Book Review: Mothers of Fate
From award-winning novelist Lynne Hugo, Mothers of Fate, a masterful story of three women and a young man navigating the complexities of adoption and its aftermath that raises a question for every reader. Does fate direct our lives—or do our own choices?
Deana Wilkes, who’s needed braces to walk since a disabling accident long ago, seeks out Monica Connell, an attorney, to find the child she was forced to relinquish in a closed adoption thirty years ago. Back then, Deana believed that the passion between her and Tony, her married boss, meant they were destined for each other. It was wrong, Deana knew, but believed it was also meant to be. Tony’s long gone now, and Deana’s constructed a life out of the wreck of their affair. She’s ready to finally make things right and meet her son.
But Monica’s wife, Angela, was adopted herself after an early history of abandonment and foster homes. Devoted to the memory of her parents, she’s certain that closed adoptions need to remain closed unless the adoptee seeks contact. She draws a red line: Monica cannot take the case. Monica, though, feels compelled to help Deana by her own complicated history, one she’s never revealed to Angela. As this wedge between them hardens, will Angie or Monica have the best custody claim to their own beloved adopted baby?
Nobody knows what Deana’s son wants, including his adoptive parents. Not even redheaded Suzanne, and the possibility of love. After all, as an Iraq war vet and a long-distance truck driver, Daniel knows everything about hitting the road to avoid the confusion that’s plagued his life.
Lynne Hugo’s thirteenth novel takes on the reverberating effects of sexual power dynamics in the workplace and vividly portrays lingering psychological wounds as characters struggle to reconcile self-determination with the sacrifices love demands.
My Review
This book is split into several different parts. I liked that the book was split like this as each section gave me a good head up as to the main focus on where the story was progressing towards.
As soon as I heard Deana's story, I was captivated and felt for her. She did not ask for the tragically that befallen her. Yet, she did the best that she could do and at that time included giving up her newborn son. This does not mean she did not love him but that she just wanted to give him two parents.
What Monica was going through with her own personal life and her past, allowed her to understand Deana's plea from one mother to another. The other person that is very important to the story is Daniel. All the emotions he experienced when he learned the truth is acceptable.
This book is very character driven. As well as an emotional read that will take you on a journey.
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