jewel E. Ann|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1564594667p2/7505427.jpg] and Valentine PR for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
sauriemilia's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what kind of magic Jewel E. Ann weaves into her story telling but her characters take a hold on my thoughts from when I start reading her books till long after I finish them. Colten and Josie grabbed my attention so forcefully, I can´t wait for the next installment.