4.5 stars.

Kristina McMorris' The Pieces We Keep is haunting and bittersweet story of two different women, one in the present, one in the past and the inexplicable connection that brings them together. This intriguing and engrossing novel unfolds from both women's perspectives with the chapters alternating between the two different time periods. The unpredictable and inventive storyline is riveting, but it is the incredible cast of characters that makes this story so utterly captivating.

Beginning with a highly dramatic end to their plane trip, life for grieving widow Audra Hughes and her son Jack is about to spiral out of control. Horrific and recurring night terrors, increasingly violent artwork and unexplained knowledge of wartime events by seven year Jack leave Audra desperately seeking answers for his increasingly bizarre behavior. Her quest to help Jack leads her to very a unusual possible explanation involving wounded Afghanistan solider Sean Malloy and a failed World War II romance between a young American woman and a young German man.

Two years after her husband's sudden death, Audra is still struggling to balance her work and home life. Thinking a fresh start is what she and Jack both need to move on, Audra is interviewing for jobs out of state when Jack's problems escalate out of control. Luckily she has a good friend and her former in laws to assist her, but her sleepless nights and increasing concern for Jack take their toll and Audra leaves her job to care for him full time. Jack's encounter with Sean leads Audra to a startling conclusion and after she confides her suspicions to Jack's grandparents, she is stunned by their unexpected reaction.

Just as compelling as Audra and Jack's part of the storyline is the romance that forms between American Vivian James and Isaak, the young man she meets in England in the days leading up to World War II. Separated after the war begins, Vivian's new life in New York takes an unanticipated detour just as she is on the verge of a new relationship. Vivian is forced to make a decision that has far reaching implications that reverberate for several generations.

The premise of The Pieces We Keep is quite fascinating and it is virtually impossible to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. The parallels between the two women's emotions and experiences coupled with the chapters ending on suspenseful note keep the pages of the novel briskly turning. Kristina McMorris' meticulous research and historical accuracy provide a richly detailed backdrop for the unfolding storylines. All of the various threads are tied together in a satisfying conclusion that leaves no question unanswered.

An astounding novel that I recommend to fans of both historical and contemporary fiction. ( )

In this gripping new novel, we meet Audra, a widow still struggling after the loss of her husband. In an effort to start fresh, she takes her son, Jack, on a job interview, where he has an intense panic attack. Soon, Jack starts having violent night terrors, in which he mumbles names Audra has never heard of. Soon he shows a new obsession with World War II, and grows terribly withdrawn. Audra meets an army vet with gaping holes in his memory, and the two embark on a mission to discover the meaning behind the clues Jack is leaving behind. What ensues is a riveting and healing journey that spans decades, and left me thinking of the characters long after the last page.

Sarah M. / Marathon County Public Library
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I think this book could have been so much better. Parts were too long, parts were overstated, parts were just not cohesive. This was a book I could easily put down and walk away. ( )

A beautifully written story about how our past and present is woven together. The novel is poignant and thought-provoking and highlights the human spirit and the moments in life that challenge us and what we know.

A sweet, quietly good book.

Audra Hughes is still grieving for her husband two years later, especially as her seven-year-old son, Jack, also continues to grieve. As she tries to move on, finding a job in another state, Jack begins having night terrors, becomes obsessed with WWII, and Audra thinks she going crazy, as she begins to wonder if her son is the reincarnation of someone from that time period.

At the same time, we read about Vivian, a young woman living abroad and in love with a boy in London as WWII approaches. He has a secret, and the repercussions of that secret follow her back home in America.

These two stories intersect in a lovely way.

Recommended. ( )