Title: Surface
Author: Stacy Robinson
Published: February 24, 2015 by Kensington
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher via BookSparks
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads
In this powerfully written and insightful novel, author Stacy Robinson explores the consequences of flawed choices, the complex nature of betrayal and forgiveness--and the intriguing possibility of second acts. . . Claire Montgomery has a lifetime of sensible decisions behind her. Yet all it takes is one impulsive indiscretion to bring everything crashing down--her marriage to a wealthy entrepreneur, her status as half of one of Denver society's power couples, and the future she dreamed of for their seventeen-year-old son, Nick. Claire's husband, Michael, angrily blames her for the recklessness that has left Nick's life in the balance, though not nearly as much as Claire blames herself. But as Nick struggles to move forward, Claire too begins inching toward a reimagined future. Along with a fresh perspective come new questions. Are there other reasons for her fractured relationship and Michael's increasingly erratic behavior? Has he, too, been harboring painful secrets? And does Claire dare to find the real truth, when her seamlessly decorated world of privilege and security is at stake?
My review:
After reading the first few pages of this book, which deal with an act of infidelity, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a book for me to read. However, I did continue, and I'm glad that I did. While infidelity is not typically something I like to read about in my novels, this act and its repercussions, was the platform for the rest of the book. I did end up liking the character of Claire, and found many moments to empathize with her plight. I felt that the characters, while not necessarily likable, were written in a way that you could understand why they were acting the way they did. I enjoyed the medical aspects as I used to work in the medical field (although not doing anything particularly related to this topic). I approved of the ending, if it had gone a different way I think my review would not have been as positive. This book will most definitely make you stop and ponder how one act can have life altering consequences. A few things (beside the opening scene) that kept me from really liking this book were the fact that no one blames the son for his stupid reaction to the situation (ugh, teens), it was a bit slow during the first half, and the cover is awful (I know, not a valid reason, but hey......it does matter to me when I pick up a book). A good start for this debut author, I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
A good story if you enjoy family dramas, and following the consequences of an impetuous decision.
