3 Smooches
Synopsis
Peace by Piece deals with unshakable first love, family, relationships, the difficulties of being a stepparent—all shadowed by the curse of anorexia/bulimia.
Six years after fleeing college and Thomas’s betrayal, Maggie has nearly given up on love.
Enter Izzie, a motherless eight year old, and every maternal instinct kicks-in. With Donald, Izzie’s dad, Maggie waits for the thrill—for anything magic: a spark, a quickening, a quiver racing up her spine. The magic never comes, but it is precisely the ordinariness of his kisses and subsequent proposal that make her feel safe. She imagines that loving Izzie is enough to finally lock Thomas out of her heart.
Review
When I began reading Peace by Piece, I thought I was going to be consumed by many emotions but sadly it didn’t. I felt no connection to these characters. Especially Genevieve. I did not relate to her at all she was a 30-year-old woman that was diagnosed with cancer, refuse treatment, and had a one year life expectancy. I can’t necessarily say the book lacked emotions. Because I was constantly reminded of how much they loved each other and how they simply couldn’t live without one another. The book felt so outlined that the flow wasn’t there. It was step after step after step. These two, Genevieve and Levi, had an instant attraction but I couldn’t feel why. Very quick jump to sex and then bam….they are soul mates. I was told a story to my face but not reeled in. I wanted to fall in love with the characters, not be spoon fed. I would improve the story with a few flashbacks. Remind the reader why V loves the ranch. Why would she return to an aunt and uncle, or even a happier time on the ranch. The character description of V is she’s strong and sassy. But in the book I viewed her as weak and the only defense is she has cancer. Perhaps reading a cancer book wasn’t what I needed and could be why I’m rating as “an okay read.” I needed sustenance, even more glue to hold these characters together would have been good. A few romantic gestures, a cowboy, and a happily ever after made this book rate as 3 smooches.
~Sarah
