Pretty Little Pieces

Author: Carmen Schober
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 6, 2022
Publisher: Bethany House

Sometimes it takes everything falling apart . . .

Ambitious influencer Georgina Havoc and her designer boyfriend have been dubbed "the next Chip and Joanna Gaines"--a power couple that flip homes all over Nashville--and they plan to merge their unique styles into their new home renovation show. But their relationship falls apart when he blindsides her with a "pause." Forced to convince the network to take a chance on her as a solo star, Georgina takes on the task of renovating a forgotten cottage in the tiny, tight-knit town of Tarragon, Tennessee.

Facing one heartache and setback after another, Georgina moves forward with her plan to rebuild her life and save her career, but a surprise drop-in from her troubled twin sister makes things extra messy. The unexpected presence of rugged ex-sniper Cassidy Stokes also threatens to bring all the walls that she's built crashing down.

As she puts the pieces of her previously perfect life back together, will Georgina retreat to the familiar or boldly embrace a new design?

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Reviewer: Joy Hannabass

Will Georgina Havoc and her designer boyfriend be the next Chip and Joanna Gaines—a power couple that flips homes all over Nashville? They sure hope to be.

But when their relationship takes a hit, and they split, they can probably say goodbye to Chip and Joanna. Georgina pulls herself together because she has to make it on her own someway. So she takes on the solo task of renovating a forgotten cottage in the tiny, tight-knit town of Tarragon, Tennessee. But with everything not going her way, including her sister showing up, and the ruggedly good-looking neighbor that won't stay away, what's to happen with this cottage she is supposed to be renovating.

I must admit I'm a sucker for contemporary romance. I really liked the characters. A bit of reality within the characters made the story more realistic for me. I like the faith running through the lives of some of the characters as well. 

The relationship between Georgina and Cassidy was an enjoyable getaway from renovating the cottage and wanting to imitate Chip and Joanna Gains, of whom I am not a big fan. I think Georgina can do just fine as her own self. 

There is much going on in the story. I really didn't care for Georgina's sister and her attitude. But I guess it gives the story a little added flavor to it. If you enjoy the HGTV shows of flipping houses as Chip and Joanna do and Georgina wants to do, this is an enjoyable book that you need to check out. I think you will be glad you did. I'm giving Pretty Little Pieces Four Stars.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest review.

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Reviewer: Elisha Varela

Carmen Schober did a marvelous job with Pretty Little Pieces. This book gushes out a lot of feelings. You can actually feel what the characters feel. It made me cry and laugh. Such a lovely book. 

If you are looking for a clean book with a romantic story, this is it. It also has a character who has questions about Christianity. Not sure if it would be considered a prodigal son trope, but there is a part where a character comes to Christ. I absolutely cherished that part. It makes the readers feel a sense of hope that no one is too far gone. Anyone can be saved. 

I adored Georgina and Cassidy’s relationship. The connection was instant, but like every couple, they all go through difficulties. I enjoyed seeing them grow closer, even in the face of adversity. 

*Just for those like myself who are wondering, Cassidy is a guy.

***Warning Triggers: *A woman goes through a miscarriage. *A couple is kissing, and the use of ‘tongue’ is mentioned. Nothing detailed aside from that.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"The sad truth is that she's not Joanna Gaines, no matter how much anyone says otherwise. JoJo would know how to pull this mess together, but Georgina has no idea where to even begin."

Aspiring television home designer Georgina Havocs's already stressful life has just spiraled out of control. Now she's in panic mode, and barely hanging on to her professional credibility after a nasty what-should-have-been-private-for-normal-people break-up with her longtime boyfriend and co-star Lance Broussard, but the pain went much deeper than that. . . . much, much deeper. They had been partners, now they had became competitors for a spot on the same network.

Georgina's search for the "next best home makeover" leads her to Tarragon, Tennessee along with her best friend and a makeshift crew; deciding to renovate a pair of cottages she can only hope that bringing their potential back to life will be a reflection of her own circumstances as well. Meeting Cassidy Stokes however, challenges everything she thought she knew about everything. It's possible that more pieces are about to shatter.

This story has a definite chick-flick vibe with its myriad of characters and circumstantial hiccups. The "meat on the bone" is slathered in some pretty spicy sauce before the true flavor manages to emerge . . . . "there is but one good; that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to Him and bad when it turns from Him." - C. S. Lewis

I couldn't help but like this book, but have to admit that the underlying structure is a bit wobbly at times.

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Reviewer: Laura Thomas

Georgina Havoc is a Nashville interior design influencer and a Joanna Gaines wannabe with high hopes of making it big. When she tragically suffers a miscarriage and her life-and-business partner leaves without explanation, Georgina’s dreams are shattered, along with her heart… until she meets ex-sniper Cassidy Stokes. They couldn’t be more different, yet unintentional sparks fly as Georgina takes shaky steps in a new direction with her career, faith, and love life. 

With fixer-upper vibes, witty dialogue, and a generous helping of romance, this story of fresh beginnings and flawed characters shows how God can take our brokenness and make it beautiful. 

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reviewer: Kristina Hall

Characters: Cassidy (the main guy) and Georgina (the main girl) were both well-developed characters. Georgina especially experienced a lot of character growth throughout the novel. Poppy was a fun side character, as was Cassidy's mom.

Language: Clean.

Plot: All of the problems with Georgina's show and the drama between her and Cassidy moved the plot along.

Romance: Clean-ish. Innuendo and pretty intense kissing. I struggled with the romance. To me, it felt a lot more like lust than love for the majority of the time. I also don't want to read about tongues doing anything during a kissing scene or hands going beneath shirts. I wasn't a fan of Cassidy dating Georgina while Georgina wasn't a Christian.

Themes: This novel featured themes of forgiveness, salvation, and family. I appreciated Cassidy and Georgina's discussions about faith.

Writing: I haven't read many books written in the present tense, third person style, but it worked for this book most of the time. I did find a few places a little jarring, but that's just my personal taste.

Overall: Pretty Little Pieces was an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and more intense contemporary romance.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

A new to me author that had me on the edge of my seat wanting more! A book with just about everything a reader could want in a novel! I finished it in one evening ( my favorite time to read). So very good!

I could relate to Georgiana quite a bit, especially about taking a step forward and then two steps backward! Sometimes it's very discouraging! But it's what life is all about. It's a journey and the choices we make.

I loved every minute of this book. I couldn't put Georgiana's story down until I was finished, and it had a very satisfying ending. My heart is feeling full for such a wonderful story! I give five stars for a well-written novel. I highly recommend it. 

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reviewer: Tammy Lunsford

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by this book. When I read the "blurb" about this book, it looked interesting, but I never dreamed just how interesting it would be. I could not put it down. I read the entire book in one evening. 

The characters were very different from the usual characters in an inspirational romance. They were even more real to me than usual. The characters had real depth. Everyone has flaws, and these characters are definitely flawed but also searching for more in their life. 

Georgina Havoc's world has literally been rocked off of its axis. She feels as if everything is crumbling around her. She is famous, which makes recovery from her pain that much harder for her. When she arrives in the small town of Tarragon, Tennessee, she has no clue how much her world will be rocked again, but this time it will be for her benefit. Cassidy Stokes has worked hard to pull himself out of the pit, but he also has a restless heart. 

All the characters in this story have broken pieces in their lives that need to be put back together. The title of this book was well chosen as you follow them on their journey. There was a wonderful inspirational message in this book. But again, it was more real life than a normal fictional story. I cannot explain it, but it was touching and easy to digest as a reader. I love a good inspirational romance, but this book will be enjoyable for anyone. Georgina's self-discovery path will bring you to tears at times. This story is not a simple, rose-colored romance. There are some heavy topics discussed in this book. But the inclusion of these topics makes the characters more lifelike to the reader. If you are a lover of home improvement reality shows and their world, you will enjoy the background of this story.  

I highly recommend this book. Although it is fiction, it might provide healing to someone who reads the stories of these characters and their struggles. I will definitely be checking out Carmen Shober's other book. Five stars are really not enough for my review, but I will have to settle to give it the highest review possible. I will be waiting for another book soon from this talented author!

I received a courtesy copy from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

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