Sex isn’t love. Love isn’t sex. And friendship is neither. The son of a French Olympic skier and a Malaysian fashion designer, Ronin Alexander has lived the life of a nomad, traveling the world to find his next adventure. Life takes a dramatic turn when he meets Evelyn, a beautiful scientist who owns a bath shop in Aspen, Colorado. They defy all the rules of relationships, falling hard and … relationships, falling hard and quickly in love.
Their world intertwines with Evelyn’s two best friends, the Governor and his soon-to-be wife. The four become close—very close.
When tragedy strikes, things from their pasts are unveiled—unimaginable truths and the grim realization that life will never be the same.
Jewel E. Ann steps into another dimension with this mind-bending thriller, a provocative story that pushes boundaries and tests the true meaning of love.
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I’ve treasured each and every story from Jewel, but this story has reached up and touched the sky for me. It should be a hard act to follow………for any other author.
But jewel will keep raising the sky it seems, like a personal challenge she sets for herself with every novel. She’s competing with herself story after story
As always, Her prose is vibrant and lively. It billows and rumbles, pregnant with possibilities and jewel is a sailor and explorer. Moving from one trope to another, adventurous and curious
With a pickaxe and pen she goes digging deep into human soul and brain, chronicling her findings, marvelling at the what she discovers hidden between layers of our psyches
Had she not been a successful writer, she’d have made a brilliant psychologist, I’m sure
She keeps folding the story into an origami masterpiece, till we end up with a 4 dimensional POV.
There’s her side, characters’ side, readers side and the truth.
Her plot, character’s reaction, our perspective and the Phenomenon of truth (you’ll get it when you read it!!)
The plot is unbelievable because its uncharted territory for me. I’ve never read anything like this before. But as always I don’t doubt, I don’t ask, I don’t choose & pick from the menu.
Whatever she feeds me, I Chew and savour.
Why she gives a particular twist, I dont question.
My trust in her ability is complete and total!
So when she declares that her next Book touches something intangible and obstruse…I say with my thudding heart- Bring. It. On!!
she has made me question the events unfolding in front of my eyes.
“Hinder not the soul’s intended path unto light, lest shards of darkness shed upon thee. ”
I wonder if all superheroes face the same dilemma?
Is it all WORTH IT?
With great power comes great responsibility.- Either you save the world or save yourself.
A beautiful romance set in Picturesque Aspen. Her capacity for empathy seeps down on the pages, she’s grabbed my heart in her hands and squeezed tight, at some scenes I was Breathless, at some dumbstruck, at some weeping and howling, till the acute pain was too much to handle………… #Flatlined
It’s complex and well rounded, impeccably polished and consummately narrated story. jewel has explored the entire spectrum from softly romantic to heartwrenching sadness…with loads of funny in between. Her tone is snappy, dialogues crisp but the feels…OMG THE FEELS, they just render you stupid. I felt attacked from all sides, sharp barbs piercing my heart every chapter.
There’s Evelyn Taylor- Science Geek, Evie the Chemist of Saponification, surrounded by perfumes and scents, soaps and scrubs, cleansing the world one soap bar at a time
The meet cute with Ronin Alexander the Book Nerd skier, happens in a Vancouver bar, where she’s the third wheel tugged by her best friends Graham & Lila.
“Hot buns. Yummy bubble tea. Sunny and fifty-five degrees in beautiful Vancouver. And an Asian Frenchman who liked saving lives. Short of Graham giving Lila a dozen orgasms … there’s no way Lila’s day beat mine. ”
They’re getting married and she’s here to keep Lila company.
Was it fate..destiny..serendipity? who knows, but they end up in Aspen, Colorado together and the connection purifies and distills in the pristine snow resort town.
“I felt like we were a fact—the sky was blue, water was wet, the wind blew. Ronin and Evelyn just were.”
And then as they come closer, the tiny details of life gets clearer. All the truths, tainted and stark seem to crawl into the periphery moving towards the center.
“Every lie is actually a truth in a parallel universe.”
Their love is already set up for some unconquerable & invisible challenges. It demands tremendous amount of faith and trust against indescernible. A sequence of events unfold like a domino effect, one thing leads to the other until Evie is demanding answers…..and so was I. What happens next dropped my JAW TO THE FLOOR!!
Things get tough all around but the brunt of the collapsing world falls on Evie the hardest, she’s wounded the most and looking at the CATASTROPHICending….she’s going to be curling on the floor to weep until she dies……why should I be the only one wallowing in misery and grief!!
After all these books, you’d think I’d be used to Jewel pulling the ground beneath my feet. But like a sucker,I fall for it EVERYTIME
I wish I could’ve said more, revealed some plot secrets but Jewel would get pissed and demote me, so come suffer with me in CryFest, I’ll provide wine!!
5 stars for “Unexplainable phenomena and unprovable ideologies.”
REVIEW: 5 STARS
“Don’t ever tell me what you can show me.”
Double edged sword: I never want my JEA recommendation to be lost in a sea of glowing reviews because I want to share with you WHY one of her books did what it did to me and why you should read it. But then, there is obviously a very good reason I will get buried in all those reviews: she is an amazing storyteller full of life and unbelievable love that undoubtedly always makes me think. However, don’t let her sweet self fool you, she’s brutal. She can wrestle your emotions quicker long before you would ever begin to realize. Trust me.
I can repeat myself, over and over every time I read one of her books, about how amazing her stories are. How they make me feel. How her writing is transcendent. Or that she tells an amazing story….blah blah blah. Right? Today, I want to be your reason. I want to share with you why this is the book you need in your life right now. She gives me moments. Moments I’m falling in love. Moments I’m laughing. Moments I’m swooning. Moments I’m anxious. She fills her books with my favorite moments. But sometimes, moments are filled with the desperate times. So very … hard times.
Jewel always gives me a heroine with so much reality infused into her character; not perfect, but real. Living life, giving a love to this character that is unparalleled with any other book. Clearly Evelyn had a certain something to her. She was a very easy loving, clean living, good gal. I loved her demeanor and her personality. She was strong in her beliefs and didn’t let anything sway her opinion. However, with the weight of the world on her shoulders, she’ll inevitably crumble. The question is, does she have the right person to pick up the pieces and put her back together?
“Fate in perfect form.”
Well, I personally believe that her Ronin is just that man. Perfection at every turn. He is the stuff book boyfriends are made of. Even though there is something going on with him, something that’s unexplainable, something incomprehensible – it pulls at me, at my conscience, to recognize his good in every light. To understand solid, indescribable love beyond any inconceivable doubt – he knows how to love with his whole being. And my gosh, does he show it and does she feel it. They were simply delicious together. Seriously sooooo sexy, the two of them.
Their love was absolute. While I can pinpoint when their love started, in the whole scheme of things, there was no end and no beginning – it just was. Infinity. That love makes me sigh. That love makes me smile, my heart flutter – it allows for an easy read. But you know that’s not the end of it, right? Noooo. Jewel isn’t going to make it easy on us. Ever. Everrrr. And that is exactly why I love her writing. Their love was not without its own set of issues, and they had real, everyday issues. I love that she made them so relatable and put us in their shoes every.single.day. With the highs came the lows, with the easy came the hard, with the happy came the angry. Not only was this one so very different than her other stories, she made it signature Jewel with her angst and her truth. THAT is what I love about her stories. The journey is always a means of discovery.
I hate always using the same words for books – you know, the emotional, perfectly fitting ones? But Jewel can always make me feel a book more than anything. It’s a friend sitting on the couch with me. It’s a lover biting on my earlobe and giving me the chills up and down my arms. It’s a whisper that raises the hair on the back of my neck. Jewel gives me everything I need in a book – and puts me IN the space between the covers. She sets me up and feeds me the halted breath I need to understand the emotion at hand.
With this book, she set me up….and now I have so many questions! Being able to feel what I feel each time I read one of her books is always a pleasure, whether it’s ripe with pain, agony, joy, or exhilaration. But I aways know I’m guaranteed a love worth swooning over. A love worth fighting for til the bitter end. She always gives me that. But the ending of this one gives me a very scary feeling…..and I know I’m in for a rude awakening when I jump into the next book. There is going to be some damage control.
So not only did she give me a story that had me excited to see what the next page held, she now has me questioning everything I read. I have more questions than answers at this point and I’m questioning my own logic!
This was very hard for me to read. It hit very close to home and was very emotional. I closed the book with tears in my eyes. But, knowing that I have the next book to make it through as well, I know that my uphill battle isn’t over yet….yet. Because she’s bound to put me through the wringer even more, making me hurt that much more. I’m looking forward to it! I seem to find this happens more often than not with a Jewel E Ann book, and for good reason. Her books never follow a straight line. She never does anything twice. She’s original in her thinking and every time she brings me to my knees…..even with her epic cliffhangers.
MOMENT TO LOOK FOR: Firewood has never been so sexy. You’re welcome.
“Wanting her felt like an honor.”
~BEE
“Evelyn made me feel more vulnerable than I ever thought humanly possible. She was the beginning and the end, the mother of my children, the keeper of my heart, the reason my lungs took breaths, my absolute favorite….everything.”
SIGNED PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY: http://bit.ly/2utkjPI
I feel like I’ve run a marathon after finishing The Life That Mattered. Out of breath and high on adrenaline. Jewel E. Ann delivers the good stuff. The angst, the suspense and the romance.
The main characters are Evelyn and Ronin. Evelyn is best friends with Graham and Lila who’s getting married. That’s all I’m going to give away cause I don’t want to spoil anything.
What I loved about TLTM was the different dynamics between these couples. Evelyn shares a lot of history with Graham and Lila which also shows in their friendship and their dynamics. It’s a friendship but not without a price.
Evelyn and Ronin were freaking amazing together. Their courtship and friendship. My swooning heart enjoyed every moment of these two together.
I’m a huge fan of a dialogue heavy story and Jewel E. Ann is a master at that. She weaves a beautiful and complex story added with brilliant and humorous dialogue and my reader heart was on cloud nine. This is a fantastic character driven story that left me questioning which direction it and its characters were headed. It’s a puzzle game and I can’t wait to figure out the rest of the pieces to this spectacular plot and story. Go into this book with an open mind and be amazed. Brava!
5 Probably Stars
‘Hinder not the soul’s intended path unto the light, lest shards of darkness shed upon thee.’
Okay, so this is the first time I will not be writing an essay long review. I know, I know, I KNOW! But sometimes we read books that are completely shocking; and this book ended leaving my mind a frazzled mess as I experienced a huge WTF moment. Honestly, I am still processing this book. I’ve never been so thrown and lost at the same time after reading!! I’m not sure I’m emotionally prepared for book 2. Please send help.
Jewel E. Ann is a brilliant writer that continues to amaze me with each story she writes. This story definitely takes the cake!
Evelyn Taylor is a chemist who loves science, and owns a bath shop called Clean Art in Aspen, Colorado where she makes body products. She gets a much needed vacation when she tags along on a business trip to Vancouver with her best friend and her fiancé. While there she crosses paths with a gorgeous man that looks like he should be on a billboard somewhere. Ronin Alexander is the son of a French Olympic skier, and a Malaysian fashion designer. He’s funny, charming, and she finds him absolutely irresistible, and wants to get to know him better.
Ronin is a bachelor who loves his life traveling, and finding his next adventure. He’s never felt the urge to settle down, and then he meets a stunning woman who turns his world upside down. Evie is everything he never knew he wanted. She’s kind and flirty with a playful personality he’s drawn to instantly.
Ronin and Evie fall hard and fast. A whirlwind, intense relationship evolves into something extremely special that defies all the rules. As their lives intertwine with best friends Lila and Graham, and the four of them grow closer things increasingly get more complicated. When unexpected tragedy and truths are revealed, will their love be able to survive?
The Life That Mattered by Jewel E. Ann is book one in the Life Duet. It’s an all new, unique, thought provoking novel filled with suspense, intrigue, friendship, chemistry, love, and soulmates. A book about a beautiful once in a lifetime connection that has romance, emotion, and angst. I completely fell in love with this story and this couple. I’m addicted, and can’t wait for more in book 2, The Life You Stole!
Jewel E Ann How does she do that!? Holy. Freaking. Shadoobie. Wow. I’ve never read a story like this. It’s mind bending and beautiful and original and wildly entertaining. I 100% recommend. 🙂
Ever read a book and your reading along and think to yourself…I believe I’m going to be in one huge mind fuck when I’m done reading this book??
Well The Life That Mattered by Jewel E Ann is going to be that book!!
Holy shit y’all..I just finished..I READ IT IN ONE DAY..COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! And I’m sitting here dying to start book 2 but I’m scared shitless to move on. I’m stunned. I’m broken but I’m dying to move on..lol.
Gahh what do I do??
Ok..guess I’m going in…see y’all on the flip side!!
One more thing..go in blind…I did it and I’m sure it is the best decision.. But ohhh my gahhh I am effed up..lol. I’m just so ecstatic that book 2 is out now cuz I know I would be throwing a huge ass temper tantrum waiting on it to release lol
#kindleunlimited
5* Deep Love Stars
From the first page read you will be hanging on every word written as the story of Evelyn, Ronin, Graham and Lila develops. The roller-coaster ride of emotions and feelings will leave you wanting more, questioning the decisions made and leaving you speechless with the cliff-hanger ending. I was happy that I was able to jump in the second book straight away and continue with this journey to see how the story unfolded. The writing was brilliant and addictive.
***5 “Probably!!!” stars***
“Falling in love tomorrow is such a waste of today.”
Is it possible for a book to wreck you even from the prologue???
To make you squirm all the damn time and to wait in every turn of the events, the other shoe to drop???
This woman and her writing skills are driving me crazy!!!
I’m craving her stories and I loathed them at the same time… Cause after their endings, i might never be the same again…
This story, right here, wrecked me in a very emotional way!!!!
Jewel took my heart and she stomped upon her and i don’t know if i can get over it soon!!!
“When you loved someone-truly loved them- you didn’t take their smile.
People with broken souls didn’t have real smiles.
They grimaced from the broken pieces of their soul impaling their heart.”
The only sure thing is that i need the second part of this story like a mad woman…
The author teased us from the first moment with that prologue and i didn’t really took my answers… I’m just haven’t even more after the last chapter and that damn cliffy…
What will happen after all??? What was happening all the time??? What had happened that made me feel uneasy, even though i have no clue of what really happened???
Darn… I’m heartbroken and i really don’t know the reasons why i feel that way, yet!!! I just feel it deep inside my bones!!!
I’m not really sure, if i can’t handle it, cause the possibilities are endless in my head and they’re hurting me…
“Life was about breaths and heartbeats.
A smile.
A wink.
The squeeze of a hand.
Sunrises and sunsets.
The rest… it was all extra.
When forced to choose what really matters, it all became so clear. This moment. The only moment.”
Well… Honestly, I don’t know what actually can say about this story…
There was a woman that one day, she met a man…
They became each other’s world…
Add to that her two best friends that they were a couple…
Something really strange is existing between them… A weird connection that i still can’t grab my head around it!!!!
Secrets, lies, hidden feelings, strange situations, unspeakable things are about to tear them apart…
Will they survive at the end??? Will their lives and hearts stay unbroken???
Well, good luck with that!!!
I’m afraid that nothing will be the same at the end…
“For me, I felt like we were a fact—the sky was blue, water was wet, the wind blew.
Ronin and Evelyn just were.”
“That day in Vancouver, it felt like so much more than a stop along my way. It felt like I had arrived.”
“That’s the thing about you, Evie… I had no idea I was waiting for someone until you arrived.”
I loved Evelyn and Ronin so much….
From the beginning, there were a big connection between them… Chemistry… Unspoken big words…
She used logic, he used impulsive actions…
They were perfect with so many imperfections!!!!
They built something great and solid together, but the walls are starting to tremble around them…
I’m afraid of them and i really don’t want for them to be… broken!!!
I love them!!!
“One hit.
I was an Evelyn addict from one hit.
Every day felt borrowed… Every minute felt like the first and the last.
Right then Evelyn became my beginning and my end -origin and destination. And maybe… if the impossible could find a way to be possible, she could be everything in between.”
He loved me. And I loved him.
It had never been said, but it was always there…
“It’s too late… It’s too big for words now. Don’t belittle it with a four-letter word. It’s too intangible. Too undefinable. Don’t ever tell me what you can show me.”
And then there was Graham and Lila…
Two people important for Evelyn that i never got their intentions…
What is happening with the two of them??? I don’t see something solid there…
It’s anarchy and secretly ways… I don’t feel them right… Not between them and not for Ronin and Evelyn…
They are making me feeling uneasy and i don’t like it at all…
What are their end games???
I have theories on my head, but I really can not tell them out loud… I don’t want to spoil you…
“We dragged each other through the trenches, held each other up. That was my relationship with Lila. Had been. Was then. Always would be.”
“You’re on loan … from me. Wedding vows or not, he knows the deal that was made.”
“So if he breaks the deal, you get me back?”
“Yes.”
This story, as every story by Jewel E. Ann, was perplexed and heartbreaking, but in a way, it was so beautiful…
She managed to grab me from the first page, and even though i went through the last one, I’m still craving her words and the weird way that her mind is working…
I just need more… and more… and more…
Please, enter the magnificent place that is her mind… It’s a place that you don’t want to miss!!!
“This is our world.”
“It is.”
“My mom is dying.”
“Yes. I’m so sorry, Evie.”
“I can’t let it shatter our world.”
“It won’t. I’ll hold it together. I’ll hold YOU together.”
***I received an advanced copy of this book for the exchange of an honest review. Thank you so much!***
5 Mind Bending Stars!
I’m not gonna recap this love story because you need to go in TOTALLY blind! Suffice it to say I NEEEEEEED book 2 like yesterday
The blurb is spot on but vague af, you really have no idea what ride you are about to embark on so just don’t read that
The prologue will suck you in and almost bring you to tears! I knew when I read it that i was in for a major plot twist. I had ABSOLUTELY.NO. IDEA.
When Evie and Ronin first meet the chemistry is electric! Evelyn is intelligent, quirky and funny. Her inner thoughts in the beginning had me laughing out loud. Roe is sooooo amazing. Everything about him screams suave and sexy. I can’t even put into words their love story. They have such a true, raw beautiful love. It’s palpable and that speaks volumes about the writing. I believe that they love each other more than anything and I feel like they would be like the couple on the Notebook, when one decides to go the other will follow, that is how close they are tied together. It makes me ha e a tear in my eye thinking about it
The other couple involved are Evie’s best friends, Lila and Graham. Lila is boisterous and completely over the top and Graham Cracker…not sold on him at all.
This book is unlike anything I’ve read by JEA. I was intrigued, worried, teary eyed, my heart swooned and my heart fell in my stomach on the last page. I would consider this some kind of supernatural romantic thriller. When I was done I had to go back and read the prologue again. This was packed with some twists that had me on the edge of my seat and questioning everything! I need answers
This is like the movie Phenomenon on steroids! As much as I wanted tons of romance and sexy time that was on the back burner to the true plot of the book. It was sweet not sexy, it was hot but not (if that makes any sense). These two people who have loved so hard and fierce and have been together for years are facing their greatest challenge and I don’t even know what to expect! The angst was high near the end and I was ready to jump right into the next book, sadly that will be the end of March
If you are a fan of JEA, you will love this, if you haven’t read anything of hers then you need to jump on everything of hers!
This book is the 1st part of her new duet and can not be read as a stand alone.
Angst
Cheating None
Sexy Time
Epilogue none its a CLIFFY
Plot
*Arc provided by author for honest review*
When my book buddy tagged me on a social media site saying that The Life That Mattered sounded right up my alley, she literally hit it on the nail. I trusted her, didn’t even give much thought to reading the blurb and then the surprise…the first book in the Life Duet is pure and utter brilliance.
What appeared to me to be an uncomplicated plot was way off the mark. Flowing with the emotions of its characters’ strengths and fragilities, I was caught me off guard. The more I read, the more hooked on the story I became. The author delving so deeply into undying friendships, love and the unexplored floored me. I truly believe that there’s a connection to our fate. Ann just happened to give me more food for thought whilst discovering what each and everyone’s involvement was in this romantic suspense with a difference.
Four lives, a dual point of view. At first sight, the reader experiences an extraordinary attraction between two souls. And although in all its exquisiteness my breath was taken away, what made me go weak at the knees was the warmth, that homey feeling Evie and Ronin have for each other. Goodness, how well the author described Ronin’s facial expressions and his unspoken words is quite beyond me. I’m not even going to mention his looks which came to mind ‘cause…well, read the book! His family routes, his humbleness and dedication to the person who’d changed his mind is beyond words.
Evelyn. Strong, determined and lovably nerdy, she fell head over heels with the same man as I did. New book boyfriend here, ladies! She delighted me; however, I wasn’t so sure about her friends. I had mixed feelings about her best guy friend, Graham. I thought he confused matters but in the same breath, his generosity has no bounds. Her bestie Lila. Ooh my…I can’t even begin to express how she affected me. Without spoiling the read for you, all I can say is that I’d been watching her moves throughout the read.
I lapped every moment up in this family orientated story. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know how much I adore banter and there’s plenty of witty comebacks, subtle and not-so-subtle-digs which are a more than pleasant addition to a book which from start to finish, brought out all the feels. So, now for the ending…better said, the ultimate of cliffhangers. From a scale of one to ten, this is it…a ten! So, roll on the next book, The Life You Stole. Bravo, Jewel. You got me out of a book slump and indisputably made my day!
I’m still here trying to write my review and still don’t know what hit me with this book. That ending left me open mouthed and ready to scream because I NEED book 2 (The Life You Stole) NOW.
THE LIFE THAT MATTERED has a passionate and real love story behind all the mind blowing thrilling plot. You question your propuse and your existence with this book. It has suspense, mystery and secrets. You have a bit of everything because I was shock one minute, laugh like a maniac the other and then I was angry ready to strangle some of the characters in it.
This is a book I can only give you this hint without giving away the story. There’s a meet cute moment, totally swoony. Telling you I got all gooey with Ronin. Then life changing decisions and events. This is a story with mayor thrilling plot.
The main characters are completely lovable and real. I got suck into their daily life and the situations around them. The secondary characters brought so much to this story. Again I just NEED BOOK 2.
There’s a reason Jewel is my chameleon author. There’s no genre she can’t write. AMAZING addition to my Jewels reads.
5 All-Consuming-Stars
Sooooo. After I finished reading this I felt like I had to try and catch my breathe. As if unconsciously I had been holding it and then I couldn’t get enough air in me.
And now I’m breathing but I have all these questions. All these feelings. And I’m beyond excited and looking forward to book 2.
I absolutely love Jewel E Ann and her stories. The way she tells us the story.
With every book of hers I read I get confirmation that she writes perfect heroes Hits -It-Out-Of-The-Park
EVERY SINGLE TIME.
I fell soo hard in love. But I was also skeptical throughout. I’m not sure who to trust. Who is telling the truth while lying. There’s so much and our heroine is freaken AMAZING and I love her and I want a HEA for her more than anything!!! How ever which way her HEA might be.
“And if you hold out your palm, you’ll see that pulsing thing that used to reside in my chest is now sitting quite contentedly in your hand.”
“It’s impossible to leave you in the morning. I want one more kiss. One more minute just to look at you. One more smile. One more whisper of my name… from your beautiful lips”
WHAT a FREAKEN ride!!!! I’m staying on till it’s over.
“You’re my favorite everything.”
This is Jewel E. Ann. She is everything. Her stories have a way of sucking you in. Her words grip you and pull you in and her characters drive it home.
Addictive, entertaining and unique.
Jewel E Ann doesn’t pull any punches with this first book of her ‘Life’ duet. It’s raw and gritty, it’ll grab you from the outset, pull you under and tow you with it until the end of the book. The book, not the story. This is a duet so, naturally, there is more to come.
It’s filled with stormy emotions, passion and mystery. It’s different from anything I’ve read before and it’s blown my mind.
I loved every freaky minute of it, and news just out. Part two is releasing earlier than expected. February 20th, in fact, so be ready for that one, it’s coming in hot.
Wow… This story was so good! I loved Evelyn and Ronin’s attitudes and love for one another. They lived it from the moment they met. Ronin’s love for life made him such a rich character. He felt his calling down to the bone.
I loved those moments with Lila and Evie where it was girl talk. They would get tickled and I would be giggling with them. Evie’s Grandmother and all of the wood chopping.
We sit back and watch these characters actually deal with real life problems. We watch life get in the way of their relationships. We take them take life for granted. This book takes us thru all of it. I laughed and cried thru this one. The ending… This author seems to always write cliff hangers that have me holding my breath. I can’t wait to see what everyone else thinks.
What a mind bending tantalizing read that I highly recommend! I finished this yesterday and I’m still lost in my thoughts. I’ve gone back and re-read the prologue many, many times. As well as highlighting passages throughout the book that have me reflecting and speculating what’s happening and what’s to come in The Life You Stole.
I just can’t seem to move on from having read such a mind blowing book. Jewel E Ann never ceases to amaze me with her brilliant, thought-provoking and amazing works .
This book is no different and as a matter of fact, it is one of the most memorable and interesting books I’ve read so far this year! The plot is expertly interconnected and executed with finesse and an element of mystery and angst as well as a bit of parapsychology, friendship dynamics and love.
The pace is perfect in its flow.
The characters are unique, complex, diverse and with that element of mystery and intrigue ever present.
But then again, it’s Jewel E Ann at her finest! She is a phenomenal writer whom deserves all the accolades and recognition for her uncanny ability to weave a tapestry of her creative imagination into much appreciated art!
I’m going to put it out there – I read this story in mere hours. Planted myself in a chair and didn’t move until the last page. I’m not going to pretend I can write any kind of review that will adequately praise what I just finished.
The prologue was ominous. The meet-cute totally sweet and fun. The rest of the story? A thrilling rollercoaster ride!
JEA takes me to places I never dreamed of going and delves into relationships that I want to be a part of no matter the circumstances. She gives me a story that I can sink into and where everything else falls away. She gets my heart pumping and my mind racing. She makes me feel so much, so very much. I’m reeling!
Her characters are complex and utterly human. Their feelings were my feelings. The plot beyond intriguing. This story! This story! I read non-stop. I have no adequate or elegant words to describe everything this story did to me. It is phenomenal. I think I may be repeating myself, but it’s worth repeating! And go in blind! Don’t read any review that even remotely gives away spoilers. You don’t need them.
To me, Jewel E Ann is the ultimate mind-bending romance storyteller.
Life was about breaths and heartbeats.
A smile.
A wink.
The squeeze of a hand.
Sunrises and sunsets.
The rest…it was all extra. When forced to choose what really matters, it all became so clear.
This moment.
The only moment.
Deep breath I have so many good feelings about this book!! I loved every heart racing moment of it! I loved the mystery. I loved the love story. I loved the angst. I loved the characters. I loved EVERYTHING!
Every time I start a new book by Jewel, I find myself snuggling in for the long haul because I know once I start, I won’t be able to stop. This book was #unputadownable!! Jewel has this all consuming ability with her stories. I get sucked right into the book worlds she creates and am completely absorbed in what is happening, which in turn makes it impossible to put the book down. THIS BOOK was exactly that. The characters and the story were exactly that. ALL CONSUMING! Constant intrigue that had my heart leaping out of my chest, either from swoon-worthy scenes or OMG that just happened scenes. I was thoroughly hooked from beginning to end and I was left tapping my kindle screen when I read the last page because I NEEDED to read more. I NEEDED to know what would happen next.
“What is this?”she whispered when I eased her to her feet.
“I don’t know. But I can’t wait to find out.”
Ronin….le sigh
I, of course, read the blurb, but that lent little to no ideas as to what was going to take place in this duet. It gives you a starting point, but honestly, I recommend you just go in blind. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. You think you have an inclining of where the story COULD go after reading the blurb, but you’re wrong. So wrong! There was NO WAY to predict the direction this story was going to go. And THAT is one of the biggest reasons I LOVE Jewel’s books…they’re unpredictable and utterly unique down to there core. I’ve NEVER read anything like this. Even as I was reading this book, my mind was too consumed in the STORY, the CHARACTERS, the JOURNEY, the EVERYTHING that is was impossible to think ahead and try to piece together what could possibly happen. I was too wrapped up in Evie and Ronin and their love story and the dynamics between all of the characters (Ronin, Evie, Graham, and Lila) in this story in general, that the mystery intertwined in the story, faded into the background. Of course, it was still an ever present piece that lingered and nagged at my mind throughout the story because Jewel’s was giving me pieces of the story, pieces of the characters, that left me wondering where this story was going. I had an ever present foreboding feeling while reading…like “the other the shoe is gonna drop eventually” type of feeling. Those pieces I mentioned above started to come together…started to create one big picture, but yet Jewel being Jewel, left me questioning what I’ve read and what’s to come in book 2. I feel confused, I feel scared, I feel anxious. I feel everything! I haven’t figured out the BIG picture yet for this story, but I am dying to know where it is going.
I don’t want to give anything away, so I am leaving it at that. Just take away from my review that I was CONSUMED by this story and these characters and I am dying for book 2, THE LIFE YOU STOLE.
Life wasn’t easy. It wasn’t always beautiful. Some days it was flat-out cruel. But…it was undeniably worth it.
5 “you’re my favorite everything” stars
4.9 Stars
Evelyn. Ronin.
Lila. Graham.
Those are the four people this duet is about.
Evelyn starts telling us the story. She and Ronin are the main couple. At least I guess they are.
I just got started with the story.
The prologue was six years in the future. Very confusing, sad, weird.
And then we go back a few years. Evelyn tells us how she’s been besties with Lila since kindergarten and how Graham joined their circle in college and fell in love with Lila.
After that Evelyn was always their third wheel and best friend.
And then – a little while before Graham and Lila got married and Graham went on to become governor … Evelyn met Ronin in a café in Vancouver.
It was mega insta interest/attraction/love between Evelyn and Ronin. And as fate would have it … Ronin would leave for his new job in Aspen the next day. Aspen, Colorado – where Evelyn runs her own bath and body shop.
But that’s not yet our happily ever after … not by a long shot …
What will happen with Evelyn & Ronin & Lila & Graham?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK(s) TO FIND OUT!
Oy!
Well, that was … something!
I had NO idea what to expect when I started reading. From the cover I expected some kind of snow-accident-gone-missing-wilderness-adventure-psycho-suspense! LOL. From the blurb … no idea … a romance with a bit of suspense and a foursome?? NO idea what I was expecting, or what I was wanting it to be.
Then I got a very weird and strange and sad prologue and still didn’t know much more!
And then the story starts. And we kinda love it – it’s all fun and sexy and ski-ish and romance-ish and falling-in-love-ish and very mature (we’re mid-thirties! Even though from the way they act – everybody could be in their twenties!). But we all know that the real story hasn’t even started yet!
And yes, we’re a bit scared of whatever might happen …
But still – everything is going great. We’re in Aspen. It’s sexy and funny and adorable. Time goes by.
I think Jewel wants us to feel safe and happy … for now. I just know the BAM will come!
There was this tiny line at the 18% mark that worried me a bit. (Because of my dislike of religion and spiritual crap and also because I just don’t much love supernatural stuff in my romances!)
And now I just keep on reading expecting …. I don’t know what to happen. LOL!
But I enjoy doing that. I love reading this story. Ronin is a perfect hero!
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I haven’t been scared away yet!
But I’m sure it’s coming! It has to get really bad for the second book to make it all perfect again – but maybe we won’t get any perfects at all. Oy. Now I’m even more scared.
And I’m also sure it will be HELL to have to wait for book 2 to arrive in march!
THE LIFE THAT MATTERED was such a beautiful story. Funny, aorable, sexy, mysterious, wintery, heartbreaking. I need book #2 asap!!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Ronin – this one is MINE!