Customer Reviews

A Piece of My Heart (Irish Pride)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The heart only breaks when love is denied." Mick and Kate haven't seen each other in years but are now thrown together in a manner neither are prepared to handle in a poised style. While Mick's been burying himself in work and in Dublin, Kate has remained in the Irish countryside where she's been working as a nurse and helping to care for Mick's dying parents. When both parents eventually pass away, Mike and Kate are called to Attorney Tighe's office to hear the reading of the will, a revelation absolutely shocking to both. It seems that Mick and Kate have been thrown together whether they like it or not. The question is how do they decide how much they can endure of this new unique situation when being in each other's presence produces instantaneous hormonal fireworks very hard to hide. Their new status tempts them to the limits of their willpower, upsetting the status quo scenarios each has created while also grieving past deep wounds.

Mick pulls back to figure it all out and inadvertently runs into a fellow, Flann Flannery, who seems an answer to Mick's problems. Mick wants to stay in Dublin but needs a manager for the farm he's inherited but can't sell without dire consequences. Flann seems just the right guy for the job and is hired. Only it turns out that Flann is an unsavory character who puts both the farm and Kate's well-being into serious jeopardy and Mick is almost too slow to come to the rescue!

Another twist enters the picture that is about to change Mick and Kate's lives forever. Mick's most recent romance before Kate arrives with a very upsetting announcement which eventually Mick handles with delightful panache that will make the reader roar with laughter. Ah, the tangled webs we weave! But will this web be the end of what seems to be the beginning of a renewed, passionate relationship between Mick and Kate?

Kemberlee Shortland is a pro at depicting numerous romantic moments in a stimulating, unique way that never gets boring or repetitive and evolves to a crescendo experience. The good guy/bad guy scenario unfolds in a credible manner that in turn creates a full-force reaction where one finds Flann or Damean (real name) a totally despicable character and roots for his demise, while eagerly anticipating how Mick and Kate will recover their obviously lost but not forgotten love! Ms. Shortland's style has definitely matured over the last few years, and A Piece of My Heart is terrific romantic/suspense fiction to savor and share with family and friends.

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on November 15, 2009

Set in Ireland, present date. Michael "Mick" Spillane's life is in Dublin. He has no interest in the family farm. But after his father dies, Mick must return to Connemara for the funeral and reading of the will. Mick hopes to simply sell the farm and return to Dublin as quickly as possible. The last thing Mick expects is to learn that his father had added an addendum to his will. Should Mick try to sell the family farm, everything will go to Kate Conneely.

Mick and Kate had been very close as they grew up together. Their friendship had been changing into something much deeper until Kate, at the tender age of fifteen, suddenly found Mick avoiding her. She never understood what had happened to cause the chasm between them. When Mick's mother became ill, Kate gave up her medical career to help the Spillane family. Soon after Mrs. Spillane's death, Mr. Spillane's health went bad. It was Kate who helped keep the farm going. Yet still Kate is caught totally off guard when the addendum is read.

A compromise is reached and Mick hires a manager to live on-site, in a small apartment on the farm, and run the place. Kate agrees to drop by once or twice each week to keep an eye on things. The new manager is not to Kate liking. Can Kate prove to Mick the shady character of his new manager? Can she help Mick realize and come to have pride in his family's land and its history? And most importantly, can she keep her heart from shattering all over again?


***** FIVE STARS! Since this story is set in Ireland, be prepared for a bit of their slang words. There are not many, but if you do not live in the U.K., they may jump out and surprise you. The story caught my interest quickly. At first, I found myself disappointed in Mick's selfish life style and his blindness to the health of his parents. But then I realized that many people move away from their parents' area and begin their own lives. The author's descriptions of Mick knowing of his parents' bad health, but not really believing it, is totally accurate. Kemberlee Shortland has written a heartwarming story that will long remain in my mind. Recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Kate and Mick have loved each other their entire life even during the last 10 years that they have been apart. Their thoughts have often wandered to one another and always with affection and some regret over the love they shared and mysteriously lost. When they are reunited after Mick's father's death the passion and desire that existed in the blush of youth comes roaring back and they are barely able to contain the emotions churning inside. Yet Kate is strong in her conviction that she wants nothing less than love and is rooted in her home town making it clear that she does not see life through the eyes of a love struck child any longer.

But the reunion takes a jolt to both Kate and Mick when during the reading of the will Mick discovers that he must keep the family farm or lose it to Kate. All Mick wants is to go back to Dublin and live out his life and not stay on the farm in this blip of a town in Ireland and with his back against the wall what will he do, stay on the farm or go back to the city. Then a backup plan presents itself in the hiring of a manager to run the farm for him so he can return to his life in the big city and coincidence brings such a man into his life. But the man Mick hires only seems stable to him while everyone else fears this man is up to no good and there is something not right about the whole situation.

After Mick leaves Kate feels the deep loss of him being gone and tries to move on with her life but still her thoughts always veer back to Mick and the life they could have. Kate also hates the man who is managing the land who she believe is not fulfilling his part of the assigned duties and he is mistreating her beloved dog Molly. She pleads repeatedly with Mick to return home but he baulks until a horrific tragedy happens that shocks Mick and then knows it is time to pack up and head home immediately.

Again when Mick and Kate are reunited the sparks start to fly and this time there is nothing that will make them part, or is there? It turns out to be a someone not a something that is trying to stop this bliss they are experiencing and this person has a shocking surprise for both Mick and Kate. Will the torment and torture of this relationship come to a smooth conclusion or is it really over this time and will Kate throw in the towel and say enough already. You need to read the book to find out that answer.

Wonderful story with just enough drama to stir the pot, a touch of tortured past to keep you guessing and more than enough relationship drama with Mick and Kate to make the reader keep hoping. They are wonderful characters whose relationship is explained over time which heightens your interest in knowing more about them and why things are they way they are between them and seriously can they overcome these problems. Quite fetching but there is a bit of sadness that will touch your heart so be prepared for that!

Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer located at [...]

Kemberlee Shortland has worked many wonderful elements into her novel, A Piece of My Heart.

The novel begins with a great hook that introduces us to the major conflict between Kate and Mick, the central characters. Add the lovely Connemara setting, a shady character who provides some truly suspenseful moments, Molly the Border Collie (I dare you to *not* fall in love with her!), elements of family history, a tart with a wicked Dublin accent, some ancient Irish magic and you get a very satisfying, well-paced romantic story.

When I sit down with a romance, I'm always curious about how the author will write the love scenes. Ms. Shortland didn't disappoint me in this arena, either. I've got to say that A Piece of My Heart contains perhaps the sweetest love scene I've ever read. There's a lovely balance between the physical intimacy and all of the emotions swirling around it. So many authors come close to achieving that balance, but fall short. Ms. Shortland gets it right. I'm sure I'll turn to those pages again and again when I need a bit of that sweetness in my day.

I look forward Mick and Kate's follow-up story, to see what Ms. Shortland has in store for them.

First off let me say that I love Ireland and I am fascinated with stone circles, and this book has both. This novel by Kemberlee Shortland takes place not too far from Dublin on adjoining farms. Kate and Mick grew up together and she has always been in love with him. She took care of Mick's parents, who considered her one of their own, and Kate was extremely saddened after the deaths of both parents. She was angry at Mick for not being there for his parents. When it came time for the reading of the will for Mick's father (Donal) they were both in for a huge surprise...good or bad?? I will let you determine that when you read the book and read the book you must. A very delightful story with lots of action, love scenes and devious people. Lot's of sparks flying around too! Did I mention there was a murder?? Yup... so what are you waiting for? Go get yourself a copy of this book, you will not be disappointed. The next book in the series Constant Craving is also available which I will of course be reading.

I have to admit the emotions are threefold in A Piece of My Heart. When Mick and Kate ache to be with each other, I could practically see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice. The way they try to hold their control intact is so beautifully penned. I love the part about the circle, and the place they shared. Kemberlee Shortland creates a stunning read that touches upon the heartstrings. The storytelling is at its best. The descriptions are marvelously crafted and the characters absolutely lifelike. With emotions turning faster than a roller coaster, she allows the reader to visualize parts of Ireland with romance and a bit of suspense along the way.
~ Cherokee, Coffee Time Romance, 5 cups

The most amazing story I have ever read. Kimberlee really outdone herself. The amazing sceneries as well as the characters. I love it all! I would recommend her books to anyone!
~ Danielle Donascimento, reader at GoodReads, 5 stars

This is a story of the average person trying to find their way in life. There is life and love that comes from death. It is of the struggle to deal with death and the dearth of feelings of the "could have", "should have" and "would have" feelings. This is especially so for Mick as Kate makes him feel guilty for not being with his father when he died. It is also the pent up feelings of desire between the pair that keeps the fires simmering...The most consistent part was how Mick and Kate dealt with their feelings...It is certainly a lesson about how one should never live with regrets.
~ Heather, Contemporary Romance Reviews, 9 out of 10

A Piece of My Heart has a sprinkling of Irish magic, a three thousand-year-old stone circle ( Kate and Mick's secret place), a touch of old customs and traditions, as well as a hint of the diversity of the people, their speech, and moral codes. It also shows strong emotions credited to the Irish and, what Mick himself calls, his "pathetic pride"...

Kemberlee Shortland's thorough character development and the world-rocking love scenes make A Piece of My Heart captivating, but most of all it is the long-suffering love that hides but abides, cries but never dies that makes this beautiful tapestry of a tale memorable.
~ Camellia, Long and Short of It Reviews, 4.5 books

{Review for both A Piece of My Heart and Constant Craving}
This pair of books presents an adorable and realistically romantic story of two high school sweethearts who never lost love for each other. Ms. Shortland writes Mick as the kind of many that any woman would love to have the chance to have, hold, and heal. Kate is a powerful, independent but innocent woman with a firm grasp of what love means.

In A Piece of My Heart, Kate and Mick share a lot of commonalities: an inheritance, a need to reconcile the past, and a sense of lost connection. Their reactions to each other and to the situations in which they find themselves are delightfully realistic, and their passion for each other is steamily respectful; a line that most authors have trouble walking. Predictably (why else do we read romance novels?!?) Kate and Mick work through their problems and the story ends with something akin to "...and they all lived happily ever after."

One of my biggest problems with most romance novels is that they only deal with the heat, the passion, the chase that leads up to the long-awaited (and extremely satisfying) coupling. Yet few novels dare to delve into what happens when the after-glow fades and the couple is forced to live together with normal trials and tribulations. This is where Kemberlee Shortland shines.

Constant Craving is a wonderful short story that takes place a year after Kate and Mick buried the hatchet and shook the standing stones. There is little classical romance to be found here; instead Kate is tired, has baby blues from a recent birth of twins, and finds herself bogged down by housework. Mick is sexually frustrated (gotta wait for a while after babies are born!), tired from working the farm, and spends all his free time working on repairing the house. How they manage to rekindle the romance, and reconnect as lovers is a beautiful story and is more than just icing on the cake; it's a story of REAL love, and how it endures, perseveres, and grows.
~ Keri Stratton Alley, The Pagan and The Pen Reviews, 4 Tarot Cards

This compelling foray into the hearts and minds of a young couple thrown into an unusual situation is an exciting, well-paced romantic read. Mick seems a little selfish at first, but soon redeems himself. The bad guy is really bad, which adds tension to the story.
~ Donna M. Brown, RT Reviews, 4 stars

Ms. Shortland has written a lovely story of love and forgiveness between two star-crossed lovers . . . While Kate was a delight and breath of fresh air Shortland doesn't sugar-coat Mick at all and his selfishness and lack of concern for his aging and failing parents as well as lack of pride in his family's farming heritage certainly did not endear him to this reader. Ms. Shortland also introduced a truly despicable character in the farm manager Mick hired to run his family's farm and for dog lovers, be forewarned there is one instance of brutality concerning a litter of puppies that is not for the faint of heart. Having never been to Ireland - and this being the setting of A PIECE OF MY HEART - the use of the slang words by some of the Dublin characters was interesting. The sensualness was sweet and the long awaited explanation of what had caused the rift in the first place was very emotional and heartfelt. All in all - a good solid read and very much recommended.
~ Marilyn Rondeau, CK2s Kwips and Kritiques, 4 shamrocks

. . . this is a great, light-hearted read that will satisfy you. I have no doubt about that. Shortland writes great dialogue and you know without a doubt that her characters are expressing themselves honestly. She also carries of[f] the Irish brogue remarkably well and you find yourself sitting in Ireland watching these two characters when in reality you're sitting in the breakroom at work.
~ Stephanie, Once Upon a Chapter, 3 flames

What a lovely read to curl up with right before St. Patrick's Day. If you love sweet, romantic Irish movies like The Matchmaker, Waking Ned Devine or Once, and enjoy the works of Maeve Binchy, you will enjoy Mick and Kate's tale. Childhood sweethearts driven apart by a misunderstanding, brought (unwillingly) back together by a quirk in Mick's father's will.

As they work through their grief and their lingering issues with each other, a string of events seems orchestrated by Fate to drive them apart again. There are some stock villains and quasi-villians, but the two main characters stand out as just flawed enough to keep things interesting. Ms. Shortland adds a finishing touch of Irish magic to bring it all to a satisfying end. Fáinne óir duit, Ms. Shortland!
~ Seanachie, I Read Romance

I just finished reading Kemberlee Shortland's new romance, A Piece of My Heart. To read a book set in Ireland, written by someone who really knows the country, is a breath of fresh air. I so enjoy the lovely flavor of Ireland she's captured in her story. Kudos, Kem. I love it.
~ Charlene Raddon, award-winning author of Forever Mine

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I avidly read through the pages hoping against hope that things would work out in the end. I felt as if I were a part of Kate and Mick's life cheering them on for their happy ending. If readers enjoy happy endings, Ireland and animals, they will be sure to snatch up this book and read it as soon as they possibly can.
~ Kathy Boswell, Clever Divas

Overall I really enjoyed this story. I was really unsure about Mick's attitude towards his family, until I really thought about the way mine has been towards mine sometimes. Sometimes things happen. I think his change of heart was even sweeter, because you see him evolve through Kate's love and the stories about his parents. I also think having Flann and Gobnait in the story really added depth to the story. The main characters had to overcome some obstacles, so that made their love even more special. They also had to overcome past hurts when they were younger. I just loved Kate. I love Irish women- strong and independent with the ability to love deeply. Of course most women are like that. I loved the Ms. Shortland provided after the wedding information. I liked being part of the closure and the exciting news. Such a great ending to a rocky start story.
~ Jennifer S., You Gotta Read Reviews

I must congratulate you Kemberlee. That was the most fascinating and intriguing story I have ever read. I love it . . . Mick and Kate were super fascinating characters. Your story portrayed a lot of emotions. Love, anger, distance, etc. It was quite amazing and it had me trying not to ball over with tears! I loved the scenery of Ireland . . . The legend of the stones was interesting too! . . . I loved Michael and Kathleen. Though stubborn they were headstrong and knew what they wanted! I am truly writing to you to congratulate you and ask that you keep up the good works! I'll be looking forward to purchasing your stories :D . . . I fell in love!
~ Danielle, a reader

I finally got to your book today. I picked it up this morning and started reading....I couldn't put it down! I finished it just now. I'm hooked! I loved it.......you had me hating Flann and loving Mick.....After visiting Ireland I could almost envision the scenes.....right down to the mini. When is the next one coming out? I want to read the rest of the series.
~ Mercedes, a reader in Indiana

I started your book on the plane and finished it with tears in my eyes. It was truly a heart warming love story and I enjoyed it. Any story that can bring tears to a read is a moving tale. I look forward to your next book.
~ Rae, a reader in Nevada

I started your book last night, but I'll need a man to finish it! I'm really enjoying it.
~ Kathleen, a reader in Ireland