Piece by Piece by Twila Mason is a friends-to-lovers contemporary romance that takes a hard look at the drug culture - and what it does to families. Aria spends her childhood looking after her baby brother, Ben, because her mother simple cannot. As a drug addict, she is often high, always unreliable, and rarely offers motherly support. When her mother spends the rent money, Aria arrives home to find the family is now on the street. She turns to an old friend, Luke, who found a way out of the old neighborhood.

Although there is an immediate spark between them, Luke and Aria dance around the attraction because neither is ready to commit. We get front row seats as we watch them battle their demons and navigate a new world where peace, hope, and love have a chance to exist. As completely foreign concepts, neither one really knows what to do when life isn't a battlefield.

That's not to say everything is easy. Moving past trauma and finding the right path is not easy. Nor is forgiveness - of others or of self. And what to do when the ones you should love are the ones that keep hurting you?

This story is sweet as two young people fall in love. But it is also edgy as we see what happens when drugs and alcohol cause childhood trauma and can easily create a family cycle of abuse.

Purchase a copy of Piece by Piece:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4lhAvHY​
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4kq9XDg

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The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
EDITORIAL REVIEW

TITLE: 10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure
AUTHOR: Teri M Brown

Star Rating: 5

CATCHY QUOTE
‘An accessibly written, thought-provoking story of an author (and co.) cycling across the US on a tandem. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf

REVIEW
I very much enjoyed this (sort of) travel book from the pen of Teri M. Brown. I know her work, having read her historical novel, An Enemy Like Me - which, I understand was a bronze medal winner in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. But this offering is VERY different.

​In a nutshell, it follows the writer as she travels (on a bike; a tandem no less!) across the US. Insightful and often even thought-provoking, it’s not just a technical handbook on cycling – or travel for that matter; it’s more a story of self-discovery and personal growth. Now, I know that might sound a little wishy washy. But you know what? It’s not. And I enjoyed every page of it.

There were a number of elements to this well-written book I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, the writing style is informal; almost chatty. As a result, she’s never condescending; it never feels like a lecture – more a chat in a café over a cup of coffee. Secondly, there are a lot of gems in here; titbits of wisdom which I suspect most readers will find interesting. For example, Rule 5, Focus on Now, I simply loved this: When people would ask us in complete amazement, “How is it possible to ride a tandem bike the entire way across the United States?” or “How will you climb over the Rockies?” Bruce would reply, “One pedal stroke at a time.” And thirdly, I think the author’s story is rather inspiring. To do what she (they) did is, well, amazing. So much so, it might motivate a few of us to have an ‘adventure’ too!

So, if you happen to be on the hunt for an accessibly written book offering the reader insights into life, cycling, and travel, 10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure is for you. I think most readers will enjoy watching them overcome the many problems they face, and I suspect many of Teri M Brown’s musings will get them thinking too.