The Runaway Wife by Rowan Coleman

From the internationally bestselling author of Lessons in Laughing Out Loud comes a moving and heartwarming novel about a woman who escapes an abusive relationship and flees with her young daughter in search of a kind stranger she met many years earlier. Remembering the letter that says, “You are a remarkable woman and you deserve all the happiness, contentment, and love in the world. I, for one, know that I have never met anyone quite like you,” Rose Pritchard turns up on the doorstep of a B&B in England’s lake district. It is her last resort, as she and her seven-year-old daughter Maddie have left everything behind. They have come to the village of Millthwaite in search of the person who once offered Rose hope.

Almost immediately Rose wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake—if she’s chasing a dream—but she knows in her heart that she cannot go back. She’s been given a second chance—at life, and love—but will she have the courage to take it?

Blending wit, insight, and emotion with a sensitive touch and a warm dose of humor, Rowan Cowan has crafted a poignant novel that will linger with you long after the final page has been turned. 

My review: I heard it said once that “love is blind, but marriage is a real eye opener.”  How true this is in so many cases. This book captured the essence of the defeat you can feel when your self worth is carefully picked away till almost nothing remains. This is a wonderfully wrote story of redemption, power and overcoming physical and emotional abuse. Webster defines commitment as “to give in trust, custody or consignment, a pledge or promise.” The pledge or promise we make in marriage is the biggest commitment we ever make, yet all too often it is abused and neglected, left rotting. In a last ditch effort Rose decides to make a run for it before its too late. With the help of some great friends Rose meets along the way she is able to overcome her worst fears and begin to heal. But, there is a story with the story here as well. Not only is this book about Rose and her journey, but it is also about her daughter. Too often the kids become the neglected one when a marriage goes south. We try to hide things from them and we think we are sheltering them, but kids are very perceptive and know a lot more then they let on. Sadly, they do not know how to process what is happening in the world around them and they self internalize the conflict as in the case with Maddie. I loved watching this little girl come to terms with what was taking place and seeing her open up and learn to live and love once the dysfunction was done away with. Just a very beautiful, heartbreaking story.

Should we try to alter the systems among which we find ourselves? Should we even judge them?I kept finding myself going back to these questions. I'll let you judge for yourself. 

My goodreads review

About the Author:
Rowan Coleman worked in bookselling and publishing for seven years during which time she won the Company magazine Young Writer of the Year award. She is the author of Runaway Wife, The Accidental Mother, Another Mother’s Life, Mommy By Mistake, The Accidental Family, The Home for Broken Hearts, and Lessons in Laughing Out Loud. She lives with her husband, daughter, and sons in England.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this book from Simon and Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion. The views expressed are my own and in no way reflect those of the author or publishing company. 

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