Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Pieces of You

AUTHOR:  N.R. Walker

SERIES:  Missing Pieces

PUBLISHER:  Blueheart Press

LENGTH: 194 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  May 22, 2020

BLURB:

Dallas Muller has everything he never expected he’d have. He owns a successful motorbike mechanic shop in Newcastle, and he’s madly in love with his boyfriend of four years, Justin Keith.

Justin has always struggled to find where he fit in, never realising his true worth or what it means to be loved—until he met Dallas. Living and working together might be too much for some, but Dallas and Justin wouldn’t have it any other way.

When a terrible accident tears their world apart, Justin’s left with no memory of Dallas or their relationship. Trying to put the pieces back together is almost impossible when some pieces are blank and some are missing altogether. Dallas has to let Justin find his own way back to him and just hope that their love will light the way.

REVIEW:

Pieces of You is an exquisite story of love that knows no bounds. It’s a study in anguish and loss, selflessness, trust, and devotion. N.R. Walker depicts the desolation of losing one’s memory, as well as the devastation for the amnesiac’s loved ones. This novel will be in my top five books this year, if not number one. 

So, amnesia. You know at the onset it’s going to be a painful read. The book is angsty, of course, but Ms. Walker’s gentle storytelling and handling of a delicate subject eases the despair somewhat. Even though the accident happens at the beginning of the book, she lets us glimpse just enough of the couple to appreciate the affection Dallas and Justin have for one another. They both cherish the simple life they have together with fulfilling work as motorbike mechanics by day and quiet nights in front of the TV, curled up on the sofa with each other and the cat. Their deep love for each other is evident, and that provides the reader with enough hope that a happy ending will prevail.  

Life was damn near perfect. Actually, there wasn’t one single thing I would change if I was given the chance. Not one thing.  – Justin 

I’ve read other MM romances with an amnesia trope; however, Pieces of You is in another realm. This book feels so real and raw, not gimmicky. Other books seem to manufacture conflict by not allowing the amnesiac’s loved one to reveal the nature of their relationship, i.e. boyfriends, which seems so counter-intuitive and where much of the angst is produced. You won’t find that here, and I’m so grateful. Again, it’s genuine. 

As I write this review, two words keep circling in my head: excruciating and love. There’s so much pain in this book and it’s excruciating for the characters. Justin experiences agonizing physical pain, the pain of losing five years of his life, and not recognizing the world and the people around him. Then there’s Dallas with the excruciating grief of losing the man he loves to amnesia and traumatic brain injury. He puts his own anguish on the back burner with the hope that Justin can relearn to love him, all while living with the horrible reality that Justin could choose to rebuild a new life without him. As a reader it’s crushing to witness Dallas’ stoic suffering. 

He turned to me, and those beautiful, familiar eyes met mine. Those eyes that had shone when we’d laughed and burned when we’d made love. And now there was nothing … no recognition, no spark. Only exhaustion and wariness. He pulled his hand from mine. I’d forgotten I was holding it.  – Dallas 

And then there’s love. The incredible, fathomless love that Dallas exhibits toward Justin, giving him everything. Justin’s love is exhibited in the trust he bestows in Dallas very early in his recovery and his consideration for the emotions his boyfriend is feeling. He doesn’t know Dallas but he’s allowing the man to care for him. 

Even though Justin experiences terror, confusion, sadness, and hope, there are no wild mood swings, angry outbursts, or extended periods of self-pity. For his part Dallas feels sorrow, anxiety, frustration, and that shared moment of hope. But he also feels tremendous gratitude that Justin is alive and in his life at all. We never see Dallas bitter or feeling sorry for himself. All his energy goes into caring for Justin and helping him heal.  

I couldn’t put this book down. I became annoyed and slightly irrational at home when real life kept interrupting my precious reading time: 

Husband: Honey, it’s 10pm, when’s dinner? 

Son: Mommmm, I’ve had to wear the same underwear for three days! 

Me: Quiet, you! Justin might remember something soon!! 

I had to keep reading because I got a nervous tummy if I stopped. That’s clearly more important than food and clean clothes, right? It’s going to be difficult to endure the wait for book two of the Missing Pieces series (expected publication date June 26th) because these boys are living inside my head now and I just want more. I’m frankly worried that books two and three are going to deviate from the tender tone of this book and be angst-ridden. That’s not Ms. Walker’s usual M.O. so I’m holding out hope, especially since this book ends on a positive note. I just don’t want anything worse to befall these beautiful men or pull them apart. 

I encourage you to give Pieces of You a try. It gets my highest recommendation. 

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

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