The Life She Wants
A Novel
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4.5 • 257 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr brings together a poignant novel with a rich tapestry of characters. A moving story that will leave the reader laughing and crying, as two friends confront their pasts and move towards their futures.
In the aftermath of her financier husband’s suicide, Emma Shay Compton’s dream life is shattered. Richard Compton stole his clients’ life savings to fund a lavish life in New York City and, although she was never involved in the business, Emma bears the burden of her husband’s crimes. She is left with nothing.
Only one friend stands by her, a friend she’s known since high school, who encourages her to come home to Sonoma County. But starting over isn’t easy, and Sonoma is full of unhappy memories, too. And people she’d rather not face, especially Riley Kerrigan.
Riley and Emma were like sisters—until Riley betrayed Emma, ending their friendship. Emma left town, planning to never look back. Now, trying to stand on her own two feet, Emma can’t escape her husband’s reputation and is forced to turn to the last person she thought she’d ever ask for help—her former best friend. It’s an uneasy reunion as both women face the mistakes they’ve made over the years. Only if they find a way to forgive each other—and themselves—can each of them find the life she wants.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestselling author Carr follows a woman who marries a multi-millionaire schemer (who commits suicide after being caught) and ends up as a nearly penniless widow. Emma Shay Compton is unsympathetic in the public eye though she did nothing wrong and was unaware of her husband's fraudulent practices and has to start her life all over again. She flees the east coast and returns to her childhood home of Sonoma County, where she confronts her past: Riley Kerrigan, the best friend who stole Emma's high school boyfriend, Jock, and got pregnant; and her difficult childhood with a typically evil stepmother who favored her own children over Emma. Emma ends up working for Riley, whose brother, Adam, intercedes on her behalf (he's had a crush on Emma for years) and Emma becomes part of Riley's professional cleaning service while developing a relationship with Adam. That she readily goes from living the luxurious life to cleaning toilets is a bit of a stretch, as is her involvement with one of the client's daughters, a huge infraction of Riley's professional rules. Too much melodrama, shallow character portrayals, and lifeless romantic scenes unfortunately undercut what could have been an insightful exploration of a woman's world turned upside down by circumstances beyond her control.
Customer Reviews
The Life She Wants
Fairly Good Read
heart, home and forgiveness.
What do you do when all your dreams come crashing down around you? That is exactly what Emma Shay Compton must decide.
Her husband was convicted of stealing people’s life savings, kills himself and leaves Emma with the mess left behind. The law thinks she is hiding money, people hate her for what her husband did and worse of all she had no clue and let herself be deceived by the man she thought loved her.
Returning to her home town, Emma has more demons to face while trying to rebuild her life. She left and never looked back, cutting ties with almost all her past, especially her best friend and her best friends family who took her in when her family life fell apart.
Raw emotions and true character bring Carr’s characters to life in The Life She Wants. Another great small town romance from Carr, The Life She Wants is about heart, home and forgiveness.
I received this ARC copy of The Life She Wants from Harlequin (US & Canada) - MIRA in exchange for a honest review.
Great read.
Hard to put down…great storyline!