Review: Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann

Pieces of a Life (Colten & Josie #1) by Jewel E. Ann
Series: Life #3
Published by Self-Published on September 13, 2022
Format: ARC
Genres: Romantic Suspense


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The summer before fourth grade, Colten Mosley moved into the house across the street from mine, and we became inseparable.

He played the piano and baseball.

I had a penchant for dead things while at the same time imagining what it would be like to kiss Colten.

We were filled with curiosity and overly active imaginations.

We were also forbidden to be more than friends.

But that didn’t stop us.

Weeks before graduation, he annihilated my heart, and it’s been seventeen years since the day I knew I’d hate him forever.

Now he’s back in my life—a single dad and a homicide detective looking over my shoulder while I perform autopsies as one of Chicago’s most gifted forensic pathologists. Then fate throws us a curveball.

Colten saves my life, but he can’t erase the images that now keep me awake at night. And I can’t explain them.

Am I still the girl he’s always loved? Or nothing more than pieces of that life?

*This story contains sensitive and graphic content.

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 to voluntarily read. This does not affect the content of my review. *

 

Pieces of a Life is Available Now!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/38WiQpr
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3apPlwn
Nook: https://bit.ly/38Liim8
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3JXAya3

Pre-order Memories of a Life releasing 9/27

https://books2read.com/u/4DPeYk

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