Memphis 1938 - twelve year old Rill Foss and four younger siblings live aboard the family Mississippi River shanty boat. Yes, they are river rats, but well loved and cared for in their own way. But on a stormy night, when her mother is having twins, the unthinkable happens. The Tennessee Children's Home Society swoops in, takes Rill and kids, and adopts them out to rich families. How could this happen? Turns out, the evil director, Georgia Tann, had payoffs everywhere and politicians in her pockets. Blonde haired kids were a golden ticket to money.
Present day, Aiken South Carolina - Avery Stafford has it all: a successful career, a handsome fiance. But her political father is ill and Avery is being groomed. And her grandmother (sadly with some dementia) has secrets.
cover blurb - A chance encounter leaves Avery with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family's long hidden history on a path that will lead to devastation or redemption.
This is a solid good read all around and the author weaves quite a tale between past and present.
At the end, there are some "Whoa" moments. And to know this is based on true tales - wow.
