Pieces: A Companion Piece

The Mclean Tales #2.5

by Cara Dee

Mclean Tales • A Companion Piece to Pieces of You • The Game Series
Pieces is best read after you’ve read Pieces of You. It includes messages and illustrations from the Mclean House members.
Spoilers from The Game Series and The Renegades ahead.
_________
Lane fidgeted with the notebook. “Mr. West, I was wondering if you could ask the others to maybe write down memories and messages—something Shay can read when he comes home again?”

Oh, that was very sweet of him. “That’s a wonderful idea,” I answered. “I’ll leave it in the club area, and people can use it as a guestbook but for memories and well-wishes.”

He smiled timidly and nodded once. “Yeah. Thanks.”

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance

79 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2026

About the author

​
I'm often stoically silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there's so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex. There's a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly. Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve. Additionally, I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I'm a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, and geeking. There's time for hockey and cupcakes, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Reviews

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute companion book to Pieces of You, this is more for the die hard McLean House fan than the general reader imho.

Essentially is the book referenced in the previous story, filled with a few illustrations and the comments from each member who's missing Shay.

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Cara Dee and have read all of the series. In fact, I had just completed a reread of the Renegade series when this and the companion story, Pieces of You, were announced. Needless to say I looked forward to this for a while before I was able to get my grabby hands on it. :D

I loved it but I was not overwhelmed by it. Social media booksters raved about it and how much they cried, etc. Nope, not me. If anything, I wanted more. I was just getting ready to shed a few tears when it ended. So, basically, I found it too short. I hope that ultimately both books are available together as one purchase, but that's just because I'm on a very tight budget and would appreciate that, and because they really should be read together. One is more story narrative and the other is more of an appendix of letters and notes from friends to Shay.

I loved, loved, loved little Corey's froggies. But then, I've always loved Corey as one of my favorite characters. And I can't wait for the next book, At Their Mercy to come out. I'm saying room on my birthday gift card to be able to buy it. LOL

All in all, I highly recommend this, but only after becoming part of the Game series characters' family. And after a must-read of the Renegades series.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short little read gives us the contents of the book that the Mclean community of close friends made for Shay to read after his kidnapping rescue. It is full of emotional little blurbs, poems, and drawings. It's a perfect peek into this very close-knit community that rallied around one of its own.

[Lauri MissDysfunktion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pieces was such a sweet companion to Pieces of You and honestly, exactly what I wanted after all those feelings.

I loved the idea of the community having something to focus on while they waited, but what they created becoming something meaningful for Shay and the Tenleys when they finally returned made it even better.

It's sweet, funny and heartfelt in a way that feels completely right for this found family. One minute it's poking you directly in the feelings and the next it's making you laugh, which feels pretty accurate for this entire group of characters at this point.

I also loved getting something that wasn't just about what happened, but about the people surrounding the Tenleys and the way they found their own way to cope, support each other and ultimately show this family just how loved they are.

After the emotional angst of Pieces of You, this felt like a warm hug from the community.

A warm hug that occasionally pokes you in a bruise just to make sure you're still emotional, obviously.

Such a sweet addition to the story and one I'm really glad I read straight afterwards.

[Wendy Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can only imagine the emotional roller coaster Shay, River, and Reese experience as they read this book.

I think this is the perfect way for the community to share their love for Shay and how much they all miss them. It is a wonderful way to express their grief and sadness, while still showering Shay with so much love. They don't leave River and Reese out of this either, which is another highlight. This community knows each other so well that they recognize the struggles the three of them will face, and they remind them, over and over again, that they are there to support them.

You have to read Pieces of You, the Game Series, and the Renegades before you read this.

[Hani · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read my review for Pieces of You, you'll see that I complained about the lack of reference for the characters' relevant books. Well, it's in this book.

Honestly, I feel like I could have skipped Pieces of You and just gone with this one.

Also, this book makes me want a Mclean Tales Book 4 starring August, Ivy and Ev. Just the background stuff those three went through throughout the Game series.

[Marsha L Respess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book they made for Shay(especially the Shay-Shay Warrior frog!) as I knew what Shay was enduring. He wasn't even the real target but then he was forced to fight to the death in order to survive and he used the skills he had and the ones that Reese and River taught him but it was so painful to read. His rescue was wonderful and you hoped that this book was a help to him as he recovered at Darius and Gray's retreat.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the works of everyone that wrote in the book made my happy, sad and excited.
I will forever love this group from Mclean and LOVE everything Cara writes.

Can't WAIT for the next TenShay book to come out, but happy I had these two books to hold me over until the release :)

[Albafika · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, this made me cry so much, I loved every single page and I will treasure every single word.

[KEM · Rating 5 out of 5]

ACTUAL TEARS

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think that I have ever loved a group of fictional people more.

[Donnie McCowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep dragging out the ending as long as possible!

We're revisiting stories from other angles. When are we going to see Ivy's story? It's been referenced, but I don't see it. Yet.

[andrea moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

pieces

I didn’t agree to this level of emotional trauma! Well I guess I did by purchasing the thing but still…! Excuse me while I use up an entire box of tissues

[Katie Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍💓😍💓😍💓💓

Ok so this book was wayyyyyyyy to short! I'm gonna need another story after this one pleaseeeeeeeeeee!!!! God I love this series so much!!!

[Mystisith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐. I confess I did read the main book a long time ago so the recollection of the story wasn't smooth and organic. Probably should be bundled with the main story for further edition to make sense.