Thorns of Truth

Two middle-aged women battle for family, career and love in this melodramatic continuation of the switched-at-birth saga that Goudge began in Garden of Lies (1989). Forty-six years after Sylvie Rosenthal abandoned Rose as a dark-haired newborn and stole blonde, blue-eyed baby Rachel to take her place, their lives are still intertwined, and Rachel still doesn't know the truth. Now Rose has problems of her own: her husband's death a year ago has left her with a law firm to manage; her stepdaughter is a drunk; and her eldest son, Drew, is planning to marry Rachel's mentally unstable daughter, Iris, against his mother's wishes. Rachel's life is starting to fray at the edges, too. Her job running a women's health clinic has caused a rift in her marriage to Brian, and, even medicated, Iris remains a constant worry. Goudge's moral in all this is that even the best-hidden secrets and lies undermine happiness. A corollary: once the truth outs, love and forgiveness ensue. While Goudge's narrative bogs down in overwrought description and an unmanageable cast, fans of the first installment will not be disappointed with this feel-good sequel. Doubleday Book Club and Literary Guild featured alternates. (Apr.)