Map of the Heart
A Novel
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4.4 • 287 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Love and family. War and secrets. Betrayal and redemption.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs returns with a deeply emotional and atmospheric story that spans oceans and decades, from the present-day Delaware shore to the battlefields of WWII France.
Widowed by an unspeakable tragedy, Camille Palmer has made her peace with the past and settled into the quiet safety of life with her teenage daughter Julie in a sleepy coastal town. Then the arrival of a mysterious package breaks open the door to her family’s secret past. In uncovering a hidden history, Camille has no idea that she’s embarking on an adventure that will utterly transform her.
Camille, Julie, and Camille’s father return to the French town of his youth, sparking unexpected memories — recollections that will lead them back to the dark days of the Second World War. And it is in the stunning Provençal countryside that they will uncover their family’s surprising history.
While Provence offers answers about the past, it also holds the key to Camille’s future. Along the way, she meets a former naval officer who stirs a passion deep within her — a feeling that she thought she’d never experience again.
“Susan Wiggs seamlessly melds historical drama with contemporary romance,” raves Mary Kay Andrews. Now, this hugely popular author has created her biggest, most powerful story yet — a beautiful and heartfelt novel that celebrates the bonds of family and pays homage to the sacrifices of the past.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wiggs (Family Tree) bridges eras of history and the depths of the human heart in this emotional story of a family shaped by tragedies both near and distant. Widow Camille Adams lives quietly and most importantly to her safely with her teen daughter, Julia, in their small American coastal hometown of Bethany Bay. But chronic bullying sends the sensitive, intelligent teen spiraling into depression and rebellion. Papi, Camille's father, unexpectedly intervenes and takes them all back to his hometown in France, where they visit long-neglected family and uncover 70-year-old mysteries regarding his parents. Papi's quest for answers about his own childhood, rooted in the French Resistance forces during WWII, proves key to Camille's pursuit of wholeness. And Camille's burgeoning relationship with sexy professor Malcolm "Finn" Finnemore, who has hired her to help with a separate war history project, forces Camille to face her fears and contemplate the idea of truly living again. In this tribute to heroes long gone, Wiggs effectively unveils the humanity hidden within history books, showing that love can span generations and bring hope to those left behind.
Customer Reviews
Well written!
Well written and very entertaining book! I really enjoy reading Susan Wiggs books!
Map Of the Heart - riveting!
I was glued to this novel! The bits of history helped glue this story together and I was unable to put it down. Totally believable and extremely well written!