A very original love story with a strong woman's lead that played off in the country side of Ireland. The plot was filled with intrigue and twists to keep you guessing at the outcome of this story . . . Each character played their roles incredible believable, which drew you into this complicated story till the very end. From the seductress to the abuser/ murderer you were absorbed in the pages as it unfolded, bringing you to a wonderful finale at the end. Molly's character was the most touching of all of them; she carried her courage and bravery like a milestone as she did her work guarding the sheep at Mick's place. Facing with death, her tenacity stood out and you couldn't help but to fall in love with this sheepdog. Lynelle Clark,
Goodreads
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Couldn't put it down! Read in one day! ~ Lindsey, Goodreads
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Superb material used on characters and story line
What a wonderful read, following on from the other two novels, the author made it impossible to put the book down, it was a really good read. Very inspiring in many ways, and impossible to put down. ~ Wendy Binsley, Amazon
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Enjoyable read
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. ~ Ann Hopper, Amazon
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it was a really great story. You could not put it down once ...
it was a really great story. You could not put it down once you started it. well worth the price. Have a box of tissues handy. ~ Val, Amazon
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Complicated bordering on a tradegy, this story will entertain you till the end
A very original love story with a strong woman's lead that played off in the country side of Ireland. The plot was filled with intrigue and twists to keep you guessing at the outcome of this story . . . Each character played their roles incredible believable, which drew you into this complicated story till the very end. From the seductress to the abuser/ murderer you were absorbed in the pages as it unfolded, bringing you to a wonderful finale at the end . . .
Molly's character was the most touching of all of them; she carried her courage and bravery like a milestone as she did her work guarding the sheep at Mick's place. Facing with death, her tenacity stood out and you couldn't help but to fall in love with this sheepdog. ~ Lynelle, Amazon
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If you love romance and Ireland, this is the series for you
Kemberlee Shortland's Irish Pride series is fantastic. If I had to choose a favorite it would be very difficult. A Piece of My Heart is a tender love story told by an author who lives in Ireland and knows it well. I adore Ireland and read a lot of books set there, but Kemberlee's stories are unique because they ring with authenticity. You know instantly that the author has an Irish heart and speaks the true language of the land. Each book stands alone, each will steal your heart. A very satisfying read. ~ Pettycoat Grandma, Amazon
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One of the reasons I adore Kemberlee Shortland's books is because she is able to create vibrant characters that come across realistically. If you love the characters, then you are completely entranced with everything they say and do. If you hate the characters, you are riveted on what these despicable people are going to do next. If the characters annoy you, as a reader, you may find yourself talking back to the character and telling him what an idiot he is. Yes, I know, they cannot hear me, but this is what happens when I read a Kemberlee Shortland book. I am so pulled into the story, I sometimes feel like I am right there with the characters seeing what they see, hearing what they hear, and feeling what they feel . . . if you enjoy your books to contain lots of complex characters in complicated relationships and lush Irish settings, I highly recommend A Piece Of My Heart.
~ Sharal Hunter, Sherri's Thoughts & Ramblings
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Kemberlee Shortland has charmed and captivated this reader with a romantic fictional novel titled, A Piece of My Heart . . . characters endear themselves to the reader with their candor, wit, and determination for love and respect . . . the author has created several moments where the characters are brave enough to look back on their life and imagine themselves making different choices with resolution . . . Shortland takes great pains in painting such an accurate and authentic Irish backdrop throughout this novel that it's nearly impossible not to find one transported to Ireland where one watches Gaelic football, listens to the wireless, visits pubs, and drinks in the solstice moonlight of the ancient stone circle . . . A Piece of My Heart is unlike any other romance I have ever read. It has a great contemporary style with a slight erotic flare . . . the sensual petting is done brilliantly with a sensation of foreplay between the author and reader until the very last chapter! . . . Solid writing and storytelling, excellent characters, and romance make A Piece of My Heart a novel you won't want to miss. I highly recommend.
~ Ginger Dawn Harman, Reviewer
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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 |
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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.
~ Viviane Crystal, Crystal Book Reviews
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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.
~ Wilma G. Walter, Amazon
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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!
~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
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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, The Reading Reviewer
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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
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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
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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.
~ Camillia, Long and Short of It Reviews |
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{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.
~ Kerri Stratton Alley, The Pagan and The Pen Reviews
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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
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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
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. . . 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
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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
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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 Tender Touch
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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
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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.
~ Jennider S., You Gotta Read Reviews
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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.
~ Kathleen Kelly, Celtic Lady Reviews
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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
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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
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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
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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
