I have read those books as well all except Secrets of a Charmed Life, and have loved them.
This one fell short for me.
Not my favorite of hers either.
Same here - not a favorite of the ones she wrote.
Read some of her othersâŚthey are much better. 
I really liked this book for several reasons including its focus on McCarthyism and agoraphobia. I was always amazed that this country was so eager to ferret out Communists and this book helps me understand how it all happened. It also helps provide insight into the revenge politics of our current era.
I found the A Map to Paradise disappointing. I had previously read A Fall of Marigolds which I loved. I almost felt like the books were written by different authors.
A Map to Paradise was boring for two thirds of the book. Nothing much happens. It is like a long introduction to the characters and I didnât find any of them appealing. The only action of significance is in the last part of the novel. And I hated the ending. It was contrived and sentimental. In short, I did not like the book at all. Yes, as people have said it deals with an important time in our countryâs history but that is not enough. In a good novel, the author creates characters who are realistic for their time period and their lives are not neatly wrapped up in a pretty package. I would not recommend this book.
I, too, didnât care for the storyline. Initially, the blending of the historical issues and how the womenâs lives came together was okay. They all lived happily ever after considering the âcriminalâ circumstances of their actions. The plot ending was a bit too âsweetâ for me.
I picked this book to discuss because it is very different from what I usually choose to read. It was well written but a little too â lightâ for me. I am fascinated with the Mcarthy era , especially since I feel that we are in almost in a similar situation in the current political atmosphere for some people. I wished the author had gone a little bit deeper into that era.
Absolutely loved this book. Shows strong women coming together in unexpected friendship to help each other.
This is not one of my favorites by Susan Meissner. I have read others that I liked so much better. Just wonder what her idea was behind this book.
I really enjoyed the book overall. Loved the characters and their very interesting lives. The time period is so intriguing. The black list ruined so many careers and lives at the time and people were just recovering from all they had suffered in WW2. Such a sad time to be an American.
I liked the book. It was interesting and it kept my attention. I liked that the women connected finally and kept the secret.
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I really enjoyed this book. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Elwood and what had happened to him - if anything. At first I thought Melanie was simply a busybody who wanted an intrigue to escape from her own problems. Then I was convinced he had been murdered. Changing my âsuspicionâ is the sign of a good mystery, that is well plotted. I donât care for mysteries where I can easily solve the mystery long before the end of the book. The blacklisting was a good foil for the plot line.
On one hand, I believe he returns for his son. On another, I am skeptical of his returning, as relationship building was not his strong side.
I truly enjoyed and was thoroughly engrossed in this book. It was fascinating to watch and see how these women, from such diverse backgrounds, learned to trust each other and create bonds that literally tied them together.