A grieving mother learns to heal in Amish country, in this heartfelt, beautifully told novel from national bestselling author Laura Bradford. Danielle Parker is a gold-medal mom—the kind who volunteers in her children’s classrooms, shuttles them between activities, throws legendary birthday parties, and has a remedy on hand for any emergency. Whatever her husband, Jeff, and their children need, … need, Dani is there, always. Except for one day. On that day—the day that Dani reluctantly takes some “me time” while her mom and Jeff drive the children to the park—the unthinkable happens. The car crash leaves no survivors. Somehow, Dani gets through the funerals and visits, accepting neighbors’ sympathy and dropped-off meals. All the while, guilt and grief make her wish the accident had claimed her life too. Then a call comes from Lydia Schlabach, an Amish woman Dani befriended in childhood. In addition to condolences, Lydia offers Dani something more: a place to escape to. In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Dani’s days take on a new rhythm, marked by the clip-clop of buggies and the bustle of chores. Lydia gives Dani space to mourn, to think, and to realize how long it’s been since she felt like a person in her own right. And with the help of friendships old and new, Dani learns about the ways life continues to surprise us—even after the deepest loss—with joy, love, and second chances. . . .Praise for Portrait of a Sister “Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time.” —New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander “A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters.”—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck
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Piece By Piece
Laura Bradford
5+ Stars
Synopsis:
A grieving mother learns to heal in Amish country, in this heartfelt, beautifully told novel from national bestselling author Laura Bradford.
Danielle Parker is a gold-medal mom–the kind who volunteers in her children’s classrooms, shuttles them between activities, throws legendary birthday parties, and has a remedy on hand for any emergency. Whatever her husband, Jeff, and their children need, Dani is there, always.
Except for one day.
On that day–the day that Dani reluctantly takes some “me time” while her mom and Jeff drive the children to the park–the unthinkable happens. The car crash leaves no survivors. Somehow, Dani gets through the funerals and visits, accepting neighbors’ sympathy and dropped-off meals. All the while, guilt and grief make her wish the accident had claimed her life too. Then a call comes from Lydia Schlabach, an Amish woman Dani befriended in childhood. In addition to condolences, Lydia offers Dani something more: a place to escape to.
In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Dani’s days take on a new rhythm, marked by the clip-clop of buggies and the bustle of chores. Lydia gives Dani space to mourn, to think, and to realize how long it’s been since she felt like a person in her own right. And with the help of friendships old and new, Dani learns about the ways life continues to surprise us–even after the deepest loss–with joy, love, and second chances. . . .
Praise for Portrait of a Sister
“Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time.” –New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander
“A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters.”
–New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck (Goodreads)
Review:
This book is about loss, heartbreak, second chances and getting your life back, even if it is not the one you had before. It is a book about anger and grief, but also about healing.
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I cannot even begin to fathom a loss like Dani suffered. But she finds some solace going to Amish country and a simpler life. And she finds out what a true friend she has in Lydia. Dani will never forget her family but she will learn to go on and move forward.
I really liked Lydia’s family, especially her young daughter. Dani can learn from them, and she does. The simple way of the Amish can teach us all something about life. When Dani began to question her mothering and see things that she did that were not right, Lydia and her family helped Dani realize that she did the best she could and her family loved her for who she was.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a very well written Women’s Amish novel. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book and I think everyone should read this book. The author is a very talented and gifted writer and I want to thank her for writing this.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Warning: Do not read without boxes of tissues by your side.
The author personally reached out to warn me this book might be hard for me to read so soon to my mama’s death. She was right BUT it has been the most healing book I have read.
Through Dani’s grief, I was reminded of how my mama is still with me every day. She is in my memories and my heart. Just like Dani’s mom, my mom was always there for me. Oh, the times I called her at 3am because I couldn’t sleep because of worry. She’d listen patiently, talk me through it, and tell me to get sleep and it would be better when I woke up. You know what? She was always right. My mom was my rock. She was right up to almost the very end.
Both Dani and Lydia’s stories will touch your soul. When you turn the last page you will feel as Laura Bradford says in the book that Dani and Lydia are your friends and are the “…rainbow after a storm.”
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review entirely my own.
Piece by Piece is a story about losing the ones we love unexpectedly. It’s about what happens after the funerals and when our friends have all left the wake and returned to their homes. About what happens in the weeks following when the one left behind struggles to just get through each day, weeks and months ahead without their loved ones. The deep grief and the questions of why and how could God allow this to happen. Depression and anger. And later, much later , the cherishing memories and the healing.
Danielle Parker was a loving and supportive wife of Jeff and mother of three beautiful precious children. She was always very organized and kept several lists to keep on schedule with her many demands. She was active in both her eight year old daughter’s and her five year old son’s school activities. She loved having her mother come for visits .
Dani and Jeff lived full lives centered around their children. Always planning the most wonderful birthday parties for their kids. Then came the afternoon her mom suggested Dani take a much needed break from her schedule and stay home indulging herself to some time alone with a good book. She grudgingly agrees and her mother goes on a family outing in her place. After an afternoon spent alone completely swept up into a good book, Dani loses track of time. She is interrupted by the door bell. From that time forward her life changes. Never to be the same again.
Most of us, if we are really truthful with ourselves, will admit we take for granted our family the many blessings we have in our lives. We go through each day busy in our schedule and don’t give much thought about it. But what if we were to suddenly lose what we have through the death of a loved one or family member. We would go through a time of grief and anger for sure. Dani spent time with an Amish friend in a peaceful quiet setting. But Dani wasn’t the only one hurting and she didn’t grieve alone.
This was a different kind of story because it covers a topic most of us don’t want to think about. It makes the reader more aware of the grieving and healing process after a death of a family member. Laura Bradford has penned a wonderful story about loss and grief. Anger and quilt, but also memories and healing. This captivating book drew me in from the beginning. It seemed very real. Like I was there with Dani , Lydia and Caleb as they struggled with their losses. There’s a very good story tucked between the covers of Piece by Piece.
I highly recommend to all readers of Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction and fans of Laura Bradford. This can be read as a standalone. I hope you will make it a part of your want to read books.
I received an ARC copy of Piece by Piece from NetGalley and Kensington Publishers. Thank you and also to Laura Bradford.
All opinions expressed here are my own. I was not asked to do a favorable review .
#Piece by Piece#Netgalley
Piece by Piece by Laura Bradford is a poignant tale that will touch your heart. Piece by Piece has Dani Parker mourning the loss of her husband, children, and mother. They were killed in a car accident while she was home getting some rare “me” time. Dani is in a dark place when she gets a call from her longtime Amish friend, Lydia Schlabach. Lydia invites Dani to stay in a cottage on their farm. She assures Dani that she will have privacy along with peace and quiet. Dani accepts her offer because it allows her to escape the everyday reminders of her family. We get to experience what Dani is going through while grieving the loss of her whole family. The emotions leaped from the pages especially Dani’s anger. I thought Piece by Piece was well-written with developed, realistic characters and situations. Lydia is grieving the loss of a child, but she handles it in a different manner. Laura Bradford did a wonderful job with this book. It is about life, loss, and finding a way to heal and move forward. We see how grief clouds our outlook and sometimes we need someone with a different perspective. You never know what God has in store for you as we see in Piece by Piece. There is grief, loss, love, faith, and hope in this moving novel. I loved the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. Little Nettie was a delight. She added lightness to the story as well as humor. Make sure to keep your tissues handy while reading this Amish tale. Piece by Piece is a heartrending story with adorable animals, a charmer of a child, forever friends, an unpredicted present, and God’s grace.
I have to say that I think that this is the best that Ms. Bradford has written so far.
Danielle is the perfect mom, devoted wife and daughter and one day that is all taken from her. A pen pal who she has been friends with for years, invites Danielle to her Amish farm to try and heal.
This story rips your heart out, you feel the pain that Danielle is feeling along with all the other emotions, the anger, guilt and depression. What I also loved about this book is how it touches on the fact that not only the main character is in pain but also those around her. The friends and neighbors that would love to help and how helpless they feel because there is really nothing they can do.
When Danielle decides to go to the farm, she begins a slow healing process that pulls you right along with her. I was easily drawn into this story and had a hard time putting it down. It is a great story on the process of healing.
This was a wonderful book to read! I could not stop thinking about this book. It touched me so much. Piece by Piece is a amazing story . Written by a amazing Author! I highly recommend this for all to read.
For Dani Parker life changes in a split second leaving her alone to face what couldn’t have been. Laura Bradford did a wonderful job digging into the many stages of grief in this heart-touching story of loss, faith, and healing.
Amazing book! I have to admit to hesitating slightly about reading this book due to the theme, but I loved the first two Amish-based women’s fiction books by the author and decided to give this one a chance. This book is not only about tragedy and loss, but about friendship, healing, hope, faith, and learning who you are after such a loss. I loved the way this story was told and how the characters-Dani, Lydia, and Caleb- all helped each other. Little Nettie, Lydia’s daughter, was also a great source of healing. This book was very emotional, but truly made me appreciate the simple things in life and the memories I have of my loved ones who have passed. I look forward to reading more heartwarming stories like this one.
Piece by Piece by Laura Bradford is a heartbreakingly beautiful book. Its premise is grief, and working through it. Danielle Parker opens the door to two highway patrolmen there to break the news to her that there has been an accident … an accident in which her husband, her three children, and her mother have all been killed. It was a couple of weeks until she came out of the cloud. She didn’t eat; she barely slept; she spoke to no one. Then she looked at her mail and saw handwriting she barely saw. It was a letter from her girlhood pen pal whom she had not seen in 27 years. Lydia was an Amish girl who she had met on vacation one summer. It was an invitation to come and heal.
I had tears in my eyes the entire time I was reading this book. Bradford caught the essence of the deep grief in which Dani found herself. She felt guilty for being alive. She felt guilty for thinking happy thoughts about her family. She just felt guilty. Her loss was devastating. It took weeks before she could even speak. They put her up in a cottage on their property. They delivered her food three times a day. She did not eat it. She was a ghost. Until, at last she was not, and she began to feel a little … just a little. Bradford recorded it all. I am not sure anyone could have done it better. Piece by Piece was a wonderful book. At last it became a feel-good kind of book, but it took a while. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Piece by Piece by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #piecebypiece
Raw, poignant, enrapturing, this is a book I couldn’t put down once I’d picked it up. Right from the first chapter I was immersed into Dani’s world and felt as if I were a part of her journey. I can’t imagine being told that my mother, husband, and three children were all killed in an accident while I was having some “me time” regardless of how needed that time was. The emotional turmoil, the survivor’s guilt, the avoidance, the anger, the depression, the grief, the what-if’s–all gave this novel a masterful air of authenticity and genuineness to Dani’s circumstances and how she had to learn how to live again. I also appreciate that while there is a strong supportive male character in this novel, the process of grief is respected and he’s not added to have a romance but as a friend. I don’t want to say to much to spoil anything from this read, but it was an amazingly well written piece and I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
Definitely another winner by Laura Bradford! Piece by Piece tells the story of suburban stay-at-home mom Dani, who has to deal with an unthinkable, horrible tragedy. As she tries to recover, she escapes to Pennsylvania Amish country to visit her old friend Lydia, an Amish girl that she met when they were both 8 years old. Unbeknownst to Dani, Lydia is dealing with her own tragedy. As I read the story, I could feel Dani’s emotions and pain. Bradford did a wonderful job in portraying these emotions and making the reader feel that they were part of the story. This is one of those books that you just don’t want to put down; I finished reading it in less than 24 hours. While the story is a very sad one, it does have a much happier ending. I highly recommend this book, but make sure to have some tissues handy as you read!
Growth and Healing While Grieving
This is a poignant story about a young woman dealing with unimaginable grief. Out of the blackness, she goes to live at her Amish friend’s farm. She slowly comes to the surface to see that she is not the only one burdened with sadness. This is a 4 hanky read for anyone who has suffered an unexpected loss. At one point I realized that I would not handle it any better than our heroine. As she healed, my empathetic pain also eased. This is an awesome book that handles a very difficult subject in an honest manner. The healing talked of in this book is so true. There is a significant amount of Christian faith expressed in this story, but it is in keeping with the fact that it takes place in Amish country. I have read several books by this author and enjoyed them all. This book is the best of the bunch. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Piece By Piece by Laura Bradford is the most beautiful contemporary novel about love and loss. You will definitely need tissues.
Love does not die when we lose someone. Love remains for all eternity. When we love deeply, we hurt deeply. The novel shows just how painful grief is. It reveals the stages of grief from tears to anger to acceptance. We need support and time to learn to live again.
There is guilt. “Guilt over being the one still alive.” There is guilt associated with beginning to laugh again.
The reader feels the despair over loss, as we constantly run a ‘do-over- in our heads. There are things we wish we’d done and things we wish we had not done.
Seeing grief through the eyes of a three year old is very beautiful. There is the firm belief that her loved ones are safe and happy in heaven.
God knows just what we need and when we need it. He reveals things to us in His good and perfect timing.
Loss affects different people differently. God sends people across our paths ‘for such a time as this.’
Piece By Piece was a hauntingly beautiful novel. My heart is swollen with the love that radiated from the pages. Laura Bradford is a new author to me. I definitely want more, more, more.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
I received a free electronic copy of this ARC on July 15, 2020, from Netgalley, Laura Bradford, and Kensington Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Laura Bradford writes a clean crisp story that echoes in your mind long after the last page is read.
Piece by Piece is an interesting read, one that flexes your emotions often. It was a perfect change-of-pace piece between who-done-it’s and western fiction. Laura Bradford is an author I will be on the watch for in the future. This begins with a great deal of angst but it is handled well. The several steps of grief and that necessary move into a totally different mindset where you are finally able to see clearly and handle your crisis are well-drawn. We have also some Amish information to absorb and a possibly sweet closing. Altogether an excellent read
pub date July 28, 2020
Laura Bradford has penned a heartrending, but beautifully written novel that shattered my heart in a million little fragments and put it back together again—piece by piece. It’s a realistic story of life, laughter, children, love, and of death, grief, loss, and heartbreak—an inevitable fate we all must face sooner or later.
Supermom, Dani Parker, virtually stops living the day her family is killed in a car accident. Oh, she goes through the motions, but guilt and grief consume her and she barely exists from day to day. In spite of her deep loss, her kindness to Lydia Schlabach, her Amish friend, and Lydia’s children endeared me to her character.
A book of second chances, renewed joy, and love…Piece by Piece is a wonderful novel guaranteed to leave readers rethinking their priorities!
Helen Keller is quoted as saying, “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I have read many books by this author, and many Amish stories, but this one will touch you as no other has.
I can’t even imagine placing myself in the main character, Danielle Parker, shoes, no a nightmare so horrific, and yet it is what happens in the first pages of this read.
The people who reach out to you, and in the end are really there for you is surprising, and a friend that she met at age eight, and then pen pal, could not have given her more. As we are with her, and feel her pain, she couldn’t have ended in a better place. Amish Country!
Why is it that we remember things differently than what really happened? Our minds start giving us the negatives, and those cherished memories get distorted.
Keep your tissues handy, and you will be page turning this story, and holding your loved ones close.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.
“Piece by Piece” by Laura Bradford
If you love sweet clean love stories that grab your heart and just won’t let go then you will love this story just as much as I did. Do be warned that if you are an emotional reader you will want your box of tissues close to hand. This is not a boy/girl love story, it is a mother/family love story. A story well worth the read and an excellent choice for a book club read. I would love to be able to award this story with at least 10 stars, truly. There are so many reasons I absolutely love this story, but if I started sharing those reasons this would become a ‘spoiler book report’ and I most certainly do not want to spoil your adventure with Danielle as she navigates her healing process after a major life altering tragic loss. Happy Reading ! ! (through your tears)
note: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.
Danielle is a stay-home mom with 3 children and a wonderful husband Jeff.
When an accident occurs, Danielle begins to question herself as a mother, her world is broken, her life has no future, her days aren’t purpose.
This story is very hard, I cried during the reading, but I loved reading it, well written, the readers can learn a lot about
life, greaf, sorrow, be a mother.
“The heart know things the head does not”
This is my second book that I read from Laura Bradford. Is a book full of emotion. Very realistic. And wonderful characters. It touched me, because as Dani, I’m always at the run with an agenda of what to do and when to do it. And sometimes I feel I have not enough time in the day to spend with my little one as well as to take time for me.
Piece by Piece is the story of Dani who is a busy bee with a To Do List always full for everyday. A wife, mother and daughter she spends her days running around and timed by her watch. One day her mother decides she needs a “Relax Me” day and she stays home reading a book while her 3 children, mother and husband go out to a picnic. As the day grows late, and she is into her book her family has suffered a tragic fatal car accident.
After she is found herself in a deep grieving place that is when her childhood Amish friend calls and invites her to her home. After arriving there and after several days she finds out that her Amish friend has lost her baby girl. While she tries to run away from the home she once lived with her family, she has to learn to Accept that is not her fault the accident happened. That her family still live inside of her heart and memory. And that despite the heart and pain there is always Hope and Beautiful Surprises waiting as long as we let them shine inside of us. And how with God’s help we can find strength within us to move forward in little steps.
I enjoyed how Caleb, Dani’s Amish friends brother was such an amazing strong character that helped Dani see the Truth and beauty of everything she was for her family even when she didn’t think so and doubted so much. I liked how the author worked his character in a way that they stayed friends.
The story was so realistic that will stay in your thoughts for some time. Will have you cherish your family more than you already do. And you will take each day slower and cherish it’s beauty longer along with your family