MAP OF THE HEART by Susan Wiggs

William Morrow
August 22^nd, 2017
978-0-06-266965-0
Women’s Fiction, Romance
Paperback ARC
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher
4 Hearts

Camille Palmer has spent the last five years grieving for her husband who died tragically and trying to keep their daughter on the straight and narrow. But when a mysterious package arrives to her father, it opens a secret of her family that no one knew about. In the sleepy little town of Bellerive and set the ghosts of the past to rest. But for Camille, her daughter Julie and her father, Henry, they find a summer of transitions for them all as they uncover the past of Henry’s parents and discover that sometimes playing it safe may mean you are missing out on a life worth exploring. Sometimes it takes just enough trust to forge that path to the unknown.

MAP OF THE HEART is a wonderful tale about a family who finds secrets to their family’s past and it causes them to travel to France to see if they can find the answers. I adored this book for a variety of reasons but first and foremost was the story itself. It delivers a current storyline as well as one set in the 1940’s during World War II. It made for a fascinating timeline and the back and forth didn’t deter from the story itself that revolved around Camille, Henry and Julie. It enhanced the story in my opinion. I loved how the author gave just enough backstory in those 1940’s scenes and ties them up in the current time frame with Camille and Henry searching for answers about Henry’s parents and his past. What I loved the most was the cast of characters stayed small yet the secondary characters were all unique and different, keeping the story moving along at a nice even clip while showing clues to the overall mystery. They are well written and diverse, showing their vulnerabilities as well as their strengths to the reader.

Ms. Wiggs has always delivered a story that will thrill me but MAP OF THE HEART just stole my heart in all ways. It was moving, sweet, tense, romantic and utterly entertaining. I loved Camille, Julie and all the other players and the mystery behind their family secrets kept me riveted. I loved finding out little things that were done back during that time and what was going on in Europe as well. It fleshed the book out nicely. The author melds the past with the current world perfectly in a book that celebrates family and the power of love.

If you get a chance and haven’t read this author before, then grab MAP OF THE HEART. You won’t be disappointed at all and this will give you a perfect introduction to this author’s writing style. I look forward to seeing where this author will go next in her writing and hope we won’t have to wait long for the next Susan Wiggs book.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement