Pieces of Love by PJ Sharon
Release Date: June 21, 2014Page Count: 289
Age Recommendation: 13+
Sixteen year-old Alexis Hartman wants nothing more than to play her guitar and get high, hoping to escape the pain of losing her sister. But when her second arrest for pot possession leads to her mother’s breakdown, Lexi is sent to stay with her grandmother for the summer. While embarking on a Mediterranean cruise hardly sounds like punishment, being forced to face her demons and falling for a guy she may never see again gives Lexi a chance to discover what it means to love someone—even when you have to let them go.
Author Bio:
PJ Sharon is the award winning author of contemporary young adult novels, including PIECES of LOVE, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, ON THIN ICE, and SAVAGE CINDERELLA, winner of the 2013 HOLT Medallion Award and the 2013 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She is excitedly working on The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael, a YA Dystopian trilogy. WANING MOON, Book One in the trilogy, was a finalist in both the 2013 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit recipient. Book Two, Western Desert released in June of 2013. Watch for Book Three in the fall of 2014.
Writing young adult fiction since 2007 and following her destiny to write romantic and hopeful stories for teens, PJ is a member of Romance Writers of America, CTRWA, and YARWA. She is mother to two grown sons and lives with her husband in the Berkshire Hills of Western MA.
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AimeeKay Review:
I have to say that I'm not a fan of contemporary YA, especially with romance thrown in. But I fell in love with Pieces of Love. Probably because it's about love, but not just romantic love. The story doesn't just revolve around Lexi and Ethan. Yes, their romance is an important part of the story, but so is the love that Lexi has for her family, as well as the love she learns to have for life and for herself. Don't get me wrong, there is definitely some insta-love going on between them, but it's not that love at first sight that has no explanation. The author really gets it right, the way teenagers can fall hard and fast for each other, I know I've been there. She also uses Lexis grandma to call her characters out on it. I do, however, think she gives Lexi and Ethan a lot more self control than normal teenagers. Again, I was a teenager once too! LOLI also really got attached to the characters. Lexi is heartbreaking at the beginning of the story, but she really grows up as the story progresses. She's not perfect and even by the end she still isn't, but the author wrote her in such a way that I just wanted to take her out of the book and hold her and tell her it's ok to be human. Ethan is almost too good to be true. He has way more self control than most young men his age, but he's also very sweet, so I can't hold it against him. He's just the perfect guy for Lexi. I also love Maddie. She gives Lexi just the right kind of tough love that she needs, while at the same time showing her the perspective on life that age brings.
This is a great book for teens and adults. Teens can relate to Lexi and the struggles she is going through. While adults can appreciate the wisdom that Maddie has to share. I wasn't expecting the ending, but I will say that it was nice to have a book with a solid ending that while it didn't make everything perfect it made it happy and real. If you're looking for a great feel good beach read definitely pick this one up. If you have someone you know who could benefit from some positive reading this will work too. While there are some hot and heavy parts, and some adult storylines, there isn't anything overly graphic. I'd definitely encourage my teens to read it. Maybe it could get across some life lessons I've been trying to share with them. This book definitely gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.
That's nice! It's always great to see that we can love a book we wouldn't have usually read. The two heroes sound great too. thanks for introducing me to the book.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, I'm more inclined to read this knowing it isn't all romantic love.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insightful review, Aimee. I'm glad you could relate to Lexi and Ethan's journey. Writing teen fiction, it's always a struggle to balance realism with the positive messages I want to come through in my stories. I try to write books that I wish I'd had to read when I was a teenager. Perhaps I would have listened to advice from characters like Maddie:-)
ReplyDeleteThat did not look like YA
ReplyDeleteI'm not always the biggest contemporary fan, either but this one looks sweet (the cover...doesn't really say YA to me, though).
ReplyDeleteI don't love insta-love but it does happen and it make she more comfortable if at least one person calls the characters out on it. lol
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you loved this one so much! Thank you so much for hosting a tour stop and sharing your thoughts with us!
ReplyDeleteI love these kind of books! I don't do a lot of YA contemp either, but this sounds like one that I would throughly enjoy! So glad that you did and thanks so much for reviewing it!!
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking out for new romance reads, particularly ones whose scope is beyond a mere love story, and this fits the bill perfectly. Thanks for putting this on my radar, dear! :)
ReplyDeletethis looks and sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing ;)
ReplyDeletesummer!!! thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteGreat review Aimee, I tend to shy away from YA contemps but this does sound cute.
ReplyDeleteAlways exciting when an author can win you over to something you usually aren't into. Glad to see you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a story I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWow, I think it really says something when you love a book so much even when you don't normally get into that genre. Great review!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! From the cover I wouldn't think it was YA.
ReplyDeleteOoh 5/5? I love contemporary romance, especially when you add in not just the couple's love but the characters' relationships with their family and friends too. Sounds awesome, thanks for sharing!
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