This book is about separation, divorce, new beginnings and starting over. The main characters are Lauren and Beau. Both are on their way to being divorced when they meet in the Churches garden.
This is a great story by a great author.

Finding real, healthy love in a moment is not even close to well in a relationship is the basis for this stirring novel. The personalities of Lauren and Beau are appealing and thoughtful, charming, buffeted by their own kid’s responses to their divorces, and finding strength in each other. Counter to Lauren and Beau are Brad and Pamela-domineering, controlling and just plain ugly. All of them combine to tell a story of trying to let go of the ties that bind, especially the ones that shackle lives.

Robyn Carr writes with such passion & emotion that you can’t help but be drawn deeply into her stories. From the very beginning, my emotions were tied to Lauren & her thoughts & feelings. How does someone stay in a marriage filled with verbal & emotional abuse? Why do they think kids are oblivious to it? What does an abuser do when his favorite target is taken away? This story explores these questions & answers. It delves into the patterns & arrogance of the abuser & how it can make the strongest person feel week & needy.

Robyn Carr not only shows the reader the typical story of the husband abusing the younger wife but the second storyline follows Beau & his angry, unhappy, absent wife. Beau is farther along in his thought pattern & divorce than Lauren but is totally unprepared for the depths his wife takes to hold on to him. She’s the one that has left time & again for a break & another man but she expects him to stay put & always let her back in. Ms. Carr has written another deeply emotional story that will affect all readers in some way.

” You don’t have to give hi your entire life, sweetheart. You don’t have to sacrifice your entire life for your daughters, either, for that matter. Maybe you’ve gone as far as you could. and it’s all right.”

-Honey to Lauren in The View from Alameda Island

How would you feel when you have to remain married to somebody who mistreat you? How would you feel when somebody whom you think you love sees you nothing but a piece of trash? How would you feel when you have to suppress your feeling even though you do belong to a high-so community? How would you feel if you are surrounded by those who do not love you as what you are but merely because of your social status? How would you feel when you feel like you cannot continue being trapped in loveless marriage yet you have your children to think about?

Robyn Carr will answers those question through her upcoming book The View of Alameda Island. Portraying Lauren's life and the complication that comes from her hi-so husband's family, Ms. Carrs spoils me with a great story about loss, rejection, love, soul restoration and the most important thing: family! I praise Robyn Carr for her writings especially in this novel. The theme may be usual but what makes it unusual is Robyn’s style of writing. It evokes my emotion and I can relate myself to the hardship that Lauren and her family go through. I am sure other readers feel the same. Those aforementioned reasons are the reasons why I would always recommend others to read this novel.

Full review is available at https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2018/12/23/the-view-from-alameda-island/

I adore Robyn Carr and couldn't wait to read this title. It is an intense story, with an abundance of personal and family drama. On into reading, I noticed it wasn't quite as "steamy" as some of her other titles have been, but things heated up nicely and should keep her loyal fan's interest. It was interesting to see family drama and dynamics play out, and in this era of reality TV, more often than not, have the voice of reason prevail. It will not disappoint seasoned fans and would be a recommended introduction to new readers as well.