2015 - 100+ Books

Daughter of Sand and Stone by Libbie Hawker & Giveaway (US/Canada)

November 30, 2015 by Darlene

Daughter of Sand and Stone by Libbie Hawker is a novel that seamlessly weaves history with fiction bringing an ancient world to life within its pages. The author has taken Zenobia, a woman from history, and literally breathed life into her and the lands she ruled for a short time. Libbie Hawker writes in such a descriptive way that I felt a part of this ancient world she wrote about from the dry desert to the camel rides.

In the author’s note Libbie makes it clear that not a lot is known about Zenobia, the Empress of the East, but what is known is that she was the only woman who had proved to be a threat to ancient Rome. She was a strong and courageous woman in a time when women ‘had their place’ and that certainly didn’t include leading armies and taking control over lands. I feel the author did a wonderful job of telling what Zenobia’s life story may have been from the time she was young to when she’s finally captured as what is available about her is mostly myth and legend. She portrayed Zenobia in such a way that she came across as very real. A woman like any other except that she had an inherent desire to be more than her culture allowed women to be.

I also have to mention that I felt an emotional connection to this story which is really odd for a historical novel. I’m not entirely sure I would have liked Zenobia had I known her just because of her raw ambition that didn’t allow for much else but as the author told of her rise and then her capture and fall I felt so sad for this woman who really only wanted to do right by her people. There was even a few points where I felt very close to shedding a few tears.

Zenobia was a warrior. She was a proud woman who only wanted to control her own destiny and that of her people. I hadn’t known much about her before reading this book and after reading it I can say that I greatly admire her courageous spirit. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction!

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GIVEAWAY – OPEN TO US & CANADIAN RESIDENTS
1 copy up for grabs
*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter
Draw Date December 16/15

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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Host by Robin Cook (Audiobook)

November 27, 2015 by Darlene

Book Summary from Penguin Random House

The explosive new thriller from New York Times–bestselling author and master of the medical thriller, Robin Cook.

Lynn Peirce, a fourth-year medical student at South Carolina’s Mason-Dixon University, thinks she has her life figured out. But when her otherwise healthy boyfriend, Carl, enters the hospital for routine surgery, her neatly ordered life is thrown into total chaos. Carl fails to return to consciousness after the procedure, and an MRI confirms brain death.

Devastated by Carl’s condition, Lynn searches for answers. Convinced there’s more to the story than what the authorities are willing to reveal, Lynn uses all her resources at Mason-Dixon—including her initially reluctant lab partner, Michael Pender—to hunt down evidence of medical error or malpractice.

What she uncovers, however, is far more disturbing. Hospitals associated with Middleton Healthcare, including the Mason-Dixon Medical Center, have unnervingly high rates of unexplained anesthetic complications and patients contracting serious and terminal illness in the wake of routine hospital admissions.

When Lynn and Michael begin to receive death threats, they know they’re into something bigger than either of them anticipated. They soon enter a desperate race against time for answers before shadowy forces behind Middleton Healthcare and their partner, Sidereal Pharmaceuticals, can put a stop to their efforts once and for all.

My Thoughts

I was once such a fan of Robin Cook’s novels and then over time I had stopped reading them. After listening to Host I once again know why I used to devour his books. I was hooked from the beginning to the end and it was one of those audios that I just didn’t want to turn off at all. It’s narrated by George Guidall who I haven’t listened to before but he was awesome. He made the story all the more suspenseful and thrilling.

Lynn is a fourth year medical student who encourages her boyfriend Carl to go in for some routine surgery that he needs. It should be all very simple but Carl doesn’t wake up and it’s confirmed that he’s brain dead. Lynn doesn’t believe that this just happened. She knows that there has to be more to the story and she’s determined to uncover just what that may be. Enlisting the help of her lab partner Michael they both dive in head first into a medical conspiracy that could jeopardize their own lives.

I’ve read many reviews that say this is just a re-run of Coma and yes it’s very similar as are a lot of his novels. They follow the same formula but you know it doesn’t matter to me. When I want a book that’s easy to listen to with a story that engages me I know a medical thriller from Robin Cook will do that for me. Recommended for those who enjoy medical thrillers… makes you wonder why you ever even consider going into the hospital!

Buy: Penguin Random House, Audible

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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The Girl Without a Name by Sandra Block (Audiobook)

November 26, 2015 by Darlene

Book Summary from Hachette Book Group

In what passes for an ordinary day in a psych ward, Dr. Zoe Goldman is stumped when a highly unusual case arrives. A young African American girl, found wandering the streets of Buffalo in a catatonic state, is brought in by police. No one has come forward to claim her, and all leads have been exhausted, so Zoe’s treatment is the last hope to discover the girl’s identity.

When drugs prove ineffective and medical science seems to be failing, Zoe takes matters into her own hands to track down Jane Doe’s family and piece together their checkered history. As she unearths their secrets, she finds that monsters hide where they are least expected. And now she must solve the mystery before it is too late. Because someone wants to make sure this young girl never remembers.

The Girl Without a Name is a powerful novel of memory and forgetting, of unexpected friendship and understanding…and of the secrets we protect no matter the consequences.

My Thoughts

Having listened to Little Black Lies by Sandra Block and really enjoying it I was excited to also listen to The Girl Without a Name because it featured the same main character from the first one – Dr. Zoe Goldman. This book does pick up where the last one ended but still I think it could stand on its own although of course one would enjoy the story much more having read the first one and being familiar with the characters. The story revolves around Zoe, her boss, and a girl that’s brought into the mental ward in a catatonic state. It’s an unusual case and one that really intrigues Zoe especially as no one comes forward to claim this girl that they end up calling Jane. And in true fashion Zoe starts to investigate but what she finds is far more than she ever expected.

I really like Zoe as a character. She herself suffers with a mental illness and sees a psychiatrist. It’s one of the things I really like about this series is that it shows that someone suffering from a mental illness can excel in anything they want to. While I enjoyed Little Black Lies a bit more I still enjoyed this second book in the series and I really hope that there will be more to come.

I listened to the audio version which is narrated by Jennifer Nittoso who is new to me. At first I wasn’t sure what I thought of her narration but as I listened I began to enjoy the tone of her voice. I don’t know if that happens to others who listen to audios. Sometimes it takes a bit to settle into the narrator’s voice and way of telling a story. Ultimately I did enjoy listening to her and would again.

Recommended for those who enjoy psychological thrillers!

Buy: Audible, Amazon

Source: Digital eBook copy was received from the publisher for an honest review. Audiobook personal copy. No compensation was received.

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Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (Audiobook)

November 25, 2015 by Darlene

Book Summary from Listening Library

The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

If you love Eleanor and Park, Hazel and Augustus, and Mia and Adam, you’ll love the story of Maddy, a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world, and Olly, the boy who moves in next door . . . and becomes the greatest risk she’s ever taken. This innovative and heartfelt debut novel unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Thoughts

Maddy is almost eighteen years old and she has never left her house because she has a rare disease that has left her allergic to the outside world. Her little bubble is restricted to her nurse Carla and her mother. She’s never had friends or been to a mall. She does love to read though and she does that with a passion but it isn’t enough for a young woman. So when the good looking Olly moves in next door Maddy knows that somehow she’s going to meet him and they’re going to fall in love. They start with messages back and forth but things escalate as their relationship deepens. Naturally experiencing part of the real world has left Maddy hungry for more…

I listened to Everything, Everything and really enjoyed it. It’s narrated by Bahni Turpin and Robbie Daymond, neither of which I’ve listened to before but I thought both did a wonderful job of bringing these young people and their love to life.

I liked both Maddy and Olly and it’s always sweet to read about first love and especially in this instance where Maddy had lived her life in a bubble. Everything, Everything is a beautifully written novel that comes with an interesting twist (although I did see it coming) and I would recommended it to YA readers and for those adults who enjoy YA fiction.

Buy: Penguin Random House, Audible

Source: Review copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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The Conqueror’s Wife by Stephanie Thornton & Giveaway (US only)

November 23, 2015 by Darlene

If I could describe Stephanie Thornton’s latest novel The Conqueror’s Wife in one word it would be Wow! I’ve read all but one of her books (which I will soon remedy) and this one is my favorite. Despite being almost 500 pages once I began reading I fell head long into an ancient world where the times and the people were ruthless. As I read I could smell the death and see the destruction as though I was walking the same path that Alexander the Great was on. Full of memorable characters and rich in historical detail Stephanie Thornton has weaved an amazing story about a great man and the women who loved him.

Alexander the Great was a powerful man but so were the women who stood behind him – they were strong, independent, and powerful in their own right and they all helped to shape the man Alexander was. There is Alexander’s half-sister Thessalonike who so badly wants to travel the world and wants nothing more than to go along with Alexander but she is forbidden to. Then we have the Persian princess Drypetis who refuses to let go of her traditions and customs despite Alexander taking her father’s throne. Finally there is the crafty Roxana who is extraordinarily beautiful and she uses that beauty to become Alexander’s queen. She’s a dangerous one though and will do anything to keep her crown. As Alexander comes to control an ever vaster empire he learns that not all are to be trusted and long after he’s taken his last breath these women will still be fighting to keep his legacy alive.

Before reading this novel I knew a bit about Alexander the Great but certainly not much. The more I read the more interested I became in all of the characters and I began to search online for more information. To me that is the sign of great historical fiction and a great author. When a book encourages a reader to delve even deeper into history it’s done its job and more. The Conqueror’s Wife is not only an insightful journey into history but also a novel that will captivate the reader and hold them enthralled until the very last page is turned. I loved it and highly recommend it to all readers of historical fiction and if you haven’t experienced a novel of Stephanie Thornton’s yet you truly should!

Other stops with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
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GIVEAWAY – OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY
1 paperback copy up for giveaway
*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter
Draw Date December 8/15

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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The Last September by Nina de Gramont (Audiobook Review)

November 20, 2015 by Darlene

Book Summary from Algonquin Books

“When I look back now, it hurtles toward us like a meteor. But at the time we were too wrapped up in our day-to-day life to see it. Charlie and I lived in a borrowed house by the ocean. Our daughter, Sarah, was fifteen months old. September had just arrived, emptying the beaches at the very moment they became most spectacular.”

Brett has been in love with Charlie ever since he took her skiing on a lovely Colorado night fourteen years ago. And now, living in a seaside cottage on Cape Cod with their young daughter, it looks as if they have settled into the life they desired. However, Brett and Charlie’s marriage has been tenuous for quite some time. When Charlie’s unstable younger brother plans to move in with them, the tension simmering under the surface of their marriage boils over.

But what happened to Charlie next was unfathomable. Charlie was the golden boy so charismatic that he charmed everyone who crossed his path; who never shied away from a challenge; who saw life as one big adventure; who could always rescue his troubled brother, no matter how unpredictable the situation.

So who is to blame for the tragic turn of events? And why does Brett feel responsible?

Set against the desolate autumn beauty of Cape Cod, The Last September is a riveting emotional puzzle that takes readers inside the psyche of a woman facing the meaning of love and loyalty.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this selection from The She Reads Books of Fall. I listened to the audio which is narrated by Rebecca Mitchell and I found her tone and different voices and emotions of characters very easy to listen to. Coming in at 10 hours and 19 minutes she definitely captured the essence of the story for me and the hours flew by.

Brett loved Charlie from the moment she met him. He was the brother of her friend Eli and he seemed to have it all – confidence, good looks, and Brett fell hard for him. Eventually they marry and have a child but what seems as though it should be a perfect life does have its flaws. The biggest of those is actually Eli, mentally ill now, who continues to show up in their lives and cause chaos. When an unthinkable tragedy occurs Brett finds herself lost and struggling. Looking back over the past and trying to figure out who she can blame for the tragedy Brett is faced with also trying to find herself and a way to move on.

The Last September is a beautifully written, emotional novel. One definitely worth reading. Readers of women’s fiction or mysteries would likely be drawn to this story. I look forward to more from this author in the future.

Other Reviews from She Reads Members
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Buy: Amazon, Audible

Source: Digital review copy received from the publisher for an honest review. Audiobook personal copy. No compensation was received.

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