elainemcooper
Lisa Lickel
Sunday Book Review: The Map Quilt by Lisa J. Lickel
Posted by elainemcooper on May 6, 2012
Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper
What could more intriguing than a contemporary mystery/romance about buried treasure that’s also filled with history? The Map Quilt by Lisa J. Lickel is a fun and satisfying read for the grown ups that still long for an involving mystery that provides plenty of detail without overemphasizing the grittier aspects of a story involving bodies.
The central focus of this novel, which is the sequel to Lickel’s The Gold Standard, is an old family quilt that turns out to be so much more. Dating back to the days of slavery and the underground railroad, the quilt becomes the link from the past to the present.
Judy and Hart Wingate, now married and expecting their first child, become caught in the middle of both business intrigue and the ownership rights of property based on an old deed—an important document that has gone missing. After generations of an African-American family’s loss of their land ownership, will big business win against the rights of justice for all?
As is her usual style with characters, Lickel is engagingly creative with her descriptions and personalities, leaving a reader smiling frequently over the fun quirks of all her characters. A few are familiar returnees from her first book in this Buried Treasure Series, but there are a few additions to this cast in The Map Quilt that are equally charming.
The historical aspects included in this book are such a precious part of the plot. It reminds us how close our nation’s amazing history is to our present—and in The Map Quilt, it is as close as the characters’ backyard.
It was not that long ago that some white families reached out to help their black fellow Americans reach freedom. Some on both sides survived the dangerous endeavor, while others died in the effort. This is a book that will entertain as well as touch the heart and soul of America—freedom for all.
Well worth the read.
I give this book: 5 out of 5 Reflections
Book Synopsis
Death in rural Wisconsin is only the beginning to new chaos in Robertsville. What do a stolen piece of revolutionary agricultural equipment, a long-buried skeleton in the yard, and an old quilt with secrets have in common? Hart and Judy Wingate, who met in The Gold Standard, are back to solve the mystery of The Map Quilt. Hart’s new battery design could forever change the farm implement industry. But after the death of Hart’s most confrontational colleague in a fire that destroys Hart’s workshop, the battery is missing.
Throw in a guest speaker invited to Judy’s elementary classroom who insists she owns the land under Hart’s chief competitor’s corporate headquarters, and a police chief who’s making eyes at Hart’s widowed mother, it’s no wonder Hart is under a ton of pressure to make sure his adventurous pregnant wife stays safe while trying to preserve his company and his reputation.
About the Author:
Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin Magazine, a workshop leader, book reviewer, contest judge, and a freelance editor who loves to encourage new authors.
Where you can purchase The Map Quilt:
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