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West End #3
Piece by Piece
Sometimes, to reach the surface, you have to fall to the bottom first.
For the past ten years, Riley Davis’s life has been overshadowed by the tragic death of his partner. Unable to move on, Riley throws all his time and effort into his business, putting his personal life on hold.
Until Sonnie Frye drops by his shop, changing his life forever.
Sonnie is a man used to getting what he wants. An award-winning designer, Sonnie has worked hard to get where he is now, and is unwilling to compromise his own needs for anybody else.
Until he meets a handsome shop owner, whose sad eyes tug at his heartstrings.
Seeing something he wants, Sonnie is determined to get under Riley’s skin, and into his bed. But he soon discovers the task is not that easy. For the first time in his life, Sonnie may need to put someone else’s needs before his own, and re-evaluate what really matters in life.
Sonnie and Riley’s connection is explosive, shaking them both to their very core.
But Riley doesn’t believe love will ever be possible for him again. Will Sonnie manage to convince him otherwise? And if so, at what cost?
For the past ten years, Riley Davis’s life has been overshadowed by the tragic death of his partner. Unable to move on, Riley throws all his time and effort into his business, putting his personal life on hold.
Until Sonnie Frye drops by his shop, changing his life forever.
Sonnie is a man used to getting what he wants. An award-winning designer, Sonnie has worked hard to get where he is now, and is unwilling to compromise his own needs for anybody else.
Until he meets a handsome shop owner, whose sad eyes tug at his heartstrings.
Seeing something he wants, Sonnie is determined to get under Riley’s skin, and into his bed. But he soon discovers the task is not that easy. For the first time in his life, Sonnie may need to put someone else’s needs before his own, and re-evaluate what really matters in life.
Sonnie and Riley’s connection is explosive, shaking them both to their very core.
But Riley doesn’t believe love will ever be possible for him again. Will Sonnie manage to convince him otherwise? And if so, at what cost?
286 pages, ebook
First published April 23, 2015
16 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Teodora Kostova
28 books453 followersTeodora Kostova writes romance where every heartbeat matters. She’s an award-winning, bestselling author, a linguist fluent in four languages, and a Creative Writing graduate with a weakness for broken characters who kiss slow and love loudly. When she’s not writing, she’s probably watching anime, trying to score tickets for a musical, or analysing a friend’s natal chart over strong coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 59 reviews
November 20, 2016
Heartbreaking and angsty, Piece by Piece packs an emotional punch.
Riley can't let go of his grief, and as supportive and loving as Sonnie is, he's not enough. Riley has never gotten over Richard's death, and the guilt he feels for wanting Sonnie, wanting to live again, is all consuming.
My heart went out to Riley, but it also went out to Sonnie who tries so hard but gets left behind time and again.
The slow burn really worked here; the relationship never felt rushed. The time the MCs spend together, doing yoga, talking, walking in the park, showed the strong connection between them.
I wanted more laughter, but the HEA was beautiful, all the more so because it required sacrifice and work from both men.
Sonnie, never the patient one, waited and waited for Riley to find peace.
"Honey, I'm home" has never been more poignant.
This book can be read as a standalone, although I enjoyed book two as well.
Riley can't let go of his grief, and as supportive and loving as Sonnie is, he's not enough. Riley has never gotten over Richard's death, and the guilt he feels for wanting Sonnie, wanting to live again, is all consuming.
My heart went out to Riley, but it also went out to Sonnie who tries so hard but gets left behind time and again.
The slow burn really worked here; the relationship never felt rushed. The time the MCs spend together, doing yoga, talking, walking in the park, showed the strong connection between them.
I wanted more laughter, but the HEA was beautiful, all the more so because it required sacrifice and work from both men.
Sonnie, never the patient one, waited and waited for Riley to find peace.
"Honey, I'm home" has never been more poignant.
This book can be read as a standalone, although I enjoyed book two as well.
April 11, 2018
It's very late (1:30am) and I am a mess from finishing this book... it has definitely been an emotional roller-coaster... need to go to bed now so I will write the rest of my review in the morning.
January 12, 2017
"I love you just as you are, with all your broken pieces and all your sorrow and all your past."
Riley is not just a man in mourning. He is totally unable to let go of the past.Running his shop and his friendship with Penn keep him sane....but numb. Until he meets Sonnie. Sonnie in this story has nothing to do with the stuck up asshole/drama queen/ snobbish bitch we met in book 2.
Although it is kind of a long book it is well pace and I liked the time stretch.
Sonnie loves Riley but this love is not enough to save him from his grief. Eventually Riley hits rock bottom and realise that if he wants a real life with Sonnie he has to work on himself first.
There are only two things I didn't handle well.
-So much crying!
-So much angst! Well, this is an angsty story, but sometimes the grief and the sorrow became too much for me and I had to take a short break.
The epilogue was great and I admit it left me a bit misty eyed...Overall it was a good read. I hope this wasn't the last of West End stories.
April 24, 2015
This book....what is this? If it's supposed to be a successful MM romance, it failed big time. I had the feeling I'm reading about female characters most of the time, because let me tell you, these men reminded me of those plastic mannequins we see in stores all the time, so physically perfect, it made me sick.
I get that some men have feminine attributes, they are what some of us would call pretty, but to be constantly reminded of it, over and over and over again, annoyed the crap out of me. Riley is 42 years old, he's a man that's no longer exactly in his youth. I don't mean to say that 42 is old, no way, but it's not exactly young either. Yet he is so perfect!!!!
Riley’d inherited some fortunate genes from his parents – his skin was wrinkle-free, and his hair didn’t have any grey among the dark waves.
I call bullshit! At 42, no matter how good your genes are, you'll have a few fine wrinkles, it can't be avoided! Unless a plastic surgeon played with your skin to make it perfect, you're not going to be flawless at that age. And the fact that he has no grey, not sure what to think about that. I've never seen any 42 year old with absolutely not 1 gray hair, it's all part of the aging process, but maybe Riley's genes are that great! However, grief takes a toll on our bodies! Look at anyone in real life who's spent 10 years grieving for a loved one to the point where they tried to end their own life a few times, they look older, they basically wear their pain. So I don't believe that Riley, who's been using alcohol as a mean of coping, is as flawless as the author says. I want my men to be men, real and flawed, not some ideal that's not probable in real life.
And guess what, Sonnie is just as beautiful, because God forbid we have some average guys in these books.
His hair was dark and cut in layers around his face, reaching just below his jawline. The guy was tall, probably an inch shorter than Riley's six-foot-one, skinny, with elegant long limbs. Riley's eyes were immediately drawn to Sonnie's hands as his long fingers caressed a roll of red satin fabric. Just as Riley was about to make his presence known and stop gawking at the man like an idiot, Sonnie turned and faced him, fixing his brown almond-shaped eyes on Riley's face. His Asian features complemented his bone structure and made his appearance even more exotic.
And by the half way mark, I've heard so much about Sonnie's bone structure and high cheekbones, I even dreamed about them last night. Gah!!!
And then the crying! Oh lordy, so much freaking sobbing! I get that losing your lover is painful and unthinkable, but it didn't happen recently! It's been a decade! I don't think you still sob like that after a decade just because you thought about them! Time has a way of making everything less painful, and thinking about the one you lost WILL make you sad, but it won't make you sob. Whatever!
And Sonnie spends a good part of this book being shocked, his mouth falling open, at different things. Silly things that warrant no shock what's so ever.
And then that psychiatrist Dr. Harley, telling Riley the reason he's not bothered that Sonnie is so much younger than him is because Riley still lives in the past. WTF??? First of all, Sonnie is 32 to Riley's 42, that's not such a big age difference. If Sonnie was 19 years old, I'd maybe think she might be right, but in this case all I could think was IS SHE FUCKING KIDDING?
“Have you ever wondered why you’ve never been bothered by the age difference between you and Sonnie?” The doctor asked, crossing her legs and propping her chin in her hand.
“What?” Riley asked, confused. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’ve never seen your partner, and you’ve never mentioned he was so much younger. Which means you’re not at all concerned about it. Have you ever wondered why?”
“No,” Riley admitted. Should he be concerned about it? What did the doctor mean with all of this? “It’s never been a problem for us.”
“I’m not trying to make it a problem, Riley. Please don’t be offended.” She uncrossed her legs and moved the chair closer to the bed. “And the reason why it’s never bothered you is because you still live in the past.”
There is no fucking plot in this book, there's plenty of sobbing, all the way the end! They're all beautiful and perfect! And last but not least, there's too much telling and not enough showing.
I get that some men have feminine attributes, they are what some of us would call pretty, but to be constantly reminded of it, over and over and over again, annoyed the crap out of me. Riley is 42 years old, he's a man that's no longer exactly in his youth. I don't mean to say that 42 is old, no way, but it's not exactly young either. Yet he is so perfect!!!!
Riley’d inherited some fortunate genes from his parents – his skin was wrinkle-free, and his hair didn’t have any grey among the dark waves.
I call bullshit! At 42, no matter how good your genes are, you'll have a few fine wrinkles, it can't be avoided! Unless a plastic surgeon played with your skin to make it perfect, you're not going to be flawless at that age. And the fact that he has no grey, not sure what to think about that. I've never seen any 42 year old with absolutely not 1 gray hair, it's all part of the aging process, but maybe Riley's genes are that great! However, grief takes a toll on our bodies! Look at anyone in real life who's spent 10 years grieving for a loved one to the point where they tried to end their own life a few times, they look older, they basically wear their pain. So I don't believe that Riley, who's been using alcohol as a mean of coping, is as flawless as the author says. I want my men to be men, real and flawed, not some ideal that's not probable in real life.
And guess what, Sonnie is just as beautiful, because God forbid we have some average guys in these books.
His hair was dark and cut in layers around his face, reaching just below his jawline. The guy was tall, probably an inch shorter than Riley's six-foot-one, skinny, with elegant long limbs. Riley's eyes were immediately drawn to Sonnie's hands as his long fingers caressed a roll of red satin fabric. Just as Riley was about to make his presence known and stop gawking at the man like an idiot, Sonnie turned and faced him, fixing his brown almond-shaped eyes on Riley's face. His Asian features complemented his bone structure and made his appearance even more exotic.
And by the half way mark, I've heard so much about Sonnie's bone structure and high cheekbones, I even dreamed about them last night. Gah!!!
And then the crying! Oh lordy, so much freaking sobbing! I get that losing your lover is painful and unthinkable, but it didn't happen recently! It's been a decade! I don't think you still sob like that after a decade just because you thought about them! Time has a way of making everything less painful, and thinking about the one you lost WILL make you sad, but it won't make you sob. Whatever!
And Sonnie spends a good part of this book being shocked, his mouth falling open, at different things. Silly things that warrant no shock what's so ever.
And then that psychiatrist Dr. Harley, telling Riley the reason he's not bothered that Sonnie is so much younger than him is because Riley still lives in the past. WTF??? First of all, Sonnie is 32 to Riley's 42, that's not such a big age difference. If Sonnie was 19 years old, I'd maybe think she might be right, but in this case all I could think was IS SHE FUCKING KIDDING?
“Have you ever wondered why you’ve never been bothered by the age difference between you and Sonnie?” The doctor asked, crossing her legs and propping her chin in her hand.
“What?” Riley asked, confused. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’ve never seen your partner, and you’ve never mentioned he was so much younger. Which means you’re not at all concerned about it. Have you ever wondered why?”
“No,” Riley admitted. Should he be concerned about it? What did the doctor mean with all of this? “It’s never been a problem for us.”
“I’m not trying to make it a problem, Riley. Please don’t be offended.” She uncrossed her legs and moved the chair closer to the bed. “And the reason why it’s never bothered you is because you still live in the past.”
There is no fucking plot in this book, there's plenty of sobbing, all the way the end! They're all beautiful and perfect! And last but not least, there's too much telling and not enough showing.
November 29, 2016
Wow! It's a mixture of feelings, and unfortunately not all of them are so positive.
Riley, 42 yo, lost his partner 10 years ago. Ten years. It’s been ten years since Richard has died, but he has been cocooned into his daily routine, so much so that even an invitation for a drink or a movie after work has seemed horrifying. Until he meets Sonnie. The beautiful, energetic and kind Sonnie.
“You make me feel, Sonnie. Do you know how long it’s been since I felt?”........
“.......and then you come along with your sexy smile and your confidence and your honesty, and you make me want to feel again. You make me want to have a life, to dream about the future, to have friends again.....”
Sonnie, 32 yo, is a very talented costume designer. None of his relationships has lasted more than a few months. But there is something about Riley that intrigues him at the moment of their first meeting. He sees Riley as a sexy, charismatic and very charming. But when he looks in his blue eyes he sees sadness. He'd love to know him better and he would be happy if they become friends, because nobody deserves to deal with so much sadness on their own, and because there is something buried under all that sadness, wanting to be uncovered. He wants Riley so bad, but he is ready to give him a space to overcome the ghost of his past, who does not stop haunt him. He is ready to wait.
"So you know he's broken."
"I can put him back together,"
"Yeah? And how the hell are you going to do that when nobody succeeded in the past ten years?"
“Piece by piece."
Even thought, it was revealed the tragedy in Riley's past, the first part was sweet and sensual, warming, building up their romantic relationship. Loving to see the way Sonnie was there for him – calling him every day, taking him out on weekends, practising yoga together, took him to a vintage market, and made him a picnic in the park. So energetic, so full of life and charisma! He didn’t mind getting to know the man Riley had had – had loved so much.
However the second piece was a bit triggered into some horrible meltdown, which did not fit well in the first part. I know losing someone you love is everyone’s biggest fear, but there the wound seemed so fresh. It'd been a decade, but for him felt like yesterday. Actually I wondered how exactly he survived under that pressure. There were some attempts to 'deal' with, but 10 years. I love the English school of writing and plotting- natural and sophisticated. I love less when it's been mixed with a Hollywood exaggeration and sprinkle stardust (I mean the mainstream. Oscar' nominees usually are different) to look more dramatic and glamorous. That's exactly how I saw the second part.
Nevertheless, overall it's been a nice experience.
~3.5 stars~
Riley, 42 yo, lost his partner 10 years ago. Ten years. It’s been ten years since Richard has died, but he has been cocooned into his daily routine, so much so that even an invitation for a drink or a movie after work has seemed horrifying. Until he meets Sonnie. The beautiful, energetic and kind Sonnie.
“You make me feel, Sonnie. Do you know how long it’s been since I felt?”........
“.......and then you come along with your sexy smile and your confidence and your honesty, and you make me want to feel again. You make me want to have a life, to dream about the future, to have friends again.....”
Sonnie, 32 yo, is a very talented costume designer. None of his relationships has lasted more than a few months. But there is something about Riley that intrigues him at the moment of their first meeting. He sees Riley as a sexy, charismatic and very charming. But when he looks in his blue eyes he sees sadness. He'd love to know him better and he would be happy if they become friends, because nobody deserves to deal with so much sadness on their own, and because there is something buried under all that sadness, wanting to be uncovered. He wants Riley so bad, but he is ready to give him a space to overcome the ghost of his past, who does not stop haunt him. He is ready to wait.
"So you know he's broken."
"I can put him back together,"
"Yeah? And how the hell are you going to do that when nobody succeeded in the past ten years?"
“Piece by piece."
Even thought, it was revealed the tragedy in Riley's past, the first part was sweet and sensual, warming, building up their romantic relationship. Loving to see the way Sonnie was there for him – calling him every day, taking him out on weekends, practising yoga together, took him to a vintage market, and made him a picnic in the park. So energetic, so full of life and charisma! He didn’t mind getting to know the man Riley had had – had loved so much.
However the second piece was a bit triggered into some horrible meltdown, which did not fit well in the first part. I know losing someone you love is everyone’s biggest fear, but there the wound seemed so fresh. It'd been a decade, but for him felt like yesterday. Actually I wondered how exactly he survived under that pressure. There were some attempts to 'deal' with, but 10 years. I love the English school of writing and plotting- natural and sophisticated. I love less when it's been mixed with a Hollywood exaggeration and sprinkle stardust (I mean the mainstream. Oscar' nominees usually are different) to look more dramatic and glamorous. That's exactly how I saw the second part.
Nevertheless, overall it's been a nice experience.
~3.5 stars~
April 11, 2019
***** No one really understood how delicate Riley's mind was. He'd kept his grief and feelings about, Richard, his partner's death, locked up tight. So, when his new emotions opened up for Sonnie, Riley was raw and overwhelmed.
Riley is a clothes shop owner, and Sonnie is the wardrobe designer at the theatre. What we see is a relationship slowly evolves from good friends who hang out, eat, have fun and companionship, to to deeply passionate lovers. Releasing his past tale to Sonnie unloads some of Riley's burden, but he wallows more from his reopened, intense grief.
* Sonnie is amazing in his patience and big-hearted ways.
Riley lets his relaxed self come forward. We see past characters, like Penn and Adam, Jared and Fenix, plus self-centered Alice, Richard's sister who has no empathy for Riley. The anniversary of Richard's death, every December deals Riley a hard blow, and a downward spiral. I'm glad therapy is used, especially since Riley had attempted suicide twice after Richard's passing.
We are show how wonderful Riley and Sonnie's time together can be, and their love is spoken and shown. Their sexy times are abundant, fulfilling and exciting. Riley still struggles to live his life.
Hope. Help. Happiness.
I was shocked at the decision Riley finally made, but it was for the best, eventually. We see their journey, and appreciate the great loss of a loved one.
( I lost my previous husband to sudden death heart attack after dinner at a restaurant. That devastation clings to the spouse's body and soul. The depression and grief weighed me down. So, never be afraid to ask for help, because there are friends and family who need you in their lives. )
This book takes us on a trail that leads to success.
The epilogue is heartwarming.
============
Riley is a clothes shop owner, and Sonnie is the wardrobe designer at the theatre. What we see is a relationship slowly evolves from good friends who hang out, eat, have fun and companionship, to to deeply passionate lovers. Releasing his past tale to Sonnie unloads some of Riley's burden, but he wallows more from his reopened, intense grief.
* Sonnie is amazing in his patience and big-hearted ways.
Riley lets his relaxed self come forward. We see past characters, like Penn and Adam, Jared and Fenix, plus self-centered Alice, Richard's sister who has no empathy for Riley. The anniversary of Richard's death, every December deals Riley a hard blow, and a downward spiral. I'm glad therapy is used, especially since Riley had attempted suicide twice after Richard's passing.
We are show how wonderful Riley and Sonnie's time together can be, and their love is spoken and shown. Their sexy times are abundant, fulfilling and exciting. Riley still struggles to live his life.
Hope. Help. Happiness.
I was shocked at the decision Riley finally made, but it was for the best, eventually. We see their journey, and appreciate the great loss of a loved one.
( I lost my previous husband to sudden death heart attack after dinner at a restaurant. That devastation clings to the spouse's body and soul. The depression and grief weighed me down. So, never be afraid to ask for help, because there are friends and family who need you in their lives. )
This book takes us on a trail that leads to success.
The epilogue is heartwarming.
============
April 28, 2015
"I can put him back together," Sonnie replied. They might as well get it all out in the open.
"Yeah? And how the hell are you going to do that when nobody succeeded in the past ten years?" Penn asked, anger lacing his words.
Sonnie squared his shoulders, standing up to his full height, not appreciating being doubted. "Piece by piece."
This is Riley and Sonnie's story. They were first introduced by Penn in Mask and, in fact, some of the timing overlaps that of Mask. Riley was Penn's friend and proprietor of a haberdashery. Sonnie is the chief costume director of the Queen Victoria theatre where Penn works.
Although he lost his partner 10 years ago, Riley is still grieving and hasn't been able to start "living" again. Sonnie is attracted to him instantly, sees the sadness behind his eyes and wants to do everything he can to take away Riley's sadness and bring him back to life. I love that Riley and Sonnie are older -- 42 and 32. I also love that the relationship started slowly and that they became friends, and then best friends before becoming lovers. This is a fairly slow, meandering story as Riley and Sonnie gradually start their relationship. I think this is what was needed as Riley had some serious issues that needed to be dealt with. On the other hand, I think some readers might find the story to be a little too slow. My other minor criticism was that there seemed to be a number of editing issues, particularly in the first half of the story.
Ultimately, though, this was a gentle and beautiful story of two mature men finding love and overcoming a terrible grief to start a life together. Although not necessary, I would recommend reading Mask first -- it was an enjoyable romance with very unique elements.
"Yeah? And how the hell are you going to do that when nobody succeeded in the past ten years?" Penn asked, anger lacing his words.
Sonnie squared his shoulders, standing up to his full height, not appreciating being doubted. "Piece by piece."
This is Riley and Sonnie's story. They were first introduced by Penn in Mask and, in fact, some of the timing overlaps that of Mask. Riley was Penn's friend and proprietor of a haberdashery. Sonnie is the chief costume director of the Queen Victoria theatre where Penn works.
Although he lost his partner 10 years ago, Riley is still grieving and hasn't been able to start "living" again. Sonnie is attracted to him instantly, sees the sadness behind his eyes and wants to do everything he can to take away Riley's sadness and bring him back to life. I love that Riley and Sonnie are older -- 42 and 32. I also love that the relationship started slowly and that they became friends, and then best friends before becoming lovers. This is a fairly slow, meandering story as Riley and Sonnie gradually start their relationship. I think this is what was needed as Riley had some serious issues that needed to be dealt with. On the other hand, I think some readers might find the story to be a little too slow. My other minor criticism was that there seemed to be a number of editing issues, particularly in the first half of the story.
Ultimately, though, this was a gentle and beautiful story of two mature men finding love and overcoming a terrible grief to start a life together. Although not necessary, I would recommend reading Mask first -- it was an enjoyable romance with very unique elements.
February 23, 2016
Until I listened to this book I never knew what a big business making and designing costumes is for the theatre. This is the first thing that went through my mind when embarking on this story. I always find it so fascinating to read about people, their jobs and daily life as a backdrop. Seriously, romance aside, I’ve been introduced to so many different areas of life with my reading it’s always a surprise to see where I’ll end up next. It’s in this backdrop of costumes, fashion, theatres and shows that we meet Sonnie.
Sonnie is chief designer and not only for the theatre but also a fashion designer in his own right. When Sonnie first walks on stage I thought, yeah, typical superficial, fashionista but then he warmed to me and as the story progresses deeper qualities came into view that I didn’t think he possessed after first introductions. He is upbeat, knows what he wants and goes for it. This could also have been his undoing towards the end of the book but all’s well that ends well.
He is looking for material for a wedding dress he designing for an important client and goes to a haberdashery shop. Yes, I couldn’t believe they still exist today but they do. All kinds of material are to be found in this shop and it almost made me run out, buy a sewing machine and get creative - lol! Anyway, this is where he meets Riley the shop owner. It soons become clear there is an attraction there but Riley doesn’t know quite what to make of Sonnie at first. Riley is withdrawn, lives for his shop, well practically busies himself it so at first I thought he was quite aloof or standoffish. Sonnie has to do the chasing but it isn’t without it’s problems. Then we get to the real root of Riley’s problem, he is still mourning or grieving for the death of his former partner who died in a road traffic accident 10 years before. This grief that Riley has for his former partner is all consuming and not healthy. I first asked myself that this was ten years ago, shouldn’t he be over this by now? I don’t wish to sound unfeeling, of course you always carry the scars, but Riley’s situation and how he deals or I should say isn’t dealing with it isn’t healthy at all. It’s all consuming and suffocating meaning he hasn’t let anyone into his life for ten years, has thrown himself into work and his shop and doesn’t let many people get close. But there is something in Sonnie that he finds endearing and starts to open a small door for him to let him inside.
When Sonnie finds out about how broken Riley is inside he definitely has his work cut out for him. He masters it wonderfully with a great deal of patience, more than I would have for sure and never would have expected from Sonnie. That’s the unexpected I found in Sonnie to be honest. Would never have guessed this when I first met him at the beginning of the book. But as their love develops there are of course many bumps in the road to overcome. Riley needs someone like Sonnie to help him get out of the unhealthy rut he has ensconced himself in. It’s always worse around Christmas time when the accident happened for Riley and he falls into a state of grief and depression that is unbelieveable. I could feel the weight of Riley's grief gradually choking the life force out of him as he spirals down and down. Only due to Sonnie does he manage to pull himself together and not do anything stupid.
And here we have the crux of the matter. Riley’s issues stops him from opening up to Sonnie completely. He is still in love with his former partner and he can’t see a way to let go of this grief and love he has in order to move forward with Sonnie. I suppose this is naturla enough but if it stops you from moving on with your life then it is debilitating. Sonnie has the patience of the saints and the understanding to go with it. I don’t think I would have stuck it out that long. But Sonnie’s love for Riley is strong and believes that together they’ll be alright. Truth is Riley needs professional help and he seeks out a therapist, one he saw at the beginning right after his former partner’s death. Now, when it comes to therapists sometimes I admit of my own volition that I’m always sceptical and this was no exception. I’m not a believer in over analysing things, my own personal view but there you go. At first it seems that she is only making things worse rather than better, my scepticism was proved right at least when he starts to see her. But I guess this is something Riley has to face and work through otherwise he’s never going to be able to be happy 100% with Sonnie. This is what the therapist sees and she is right. Riley does pull through but he needs sometime on his own which he takes in the form of a sabbatical and goes to India for six months. When he comes back he is ready and the story ends beautifully.
Both protagonists are wonderfully written and well balanced. Ms Kostova has taken two characters from opposite ends of the personality spectrum but has managed to mold them into one until they become a ying and yang symbiosis at the end. This is a story about broken pieces and the title is very apt as Riley as to but himself back together piece by piece. I did feel exasperated at times with Riley and just wanted to slap him to pull him out the funk he would get himself in. But Ms Kostova’s writing draws you into this dark place where Riley is and felt it consuming me just like it did Riley., Through this came the understanding for his situation. There are some very poignant moments and right at the end even I had a slight lump in my throat with what these two have achieved. they can now look forward to a bright future together.
Narration
So with a story set in the West End of London of course it’s fitting to have a British narrator. However, as I have mentioned before I’m always a little wary about narrators who British or have British accents. If they’re not careful they come across as being too BBC or “posh” which does absolutely nothing for the narration of a contemporary M/M romance. Makes it all a little too unbelievable. Well, I’m very happy to say that George A. thorn got it absolutely right. The accents were natural, no received pronunciation giving it a false or BBC sound to it. The voice of Sonnie I found perfect. If there was criticism then for me personally and my ears at times Riley’s voice characterisation came across as as being a little stupid or dense sounding like an East End thug rather than a manager of a haberdashery business. Again this is only how my ears interpreted at times. But it certainly didn’t detract from the narration as a whole. I would definitely listen to other books narrated by Mr Thorn.
Sonnie is chief designer and not only for the theatre but also a fashion designer in his own right. When Sonnie first walks on stage I thought, yeah, typical superficial, fashionista but then he warmed to me and as the story progresses deeper qualities came into view that I didn’t think he possessed after first introductions. He is upbeat, knows what he wants and goes for it. This could also have been his undoing towards the end of the book but all’s well that ends well.
He is looking for material for a wedding dress he designing for an important client and goes to a haberdashery shop. Yes, I couldn’t believe they still exist today but they do. All kinds of material are to be found in this shop and it almost made me run out, buy a sewing machine and get creative - lol! Anyway, this is where he meets Riley the shop owner. It soons become clear there is an attraction there but Riley doesn’t know quite what to make of Sonnie at first. Riley is withdrawn, lives for his shop, well practically busies himself it so at first I thought he was quite aloof or standoffish. Sonnie has to do the chasing but it isn’t without it’s problems. Then we get to the real root of Riley’s problem, he is still mourning or grieving for the death of his former partner who died in a road traffic accident 10 years before. This grief that Riley has for his former partner is all consuming and not healthy. I first asked myself that this was ten years ago, shouldn’t he be over this by now? I don’t wish to sound unfeeling, of course you always carry the scars, but Riley’s situation and how he deals or I should say isn’t dealing with it isn’t healthy at all. It’s all consuming and suffocating meaning he hasn’t let anyone into his life for ten years, has thrown himself into work and his shop and doesn’t let many people get close. But there is something in Sonnie that he finds endearing and starts to open a small door for him to let him inside.
When Sonnie finds out about how broken Riley is inside he definitely has his work cut out for him. He masters it wonderfully with a great deal of patience, more than I would have for sure and never would have expected from Sonnie. That’s the unexpected I found in Sonnie to be honest. Would never have guessed this when I first met him at the beginning of the book. But as their love develops there are of course many bumps in the road to overcome. Riley needs someone like Sonnie to help him get out of the unhealthy rut he has ensconced himself in. It’s always worse around Christmas time when the accident happened for Riley and he falls into a state of grief and depression that is unbelieveable. I could feel the weight of Riley's grief gradually choking the life force out of him as he spirals down and down. Only due to Sonnie does he manage to pull himself together and not do anything stupid.
And here we have the crux of the matter. Riley’s issues stops him from opening up to Sonnie completely. He is still in love with his former partner and he can’t see a way to let go of this grief and love he has in order to move forward with Sonnie. I suppose this is naturla enough but if it stops you from moving on with your life then it is debilitating. Sonnie has the patience of the saints and the understanding to go with it. I don’t think I would have stuck it out that long. But Sonnie’s love for Riley is strong and believes that together they’ll be alright. Truth is Riley needs professional help and he seeks out a therapist, one he saw at the beginning right after his former partner’s death. Now, when it comes to therapists sometimes I admit of my own volition that I’m always sceptical and this was no exception. I’m not a believer in over analysing things, my own personal view but there you go. At first it seems that she is only making things worse rather than better, my scepticism was proved right at least when he starts to see her. But I guess this is something Riley has to face and work through otherwise he’s never going to be able to be happy 100% with Sonnie. This is what the therapist sees and she is right. Riley does pull through but he needs sometime on his own which he takes in the form of a sabbatical and goes to India for six months. When he comes back he is ready and the story ends beautifully.
Both protagonists are wonderfully written and well balanced. Ms Kostova has taken two characters from opposite ends of the personality spectrum but has managed to mold them into one until they become a ying and yang symbiosis at the end. This is a story about broken pieces and the title is very apt as Riley as to but himself back together piece by piece. I did feel exasperated at times with Riley and just wanted to slap him to pull him out the funk he would get himself in. But Ms Kostova’s writing draws you into this dark place where Riley is and felt it consuming me just like it did Riley., Through this came the understanding for his situation. There are some very poignant moments and right at the end even I had a slight lump in my throat with what these two have achieved. they can now look forward to a bright future together.
Narration
So with a story set in the West End of London of course it’s fitting to have a British narrator. However, as I have mentioned before I’m always a little wary about narrators who British or have British accents. If they’re not careful they come across as being too BBC or “posh” which does absolutely nothing for the narration of a contemporary M/M romance. Makes it all a little too unbelievable. Well, I’m very happy to say that George A. thorn got it absolutely right. The accents were natural, no received pronunciation giving it a false or BBC sound to it. The voice of Sonnie I found perfect. If there was criticism then for me personally and my ears at times Riley’s voice characterisation came across as as being a little stupid or dense sounding like an East End thug rather than a manager of a haberdashery business. Again this is only how my ears interpreted at times. But it certainly didn’t detract from the narration as a whole. I would definitely listen to other books narrated by Mr Thorn.
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August 26, 2017
solo 3 stelle per la delusione datami dal personaggio di riley,forse mi aspettavo troppo dopo i 2 precedenti romanzi della serie
September 14, 2022
The story was alright although the characters were still shallow when I gave up at 50%. Especially Sunny was weird, because he is described as often having a bad temper, but never showing it. I found them both very feminine and don't know if that was the text, too.
The narrator definitely made both characters feminine. They had soft friendly voices. This tone of reading was especially annoying when reading sex scenes. He made everything so sweet and careful as if he targeted a fifteen year old girl as an audience and did not want to scare her.
The narrator definitely made both characters feminine. They had soft friendly voices. This tone of reading was especially annoying when reading sex scenes. He made everything so sweet and careful as if he targeted a fifteen year old girl as an audience and did not want to scare her.
April 27, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Piece by Piece is a novel that is set in the world of the West End series. This novel, however, can be read as a stand alone. While both Sonnie and Riley were introduced in the second book, Mask, this is their complete story. This story is also a departure from the style of the first two books in the series as these men are older than past main characters in the series and the story has a much deeper, somber, and emotional tone. This book runs parallel to Mask and the MCs from that book, mostly Penn, do appear in certain scenes. What works so well here is that some of the scenes are familiar from Mask, but are shown from a different perspective. This gives new readers all the information they need, but gives readers that have followed the series a new and unique perspective.
This is not an easy book and there is so much grief. Riley is beyond broken to be numb to everything except for the blinding, searing pain that Richard’s death left. His depression is constant and complete still after so many years have passed. His pain is so visceral that he cannot even see Richard’s sister, who looks remarkably like Richard, without having a full on anxiety attack. The pain does not get erased. When Riley meets Sonnie it gives him something to look forward to, but this is not the book where Riley meets Sonnie and his pain is put to rest. Riley and Richard had an extremely co-dependent relationship and the author does a great job of displaying how fractured Riley is. Sonnie is used to living life for himself. Yet, he really steps up for Riley, becomes his friend, and doesn’t push him even when he knows that Riley has become the love of his life. The author takes us on a downward spiral with Riley as he cannot move past his love and devotion and ultimately guilt over his continued need and desperation over his feelings for the loss of Richard. Although the story is a slow build, it’s the emotional intensity that is the slow burn, not the physical relationship. The intimate scenes between Riley and Sonnie are heated, emotional, and at times healing. They also increase in intensity and desire and become a catalyst for Riley’s shifting pain.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Piece by Piece is a novel that is set in the world of the West End series. This novel, however, can be read as a stand alone. While both Sonnie and Riley were introduced in the second book, Mask, this is their complete story. This story is also a departure from the style of the first two books in the series as these men are older than past main characters in the series and the story has a much deeper, somber, and emotional tone. This book runs parallel to Mask and the MCs from that book, mostly Penn, do appear in certain scenes. What works so well here is that some of the scenes are familiar from Mask, but are shown from a different perspective. This gives new readers all the information they need, but gives readers that have followed the series a new and unique perspective.
This is not an easy book and there is so much grief. Riley is beyond broken to be numb to everything except for the blinding, searing pain that Richard’s death left. His depression is constant and complete still after so many years have passed. His pain is so visceral that he cannot even see Richard’s sister, who looks remarkably like Richard, without having a full on anxiety attack. The pain does not get erased. When Riley meets Sonnie it gives him something to look forward to, but this is not the book where Riley meets Sonnie and his pain is put to rest. Riley and Richard had an extremely co-dependent relationship and the author does a great job of displaying how fractured Riley is. Sonnie is used to living life for himself. Yet, he really steps up for Riley, becomes his friend, and doesn’t push him even when he knows that Riley has become the love of his life. The author takes us on a downward spiral with Riley as he cannot move past his love and devotion and ultimately guilt over his continued need and desperation over his feelings for the loss of Richard. Although the story is a slow build, it’s the emotional intensity that is the slow burn, not the physical relationship. The intimate scenes between Riley and Sonnie are heated, emotional, and at times healing. They also increase in intensity and desire and become a catalyst for Riley’s shifting pain.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
April 28, 2015
This is a series book, but it is not necessary to read them in order.
Sonny Frye is a demanding costumer, known for his fantastic creations for the West End Queen's Theatre in London. Struggling for inspiration on a new project, he turns to a junior colleague, Penn, whose designs are stunningly creative. Penn introduces Sonny to his good friend Riley--who owns a fabrics and finishings shop that carries the exact type of vintage satin Sonny needs. Riley is stuck in a grief loop ten years deep.
Riley met Richard whey were newly adult, early to mid-twenties, and spent years together before Richard was struck by a hit-and-run driver and died. Since then Riley has had two suicide attempts and struggles daily with anger and guilt.
Sonny doesn't realize all he's getting into when caught in Riley's sad gaze, but he knows it's a stronger feeling that his usual attraction. Over the course of several month, Sonny and Riley develop a friendship--with Riley (seemingly) finally breaking out of his sheltered misery. Still, there are backslides, and Sonny's there to catch him when he falls. Thing is, Riley falls deep and hard--when Sony and Riley begin to get physical, he's guilty for finding love with another man than Richard--but he's also guilty that he can't love Sonny as strong as he loved Richard....
As for the book, I did enjoy the slow burn. Sonny's such a rock, and Riley's admittedly a mess. Just when I thought he got his act together, he broke down again. The interplay between his growing affection for Sonny and his guilt/grief over Richard is heart-rending. As a person who suffers depression, I've had first-hand experience of the disordered thinking Riley lives with.
I think there was a bit of a drag, however. It's truly difficult to write about depression without getting bogged. I liked that Riley got himself the help he needed, but the way he went about it was frustrating to me. Also, I wanted to see his healing, and those bits were related in terms of sporadic letter to Sonny--who was the dearest of hearts and waited for Riley to return to him. The resolution was very touching and lovely, and I wished for just a little more time to bask in it.
It's a good, solid love story, with characters that are compelling and real. Riley's grief is real, his reluctance to let go of his love is a roadblock for a good long time, but he rescues his on self, which was admirable.
Sonny Frye is a demanding costumer, known for his fantastic creations for the West End Queen's Theatre in London. Struggling for inspiration on a new project, he turns to a junior colleague, Penn, whose designs are stunningly creative. Penn introduces Sonny to his good friend Riley--who owns a fabrics and finishings shop that carries the exact type of vintage satin Sonny needs. Riley is stuck in a grief loop ten years deep.
Riley met Richard whey were newly adult, early to mid-twenties, and spent years together before Richard was struck by a hit-and-run driver and died. Since then Riley has had two suicide attempts and struggles daily with anger and guilt.
Sonny doesn't realize all he's getting into when caught in Riley's sad gaze, but he knows it's a stronger feeling that his usual attraction. Over the course of several month, Sonny and Riley develop a friendship--with Riley (seemingly) finally breaking out of his sheltered misery. Still, there are backslides, and Sonny's there to catch him when he falls. Thing is, Riley falls deep and hard--when Sony and Riley begin to get physical, he's guilty for finding love with another man than Richard--but he's also guilty that he can't love Sonny as strong as he loved Richard....
As for the book, I did enjoy the slow burn. Sonny's such a rock, and Riley's admittedly a mess. Just when I thought he got his act together, he broke down again. The interplay between his growing affection for Sonny and his guilt/grief over Richard is heart-rending. As a person who suffers depression, I've had first-hand experience of the disordered thinking Riley lives with.
I think there was a bit of a drag, however. It's truly difficult to write about depression without getting bogged. I liked that Riley got himself the help he needed, but the way he went about it was frustrating to me. Also, I wanted to see his healing, and those bits were related in terms of sporadic letter to Sonny--who was the dearest of hearts and waited for Riley to return to him. The resolution was very touching and lovely, and I wished for just a little more time to bask in it.
It's a good, solid love story, with characters that are compelling and real. Riley's grief is real, his reluctance to let go of his love is a roadblock for a good long time, but he rescues his on self, which was admirable.
April 23, 2015
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
I love you as you are, with all your broken pieces and all you sorrow and all your past.
It was very clear at the end of Mask, book 2 in this series, that there was more to come and that the story had to belong to Riley and Sonny regardless of the fact that they had only just met each other.
Piece by Piece picks up once again at that first meeting when Sonny visits Riley’s shop with Penn. Sonny can recognise a handsome man when one is in front of him but he can also see the sadness in Riley and I think initially their friendship begins out of curiosity with Riley fighting it every step of the way.
Teodora’s portrayal of Riley and his all-consuming grief in this story is beautiful, poignant and heart-breaking. We have met Riley before. He is a great friend of Penn’s and although we knew he had loved and lost nothing could prepare you for the grief that he lives with every day. The pain written onto the page is overwhelming and at times so bleak I wondered whether Riley would ever start living again.
Sonny is tenacious and a man used to getting what he wants. He is also someone that shows an unlimited amount of patience and care with Riley as he tries to help him navigate back into a world where he can live instead of just exist.
This was a true story of love. There was no instant gratification as every step of progress they made was slow and painful. For most of the story there were three people in the relationship and how is anyone expected to compete or live up to the memories of a ghost.
The ending, like their entire story, has no quick fix. For Riley to have suddenly gotten over his grief because Sonny came into his life would have been a disservice to them both and very unrealistic. With Sonny’s help Riley gets to a place where he is ready to start healing but that last step must be taken alone even if that seems like the most difficult thing in the world for both of them to comprehend.
I think this may have become my favourite book of the series!
I love you as you are, with all your broken pieces and all you sorrow and all your past.
It was very clear at the end of Mask, book 2 in this series, that there was more to come and that the story had to belong to Riley and Sonny regardless of the fact that they had only just met each other.
Piece by Piece picks up once again at that first meeting when Sonny visits Riley’s shop with Penn. Sonny can recognise a handsome man when one is in front of him but he can also see the sadness in Riley and I think initially their friendship begins out of curiosity with Riley fighting it every step of the way.
Teodora’s portrayal of Riley and his all-consuming grief in this story is beautiful, poignant and heart-breaking. We have met Riley before. He is a great friend of Penn’s and although we knew he had loved and lost nothing could prepare you for the grief that he lives with every day. The pain written onto the page is overwhelming and at times so bleak I wondered whether Riley would ever start living again.
Sonny is tenacious and a man used to getting what he wants. He is also someone that shows an unlimited amount of patience and care with Riley as he tries to help him navigate back into a world where he can live instead of just exist.
This was a true story of love. There was no instant gratification as every step of progress they made was slow and painful. For most of the story there were three people in the relationship and how is anyone expected to compete or live up to the memories of a ghost.
The ending, like their entire story, has no quick fix. For Riley to have suddenly gotten over his grief because Sonny came into his life would have been a disservice to them both and very unrealistic. With Sonny’s help Riley gets to a place where he is ready to start healing but that last step must be taken alone even if that seems like the most difficult thing in the world for both of them to comprehend.
I think this may have become my favourite book of the series!
April 29, 2015
Piece by Piece is the third installment in the West End series and I have to say I think it is my favorite so far. And seriously, getting to know Sonnie and Riley was just too fun. Now, don't get me wrong...It wasn't all giggles and romance. There were some true hard times for these two. Riley's past truly disrupted his present as well as his future. My heart ached for him and all I wanted was to see him happy.
And guess what...only one person could really do that...SONNIE!!
Sonnie is such an amazing character. Full of life and a totally in your face personality, you are drawn to him. He is definitely that bright spot in the room that everyone gravitates toward.
So when he and Riley meet, it was explosive and you just knew that these two were going to change each other's lives.
Their relationship was so real. Such struggles that every couple go through...
Man...just a wonderfully written story with complex and intriguing characters. Once you dive in, you won't come out until you are finished...
And guess what...only one person could really do that...SONNIE!!
Sonnie is such an amazing character. Full of life and a totally in your face personality, you are drawn to him. He is definitely that bright spot in the room that everyone gravitates toward.
So when he and Riley meet, it was explosive and you just knew that these two were going to change each other's lives.
Their relationship was so real. Such struggles that every couple go through...
Man...just a wonderfully written story with complex and intriguing characters. Once you dive in, you won't come out until you are finished...
May 6, 2015
This is the third and final book in the series and what a fantastic read it was. It's an emotional m/m standalone.
This is Riley and Sonnies story. After losing his partner Riley is a mess. He's hit rock bottom and doesn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. That is until he meets Sonnie. Sonnies a fabulous character. I totally loved them both.
The author has written a brilliant solid and emotional story. I loved how the characters were portrayed so read. This is definitely on my to-read list. Loved it.
This is Riley and Sonnies story. After losing his partner Riley is a mess. He's hit rock bottom and doesn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. That is until he meets Sonnie. Sonnies a fabulous character. I totally loved them both.
The author has written a brilliant solid and emotional story. I loved how the characters were portrayed so read. This is definitely on my to-read list. Loved it.
June 27, 2016
This story was heartbreaking and very sweet.
I just Loved Sonnie he waited for his forever man until he was ready
I couldn't do it.
July 8, 2016
Phew. I finished. My heavens...to say this was exhausting is putting it mild...putting it mighty mild.
Sonnie and Riley for me are a wonderful couple. Sonnie is very supportive and loving and exactly what Riley needs. But heavens to Betsy...Riley kinda wore me out. And given the topic of this book that makes me sound like such a bitch...but it was just too much for me.
The writing as always was unbelievably beautiful, but of the three books and the short in this series, this is my least favorite. Every time Penn would come on page it made me long more for him and made me want to reach for "Mask" and reread his story and visualize him in dresses and lingerie all over again. *sigh*
I continue to love the setting, the costumes and how the Richard's comics came to be interwoven into the story was lovely.
I'm going to continue to poke Teo for more...while Charlie is an ass, I kinda would like to know what makes him tick. We shall see.
***
A gift from Momo!! BR with Nathan and Momo on Thursday, January 7th
Status Updates:
1%
Nathan and Teri...
6%
Ten years. It’d been ten years since Richard had died, and Riley had made his peace that he’d never love anybody else. That he’d never wake up to anybody else, never share a part of himself with anybody else. Because when you do that, when you willingly give a part of yourself to someone, that part dies when they leave. What you’re left with is half a person, damaged goods in the sale basket that nobody wants.
Oh Riley. :-(
13%
“What can I say? I’m old,” Riley said with a playful grin.
“You’re not old! You can give any twink a run for his money.”
“Ha! When I was a twink, the word twink wasn’t even invented. That’s how old I am, darling.”
17%
There was something about Sonnie, something so contagiously alive that it was rubbing off on Riley merely in the span of a day. He was attracted to Sonnie, but what he was feeling was much more than that. Riley wanted to latch onto Sonnie, absorb his energy, that same energy that made him feel things he thought he was incapable of experiencing anymore.
28%
Riley leaned in, barely more than an inch, and nudged his nose to Sonnie's. The light touch was tender and electrifying at the same time. Sonnie's restraint was stretched thin –he was visibly trembling with the desire to find out what Riley's lips tasted like.
37%
He’d had that once, and he’d lost it, and he should feel guilty for wanting to have it again with someone else. But he didn’t. For better or worse, he’d kept on living – battered, bruised, broken-hearted and irreversibly changed, but still alive. Before he’d met Sonnie, Riley hadn’t thought that being alive was a blessing. It certainly didn't feel that way when your soul was numb. But now... Now he wanted to hold on to Sonnie and never let go.
44%
I feel all warm and fuzzy which means the shit is about to hit the emotional fan. *prepares self*
51%
“I haven’t looked into someone’s eyes and seen a future there in a long time, Sonnie. Not since Richie died. And I do with you. It scares me because I feel I’m not good enough for you, that I’m already too damaged to make you happy, but, God help me, I look at you and I see a future past tomorrow.”
58%
“You think I love you because I want the same in return?”
Riley frowned in confusion again. “Doesn’t everyone?”
Sonnie shook his head. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but I love you because I can’t help it.”
80%
“It’s been a year since I met you and I thought it’d be nice to... I don’t know, it was a stupid idea.” Riley couldn't meet Sonnie's eyes. He’d never forget the day Sonnie walked into his shop and the first time he looked into these gorgeous dark eyes.
85%
Alice...let me introduce you to my friend...
enough said.
100%
Sonnie and Riley for me are a wonderful couple. Sonnie is very supportive and loving and exactly what Riley needs. But heavens to Betsy...Riley kinda wore me out. And given the topic of this book that makes me sound like such a bitch...but it was just too much for me.
The writing as always was unbelievably beautiful, but of the three books and the short in this series, this is my least favorite. Every time Penn would come on page it made me long more for him and made me want to reach for "Mask" and reread his story and visualize him in dresses and lingerie all over again. *sigh*
I continue to love the setting, the costumes and how the Richard's comics came to be interwoven into the story was lovely.
I'm going to continue to poke Teo for more...while Charlie is an ass, I kinda would like to know what makes him tick. We shall see.
***
A gift from Momo!! BR with Nathan and Momo on Thursday, January 7th
Status Updates:
1%
Nathan and Teri...
6%
Ten years. It’d been ten years since Richard had died, and Riley had made his peace that he’d never love anybody else. That he’d never wake up to anybody else, never share a part of himself with anybody else. Because when you do that, when you willingly give a part of yourself to someone, that part dies when they leave. What you’re left with is half a person, damaged goods in the sale basket that nobody wants.
Oh Riley. :-(
13%
“What can I say? I’m old,” Riley said with a playful grin.
“You’re not old! You can give any twink a run for his money.”
“Ha! When I was a twink, the word twink wasn’t even invented. That’s how old I am, darling.”
17%
There was something about Sonnie, something so contagiously alive that it was rubbing off on Riley merely in the span of a day. He was attracted to Sonnie, but what he was feeling was much more than that. Riley wanted to latch onto Sonnie, absorb his energy, that same energy that made him feel things he thought he was incapable of experiencing anymore.
28%
Riley leaned in, barely more than an inch, and nudged his nose to Sonnie's. The light touch was tender and electrifying at the same time. Sonnie's restraint was stretched thin –he was visibly trembling with the desire to find out what Riley's lips tasted like.
37%
He’d had that once, and he’d lost it, and he should feel guilty for wanting to have it again with someone else. But he didn’t. For better or worse, he’d kept on living – battered, bruised, broken-hearted and irreversibly changed, but still alive. Before he’d met Sonnie, Riley hadn’t thought that being alive was a blessing. It certainly didn't feel that way when your soul was numb. But now... Now he wanted to hold on to Sonnie and never let go.
44%
I feel all warm and fuzzy which means the shit is about to hit the emotional fan. *prepares self*
51%
“I haven’t looked into someone’s eyes and seen a future there in a long time, Sonnie. Not since Richie died. And I do with you. It scares me because I feel I’m not good enough for you, that I’m already too damaged to make you happy, but, God help me, I look at you and I see a future past tomorrow.”
58%
“You think I love you because I want the same in return?”
Riley frowned in confusion again. “Doesn’t everyone?”
Sonnie shook his head. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but I love you because I can’t help it.”
80%
“It’s been a year since I met you and I thought it’d be nice to... I don’t know, it was a stupid idea.” Riley couldn't meet Sonnie's eyes. He’d never forget the day Sonnie walked into his shop and the first time he looked into these gorgeous dark eyes.
85%
Alice...let me introduce you to my friend...
enough said.
100%
May 6, 2015
Three words to describe this book, emotional, romantic and sexy, also fabulous, okay that's four!
Riley is Penn's friend, Penn is a characther from previous book. Riley lost his partner a decade ago and hasn't really moved on.
Sonnie is the top costume designer at the theatre, he has come across as a bit up himself before, but in this book we get to know the real Sonnie.
When Penn introduces these two they strike up a friendship, of course Sonnie wants more but Riley is in no way ready for that and Sonnie is a total star, patient, caring and encouraging, he totally won me over. To say Riley is messed up doesn't come close, but we see glimpses of the real man behind the pain and his rather sexy!
I mentioned this is an emotional read, I should also tell you it's not an I fancy you lets jump into bed and fall in love book, it's so much deeper and when things finally do happen it's such a buzz.
A fulfilling MM romance that you won't want to put down.
All books in this series can be read as stand alone (other than novella), but I like to read in order, then you get a thrill when previous characthers appear in current book!
5 emotional and sexy stars.
**I received an arc for an honest review **
Riley is Penn's friend, Penn is a characther from previous book. Riley lost his partner a decade ago and hasn't really moved on.
Sonnie is the top costume designer at the theatre, he has come across as a bit up himself before, but in this book we get to know the real Sonnie.
"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you this fake," Riley said when they were past another set of doors.
"That's because I'm never fake when I'm with you," Sonnie replied honestly, turning to look at Riley as he said it. Riley was watching him, his blue eyes sparkling, his mouth twitching at the corners.
When Penn introduces these two they strike up a friendship, of course Sonnie wants more but Riley is in no way ready for that and Sonnie is a total star, patient, caring and encouraging, he totally won me over. To say Riley is messed up doesn't come close, but we see glimpses of the real man behind the pain and his rather sexy!
I mentioned this is an emotional read, I should also tell you it's not an I fancy you lets jump into bed and fall in love book, it's so much deeper and when things finally do happen it's such a buzz.
A fulfilling MM romance that you won't want to put down.
All books in this series can be read as stand alone (other than novella), but I like to read in order, then you get a thrill when previous characthers appear in current book!
5 emotional and sexy stars.
**I received an arc for an honest review **
April 23, 2015
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
Piece by Piece is the third book in the West End series, while I highly recommend you read the other books first you don’t have to. This was another brilliant book. I felt every emotion these two characters went through and at times I had to put the book down because I didn’t want it to end and I was afraid of what would happen next. We have met both Riley and Sonnie in the previous books but this is their story. Riley’s past just breaks my heart and I felt his pain from the very start. I can’t tell you how many times I cried while reading this book, some happy tears, and some sad tears. Sonnie has the patience of a saint and it just makes you love him even more. I don’t want to give anything away about this story, you have to read it and experience it yourself but I promise you will love it and love Riley & Sonnie.
Characters: The characters were well written and believable.
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: yes
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
Piece by Piece is the third book in the West End series, while I highly recommend you read the other books first you don’t have to. This was another brilliant book. I felt every emotion these two characters went through and at times I had to put the book down because I didn’t want it to end and I was afraid of what would happen next. We have met both Riley and Sonnie in the previous books but this is their story. Riley’s past just breaks my heart and I felt his pain from the very start. I can’t tell you how many times I cried while reading this book, some happy tears, and some sad tears. Sonnie has the patience of a saint and it just makes you love him even more. I don’t want to give anything away about this story, you have to read it and experience it yourself but I promise you will love it and love Riley & Sonnie.
Characters: The characters were well written and believable.
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: yes
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
April 26, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads
I have enjoyed all of the books in the series, but this one was absolutely brilliant. I would definitely recommend that you read them all as Ms Kostova is a talented writer, but if you only read one, then make it this one. Beautifully written, fabulous story and just the perfect mix of love, sadness, passion, and the every day. Patience, trust and love - Sonnie turned out to be one heck of a good guy, which was quite a surprise after the previous books. Loved it, and the background setting of theatreland and costume design just added to the richness of the story.
This series, and this book in particular are definitely on my reread this year list. Do yourself a favour, make yourself a drink, find a corner where you can hide out, download this onto your Kindle and be enchanted by this lovely tale.
I have enjoyed all of the books in the series, but this one was absolutely brilliant. I would definitely recommend that you read them all as Ms Kostova is a talented writer, but if you only read one, then make it this one. Beautifully written, fabulous story and just the perfect mix of love, sadness, passion, and the every day. Patience, trust and love - Sonnie turned out to be one heck of a good guy, which was quite a surprise after the previous books. Loved it, and the background setting of theatreland and costume design just added to the richness of the story.
This series, and this book in particular are definitely on my reread this year list. Do yourself a favour, make yourself a drink, find a corner where you can hide out, download this onto your Kindle and be enchanted by this lovely tale.
April 1, 2018
“Dieci anni. Erano passati dieci anni da quando Richard era morto e Riley si era rassegnato al fatto che non avrebbe mai più amato nessuno altro, che non si sarebbe mai più svegliato accanto a un altro uomo, che non avrebbe mai più condiviso una parte di se stesso con nessun altro. Perché quando lo facevi, quando davi di tua spontanea volontà una parte di te stesso a qualcun altro, quella parte moriva, quando l’altro se ne andava. Rimanevi una persona a metà, merce danneggiata, un cestino di prodotti in svendita da cui nessuno voleva comprare nulla.”
Sonnie e Riley si conoscono tramite Penn, il giovane stilista (protagonista del libro precedente di questa serie, “La maschera”), il giorno in cui, alla ricerca di una stoffa particolare, il giovane porta Sonnie nel fornitissimo negozio di merceria di proprietà di Riley. Sonnie è il talentuoso costumista del teatro Queen Victoria, una vera primadonna che ha sempre pensato prima di tutto alla sua arte e alla sua carriera. Eppure, appena posa gli occhi su quest’uomo maturo che ha gli occhi più tristi che abbia mai visto, sente per lui un’attrazione irresistibile. Anche Riley rimane molto colpito dal ragazzo, ma se pensate ad un amore travolgente che nasce nel giro di una pagina, sbagliereste davvero.
Riley ha perduto l’uomo della sua vita dieci anni prima e da allora si limita alla mera sopravvivenza. Non vive, esiste e basta. Non frequenta nessuno tranne Penn, il giovane uomo che è riuscito a diventare suo amico. Non esce, e nel suo passato, dopo la morte di Richard, c’è un periodo oscuro e spaventoso che a distanza di anni non è mai riuscito a superare. Sonnie percepisce tutto questo, e il suo desiderio di conoscerlo e di avere Riley nella sua vita, lo porta a cercare prima di tutto la sua amicizia, rispettoso del suo dolore, dei suoi momenti cupi, e facendo proseguire la loro relazione con i suoi tempi. La prima parte di questo libro è dolcissima, meravigliosa e delicatissima, e mi sono innamorata perdutamente di Sonnie. Sonnie che organizza pic-nic, visite a mostre d’arte, serate a teatro, passeggiate per mercatini, e che piano piano riporta Riley alla vita. Sonnie che di fronte ai terribili incubi che ancora devastano le nottate di Riley, si rende conto veramente di quanto ancora soffra quest’uomo gentile, e per un attimo si interroga sul sentirsi pronto ad affrontare tutti i problemi che una relazione con Riley comporterebbe, e immediatamente dopo si dà questa risposta:
“Non aveva importanza se Sonnie fosse abbastanza forte o no, era già troppo tardi per decidere. Era innamorato di Riley e l’avrebbe trascinato fuori dall’acqua ogni volta che avesse rischiato di annegare, tutte le volte che ne avesse avuto bisogno.”
E nel baratro della sua disperazione, Riley ricadrà più volte. Persino Penn, che conosce entrambi, mette in guardia Sonnie dai problemi che dovrà affrontare; ma alla domanda di Penn: “come farai per rimettere insieme i pezzi di quest’uomo spezzato?”, la tranquilla risposta è “Un pezzo alla volta”. Se il personaggio di Riley più di una volta sfiora l’egoismo, quello di Sonnie è assolutamente stupendo: amore, rispetto e comprensione ne fanno l’innamorato perfetto.
Ma se la prima parte mi ha incantata e mi ha fatto leggere pagine su pagine con occhi a cuoricino, ecco che a un certo punto il calcare la mano sul dolore di Riley è diventato davvero eccesivo, e alcune piccole cose mi sono apparse anche incomprensibili: Riley tiene in un armadio una scatola piena di ricordi di Richard, che ad ogni anniversario tira fuori, passando la giornata a piangere su quei ricordi. Ma dopo aver vissuto gran parte dei suoi quarantadue anni con lui, ha troncato ogni rapporto con Alice, sua sorella. Una giovane donna che tenta invano di riallacciare i rapporti, perché lo considera ancora parte della sua famiglia e lo rivuole nella sua vita. Alice ha sempre amato il compagno del fratello, ma per lui, vedere nel suo viso i lineamenti di Richard è insopportabile, nonostante lei in qualche modo gli abbia salvato la vita.
Dopo tenere titubanze, Riley e Sonnie sono diventati una vera coppia: si amano, se lo dimostrano in ogni modo, ma Riley non riesce a lasciare andare Richard, finché un episodio non lo spingerà, finalmente, a intraprendere un viaggio in se stesso e capire che, a rimettere insieme i cocci della sua vita, può essere solo lui e lo deve fare da solo. Ma anche qui l’autrice si è lasciata andare all’eccesso, rendendo il viaggio troppo spirituale e sfruttando anche un cliché trito e ritrito. E per ultimo, (permettetemi una considerazione personale) durante questo viaggio, dove i due saranno separati per motivi che non voglio svelare, avranno la possibilità di comunicare raramente e lo faranno tramite email che finiranno sempre con la frase “Ti Amo”. E allora perché l’email? Se c’è un computer c’è anche una linea telefonica. E se ti posso dire ti amo dopo mesi, io voglio sentire la tua voce, te lo voglio comunicare sentendo la tua reazione e non spedendo una fredda email.
Pur con le mie perplessità e le piccole pecche, questo è un libro davvero bello, e la prima parte è deliziosa, con una scrittura fluida e piacevole. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è unica e originale; personalmente non avevo letto i primi due libri della serie, ma sono andata subito a comprarli per scoprire di più dei personaggi che ho incontrato durante la storia e che sono stati i protagonisti di “Ballando” e “La Maschera”.
Consiglio questo libro a tutte le lettrici che amano vedere una storia d’amore evolversi, attimo dopo attimo, passando da una bella amicizia ad un sentimento potente; per gradi, un passo alla volta, con tutte le titubanze e i dubbi che accompagnano sempre sensazioni così forti. Ci sono persone che attraversano la vita senza incontrare mai l’altra metà della propria anima, e ce ne sono altre così fortunate da incontrarne addirittura due. E per quanto mi riguarda, un po’ meno dolore, un po’ meno eccesso, e questo sarebbe stato davvero un libro perfetto.
Sonnie e Riley si conoscono tramite Penn, il giovane stilista (protagonista del libro precedente di questa serie, “La maschera”), il giorno in cui, alla ricerca di una stoffa particolare, il giovane porta Sonnie nel fornitissimo negozio di merceria di proprietà di Riley. Sonnie è il talentuoso costumista del teatro Queen Victoria, una vera primadonna che ha sempre pensato prima di tutto alla sua arte e alla sua carriera. Eppure, appena posa gli occhi su quest’uomo maturo che ha gli occhi più tristi che abbia mai visto, sente per lui un’attrazione irresistibile. Anche Riley rimane molto colpito dal ragazzo, ma se pensate ad un amore travolgente che nasce nel giro di una pagina, sbagliereste davvero.
Riley ha perduto l’uomo della sua vita dieci anni prima e da allora si limita alla mera sopravvivenza. Non vive, esiste e basta. Non frequenta nessuno tranne Penn, il giovane uomo che è riuscito a diventare suo amico. Non esce, e nel suo passato, dopo la morte di Richard, c’è un periodo oscuro e spaventoso che a distanza di anni non è mai riuscito a superare. Sonnie percepisce tutto questo, e il suo desiderio di conoscerlo e di avere Riley nella sua vita, lo porta a cercare prima di tutto la sua amicizia, rispettoso del suo dolore, dei suoi momenti cupi, e facendo proseguire la loro relazione con i suoi tempi. La prima parte di questo libro è dolcissima, meravigliosa e delicatissima, e mi sono innamorata perdutamente di Sonnie. Sonnie che organizza pic-nic, visite a mostre d’arte, serate a teatro, passeggiate per mercatini, e che piano piano riporta Riley alla vita. Sonnie che di fronte ai terribili incubi che ancora devastano le nottate di Riley, si rende conto veramente di quanto ancora soffra quest’uomo gentile, e per un attimo si interroga sul sentirsi pronto ad affrontare tutti i problemi che una relazione con Riley comporterebbe, e immediatamente dopo si dà questa risposta:
“Non aveva importanza se Sonnie fosse abbastanza forte o no, era già troppo tardi per decidere. Era innamorato di Riley e l’avrebbe trascinato fuori dall’acqua ogni volta che avesse rischiato di annegare, tutte le volte che ne avesse avuto bisogno.”
E nel baratro della sua disperazione, Riley ricadrà più volte. Persino Penn, che conosce entrambi, mette in guardia Sonnie dai problemi che dovrà affrontare; ma alla domanda di Penn: “come farai per rimettere insieme i pezzi di quest’uomo spezzato?”, la tranquilla risposta è “Un pezzo alla volta”. Se il personaggio di Riley più di una volta sfiora l’egoismo, quello di Sonnie è assolutamente stupendo: amore, rispetto e comprensione ne fanno l’innamorato perfetto.
Ma se la prima parte mi ha incantata e mi ha fatto leggere pagine su pagine con occhi a cuoricino, ecco che a un certo punto il calcare la mano sul dolore di Riley è diventato davvero eccesivo, e alcune piccole cose mi sono apparse anche incomprensibili: Riley tiene in un armadio una scatola piena di ricordi di Richard, che ad ogni anniversario tira fuori, passando la giornata a piangere su quei ricordi. Ma dopo aver vissuto gran parte dei suoi quarantadue anni con lui, ha troncato ogni rapporto con Alice, sua sorella. Una giovane donna che tenta invano di riallacciare i rapporti, perché lo considera ancora parte della sua famiglia e lo rivuole nella sua vita. Alice ha sempre amato il compagno del fratello, ma per lui, vedere nel suo viso i lineamenti di Richard è insopportabile, nonostante lei in qualche modo gli abbia salvato la vita.
Dopo tenere titubanze, Riley e Sonnie sono diventati una vera coppia: si amano, se lo dimostrano in ogni modo, ma Riley non riesce a lasciare andare Richard, finché un episodio non lo spingerà, finalmente, a intraprendere un viaggio in se stesso e capire che, a rimettere insieme i cocci della sua vita, può essere solo lui e lo deve fare da solo. Ma anche qui l’autrice si è lasciata andare all’eccesso, rendendo il viaggio troppo spirituale e sfruttando anche un cliché trito e ritrito. E per ultimo, (permettetemi una considerazione personale) durante questo viaggio, dove i due saranno separati per motivi che non voglio svelare, avranno la possibilità di comunicare raramente e lo faranno tramite email che finiranno sempre con la frase “Ti Amo”. E allora perché l’email? Se c’è un computer c’è anche una linea telefonica. E se ti posso dire ti amo dopo mesi, io voglio sentire la tua voce, te lo voglio comunicare sentendo la tua reazione e non spedendo una fredda email.
Pur con le mie perplessità e le piccole pecche, questo è un libro davvero bello, e la prima parte è deliziosa, con una scrittura fluida e piacevole. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è unica e originale; personalmente non avevo letto i primi due libri della serie, ma sono andata subito a comprarli per scoprire di più dei personaggi che ho incontrato durante la storia e che sono stati i protagonisti di “Ballando” e “La Maschera”.
Consiglio questo libro a tutte le lettrici che amano vedere una storia d’amore evolversi, attimo dopo attimo, passando da una bella amicizia ad un sentimento potente; per gradi, un passo alla volta, con tutte le titubanze e i dubbi che accompagnano sempre sensazioni così forti. Ci sono persone che attraversano la vita senza incontrare mai l’altra metà della propria anima, e ce ne sono altre così fortunate da incontrarne addirittura due. E per quanto mi riguarda, un po’ meno dolore, un po’ meno eccesso, e questo sarebbe stato davvero un libro perfetto.
May 5, 2015
Riley got to me. He was so hurt yet so giving to his friends. He was withdrawn from life.
It would be a lie to say that Riley was happy, he knew that. But he'd lost hope of ever being truly happy again when a hit and run driver had taken Richard's life, and Riley's hope right along with it. He'd almost taken Riley's sanity.
Butt Riley had fought to rebuild his life - eventually - and what he had now was enough. He might not be happy, but he was content.
But Riley was not content. He suffered. Into his structured life burst Sonnie. Sonnie was wonderful with him. Loving but no pressure. Their story captured my heart.
It would be a lie to say that Riley was happy, he knew that. But he'd lost hope of ever being truly happy again when a hit and run driver had taken Richard's life, and Riley's hope right along with it. He'd almost taken Riley's sanity.
Butt Riley had fought to rebuild his life - eventually - and what he had now was enough. He might not be happy, but he was content.
But Riley was not content. He suffered. Into his structured life burst Sonnie. Sonnie was wonderful with him. Loving but no pressure. Their story captured my heart.
June 21, 2015
Ok this was a very emotional read for me. A This book deals with a man (Riley) who lost his partner in an accident 10 years prior and js still very heavily dealing with the loss. The way he has dealt with it is by shutting down and not dealing with it. When he meets Sonnie he barges his way into Riley life quickly becoming his rock and best friend and then lover. I felt the book was well written and an emotional roller coaster tackling important subjects in a respectful way. Everyone needs a Sonnie in their life.
November 6, 2017
Recensione a cura di Milady per Feel The Book
Con quest’ultimo volume si conclude la trilogia West End, dedicata al teatro, di Teodora Kostova, che ancora una volta si dimostra una vera conoscitrice dell’animo umano, delle sue luci e delle sue ombre. Ha la capacità di farmi innamorare dei suoi personaggi, facendomene assaporare ogni sfumatura.
Riley Davies è un uomo che ha smesso di vivere nell’esatto momento in cui il suo compagno ha perso la vita in un tragico incidente, nonostante siano trascorsi ormai dieci anni da quel tragico evento, non si è ripreso:il dolore lo stritola ancora tra le sue spire facendolo sprofondare in periodi di profonda depressione L’unica cosa che riesce a dargli un minimo di conforto è dedicarsi anima e corpo al suo negozio di stoffe ed è proprio grazie a questo che conosce Sonnie Frye, recatosi da lui per l’acquisto di un particolare tessuto.
Sonnie è a capo del reparto costumi del teatro Queen Victoria, ed è conosciuto come una persona egoista ed egocentrica cui tutti s’inchinano, e che riesce ad ottenere sempre tutto ciò che vuole… e lui vuole Riley.
È una dura battaglia la sua, che lo vede avanzare di pochi e piccoli passi per retrocedere subito dopo. Devo confessarvi che qui l’ho apprezzato enormemente, mai avrei creduto che potesse dimostrarsi una persona altruista e comprensiva, tanto da mettersi da parte, per porre al centro delle sue azioni e del suo cuore un altro individuo.
Preferisco non indugiare troppo sulla trama, lasciando a voi il piacere di scoprirla e gustarla nel suo divenire, ma non posso esimermi dal fare i miei complimenti all’autrice per aver scritto un libro bellissimo, assolutamente da leggere, come del resto gli altri che compongono questa serie: storie d’amore e di dolore, che fanno parte della vita di tutti, e che spingono a lottare, perché le avversità non devono far perdere la speranza, anzi, devono spronare a combattere ancora più duramente. Dobbiamo ricordare che la felicità è un bene prezioso ed è nostro obbligo cercare di ottenerla a costo di sacrifici, e se anche nella vita reale, al contrario dei libri, non sempre ci riusciamo, l’importante è averci provato.
Editing recensione a cura di Lilith per Feel The Book
Con quest’ultimo volume si conclude la trilogia West End, dedicata al teatro, di Teodora Kostova, che ancora una volta si dimostra una vera conoscitrice dell’animo umano, delle sue luci e delle sue ombre. Ha la capacità di farmi innamorare dei suoi personaggi, facendomene assaporare ogni sfumatura.
Riley Davies è un uomo che ha smesso di vivere nell’esatto momento in cui il suo compagno ha perso la vita in un tragico incidente, nonostante siano trascorsi ormai dieci anni da quel tragico evento, non si è ripreso:il dolore lo stritola ancora tra le sue spire facendolo sprofondare in periodi di profonda depressione L’unica cosa che riesce a dargli un minimo di conforto è dedicarsi anima e corpo al suo negozio di stoffe ed è proprio grazie a questo che conosce Sonnie Frye, recatosi da lui per l’acquisto di un particolare tessuto.
Sonnie è a capo del reparto costumi del teatro Queen Victoria, ed è conosciuto come una persona egoista ed egocentrica cui tutti s’inchinano, e che riesce ad ottenere sempre tutto ciò che vuole… e lui vuole Riley.
È una dura battaglia la sua, che lo vede avanzare di pochi e piccoli passi per retrocedere subito dopo. Devo confessarvi che qui l’ho apprezzato enormemente, mai avrei creduto che potesse dimostrarsi una persona altruista e comprensiva, tanto da mettersi da parte, per porre al centro delle sue azioni e del suo cuore un altro individuo.
Preferisco non indugiare troppo sulla trama, lasciando a voi il piacere di scoprirla e gustarla nel suo divenire, ma non posso esimermi dal fare i miei complimenti all’autrice per aver scritto un libro bellissimo, assolutamente da leggere, come del resto gli altri che compongono questa serie: storie d’amore e di dolore, che fanno parte della vita di tutti, e che spingono a lottare, perché le avversità non devono far perdere la speranza, anzi, devono spronare a combattere ancora più duramente. Dobbiamo ricordare che la felicità è un bene prezioso ed è nostro obbligo cercare di ottenerla a costo di sacrifici, e se anche nella vita reale, al contrario dei libri, non sempre ci riusciamo, l’importante è averci provato.
Editing recensione a cura di Lilith per Feel The Book
May 19, 2019
✔ Letto! Ho amato i primi due libri della serie, e Riley mi piaceva un sacco per la sua amicizia con Penn e ero curiosa di conoscere la sua storia... ma la stessa cosa no posso dire di Sonnie, mi stava un po' stretto il suo atteggiamento da diva. Ma su, vediamo qual'è la sua storia.
Riley dopo la morte del suo compagno dieci anni fa, ha smesso di vivere finché conosce Sonnie e questo come un caro amico lo porta a vedere che lui
"... aveva continuato a vivere, che fosse meglio o peggio non lo sapeva. Era dolorante, pieno di lividi, con il cuore spezzato e cambiato irreversibilmente, ma era ancora vivo."
Ecco, devo ammettere che in questo libro Sonnie si è fatto perdonare, lo rivalutato completamente. È una persona logicamente che non si fa mettere i piedi in testa da nessuno è sa quello che vuoi e come ottenerlo. Per fortuna lui voleva Riley, lo voleva nella sua vita, tanto da mettere da parte per un attimo il suo essere diva e pensare al dolore di qualcun'altro. Ha fatto uno sforzo per lui, ha provato a conoscerlo meglio e capire il suo dolore, si è interessato anche alle piccole cose. Si è importato abbastanza di Riley anche da portarlo a un mercatino dell’usato, organizzare un picnic al parco, guardare i fuochi d'artificio abbracciati... cose semplice, ma importante per guarire un'anima spezzata e un cuore insanguinato. Ma più importante di tutto ha avuto una pazienza incredibile con lui, gli ha dato tutto il tempo necessario per guarire senza fare pressione, gli ha donato il suo tempo e il suo amore.
Per me è stato tanto bello quanto gli altri due, forse carico di una sofferenza che non riesco neanche a immaginare quanto sia il dolore di perdere qualcuno che significava tutto per te. Un libro forte, triste, allegro e pieno di speranza.
Per me è ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
April 19, 2020
This was a really good book but I was torn at times on whether I liked Riley or not. Sonnie has the patience of a freaking saint and while I understand the devastating loss Riley dealt with, a lot of the time he was very selfish, taking everything that Sonnie offered him, and that was endless patience, love, acceptance, and kindness, and giving very little back in return. Sonnie just let himself be treated like that and just kept giving everything he had to Riley. I know it was hard for Riley but if he wasn’t ready to give the things back to Sonnie that he deserved, he should’ve told Sonnie he needed time way before he did. I wish Sonnie would’ve stuck up for himself more when Riley would push him to the back burner to deal with his grief instead he just understood and was patient. I’m a good person but I think I would’ve broke before Sonnie did and not been able to deal with the hurtful things Riley said and did. Overall though, the book was good and the series as a whole was great!!
October 14, 2019
😭 Emotionally drained but loved this book
There were so moments while reading Piece by Piece that I couldn't help but cry for the pain and suffering that Riley went through. Also, I loved how Sonnie was there for Riley through those times. The book will tear you down and build you back up. I hope to see them again in another book in the future.
There were so moments while reading Piece by Piece that I couldn't help but cry for the pain and suffering that Riley went through. Also, I loved how Sonnie was there for Riley through those times. The book will tear you down and build you back up. I hope to see them again in another book in the future.
May 23, 2022
Storia molto commovente su un uomo che non vuole lasciare andare il grande amore della sua vita morto anni prima e su un altro uomo talmente testardo e persistente che non è capace di arrendersi e farsi da parte ma che cerca in tutti i modi di aiutare supportare il suo amore. Fazzoletto a portata di mano…..
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