Mary, near death, reveals to her daughter-in-law the unfathomable act she committed some fifty years ago. The man she raised was not hers; she took him from a young unwed girl she befriended on a city bus. Her own childhood took an unexpected turn leaving her sterile, leading her to commit such a heinous act. The action resulted from her deep-seated desire to have a child of her own.
When Mary befriends the young Beatrice, alone and pregnant in The City, helping another person was her intent. Bringing the young girl home to live with her and her husband, Mary unknowingly seeks to fulfill her maternal desires. Mary hopes helping Beatrice will mend the hole in her soul.
When confronted with the reality the young mother and her son are moving away; Mary demands her husband take her and the young boy far away, somewhere they won’t be found. When Beatrice returns from setting up her new home on the east coast, she finds the family gone without a trace.
The impact on both Mary and Beatrice’s lives was a result of selfish people who used them for what they had to offer, their bodies. Each one forced to live their lives in ways they could have never imagined. The tragedies thrust upon each of these women as young girls provided a path for them to give back to the world in unimaginable ways.
I was so engrossed with this book from the first page. I was transported back in time with the characters and felt like I was standing next to them as they went through their many life experiences.. The book has twists and turns and will keep you coming back for more as I felt tears for some and knew Karma existed for others. This is an excellent read! You will not be disappointed!
I’ll be honest with you, I’ve read this book 3 times and catch something new each time !! The characters grab you from the first page and keep you engaged until the last! Very proud of the author! I highly recommend reading it.
I LOVED it and couldn’t put it down. Devoured it in just a couple of days. I wasn’t sure what was going on in the beginning of the book with the separate stories told in parallel… I suspected, but still wasn’t right in my suspicion…The book has some amazing & surprising twist and turns.
True stories always interest me and I found this one fascinating. I felt like I was there with the characters … rooting for some and loathing others.
TRUE CONFESSION- I bought this book because the author is a personal friend as well as a wonderful friend to the charity that I am Chairman of …and I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. But it’s definitely the best book I have read in years!
It took me on a journey of loss, contentment, anger, acceptance, fear, trust, love and forgiveness. It was like a thrill ride at Six Flags. Each turn of the page left me wanting more, I need to know more! A family foundation built on secrets and lies turned into sincere apologies and forgiveness. I just know there’s going to be more. Will there be peace for a stolen baby? I need to know what Mrs. Simpson wrote to the doctor. Does Beatrice ever find out the truth?
It has an amazing story line and keeps you wanting to read to find out more. Mind you I am not a reader at all and read this in just TWO days!!! You out did yourself Thadeus!! I am ready for more!!
Wow … just wow! The old adage of not knowing another’s story rings true with this book. It’s an adventure from the depravity of human behavior to hope all intertwined with the inner strength to survive. You don’t want to put it down once you start.
It grabbed my attention immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, and how eloquently you described the lives of your roots. I cried for Mary and Beatrice. I can’t begin to imagine their pain. I had no clue how it would end, but was thoroughly pleased when I hit page 285.
