Book Review: Live Without You and Never Say Goodbye by Sarah Grace Grzy

Hello there! I’m trying something new with my blogging schedule. How do y’all feel about a book review on Fridays? I probably won’t do one every Friday, but this way I can still have my regular Monday post and also review all these books I agreed to review. XD Speaking of reviews, today I have a duo review of Sarah Grace Grzy’s books, Live Without You and Never Say Goodbye!

Live Without You Review

About the book

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?

Plot

The plot instantly gripped me within the first few pages, it quite literally started with a bang. The beginning did seem to happen rather quickly, but that’s more a personal opinion since I’m more used to reading novels with longer intros and this is a novella that doesn’t have time for that. Despite my personal taste, the beginning did flow rather well, segueing right into the action nicely and propelling the plot. The pacing was really good, it slowed for the sweet, tender moments, and sped up in the more tense scenes, I never felt thrown off by the pacing or that too much or too little time had passed between scenes. I loved how the whole story is about trusting God with your heart and future and that He has and will always love you. The message was woven beautifully throughout and I never felt preached at, everything was delivered in such a natural way. The novella honestly read like one of those Hallmark movies that is so good you want to watch it over and over again.

Characters

Piper is so broken and precious, she lost her brother six years ago and has completely shut God out. Her brother was everything to her, especially since their parents basically emotionally abused her, but her brother, he was the only bit of light in her dark world. After she lost him, she withdrew into herself, thinking it was better not to love, better not to make friends, than to love someone and lose them. She goes through life numb and distant, until she’s caught in a shooting incident and reunites with her brother’s best friend. Ezra slowly works to bring Piper out of the shell she’s put herself in, but that can only happen if she lets him, and more importantly God, into her heart.

Ezra is such a wonderful guy. He has his own past issues he has dealt with and has already given to God, but sometimes they still crop back up, especially now that Piper is back in his life. He is so sweet and such a gentleman. He works the night shift with his friend, Tyler, as a paramedic so those with families can have the day shift. I love how he’s there for Piper and tries to help her, asking God to guide him in that. He used to be best friends with Paul, Piper’s brother, until he up and left because of his personal crisis. He never stopped caring for Paul and Piper though.

Tyler, oh boy, Tyler is such a cheeky goofball who also is aptly nicknamed Hulk because of his linebacker size and height. He’s basically a giant Labrador puppy.

Miss Cecile is such a peppy, mother-hen-type woman it’s impossible not to like her. She’s got plenty of sass and Jesus to share and was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Tom is Ezra’s father and I love how much of a rock he is for Ezra. Their relationship is so wonderful, but it’s in part because of all that they went through before and after they moved away from Piper’s hometown.

Content

Nothing is ever too violent or gory, but there is a shooting incident at the beginning, people are shot, blood is mentioned staining the snow and clothing, some people die. Piper deals with PTSD over Paul’s death. One character mentions dealing with alcohol addiction, depression, and almost killing themselves. The romance is very clean and sweet and the only ‘language’ is the occasional “shoot” “darn” type stuff and Tyler’s colourful euphemisms like “flaming jack-o’-lanterns”. I think 16+ would enjoy reading this story.

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

~*~Slight spoilers for Live Without You below!~*~

Never Say Goodbye

About the book

They say time heals all wounds. But he was finding it a poor painkiller.

Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. The death of his wife eighteen months ago shook his steady world and changed him in more ways than he can count. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows.

Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.

In this sophomore novel featuring beloved characters from Live Without You, Sarah Grace Grzy explores themes of grief, hope, and second chances in a story that touches both the heart and spirit.

Plot

The plot is very nice and well paced, I didn’t want to put it down. Literally. I stayed up till 5am to finish it. As with LWY, this novella was very favorite-Hallmark-movie-esque, I really want these two books as movies or even a series show. And the message of faith and God being big enough to hold you and your problems was woven so beautifully all throughout the story. I didn’t want to say goodbye to this story, it was so good. My only issue is that Alyvia rear-ended another car pretty badly but nothing was ever said about her car being fixed and then she’s driving around a few scenes later. That’s probably just a tiny nitpick in this otherwise fabulous story, her getting her car fixed isn’t central to the plot, it just gave me pause when it wasn’t mentioned. I loved Alyvia’s bookstore and all the sweet moments when Tyler would help her. Her relationship with her father is another focal point of the story and their journey is beautiful. I was sad Miss Cecile wasn’t in the story very much, but I did love when she was. All the interactions with Murrae, ‘Topher, and Haevyn are so adorable and are some of my favorite parts. Honestly, put cute little kiddos in your story and their scenes are probably going to be my favorites. 😉

Characters

Tyler is still the same cheeky, lovable Hulk-of-a-guy who now has an adorable baby girl, Murrea, and a heartrending loss, my heart really went out to him as he tries to navigate being a single dad. I just adored his interactions with Murrea, he’s such a great dad, a helicopter parent (which is tactfully dealt with in the story), but still a great dad. I loved seeing Tyler’s family, his sister’s native language is sarcasm and her snark was great.

Alyvia is so cute and sweet and I personally adore that she owns a bookstore. I love her relationship with her siblings. She has “Daddy issues” but for good reason, her father left when she was younger and she hasn’t seen him since, and even when he was around he wasn’t really involved with her and her siblings.

Piper and Ezra are so adorable as new parents and I love little ‘Topher and Haevyn. My only thing is, Piper’s job as a freelance web developer and graphic designer wasn’t even mentioned. I am in no way at all against her no longer doing it so she can focus on having a family, I am 100% okay with that. I just thought it was weird nothing was said about it, but, on the other hand, this is Alyvia’s and Tyler’s story, so probably just a me thing. I love that Piper and Ezra’s story was mentioned briefly throughout the story, I really don’t like it when sequels just don’t mention things from the previous book as if they didn’t happen.

Content

Very clean, there is an incident of domestic violence. All you see is the aftermath but the victim is a 6 year old girl. The language is like the first book, none to speak of except things like “darn”, “shoot”, and such. Once more, romance is very clean, and it doesn’t even focus on that. And, again, I think 16+ would enjoy this story.

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

About the Author

Sarah 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.

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*I received complementary copies of both books from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write positive reviews. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Have you read either book before? Aren’t those covers gorgeous? (No, this isn’t a cover reveal ;p but seriously, SO pretty!) Do you read contemporary? What do you think of my new Friday schedule?

Tell me in the comments! 😀

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