Review: Pieces of You (#2, Shattered Hearts) by Cassia Leo - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

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Review: Pieces of You (#2, Shattered Hearts) by Cassia Leo

My Thoughts

Gripping, addictive and moving. 
I loved this book. The series keeps getting better and better.

5stars

Synopsis

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In Relentless, college student Claire Nixon and surfer Adam Parker each had a painful past too heavy to carry alone. Claire tried to push Adam away, but Adam’s relentless pursuit of her heart and her secrets made her walls come crumbling down.

Though their hearts will never be whole again, Claire and Adam now know they are stronger together than they are apart.

But now Claire’s attending college a hundred miles away from Adam. With their relationship already hanging by a thread, Adam is sent to Hawaii on business.

And rock star Chris Knight is back in Claire’s life.

Chris wants his ex-girlfriend back and he knows just how to get her: only he has the power to mend the final missing piece of Claire’s broken heart. Now Claire must choose between a long-distance relationship with Adam and a second chance at love, family, and home.

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*Although this review is spoiler-free, I do not recommend you read until you read book 1, Relentless. To see my spoiler-free review of Relentless, click here.*

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My Review

OMG this book! This series! It has totally hooked me. But as I mentioned in my review of Relentless, I was totally stressed out because there’s a love triangle. And worse than that, I don’t know which team I’m rooting for! Gahhh!!! This book tore me to pieces… it really made my heart ache. I felt so much for all three of the main characters… all three of them are flawed, have made mistakes and are working through their fears and insecurities to get to a better place. They all deserve a happy ending, dammit!

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In Pieces of You, we pick up several weeks after the incident at the concert and now that Chris knows about Claire’s big secret, they start spending more time together. We know Adam loves Claire deeply …

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… but as Chris and Claire see more of each other, Adam’s temper flares and he’s increasingly jealous, volatile and insecure.

“Adam and I have been straddling the line between crazy in love and Crazy Town ever since everything blew up at Chris’ concert five weeks ago.”

Claire continues to assure Adam that she loves him. Adam has been her rock… he’s been everything she’s needed at the time she’s needed someone the most.

“Adam, I don’t think I’ve made it clear enough. I was drowning when I met you. I was barely breathing until you saved me. I’m afraid of what will happen to me without you here.”

Soon, however, Adam’s insecurities get tested when leaves to Hawaii for two months on a job for his father. Claire is heartbroken, Adam is afraid of what will happen and Chris begins to work to get Claire back. It’s the perfect storm in the making.

For me, the more time Claire spent with Chris, the more I felt myself falling for them as a couple. Chris seems to love her so deeply and he feels like home to Claire. He will do ANYTHING to get Claire back. Chris realizes none of it is worth it without her.

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In the meanwhile, Adam starts to push Claire away, and despite Claire’s protests, insists on giving her the time he thinks she needs to sort herself out.

“The quickest path to self-destruction is to push away the people you love.”

You know, starting off the book, I thought for sure I was Team Adam, but I felt so frustrated with the choices he made in this book. I wanted him to act differently and fight for Claire, even though I understood his feelings were coming from a place of total love. He left the door wide open for Chris. In turn, Claire naturally starts to feel confused about how she feels and things get even muddier.

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I have to say, I feel like I want to root for Chris and Claire to be together. They are already a family, connecting over shared grief and past hurt. He’s relentless in trying to make up for his past mistakes and is being so wonderful and loving and patient and REAL. Claire can’t help but see the truth and honesty in Chris’ feelings.

“How can you still love me after everything I’ve done to you?” “How can I not? You’re the fucking love of my life. You don’t stop loving someone just because they’ve hurt you. Yes, what you did hurt me, but I gain nothing if I stay angry with you. But I might gain everything by forgiving you. You’re my everything. I just want you back.”

And geez, the end has me desperately wanting the third book just because I want to see how this story ends and how the conclusion will unfurl. Pieces of You made me tear up, had me smiling and certainly, many times, had my heart aching for Chris, Claire and Adam. I honestly don’t know who I want Claire to end up with. Adam and Chris are so different and fit Claire in very different ways… Adam helped Claire at a time she needed to start anew, while Chris represents her sense of home… their pasts inexorably intertwined.
poy3In the end, Claire will need find a healthy place within herself and learn to trust her own heart. But who will she choose?! 

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About Cassia

cassia-leo-croppedUSA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time watching old reruns of Friends and Sex and the City. When she’s not watching reruns, she’s usually enjoying the California sunshine or reading–sometimes both.

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