The Life You Stole, the stunning conclusion to the Life Duet from Jewel E. Ann, is available now!
The Life You Stole (Life Duet #2)
Sex.
Lies.
Revenge.
On the heels of a devastating loss, Evelyn fights to put her life back together.
Only … part of her husband belongs to another woman, and the devil owns her soul.
“If you tell her the lie, I will tell her the truth.”
When her best friend goes to great lengths to protect Evelyn from destruction and devastation, mistakes are made, lines are crossed, and all trust is shattered.
“We weren’t unbreakable.
I just needed to believe we weren’t unrepairable.”
Jewel E. Ann’s Life Duet was such a crazy ride, and with the cliffhanger in The Life That Mattered, I couldn’t wait for The Life You Stole. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t what I had hoped for.
To say the least, this was a very interesting, unique, and complex story, and while the previous book felt more romantic, this read more like an exciting thriller. I always enjoy angst and suspense, and Ann certainly succeeded in providing a completely unputdownable read that was very emotional and heartbreaking at times.
Graham and Lila’s points of view were also added into this sequel, which revealed even more about the secrets and lies they all shared between them. While Ann kept me on my toes, I’m not sure that all of the actions within the secrets were really necessary, and it stripped too much away from the characters that I had fallen in love with. I desperately wanted to know how this story would play out, but the demise felt a bit torturous, and the ending didn’t really make my overall feelings any better.
I’ve really struggled with how to best convey all of my thoughts on this but the conclusion to this duet was just odd and unromantic. Did Jewel E. Ann deliver a jaw-dropping story that checked off so many boxes of what I look for in my reads? Absolutely. I survived it, but it’s just not a favorite.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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I jumped, shutting my computer, and glanced up at Graham paused at the threshold to my room, loosening his red tie. He always looked handsome in a suit and that red tie I gave him for his birthday. I didn’t expect to see him. My assistant said he was at the Governor’s Mansion. I rarely stayed there, but he used it as an occasional “getaway.” Probably from me. So when she told me he was there, I made the assumption (actually hoped) he’d decided to stay the night and get some work done.
“It’s not even seven.” I tucked my bare feet beneath me, still wearing my navy skirt suit and silk scarf—my long hair in loose curls down my back and around my shoulders just like Graham liked it.
He took calculated steps toward me, completely untying his tie, letting it drop to the floor before working the buttons to his starchy white shirt. I tried to forget my internet search, not that it mattered because I couldn’t hide anything from my husband. He elicited a warring of emotions from me. An icy tingle slithered along my spine, making every muscle rigid, while the warmth in my heart fed on the way my pulse reacted to his proximity, the way it always had done. That never changed. It was how I knew we weren’t broken.
“Did you miss me?” He smirked, shrugging off his shirt, revealing his defined torso—abs for days beneath a thin smattering of dark hair on his chest.
I was the envy of so many women. Every day I reminded myself of that.
“Nice scarf.” He knelt in front of the chair.
I returned a nervous smile, hoping the man before me was the man I loved. Graham untied the scarf, sliding it from my neck as slowly as he’d slid off his tie just seconds earlier. The scarf floated to the floor. Gentle fingers swept my hair off my shoulders, exposing my neck.
With the same feather’s touch, he traced the bruises. “It’s nothing …” His lips replaced his fingers, kissing my neck. “You’re fine. Right?”
I wanted to believe him. Could denial become truth if we just believed hard enough?
“I’m fine,” I murmured, closing my eyes.
“Want me to show you how much I missed you?” he whispered next to my ear.
Was he asking me for permission? Governor Graham demanded me. Pre-marriage, pre-Governor Graham asked … begged me to surrender to him.
Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.
With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.
After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.
When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.
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Excellent review, DG💜 I’ve been there and feel like I know how you feel.
Thanks Jonetta! I felt like it was kind of hard to explain without taking away from it… if that makes sense either lol!! 😂
I don’t know if I want to read this duet. I am not sure I would like the change between the two books of the romance vs. thriller feels. It would be weird that it wasn’t consistent.
Great review!
Thanks, Deanna, and I don’t know, maybe it’s just me?? It looks like it had mixed reviews and a lot of people seemed to love it. I just didn’t… 🤷♀️