Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, First Chapter/Intros, originally hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea and now hosted by I’d Rather Be at the Beach; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by The Purple Booker.
Today’s feature is a book I downloaded from the library via Overdrive: Map of the Heart, by Susan Wiggs, a deeply emotional and atmospheric story that spans oceans and decades, from the present-day Delaware shore to the battlefields of WWII France.
Intro: Of the five steps in developing film, four must take place in complete darkness. And in the darkroom, timing was everything. The difference between overexposure and underexposure sometimes came down to a matter of milliseconds.
Camille Adams liked the precision of it. She liked the idea that with the proper balance of chemicals and timing, a good result was entirely within her control.
***
Teaser: Camille tried not to cringe visibly. She knew that voice, with its boarding-school accent and phony friendliness. “Hey, Courtney,” she said. (p. 57).
***
Synopsis: 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.
***
Do the excerpts grab you? Would you keep reading?
***
Yep. I’d keep reading. And such a fabulous cover.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting, Laura. I’m looking forward to reading it.
LikeLike
Sounds like what I call a must-read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Catherine, I’m looking forward to it!
LikeLike
Yes, the excerpts grabbed me and I would continue reading. I love historical fiction stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sharon, I love finding secrets from the past in lovely settings…I was hooked! Enjoy your pick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I can almost feel the cringe myself there!
Here is mine: http://bit.ly/2FMori4 Happy Tuesday. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, too, Sassy; thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally welcome! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read a Wiggs novel in a long time and didn’t even know about this one…it sounds fantastic!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting, Brandie, I am loving discovering older books now that I have my Overdrive app. Enjoy your reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds good to me. I’d keep reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ann Marie…I am eager to get started! Enjoy your reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Despite this being way outside the genres I read, I would keep reading to find out the secrets and see if she ends up with a HEA (Happily Ever After.) This week I am featuring Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet. Happy reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kathy, I am eager to read this one…enjoy your pick!
LikeLike
There are so many things that make this book sound appealing to me — Provence, photography, family secrets, romance. I’m adding this one to my TBR list right now!
Thank you for stopping by my blog. Your comments are appreciated.
Sandy @ Writing With a Texas Twang
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sandy, those are the elements that drew me in, too. Enjoy your pick, and thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
I’d probably love this book since I love photography. When I was in grade school a boy a couple of houses down from us had a dark room in his parents garage. That set me on a lifetime love of taking photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting…and for hosting, Vicki. My eldest son is a photographer, and I love that whole aspect of photography, with the dark room, etc
LikeLike
Interesting. There seem to be quite a few books that I’ve seen lately that are set in present day and exploring family ties to WWII. Thanks for stopping by Girl Who Reads
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting, Donna,I love the sound of it, too.
LikeLike
I definitely want to read this one. It sounds so good and I enjoy this author.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Yvonne, I enjoy her books, too, and this is the first book I’ve borrowed from the library via Overdrive.
LikeLike
I really liked this one and it may end up on my favorite list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Nise, good to know! I am eager to read it.
LikeLike
I like that little values lesson right there in the first paragraph. Sounds like a winner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Margot, so do I! Enjoy your reading.
LikeLike
I like that opening. I’d keep reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Carol, I am eager to get started with this one!
LikeLike
The synopsis totally grabs me I want to know more. It looks like the story has a lot to unfold. I hope you get a chance to read this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kristyn, and since this is my first from the library (Overdrive), I will have to keep an eye on the calendar! (21 days).
LikeLike
I’d definitely keep reading but than I’ve already read it and really enjoyed it though I wanted to tell Camille to simmer down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha—I’ve had the same thought about Camille. I feel sorry for her, but she was always so hard on Julie. Thanks for visiting, Katherine.
LikeLike