PIECES
LINDA RETTSTATT
ISBN# 978-1-59705-289-4
January 2008
Wings ePress, Inc.
403 Wallace Court, Richmond, Kentucky 40475
E-book/Trade Paperback
$6.00/$11.95
Pages Unavailable
Women’s Fiction
Rating: 3 cups

Claire Marie Vanderfelt Hutchings is having recurring nightmares and needs to find answers and reasons behind them. Adding to her torment is the fact that Claire has to sit through a number of sessions consulting with ineffective psychologists before she meets Genevieve Headlee, the psychologist whom she’s banking on as the one who will offer her a slight tinge of hope.

Leland Rowland is English and a professor of English Literature, teaching boys at the Henderson Academy in New Hampshire where he resides with his aging mother. Leland enjoys a quiet life with a handful of friends and associates. Harnessing a passion for quality and verse, Leland has a knack for reciting poetry beautifully and by teaching boys, Leland has learned to become an astute listener and observer.

Claire’s nightmares take her to New Hampshire where she meets Leland. Claire and Leland develop an instant friendship and, after taking her on a quick tour around New Hampshire and observing Claire becoming an instant hit with his mother, Leland invites Claire to return to New Hampshire for Christmas. Unsure about herself and coping with the ongoing stress caused by her unfathomable nightmares, socialising is the last thing Claire wants to do. Lacking festive spirit and declining Leland’s invitation, Claire spends Christmas on her own at home in Pittsburgh.

Linda Rettstatt’s good pacing held my imagination for the best part of the story. The adrenaline rush of mysterious events occurring in Claire’s nightmares brought chilling intrigue. Objective consultations with Genevieve were enlightening. The story slows and peter out too early, never regaining its pace. I felt that characters dipped in and out to make up the story although well rounded characters played their fundamental roles. I enjoyed the first half of the story then found that the latter part lacked momentum for me.

Delores
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books