I have been a fan of Susan Wiggs for nigh on a decade. Her way of fleshing out characters with ordinary problems and very normal issues feels achingly authentic. As she's veered away from traditional romance (focus on two people exclusively) to more general women-centric fiction (focus on multiple, but connected women throughout the story, romance present but not central), I've appreciated her even more. This heroine hit me wrong a few times (her fear-driven life was stressful and her fat shaming of her daughter even more so), but we all have our flaws and in the end I was pleased with her growth.
This story took a deft hand to craft. Wiggs juggles mystery and a few time jumps, as well as adolescent angst and mother/daughter relationships. As a frequent reader of this genre, Wiggs is one of the best.
If you're looking for an engrossing read, complete with a historical mystery, and a trip to France, then THE MAP OF THE HEART is your winner.
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 familyβs secret past. In uncovering a hidden
history, Camille has no idea that sheβs embarking on an
adventure that will utterly transform her.
Camille, Julie, and Camilleβs father return to the French
town of his youth, sparking unexpected memories β
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 familyβs surprising
history.
While Provence offers answers about the past, it also holds
the key to Camilleβs future. Along the way, she meets a
former naval officer who stirs a passion deep within her β a
feeling that she thought sheβd never experience again.
No excerpt available.
© 2003-2026