Out on the 28th October 2020
The Missing Piece by Catherine Miller is an engaging and appealing heart-warming story of two people who meet under unique circumstances.
Keisha is a 31-year-old PhD research student studying the effects of beetroot in healing Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, aka Broken Heart Syndrome.
She knows how her heart works, but the one thing she doesn't know is how to use it to fall in love. The secret tattoo on her wrist is a reminder that the most reliable way to protect your heart is never to let it feel in the first place.
Seventy-nine-year-old Clive is Subject number five in Keisha's latest project. He was seventeen when he met Nancy at a tea dance. Last night, Nancy was killed in a violent attack. Suddenly, he is on his own and has woken up in the hospital, diagnosed with Broken Heart Syndrome.
Can Clive show Keisha that until you've loved, you haven't lived? And can Keisha help Clive to see that it's never too late for a second chance?
I liked the characters of awkward loveable Lucy, big-hearted George, Clive's nurse and Tess of the glittery unicorn shop.
A lovely story revealing the value of real friendships and how a little kindness can make such a difference.
Passionate, warm and emotional, a delightful read which I would highly recommend.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Catherine Miller for a pre-publication copy to review.

If you love Sheldon in Big Bang Theory or Don Tillman in the Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion then you will love this book! The main character Keisha has similar personality traits and finds it hard to adapt to new situations.
She meets a participant for a study she is doing and he changes her life in a completely unexpected way.
I loved this, I only wish all the characters in the book were real so I could sit and have a coffee with them!
This is a must read!

Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Missing Piece by Catherine Miller is a contemporary fiction is an endearing and heart-warming story of two unique people who meet under an unusual circumstance. Keisha is a Ph.D. research student studying Broken Heart Syndrome. During a research project, she meets the seventy-nine-year-old Clive, who manages to burrow under her tough exterior and make a lasting impression. Clive's story fascinates Keisha, and she decides to help him through a difficult time. Clive's past is one big mystery, and as they both help each other out, the past unravels, bringing forward second chances, new-loves, and opportunities to live one's life to the fullest.

Clive and Keisha were fascinating characters. I loved getting their dual perspectives and getting a glimpse into how they coped with their situations. They were unique, and with anxiety troubling them and their progress in life, we see their approaches to life and how different they are. I loved how quirky and cool Clive was. I loved how open and free he was in life. Despite going through terrible things, he still holds out hope in the best, and his exuberance shines out of the page. Keisha's character was intriguing in its way. Her need for a strict regimen and routine helps us understand her personality. Anxiety is something she struggles to get a handle on, and we see her often succumbing to it.

The pacing was good, not too slow or too fast. The writing is also enjoyable. I liked getting to know the characters through their thought processes. Often, it was them ruminating over the things that have happened or their feelings regarding certain events. These helped me get to know them better. The mystery that will wrap-up the whole story is not something that we get to see until the last half of the book. This story is more of the journey these two people take in their lives and how their connected lives will help them work through the challenges that they face. I found their budding friendship and companionship to be quite sweet.

The mystery surrounding both Keisha's and Clive's past takes time to unravel. I wished the author didn't hasten the story and instead gave us time to get acquainted with the new reality. The romance was only a small part, and the couples got together quite quickly as well.

Overall this novel is a sweet, wholesome story. I loved the tenderness and beauty this book had in it. It was refreshing and original in its storytelling. I gave the book 3.5 stars, and I would recommend readers who love contemporary fiction with endearing characters to go check this one out.

A book that will make you smile and cry. Totally invested in the characters of Keisha and Clive. How a closed off phd researcher meets a patient perfect for her research. The meeting changes both their lives. Not a May to September romance but how lives entwine in unexpected ways. Enjoy the ride and cheer and cry. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

This book absolutely broke my heart and put it back together in the space of a few hundred pages. Absolutely incredible and a must read!

What is this book about?
After years of studying cardiac medicine, thirty-one-year-old Keisha knows the heart inside out. She knows the average heartrate for each age group, she can name every valve, and she can tell you exactly how much blood it pumps daily.
The one thing she doesn’t know is how to fall in love. And nor does she want to. The secret her tattoo covers is a reminder that the best way to protect a heart is to never let it feel in the first place…
Seventy-nine-year-old Clive is Subject Five in Keisha’s latest research project. He’s been in love since he was seventeen, ever since he met Nancy at a tea dance. But last night, his beloved wife was killed. Suddenly, he has no one to waltz with. He has woken up in hospital, a widower diagnosed with Broken Heart Syndrome.
These strangers, brought together by a broken heart, must face up to the truth of their pasts. Can Clive teach his new friend that until you’ve loved, you haven’t lived? And can Keisha help him see that it’s never too late for a second chance?

This was a heart warming book. Goes right to your heart. Love the characters and the story line. Really good book.
3.5 stars.

A touching and heartfelt story of learning to love, with a heartwarming friendship between the unique main characters and an endearing romance. This book is a wonderfully uplifting story despite dealing with some more sad topics, Catherine Miller has included these topics with sensitively into the plot. I also enjoyed the humour in the story and the quirkiness of the cast of characters. The writting flowed beautifully and the story unravelled with ease as I read. Overall a very enjoyable and moving story.

This was an unusual story, but one revolving about friendship, love and grief. I immediately connected with the main character, Keisha, who we first meet on a date. Keisha is obsessed with checking her heart rate, and knows all the ins and outs as to what it should or shouldn’t be. I have to admit, due to a heart condition, I’m very much like that and have spent many a time, just like Keisha, with my fingers pressed to a pulse point!! I am very jealous of her tattoo which is just over the pulse on her wrist and this has given me inspiration to have one there myself!! Keisha is working on her PHD to study the effects of beetroot juice in healing Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy – otherwise known as ‘Broken Heart syndrome’.

During her studies she meets heart patient, Clive. He’s an elderly gentleman, who is in hospital following the death of his wife, Nancy in an apparent violent attack. I love Clive’s character and found it very emotional when I was caught up in his storyline! After a hesitant start on Keisha’s part, her and Clive become friends, and their relationship was wonderful. I loved how they both, along with Clive’s nurse George interacted with each other and felt like I had known them all for years. They were all so kind and understanding to each other, helping each other to overcome their fears.

Clive’s story has some mystery to it with regards to what happened to his wife, and as the story moves on all is revealed as to what really happened. The chapters alternate between Clive and Keisha’s story and both are as captivating as the other. The book was well paced, and held my interest from the first page, ensuring that I kept turning the pages until the very end. It was a completely original storyline which I hadn’t seen in any other book and certainly one which I didn’t expect. Whilst it was emotional in parts, it was also hugely uplifting and heart-warming!

This was a delightful story showing us the value of true friendships and teaching us that just a little bit of kindness can make such a difference to so many peoples lives! Romantic, tender and emotional, this was a lovely read which I would definitely recommend!

This story had me captivated from the start and when the complication in Clive’s case was revealed I was truly hooked. Keisha is quite an unusual character, she feels the need to know she is alive but struggles to live and she’s very in tune with her heart but struggles to love. Clive on the other hand is very aware of the love in his heart even if his heart is broken, his story is one of the most unusual I have read and yet not beyond the realms of plausibility. The wonderful mismatch of characters made for an extraordinary but very engaging story which exceeded my expectations.

The Missing Piece was a gentle and delightful love story guaranteed to mend a broken heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The last third particularly kept me riveted and I found it hard to put down.

Clive and Keisha were interesting and absorbing narrators with unique voices, and the style of writing - and some of Keisha’s quirks, like her need for rigid routine - reminded me of The Rosie Project, which I loved. I enjoyed getting to know each main character well, and their diversity in terms of ethnic background and age helped me see the world in a different way. Each of them also had a mystery they were hiding which unwrapped gently throughout the book, and the lifetime of love that Clive held for Nancy was truly touching.

There was a great cast of other characters in clumsy but lovable Lucy, big-hearted George (the perfect match for Keisha) and Tess of the glittery unicorn shop. They all had important parts to play in this story, and made for a lovely group of friends.

The Missing Piece had a gorgeous community feel to it, with kindness at it’s heart and a wonderful ending. This one will stay with me for a while.

With thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC.

A beautiful and romantic drama! The characters were well drawn and sympathetic, and the storyline flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended!

A book to take to your heart <3 Keisha is a research student doing her Phd into Takotsubo cardiomyopathy - broken heart syndrome (a real illness where part of the heart inflates- thought to be due to stress). Her fifth subject has just been admitted to hospital where he has been diagnosed with this. Clive is a spritely 79 year old who got home after being at his allotment to find his back door open and his wife Nancy on the floor dead. The thing is that he was found near the allotment and as far as the police are aware he has never been married. No Nancy ,no wife, no record. Slowly he realises that some of his memories are not of Nancy but of himself doing things but he is very sure that she did exist. He talks to Keisha and they strike up a friendship. Keisha is online dating with the aid of her friend who runs the cafe where she meets the blind dates- who generally don’t last more than a few minutes before she makes her escape. George is the male nurse who is looking after Clive and coincidentally he arrives as date number 40 on the target of 100. This is one of those books that you just know from the start that you are going to go through a whole gamut of emotions. From smiling to laughing, from going awww to more. A treasure of a read
(links as part of blog tour)

I loved this book, thank you so much for the advanced copy.

The writing was excellent, I did not have a clue what was going to happen. I read this over two nights.

Strangers all brought together by a broken heart.
I fell in love with Clive from the start, the way Keisha and Clive's stories developed had me gripped.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

When a broken heart becomes a real medical condition

The Missing Piece by Catherine Miller is an emotional story of friendship, love, acceptance, and grief.

Keisha was methodic and intelligent. She was working on her Ph.D. to study the effects of beetroot in healing Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, aka Broken Heart Syndrome.

She had some issues, but she buried them deep down and focused on her work.

But one day, Keisha met Clive. He was Subject #5 on her Ph.D. research. At seventy-nine, Clive's heart had broken upon his wife's sudden violent death.

Things were not what they seemed, and Keisha got more involved in Clive's story than she was prepared to. Forced out of their comfort zone, both Keisha and Clive struggled but broke free.

The story is a tad sad but very inspiring. I loved how the characters evolve and how their willingness to face their fears slowly took them where they needed to be.

The side characters are lovely. George, the nurse, is so compassionate and a great human being, Tess, the cafe owner, is a perfect friend, and I love how she sparkled amidst the cafe unicorn-inspired decor.

There is a little bit of romance, a lot of friendship, and even some humor to counterbalance the main topic's seriousness.

The Missing Piece by Catherine Miller is an inspiring story about how friendship and kindness can make a huge difference in everyone's life.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 10/30/2020 as part of the book's blog tour*

Keisha meets Clive when he takes part in her study of broken heart syndrome. The connection and friendship that develops helps them both deal with their respective “broken hearts”. There is a bit of a mystery with the story of what happened to Clive, how he ended up with a broken heart and who Nancy is as well as some fairly heavy, complex history in Keisha’s backstory as well. The book has alternating chapters for both Keisha and Clive. Although the story is well written, I did struggle to connect with the two lead characters a little bit especially when it came to their relationships with the other supporting characters. Overall though an interesting story which is worth considering..

I was kindly given this book as an ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I thought: 'Great!' I love reading contemporary fiction, and I have a soft spot for stories about elderly people. However, I found the characters in this novel unlikeable and difficult to relate to. Clive is overly emotional, and I don't find it particularly believable despite his traumatic justifications in the story. Keisha is skittish and sensitive, which is understandable given the fact she seems to suffer from anxiety and/or OCD symptoms. However, I just could not find very many likeable qualities about the characters. It's not the character traits persay, it's the way they're written. They weren't convincing enough, and felt rather two-dimensional.
The love story between Clive and his wife is sweet and wholesome, and I liked the premise. Clive has some endearing habits, and I liked Keisha's roommate and the cafe owner. As someone with diagnosed anxiety, it was nice to see the representation through Keisha. It is always nice to see casual LGBT representation in a story as well. The story progressed at a nice pace and was developed well. I thought the writing was fairly decent, but sometimes was a little stilted, which took me out of the story for several pages. I kept thinking: 'Why would the writer choose to do this?' instead of 'Why would this character do this?' It was difficult to get immersed in the story.
I think that this story had all the ingredients to become a witty, emotional read, but sadly lacked most of the execution. 2.25/5.