Thursday, September 17, 2015

The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

Sarah is from the past, during the days of the Underground Railroad.  Eden is from the present and is suffering from the knowledge she may never have her own children.  Yet, they both have things in common.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review (thank you).  It has been published so you can grab a copy now.

This book is written with two main characters, one from the past and one from the present.  That's part of what makes the tale interesting and really holds your attention.  Neither woman can bear a child.  How that affects their life is part of their story.

Sarah is determined to help the Underground Railroad.  She was in the beginning and this desire strengthened when they hung her father for his role in defending the Negroes.  Freddy is involved in the same endeavor and they fall in love with each other.  But she won't marry him because she can't give him a family.  He would have married her anyway, but you didn't talk about things like that in those days.  Sometimes it's hard to talk them now.

Eden is terribly disappointed that she has lost all the children she carried.  She wanted a family so badly.  She treats her husband badly and can't even see it.  It's a good thing he loves her because the ill feelings between them could have ended the marriage.  While Eden thinks about leaving and going back to work at the PR agency, her husband is waiting for her to finish grieving.  She gets angry when he brings a puppy home for her.  She doesn't want a dog; she wants her own child!

Sarah's story is not easy.  She loses friends, family and a chance at love to do what she can as a mapmaker for the safe routes for the railroad.

Eden's story is a tale of self-discovery.  With a little girl next door, an older lady at the antique shop, a porcelain doll's head and a dog, her life begins to change.

Both these women find their places in life even if they weren't what they wanted or expected.  I think life is like that for most people.  You can make plans for your life, but life is what happens.

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