Book Review - The View From Alameda Island by Robyn Carr

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the outside looking in, Lauren Delaney has a life to envy—a successful career, a solid marriage to a prominent surgeon and two beautiful daughters who are off to good colleges. But on her twenty-fourth wedding anniversary Lauren makes a decision that will change everything.

Lauren won’t pretend things are perfect anymore. She defies the controlling husband who has privately mistreated her throughout their marriage and files for divorce. And as she starts her new life, she meets a kindred spirit—a man who is also struggling with the decision to end his unhappy marriage.

But Lauren’s husband wants his “perfect” life back and his actions are shocking. Facing an uncertain future, Lauren discovers an inner strength she didn’t know she had as she fights for the love and happiness she deserves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. The third novel (THE FAMILY GATHERING) in her fan-favorite new series, Sullivan's Crossing, will be released in April 2018. Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com

MY REVIEW:

This book is a bit darker than the other Robyn Carr books I've read.  In fact, it was hard for me to get into at first because I wasn't sure I wanted to read something so difficult. However, I persevered and I'm glad I did.

Lauren has been married to her surgeon husband for over 20 years. She has been mentally and physically abused and manipulated to show the outside world a perfect marriage when behind the scenes it was anything but. She has stayed so long for the sake of her daughters because her husband used them as pawns in his sick game of control.

When she decides to make her break from this dismal marriage, she is thrown into more turmoil because people are taking sides, even in her own little family. However, she perseveres and we see Lauren gain her strength.  That was the upside of this book to me - seeing Lauren get stronger and more self assured. 

I also liked the character of Beau and the other supporting cast in this book of a woman coming into her own. There are definitely some difficult scenes in this book so it's not an escape book, in my opinion. There is some lovely romance later on in the book to lighten the mood. All in all, I enjoyed this book but take one star off for the doom and gloom I felt while reading some parts and give it 4 stars.

*This book was provided to me by Little Bird Publicity. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.

Blessings - Julie