Under Currents by Nora Roberts

7/16/2019

SYNOPSIS

For both Zane and Darby, their small town roots hold a terrible secret. Now, decades later, they've come together to build a new life. But will the past set them free or pull them under?

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.

Synopsis from Goodreads

PERSONAL REVIEW

I love Nora Roberts openly and without shame, so I was really excited to pick up her newest book. Although I haven't loved some of her most recent stand alone novels as much as I had hoped, Under Currents sounded like it was going to bring me back into the "Robertsland" fold...and it did! I flew through this book because I needed to know what happened to these characters. (Side note: I don't think the synopsis does a good job explaining what happens, so don't let it deter you.)

First Half of the Book Broke My Heart
Wow, was the beginning of this book heartbreaking! Within a few pages, it's clear that Zane and Britt are not in a safe home and it was really scary watching the years go by as they tried to figure out how to handle their abusive parents. You never knew when Graham was going to snap and hurt them, and it was horrifying to think of these kids growing up there. When the worst happens and Zane is arrested, I felt like I was sprinting through the pages, hoping that he would be saved. All I can say was that this was a really intense way to start the book and Roberts wrote it brilliantly.

Loved Darby and Zane
I fully loved both these characters, in know small part because both of them had found ways to move past their personal traumas and still find love and happiness; personally, this is a happy ending I'm always looking for. Darby's intensity and optimism are refreshing without being annoying, while Zane's lack of machoism is amazing to see in a male character. When Darby saves herself, Zane doesn't feel like less of a man because he didn't save her. Instead, he's grateful that she knows how to take care of herself, even if he hopes she won't have too. They don't have a sappy romance, which is completely in character for both of them. Instead, they are equal partners who support each other and I loved it!

Feels Like A Classic Nora Roberts
This book is definitely one of my favourite books from Roberts in the last few years. While I loved The Witness (review here), the last few books haven't hit the same note with me as Roberts's older books, like Montana Sky, Private Scandals, Three Fates, etc. But Under Currents sucked me in and I was thrilled to fall into this story. While I do think the ending was rushed (I liked when she builds it up a bit further so we're slowly figuring out pieces along the way), I think the storyline was realistic, the characters were well developed, the backstory was heartbreaking, and the different conflicts were well handled.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely a novel I know I'm going to be rereading over and over and I don't think I'm the only one. I would highly recommend Under Currents to anyone who enjoys Nora Roberts, is a fan of contemporary romance, or simply is looking for a solid summer read. Have you read Under Currents? What did you think?

FINAL RATING: 4/5