IN PIECES
by Danielle Pearl
Part of the Something More series.
October 10, 2017 | Forever | Paperback: $14.00 | eBooks: $4.99
The second New Adult novel in the Something More series by bestselling author Danielle Pearl!
Beth Caplan is ready to begin college a new woman. She's worked hard to overcome her demons, and she's eager to live in a world where no one knows about her past. Except, of course, her childhood crush. David March has known Beth a lifetime. Tasked by her older brother to look after the beautiful incoming freshman, he takes his job exceptionally seriously. Even if she tempts him in ways no kid-sister type ever should.
When Beth's ex shows up as a transfer student, and a creepy stranger with a reputation for violence sets his sights on her, Dave will do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means moving her in with him. When he learns just how much a secret from his past hurt the girl he's always cared for, he becomes doubly determined to protect her, even from himself. But that's easier said than done.
I don't tend to pick up many new adult novels but the blurb for In Pieces was too intriguing for me to ignore. So I took a chance on this new to me author and I'm so glad I did.
Growing up, Beth Caplan always had her older brother as her protector. Now, she's going to college and eager to spread her wings and become independent. However, a new protector appears...her brother's best friend. David March makes her feel safe, only he makes her feel more than that too.
David March has always liked Beth Caplan but kept his distance to honour his best friend because she is his little sister. When David finds out Beth will attend the same college as himself, he makes it his job to make sure she's safe, only his interests in her run far deeper than doing a favour for his friend.
Beth, despite her troubled past, shows she possesses an inner strength and determination as she battles to overcome events from the past. In contrast, I found David March a little edgy when we are first introduced to him He's friendly on the surface but felt a darker more sinister side to his personality lurking underneath his protective fascade. He isn't a hero I instantly warmed to as I believed he had a hidden agenda. As time progressed and his actions speak louder than words, he gained my respect as my original opinion is proved wrong.
Sometimes, too much happened within the narrative, which was overwhelming. With upset and angst from the past, more than enough issues were present for the heroine to overcome without adding more. Thankfully, Ms Pearl's writing held my attention the whole time. The twist at the end wasn't a surprise...the length of time for it to be revealed was. Still, I'm not convinced that this plot thread was really necessary.
Overall, if you're looking for a novel with secrets, betrayal and a hot romance between a couple with sizzling chemistry, this is for you.
***arc generously received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley***
Growing up, Beth Caplan always had her older brother as her protector. Now, she's going to college and eager to spread her wings and become independent. However, a new protector appears...her brother's best friend. David March makes her feel safe, only he makes her feel more than that too.
David March has always liked Beth Caplan but kept his distance to honour his best friend because she is his little sister. When David finds out Beth will attend the same college as himself, he makes it his job to make sure she's safe, only his interests in her run far deeper than doing a favour for his friend.
Beth, despite her troubled past, shows she possesses an inner strength and determination as she battles to overcome events from the past. In contrast, I found David March a little edgy when we are first introduced to him He's friendly on the surface but felt a darker more sinister side to his personality lurking underneath his protective fascade. He isn't a hero I instantly warmed to as I believed he had a hidden agenda. As time progressed and his actions speak louder than words, he gained my respect as my original opinion is proved wrong.
Sometimes, too much happened within the narrative, which was overwhelming. With upset and angst from the past, more than enough issues were present for the heroine to overcome without adding more. Thankfully, Ms Pearl's writing held my attention the whole time. The twist at the end wasn't a surprise...the length of time for it to be revealed was. Still, I'm not convinced that this plot thread was really necessary.
Overall, if you're looking for a novel with secrets, betrayal and a hot romance between a couple with sizzling chemistry, this is for you.
***arc generously received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley***
I shove my hand through my hair. “Beth,” I sigh.
I wait for her to go off on me again, but she doesn’t. She just kind of looks up at me, her resentment a palpable thing. I can’t stand to see her look at me like that. But what makes my lungs burn is knowing that I deserve her resentment. She has no idea how much. Fuck, I hope to God she never will. Especially not now that she’s come so far—that she’s doing so well. Well enough to tell me off in public, at my own party, anyway.
But not tonight, it seems, and when she still doesn’t say anything at all, I make my attempt. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? I thought I was protecting you.”
“I don’t need protection,” she counters.
I nod. “I know. I just thought…Falco being around would give you an excuse to hide away in your dorm, and I wanted you to experience…”
“Experience what, David?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Fucking life, I guess.”
Beth looks down at her shoes. I hate that she won’t even look at me. “Okay, whatever,” she murmurs.
“Whatever?” I repeat incredulously. Here I am, apologizing—something I’m not exactly fucking known for—and all she has to say is whatever?
“Yeah. Whatever. I get it. It just sucks, you know?”
I take a much-needed deep breath. “I know, Bea.”
At last her eyes meet mine, hostility finally gone. I take the opportunity to retrieve my new peace offering from my back pocket. Well, not new. My worn and weathered copy of Hamlet, riddled with years’ worth of my own highlights and notes, its pages filled with more of my own words than those of the author himself. I hope it will help in her Shakespeare class. If nothing else, it will give her an invasive insight into who I am and how I think, just like all the other books I’ve given her over the years, and I wonder if she realizes just how personal it is.
She takes it, her thin brows pinched together in confused awe. “This is your copy,” she breathes.
Suddenly I feel too vulnerable, uncomfortably exposed. “Thought it could help in your class,” I half-lie. Because it’s more than that, and I suspect she knows it.
Her pretty pink lips twist into a small smile, her cheeks going even rounder than usual, and it hits me right in the chest. Not for the first time I tell myself the affection I feel for her is strictly familial. More lies.
“Thanks.”
I smile. “You eat dinner yet?”
She shrugs. “I was gonna heat a cup of noodles and study.”
Cup of fucking noodles? “Fuck that. Come to the Stu-U. Let’s get some real food.”
Beth rolls her eyes. “Fine. But just some quick food, okay? I really need to study.”
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Bea,” I smirk at her, and she sets free a short giggle. There it is.
I take her girly-ass backpack and slip it over my shoulder, giving her no choice but to follow me. But as soon as I turn around, my eyes catch on that same guy, just as he’s averting his gaze. Only this time he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at Beth; I’m sure of it. Rage rushes through my veins, and I grit my teeth. I don’t know who the fuck this guy is, but there’s something off about him, and there’s absolutely nothing good about Beth drawing his attention.
My jaw clenches. I slip my arm protectively around her shoulders, despite just having been scolded for being overprotective. “Beth, in two seconds, I want you to subtly glance to your left, between buildings B and C, okay?”
She nods hesitantly.
“Do you know him?”
“Yeah. I mean, no. He’s in my Abnormal Psych class. And I saw him last night.”
“Saw him doing what?”
“The same thing. Standing around smoking cigarettes like a fucking creep.”
“I think he was looking at you,” I admit.
“And that.”
So this isn’t the first time that guy’s been staring at Beth. Unease swirls in my gut. “Stay away from him,” I warn her.
“Do you know him?” she asks uncertainly.
“No. But I don’t like the way he was looking at you.”
Of course, I’ve never liked the way any guys have looked at her.
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