Lance Greene. Former military. Current artist. Recluse.Moving to Baytown was a chance to get away and forget the friends he lost on his last mission and the nightmares that followed. Staying away from people worked, until he met her.Jade Lyons. Elementary teacher. Sea glass collector. Eternal optimist.She embraced all that Baytown had to offer, especially her early morning walks on the beach to … morning walks on the beach to find sea glass. Until she met him… the overbearing, rude man with secrets.
But sea glass works magic and when she discovers a body washed up on the shore, Lance vows to protect the woman who had wormed her way into his heart.
Can picking up the pieces bring two souls together?
Baytown Boys…
Military duty called them away to war zones, but after tours overseas, the group of friends found their way back home as men, seeking the peaceful little seaside town. Now, the band of brothers, together once more, work to provide a place for less fortunate veterans to call home.
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I have enjoyed all the books written by Maryann Jordan the Baytown series is probably my favourite. So well written and the characters very well developed I love the friendship the characters have for each other and their friends. Can’t wait to see who will get the next story. Keep up the excellent writing
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the the novel Picking Up the Pieces: Baytown Boys Series book 5 by Maryann Jordan and this review was given freely.
A nice meld of small town life including weekends at the fisherman’s pier, good friends on the beach, a steamy romance, and a murder mystery connected to the fishing pier. Baytown new comer,the quiet sea glass artist, former Army Military Police CID investigator and Richland Vice police officer, Lance slowly emerges into Baytown’s society and law enforcement with the help of his friend Mitch, the American Legion members, and counselling. His romance starts with an awkward first meeting with elementary school teacher Jade when her early morning beach stroll accidently takes her onto Lance’s section of beach but soons evolves into Lance protecting her after she finds a dead body.
Baytown is made up of a lot of returning service men and women. There’s not only a small town feel, but a huge family atmosphere as well. I haven’t read the others in this set yet so I’m dying to go back and read their stories too.
Lance is a changed man after his service, can he find himself and fight his demons? I loved his and Jade’s story, it simmered along building the storyline and attraction. Leave me alone to don’t leave me.
There was also a background story happening to keep one guessing. Who was the body? Why was he killed? And I had to say I had no idea whodunnit.
Great story and wonderful characters, I enjoyed it immensely.
#2017
I am fascinated with the Baytown series. You could read this as a stand-alone, but I would encourage you to read the entire series so you can get to know the characters. The genre would be romantic suspense. The majority of the men (and one woman) are Veterans. Jade and Lance’s story will pull you in. You will be asking yourself, “Who done it?” the entire way through the book. Dual point of view. No cliffhanger.
I love reading this series. Each book is the story of two people who find each other in ways they never thought they would. This book is Jade Lyons and Lance Green’s story.
Jade meets Lance one morning as she is walking along the beach picking up bits of sea glass. He tells her this beach is private thus scaring her away but he can’t get the dark haired, green eyed beauty off his mind. So once the story gets out to their mutual friends of what he has done he gets his chops busted by the COP thus he feels like the a$$ he is. Deciding to make amends he meets her on that same beach the next Saturday morning with a cup of coffee as a peace offering. Thus starts their story.
Lance wants to be the man he once was so he will feel worthy of Jade. As she is walking the beach on a later date she stumbles upon a dead body. After a newspaper photo with the little story of her find strange things start to happen with the major one being she is run off the road on her way to Lance’s house. The mystery continues with the identity of the dead man and other things coming to light but the connection between Jade and that person has yet to discovered.
This book is full of mystery, suspense, friends, family and the picking up of pieces that end with two hearts syncing to beat as one.
Like the the other book in this series that I’ve read, Finding Peace, I really appreciate that Jordan has her military heroes (& heroine) find the help they need in a healthy way. They have a group of friends that understand them and are there to support them, which is so heartwarming. But they also see a therapist to work through their issues from serving overseas. These are not things that will just get better on their own. They are dealing with issues that leave scars and have long-term implications and Jordan handles it with care.
Like Finding Peace, there is two parts to this story – the romance and the mystery. Unlike with the first book I read, I think the dead body plotline is much more important here than the Peeping Tom case was before. It’s part of the catalyst for getting the two of them together as well as helping get Lance out his self-imposed isolation. It’s also a pretty darn good suspense element. The who and why was intriguing and kept me guessing right until the end. It also all played out very believably so I definitely give Jordan an A.
The love story is drama-free and realistic. Once Lance makes up for his initial gruff behavior and starts making an effort with Jade, it kinda blooms between them. There were a couple of scenes that reminded me more of high school than what I’m used to in adult romances (the awkward flirting and the looks from their friends) but I’m pretty sure that it probably is pretty darn accurate when you have a tight group of friends like that. It’s hard to hide their attraction and growing feelings and so you are going to get the acknowledgment from friends that they see what’s going on.
And I loved these two. Lance is, of course, one of those stand-up guys. He’s a protector, full of strength and leadership, but it makes it a little hard for him to open up and talk about his past. Luckily Jade has patience (she does teach elementary school kids 🙂 ) and she’s willing to provide him the support he needs until he’s ready to share. It’s just what he needs at a time when he’s finally ready to make his way into the world again.
With a gripping, well-written suspense element and a touching, sweet romance, I definitely recommend getting your hands on Picking Up the Pieces.
*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
Lance needs to be alone. When he catches Jade picking up sea glass, he scares her off. He can’t stop thinking about her though. Later, when he hopes she is on the beach, he takes her coffee and they start talking.
When Jade is targeted, Lance knows he can’t lose her. He needs to protect her. Can they figure out who is after her and why? Will they put the pieces of their lives together???
This Baytown series just continues to shine. This tale is about Jade and Lance while getting to visit again with the whole town like old friends. Definitely pick up this book and this series.
Ebook from authors copy with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.
I loved this book one of my favorite of the series.
Lance hiding from his past likes to keep to himself making beautiful art from sea glass. Jade a sweet elementary teacher who loves searching for sea glass and looking at the boats in the harbor. Their first meeting doesn’t go well at all but when Jade finds a body the protective side of Lance comes out. Two people with more in common than they know, their story is healing, accepting and of course some suspense thrown in!
I absolutely loved this latest installment of the Baytown Boys series!!! Lance and Jade are both newcomers to Baytown both needing to escape their past. Their first meeting wasn’t the greatest but eventually they develop a type of friendship. As they get to know each other….the attraction builds between them. I loved the slow build of their relationship. There was suspense, action, and mystery….everything I come to expect and love from this author. It was a well written story and I loved everything about it. I highly recommend this book and this series to everyone. I can’t wait for the next book in the Baytown series…another amazing book. Well done!!!!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I requested and received an ARC of this book I am reviewing of my own volition.
Ah, once again I am starting a series at the end and not the beginning. From the opening pages I fell in love with this seaside town. Maryann’s descriptions put me on the beach, with the breeze filling my senses.
Lance as we first meet him is really a jerk. He wants his privacy but oversteps his bounds, in the process, embarrassing and scaring Jade away from the beach. The art he creates, although I can’t actually see it, I can picture in my mind. The pieces of sea glass suspended by intricate wires, moving in the air, sparking like a rainbow.
Jade in my opinion has the patience of a saint, and I loved her right away. Her strength and devotion to her teaching is inspiring. Her friends are loyal and supportive.
I truly loved the way this relationship develops, the slow chiseling Jade does to the walls around him.
But not all is so peaceful in this small seaside town, as murder and mayhem ensues.
Filled with suspense, love, and friends this is a book you won’t be able to put down.
I am going back to the beginning of this series to meet the others in this book in more detail.
This was awesome! Have to look for the others in this series. Have to recommend to my mom as we both enjoy her saints stories.
this is a voluntary review and my thoughts are my own.
Every time I finish reading a Maryann Jordan book I swaer it’s my favorite. That is until I read the next one. This book is no exception. She creates such rich characters and such entertaining storylines.
I immediately empathized with Lance’s feelings of desolation and despair. He is slow emergence from the hell he lived in war was inspirational and remarkable. Even being a grouch did not diminish his likability. Jade’s tender hearted spunkiness and refusal to be intimidated by Lance was quite charming. As their relationship develops from friendship to more you can’t help but root for them as a couple.
Add in some danger with the secondary story of a murder mystery and you’ve got an excellent reading experience.
Ohhh the feels are strong in this one! Once you start you won’t want to stop. The title is a perfect fit because Picking up the Pieces is exactly what this book is about.
I love reading about Baytown and the people who live there. This story is about Lance the amazing sea glass artist and Jade the school teacher. Both are transplants to Baytown but fit here perfectly.
Lance is a very non-sociable man, but what lies beneath his quiet demeanor, is hardships that are not known to everyday people but to hardworking soldiers. There are many layers to Lance and Jade just happens to know how to peel away the layers.
These two have a special bond and watching them grow together is absolutely perfect.
I enjoy every single one of Maryann’s books and this is another five star book from her. A little suspense with a whole lot of romance and one that you’ll love. Highly recommended.
Picking Up The Pieces by Maryann Jordan is the 5th book in the Baytown Boys series. They each can be read as a standalone, but definitely all worth reading. This is one of my top favorite series. And Picking Up The Pieces has become my new favorite in this series.
Lance Greene is sort of an “adopted” Baytown Boy. A veteran who arrived in Baytown at the invitation of Mitch who served with him in the military. He likes his privacy and tries to keep to himself almost to the point of reclusive.
“…when the sun paints the sky at the end of the day, I know there will be a tomorrow. A new day. A new chance to make changes. To make it a good day.”
Jade Lyons is an elementary school teacher who wants to work where she can make a difference to the children she teaches. Collecting sea glass on the shore and observing ships and activities along the shore line in her free time, she collided with Lance and invaded his privacy and his thoughts.
“…Sea glass is proof that things can change…for the better. Life can break us into pieces, but we can change, become more beautiful than we were before.”
I love this small town murder mystery with a protective hero, a caring heroine, meddling controlling families, danger, and a great supportive community in Baytown!
“Jade, baby…it means the world to me…and so do you.” He had more he wanted to say, but for now, he just let his heart speak.”
4.5 star review of Picking Up The Pieces (Baytown Boys #5) by Maryann Jordan
This is the story of Lance Greene, a war veteran and Jade Lyons, a teacher who is relatively new to Baytown and is a great addition to the Baytown Boys series.
As I have come to expect from Maryann Jordan, it was a well written and interesting story. There is angst, romance and suspense and I was engrossed in the story from chapter one. This series, although about individual men and women finding each other is also about family, not necessarily blood relate, but family none the less.
Lance, like many of his “brothers”, fights the nightmares and the demons from his time in the military. He creates art with the Sea Glass that he finds and it is because of this that he and Jade meet whilst she is collecting Sea Glass to give to her student. After a dismal couple of meetings, you had to wonder if these two were really fated to be together.
However Lance and Jade have more in common than they both realise, they both hope that Baytown will give them the new beginnings that they seek away from their unsupportive families.
When Jade comes across a dead body whilst walking on the beach, it is Lance who takes her under his protection and it is easy to see how his past as a Military Criminal Investigator comes to the surface.
This was a gripping and well written book and I loved the camaraderie and friendships between the men and their women. I look forward to more books in the Baytown Boys series.