Author: Nora Roberts
Genre: Romance/Suspense
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: July 9, 2019
Purchase Link: Amazon
My Rating: 4 Intricate Hearts
*With many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, a novel about the power of family to harm—and to heal.
Synopsis:
Within the walls of a tasteful, perfectly kept house in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, young Zane Bigelow feels like a prisoner of war. 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. Zane and his sister know the truth: There is something terribly wrong.
Within the walls of a tasteful, perfectly kept house in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, young Zane Bigelow feels like a prisoner of war. 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. Zane and his sister know the truth: There is something terribly wrong.
As his father’s violent, controlling rages—and his mother’s complicity—become more and more oppressive, Zane counts the years, months, days until he can escape. He looks out for little Britt, warning her Be smart. Be careful. In fear for his very life, he plays along with the insidious lie that everything is fine, while scribbling his real thoughts in a secret journal he must carefully hide away.
When one brutal, shattering night finally reveals cracks in the façade, Zane begins to understand that some people are willing to face the truth, even when it hurts. As he grows into manhood and builds a new kind of family, he will find that while the darkness of his past may always shadow him, it will also show him what is necessary for good to triumph—and give him strength to draw on when he once again must stand up and defend himself and the ones he loves…
Review:
Nora Roberts has a gift for writing stories that portray all the intricate dynamics of family - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Her stories often demonstrate the power of family to either destroy or save lives and frequently deliver a theme of nature vs. nurture that I find fascinating. I love knowing when I open one of Roberts books that the human spirit of a character may be sorely tested, but the will to survive and persevere over evil will triumph in the end. And I appreciate that she often tackles sensitive subjects such as child and spousal abuse with grace, respect, and empathy as she does in Under Currents.
I'll briefly touch on the storyline, leaving readers an opportunity to experience this book firsthand as it should be. Under Currents is divided into three parts with the first part taking place in the past and the second and third parts picking up the storyline in present time. In part one, readers meet Zane & Britt Bigelow - a brother and younger sister who appear to have it all - a picture-perfect family living in a picture-perfect mansion in a picture-perfect part of town. But looks are deceiving, and readers quickly learn all is not as it appears as these two children are silently suffering the ultimate betrayal at the hands of those charged with loving and protecting them . . . their parents. Until one explosive night when everything changes.
Fast forward about twenty years and readers are introduced to Darby McCray - a feisty, spirited newcomer who's opening a landscaping business in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mtns. of North Carolina. After the recent tragic hit & run death of her mother, she's looking for a new start far away from an abusive ex-husband. (This is the first time one of Roberts' romance/suspense heroines has reminded me (in mannerisms & actions) of Eve Dallas, the heroine of her In Death series written as J.D. Robb.) When Zane returns to his hometown to open a law office, the two meet and a slow-burn romance begins to flourish. And now everything is picture-perfect in their lives until ghosts from the past rise to stalk and threaten them. Someone is on a mission of revenge, but who's the target?
As always, Roberts flawlessly weaves family and community and the routine of daily life into a story with emotion, laughter, tears, love, and a strong sense of belonging. The characters are relatable and well-developed, each playing their role extremely well. I will say I would have liked a little more reader insight into the inner thoughts of the villain, but I guess the vagueness of him/her adds to the suspense for some. The setting is authentic (I live in N.C. and know the area well) and rich in details that tease the senses. I like the way the title is reiterated in the story as under currents are always present in one form or another, running beneath the surface as evident in this story. There are several twists and turns to keep readers on their toes and guessing until the very end. While you may or may not be shocked by the final reveal, I think you'll enjoy the journey as this book is an addictive Must Read!
My Rating . . . 4 Intricate Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
When one brutal, shattering night finally reveals cracks in the façade, Zane begins to understand that some people are willing to face the truth, even when it hurts. As he grows into manhood and builds a new kind of family, he will find that while the darkness of his past may always shadow him, it will also show him what is necessary for good to triumph—and give him strength to draw on when he once again must stand up and defend himself and the ones he loves…
Review:
Nora Roberts has a gift for writing stories that portray all the intricate dynamics of family - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Her stories often demonstrate the power of family to either destroy or save lives and frequently deliver a theme of nature vs. nurture that I find fascinating. I love knowing when I open one of Roberts books that the human spirit of a character may be sorely tested, but the will to survive and persevere over evil will triumph in the end. And I appreciate that she often tackles sensitive subjects such as child and spousal abuse with grace, respect, and empathy as she does in Under Currents.
I'll briefly touch on the storyline, leaving readers an opportunity to experience this book firsthand as it should be. Under Currents is divided into three parts with the first part taking place in the past and the second and third parts picking up the storyline in present time. In part one, readers meet Zane & Britt Bigelow - a brother and younger sister who appear to have it all - a picture-perfect family living in a picture-perfect mansion in a picture-perfect part of town. But looks are deceiving, and readers quickly learn all is not as it appears as these two children are silently suffering the ultimate betrayal at the hands of those charged with loving and protecting them . . . their parents. Until one explosive night when everything changes.
Fast forward about twenty years and readers are introduced to Darby McCray - a feisty, spirited newcomer who's opening a landscaping business in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mtns. of North Carolina. After the recent tragic hit & run death of her mother, she's looking for a new start far away from an abusive ex-husband. (This is the first time one of Roberts' romance/suspense heroines has reminded me (in mannerisms & actions) of Eve Dallas, the heroine of her In Death series written as J.D. Robb.) When Zane returns to his hometown to open a law office, the two meet and a slow-burn romance begins to flourish. And now everything is picture-perfect in their lives until ghosts from the past rise to stalk and threaten them. Someone is on a mission of revenge, but who's the target?
As always, Roberts flawlessly weaves family and community and the routine of daily life into a story with emotion, laughter, tears, love, and a strong sense of belonging. The characters are relatable and well-developed, each playing their role extremely well. I will say I would have liked a little more reader insight into the inner thoughts of the villain, but I guess the vagueness of him/her adds to the suspense for some. The setting is authentic (I live in N.C. and know the area well) and rich in details that tease the senses. I like the way the title is reiterated in the story as under currents are always present in one form or another, running beneath the surface as evident in this story. There are several twists and turns to keep readers on their toes and guessing until the very end. While you may or may not be shocked by the final reveal, I think you'll enjoy the journey as this book is an addictive Must Read!
My Rating . . . 4 Intricate Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra
