Zane Bigelow grew up in a beautiful, perfectly kept house in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Strangers―and even Zane’s own aunt across the lake―see his parents as a successful surgeon and his stylish wife, making appearances at their children’s ballet recitals and baseball games. Only Zane and his sister know the truth, until one brutal night finally reveals cracks in the facade, and Zane escapes for college without a thought of looking back...
Years later, Zane returns to his hometown determined to reconnect with the place and people that mean so much to him, despite the painful memories. As he resumes life in the colorful town, he meets a gifted landscape artist named Darby, who is on the run from ghosts of her own.
Together they will have to teach each other what it means to face the past, and stand up for the ones they love.
Published: 9th July 2019
Publisher: Piatkus
Goodreads : Click here
Series or Stand-Alone: Stand-Alone
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
MY REVIEW
I am a big fan of Nora Roberts, both in her own name and writing as JD Robb. I was so excited to dig into this one which is more of a thriller than a romance. The main part of this story is the story of Zane and his sister's family, both from what happened in the past, what happened in the present day and how the past has affected them. Along with that, you have Darby who is a gifted landscape artist who was working on the family home when she meets Zane. You have a bit of romance in this story (because what would a Nora Roberts story be without at least a little bit of romance) but the main part of the story, I believe, is centred around Zane and his family's past.
The most interesting part of this book for me was the way the issue of domestic abuse was dealt with, particularly through the children and how the effects of that kind of upbringing never leaves a child. For me, it was also quite shocking to realise who the abuse was coming. Obviously, I won't go into this too much as that would spoil a twist in the story that is better figured out when you are reading it but I believe it highlights that you should not always assume that it is a certain person who is abusing.
The first half of this book concentrated on this story and then in the second part we move to present day where the children have grown up and are trying to get on with their lives.
There are certainly quite a few twists and turns in this book. For me, I had already anticipated a lot of the twists and turns but this was more about the journey of the story and following the characters dealing with all they had to deal with from their part to their present day.
Very well dealt with and an interest read. Would highly recommend.
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