A TOP 40 AMAZON BESTSELLER.Sex. Lies. Revenge. On the heels of a devastating loss, Evelyn fights to put her life back together. Only … part of her husband belongs to another woman, and the devil owns her soul. “If you tell her the lie, I will tell her the truth.”When her best friend goes to great lengths to protect Evelyn from destruction and devastation, mistakes are made, lines are crossed, and … from destruction and devastation, mistakes are made, lines are crossed, and all trust is shattered.
“We weren’t unbreakable.
I just needed to believe we weren’t unrepairable.”
Don’t miss the explosive conclusion to this unforgettable thriller by Jewel E. Ann, bestselling author of The Transcend Series.
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What an amazing end to this duet. Make sure to read the first one, but sooooo worth it! It’s not a “traditional” romance, but that’s one of my favorite things about this author. Well done on another great series!
Whoaaaaaa.
That was emotionally intense, like hold your breath until it’s over, sitting on pins and needles, anxiously reading while chewing my nails, “OMG how’s it gonna end” and then numbly sifting through the carnage for survivors intense! But in the best possible way!
This author always brings an emotional connection with her writing and once again I attribute it to fantastic character development. She reels you in through her characters so that you can’t help but become obsessed with the story till completion. I think fans of the Transcend duet will love this duet but beware, it is darker, more gritty overall, IMO.
Highly recommend!
I’ve never read a story like this before and let me tell you that this is the kind of books I want to read for the rest of my life. It has everything I love in a book: Suspense (I love this so much), Angst (I’ve became an addict) and Romance <3, and The Life You Stole is the missing piece of the puzzle of this MASTERPIECE!!!!!
This unique story takes you to a bizarre journey where you should go with an open mind and try to believe the unbelievable. Evie, Ronnie and Lila are living an unimaginable situation and their journey is so heartbroken that you can’t help feel the pain with them.
In THE LIFE THAT MATTERS, we get to meet Evie, Ronin, Graham and Lila, two couples, four friends who their lives intertwined in an unconventional way, and try to live it the best way they can.
THE LIFE YOU STOLE is full of deceives, lies, secrets that we will be able to notice with the 4 POV’s the author presents us and that make us understand what the character is feeling or what are their true colors.
I hate a lot in this story, I cried a thousand rivers but I assure you that this is one of the best reads of this year, dear Jewel, thank you so much for this duet, my heart and brain will always thank you!!!
Highly Recommended!!!
This duet blew me away, I had to wait for this conclusion and the author didn’t disappoint, it was simply perfection!
First, I have to say that I pulled an all-nighter, I just could not put this book down. Everything I expected this book would be was just not. It is dark and twisted and it felt like mouses running in a convoluted maze, taking all the wrong turns and never arriving at a good place. Reading this book involves feverishly turning the pages, desperately wanting to know what happens next and how it will end.
There’s no way to review this book without giving spoilers, so I will just express my emotions: my heart hurt. Evelyn is the light that shines through the soul of all the characters that revolve around her. Her moral compass is unbreakable, she is broken from her mother’s death and on top of her loss, she’s dealing with her husband Ronin’s otherworldly baggage, her best friend Lila’s unhappiness and Graham Cracker’s arrogance and presumptions. In the midst of all the chaos, when she feels that all hell has broken loose, she keeps calling her mother’s phone, listens to her still existing voice mail message, and unloads all her woes, hoping for some celestial advice from her mother. She needs to make a lot of calls, nearly fills the voice message box, because she feels alone and needs her mother. In the end, she heeds her own conscience, she remembers her mother’s experiences and she chooses her children, Franz and Anna, above all and every time.
Make no mistake, this is a romance story and it will have an HEA, but during the process, the author will crunch up your heart, squeeze it bloodless, dry your tear ducts, make your heart beat out of your chest, and then give you an ending that will be bittersweet at best. I have a book hangover, I’m sad and satisfied for a book that wrung my heart and made me feel, and relieved because Evelyn’s light was never extinguished or limited. My heart hurt for Ronin and how he always tried to do the best he could do, even when circumstances were against him, and poor Lila who was a victim of her love. Graham Cracker I could cheerfully grind into cracker dust and fry in a breaded something.
Words….I am wordless…I’m hungover…I’m whiplashed. There are parts that broke me completely. Evie’s calls to her mom (I couldn’t even breathe through those for my own reasons). Graham’s complete conviction that what he was doing was the right thing. Lila and Roe’s connection…I can’t even fathom feeling what Roe felt and not knowing if it was his or someone else’s feelings. While I felt scattered reading it…because let’s face it…none of it makes sense…in the moment…but soon everything gets pulled together. The characters you want to hate…you hate..but you love because they are just so diabolical in their love. The words you pray they never say but you pray they say soon weigh on your mind and heart. I felt my heart being squeezed until the very last word. That is what Jewel’s writing did to me. Take the journey with this duet…you really need it and it will bring back your belief….in everything.
This series is hands down my top series of 2020!!
There aren’t enough adjectives to properly describe this phenomenal story!!
Book 1 was one of the best books I’ve ever read and this installment surpassed book 1 with the perfect conclusion!
After the ending in book 1 we begin book 2 with the discovery of what led to that scene. There were moments in this story that were really tough for me to read. The author weaves an intricate tale of love and friendship that was totally enrapturing. The grief and pain these couples experienced was such a gut-wrenching and realistic journey.
Four friends, two couples, one unimaginable tragedy changes the course of 4 lives!
The idea in this story is so simple, yet it was so complex and complicated as these characters hide the truth to save those they love from pain.
Evie, Ronin, Lila and Graham’s characters flawlessly evolved and continued to grow. This installment gave me an inside look into their psyche so that I learned all their secrets and truths.
This unique story is not your typical romance.
The secrets, the betrayals the things they did for those we loved!!!
The things in life we cannot explain.
Nothing and no one is what they appeared!
Isn’t that just like real life?
In spite of it all can you forgive?
The author masterfully provoked my senses by engaging the main characters into these scenarios that really were insightful and thought provoking.
What would one do to have someone back?
What would one do for a second chance?
How far would you go to protect those you love?
As emotional as this book was, as passionate and gut wrenching as it was, for ME this story was an epic celebration of life, love and forgiveness!
Warning This highly emotional novel is impossible to put down once you start!
This is the second installment and cannot be read as a standalone.
Ten stars are not enough stars for this book!!
Overall Rating – +
I started this book one morning at around 3am when I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d maybe get an hour reading in. I was so wrong and I found myself unable to put this book down, my heart racing with the anticipation while I devoured it.
After the heart clutching cliffhanger from book one, I couldn’t wait to get started on the conclusion of this duet and I was so not ready for everything this book threw at me, in one word, it’s was phenomenal.
The book picks up right where book one ended and the heart wrenching and angst journey begins. I don’t want to give to much away as I think this read is one you should go into blind to experience it fully so I hope my review doesn’t jump too much.
Ronin is still plagued with the pain and agony that Lila is in and is trying his best to love his family and carry on but his link to Lila is so strong and starts to complicate things. Like book one, I had some suspicious of where the story was going to go, but I did not expect that.
Although book one builds the four main characters, this book gives us more of them and a POV from everyone, although mainly Evie and Ronin.
What I loved most were Evie and Ronin, they were just perfect. Yes, their marriage had secrets but I felt every ounce of their love for each other and when they hurt, I was hurting, there were times I had to put my kindle down for a few minutes just so I could process my thoughts at what was happening to them.
I highly recommend this duet and is definitely a top read of 2020 for me. The story pulls you in with the love between Evie and Ronin and drives you crazy with the psychological thriller that it turns out to be. Beware, there will be points where you will hate everyone with the choices they make, but ultimately surrender to the genius that this story is and the emotions it will make you feel. A MUST read!
ARC received for an honest review – thank you
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Overall Ratings;u2063
POV – Multiple
Hero – +
Heroine –
Story – +
Angst – +
Steam –
Chemistry –
The Life You Stole by Jewel E. Ann is book 2 in the Life Duet.
This book begins from where the 1st book ended. And goes right into this crazy mindblowing psychological journey that will take the reader to the edge of their seat up until quite literally the very end. There are plenty of twists right along with the mind games and the emotional feels that happened. There are parts to this story that had me going OMG, other parts that had me just dumbfounded, other parts hurting with both Evelyn & Ronin; then there are the parts when I wanted to just smack some characters…I’ll let you figure out who and there were the total feels, thr steam and the chemistry between Evelyn & Ronin even when all seemed lost. There are twists and turns, dark raw emotions and that epic ending. Just know Evelyn & Ronin along with Lila & Graham’s story is told quite evocatively and poignantly with such storytelling. Read this Duet!!!
My Rating: 4.5 stars ******
This is The Life You Stole, book 2 of the Life series written by Jewel E. Ann. Having Jewel E. Ann as one of my most favorite authors I have come to expect certain things from her books. I know she will tear my heart out, make me yell and scream and sometimes even want to throw the book down and refuse to finish it! That is the point I found myself at today. Just a little bit of information for you… I read from my Ipad or my Iphone, so throwing either item would be causing my own defeat. That said, I will also tell you that I AM NOT a spoiler kinda gal. I’m not going to tell you why her book made me want to act in that manner, just that it did. You will love Ronin and Evelyn from book one of this series. You may not be as crazy about them while reading this one. Sometimes just a little bit of misdirection can cause your life to completely derail. Be ready for this one!
Now I must start over and read them both again!!
The conclusion of the Life Duet is every bit as riveting as I anticipated. The Life You Stole is twisted and dark on a totally different level than book one. I feel like I’ve been emotionally pummeled.
Once again, the story is told from Evelyn and Ronin’s points of view, only this time around Lila and Graham’s perspectives are added to the mix. Between the four of them, we are privy to a variety of tender, heartbreaking, conflicted, and creepy thoughts. Whether you like all the characters or not, the character development is phenomenal. Evelyn is filled with honor and goodness. I loved her most of all.
Jewel E. Ann is such a gifted, bewitching storyteller. Many of her books have pushed the boundaries of what I consider comfortable, normal, or moral. This story is no exception. Much of the book is just plain gut-wrenching, but it is so gripping that I could not put it down. I wore the dark circles under my eyes as a badge of honor.
A minefield of potential triggers makes this a tough read, so proceed with caution—particularly if you are a sensitive reader. Personally, as much as I love an angsty read—and I did relish the many mind-bending, suspenseful aspects—I felt a profound sense of sadness throughout. I think it affected my overall enjoyment of this conclusion, and it took some time to shake off the funk I was in.
When looking at the entire arc of the duet it is clear that it is plotted with precision. The story stayed with me long after “The End”. I had an overwhelming urge to go back and analyze small details and character choices. This complex and haunting story would make a fantastic book club selection.
* I received and early copy to voluntarily read. *
The life you stole
Jewel E Ann
Reviews on goodreads. Amazon. BookBub. The book addicts
I don’t want to write to much and accidentally do a spoiler but holy moly the ending to this duo is absolutely EPIC!!
I don’t know how she keeps writing books like this !! Edge of my seat , sometimes pissed off , with my mouth hanging open!! You never let me down !!!
One of my unicorn authors has done it again – my mind was blown, and I was completely consumed by this book and duet! It is riveting, jaw-dropping, and will steal your breath at times.
This is not your conventional love-story. Although the love between Ronin and Evelyn goes very deep, the road to their HEA is daunting, emotional, and very suspenseful. This book had my heart in my throat at every page. It scared me, challenged me, and made me think outside the box. It was thrilling at times, and heart-wrenching at others.
The role in which Ronin and Evelyn’s closest friends, Graham and Lyla, play in their relationship will have you questioning everything. They are all intertwined, and as much as they love each other, they will make decisions that will leave you breathless and questioning them. There were times that I had to put this book down because it consumed my heart and mind SO much! But this is why I love this author – she pushes my boundaries, writes unique storylines, and leaves it all out on the pages.
This book and duet is addictive and thrilling in every way. It is unlike any other JEA novel, and I can’t wait to read it again! Well done once again JEAnn!!!
„The Life That Mattered” left me with the big cliffhanger and I’ve been dying about the next book in this duet. I was reading „The Life You Stole” three hours and this was a really good three hours in my life. Not the first and not the last of course, but I really like time with this book.
I never would have thought that this book will be a story about four people. We have here Graham’s, Lila’s, Evie’s and Ronin’s POV. I was shocked when I saw this first time, but I really liked it! We can see so many emotions in this book. We can see the problems, feelings, doubts between two marriages.
Did I write that I hate Graham in „The Life That Mattered” review? I don’t remember. Anyway I hate him more (or so much). He is such a hateful guy.
Lila and Evie are still together and they are still happy. Even when the problems are going through them.
Ronin, hm… he is a really mystery guy. I like him, but I think that we can’t know this man thoroughly in these books.
„The Life You Stole” is intense book. I was in this story with the heroes from the first pages and I really lived with them. I felt them so much. Jewel E. Ann knows how to write a really heartbreaking story, which will be with the reader a long time after the reading.
This duet were my first two books, which I read written by Jewel E. Ann. Now I need to read all of them, because this author bought me with her stories and heroes. If You don’t know what to read I highly recommend „The Life You Stole” and also the first book in series „The Life That Mattered”.
The Life You Stole is Jewel at her controversial best. I can guarantee that everyone who reads it is going to have a strong opinion one way or the other and I love that. I love the way her books bring us together, make us think, feel, question, push our boundaries. I love her originality and I love her ability to take me out of my comfort zone. I think I have analysed and discussed my feelings about this book more than I have ever done with any other book before.
The Life You Stole will answer many of the questions you had from The Life that Mattered but believe me, it doesn’t make for an easier read for the knowing. Oh what a tangled web we weave is the phrase which continually went through my mind as I read it. I had so many theories but there was no way I could’ve prepared myself for the acts these characters were capable of. My anxiety levels were turned up to the max as I wondered just how far they would go. Even in those moments, however, when realisation dawned, this writer made me feel that some of those wrong moments were right. However, decisions made and the consequences of them are far reaching.
The dynamics of the relationships here blew my mind and I was grateful for all the points of view from both couples. Power, control, love, lies, obsession, guilt and forgiveness all play a part. Such a unique plot that held me spellbound.
Do I wish these characters had done things differently? If they were in real life then yes, but in a book, in this book? Hell no! That would’ve made it a very different story and I adore this one just the way it is.
5 stars!
The Life Duet is complete! It is fantastic, original, and will leave you stunned with the creative ways Jewel E. Ann holds your heart and mind captive through her extraordinary storytelling. There is no breaking the grip she’ll have on you and you won’t want to anyway. She makes you feel complex and conflicting emotions that will nearly break you but then she somehow makes it all right even though there are unforgivable acts, painful moments, and situations that will crush your soul. I am not sure how I made it through those trying times, but I did. And I loved it.
I read The Life You Stole in a day. I just couldn’t put it down and it has literally taken a week for me to work through what I am feeling and I am still thinking about this book. This is not an easy read but I devoured it nonetheless.
I am addicted to Evie and Ronin’s love story and I was so desperate to see what would happen after being left with the jaw-dropping cliffhanger in The Life that Mattered. I didn’t know what to expect but I didn’t think it would hurt like it did. My heart broke over and over. I was sad, sickened, frustrated, and angry but I also understood how and why things unfolded the way they did. It didn’t make it right but I know things aren’t always black and white. There is inevitable heartache when characters are willing to protect the ones they love at all costs.
“Sometimes we loved with lies and protected with sins.”
I was so focused on Evie and Ronin that I didn’t want to accept the challenges that arise when you have four complex characters whose lives are intertwined the way they are. Evie, Ronin, Lila, and Graham have their own strengths and weaknesses, their own secrets and lies. There are parts of each of them that I loved and parts that I hated, and the together they deliver a suspenseful thriller that left me emotionally disturbed.
There are twists and turns on every page, and the secrets, lies, and manipulation are overwhelming. I was pulled out of my comfort zone as relationships get more complicated, friendships change, and lines are crossed. I didn’t know how I would make it out unscathed, and honestly, I didn’t. Yet, I wouldn’t change a thing because of how this story affected me. It reached inside me and took ahold of my heart, and all I can say is that someone who can move me so completely through words alone deserves all the stars. I loved The Life You Stole and I loved the the duet.
“I would fight for him.
And he would fight for me.
There would be truths.
There would be lies.
Never perfect—always forever.”
*ARC generously provided by the author and Social Butterfly PR*
OH-M-FREAKIN-G!! I didn’t think anything could rival the Transcend Duet in my eyes(my love knew no bounds), but I really believe Jewel has done it. What a tragically tangled web she weaved with this duet. Oh my dear book friends, I don’t think there is enough yoga or meditation I could have done in this world to give my mind preparation for the epic mindf-ing it was in for.
This book was the best of everything(book and movie genres) all at once. It was a suspense, a paranormal, the best kind of love story, a story of the strongest bonds of friendship. It was creepy and disturbingly awesome. It was the kind of book where you can be rooting for your characters at the same time you want to clobber them for being blind to what’s in front of them. This is one of those fantastic books where you literally suck in breath in outrage and your hubby or kid looks at you from across the room and goes “what the heck was that? You sounded like you were choking.”
“The truth could right the wrong of a lie, but nothing fixed the truth. His love was ugly and so was his truth. “
There wasn’t a dull moment in this book, from chapter to chapter I was on the edge of my seat wondering was was around the corner for Ronin, Evie, Lila and Graham. The lies, the secrets, the manipulation. Holy shit the way everything was coming together was terrifying yet awesome. I legit couldn’t put this book down. I didn’t just read it, I savored it at the same time I devoured it. When I did have to stop to “adult” I swear I was like jonesing to get back to it. Lol
Y’all, I am in awe at the brilliance of Jewels mind. This is a book that is told in multiple people’s POV(all four main characters) and it never gets jumbled or confusing, the different details that spanned years in this book were so on point. I swear I went through every emotion I had while reading this book. Love, lust, happy, sad, fear, disgust, despair, utter devastation, frustration, depression, elation and I can promise you I will read this duet again. IT WAS THAT GOOD!!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book!
My Cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book!
– I’m officially Dead!! This particular Jewel Ann diet has emotionally slaughtered me! Going in I just was so unsure what the outcome would be so I was terrified. If you have read her books you know she ain’t scared to gut a bitch!! Lol I’m so glad I hung in there. This book was worth every tear and raised moment of BP and heart palpitations. And all the people said AMEN!
– Ronin and Evie we’re still hot but there was a lot of stress and struggle for them in this book. When they got on it though. Hot as ever!
Cliffhanger Warning- This book doesn’t end on a cliffy. Yay! Now is it a HEA for all. NO! Do I think you all will be happy ever after with the ending,Yes. You will understand this more after you read it.
Sorry not sorry, but spoilers suck!!
How do you condense feelings over a book/duet into a review. I know some go on and on and write an amazing review about everything that was phenomenal about a story.
I am not one of those people. Yes this duet was amazing. Jewel E Ann in a magical being of words.
But all in all, The Life you Stole, book 2 in the Life series continued to break my heart and completely put it back together.
There were tears, and angst, and anger and more and it so deserves its 5 brilliant stars.
Bravo JEA you have done it again.
YES THE LIFE SERIES NEEDS TO BE READ IN ORDER!
“You’re my Favorite ______”
Wow. Just… wow. The first book was incredible. I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book, other than that it would destroy me. AND IT DID. Fuck… The Life You Stole is hard. It’s intense. It’s tragic, and beautiful, and so suspenseful. I can’t say too much because you really need to just go in blind and devour these two books. You will be so glad you did. These are types of reads that will stay with you forever.
5/5 STARS
Excuse me while I’m still hyperventilating, panting, screaming, recovering…
Damn, this book was intense (well, the whole Duet, for that matter).
Impossible to put down (I finished in the wee hours).
And yes, it’s dark, emotional, panty-melting, mind-blowing, and sometimes IT.HURT.LIKE.HELL, in so, so many ways…
The author challenged me at every turn.
For those who have read all her books, let’s say this love story is like the Jack & Jill Series and the Transcend Duet having a baby, with all the darkness from the farmer and the “blurred lines/dimensions” from the latter.
And speaking of babies: reading this felt like giving birth!!!
I mean, I felt like I couldn’t go on anymore, and Jewel E. Ann was by my side, or at least whispering into my hear, with her devilish and sadistic little voice:
Jewel: “Come on, you can do it, one more push, one more push!!”
Me: “I can’t do it anymore!!!”… “This is all your fault!!!!”… “I hate you so much right now!!!!”, “YOU did THIS to me!!!!”… “NEVER AGAIN!” (all the while crushing the father’s/author’s hand…)
You know, the typical giving birth situation when the main responsible for this hurting situation gives you words of support…
Yeah, Jewel, I really wanted to slap someone at some point…
But like all Jewel’s books, all the hurt, all the angst were totally worth it.
This is not a simple story.
There is no room for “black or white” reasonings.
It’s heartbreaking, mind blowing, devastating but so, so beautiful.
So, I survived
My Kindle survived.
And, like the mother who can’t stop looking at her newborn, still emotionally and physically exhausted, you can’t help to feel exactly that: it was all worth the agony.
Again, I can say that Jewel E. Ann is the devil, but she never let me down.
I don’t think she can write simple stories. Well, she certainly can, but her real talent shines with this kind of stories.
Congratulations, this Duet is one of my favorite reads this year!
***ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***
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