Piece by Piece

I received a free electronic copy of this ARC on July 15, 2020, from Netgalley, Laura Bradford, and Kensington Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Laura Bradford writes a clean crisp story that echoes in your mind long after the last page is read. Piece by Piece is an interesting read, one that flexes your emotions often. It was a perfect change-of-pace piece between who-done-it's and western fiction. Laura Bradford is an author I will be on the watch for in the future. This begins with a great deal of angst but it is handled well. The several steps of grief and that necessary move into a totally different mindset where you are finally able to see clearly and handle your crisis are well-drawn. We have also some Amish information to absorb and a possibly sweet closing. Altogether an excellent read pub date July 28, 2020

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.