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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One of the reasons I adore Jewel E. Ann as an Author is that she never fails to weave intricate breath taking angsty stories that challenge me as a reader.
She opens my mind to endless possibilities that I wouldn’t normally give much thought to. But her stories leave me pondering……What if?
I absolutely loved this thought provoking and beautifully written story.
Evelyn and Ronin are such wonderful characters and easy to relate to.
They have amazing chemistry that you can feel from their very first meeting.
You will laugh, you will love and you will FEEL every moment of their extraordinary journey.
This is a duet so as expected it ends on a cliffy, but what a Spectacular one it is. I have NO idea what will happen next but I can’t wait to find out.
I want to start off by saying, oh my word that Prologue! Heart rending and more than slightly ominous, I couldn’t wait to see where we were going with this story. I was gripped and once I started I could not stop. The phrase “page turner” was invented for this book.
I love the characters this author creates. Not because they’re always sweet and gentle and kind, but because they’re authentic and true to life. I love the way she always allows them free reign to be what they need to be. They’re fierce, they’re flawed, they mess up, but most of all they make you feel all the things, because they’re human. In The Life that Mattered Ms Ann has once again not only given us wonderful characters but also an emotional tale, beautifully written, full of impossible decisions and tear jerking dilemmas. An intriguing plot which takes you on a rollercoaster ride, a fantastic journey from a sweet first meeting, to love, loss, and mind blowing secrets. It’s sexy and witty, tragic and ever so slightly twisted. My favourite kind of book. It’s amazing.
I’m sorry if you were hoping for more of an insight as to the plot but I truly believe Jewel’s stories are best enjoyed without spoilers. She is a phenomenal writer and I would urge you to just take a leap of faith and go in blind.
And Jewel E Ann takes us on another heartbreaking journey. I want to tell you this story but I don’t want to ruin your reading of this book. It’s gut wrenching, funny, touching, mystifying, and I could go on and on. But please, buy this book and take this journey for yourself.
4.5 stars. The prologue immediately set me on guard as to what to expect in this story. Aside from that, the story took off without a hitch. But because it’s Jewel Ann, there’s a lot of stuff happening in tiers and as the reader, it really got my mind going on overload thinking about things, like the limits of love and crossing boundaries and emotional connections. Evie and Ronin meet in Vancouver and everything about them is just adorable, sweet, sexy, fun and flirty. I really enjoyed getting to know the both of them and they have a fantastic dynamic. Evie is very down-to-earth, level headed and has her priorities straight. And now she has become an anchor point for Ronin, who used to love living in a free spirited, nomadic existence. She is also the glue that binds Lila and Graham together, who are her best friends and they are married to each other.
There are some conversations and events that made me squirm, meaning I couldn’t quite get a read on what was going to happen because lines were about to be crossed and that made me pause, but yet I also knew it was laying down groundwork for something bigger later. And there’s several of these small moments or pieces of dialogue, building up to who-knows-what, but it promises to be major. So many possibilities.
The new dimension introduced in this book does reminds me a little of the Transcend duet. I did get engrossed and invested in this story, intrigued by every turn of the page because Evie is a solid heroine and Ronin has proven to be perfect for her. So much anticipation and lead up to whatever turn their lives will take them on. Even in the best of relationships, there are challenges that arise that test the strongest of them all. In contrast, there is also Lila and Graham and I am extremely curious to find out more about them because it’s not all what it seems on the outside. Evie loves everyone in her life and it looks like she’s about to find out how far she will go for that love for each one of them. Jewel Ann definitely delivers on her promises of this being a mind bending plot that pushes boundaries and tests the true meaning of love. I already can’t wait to read the sequel.
How does one write a review that will rave about a book as well as the author wrote the book? Well, I know that is beyond me but here is my attempt. Jewel E. Ann is an author that can deliver well written words, with well developed characters, and a story line that plays with your heart, mind, and soul as if she is standing over a crystal ball, waving her hands with a sly grin, knowing what we are about to encounter in her books. And I love it!
The Life That Mattered is her latest creation that hits all the marks and will leave you wanting, no needing the second book right away. This is a love story at its roots – love between friends, love between family, and love between a man and a woman. We are along for this journey between Ronin and Evelyn, Grant and Lila, all four together, and their extended families. I read this book in one sitting, because the story flowed so easily and I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. Be ready for the emotions to keep you engaged from beginning to end. I cannot wait for the second book because I want to dive back into their lives since they all have become family after finishing.
This is not a drill people!! This will give you all the feels. Prepare yourself to fall in love with Ronin. He is a swoon worthy character guaranteed. Even with his flaws (really, there aren’t that many) you can not help to be his biggest cheerleader.
Some of the things that makes this book special:
-Even when dealing with a lot of tragedy, it doesn’t feel like it pulls you down. On the contrary, it built that feeling of perseverance. That “keep going, I got this, I’m not going to cry” mindset.
-Mainly that is due to having very strong main characters in Ronin and Evelyn that give you a sense of pride.
– Also, it includes Evelyn’s best friends and even when you have a love hate feeling towards them, you can’t help but recognized that they are crucial to how the story develops. How their love story grows stronger.
– It opens your mind to new non literal possibilities.
Side effects include:
Lack of sleep for fear of interrupting the story
Feelings of uncertainty, pride, hurt, anger, love, wonder, disappointment (did I mentioned all the feels before?)
Laughs, gasps and heart eyes.
Among other things…
Needless to say that I am desperate to know what happens next.
Romantic Thriller | Contemporary Romance
Well. This is one brilliant book. I can’t say I love the ending for selfish reasons though and I find myself sitting in a puddle of tears because I honestly (for the first time) have NO IDEA where the author is going to take this duet. Usually I KNOW what’s going to happen as romance books tend to sit on the happier side of things, but I honestly have no clue right now. What. A. MINDBENDER.
Jewel E. Ann is a fairly new to me author. I have a few of her books sitting on my shelves and kindle but haven’t read anything. Until now… This is truly one of the most intense romances I have EVER READ. I can’t begin to explain what this book is about because a). I’m still wrapping my head around it and b). it would spoil the book for potential readers. I will say though that it’s extremely unique , deeply romantic and utterly impressive. This book is unexpected in so many ways and going into it with preconceived notions would truly RUIN the book for you. So, read it without have ideas about it in your head. This is the first book in the duet, and of course, I’m anxiously waiting for the second one to come out. I absolutely NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. I can only cross my fingers in hope that everything will turn out FINE!
A magnificent story of love, loss, and fate. Jewel E Ann delves into the unique possibilities of life through a beautifully written narrative. The storyline is intense, creative, and unparalleled. The characters are brilliant with tangible qualities. Ronin and Evelyn are breathtaking together. JEA writes with a skill that leaves every emotion, every experience palpable to the reader. Absolutely love it.
5 PHENOMENAL STARS!! Phenomenal, Phenomenal, Phenomenal is all I can say. This is one of those books you know will be in your top 3 favorite reads this year….and we are only in January. Evelyn and Ronin will touch every part of your heart. Their story will take you on one heck of a ride, that you will remember forever. I am dying for book #2. Jewel E. Ann’s stories grab you and hold on all the way through her books….Her books are originals and there are not a lot of authors that have her success.