Scan barcode
A review by readfrenzy
Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann
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.*