Loved reading this book. Amazing story and the characters lend to the charm of this book. I would highly recommend this book. You would not be disappointed.

Piece by Piece, by Laura Bradford, is a beautiful and poignant novel about healing in the midst of devastating grief. Danielle Parker is a gold-medal mom who tragically loses her family in a car accident, leaving her questioning if life is still worth living. Her friend Lydia Schlabach invites her to come and stay with her in Amish country, providing her with much needed respite from her grief.

Throughout the book, Danielle learns how to find beauty and joy even in her deepest sorrow, through friendships, acceptance of others, and making amends for past grievances. She finds peace in the simple Amish way of life, as well as in the stories Lydia shares with her.

This novel is full of tenderness, love, and ultimately hope. Readers of any age or gender can connect with Danielle’s journey, as we all face moments of despair, but can also experience her eventual resilience and recovery. Piece by Piece is an incredibly moving novel that I highly recommend.

Danielle is a stay-home mom with 3 children and a wonderful husband Jeff.
When an accident occurs, Danielle begins to question herself as a mother, her world is broken, her life has no future, her days aren't purpose.
This story is very hard, I cried during the reading, but I loved reading it, well written, the readers can learn a lot about life, greaf, sorrow, be a mother.
"The heart know things the head does not"

Piece by Piece by Laura Bradford is such an emotional ride. One you will be so glad you took. I read every word and couldn't put this book down until the end. I loved it and am happy to recommend it.

Piece by Piece by Laura Bradford is a poignant tale that will touch your heart. Piece by Piece has Dani Parker mourning the loss of her husband, children, and mother. They were killed in a car accident while she was home getting some rare “me” time. Dani is in a dark place when she gets a call from her longtime Amish friend, Lydia Schlabach. Lydia invites Dani to stay in a cottage on their farm. She assures Dani that she will have privacy along with peace and quiet. Dani accepts her offer because it allows her to escape the everyday reminders of her family. We get to experience what Dani is going through while grieving the loss of her whole family. The emotions leaped from the pages especially Dani’s anger. I thought Piece by Piece was well-written with developed, realistic characters and situations. Lydia is grieving the loss of a child, but she handles it in a different manner. Laura Bradford did a wonderful job with this book. It is about life, loss, and finding a way to heal and move forward. We see how grief clouds our outlook and sometimes we need someone with a different perspective. You never know what God has in store for you as we see in Piece by Piece. There is grief, loss, love, faith, and hope in this moving novel. I loved the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. Little Nettie was a delight. She added lightness to the story as well as humor. Make sure to keep your tissues handy while reading this Amish tale. Piece by Piece is a heartrending story with adorable animals, a charmer of a child, forever friends, an unpredicted present, and God’s grace.

Please note: The book concerns the tragic loss of family members. If this is an emotional trigger for you, please do not read the rest of this review.

Sometimes I find that the only way I can write a review is from an emotional point of view, and this is one of those reviews. I wanted so badly to be able to sit quietly with Dani and weep with her in her heartbreak. I wanted to be able to comfort Lydia. I wanted Lydia to help Dani recover her faith, and in doing so, strengthen her own. Although much of this story is heartbreaking, there’s also a glimmer of hope that shines through, even though for much of the story it seemed almost impossible for Dani to see it. All of the characters in this book are wonderful, and I appreciated the fact that the author did not force a romance into this story, but told Dani’s story in a compelling way. This is a book worth reading. I’ll be thinking about this story for a long time to come.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Dani had the perfect life she was married had three children and a wonderful mother. All that changed one tragic day. Now she doesn't know how she will continue to go on. One day she receives a phone call from an Amish friend. Her friend suggest she go visit her for awhile. Will getting away for awhile help her to be able to cope with what has happened? I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down.

Danielle Parker had it all....a husband, children, a loving mother, but little time for herself. One day, she decides to take a few hours to herself and her world forever changes. In the blink of an eye, her perfect life is gone.....they are ALL GONE!!! We watch as Danielle goes through the grief we all pray to never experience. She is helped through this grief by a childhood friend.....an Amish friend, who has her own hidden grief to deal with. Sit back and enjoy reading the journey these two women take in walking through their journey of grief and to see the light at the end of this tunnel, one must look within. This is a wonderful novel that reaches into an area that is seldom touched.....the loss of a child/children. Loved the novel, the characters and the gentle way the author presented the issues of loss.

Piece By Piece
Laura Bradford
5+ Stars

Synopsis:

A grieving mother learns to heal in Amish country, in this heartfelt, beautifully told novel from national bestselling author Laura Bradford.

Danielle Parker is a gold-medal mom--the kind who volunteers in her children's classrooms, shuttles them between activities, throws legendary birthday parties, and has a remedy on hand for any emergency. Whatever her husband, Jeff, and their children need, Dani is there, always.
Except for one day.

On that day--the day that Dani reluctantly takes some "me time" while her mom and Jeff drive the children to the park--the unthinkable happens. The car crash leaves no survivors. Somehow, Dani gets through the funerals and visits, accepting neighbors' sympathy and dropped-off meals. All the while, guilt and grief make her wish the accident had claimed her life too. Then a call comes from Lydia Schlabach, an Amish woman Dani befriended in childhood. In addition to condolences, Lydia offers Dani something more: a place to escape to.

In Pennsylvania's Amish country, Dani's days take on a new rhythm, marked by the clip-clop of buggies and the bustle of chores. Lydia gives Dani space to mourn, to think, and to realize how long it's been since she felt like a person in her own right. And with the help of friendships old and new, Dani learns about the ways life continues to surprise us--even after the deepest loss--with joy, love, and second chances. . . .

Praise for Portrait of a Sister

"Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time." --New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander

"A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters."
--New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck (Goodreads)


Review:

This book is about loss, heartbreak, second chances and getting your life back, even if it is not the one you had before. It is a book about anger and grief, but also about healing.

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I cannot even begin to fathom a loss like Dani suffered. But she finds some solace going to Amish country and a simpler life. And she finds out what a true friend she has in Lydia. Dani will never forget her family but she will learn to go on and move forward.

I really liked Lydia’s family, especially her young daughter. Dani can learn from them, and she does. The simple way of the Amish can teach us all something about life. When Dani began to question her mothering and see things that she did that were not right, Lydia and her family helped Dani realize that she did the best she could and her family loved her for who she was.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a very well written Women’s Amish novel. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book and I think everyone should read this book. The author is a very talented and gifted writer and I want to thank her for writing this.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This is a beautifully written book of heartbreak, love, loss, anger, and grief. Dani Parker has a wonderful life and family. In the blink of an eye she loses her husband, 3 children, and her mother in a car accident. Dani is angry... Angry at God, angry at herself.She goes to an Amish friend's home... Will she begin to heal? Get your Kleenex out for this one.

This book ripped my heart out and gradually put it back together just like the characters in this book. Danielle Parker (Dani) is a grieving mother/daughter/wife as her family were all killed in a car accident. Prior to that she had been the perfect, supermom juggling her children's and husband's many activities, all with a smile. When her mother, husband and children head off to the park, Dani stays home for some me time and suffers terrible survivor's guilt. When her childhood friend and penpal, Lydia Schlabach invites her to stay in their Amish Community to try and heal, she takes her up on the offer. The story unfolds with gentle, tender moments, memories and secrets shared. There is a Christian message as well, but it does not take over the story, but is an integral part of it as it is the centre of any Amish Community.

I felt for both Dani and Lydia who were dealing with losses. Lydia is an amazing character. Dealing with her own issues, which are not revealed until later in the story, she still shares her beliefs, grace, meals and family with Dani while she heals. It is her faith that keeps her going and I totally understand that. The children add much to this story. The innocence, honesty and openness of the Schlabach children help Dani to open up and share her memories. The guilt Dani feels is eating her up from the inside and she needs to forgive herself in order to move forward. My emotions were all over the place while reading this story and I admit to tears in several places, so be prepared. This book is about faith, love (not romance), guilt, forgiveness, and grief. I loved it, even though it made me sad at many times. This is a heartfelt story that I recommend to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction, stories of forgiveness and those who have suffered a loss and dealt with grief.

When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure I could. But the more I read the more I wanted to help Dani to see it was not her fault. I think everyone would feel they are to blame for not being there. I really enjoyed the journey with Dani and Lydia, and both their healing. I would love to see a sequel and maybe a relationship between Dani and Caleb. I really was sorry when this book ended.

I received from netgalley, I loved this story. I haven't reas much from this author great story. I love the character's and the cover.

4.5 stars. Wow. This was beautiful and painful. It was like reading my worst nightmare. And the author does a fantastic job of describing the emotional toil of such great loss. I never felt the need to step away from the pain of this, but it was a relief when Dani went to Lydia's for a change of scenery. It gave a boost of hope to the story, although there's loss in Pennsylvania, too.

The characters in this are fantastic. I enjoyed the wrestling that Dani does with her grief, with anger at God, and with the Amish take on God's sovereignty in loss. There are no easy answers offered, which I liked as well. The ending and the epilogue tied this up nicely.

Fans of the author's previous novels like A Daughter's Truth and Portrait of a Sister should not miss this one! Fans of Amish fiction should check this out as well.

What we have once loved enjoyed we can never lose, all that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Helen Keller

One women's story of grief and picking up the pieces of her life. Our grief can reveal what we put our identity in. Danielle's story of grief is that she lost all that she put her life into. Her husband, 3 children, and her mother. The classic visit from Hwy Patrol saying that her whole world perished while she stayed home at her mother's request to rest and get some much needed time alone. Now with the loss, she also goes thru the emotions of guilt and the what if's. An unexpected letter from a childhood friend inviting her to come stay for as long as she needed. A place to heal in the Amish way.

Grief has a way of isolating you. Setting you in a prison of your emotions. Danielle takes her friend invitation and she finds herself several hours away from everything she knows at Lydia Yoder's home. The Yoder's have a grandparents home on the farm that is for Danielle to use. Lydia's brother Caleb becomes part of Danielle's healing process. Caleb has a different perspective has he did not go Amish but went English. He helps his sister's family with keeping up with their farm and is going thru his own healing. He is patient and kind to Danielle and seems to pull at her emotions. With a few twists to the story line regarding Lydia and Caleb, Danielle's perspective changes. The Amish way of remembering those that were lost keeps them close. It also draws us closer to God's comfort and care.

Danielle questions why would God take away what is good and can't reconcile the Amish way of accepting what God wills. It is thru the eyes and the heart of her Amish friends and the gifts that her family left behind, she finds peace in her storm.


A special thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Piece by Piece is such a beautiful and heartfelt story and the latest novel penned by Ms. Bradford. It’s a story of love, unbelievable loss, friendship and coming to terms with your new normal life. The story of Danielle Parker who lost her entire family in a tragic accident was an emotional and powerful one for sure. I could imagine Dani’s grief, her heartache and her reluctance to visit her dearest friend since the description was so vivid.

In this impeccably written book, the author captured my emotions which means I cried quite often but I also felt hopeful for all of the incredible characters that were so lovingly crafted. It’s been a few days since I finished this book but the characters still cross my mind occasionally. The journey I took with Dani was a difficult one at times, it was filled with grief, but also love, patience and understanding. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Dani loses her entire family in a vehicle accident. She is so depressed that she is lost in her home. An Amish friend from childhood invites her to her family's farm. Dani drives to the Pennsylvania farm and stays in a cabin for weeks staying away from others.
I found this book depressing and uplifting too.

Piece by Piece by Laura Bradford is a heartbreakingly beautiful book. Its premise is grief, and working through it. Danielle Parker opens the door to two highway patrolmen there to break the news to her that there has been an accident ... an accident in which her husband, her three children, and her mother have all been killed. It was a couple of weeks until she came out of the cloud. She didn't eat; she barely slept; she spoke to no one. Then she looked at her mail and saw handwriting she barely saw. It was a letter from her girlhood pen pal whom she had not seen in 27 years. Lydia was an Amish girl who she had met on vacation one summer. It was an invitation to come and heal.

I had tears in my eyes the entire time I was reading this book. Bradford caught the essence of the deep grief in which Dani found herself. She felt guilty for being alive. She felt guilty for thinking happy thoughts about her family. She just felt guilty. Her loss was devastating. It took weeks before she could even speak. They put her up in a cottage on their property. They delivered her food three times a day. She did not eat it. She was a ghost. Until, at last she was not, and she began to feel a little ... just a little. Bradford recorded it all. I am not sure anyone could have done it better. Piece by Piece was a wonderful book. At last it became a feel-good kind of book, but it took a while. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Piece by Piece by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #piecebypiece

Just a beautiful book...what a incredible, emotional story. I cried on several occasions while reading this book. So many heart wrenching moments that just pull you in and you just have to keep reading.
Piece by Piece is a heartfelt story about suffering a tremendous loss and the journey to recovering even though it seems impossible.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and give my honest review about this book.

Growth and Healing While Grieving
This is a poignant story about a young woman dealing with unimaginable grief. Out of the blackness, she goes to live at her Amish friend's farm. She slowly comes to the surface to see that she is not the only one burdened with sadness. This is a 4 hanky read for anyone who has suffered an unexpected loss. At one point I realized that I would not handle it any better than our heroine. As she healed, my empathetic pain also eased. This is an awesome book that handles a very difficult subject in an honest manner. The healing talked of in this book is so true. There is a significant amount of Christian faith expressed in this story, but it is in keeping with the fact that it takes place in Amish country. I have read several books by this author and enjoyed them all. This book is the best of the bunch. I can't wait to see what she writes next. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.