I liked this story. May Bedloe and her actress cousin, Comfort, are on a boat when it sinks. Both manage to survive. Comfort finds a job with abolitionist Mrs. Howard, and May finds a job on a Riverboat Theater as a seamstress. May is enjoying her new job when she meets her cousin and Mrs. Howard again a little later in the book. Through blackmail, she becomes involved in helping slave babies escape to freedom. I thought this book was good, but it becomes even better when May becomes involved in helping these babies. I felt the escapes were very well written, and I could sense May's fear of getting caught. This is historical fiction at its best. It was also interesting to learn about the Riverboat Theater. Highly recommend!

Mary tells her own story beginning in 1838. She is a seamstress to her cousin Comfort – actress – who trails her along wherever opportunity strikes in getting a role.

As Mary reveals her story, she mentions her mom who was an excellent dressmaker, detailed oriented German, who passed her skills very well onto her.

Mary seems to be skillful and smart in her profession, for example, coming up with an idea of sewing little tea sachets and selling at theater. At the same time, knowing how other people perceive her as a bit naïve. A bit confusing character, but brilliantly presented in action than words.

She doesn’t know how to lie, but once she gets involved in the underground slavery movement she is forced to learn how to deceive people.

There are moments brilliantly written in this story, but most of the story is rather disengaging. The painful subject of slavery is set against some very trivial dialogue.

When May's cousin Comfort abandons her to work as a face for the abolitionists, May finds work as a seamstress upon a riverboat theater. Where she once relied upon Comfort to interact with other people, she is forced to develop her own voice and viewpoints and learn to become part of a group. The people who live and work on the riverboat are a mottled assortment, full of personality and life. As May is finally learning to trust herself and others, her cousin's benefactress approaches her, asking her to ferry the newborn children of slaves across the river to freedom.

This was a fun, lively story. Although a bit predictable, the characters were interesting and dynamic. May was a bit naive and slow to grow, but overall she was a likeable character. I think this book would be a big hit under I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It was very detailed, very descriptive, and the characters were rounded out and well-written, but it just wasn't for me. If you're really into this particular era of history, you will probably enjoy it immensely.