The Missing Piece

by Marie Lavender

When Alyssa wakes up on the lawn of a local fraternity, she can’t remember what happened the previous night. A new friend and frat guy, Justin, offers to help her out. As she makes discoveries that force her to accept a different reality, she finds herself drawn to Justin for a number of reasons.

Can the biggest mistake of Aly’s life turn into the promise of new love?

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2017

About the author

Multi-genre author of Victorian maritime romance/family saga, Heiresses in Love, and 18 other books. Listed as one of TOP 5 Authors Who Write Compelling Romance on Wiki Ezvid. UPON YOUR RETURN placed in the TOP 10 on the 2022 P&E Readers' Poll for the Romance Novels category. She made the TOP 10 list for Authors on the 23rd Annual Critters Readers’ Poll. TOP 20 Authors of 2021 on Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews blog. Subsequent 2020 accolades include: Top 10 Book Cover Artwork for UPON YOUR RETURN, Top 10 Romance Novels for CHASING GINGER, Top 10 Romance Short Stories for THE MISSING PIECE, and Top 10 Sci-fi & Fantasy Short Stories for MAGICK & MOONLIGHT for the P&E Critters Readers' Poll. Additionally, the I Love Romance Blog was listed as one of the Top Novel and Books blogs 2020 on Sparpedia. BLUE VISION made the TOP 10 on the Science Fiction and Fantasy category of the 2019 P&E Readers' Poll, and also reached TOP 10 status in the Romance category. Featured interview in the January 2018 issue of Womelle Magazine. DIRECTIONS OF THE HEART reached the semi-finalist round in the 2018 AuthorsDB Book Cover Contest. Voted TOP BLOGGER for 2018 on the Romance Lives Forever Blog. TOP 20 Authors of 2018 on Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews blog. DIRECTIONS OF THE HEART was nominated and made it past the first round in the 2018 Author Academy Awards. THE MISSING PIECE placed in the TOP 10 on the 2017 P&E Readers' Poll. DIRECTIONS OF THE HEART was nominated for the 2017 Reader's Choice Awards. The I Love Romance Blog became a finalist in StartDating DK's Romance Blog Awards of 2017. ILRB landed on Feedspot’s 2017 TOP 100 Novel Blogs and TOP 100 Romance Blogs. DIRECTIONS OF THE HEART placed in the TOP 10 Books of 2017 on Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews blog. TOP 20 Authors of 2017 on Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews blog. Mystery Blogger Award for 2017. A to Z Blog Challenge Survivor in 2016. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title - winner of the "Broken Heart" themed contest and the "I Love You" themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers' Poll. Nominated in the TRR Readers' Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015 PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014 MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013, 2014 and 2016. 2013 and 2014 Amazon Bestseller Ranking for the first edition of UPON YOUR RETURN. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and two cats. She has been writing for twenty-five years, with more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 21 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, romantic comedy, dramatic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. She also dabbles in graphic design. A blogger on the side, she writes adult fiction, published one story for children, and recently started some YA fiction. She also contributed to several anthologies. Though Marie has standalone titles on the market, there are six current published series, with many others planned.

Discover more about her and her work at the following links.

All of Marie’s author links: https://linktr.ee/marielavender1

Fan mail email: author@marielavender.com

Reviews

[catherine ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to the author for providing a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Actual Rating: 3

The Missing Piece is a novella that begins when Alyssa wakes up on the lawn of a local fraternity with no memory of the night before. When Justin comes along and offers help, she accepts; as she tries to figure out the missing pieces in her memory, Aly begins to question who she is and what a single mistake could cost her.

This was a sweet, quick read, but once again, the first thing I find myself wondering when I finish this book is what it would be like if it was expanded into a full-blown novel. Unlike some short stories that I've read that seem to have a more narrower focus, The Missing Piece feels a little like an abridged version of a larger story.

(I'd also like to add that the blurb made the story seem much more mysterious than it turned out to be, but to be honest I was fine with it leaning more towards the contemporary/romance genre.)

The pacing, I would say, was quite quick, but I was glad to see the ups and downs in the plot. It did seem to feel, sometimes, like a collection of scenes that would move along the story faster; this is another reason that makes me wonder what The Missing Piece would be like as a full novel, because the plot had so much potential but didn't quite have the "space" to execute it.

This story does seem more character-centric as well, which actually worked out great, because Aly's personality and characterization were made clear, allowing the readers to really experience (and understand) her inner conflicts.

I also really liked Justin's character, but - and this is a personal preference - when it comes to romance, I'm all about the journey, the "how we got there". While I did like how Justin and Aly got to know each other, I couldn't help but feel like the progression was too fast, and that I would love them together a lot more if I saw more of their interactions with one another, even all the way at the beginning when they were nothing more than acquaintances.

The writing style was engaging, and there were several scenes between Justin and Alyssa where I thought the author shined. Overall, I would say that this was a quick, fun read, a story that really leaves you wondering what the next steps for the main characters are, but at the same time, it leaves me wanting to know more about the setting, the characters' backstories, and a lot of other information that just can't be squeezed into 38 pages.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After waking up on the front lawn of a college fraternity, the darkest of thoughts cloud Alyssa Masters’ mind, which is devoid of any memory of the night before. Interrupting those thoughts is Justin Abbott, who finds Alyssa, and offers to help her piece together what had happened that night. Justin escorts Alyssa to her dorm room in Sutter Hall, assuring her that they would solve the puzzle together, finding all of the answers they need. Alyssa quickly discovers that she’d spent the night partying hard, coupled with drinking and dancing – something she is never known to do – before retreating to a bedroom with one of the fraternity’s members – Brendan Coleman. During their search for the answers, Alyssa and Justin share an unexpected kiss, which leaves a yearning inside Alyssa’s soul, the likes of which she’d never before experienced... until Brendan knocks on her door.

One of the finest romance stories I have ever read, Marie Lavender’s book, The Missing Piece, is a perfect blend of suspense, mystery and romance. With an unexplained situation at the start, leaving the reader with so many questions, the journey of Alyssa and Justin is skillfully woven. Both are determined to find the truth of what had happened the previous evening, and with so many sinister possibilities, nothing can stop them from delving into the unknown, regardless of the secrets it might uncover. There are many instances where I am left holding my breath, wondering about the true intentions of certain characters. At no time, however, does the high standard of storytelling drop below par, with new clues to the mystery being dropped regularly to keep the reader engrossed. I recommend The Missing Piece to those who enjoy a lavish dose of mystery and suspense, as a new vortex of sensual emotions unravel.

- Rosie Malezer for Readers’ Favorite

[Roxie Prince · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].

'The Missing Piece' by Marie Lavender
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Finished on September 4, 2017
GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
$.99 on Kindle

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Studious and predictable Alyssa wakes up on the lawn of a frat house. She doesn't remember how she got there. She doesn't remember attending the party there the night before or why she would even agree to go to such a thing. It's completely out of her character. When she hears she spent the night with one of the frat boys, her world crumbles. But one of the guys there, Justin, agrees to help her put the pieces together, and she finds she's more drawn to him than she should be.

Can the biggest mistake of Aly’s life turn into the promise of new love?

MY REVIEW:
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was more of a 2.5 stars for me.

I wanted to know why Alyssa went to this party in the first place. She is such a neurotic character, it is so out of character for her to do something like this for no reason. It seemed extremely unbelievable to me that she couldn't remember a single reason why she would go to a party. Yeah, you forget what you've done once alcohol enters the picture, but a heavy night of drinking (especially when you're a novice drinker) doesn't make you forget what you did BEFORE you started drinking. It didn't make any sense to me. And wouldn't she have a friend or a roommate who could help jog her memory as to why she decided to go out that night? That whole initial setup threw me off for the rest of the story.

The romance is sweet and charming and saves the weaker plot elements.

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun short read that luckily didn’t go down a darker route with why Alyssa couldn’t remember what had gone on the night before which I was glad about.

So we’ve probably all overdone it at least once in our life in regards to drinking too much the night before but Alyssa is sure learning the hard way what the head and body feel like the day after. More so after she finds herself on a fraternity’s front lawn early the next morning. Clearly she went to a party the night before but she has absolutely no recollection of it, how she came to be there in the first place, or how she ended up on the front lawn. Confusion and panic soon start to creep in as snippets start to filter through about a conversation she had with her roommates. Seems she needs a knight in shinning armour to help get her home and hopefully fill in some blanks – enter Justin.

He remembers her from the party and has a few shocks in store when he tells her what she got up to and who she was spending time with. Seems the missing part of her memory could be filled in with a missing brother from the house – Brendan. Justin vows to help her find the missing time but the longer she spends with him the more she is grateful for how they met. An interesting way to meet someone but a spark is still coming to the surface nonetheless. He might be loyal to his friend thinking that on some level Justin and her might be together now but that doesn’t stop him feeling or acting the way he does. A knight in shinning armour to carry her away it seems. Even though he too is a stranger she feels comfortable with him and both feel like they have known each other forever with being so alike. I think we can all see where this story might lead.

For a short book it was still quite descriptive with the characters insights, back-story and the world as a whole they found themselves in. Quick contemporary romance that you know is just the start of what’s to come. Almost like the beginning of Alyssa and Justin’s story where you are only guessing on how it will move forward. Would be interesting to see how it would work as a longer read following the romance building more but fun all the same.

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyssa is a reserved college student, an English lit major that preferred the company of a paperback more than anything else. "She wasn’t prepared to venture into the dating scene like everyone else on campus. Of course, ‘dating’ was actually a pretty loose term these days. She preferred her own company to that of the male persuasion. They all seemed to be caught up in the weekend scene and were so full of themselves that it was probably better if she avoided them altogether." (5)

One morning, she wakes up on the lawn in front of an unknown fraternity house with a raging hangover and absolutely no recollection of the night before. It's at this point that she learns that, under the influence of too much alcohol, she actually went upstairs with a guy she didn't know. Oh, no! You don't suppose that they...that she...? With rampant thoughts of pregnancy and STD's, Aly becomes paranoid and seeks to find answers to what happened that night. Did she go all the way with some guy named Brendan? Fortunately, the guy's roommate, Justin, was willing to help her out.

The "missing piece" is finding the truth for young Aly, and the reader becomes interested to find out, too, especially when Aly is such a sweet girl that you can't bear for anything bad to happen to her. You feel for her as she goes through the stages of confusion and panic over the possible what-ifs of that night. I liked that Justin was there for her, making Aly realize that her crisis may have revealed a very small and very cute diamond in the rough.

Short and compelling, story is a quick, satisfying read.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likeable story

It's a sweet novella about Alyssa, who with help of Justin, tried to figure out what happened the night before. The story was well written, and probably would have been better as a novel, than a novella, but the plot and details that are needed to make a great novella is here. It takes a lot of talent to write a thorough novella, and Lavender definitely has that writing talent. The story was sweet, and likeable, and engaged the reader on the journey that Alyssa was forced to take.

[Linda Wattley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiss of Love

By the time I reached the last page, l was encouraged. I am still smiling. I really enjoyed this story. For sure we need to be reminded, love is a many splendid thing. Excellent writing style for readers seeking a heat warmed experience. Great job!

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The missing piece by Marie Lavender

Description.....
When Alyssa wakes up in a strange place at school, she can’t remember what happened the previous night. A new friend, Justin, offers to help her out. As she makes discoveries that force her to accept a different reality, she finds herself drawn to Justin for a number of reasons.

Can the biggest mistake of Aly’s life turn into the promise of new love?

My Review.....


Alyssa wakes with no memory of the previous night. It’s a scary situation, what the hell happened to her?

She’s told by a young man that she was drinking plenty and went upstairs with a man! Fear races through Alyssa (was she attacked?) but Justin assures her that wouldn’t have happened, and walks her back to her dorm. She’s not the type of girl to do shots, and certainly not the type to go upstairs with a man. And why can’t she remember?

Alyssa and Justin start on a journey to find out what happened to her. But what I find difficult to understand is why.....
Why would someone who usually does drink, who doesn’t party, who usually stays in her room and study, go out?

It’s a short read, and one I didn’t want to end, I think it could have been made into a full story. I thought it was going to be more of a mystery (well that’s what the background led me to think) what we got was a romance!
It’s a fast paced read, but with lots missing I felt a little lost! Will it lead to a fuller story at some point? I do hope so.

So do you find out why? I guess your going to have to read it to find out. 😉


🦋

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Missing Piece by Marie Lavender

When Alyssa Masters, a freshman college student, wakes up on a fraternity’s front lawn. She’s hungover and not wearing her own clothes. She has very foggy memories of the night before. This is out of character for her, she doesn’t drink or go to parties like her roommates.

Aly is a straight-laced student and fears what she can’t remember from the previous night. Justin finds her on the lawn and offers to help her back to her dorm and to unravel the mystery of just exactly what happened at the party. Justin remembers seeing Aly go upstairs with Brendan, a frat brother. Unfortunately Brendan left the college early Sunday morning.

The plot has a nice pace as Aly and Justin search for answers. I found the dialogue mostly believable. This is a sweet story that challenges Aly to reevaluate her reclusive and introverted nature. The Missing Piece is a quick enjoyable story.

FYI: **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** March 16, 2018 Format/Typo Issues: No significant proofing issues.

[J.L. Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked about the book?

This was a short read but there’s so much to it. The main character, Alyssa wakes up on the front lawn of a fraternity with no memory of how she got there in the first place. Additionally, she needs help putting the pieces of her memory back together. Because the story centered on this one character and her quest to find out exactly what happened, the story was just that: focused on the character. And the author stays true to this focus without going into too many character descriptions.

Instead, Lavender wraps her in the situation and, as such, reveals who Alyssa is.

What I didn’t like about the book?

In terms of length, I was expected more. The novella felt as though there was more and I desperately wanted to see what it was. I really wanted to see what would happen in a longer story.

Overall, the pacing was well done and the story was compelling and lit. Not too fast, not too slow. It was so good that I wish there was more.

[Richard Devall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa woke up on the lawn and didn’t understand how she got there. As that mystery unfolds with the help of Justin, she begins to find herself drawn to her new friend. They explore the concept of love and overcoming fear. A lovely and gentle story about new beginnings and maybe dreams coming true. Highly recommended.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG what an amazing novella!
Sweet innocent college romance!
This book has all the feels!
Alyssa wakes up on the lawn of a frat house, she has her first hangover and a whole lot of missing pieces!
She goes into panic mode to find out what happened and finds more than she hoped for a long the way!
Loved this book!