Handfuls of Shattered Pieces: Pieces of Us Series - Book 1

I really wanted to give a higher rating, because overall I enjoyed the story and character/relationship development, and it drew me into the storyline. However, this reads like a first draft. There are numerous typos and grammatical errors, but the most egregious issue is that the book is riddled with phrases/expressions and specific words that no American would use in their interactions. I'm not sure why the author chose to set this in the US, when it would make much more sense if it were set in the UK. We don't use the metric system, for example, and there were multiple references to metres, for example, or used words like "footballers" when we say football players. It really detracted from the story. Secondly, I understand using plot devices to push the story along, but they must be believable. There were some scenes that were completely illogical given her physical state and the short length of time she had been recovering. Would you take somebody who is still physically pretty weak and tires easily on a steep hike up a mountain, just because you wanted to show them your favorite place? And you are a police officer (who should know better and exercise better judgement?) I think not. I get what the author was trying to demonstrate, it just didn't work or make much sense at all. In another scene, she outruns the guys and runs for an hour, even though she is constantly being mentioned as shaking/trembling? Somebody malnourished and not at full strength is able to outrun physically fit males? The author has a real story to tell here, but needs to spend more time developing the events in a way that is credible. I do want to read the next book to see what happens, I just hope that the author takes more time for editing before publishing.

Obviously in RH romance sometimes there's unrealistic parts. However, this whole entire book left me confused, cringing, and just like... Lost tbh. After being held captive for so long, our main character should have a lot more trauma that affects her daily life. She should not be so comfortable in a new setting with all new people, within six hours. Besides that, sure she can be a math wiz, but if she was abducted at age ten, her vernacular should be way djfferent, and she shouldn't be cussing like a sailor when I'm sure she rarely ever heard curses, and then wasn't spoken to it spoke herself for almost a decade. That's another thing- if she hadn't spoken in so long, how was she able to just start speaking again? and if she did, she should still have trauma. It's just all so unrealistic. And then the relationships with the guys - it's all tell and no show. I don't know why they like her so much, what she does to gain their trust and affection, or what they do to gain hers. All of this book also happened over like a month and a half max. Totally insane. If the author was going to tell so my h she at least could have let more time to by.

I absolutely loved this book. The level of detail is amazing. I love how we get some of the backstory of the guys and hints of the others. This makes the book feel more real to me. It's not all about the main female character. Each guy in the RH has his own background and story to tell and I can't wait to learn more. These characters are real and not cardboard cut-outs. I also loved the switching of POVs with the characters, even Xander (who is not a love interest, more of a "brother"). The book takes place over a 3-week period (I think so at any rate) and a lot of things happen in those 3 weeks. I found everything crammed into that time-frame a bit unrealistic, but that is only a minor complaint. Overall, if you enjoy contemporary RH romances with of a bit of mystery/thriller thrown in, then don't miss this book!

Overall this was a pretty good story. A little predictable in the climax and ending, but the characters are entertaining and I will read the next book.That said, it is unrealistic in the extreme. From the very beginning you will have to accept that this is not set in the real world, and just go with it. The author doesn't have a good grasp of time-lines and I regularly had to flip back a couple pages to confirm how much time was supposed to have passed.SPOILERS BELOWThe author seriously needs some beta readers to tell when the British terms they use make little to no sense. And when they seem to be mixing up the guys. Also needs to do at least a little bit of scientific research or get a beta reader/editor to tell when something sounds ridiculous. Thigh high snow drifts and yet a girl who has never driven and doesn't even know the area can drive away? Severely malnourished victim can run from 4 exceptionally athletic men, find her home from somewhere she doesn't know, and jump in on a 7v2 fight? I know she's supposed to be good at math, and apparently very smart, to have skipped at least 3 years of education (9 year-old kids are usually in 2nd or 3rd grade, she was in 6th) but she misses 5 years of education and is determined to finish school in less than a year? The worst for me was in the ending, because I couldn't ignore it- Victim loses 'half' her blood volume and is conscious? Loses almost all and survives?I liked the story, for what it is. Her emotional responses to the guys are already crazy unrealistic, but I can ignore that for it being intended to be a romance. Getting closer to reality with these kind of real world details would have made it so much better.

This was recommended somewhere and I decided to give it a go and downloaded on KU! I loved it so much I bought the e-book and then bought the paperback! I fell in love with this story by the end of page 1, I just did not want to put it down, at the same time I wanted to savour this written goodness. Olivia has been through a lot and feels incredibly broken, taken into a foster home she finds a loving family and 4 broken men. It’s beautifully written with a great storyline that kept me hooked. The romance and sweetness along with the drama and excitement make this well paced story such a fabulous read, I am going to dive into book two next!

It’s such a deep, emotional, heartbreaking story.For somebody to have been kidnapped at the age of nine and escaping some how eight years later.I couldn’t even imagine all the trauma and how the hell they made it that long.There are some things in this story that puzzled me and I’m no expert with trauma like this story but wouldn’t you have problems with your eyes for weeks, months even years after staying in the dark for eight years?I get she struggled to talk and is only getting her voice back gradually.Also for her to even been comfortable in a room with a male doctor never mind a house fullJust some of this book which I get is a slow burner RH story is gonna be up and down with that but I would of expected a lot longer with her trust and being able to be in a room with anybody at all never mind another male.I do love the face that four broken souls needed this new addition to help bring some purpose in their life and family. Makes sense they couldn’t have a normal relationship and I can get in on the whole reason why it would make sense them having a RH relationship.Somethings that some of the characters say in this story are a bit cringey but I still enjoyed it and it didn’t put me off.I have no idea what book 2 will bring but I’m going for the next read now ☺️

Simultaneously gut-wrenching and heart warming all at once this is an incredible RH featuring scarred, fragile, yet unbearably strong characters. This book truly deserves more recognition and I for one, cannot wait to find out what's next for Olivia and her men.

I hate to give this book 4 stars instead of 5 because it’s a good book overall. I the start was brilliant and the storyline in general was good. But for me it was a little to soppy and the guys falling at her feet from day one was a little much. The main character cried constantly throughout the book over anything and I just found myself getting bored of her as mean as that sounds.I would still recommend the book as it’s well written and I’m sure others wouldn’t lose interest like I unfortunately did.

This book kept coming up on my recommendation lists, but the blurb sounded so dark, and I was wary because of the trigger warnings. Having read reviews though I gave it a go and I'm really pleased I did. I was worried Olivia would be overly naive but she wasn't, the balance was really good unlike some other books where the FMC acts like a toddler. I liked the dynamics within the group and the guys personalities. I do find it a bit weird that a 24 year old detective is romantically interested in a 17 year old so quickly but age gaps always seem bigger when one is still a teen.