Official Review: Veil of Secrecy by Margaret Franceschini

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Veil of Secrecy" by Margaret Franceschini.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The year is 1950, and sixteen-year-old Julie’s life has taken a dramatic turn. Charmed by the attention of a much older man, they begin a sexual relationship, which results in Julie becoming pregnant. Revealing the truth to her lover sends him over the edge; he is enraged and tells her she must get rid of the baby. With fear and trepidation, Julie confesses the truth to her parents, who are supportive but insist that a baby would ruin her life. She is sent to a convent for pregnant teens where she will stay for the remainder of her pregnancy. Once the baby is born, it will be adopted, and Julie can continue with her life.

Sixteen years later, young Marina finds herself in an identical situation as she becomes pregnant. Unaware that her biological mother was in the same predicament, she feels incredibly alone. Her adoptive parents send her to the same convent where the outcome will be similar: give birth to the baby and then give the baby over to adoptive parents. Marina can’t shake the sadness and an eerie feeling that she has been there before. Is she doing the right thing? Will she ever see her baby again?

Veil of Secrecy by Margaret Franceschini is a heart-wrenching story about endurance and persevering through the most challenging times. Readers must brace themselves for an emotionally-charged book that will be all-encompassing. The book presents an ever-changing landscape beginning in Canada. Readers are transported to Newfoundland as they take in the vast beauty of the shoreline, and then whisked away to the bustling streets of Manhattan. The book is told from the third-person perspective and follows daughter and biological mother at separate times in their lives. The first part follows Julie’s life as she is forced to deal with the consequences and stigma surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. The majority of the book follows Marina as she tries to work through the pain of relinquishing her daughter.

My favorite part of the book was the premise; the absurdity of both mother and daughter choosing identical paths is what drew me in. I also found it intriguing that Marina was described as a carbon copy of Julie in a physical sense. From their cascading red manes to their piercing blue eyes, they shared a remarkable resemblance. I think the author purposely emphasized this point to give readers a sense of déjà vu while reading.

While the story was brimming with potential, it failed to enchant me due to the obvious forboding. I enjoyed reading about Marina’s burgeoning relationship with Michael, but the writing kept hinting at future conflict. They seemed content in one another’s presence, yet out of nowhere, Michael would interject with comments that seemed out of place. An example of this was on a lovely date. He exclaimed, “Oh, Marina, how could anything change our world of love and bliss?” Another noticeable sign of imminent danger was after they had become engaged. He says, “How could we unfasten what has already been sewn together?” I felt like the author was force-feeding readers the conflict rather than letting it happen organically.

The book was professionally edited, and I was impressed by the lack of profanity. While there were romantic scenes, sexual content was kept to a minimum. I had extremely high hopes for this book, but the predictable outcome and deliberate foreshadowing prevented me from giving it a perfect rating. I chose to provide the book with three out of four stars—good, but nothing mind-blowing.

I would be hesitant to recommend Veil of Secrecy to readers who have lost a child; this book may trigger unpleasant memories. Readers who like books about family deceit will be intrigued as the book unearths shocking secrets and lies!

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Veil of Secrecy
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[Salma_asa]

I am coming across to books about father issue lately. Anyway, i like this concept. Going to add this one as well in my list.

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

I am coming across to books about father issue lately. Anyway, i like this concept. Going to add this one as well in my list.

Thanks for your comment!

[That Reviewer]

That's a generational pattern that has been created. It will have to take at tough decision from someone in the lineage to break it. Great story.

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

That's a generational pattern that has been created. It will have to take at tough decision from someone in the lineage to break it. Great story.

Thank you!