I have been on a kick of second chance romances lately. But Collecting The Pieces wouldn’t be considered as a typical Second Chance Romance and that’s exactly the beauty of this book!

Sydney Stephens nee Elis is an orphan. She is placed with a foster family at the age of 10 and is left to her own devices; not being abused per say, but being neglected – but it is also where she found her own family in a boy named Connor; a brother she never realised she needed but found anyway.
But she also found the love of her life – a boy whom she crushed on and the man she fell in love with – what do you do when you realise the life you were supposed to lead happily ever after is cut short in the most brutal way possible?

Abel is a mechanic – and a man who doesn’t even believe in committed relationships. He is back to town, to help a friend in need; not that she has made it any easier for him. Abel isn’t sure that meeting the town’s new vet, in the most unusual circumstances is the best thing for him; especially considering that she is married.

Sydney is a wonderful strong resilient heroine and it is easy to admire her for how she handled everything that has been dealt with – and trust me, she has been dealt with a whole lot of rotten hands. A new beginning, a new life for her, and she has dealt with every twist and turn like a champ – but I couldn’t help but feel for this lady – and while I doubt I would be BFFs with her in reality (because really, I would be in too much AWE!!), she is a character that I would definitely end up going for advice!

And can I just say how much I adored the connection between Abel and Sydney? Not only are they total opposites of each other, yet fit each other like puzzle pieces – pieces that they both helped each other put together!

This romance, a first for me by L.A. Fiore isn’t just a romance, it the telling of a life that might not have started with love, but was definitely filled with love, happiness and pure joy! <3

Two Books in One

Wow, I wasn't sure what I expected from the blurb of this book and was very satisfied with what I got. L.A. Fiore did a great job at setting up Sidney's story and then some. For the first half of the book, it was almost too good to be true and then things got different. Really different, but really good.

Sidney was a foster kid looking for a somewhat normal life. Two parents that loved her would have been enough. Instead she was a victim of the system and made the best out of the hand she was dealt. Her foster brother Conner took care of her until she was fifteen and met the love of her life. Jake Stephens.

Jake and his parents were everything Sidney dreamt about, the family she wanted so bad. While I found it very easy for her to fit right in with the Stephens family, the story needed that easiness to work. We go through years with Sidney and Jake, he's there for her every step of the way. Giving her the family life she's always wanted, until one day he wasn't.

Sidney was pretty much back to square one when she came upon the mysterious Able Madden (loved his name). He was everything Jake wasn't and everything she needed right now. Able wasn't an easy guy to get to know, but the little she saw of him called to her. He was a bad boy with a bad attitude, but could have lost the beard and man bun in my eyes. ;)

I absolutely loved the primal instinct these two had towards each other and how they danced around it. Sidney wasn't in the place to even think about another guy, however Able didn't care. They were under each other's skin instantly.

The book is well written from dual points of view, with a large cast of supporting characters that are just as interesting as the main characters. There's more than a Jake and Sidney love story here. We get angst, steam and a little action to round things out. The book reads as a stand alone, however I would read any of the character spin offs. Well, as long as we checked in on Jake and Sidney too.

Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.

This started a bot slow for me but about half-way really picks up.

Sidney is a product of the system - having grown up in foster care. She finally finds a home at 10 and thinks that things will begin to turn around. Her "parents" aren't what she fantasized about. They aren't bad but they aren't present either. But she gets a brother she has always wanted, Connor. And through him she meets Jake who puts most of Sidney's pieces together. But fate takes him away and she is once again left alone.

Needing a change Sidney and her bff embark on a journey west. Here is where she meets Abel, who is the opposite of what Jake was, yet she is inexplicably drawn to him. Abel does what he wants and say what he wants and is unapologetic. This attracts Sidney all the more. But she is afraid at first and keeps some walls up.

But this new town is more than meets the eye.

Will Sidney give Abel a chance? Can she move on?

One click to find out.

To put this mildly, my emotions were all over the place with this book.

We meet Sidney at birth and follow through her childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

We're lulled into a safety net whereby Sidney has her happily ever after with Jake Stephens. But of course, the end of the story can't come at 30%. The fairy tale takes a sudden and gut wrenching turn.

Yes, there were tears. I bawled. I sobbed. I mourned the change.

Until we meet "him".

Abel Madden.

Just that name allures to a bad boy. A biker. A take-no-prisoners sort of man.

He's all of those things.

He wasn't expecting Sidney. Nor the punch to the gut she gave him (not literal!!)

I loved their banter and to-and-fro. She didn't take his nonsense and he pushed her to her limits. But he also made her feel again. Even if the emotion was anger and annoyance, someone was getting through the seemingly impenetrable wall Sidney had built around herself for the previous three years since her life changed irrevocably.

This book had it all, TWO love stories, some amazing side characters, some deep issues dealt with and a whole host of animals as only the main character being a vet could bring.

Prepare to fall hard, swoon, laugh, cry and sigh in happiness.

The ending is one that will stay with me, it made my heart happy and my soul soar and my hope build for the HEA for everyone in this world.

Oh, and watching Abel squaring off with a cat was one of the funniest moments in any book!!

Sydney Ellis was left on the steps of a hospital when she was a baby. She grew up in the system, feeling unwanted and unloved.
When she's ten, she's placed in a foster family. Although the family only fostered her because of the money they receive from the state, Sydney finds her first glimpse of friendship and family with Conner, her new brother.
On her first day of high school, Sydney meets Jake Stephens, the popular football player. Soon, their relationship blooms and they become a couple. They're perfect together.
Years pass and Sydney and Jake are still together and happy. Until the day everything goes wrong.
Years later, Sydney is surviving, not living. Until she moves across the country to work as a veterinary in a small country town and meets Abel Madden.
Will Sydney open herself to love again?

I loved Collecting the Pieces!
The story is beautiful, full of hope and love. It broke my heart and pieced it back together once I finish it. It took me in a rollercoaster ride of emotions and I couldn't be more happy that I decided to embark in this amazing journey. Collecting the Pieces has everything a romance must have. It has lots of drama, laughter, steamy scenes and mystery.

Sydney Ellis is a strong woman! She has been through a lot in her life but she keeps going. Although she only starts really living when she meets Abel. I loved how sweet and kind she was, even though she had all the reasons to hate everyone and everything. She does her best to fight her attraction for Abel.
Abel Madden... Oh Abel! I loved him! He is a hot, stubborn, cocky, and arrogant bad boy. But he can also be very sweet and gentle. He has a rough upbringing and his friends were his salvation. He believes he can't give Sydney what she deserves, so he tries to fight their connection.
Jake Stephens is perfect! He is the total opposite of Abel. He is sweet and kind, very patient and gentle. I loved how he pursued Sydney and showed her she had family and friends.

L.A. Fiore did a terrific job with Collecting the Pieces! Her writing is flawless and her writing style makes it very easy to connect with this beautiful story and amazing characters. Have your tissues with you while reading, because you'll cry and laugh and you won't regret picking up Collecting the Pieces!

First I want to say how much I absolutely love the cover of this book. It's perfect for the story and gorgeous.
This was a great book to off been my first by the author.
The author really caught the emotion of the characters and the story. There was so much emotion throughout it that it drew me in completely. The story rips your heart out time and time again. When going in to read it I never expected it to ever be as emotional as it was.
The story was split in 2 sections, Now and Then. I thought this was brilliant for this story. Each section is just as important to the story and each is very different but completely heartbreaking and emotional.
I was so desperate to find out which way the story was going to go and to just read a beautiful book, that I couldn't put it down. I ended up staying up all night reading as putting the book away for the night was so hard.
There is a lot that goes on throughout the story but the main message was how love should be cherished and there's nothing more important in the world than love.
The characters will work there way in to your heart and not leave.
The story did cover a range of things and emotions but the main ones were Love, loss, sweet, sexy as well as heartbreaking.