Love Arrives in Pieces

July 27, 2015
St. Amant's (All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes) inspirational message, that "brokenness is a method" in God's plan, comes through in this story of two people stepping past their fears of loss to revisit and reconcile errors of the past. In high school, Chase Taylor broke two hearts in the Varland family by flirting with Stella while still dating her sister, Kat. Then he left them both. Now Kat is happily married, while Stella is divorced. Stella struggles to let go of her history as a pageant queen, working as an interior designer while nurturing a secret life as an artist. Chase, having promised himself to live a life of no regrets after his fiancée's death in a car accident, returns to Bayou Bend, La., to restore a landmark theater, surprisingly teaming up with Stella years after their falling-out. They eventually work through the old hurt and awkwardness to talk about the feelings they still have for one another. The details of the design and construction work are unrealistic, and the emotional flow between characters is unsubtle and choppy, but both lovers are likable and warm.

June 1, 2015

Stella Varland is a shell of herself after her divorce. Her life and marriage depended on her pageant-queen status, and she is lost without it. Working as an interior designer more out of desperation than it being her dream, Stella lands a project to refinish the old theater in her hometown. Much to her surprise, the contractor on the job is her former love Chase Taylor. Chase has his own demons to fight after his fiancee dies in a tragic accident. When the two realize they have to work together, sparks fly. But neither is able to move forward and pick up the pieces of their lives until they can leave their painful ghosts behind. VERDICT This sequel to All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes focuses on Kat Varland's sister. Its casual, conversational tone and inspirational romance makes for a realistic tale of love lost and found that will attract readers who appreciate Melissa Tagg.

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