Fragments of the Heart
£4.99
Love can be the most thrilling expedition of all.
Archeologist Kelly Pierce lives for adventure, weaving a tapestry of exploration, seeking out artifacts that whisper stories of the past. Always ready for the next expedition, she never thought Oklahoma would be on her map.
Shawn Scott thrives in predictability. As Director of Descriptive Statistics, numbers are her world, but people? They’re a puzzle. So, collaborating with a British archaeologist is an incongruous with her routine as a desert oasis in the Arctic.
But when a new site is temporarily exposed in Alaska, Kelly and Shawn unite, racing against time to claim the artifacts. Amidst the treacherous terrain and chilling uncertainties, they grapple not only with the elements but with the awakening of emotions neither anticipated.
As danger looms, will they unearth more than artifacts or will the forces that brought them together ultimately tear them apart?
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Additional information
| Publisher | Butterworth Books (1 Nov. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 2943 KB |
| Simultaneous device usage | Unlimited |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 272 pages |
by Hope Freed, UK
The MC’s in this engaging tale are definitely poles apart. British Kelly is outgoing and personable whilst American Shawn is on the spectrum with her need for order and precision. This started off as an opposites attract office romance but then became an action adventure and fight for survival tale. It covered a lot of ground but did it very well. There were moments when I was on the edge of my seat. And the ending left me feeling ‘Awww…cute’, which is always a nice feeling to have!
by Charger
Gripping adventure!
Kelly and Shawn are complete opposites thrown together when an archaeological site in Alaska becomes temporarily exposed. In a race against time, they must uncover the artefacts but avoid the lurking dangers of the climate and elements at the site and all that threatens to break the bond they’ve only just established.
A really exciting adventure with lots of heart stopping moments. I was excited by the premise of this story and from the very first meeting of Kelly and Shawn knew there would be fantastic moments of tension and others of companionship and understanding that would strengthen the chemistry they had. Fighting the elements in a typical climate it never easy when they take a turn but Kelly and Shawn were really putting their lives on the line. Kelly really thrived in the conditions as she was outgoing and unpredictable, which made me really feel for Shawn having fallen for her and then having to battle with emotion on top of her own uncertainties about lack of routine and having to work with other people.
Kelly really brought out something in Shawn when it hit crunch time. Shawn was trying to be brave and responsible, so was a risk to herself but luckily she was surrounded by people who wouldn’t allow her to do such things. When we hit right into the heart of this story, I admired how Shawn adapted and just got on with doing all she could to make sure she and Kelly were safe, and able to have success too. I was on the edge of my seat at these points, gripped by the nature of the events and hoping all their efforts, sacrifices and heartaches along the way would be worth it.
Great story, very intriguing and exciting with characters I just couldn’t help loving and admiring!
by susanne garnett
Fragments of the Heart has been diligently researched, intelligently written, and packs an emotional punch. The attention to detail is remarkable, and the slow unfolding of two complex main characters Shawn and Kelly, has been achieved very well. The result is a satisfying romantic novel, partly set in the harsh and threatening terrain of northern Alaska, along with an inside look at the minutiae of archeological methods. This is a long-winded way of saying it’s a good book, well worth putting on your list for winter reading. Another winner for Ally McGuire.
by Jayne
Fragments of the Heart by Ally McGuire is an interesting read that had me hooked from the start. A low angst, opposites attract romance with a nerdy/geeky character who likes to stay within her comfort zone and calls things as she sees them.
Shawn Scott is a straight talker who is only too aware of her quirkiness and awkward social behaviour. She loves the regimented routine in her life and job where she has a reputation for being top of her field.
Kelly Pierce is an archaeologist with her hometown in the UK. She has a life’s too short attitude and outgoing personality. During a dig, the immense number of finds calls for increased help to catalogue, cross reference and record findings. Kelly is requested to join forces with Shawn in America to complete the task. This is only the start of the adventure, as unexpected events draw them both to a glacier in Alaska.
I thoroughly enjoyed the character development. The pace of the book is good and keeps you turning the pages. Both Kelly and Shawn are both excellently written characters. As their friendship grows, you are left routing for their future. I also found Shawn’s best friend and colleague Bree interesting in her own right.
by Valden Bush
Fragments of the Heart is a romance that will have all the romantics amongst us taking deep breaths and hoping. Will they or won’t they get together? The ups and downs aren’t predictable at all.
The main characters give us such a contrast that when we start out, we can’t be sure they’ll ever manage to work together, let alone have a romance. Kelly the archeologist, loves the stories of peoples and cultures as she explores the world. She doesn’t settle anywhere. Shawn is a statistician, a creature of habit and routine, never moving far from her base in Oklahoma. Bree is a third character that deserves mention. She is Shawn’s work colleague and friend, and helps Shawn navigate her way through the world despite Bree not travelling at all.
How they all eventually work together and go on an adventure is the story that McGuire has woven together beautifully. The characters make the story work so perfectly and add an element of surprise and wonder that allow us to see the world through an unexpected lens.
For me, the highlight of the book is the writing. The book is littered with golden moments that bring humor and thoughtfulness to the story. For example, when her boss asks Kelly to go sit with a Descriptive Statistics Officer “Kelly held the phone away from her and frowned at it like it had turned into something strange, like a courgette.” Or “…I’d dance with you right now. The music of the spheres and the light show would be enough to hold you in my arms…magic in so many ways.” There are too many to show here and I couldn’t decide which fragments to pick. The only way to find them is to read the book and look for the deeper elements. You’ll love it.
by Kindle Customer
This turned out to be a great story that keeps you on the edge of your sear from the very beginning. The description of the ice glacier and what happens gives you a insight to things that can happen,the author has you gripped. Throw in romance and you have a great book.