This book was a little slow to start. A whole lot of drama, that pushes the boundaries of realism.

I did like the main characters and their struggle to start over after their marriage have failed for different reasons. Their connection was instant, and I liked that they were taking it slow. I think that a lot of marriages end these days, but the extremes that both exes showed was a little much for me.

Otherwise well written, enjoyable and good character development.

Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors because she has a unique ability to weave the story and get the reader involved with all the characters. This book was no different.

However the strange similarities between Beau and Lauren with their families was a bit hard to believe. They both are filing for divorce from unstable partners. They each have two grown children, one from each family that supports them and one supporting the spouse. There are multiple violent episodes, and the saving grace is how they deal with life's challenges. I focused on the characters, their friends, and family along with the setting, rather than the story itself. You can imagine their neighborhood on Alameda Island and get transported to the market and pub that Lauren and Beau frequent. This skill to gain a reader's understanding and empathy is where Robyn excels.

A change to the background situations to make them a bit different, would have garnered a 5 star rating.

I was provided a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.

The View from Alameda Island by Robyn Carr bring us to the city of Alameda, which is an island in the midst of San Francisco Bay. The characters of Lauren and Beau both live there and the city is almost another character as it is treated by Robyn Carr. The story, a love story at the center does contain some challenges for the main characters. While Lauren is the main character, lots of Beau’s story is told and I think equally part of the story.

Lauren stayed with her husband, a well known surgeon, for 24 years. She stayed for her daughters and once they were securely out of the way, she walked away and had her husband served with divorce papers. Her husband was never satisfied and felt free to belittle her and demean her regularly. Lauren is ready to start over without him. She moves to a rental in Alameda.

Beau has decided that he is done with being married to a woman who just leaves when she needs a break and then returns and expects to be accepted with open arms. He married her long ago with her two young boys. Boys, he nurtured and supported and continues to support. He lives in Alameda.

Lauren and Beau run into each other and begin a friendship, however the exes begin to rear their ugly, evil heads and things pick up speed. Robyn Carr continues to heighten the excitement and the book is really difficult to put down. The View from Alameda Island by Robyn Carr is a great read.

Lauren and Beau are both struggling with abuse in long term marriages. Lauren knew on her wedding day that she should not go through with it but she did and she stuck it out for her girls. Her relationship with Brad is abusive on a far more difficult and physically impactful way than Beau has experienced with Pamela. Pamela is manipulative and took advantage of Beau. Now they're both dealing with what happens next-and talking with each other helps them. Note that they meet in a church garden (Beau is a landscape architect). This is thoughtful and respectful. Loved the setting (would like to see the gardens) and how this story evolved. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This will delight Robyn Carr fans and others looking for a good read.

I find Robyn Carr’s characters always easy to cheer on. In this case, it’s Lauren, a woman who has waited far too long (for mostly understandable reasons) to break free from an abusive husband. Her circumstances aren’t what I’d consider typical in that she has the means to leave and transition to a new life. It was interesting to see how her story played out as life offered up new and wonderful possibilities.

There’s a secondary plot line about a priest changing his path in life that I thought interesting although I’m not sure how accurate the details are. In the end I don’t think the novel needed to include the priest’s story at all. I liked this novel but not as much as most of Carr’s other books. 3.5 stars

This book is a really enjoyable read!!!!! Lauren is a mother of two who has been married to a controlling abusive man for 20 something years and she finally decides she has had enough and leaves him for good. Her surgeon husband decided he doesn't agree with that though and tries despicable dangerous ways to get his wife and cushy life back. Almost destroying his own life and relationship with his two daughters in the process. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for my review on this amazing novel.

I am a big fan of Robyn Carr. This book was good. It had a good storyline and was an easy read. A great beach read for the summer. I received an ARC of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I've always enjoyed Robyn Carr's books in the past, I didn't enjoy this one as much as previous books. While the story did keep me interested, I think I just couldn't relate to the story as well personally. However, if you're a fan of Robyn Carr--you will probably enjoy this one if the synopsis interests you! It's well written and the characters are likeable!

This was a great book. It did start off a bit slow but it quickly picked up speed. Definitely a must read.

These parallel lives are seeking a newer, more fulfilling existence. Can they be released from their indentured servitude? Will their adult children understand and approve? This is a very special and gut-wrenching book. I think you should read it the first chance you get!

Lauren Delaney has finally decided to file for divorce from her abusive and controlling husband of 25 years. Beau is in the middle of a divorce from his selfish manipulative ex who treats their marriage like a revolving door. Both divorces are incredibly ugly. Lauren and Beau meet and develop a friendship which turns into a romance.

This was a story about second chances. It is about family and friends who can be counted on during a crisis in your life. There is also a secondary romance in this book too, which I loved. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin – Mira, for the read of Robyn Carr’s, The View from Alameda Island.

A very touching and moving story about how anyone can make mistakes, or bad choices that affect you for a lifetime and have you sticking things out for the overall good.

Until you just have to stop living against your grain, and set yourself free.

We meet Lauren, mother of two well-on-their-way daughters, struggling with her decision over staying with her abusive and controlling husband of over twenty years, or moving forward to an unknown, but what would have to be, a better future.

Lauren befriends Beau, who is going through his own nasty divorce, and the two develop a real friendship that strengthens and supports the other.

Robyn Carr does a beautiful job of showing how their love grows out of that friendship.

The story is a testament to breaking away from the fear that keeps you standing still, and having enough courage to walking towards something better for yourself.

I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

I've never read a Robyn Carr book that I was disappointed with and that continues. This story was great! Very engaging and held my attention, I didn't want it to stop! I just had to keep reading to find out what happens. Highly recommended, as always!

I am usually a huge fan of Robyn Carr books, so I'm sorry to say that I was disappointed in this one. One of Carr's strengths is character development. I feel as if I'm friends with the people in Virgin River or Sullivan's Crossing. A week after reading The View From Alameda Island, I can't even remember who the story was about. It will be interesting to see if our library patrons agree with me or not.

A nice read from author Robyn Carr. A story with attention grabbing characters that keeps the pages turning.
Review copy received from the Publisher via Netgalley

A very well written book as I always expect from Ms. Carr. Well developed plot and characters. I highly recommend this book.

A story of failed marriages & new beginnings. It starts off slow but then gathers pace to a great finale. Loved everything about it

Robyn Carr can surely write books that keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved this heartwarming book about second chances and changes.
I loved the setting, the characters and found the book engaging and entertaining.
It's a very good specimen of women's fiction that hooks you since the first pages and never bores or let you down.
I read other books by this writer but this is one of those I liked most.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Harlequin-Mira and Netgalley for this ARC

I absolutely loved this story about second chances, mistakes and family.
Two of the worst divorces I've ever read about bring together a couple who are perfect for each other. The war stories will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Their friends and families round out this eclectic cast of characters joyfully.
Strongly recommend.

This book was unbelievable. I don't mean exceptionally good or exceptionally bad; I mean that so many improbable things happened that by the end of the book there was no doubt that it was fiction. While there was nothing that happened that in and of itself was impossible, the combination just had me shaking my head.

One of the impossible stories had to do with a Catholic priest. After many years in the priesthood, the last few on the "bishop track" Fr. Tim decides that while he still has faith in God and in the Church, he no longer wants to be a priest--he wants to work for an organization that serves the poor, and, of course, he doesn't want to be celibate anymore. Once he makes the decision to leave, he gets into a relationship with a woman he has known for years and in the space of a few months has been laicized and has married the woman in a Catholic church.

Ok, I can accept that if Robyn Carr is not Catholic she wouldn't realize how impossible that is, but the book main character's first marriages are each abusive in their own way and the behavior of each ex just gets stranger and stranger as the book progresses. If either one of them had a spouse like those it would be unusual; that they both did? Just bizarre. At the end of the book something happens to the ex's and it is all just too convenient.

On the other hand, I really liked Lauren and how she stepped up to take control of her life. Her new man is everything her husband wasn't--focused on her and what is good for her rather than on himself.

All in all, I've seen much better from Carr but she did keep me reading and involved in the story until the end.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. Grade: B-