What do you think?
Rate this book
Live Without You #1
Live Without You
Piper Redding is a loner, but lonely. Everyone she loves has abandoned her and opening her heart to others is just asking for more pain. She can't help but blame herself for her brother's tragic death six years ago, and in her guilt, she shuts herself off from the world. No one could love her-not even the God who promised to be there for her but wasn't. For paramedic Ezra Bryant, failure is not an option. He's had enough of it, and only by God's grace is he able to put it behind him. But when a traumatic event brings Piper's greatest fear and Ezra's failures to light, can they use that event to allow God to mend their broken pieces? Can love triumph over fear, and grace over guilt?
222 pages, Paperback
Published January 18, 2019
About the author
Sarah Grace Grzy
3 books160 followersSarah Grace Grzy is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called 'Life,' she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a wood stove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other.
A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. Sarah Grace is a freelance web and graphic designer, and when not working, spending time with her ever-growing family, or reading, she can be found painting, playing the piano, or fangirling with her sisters and friends. She inhabits the State of Great Lakes, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else—unless it meant she could have a baby penguin, in which case, she’d gladly move to the South Pole.
A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. Sarah Grace is a freelance web and graphic designer, and when not working, spending time with her ever-growing family, or reading, she can be found painting, playing the piano, or fangirling with her sisters and friends. She inhabits the State of Great Lakes, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else—unless it meant she could have a baby penguin, in which case, she’d gladly move to the South Pole.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
February 6, 2019
Wow, this book was so good. Contemporary is my favorite genre and I enjoyed this book so much. Sarah Grace is a very talented author. I believe that this book could have easily been traditional published. It was like picking up a contemporary from one of my favorite authors. It was just lovely. ❤
The characters are very realistic and I loved seeing how everything played out. Both characters had their struggles but were able to over come them together. This book literally has the best set of characters. You can’t help but love them!
I was completely blown away by this book. It’s such a sweet and beautiful contemporary and I highly recommend it!
The characters are very realistic and I loved seeing how everything played out. Both characters had their struggles but were able to over come them together. This book literally has the best set of characters. You can’t help but love them!
I was completely blown away by this book. It’s such a sweet and beautiful contemporary and I highly recommend it!
February 15, 2019
My baby sis wrote a book!? <3 <3 <3
February 3, 2019
Adorable, tear-jerking, and heartfelt! Live Without You is the best kind of story—one that the reader can slip into and experience the characters’ struggles and heartache for themselves. The threads of loss, grace, and love will not be quickly forgotten.
February 28, 2019
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
I jumped at the chance to beta-read this surprise debut novella, and, after a re-read of the final version, I feel ready to review it. Here goes! ;)
First off, can we please crow about the gorgeousness that is the formatting?!! I was reading it on Kindle, and, even so, the chapter headings were adorable. (And don’t get me started on the cover and all the pictures I’ve seen of it in paperback…)
The two main characters in this story were very broken people. I appreciated the realistic but gentle way they were portrayed, and I loved seeing them move beyond their pasts. Together. And in community with those who loved them best. ;) Piper’s fear to love anyone was especially relatable to me, since that’s something I’ve been going through lately. I really liked the spiritual storyline, and while I had a couple minor quibbles with a few things that were said, I LOVED where it ended up. ;) I’d actually forgotten the end, apparently, so I was holding my breath for a bit there. ;)
The romance was suuuuper sweet with nothing to blush over, yay! My favorite. ;)
I loved the side characters, especially Tom’s strong love and Tyler’s ridiculously awesome humor. (I would read an entire book about him breathing. I’d probably be laughing my head off, I’m sure.)
Some of the smaller details of the story were awesome too, like all of Piper’s techie stuff and how no one (including me) understood it. Or the church sending her brownies (among other, less important foods). Or the bro banter. Or Frankenstein’s monster being referred to correctly. ;) :P It was a great atmosphere. Oh, and
Unfortunately, there were a couple things that took away from my enjoyment of this book, but they're pretty much just strong personal preferences.
I loved the character of Miss Cecile, but the way her vernacular was written made me uncomfortable since some authors have used that to make people of color seem unintelligent. I’m sure this was not the author’s intent in this case, but it wasn't my favorite. ;)
I probably should have thought of this before I read, given the book is about a paramedic, but... too many medical details for this sensitive reader. :( I have heard from friends that are in the medical field that it was very accurate/well researched which is totally awesome! I'm just so visual that I usually steer clear of such descriptions. If you’d like to know more details, message me.
Favorite quotes (besides every time Tyler spoke or God’s love was mentioned): Northern Washington wasn’t for wimps, and those who didn’t like the weather . . . well, they could move to Phoenix.
Answering that question felt like falling backward in a trust fall. She’d always hated trust falls. Could she do it now?
Altogether, I enjoyed this heart-filled novella! I can’t wait to see what this author does next. ;)
I jumped at the chance to beta-read this surprise debut novella, and, after a re-read of the final version, I feel ready to review it. Here goes! ;)
First off, can we please crow about the gorgeousness that is the formatting?!! I was reading it on Kindle, and, even so, the chapter headings were adorable. (And don’t get me started on the cover and all the pictures I’ve seen of it in paperback…)
The two main characters in this story were very broken people. I appreciated the realistic but gentle way they were portrayed, and I loved seeing them move beyond their pasts. Together. And in community with those who loved them best. ;) Piper’s fear to love anyone was especially relatable to me, since that’s something I’ve been going through lately. I really liked the spiritual storyline, and while I had a couple minor quibbles with a few things that were said, I LOVED where it ended up. ;) I’d actually forgotten the end, apparently, so I was holding my breath for a bit there. ;)
The romance was suuuuper sweet with nothing to blush over, yay! My favorite. ;)
I loved the side characters, especially Tom’s strong love and Tyler’s ridiculously awesome humor. (I would read an entire book about him breathing. I’d probably be laughing my head off, I’m sure.)
Some of the smaller details of the story were awesome too, like all of Piper’s techie stuff and how no one (including me) understood it. Or the church sending her brownies (among other, less important foods). Or the bro banter. Or Frankenstein’s monster being referred to correctly. ;) :P It was a great atmosphere. Oh, and
Unfortunately, there were a couple things that took away from my enjoyment of this book, but they're pretty much just strong personal preferences.
I loved the character of Miss Cecile, but the way her vernacular was written made me uncomfortable since some authors have used that to make people of color seem unintelligent. I’m sure this was not the author’s intent in this case, but it wasn't my favorite. ;)
I probably should have thought of this before I read, given the book is about a paramedic, but... too many medical details for this sensitive reader. :( I have heard from friends that are in the medical field that it was very accurate/well researched which is totally awesome! I'm just so visual that I usually steer clear of such descriptions. If you’d like to know more details, message me.
Favorite quotes (besides every time Tyler spoke or God’s love was mentioned): Northern Washington wasn’t for wimps, and those who didn’t like the weather . . . well, they could move to Phoenix.
Answering that question felt like falling backward in a trust fall. She’d always hated trust falls. Could she do it now?
Altogether, I enjoyed this heart-filled novella! I can’t wait to see what this author does next. ;)
January 22, 2020
*my heart*
Sarah Grace Grzy I cannot thank you enough for the encouragement you have given me even though you don't know it. How you pushed forward through all of it and kept going when it was difficult. How you kept writing when those voices in your head convinced you it wasn't a good idea. How you persevered. I cannot explain my gratitude in more ways than just giving you my best review and hoping you publish more novels in the future.
My personal enjoyment in this book goes without saying. I loved it in every way. It's content was perfect. It was enjoyable to my personal preferences. And it didn't go against my convictions but rather encouraged them. So now I can go fangirl over everything.... don't mind me.
Description ~ Well.... this probably wasn't her strongest area, but considering the fact that I have extremely high expectations on details I won't press my point. The details were good. Not overly done with perfection, but not wimpy either. So kinda like a meh. xD
Romance ~ Yes, Yes. Yes, Yes. I appreciated this aspect. It was real and simple, passionate and based solely on God. Sarah Grace, thank you for portraying the truth. The truth of real love that is so often mauled and misrepresented. Their love was real love. God's love is real love. Thank you.
Content ~ Mainly just hospital visits... blood... accidents... a couple deaths.. not really gory but it made me nauseous all the same. Never could stand thinking about it, much less imagining it. *grimaces*
The Characters ~ Gah! How could anyone not love the simplicity of these gorgeous people!! They were so real! So true!! So familiar... and hurting with real struggles / difficulties they had to overcome and struggled to master. I wish to write characters like these and every time I see my friends accomplish this feat I can only hope I am doing the same thing.
Piper ~ She reminded me so much of myself. I feel like I've learned from her in part and blended with her in the whole. Her pains, her fears, her aches, her love, her personality was all so fresh and real!! I cannot explain the depth in which I appreciated the author's simple voice.
Ezra ~ So full of the Lord in every aspect. I probably shed a couple tears when thinking of his pain... but other than that I was cool. *weak smile* He was compassionate, selfless, hurting, human, loving, kind, thoughtful, and guilt ridden. I wanted to jump through the pages and comfort him myself.
Tyler ~ Who cannot love this guy??? I mean he is amazing and totally deserves a girl... maybe we will hear more about him?! ( hint, hint.... ) His sarcasm and humor made me laugh during random times in the book and without him Live Without You wouldn't be the same. It would be mellow, and sad... no happy memories. He was just so full of life and compassion, humor and seriousness.
Mr. Bryant ~ I fell in love with him right away. Especially after Ezra had pointed out all his amazing attributes after walking with God for so long. I feel like I would of thought of him as perfect if not for his open despair near the end of the book. It was heart crushing to see such a strong man feel so beat up.
My Favorite Line : "Dad we have a problem. I think I'm falling in love....."
I was listening to the song "Without You" by For King + Country throughout the end and somewhere in the beginning. It crushed me. I could hear my heart breaking. It. Was. Disastrous. Trust me. 0.0
Overall ~ I loved it with the kind of love that takes pain and heart break before you can truly love it with all you are. The ending pointed everything back to God so perfectly I wanted to scream in joy. This was a simple read compared to the tension I'm used to in books, but it was a good read. I hope for more by Sarah Grace Grzy in the near future. Until then I suppose I shall have to be satisfied with this, and the encouragement she gave me.
I recommend the book to all. Especially those who are searching for the true meaning of Love. And if your plagued by fear, anxiety, death, loss, guilt, or shame then I suggest you read the book also and listen to what it teaches.
Sarah Grace Grzy I cannot thank you enough for the encouragement you have given me even though you don't know it. How you pushed forward through all of it and kept going when it was difficult. How you kept writing when those voices in your head convinced you it wasn't a good idea. How you persevered. I cannot explain my gratitude in more ways than just giving you my best review and hoping you publish more novels in the future.
My personal enjoyment in this book goes without saying. I loved it in every way. It's content was perfect. It was enjoyable to my personal preferences. And it didn't go against my convictions but rather encouraged them. So now I can go fangirl over everything.... don't mind me.
Description ~ Well.... this probably wasn't her strongest area, but considering the fact that I have extremely high expectations on details I won't press my point. The details were good. Not overly done with perfection, but not wimpy either. So kinda like a meh. xD
Romance ~ Yes, Yes. Yes, Yes. I appreciated this aspect. It was real and simple, passionate and based solely on God. Sarah Grace, thank you for portraying the truth. The truth of real love that is so often mauled and misrepresented. Their love was real love. God's love is real love. Thank you.
Content ~ Mainly just hospital visits... blood... accidents... a couple deaths.. not really gory but it made me nauseous all the same. Never could stand thinking about it, much less imagining it. *grimaces*
The Characters ~ Gah! How could anyone not love the simplicity of these gorgeous people!! They were so real! So true!! So familiar... and hurting with real struggles / difficulties they had to overcome and struggled to master. I wish to write characters like these and every time I see my friends accomplish this feat I can only hope I am doing the same thing.
Piper ~ She reminded me so much of myself. I feel like I've learned from her in part and blended with her in the whole. Her pains, her fears, her aches, her love, her personality was all so fresh and real!! I cannot explain the depth in which I appreciated the author's simple voice.
Ezra ~ So full of the Lord in every aspect. I probably shed a couple tears when thinking of his pain... but other than that I was cool. *weak smile* He was compassionate, selfless, hurting, human, loving, kind, thoughtful, and guilt ridden. I wanted to jump through the pages and comfort him myself.
Tyler ~ Who cannot love this guy??? I mean he is amazing and totally deserves a girl... maybe we will hear more about him?! ( hint, hint.... ) His sarcasm and humor made me laugh during random times in the book and without him Live Without You wouldn't be the same. It would be mellow, and sad... no happy memories. He was just so full of life and compassion, humor and seriousness.
Mr. Bryant ~ I fell in love with him right away. Especially after Ezra had pointed out all his amazing attributes after walking with God for so long. I feel like I would of thought of him as perfect if not for his open despair near the end of the book. It was heart crushing to see such a strong man feel so beat up.
My Favorite Line : "Dad we have a problem. I think I'm falling in love....."
I was listening to the song "Without You" by For King + Country throughout the end and somewhere in the beginning. It crushed me. I could hear my heart breaking. It. Was. Disastrous. Trust me. 0.0
Overall ~ I loved it with the kind of love that takes pain and heart break before you can truly love it with all you are. The ending pointed everything back to God so perfectly I wanted to scream in joy. This was a simple read compared to the tension I'm used to in books, but it was a good read. I hope for more by Sarah Grace Grzy in the near future. Until then I suppose I shall have to be satisfied with this, and the encouragement she gave me.
I recommend the book to all. Especially those who are searching for the true meaning of Love. And if your plagued by fear, anxiety, death, loss, guilt, or shame then I suggest you read the book also and listen to what it teaches.
February 28, 2019
Awww, that warmed even my cynic’s heart.
February 26, 2019
I'm not crying, you're crying.
When I first saw that Sarah Grace had written a book I was all over wanting to read it. I'm like that with a lot of books honestly, but when I started to read this book I was instantly drawn in to it by Sarah Grace's amazing writing. The further I got the more I fell in love with the story and it's characters. I have only read a few books in my life that have impacted me the way this book has.
This book touched my heart in so many ways. I literally was crying at the most random times, well not really it was just a unique place to cry after a series of events happened. I just feel like this book, especially the end plot twist, really spoke to me. Even though I am not going through the exact thing that Ezra and Piper were going through, I am still going through a time where what Piper came to realize is what I needed to read and realize too.
I cannot put into words how beautiful this story was. My heart is bursting with all kinds of emotions and has been since the minute I opened the PDF copy of this book that I have. I related to Piper to an extent. I think that by seeing a little of myself in her, made me love this book even more.
The relationship between Ezra and Piper was so pure and sweet. I loved Ezra, he was one of my favorite characters. Okay if I'm being honest they all were my favorite. I honestly cannot put into words what drew me to love Ezra's character so much. Something about him just touched my heart and made me love him.
So even though this book had lot's of serious and sentimental parts that made me nearly cry and did make me cry, this book also contained humor that made me silently chuckle to myself. Tyler was just a fun going, loving character that I instantly related to. Sure, I'm not as goofy as him cough at time cough but his and my teasing matched up to perfection. Also can we just give some love to Mr. Bryant and Miss Cecile? They were amazing, Christ-like characters that brought my heart so much joy.
The best way to close this review up is by saying this. You NEED to read this book. It comes out in 8 days. Get yourself a copy, you will not regret it. This book contains everything that an amazing book should. It contains good solid Christian themes, a pure and bittersweet romance, some thrill to get your heart pumping, and just an all around amazing story that will keep you reading until you have finished the very last page. So, go buy this book and enjoy reading the story of Ezra and Piper!
My favorite quote:
Note: I put up spoiler tags only because it slightly gives away something in the book. But if you want to read then by all means do it! I just don't want to be the person who ruins the story for you!
When I first saw that Sarah Grace had written a book I was all over wanting to read it. I'm like that with a lot of books honestly, but when I started to read this book I was instantly drawn in to it by Sarah Grace's amazing writing. The further I got the more I fell in love with the story and it's characters. I have only read a few books in my life that have impacted me the way this book has.
This book touched my heart in so many ways. I literally was crying at the most random times, well not really it was just a unique place to cry after a series of events happened. I just feel like this book, especially the end plot twist, really spoke to me. Even though I am not going through the exact thing that Ezra and Piper were going through, I am still going through a time where what Piper came to realize is what I needed to read and realize too.
I cannot put into words how beautiful this story was. My heart is bursting with all kinds of emotions and has been since the minute I opened the PDF copy of this book that I have. I related to Piper to an extent. I think that by seeing a little of myself in her, made me love this book even more.
The relationship between Ezra and Piper was so pure and sweet. I loved Ezra, he was one of my favorite characters. Okay if I'm being honest they all were my favorite. I honestly cannot put into words what drew me to love Ezra's character so much. Something about him just touched my heart and made me love him.
So even though this book had lot's of serious and sentimental parts that made me nearly cry and did make me cry, this book also contained humor that made me silently chuckle to myself. Tyler was just a fun going, loving character that I instantly related to. Sure, I'm not as goofy as him cough at time cough but his and my teasing matched up to perfection. Also can we just give some love to Mr. Bryant and Miss Cecile? They were amazing, Christ-like characters that brought my heart so much joy.
The best way to close this review up is by saying this. You NEED to read this book. It comes out in 8 days. Get yourself a copy, you will not regret it. This book contains everything that an amazing book should. It contains good solid Christian themes, a pure and bittersweet romance, some thrill to get your heart pumping, and just an all around amazing story that will keep you reading until you have finished the very last page. So, go buy this book and enjoy reading the story of Ezra and Piper!
My favorite quote:
Note: I put up spoiler tags only because it slightly gives away something in the book. But if you want to read then by all means do it! I just don't want to be the person who ruins the story for you!
February 21, 2019
Read the review on my blog.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Title: Live Without You
Author: Sarah Grace Grzy
Genre: Christian romance (contemporary)
Era: contemporary
Setting: United States
Publisher: Sarah Grace Grzy
Source: from the publisher
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Live Without You was a nice, quick read for me on a winter afternoon. I finished it in a couple hours, which is one of the best things about novellas—they almost never drag!
Now, this book isn’t at all my genre. I really struggle to read most contemporary novels … in fact, I can only think of one or two that I didn’t put down two or three chapters in, bored to death!
However, this didn’t happen to me with Live Without You. I actually got through the whole story—and fast! So I was thrilled as, though I love the author very much and knew I wanted to adore the book, I was rather afraid it might drag for me!
It didn’t. It was a quick read the starts out with a bang (*winces at the bad joke*) and didn’t drag once. I was never like, “Well, I absolutely need to put this down …” Instead, I wanted to finish it!
Gotta love the characters …
I especially liked how Piper and Ezra would just hang out—getting coffee (haha) or pizza—and how he went out of his way to take care of her! Good job, Ez. Good job.
I personally didn’t much care for the main character, Piper Redding, though I loved her name. But that’s just because we’re very different in personality and tastes and all, so I was just like, “Ehh …” It wasn’t the characters’ fault; she was quite real!
I did find myself like Ezra a lot! (And again, that name!) His relationship with his dad was awesome, and I liked his friend a lot, too. I feel like more delving into his backstory could’ve been done, mostly because he got me interested! (e.g. what? There wasn’t MORE? 😝)
What a fantastic debut!
Honestly, I was hugely impressed with this book! Debuts are often good, and even show a lot of promise, but it’s rarely that you go, “Well, this didn’t even have to be a debut.” The author writes like she’s a lot more experienced than I know her to be … this could be her fifth book! Or more.
But yeah, that was an awkward way of saying … the author did an amazing job, and I am so proud of her, and I want to give her a big hug and a pat on the back and a cookie!
Now, the setting—I was thrilled with this! Northwest, y’all! That’s good to see. I feel like I need to read more books set close to me.
Ah, the cover …
On a random side note: that cover! I can’t stop looking at it. It’s absolutely gorgeous! I love the font choices and all … it looks great. *applauds SG* (By the way, we’re working on Reveries a bit together … she’s such a delight to work with!)
So, mostly, this book wasn’t for me in genre or themes, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves sweet contemporary romances with serious themes and medical details!
Mostly, I’m just so, so impressed with the quality, content, and themes of this adorable story. Wow. It was great.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Title: Live Without You
Author: Sarah Grace Grzy
Genre: Christian romance (contemporary)
Era: contemporary
Setting: United States
Publisher: Sarah Grace Grzy
Source: from the publisher
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Live Without You was a nice, quick read for me on a winter afternoon. I finished it in a couple hours, which is one of the best things about novellas—they almost never drag!
Now, this book isn’t at all my genre. I really struggle to read most contemporary novels … in fact, I can only think of one or two that I didn’t put down two or three chapters in, bored to death!
However, this didn’t happen to me with Live Without You. I actually got through the whole story—and fast! So I was thrilled as, though I love the author very much and knew I wanted to adore the book, I was rather afraid it might drag for me!
It didn’t. It was a quick read the starts out with a bang (*winces at the bad joke*) and didn’t drag once. I was never like, “Well, I absolutely need to put this down …” Instead, I wanted to finish it!
Gotta love the characters …
I especially liked how Piper and Ezra would just hang out—getting coffee (haha) or pizza—and how he went out of his way to take care of her! Good job, Ez. Good job.
I personally didn’t much care for the main character, Piper Redding, though I loved her name. But that’s just because we’re very different in personality and tastes and all, so I was just like, “Ehh …” It wasn’t the characters’ fault; she was quite real!
I did find myself like Ezra a lot! (And again, that name!) His relationship with his dad was awesome, and I liked his friend a lot, too. I feel like more delving into his backstory could’ve been done, mostly because he got me interested! (e.g. what? There wasn’t MORE? 😝)
What a fantastic debut!
Honestly, I was hugely impressed with this book! Debuts are often good, and even show a lot of promise, but it’s rarely that you go, “Well, this didn’t even have to be a debut.” The author writes like she’s a lot more experienced than I know her to be … this could be her fifth book! Or more.
But yeah, that was an awkward way of saying … the author did an amazing job, and I am so proud of her, and I want to give her a big hug and a pat on the back and a cookie!
Now, the setting—I was thrilled with this! Northwest, y’all! That’s good to see. I feel like I need to read more books set close to me.
Ah, the cover …
On a random side note: that cover! I can’t stop looking at it. It’s absolutely gorgeous! I love the font choices and all … it looks great. *applauds SG* (By the way, we’re working on Reveries a bit together … she’s such a delight to work with!)
So, mostly, this book wasn’t for me in genre or themes, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves sweet contemporary romances with serious themes and medical details!
Mostly, I’m just so, so impressed with the quality, content, and themes of this adorable story. Wow. It was great.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries
February 22, 2019
Hello yes I would like to report that I am Emotionally Distressed and my heart is racing and basically I adored this.
Full review on my blog: https://novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors...
I am an emotional mess. My feelings are all over the place what is this. Am I happy? Am I sad? What are emotions? I went in for a fluffy feel-good time. Why did I expect that from a title like this?
Okay but in all seriousness, this was beautiful. Piper and Ezra's stories were perfectly realistic, and wonderfully woven. There were a couple of times where the pacing was a bit fast for my taste, but it's a novella, so I kind of expected it.
I fell in love with the characters from the first page. They felt like people I could be friends with (and Ezra is totally swoon-worthy, am I right?). I loved the relationships in this story; Piper and Ezra, Ezra and Tyler, Ezra's dad and pretty much everybody, they were all great. The faith content was presented in a way that was consistently there but not in your face. Piper's redemption is such a sweet arc.
Agh, it was just... It was pretty darn near perfect. If you like friends-to-lovers, kitties, pizza, or stories that tug on your heartstrings, this is definitely the book for you.
(Fair warning, Piper gets shot in the first chapter, there are flashbacks to a gang shooting, and memories of medical trauma. Just so you're aware.)
5 stars, for sure.
Full review on my blog: https://novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors...
I am an emotional mess. My feelings are all over the place what is this. Am I happy? Am I sad? What are emotions? I went in for a fluffy feel-good time. Why did I expect that from a title like this?
Okay but in all seriousness, this was beautiful. Piper and Ezra's stories were perfectly realistic, and wonderfully woven. There were a couple of times where the pacing was a bit fast for my taste, but it's a novella, so I kind of expected it.
I fell in love with the characters from the first page. They felt like people I could be friends with (and Ezra is totally swoon-worthy, am I right?). I loved the relationships in this story; Piper and Ezra, Ezra and Tyler, Ezra's dad and pretty much everybody, they were all great. The faith content was presented in a way that was consistently there but not in your face. Piper's redemption is such a sweet arc.
Agh, it was just... It was pretty darn near perfect. If you like friends-to-lovers, kitties, pizza, or stories that tug on your heartstrings, this is definitely the book for you.
(Fair warning, Piper gets shot in the first chapter, there are flashbacks to a gang shooting, and memories of medical trauma. Just so you're aware.)
5 stars, for sure.
December 31, 2021
I was so blessed to be both a beta reader and an advanced reader for this beautiful little book. I have rarely read a book that I fell in love with so much the first time I read it.
The first thing that really struck me about this book was how real the characters felt. They had faults and good attributes, things that they didn't like about themselves and it all worked together beautifully for the plot.
The thing that made this book as good as it was, was the message. It had a powerful message woven into the pages, so strong that if you took it away, the book wouldn't make sense. That's my favorite kind of message. I was rooting for the characters at every step.
And goodness, that plot twist. O.o I did not see that coming at all.
My only small complaints were that 1. The character's full names were repeated a lot, which got a tad annoying. 2. There was some pretty big run-on sentences that got a tiny bit confusing.
Overall, this book was amazing. I recommend it to anyone looking of an encouraging message that will leave them wanting to give their life over more fully to God.
Best quote:
Y'all are in for a treat.
The first thing that really struck me about this book was how real the characters felt. They had faults and good attributes, things that they didn't like about themselves and it all worked together beautifully for the plot.
The thing that made this book as good as it was, was the message. It had a powerful message woven into the pages, so strong that if you took it away, the book wouldn't make sense. That's my favorite kind of message. I was rooting for the characters at every step.
And goodness, that plot twist. O.o I did not see that coming at all.
My only small complaints were that 1. The character's full names were repeated a lot, which got a tad annoying. 2. There was some pretty big run-on sentences that got a tiny bit confusing.
Overall, this book was amazing. I recommend it to anyone looking of an encouraging message that will leave them wanting to give their life over more fully to God.
Best quote:
Y'all are in for a treat.
February 22, 2019
3.5 stars.
Honestly, that cover deserves all the stars (get the pun? Cause there are stars on the cover... oh never mind...), and this sweet tragic novella was penned by my good friend Sarah Grace! Eeep, I'm super excited, she did such a good job.
The story starts off like a suspense novel and I was THERE for that, but then about halfway through it suddenly started reading like a Hallmark movie instead. And no offense to Hallmark movies, but I've seen far too many of their Christmas specials at my grandma's house.
This is a /very/ Christian novella and honestly I felt like everything having to do with that area was mentioned so much that it become repetitive. But then, I prefer the Christian elements to be more balanced with the plot and characters in the books I read and I felt like this one just really focused on the Christian more than anything else.
Still, this was a beautiful little novella, that was super easy to read, and I was fully invested shipping the happiness of these two crazy babies.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, all opinions, however, are my own.
Honestly, that cover deserves all the stars (get the pun? Cause there are stars on the cover... oh never mind...), and this sweet tragic novella was penned by my good friend Sarah Grace! Eeep, I'm super excited, she did such a good job.
The story starts off like a suspense novel and I was THERE for that, but then about halfway through it suddenly started reading like a Hallmark movie instead. And no offense to Hallmark movies, but I've seen far too many of their Christmas specials at my grandma's house.
This is a /very/ Christian novella and honestly I felt like everything having to do with that area was mentioned so much that it become repetitive. But then, I prefer the Christian elements to be more balanced with the plot and characters in the books I read and I felt like this one just really focused on the Christian more than anything else.
Still, this was a beautiful little novella, that was super easy to read, and I was fully invested shipping the happiness of these two crazy babies.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, all opinions, however, are my own.
January 21, 2019
This book started out with a bang. Literally. There was plenty of action, and plenty of non-action, but it all kept my interest. The writing style was strong and well done. And finally a female character who doesn't like coffee!!! I've been waiting for that to happen for years!
I'm not sure if I liked Piper or Ezra the most. They were both so real that I felt I should be able to visit the town and meet them. I really appreciated the fact that this author wasn't afraid to deal with such a topic in the light of what God's Word says, not just nice sounding words and phrases. Piper was such a strong, yet tender, and vulnerable person. I wanted to hug her several times, and was glad other characters did it for me. Ezra was sweet, and caring, yet strong with a touch of humor. Some books really lay the teasing between people on thick and it gets old. This one had just the right amount. Enough to make me smile, but not enough to make me roll my eyes.
All told, this was a wonderful story and I know I'll be reading it again.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I'm not sure if I liked Piper or Ezra the most. They were both so real that I felt I should be able to visit the town and meet them. I really appreciated the fact that this author wasn't afraid to deal with such a topic in the light of what God's Word says, not just nice sounding words and phrases. Piper was such a strong, yet tender, and vulnerable person. I wanted to hug her several times, and was glad other characters did it for me. Ezra was sweet, and caring, yet strong with a touch of humor. Some books really lay the teasing between people on thick and it gets old. This one had just the right amount. Enough to make me smile, but not enough to make me roll my eyes.
All told, this was a wonderful story and I know I'll be reading it again.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
December 17, 2019
It's amazing how much truth+love can be squeezed inside 104 pages <3
"Maybe the good God wants to bring out of his death is that you come to know God in a bigger way."
Highly recommend to fans of Christian Contemporary Romances! (Although this book is so much more than that!)
"Maybe the good God wants to bring out of his death is that you come to know God in a bigger way."
Highly recommend to fans of Christian Contemporary Romances! (Although this book is so much more than that!)
April 8, 2019
Look at that cover...so beautiful! When this book first came out there were reviews exploding on my feed about it...I've finally read it :D It's a gentle, novella that deals with pain and loss and struggles that both Piper (isn't that such a cute name!?) and Ezra have experienced. It's a much needed story and seeing the healing made me happy.
For some reason, I didn't always engage with the story and that made me sad. I also felt like the story rushed the ending. I would have loved to see Piper with Ezra's family and watched some more interaction during their courtship.
The romance was sweet and the spiritual content spot on. I definitely will be looking for more of this author's books in the future.
For some reason, I didn't always engage with the story and that made me sad. I also felt like the story rushed the ending. I would have loved to see Piper with Ezra's family and watched some more interaction during their courtship.
The romance was sweet and the spiritual content spot on. I definitely will be looking for more of this author's books in the future.
December 2, 2019
I'm not sure what I expected going into this story, but what I read wasn't it - this book far surpassed my expectations. Professional, well-written, well-plotted: it's an independently-published book that reads just like a traditionally-published contemporary romance, minus any possibly objectionable language and romantic content. I appreciated the strong Christian focus and message of the book. Personally, the graphic medical/injury descriptions were a bit more than I'm comfortable with, but that didn't detract from my appreciation of the book. On that note, though, the descriptions in the rest of the book were excellent, and the formatting was beautiful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clean Christian contemporary romance stories.
February 19, 2019
Oh, where do I even begin? Contemporary Christian romance novellas are not my go-to reads, though when I do pick one up, it’s usually sweet. I usually enjoy it. Often 4-star material. *thumbs-up* And Live Without You IS super sweet, but friends… it is SO much more than that smol, pretty word implies. It’s brimming with heartache and pain and depth and hope and realness and beauty - somehow all of that is threaded through a novella-length story with the sort of skill that makes it feel not that short at all.
Yes, it’s sweet. As sweet as a dash of sugar. And yet it’s also as powerful as... a sip of orange & spice tea?? (Idk, I love that tea. <3)
Let’s start with the main characters:
Piper is dealing with grief, and other difficult inner conflicts as part of the package. She was there when her older brother was shot to death years ago, but she still gets the nightmares. As the pain hit her in waves (physically as well as emotionally) from the very beginning of the book, and as her true healing began and progressed despite the obstacles that stood in her way, my heart pounded with concern, twisted in pain, and leaped with excitement right along with her.
But, Piper’s grief doesn’t define her as a character. Her unique, complex personality shone through the pages. You can’t help but adore her. YOU JUST CAN’T HELP IT. <3
Ezra isn't just the love interest. (I love how their relationship doesn't even start as a romance.) He gets his own POV and is struggling with his own internal conflicts and flaws. Best of all, he is SUCH an inspiring man after God's own heart.
Not to mention Ezra is just plain ADORABLE. He has the cutest tendency to apologize for things, and the way he talks to that stray cat!!! Lemme just say, I've never found a person-cat relationship so amusing. And person-cat relationships generally amuse me. ;)
As for the supporting cast, all of them are strong personalities, super well developed for a novella. I especially loved snazzy, straightforward Cecile, and Ezra's dad is soooo supportive and just all around incredible. If any fictional father deserves a Best Dad Ever mug, Ezra's does. (In fact, he probably already has one.)
Two other well-executed aspects of this book:
1. The twists. Especially towards the end. I was silent-screaming, hyperventilating, almost crying, etc. I WAS NOT OKAY. I know I can't sufficiently translate my emotions, and that stresses me out because I wish I could capture them properly in words. They were just ALL OVER THE PLACE.
2. The overarching and overwhelming Christian theme. And no, by “overwhelming” I do not mean overly preachy. And yes, “overwhelming” is used positively here. It was SO refreshing to read a book packed full to the brim with Jesus and His love. The hurt and pain are very real in this novella, but the love and hope and light are just as prevalent. These two areas combine to produce a story of healing like no other. Gaaaah, thinking of it jerks at my heartstrings all over again! <333
I don't think I have anything negative to say, actually. 5 out of 5 stars for Live Without You! I have to say, I enjoyed it more than I think I was expecting. :D
Highly recommended for fans of Christian fiction and sweet romances. <3
*I received a digital ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
~~~
How could I give this novella any less than 5 stars?
Full review to come next month!
Yes, it’s sweet. As sweet as a dash of sugar. And yet it’s also as powerful as... a sip of orange & spice tea?? (Idk, I love that tea. <3)
Let’s start with the main characters:
Piper is dealing with grief, and other difficult inner conflicts as part of the package. She was there when her older brother was shot to death years ago, but she still gets the nightmares. As the pain hit her in waves (physically as well as emotionally) from the very beginning of the book, and as her true healing began and progressed despite the obstacles that stood in her way, my heart pounded with concern, twisted in pain, and leaped with excitement right along with her.
But, Piper’s grief doesn’t define her as a character. Her unique, complex personality shone through the pages. You can’t help but adore her. YOU JUST CAN’T HELP IT. <3
Ezra isn't just the love interest. (I love how their relationship doesn't even start as a romance.) He gets his own POV and is struggling with his own internal conflicts and flaws. Best of all, he is SUCH an inspiring man after God's own heart.
Not to mention Ezra is just plain ADORABLE. He has the cutest tendency to apologize for things, and the way he talks to that stray cat!!! Lemme just say, I've never found a person-cat relationship so amusing. And person-cat relationships generally amuse me. ;)
As for the supporting cast, all of them are strong personalities, super well developed for a novella. I especially loved snazzy, straightforward Cecile, and Ezra's dad is soooo supportive and just all around incredible. If any fictional father deserves a Best Dad Ever mug, Ezra's does. (In fact, he probably already has one.)
Two other well-executed aspects of this book:
1. The twists. Especially towards the end. I was silent-screaming, hyperventilating, almost crying, etc. I WAS NOT OKAY. I know I can't sufficiently translate my emotions, and that stresses me out because I wish I could capture them properly in words. They were just ALL OVER THE PLACE.
2. The overarching and overwhelming Christian theme. And no, by “overwhelming” I do not mean overly preachy. And yes, “overwhelming” is used positively here. It was SO refreshing to read a book packed full to the brim with Jesus and His love. The hurt and pain are very real in this novella, but the love and hope and light are just as prevalent. These two areas combine to produce a story of healing like no other. Gaaaah, thinking of it jerks at my heartstrings all over again! <333
I don't think I have anything negative to say, actually. 5 out of 5 stars for Live Without You! I have to say, I enjoyed it more than I think I was expecting. :D
Highly recommended for fans of Christian fiction and sweet romances. <3
*I received a digital ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
~~~
How could I give this novella any less than 5 stars?
Full review to come next month!
March 11, 2019
WOW!
Rating and review coming when closer to publication.
Full Review:
I was quite impressed by this debut novella. This is a wonderfully written, heartfelt story centered around well-rounded and very realistic characters. The main characters of Piper and Ezra are colorful and engaging.
The writing is graceful and straightforward and the story progresses at a nice clip. This is not a thriller that takes off at breakneck speed and keeps you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Rather it is a story that moves along just as quickly as needed to pull the reader into the lives of the characters. As things progress, we learn more and more about Piper and Ezra and the challenges that each one is dealing with and I thought the pacing was just about right. That's not to say there's no excitement; on the contrary, the book starts off with it and there are more moments of suspense throughout, but it's not the main focus.
I appreciated some of the themes that were addressed in the story, such as learning to overcome the burden of guilt, trusting God in spite of troubling circumstances, and dealing with the death of loved ones. There are several heart-tugging moments that were poignantly and beautifully depicted. I also liked that even though both main characters are adults they still reached out to wise elders who had more life experience for advice on multiple occasions. And I particularly liked the positive father-son relationship that was portrayed. While the Christian themes are overt, they were neither forced nor preachy, but were a very natural part of the story.
There were a few small niggling things; one that I had to question the plausibility of, and a couple of stylistic choices, but other than that, I thought that Live Without You was a beautifully written book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. A nice balance of a sweet romance and some very real and tough life challenges melded together into a tale that is bound to warm your heart. I am excited to see what Sarah Grace Grzy comes up with next.
Live Without You is appropriate for all ages but would probably appeal most to female readers aged mid-teen and up.
Rating and review coming when closer to publication.
Full Review:
I was quite impressed by this debut novella. This is a wonderfully written, heartfelt story centered around well-rounded and very realistic characters. The main characters of Piper and Ezra are colorful and engaging.
The writing is graceful and straightforward and the story progresses at a nice clip. This is not a thriller that takes off at breakneck speed and keeps you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Rather it is a story that moves along just as quickly as needed to pull the reader into the lives of the characters. As things progress, we learn more and more about Piper and Ezra and the challenges that each one is dealing with and I thought the pacing was just about right. That's not to say there's no excitement; on the contrary, the book starts off with it and there are more moments of suspense throughout, but it's not the main focus.
I appreciated some of the themes that were addressed in the story, such as learning to overcome the burden of guilt, trusting God in spite of troubling circumstances, and dealing with the death of loved ones. There are several heart-tugging moments that were poignantly and beautifully depicted. I also liked that even though both main characters are adults they still reached out to wise elders who had more life experience for advice on multiple occasions. And I particularly liked the positive father-son relationship that was portrayed. While the Christian themes are overt, they were neither forced nor preachy, but were a very natural part of the story.
There were a few small niggling things; one that I had to question the plausibility of, and a couple of stylistic choices, but other than that, I thought that Live Without You was a beautifully written book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. A nice balance of a sweet romance and some very real and tough life challenges melded together into a tale that is bound to warm your heart. I am excited to see what Sarah Grace Grzy comes up with next.
Live Without You is appropriate for all ages but would probably appeal most to female readers aged mid-teen and up.
April 7, 2020
I neeeeeeeeeed more!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Real logical review to come, later . . . In the future . . . Once I'm over this feeling of awe that came on at the last page . . . Or when the author demands it . . . Which is on the 19th of February just so you know . . . *glances at my kindle considering reading already*
Real logical review:
My Review:
Genre: Christian romance.
My Rating: 5 stars. (If I could give it more I would!)
Recommendation: 13/16 up is better but this book is for anyone who likes romance though there are slight mentions of blood, gunshot wounds, and abuse.
My favorite character is: Ezra, he’s a super deep guy, deep in faith, care, love, and his walk with Christ. I liked reading about him from the beginning to the end of the book. He may have been my favorite hero of the 28 books I’ve read this year. I loved the way Ezra grew throughout the book even though he was great when LWY started with me loving him from the first scene.
My Verse for Ezra is James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. (King James Version.)
Piper, I loved as well, I liked seeing the ways she changed and grew (even more than Ezra.) into a wonderful character, and it will break your heart and slowly piece it back together to break it again as you read her story. It is in a good way though . . . And by the time you close the book, you will be in awe of the amazingly crafted characters Sarah Grace wrote.
My Verse for Piper is Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (King James Version.)
And honorable mention is Tom, Ezra’s dad, who is the first fictional I’ve wanted to read more about, he was sooooooooo sweet and I lovvvvvvvved how he treated Piper.
My thoughts: This book is fantastic! And I now know that romances that are novella length romances are the best! *points to >Love Needs No Words< by Faith Potts* like this book has the sweetest, purest, kindest love story with Christ as the center and it makes me wish I know more people who center their relationships around Jesus like the characters in this book do because they are the sweetest couple. And there is the unexpected ending that is gut-wrenching, and then sweet then sadder and yet again sweet. I can not TELL YOU how much YOU NEED TO READ this WONDERFULLY SWEET NOVELLA!!! (See, all you need to know is that I TELL YOU, YOU NEED TO READ THIS WONDERFULLY SWEET NOVELLA!!!!!!!)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and I’m truly happy to provide it!
Real logical review:
My Review:
Genre: Christian romance.
My Rating: 5 stars. (If I could give it more I would!)
Recommendation: 13/16 up is better but this book is for anyone who likes romance though there are slight mentions of blood, gunshot wounds, and abuse.
My favorite character is: Ezra, he’s a super deep guy, deep in faith, care, love, and his walk with Christ. I liked reading about him from the beginning to the end of the book. He may have been my favorite hero of the 28 books I’ve read this year. I loved the way Ezra grew throughout the book even though he was great when LWY started with me loving him from the first scene.
My Verse for Ezra is James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. (King James Version.)
Piper, I loved as well, I liked seeing the ways she changed and grew (even more than Ezra.) into a wonderful character, and it will break your heart and slowly piece it back together to break it again as you read her story. It is in a good way though . . . And by the time you close the book, you will be in awe of the amazingly crafted characters Sarah Grace wrote.
My Verse for Piper is Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (King James Version.)
And honorable mention is Tom, Ezra’s dad, who is the first fictional I’ve wanted to read more about, he was sooooooooo sweet and I lovvvvvvvved how he treated Piper.
My thoughts: This book is fantastic! And I now know that romances that are novella length romances are the best! *points to >Love Needs No Words< by Faith Potts* like this book has the sweetest, purest, kindest love story with Christ as the center and it makes me wish I know more people who center their relationships around Jesus like the characters in this book do because they are the sweetest couple. And there is the unexpected ending that is gut-wrenching, and then sweet then sadder and yet again sweet. I can not TELL YOU how much YOU NEED TO READ this WONDERFULLY SWEET NOVELLA!!! (See, all you need to know is that I TELL YOU, YOU NEED TO READ THIS WONDERFULLY SWEET NOVELLA!!!!!!!)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and I’m truly happy to provide it!
January 30, 2019
WHAT did I just read? It. was. AMAZING.
Live Without You currently holds the place for one of my favorite books I’ve read in 2019. It made me happy, it made laugh, and it made me sad at times too. And I grinned so much while reading it! (except during the tragic parts, of course!)
The characters were awesome!!
Piper-- *cries with her* Oh my goodness, I was so sad at the beginning of the book!! But the epilogue resolved it all!! ;)
Ezra-- Ahhh, YAY for Ezra!!! I loved his character!
Miss Cecile-- I LOVED her character!! She was an awesome nurse and such a good friend to Piper!!!
Tyler-- He was awesome too and it was pretty funny watching his friendship with Ezra!
Tom Bryant-- He was so sweet to Piper and such a good dad to Ezra!! I loved that!
There was one thing I was a little confused about and that was Piper’s childhood, but I think I got it.
Overall, I loved reading Live Without You, it was an amazing book!! :D I can’t wait to see what else this author writes! Also, the cover is GORGEOUS!!
Content-- mentions of injuries, wounds, blood, shootings, gangs, bad memories, and nightmares... that’s all I can remember.
5 stars!! :D
**I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review**
Live Without You currently holds the place for one of my favorite books I’ve read in 2019. It made me happy, it made laugh, and it made me sad at times too. And I grinned so much while reading it! (except during the tragic parts, of course!)
The characters were awesome!!
Piper-- *cries with her* Oh my goodness, I was so sad at the beginning of the book!! But the epilogue resolved it all!! ;)
Ezra-- Ahhh, YAY for Ezra!!! I loved his character!
Miss Cecile-- I LOVED her character!! She was an awesome nurse and such a good friend to Piper!!!
Tyler-- He was awesome too and it was pretty funny watching his friendship with Ezra!
Tom Bryant-- He was so sweet to Piper and such a good dad to Ezra!! I loved that!
There was one thing I was a little confused about and that was Piper’s childhood, but I think I got it.
Overall, I loved reading Live Without You, it was an amazing book!! :D I can’t wait to see what else this author writes! Also, the cover is GORGEOUS!!
Content-- mentions of injuries, wounds, blood, shootings, gangs, bad memories, and nightmares... that’s all I can remember.
5 stars!! :D
**I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review**
August 19, 2019
Contemporaries can be hit or miss for me, so it's always nice to find a hit, which this story was. It was simple, sweet, with a wholesome and meaningful spiritual core, and a solid debut by a talented young author. I *may* have even teared up a little near the end. I will definitely be keeping my eye on this author's future works.
Content Advisory:
Zero swearing besides silly stand-ins like "fudgecicle" and "flaming jack-o-lanterns".
Several forehead/hair kisses and kisses on the hand. Some warm fuzzy romantic feelings, but never excessive. One sweer, undescribed kiss on the lips.
Violence includes many mentions of blood due to and but the descriptions of injuries are never graphic. One character has PTSD because of past experiences amd has nightmares but these nightmares are only mentioned not described.
Content Advisory:
Zero swearing besides silly stand-ins like "fudgecicle" and "flaming jack-o-lanterns".
Several forehead/hair kisses and kisses on the hand. Some warm fuzzy romantic feelings, but never excessive. One sweer, undescribed kiss on the lips.
Violence includes many mentions of blood due to and but the descriptions of injuries are never graphic. One character has PTSD because of past experiences amd has nightmares but these nightmares are only mentioned not described.
May 1, 2020
I can see why there are so many raving reviews. This story is beautiful in the most heart-touching way. Even though I was so emotionally numb as I read this because of other life situations, it brought me to tears. I was telling a friend about this, and she said, "It sounds too painful to read right now!" and while I understand, the truth is that this is a book about hope and healing and learning to trust and love again. Something I think so many need -- including me. The characters were fun and quirky, and flawed in ways that made me love them more.
At first, the story seemed a little cliche. Guy and girl heal each other, tragic backstories, childhood friends... you know. But this book really becomes special when the second horrifying tragedy strikes . . . and healing is taken so much deeper as the book and characters explore healing even when facing *new* trials and heartbreak. As painful as it was, that was my favorite part: the "live without you" part.
However, a close second favorite was the setting . . . I used to live in Washington and I miss it! It was healing to my own heart that it was set in Arlington -- I've been there! I went to a birthday party there! My family and I always got milkshakes at Nutty's Junkyard Grill after big day-long hikes on that side of the mountains. The fact that it was set there is what made me bump it up from 4 to 5 stars. XD Totally because of my own emotional past, but yeah. :)
I also loved all the characters. This novella had a very small cast, but each of them was precious and very real.
Plus the title, "live without you"... again, strikes a personal chord in me. The song, "Without You" by For King and Country (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_zcj...) was very special to me during a hard time in my life, and I couldn't help by thinking of it as I read.
At first, the story seemed a little cliche. Guy and girl heal each other, tragic backstories, childhood friends... you know. But this book really becomes special when the second horrifying tragedy strikes . . . and healing is taken so much deeper as the book and characters explore healing even when facing *new* trials and heartbreak. As painful as it was, that was my favorite part: the "live without you" part.
However, a close second favorite was the setting . . . I used to live in Washington and I miss it! It was healing to my own heart that it was set in Arlington -- I've been there! I went to a birthday party there! My family and I always got milkshakes at Nutty's Junkyard Grill after big day-long hikes on that side of the mountains. The fact that it was set there is what made me bump it up from 4 to 5 stars. XD Totally because of my own emotional past, but yeah. :)
I also loved all the characters. This novella had a very small cast, but each of them was precious and very real.
Plus the title, "live without you"... again, strikes a personal chord in me. The song, "Without You" by For King and Country (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_zcj...) was very special to me during a hard time in my life, and I couldn't help by thinking of it as I read.
January 26, 2019
This was a sweet romance with a couple intense things, but otherwise it was a comfortably paced story of two individuals struggling to overcome their tragic pasts, make things right with their relationship with God, and fall in love... with life (if you want to know if there's any further falling in love, you have to read the book. Spoilers). Okay, one head's up: it was a slightly emotional story that almost drove me to tears a couple time. Overall, it was a good winter read with a cup of hot cocoa.
February 1, 2019
It was so good y'all! Thanks for the ARC Sarah and Victoria. I loved it. Review to come after publication AND on my blog during the blog tour on the 23rd!
UPDATE: Go here to read full review!!!1
https://geoturtle.com/live-without-yo...
UPDATE: Go here to read full review!!!1
https://geoturtle.com/live-without-yo...
February 8, 2019
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Victoria Lynn Designs. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
What’s worth risking your heart?
That’s a powerful theme in Sarah Grace Grzy’s debut book, Live Without You. The characters face it many times throughout the story, but the reader does as well.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about Piper’s and Ezra’s journeys was the faith thread. For each character, it was a little different, but both grew well into deeper belief. That, in a story, always gives me great hope that such incredible spiritual growth is possible each day. Sometimes it feels like my own growth is by inches; other times, it feels bigger, stronger. It’s especially nice to read books that deal with faith conquering fears, because I’ve personally lived that out and know just how strengthening it is – not because of my own strength, or the characters’, but because of God’s strength working in us. That was beautifully displayed in this book.
If you’ve followed my reviews for any length of time, you know I love it when the emotions of a story pull me in and refuse to let go. While I did not cry this time around, my emotions were still tugged in early. I’m not sure when they’ll be released! At times it felt like a roller coaster – but that wasn’t a bad thing this time! I loved the ebb and flow of certain emotions in this one, especially when the lovely banter came in to lighten up the mood, often at the perfect time.
The plot twists… oh, honey! They kept coming and surprising me. Hard to do, as I’ve read a TON of books and can ���call” the majority of upcoming events in novels before they happen, but this author did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing. I don’t know how many times my jaw dropped in shock at the next turn of events. I really appreciate the authors who can completely keep me guessing while remaining true to the characters and following a logical path to the surprises. That’s some talent!
With the theme of risking one’s heart, the author could have chosen a route of loose morals, but I really like that she kept the romance clean and sweet. It still felt so real too! That gave me such hope that romances that keep to God’s standards of purity may still happen out in the real world, though they get harder to find every day. This story was a great example of how to respect the person you’re interested in romancing while also respecting God and yourself. Morals don’t have to be compromised in order to have a special relationship. In fact, the relationship in this story was made even more incredible because the characters stuck to their moral code and leaned on God’s wisdom in how to proceed in their romantic journey. That, to me, is one of the sweetest and most real things about romance.
What’s worth risking your heart?
That’s a powerful theme in Sarah Grace Grzy’s debut book, Live Without You. The characters face it many times throughout the story, but the reader does as well.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about Piper’s and Ezra’s journeys was the faith thread. For each character, it was a little different, but both grew well into deeper belief. That, in a story, always gives me great hope that such incredible spiritual growth is possible each day. Sometimes it feels like my own growth is by inches; other times, it feels bigger, stronger. It’s especially nice to read books that deal with faith conquering fears, because I’ve personally lived that out and know just how strengthening it is – not because of my own strength, or the characters’, but because of God’s strength working in us. That was beautifully displayed in this book.
If you’ve followed my reviews for any length of time, you know I love it when the emotions of a story pull me in and refuse to let go. While I did not cry this time around, my emotions were still tugged in early. I’m not sure when they’ll be released! At times it felt like a roller coaster – but that wasn’t a bad thing this time! I loved the ebb and flow of certain emotions in this one, especially when the lovely banter came in to lighten up the mood, often at the perfect time.
The plot twists… oh, honey! They kept coming and surprising me. Hard to do, as I’ve read a TON of books and can ���call” the majority of upcoming events in novels before they happen, but this author did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing. I don’t know how many times my jaw dropped in shock at the next turn of events. I really appreciate the authors who can completely keep me guessing while remaining true to the characters and following a logical path to the surprises. That’s some talent!
With the theme of risking one’s heart, the author could have chosen a route of loose morals, but I really like that she kept the romance clean and sweet. It still felt so real too! That gave me such hope that romances that keep to God’s standards of purity may still happen out in the real world, though they get harder to find every day. This story was a great example of how to respect the person you’re interested in romancing while also respecting God and yourself. Morals don’t have to be compromised in order to have a special relationship. In fact, the relationship in this story was made even more incredible because the characters stuck to their moral code and leaned on God’s wisdom in how to proceed in their romantic journey. That, to me, is one of the sweetest and most real things about romance.
October 23, 2018
Oh my gracious. My bestie wrote a book. AND I'M JUST TOTALLY FLAILING AND GRINNING OVER HERE. Plus, that cover...gorgeous. 😍
February 18, 2019
I just... don't get the hype.
October 29, 2018
Wow. I am SHOOK. This amazing story was a wild ride!! I am blessed to have been able to beta-read Sarah Grace's wonderful story. Thank you so much!!
Content:
~Language: a few words like 'idiot' , 'drat' , but nothing bad.
~Romance: boy/girl attraction, hand holding, one kiss, one forehead kiss
~Violence: a scene where someone is shot, a past event where someone was killed,
~Blood/Gore: a lot of mention of blood and injuries, nothing too descriptive
Everything about this book was so inspiring. I love how the MC's kept their relationship God-centered, and loved all of the Biblical aspects. Well done!!
I was a little concerned that there would be too much romance by the cover, but I was in no way disappointed. I'm so used to reading way more romance that this was a nice break.
I totally recommend this when it is published!!!
For: ages 15+
*Note:* mentions of shootings and a certain character dying, however this was not too descriptive. Please be cautioned if you are a sensitive reader!!
Sarah Grace, you better be proud. <3
Content:
~Language: a few words like 'idiot' , 'drat' , but nothing bad.
~Romance: boy/girl attraction, hand holding, one kiss, one forehead kiss
~Violence: a scene where someone is shot, a past event where someone was killed,
~Blood/Gore: a lot of mention of blood and injuries, nothing too descriptive
Everything about this book was so inspiring. I love how the MC's kept their relationship God-centered, and loved all of the Biblical aspects. Well done!!
I was a little concerned that there would be too much romance by the cover, but I was in no way disappointed. I'm so used to reading way more romance that this was a nice break.
I totally recommend this when it is published!!!
For: ages 15+
*Note:* mentions of shootings and a certain character dying, however this was not too descriptive. Please be cautioned if you are a sensitive reader!!
Sarah Grace, you better be proud. <3
April 6, 2019
My sweet friend published a book!!! I've wanted to read this from the moment I saw the cover. THAT COVERRRRRR!!!!!! *all the heart eyes*
This is a really sweet, easy to read novella. Piper and Ezra are such sweet characters, and so cute together! Also, I love Tyler. He's amazing. I need a book about Tyler. <3
I can't want to see where Sarah Grace's career goes in the next few years!!!
This is a really sweet, easy to read novella. Piper and Ezra are such sweet characters, and so cute together! Also, I love Tyler. He's amazing. I need a book about Tyler. <3
I can't want to see where Sarah Grace's career goes in the next few years!!!
March 28, 2019
4.5 stars
I loved this story of hurt and healing! Piper is an endearing and memorable character (you just want to wrap her up and hug her until she doesn't hurt any more) and I couldn't wait to read about how she would finally let her walls down and trust God again. It hurt to think of her loss of her beloved brother and made me want a big brother of my own all the more (my older brother was stillborn and somehow I've always dreamed of what he would have been like).
So, in a nutshell, this book digs into all the emotions and yet offers sparks of humor (the kitten) and shades of beautiful new friendships (Miss Cecile is great!). It's a really good journey.
I loved this story of hurt and healing! Piper is an endearing and memorable character (you just want to wrap her up and hug her until she doesn't hurt any more) and I couldn't wait to read about how she would finally let her walls down and trust God again. It hurt to think of her loss of her beloved brother and made me want a big brother of my own all the more (my older brother was stillborn and somehow I've always dreamed of what he would have been like).
So, in a nutshell, this book digs into all the emotions and yet offers sparks of humor (the kitten) and shades of beautiful new friendships (Miss Cecile is great!). It's a really good journey.
May 3, 2020
4.5 stars =)
RTC
RTC
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews