The Pieces We Keep

The Pieces We Keep follows Audra Hughes, a widowed mother in Portland, Oregon, who becomes concerned when her young son Jack begins having violent nightmares about World War II. The situation escalates as Jack displays knowledge of historical details and people he could not possibly know about. A parallel narrative takes place in 1940s London, where Vivian James falls in love with a U.S. military intelligence officer during the height of World War II. Her story becomes mysteriously intertwined with Jack's present-day experiences, leading Audra to investigate possible connections between past and present. Through alternating timelines, the novel traces both Audra's urgent quest to help her son and Vivian's wartime experiences in London and America. The two storylines advance toward revelations about family secrets, lost loves, and surprising historical links. This dual-period novel explores themes of maternal devotion, the lasting impact of war across generations, and the unexplained ways the past can echo into the present. The story raises questions about memory, destiny, and the bonds that connect people across time.

Readers found this dual-timeline novel engaging but uneven in execution. The historical 1940s storyline resonated more strongly with readers than the contemporary plot. Readers appreciated: - The meticulous WWII historical research - The exploration of past lives and inherited memories - The gradual unveiling of connections between timelines - Strong character development in the 1940s sections Common criticisms: - Pacing issues, particularly in modern sections - Too many coincidences in plot resolution - The contemporary protagonist comes across as self-absorbed - Some plot threads left unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) Representative review: "The historical sections transported me completely, but the modern-day story felt forced. Still worth reading for the WWII romance alone." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted they skimmed the present-day chapters to get back to the more compelling historical narrative.

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🔹 Author Kristina McMorris was inspired to write historical fiction after researching her own family history, particularly her grandmother's experience as a Japanese-American during World War II. 🔹 The book's dual timeline narrative weaves together events from World War II and contemporary times, exploring how past traumas can echo through generations. 🔹 The military intelligence aspects of the story were influenced by actual OSS (Office of Strategic Services) operations during WWII, which later evolved into today's CIA. 🔹 The phenomenon of children having memories of past lives, which features prominently in the book, has been studied by researchers at the University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies since the 1960s. 🔹 The author conducted extensive research on British airfields and American bomber crews stationed in England during WWII to ensure historical accuracy in the wartime portions of the novel.