Pieces of Forever

River Falls #1

by Valerie M. Bodden

The scars on her face are nothing to the scars on her heart. But can God help her find healing―and love?

Eight years ago, Ava and Joseph had the perfect future planned—he would go to veterinary school, she would embark on a career with an exclusive modeling agency, and they’d eventually get married and have three dogs and four children. Until a terrible accident changed everything. Unwilling to believe they could still have a future, she made Joseph promise to leave and live out their dreams without her.

Joseph has never broken a promise to Ava. Until now.

Because before he made that stupid promise to leave, they’d made each other another promise—one of forever. Now that he’s done with veterinary school, he’s determined to return to River Falls and show her that his promise still stands. That he loves her just the way she is.

But first he’ll have to find a way to crack the safe she’s erected around her heart.

Fortunately, he has help: in the form of three lovable dogs, a special group of sick kids, and more than a few slices of pie. But will it be enough to convince Ava that their forever is worth fighting for? Or will he be left picking up the pieces―alone?

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Christian, Christian Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Clean Romance

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2021

About the author

I have three great loves: Jesus, my family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). I write fast-paced, emotional Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. My characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but I promise I'll always give them a happy ending.

VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR A FREE BOOK!
www.valeriembodden.com

CHAT WITH ME ON FACEBOOK!
https://www.facebook.com/ValerieMBodden/

CHECK OUT MY PINTEREST!
https://www.pinterest.com/valbodden/

HANG OUT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/valboddenbo...

Reviews

[Jasmine (Jazzie) [Jesus Loves You!!] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grinned and giggled at the romance so much I might just die of happiness 🥰🫠 But y'all, this book was literally so cute!! And Joseph? Y'all, he's incredible! Like, I pray my future husband has some (okay, a lot) of the qualities Joseph does because he's just so amazing and sweet and is strong in his faith and y'all, the letters! 🤭 Y'ALL, HE WROTE HER LETTERS!! 😍 To be honest, I think I was sold on this book the moment I read about the letters. So yeah, I can't get over the cuteness of this book and the romance (which was super clean, only kisses, btw). 🤭 And the faith content– The faith content was *chefs kiss* Especially the church services! Like, what was preached in those services was literally just what I needed to hear because it had to do with stuff I've been struggling with lately, and I needed the reminders that were said and all that. So yeah, y'all go read this book please!! 🥹

*Further review with content warnings to come*

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and moving story this was! Ava and Joseph were two people who were very obviously still in love with each other even after eight years of being apart. Ava was badly scarred and pushed Joseph away all of those years ago. This novel was a beautiful picture of how God loves us for who we are and not what we look like, but even more so, it was about how easy it is to believe lies about ourselves rather than truth.

This story really tugged my emotions all over the place. Ava’s insecurities were so understandable. Even though Joseph did all he could to clearly show Ava that he loved her now just as he always had, she felt so unworthy. At times, Ava would allow herself to grow closer to Joseph, then she would give in to the anxiety and worry that held her captive. Yet, when she finally accepted the truth of Joseph’s love for her, it was beautiful and hard-won. I really loved this story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand the messages about waiting for the Lord to answer, and not believing the lies that satan tells you, were so good! I loved Joseph and his family and their love and care for each other. The dogs were a fun addition to the story as most books I read don’t have many dogs if any, as such a big part of the story.
On the other hand, Ava drove me crazy! She was so selfish and self-centered even if that was all hidden under the pretext of wanting what was “best” for Joseph. Several times I just wanted to shake her or march into her room and give her some plain hard truths. I get that she was dealing with a lot, and that she had spent eight years living and hiding out in a home without any Christian influences, but it didn’t change the fact that I was not very happy with her most of the time. (She did come around in the end.)
I do plan on reading the next book in the series and hopefully I won’t have to deal with someone as irritating as Ava.

There were some kisses, but nothing really descriptive.

[Robin Hatcher]

3.5🌟
Audiobook (narrated by Amanda Stribling)
This was a different type of romance novel with a physically scarred heroine, Ava, who has pulled back from the world because people in the world reacted badly to her scars (both in the past and during the story). While I wanted Ava to find emotional and spiritual healing, it was Joseph who stole my heart. What a great hero.

Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved/really enjoyed it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

PIECES OF FOREVER
Valerie M. Bodden

A bit too much for me.. The only thing missing was the harp music.

3 stars

Happy Reading!

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this longer version of Joseph and Ava's story! And, the added bonus of Aunt Lori and Michael's story, too! Joseph has loved Ava for years. He grew up thinking they would marry. Until the fire eight years ago, when Ava sent him away. He kept loving her, though, and thought when he moved home, they'd be able to start their relationship again. Ava has other plans, though. She thinks she's not good enough for Joseph, hasn't been since the fire eight years ago. Slowly, though, Joseph starts breaking down her walls. Finally, Ava learns the truth about who she is, who she thought she was, and learns how very wrong she's been for the last 8 years. Now, if she can just trust God and Joseph enough to grab hold of her dreams!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this is such a powerful read! An incredible story of hope, promises and a forever worth fighting for. A sweet heartwarming read that will have the tears welling up in your eyes as we follow a couple that despite everything that has happened belong together. A sweet clean romance that I very much enjoyed.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!! I actually really enjoyed it… it was super fast and fun!! I read this is one quick night! But again standards are going wayyyy up because of books!!

[Iva Shanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book with a sweet story and some things to think about. Our true identity.

[Carmi Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to be able to give more stars but the fact that I literally skimmed through the last 1/3 of the book made that impossible. I got extremely irritated with Ava and Joseph because they could not seem to make up their minds about where they wanted to go with their relationship. Ava I could see being hesitant but to have to feel like I am continually reading basically the same thing over and over made me lose patience!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful inspirational romance that is full of emotions. Ava and Joseph's story is beautifully written and stays with you long after you've read the last page. I loved everything about this book and highly recommend it.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary Christian romance about a woman scarred from an accident who no longer feels she has a future. She hides away from other people behind her photography camera. Her fear of peoples’ stares keeps her from her church family as well. But one friend from high school is persistent in trying to reach past her fears. And the story includes several cute dogs and puppies!

[Kalyn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My heart!

What a sweet, loving and beautiful love story! Seeing how Ava and Joseph came together finally, the love of God and how deep Hos love is for us.

[Claire🎀✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[NJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be given an ARC of this book and loved it.
Ava and Joseph were childhood friends who fell in love as they entered their teens and high school. They had future plans which included vet school for Joseph and modeling for Ava. Unfortunately during their senior year Ava becomes very disfigured during a horrible tragic fire. She breaks up with Joseph and becomes very reclusive. Joseph goes on with his life and becomes a vet, eventually returning to their hometown. As much as Ava tries to push him away, Joseph continues to love and want Ava. This is a great story of a woman who finally finds herself although not the way she had intended. It is a tale of redemption and forgiveness with the help of Gods love.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Musings

This book has a lovely ending, but the journey to the HEA was rocky. I didn't care for the heroine, however I liked the hero. It also has a good message about trusting in the Lord. Happy reading!

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Restoring Her Faith To Get His Second Chance -
Even though Ava pushed Joseph away after the accident, he still had her in his heart years later. Ava had become somewhat of a recluse since her accident, so she found it difficult when Joseph started pursuing her. Joseph’s faith in the Lord helped give him the strength to be strong and keep his promise. Ava on the other hand, lost her faith and this made her question her worth in life for quite a while. It would take Joseph’s determination and perseverance, as well as Ava’s friend and family, to help her overcome the obstacles.

Fortunately, Ava’s return to Church to listen to the word of God, helped her remember that for every tough card God deals in our life, he will be waiting to lift us back up again. It was important for her to understand that He only creates challenges to make his believers stronger. This is a very important lesson that we should all live by daily. This was a really moving and heartfelt story, that teaches us all about standing strong in our faith and love of the Lord, as has a plan for each of us. This is a definite must read book.

I received an advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book to read by Valerie Bodden, and I enjoyed this book so much, it definitely won’t be my last. I thought this story was very well written. I loved the characters and I was drawn into the storyline from the very first chapter.

I found Ava’s story to be heart touching. Ava’s plans for her future did not go the way she imagined it would. A tragic accident changed Ava’s view of not only her future, but also the way she viewed herself. Joseph has loved Ava for years, but her insecurity leads her to push him away. I admired the way Joseph was consistently supportive of Ava and his patience with her was sweet. One of the things that I enjoyed the most about this book was the emphasis on faith and trust in God that’s evident all throughout the storyline. Ava’s story is a beautiful reminder of how God works for good through all events in our lives.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series and follow the lives of the community of River Falls.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a very interesting plot and I enjoyed reading about a situation that can and does happen in real life in various ways. I liked the patience and determination of Joseph to wait until forever, if forever is what it took. I liked the love shown by various members of the Calvano family and by Aunt Lori - patience and understanding is so important in helping others to deal with trauma.

What I didn't like was that this story took a very long time to get to the conclusion - it made me smile when I thought about what we did as children with daisies 'He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not.'. The book could have been a lot shorter and have been a great story or more characters could have been brought into this story or the current characters developed further, e.g the Calvano siblings or Aunt Lori and Michael to make us feel more a part of the River Falls community.

I do like this author and her clean, intriguing stories, and will continue following them.

[Christine Creed little · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. I loved Pieces of Forever!! I was gifted a copy for my honest review. It was such a sweet love story...I had trouble putting it down!! I fell asleep at least twice with it in my hand and my kindle app on my phone smashed to my face in the middle of the night!! Im glad you didn't make Madison a real mean girl and make her pursue Joseph. It was a true love story when Ava finally realized her worth. I'm also glad you wove a couple of good church sermons through it. I like that about her writing. I was truly sad to have it end. It seemed to end quite abruptly, but I think there was a bit of a cliffhanger. It was a great book with lots of loveable parts and two people who deserved a happily ever after! Valerie did a great job and it was an honor to be allowed to read it. I would have paid for it anyway, it was just that good!!!

Christine

[Habit_of_book_reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually I love Christian romance books, but the reason why I gave this book just 3 stars is because of Ava. In fact I should have given it just 1 star but I really like Joseph's character that made me give the extra 2 stars. I will say that the Calvano family has been the saving grace for this book.

I can see you have issues when you face a life altering accident but that doesn't give you the power to make decisions for the other person whom you are in relationship with. If you want to share a life with someone you have to allow them to make decisions too.

What if Joseph saw you after the accident and ended the relationship stating you are not the one whom he fell in love with. Everyone will accuse him, blame him and all sorts of things but when the role is reversed, she is doing this for him. What a hypocrite!!!!

I despise Ava in this book so much.

[TERESA CHRISTIAN · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very repetitive and predictable.

[SAVANNAH RANEY · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the book's defense this is not my normal genre . Felt like it was a Hallmark love story.

[Jean Donze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romantic Christian fiction, with an annoying whiny traumatized female protagonist. It seemed a bit overboard, but I liked the persistent male protagonist, however unrealistic.

[Celia Dodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Valerie M. Bodden book!

What I Liked: The small Tennessee town setting was spectacular. The book opens with a hiking trip and a bear attack, so you know you're in for a rural romp from the start. Piers on rivers, postcard vistas, and even local diners are all described with enough detail to put you right there without bogging down the story.

Cute dogs! Who doesn't love a cute dog? Both hero and heroine have pet dogs, which get their own specific personalities and really steal the show sometimes. The hero, Joseph, is a veterinarian, and I loved seeing him in his element working with animals. I would have loved even more details here - Joseph working with animals besides dogs, connecting with their owners, etc.

The depiction of Ava's disability and facial differences was, I thought, thoughtful and realistic. The fact that Ava switched to photography after the fire because her hand was too damaged to continue holding a paintbrush was both heartbreaking and did a lot to develop her as an artist and a character in recovery, as did her ongoing focus on wearing makeup to cover her scars. Agoraphobia is a serious issue that can strike after a trauma, and Ava's experiences are well described.

I also loved how the hero and heroine balance each other's strengths. We see how Joseph is better with animals than humans, and how Ava gently encourages him to connect with children as part of the therapy dog program. And Joseph's consistent, joyful presence helps Ava come out of her shell. These two are a good match, and we can see it from the start.

The Christian themes are woven throughout the book. I always like when it's the hero whose faith is strong, and he draws the heroine back toward her faith. Joseph's dad is a pastor, and the book includes a number of church services, complete with short sermons. They work great as dialogue and don't feel like essays dropped into a novel.

This book is also full of surprises, which I won't spoil here - but they keep the story moving and are excellent reveals. I do wish one of them had come earlier in the book.

What I Didn't: My primary issue was with the heroine, Ava, and her motivations as the romance progressed. We learn early on that she and Joseph had been childhood sweethearts, but that she had pushed him away after a fire that left her terribly scarred. Now that he's back in town, she continues to refuse a relationship with him...but why?

For much of the book, it seems like her reasons are misguided self sacrifice. She thinks Joseph deserves someone better, someone beautiful, someone without facial scars. But this seems to not give him much credit, and it's unfair to make that choice for him. Especially after he expresses a strong desire to be with her, Ava continues to insist that this isn't a good idea.

Later in the book, things become a bit more clear. It's not just the scars, it's her agoraphobia and anxiety. These mental health issues limit her life, and she believes that they would also unfairly limit the life of anyone who chooses to be her partner. She also believes that while Joseph thinks he means his "forever" promise now, he will eventually get fed up with dealing with the aftermath of her accident and leave her - and she thinks it will be much more painful to lose him after getting attached again.

I wish this had all been clearer earlier on, because for a while, I was getting really frustrated with Ava. Why couldn't she let Joseph make his own choices about who he wanted to be with? Why didn't she believe him about his feelings for her, when he had given her zero reason not to trust her? I'm glad that - with the help of friendly advice and a loving God - she got over herself, but boy was that a long and difficult journey!

But an imperfect heroine doesn't make for a bad book, and sometimes the most difficult journeys have the most satisfying endings. If you like cute dogs, inspirational romance, and heroines who just can't get out of their own way, this is a good one!

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is what Christian Fiction is all about! What an incredible, moving, uplifting and faith-affirming story! And that’s not to say there isn’t any angst…because there’s plenty of that, as you would expect with a second chance romance. But I’ve still come away from this read with a soaring heart and and the inner peace that comes from knowing that every one of us is worthy in the eyes of the Lord.

Really — I’m gobsmacked and flabbergasted that I haven’t read a Valerie M. Bodden book before. I’ve heard her name bandied about on social media and people have told me I should read one of her books and, here I am, way late to the party but so, so happy that I jumped in with the first book in her River Falls series.

And this romance!!! Emotionally toe-curling. The way Joseph pursues Ava. Constant. Steadfast. Giving her space but not giving up. He comes close a time or two, but only because he feels it would be in Ava’s best interest. But he’s not going to cut ties completely, even if that means only friendship is on the table. Of course, he hopes for so much more — like a chance to keep the promise he made all those years ago. Sooooo romantical!!!!!

And — eeeppp — he’s a veterinarian!!! Seriously, that has to be one of my top picks for a hero occupation! So, of course, there’s some puppy love here too which makes for some nice ice breakers when things get tense with Ava. And Joseph’s large, opinionated family keeps things interesting too. 🙂

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Amanda Stribling (yay Chirp sale!) She did an amazing job — so easy to listen to and I feel like she captured the essence of these characters. Highly recommend the audio book.

https://kavsbestreads.ca/2023/08/20/p...

[Stox4story · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed reading the shorter version of this book then you’ll love this longer one. The plot and storyline are the same but here we get to read more depth into the storyline and better character development.

Pieces of Forever is a sweet romance about overcoming deep, deep insecurities and pain within …. both emotional and physical. Joseph never gave up, even though he basically was shoved out the door.

Tragedy strikes and Ava’s life takes a 180 turnaround … all hope is lost, her dreams burned away and that career she had all planned out? Well, forget about that. And love? Let’s just say, it is no more. All that was lost that one fateful day.

But Joseph is not one to easily give up. It's been eight years but he still loves Ava and she loves him too however her fears overrule her heart. Is it possible to rekindle that love? Joseph thinks so but he’s going to have to jump through hoops if it is to happen.

Can a person so broken, so scarred inside and out, finally see the light after eight long years of convincing herself there is no hope? Can a love so strong give up or stand the test of time? The answer is ... it all depends.

Sometimes you just have to let go and let God.

I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving my personal thoughts and opinions.

[Adpa · Rating 5 out of 5]

God rejoices over us---because he sees us as a bride! In all our ugliness and mistakes, he views us a bride of a great Bridegroom!

The story captured my interest from the first chapter as the main character, Ava, is a photographer and she overheard two of her subjects talking about her and her physical "flaws." So, of course, you have to read the rest of the story to find out how she reacts to eavesdropping.

Ava has had her dreams to be a model crushed due to a fire that left severe burns on her face. At the time it occurred, she pushed away her childhood friend/boyfriend from any further relationship. Eight years later, he returns, still full of love for her despite what she feels are her scarred looks that should scare anyone. Joseph sees Ava for who she was, and still is, on the inside and tries to get her to see this for herself.

One thing that really impressed me about this relationship was that when they made promises to each other, even from early childhood, they kept them--to the letter. Even if it was not for the best intentions. But that just emphasized that their love for each other was lasting.

I was fortunate enough to be given an advanced copy of this book. I loved it, I love the author's style of writing. Very realistic. The story was especially inspiring to me, too, as we all see our own flaws and try to hide them from those we come in contact with.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pieces of Forever is a beautifully crafted Christian romance that touches the heart and soul in the most profound ways. This book is more than just a love story; it’s a testament to faith, redemption, and the power of God’s love in bringing two people together.

Ava and Joseph are richly developed characters, each with their own struggles and journeys of faith. Ava, carrying the weight of past hurts, finds herself drawn to Joseph, whose steady faith and kindness help her to heal. Their stories intertwine in a way that feels both divinely orchestrated and deeply personal. The romance between them is tender and pure, reflecting the importance of a Christ-centered relationship. The way they lean on their faith in God as they navigate their relationship is both inspiring and deeply moving.

The writing is poignant and uplifting, filled with moments of grace, forgiveness, and spiritual growth. The author does a wonderful job of weaving together elements of faith and romance, making this a truly satisfying and heartwarming read.

Pieces of Forever is a five-star gem that will resonate with anyone who loves a story of love, faith, and the beauty of God’s plan. Ava and Joseph’s journey is a reminder that with faith, hope, and love, even the most broken pieces can be made whole again.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story of Ava and Joseph! After having been permanently scarred in a fire 8 years ago Ava ended her relationship with Joseph. They had been in love with each other for years and had their future all planned out. After graduating from veterinary school Joseph moved back home, buying the vet out who had been there for years. Ava learned that he never stopped loving her and while he made it clear that he still loved her he was willing to wait until she was ready. As with most of us she had her own way she assumed everyone looked at her, as an undesirable person. I love the way Val shows through her characters how we need to focus on the way God sees us. All He cares about is who we are on the inside, our physical appearance makes no difference. She intertwined this fact beautifully into the lives of Ava and Joseph, as an example of what we truly need to be aware of! What a special story about some amazing characters!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author but this review is my voluntary and honest opinion.