In “You Were Always Mine,” co-authors Christine Pride and Jo Piazza create two very imperfect main characters whose interactions are brief; but those minimal interactions end up changing the lives of both women. Cinnamon and Daisy meet on a park bench where Cinnamon is eating during her lunch break. They end up sitting on the same park bench each Friday and share idle talk; neither shares any real life experiences with the other. But there’s a connection made, and it’s this connection that determines that one of them, Daisy, leaves her newborn child so that Cinnamon will find her. Daisy’s hope is that Cinnamon will raise her baby and keep her safe, because Daisy doesn’t feel that she is capable of doing that.

What neither woman realizes is that in spite of the difference in their skin color, they both share more than meets the eye, including a background of neglect. Neither was raised by a mother, and both lost their parents at a young age, raised by uncaring relatives or foster families. Those deficiencies have much to do with where both women find themselves at that moment — when Daisy leaves her newborn in the park.

Cinnamon has found what she thinks is happiness. She is married to Jayson, who seems to have a lot going for him. He’s sweet and determined to “make it,” although his mother doesn’t really warm up to Cinnamon. But Cinnamon’s embarrassment regarding her upbringing has made her lie to Jayson and everyone in her life about her past. Because Jayson’s mother thought she was a college graduate (an assumption Cinnamon never corrected), Cinnamon has a job as a counselor. It’s a job she is completely unqualified for, but that she does well. When Daisy’s baby is left in her lap, she feels oddly protective and determined to keep the baby.

The problem is that Daisy’s baby is white, with bright blue eyes, and Cinnamon and her husband are Black. There is no way anyone is going to think Daisy’s newborn is Cinnamon’s baby, and the authors point out that many white families adopt or foster Black children, but the reverse is almost unheard of. We see the unconscious bias of those who encounter Cinnamon with baby Bluebell, as Cinnamon calls her.

We also hear Daisy’s story through letters that she writes using the salutation, “Dear You.” In it we learn about her racist grandfather and how she escaped the torment at home with the help of her best friend, Caleb. They had fled to Sibley Bay, a small coastal town, where Caleb found work. The story comes together as we hear from both women and learn about their lives and their dreams.

There is no mystery here except for the very clever title, “You Were Always Mine.” We assume that it refers to Daisy and the letters she writes to baby Bluebell, telling her that Daisy will always love her and she will always belong to Daisy. But when we read the Epilogue, we realize what the title really refers to. This novel is a love story to birth mothers and adoptive mothers everywhere. It’s about unconditional love, and it’s also about how we sometimes need a little luck to turn a horrendous life around. And while we often make our own luck, a bit of help from others can make all the difference.

Because of the different perspectives and the trauma in the lives of both women in the story, this would be a fascinating book to discuss in a book club. The racial aspects of the story combine with a spotlight on the disparity in wealth based primarily on race, and how that affects children. Getting support and going to good schools means a lot, and being ignored or belittled can destroy a life. A bit of kindness goes a long way.

This review was first posted on Bookreporter.com.