The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding delivered a suspense thriller that kept me on edge from beginning to end. Narrated by Brittany Wilkerson & Henriette Zoutomou you’ll want to grab this one.

The Drowning Woman
by Robyn Harding
Narrator: Brittany Wilkerson, Henriette Zoutomou
Length: 9 hours and 38 minutes
Genres: Suspense Thriller
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 4 cups Speed: 1.5x

From the bestselling author of The Party comes a deliciously twisted story of friendship, retribution, and betrayal following a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past—and the wealthy society wife she saves.

Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets—no one ever does—but when her restaurant fails, and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her Toyota Corolla. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move—until early one morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself into the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface, but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury. The drowning woman, Hazel, tells her that she wanted to die, that she’s trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, that she’s a prisoner in her own home. Lee has thwarted her one chance to escape her life.

Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage, and Lee thinks she’s seen the last of her, until her unexpected return the next morning. Bonded by disparate but difficult circumstances, the women soon strike up a close and unlikely friendship. And then one day, Hazel makes a shocking request: she wants Lee to help her disappear. It’ll be easy, Hazel assures her, but Lee soon learns that nothing is as it seems, and that Hazel may not be the friend Lee thought she was.

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Do you ever get anxiety when listening or reading to a book? The Drowning Woman is told from the perspectives of two women. Lee Gulliver and Hazel, a woman she pulls her from the ocean. The events that unfold after these two meet had me on edge.

Lee Gulliver, is a homeless chef who sleeps in her car and is working to rebuild her life after the shutdown of 2020, ruined her business. She is also hiding from a shady moneylender and has moved to Seattle. Hazel, on the other comes from a life of privilege but lives with a controlling husband who demands full submission.

The two become friends of sorts. Hazel sneaks food to Lee and the two share their stories. That is when Hazel asks Lee for help to escape her life. In the meantime, Lee is starting a budding romance and feels as if thing are looking up…but all is not as it seems.

The author did a fantastic job of building the suspense and provided just enough detail to have me on edge. Sometimes I stopped listening just to catch my breath. Twists and turns kept me listening. The story was well paced and slowly built until I found I could not stop listening.

Brittany Wilkerson & Henriette Zoutomou did a great job with the narrations. I was glad the publisher chose two narrators as it made switching points of view seamless.

Fans of murder-mysteries and suspense thrillers will want to grab this one. I highly recommend the audio version.

Amazon | Audible

Looking for your next suspense thriller? Check out The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding. Narrated by Brittany Wilkerson & Henriette Zoutomou, it's a twisty tale you won't be able to set down. #audiobookreview
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2023 Audiobook Challenge

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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/08/the-drowning-woman-by-robyn-harding.html

Dorothy Deene’s The Gravity of Lies is a poignant coming-of-age novel that follows Skye Lark, a struggling child entertainer, pursuing friends, family, and a sense of belonging. Living in Los Angeles, Skye and her mother scrape by on Skye’s modest earnings while grappling with the harsh realities of food and housing insecurity. Skye’s relentless quest to find her absent father and break free from her dreary existence takes a transformative turn when she’s chosen for a reality TV show. New friendships, financial stability, and the tantalizing allure of fame are within her reach—until a shocking event alters her trajectory.

From the engaging opening line, Deene’s masterful storytelling captivates readers, driving them to invest deeply in Skye’s journey. Far from a stereotypical protagonist, Skye is a multifaceted character whose struggles resonate with authenticity. Deene’s unflinching portrayal of the difficulties faced by child entertainers—including intense pressure, loneliness, relentless auditions, eating disorders, poverty, and even abuse—offers a stark and vivid panorama of their world. Amidst this bleak backdrop, Skye’s friendships with well-crafted supporting characters such as Kylie and Sebastian provide glimmers of hope and humanity. A particularly well-executed plot twist adds intrigue without disclosing vital details.

Despite its many strengths, The Gravity of Lies does present some areas where further development could enhance the reading experience. I felt the treatment of Skye’s abuse is approached with realism. Still, the resolution of other characters’ dilemmas seems hastily concluded, confined to just a few lines toward the novel’s conclusion. I think this is an area where Deene’s obvious talents could provide a more nuanced exploration. Additionally, I felt the extended seven-chapter continuation after the climax altered the otherwise good pace of the story.

For young adults who appreciate literary kin such as The Catcher in the Rye and Looking for Alaska, The Gravity of Lies is a compelling read. Deene crafts a rich tapestry of likable and realistic characters interwoven with resonant themes that will indeed speak to its intended audience. The novel is a remarkable exploration of perseverance, friendship, and self-discovery.

Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0C47N3SMD

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/08/15/the-gravity-of-lies/

Eli Pope’s compelling narrative, The Way It Happened, unfurls the layered life journey of Erin Marie, a 40-year-old protagonist from the close-knit community of Ellijay, Georgia. Erin is beautifully portrayed as a devoted mother, cherished daughter, dependable friend, and a woman with a fervor for love. Her tranquil existence, however, careens into turmoil when her husband abruptly abandons her for a younger woman. Her ordeal intensifies with a cancer diagnosis that leads to surgery.

This captivating tale showcases the transformative power of literature as Erin discovers refuge from her melancholy in the extraordinary prose of Ray Piper. With the unwavering support of her 15-year-old daughter, Melony, Erin immerses herself in Mr. Piper’s Facebook fan group, finding a beacon of hope amidst the despair.

The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Erin is reunited with Lindy, her long-separated best friend, at a funeral. This event sets them on an exhilarating quest to meet the author whose words sparked a rejuvenation in Erin’s spirit, liberating her from depression and steering her towards a horizon of hope and healing. Along their journey, Lindy unveils deeply guarded secrets to her confidante, deepening the dimensions of their friendship.

Upon her return to Ellijay—a town rife with gossip where secrets seldom remain concealed—Erin sets out on her path toward a brighter tomorrow. The themes of love, friendship, and resilience of the human spirit are woven into the story as Erin grapples with the pain of betrayal, the pursuit of her passions, and a relentless battle against her debilitating disease. The characters, including Erin’s teenage children, her mother, ex-husband Coby, and the enigmatic Ray Piper, are meticulously crafted, their depth and authenticity capturing the multifaceted human experience.

While Pope’s narrative mastery is evident in The Way It Happened, some readers may find the extensive dialogues momentarily slowing the pace of the narrative. However, this minor setback is more than compensated by the tantalizing plot twist, leaving readers pondering, “Who exactly is Ray Piper?”

With its intoxicating blend of love, passion, clandestine secrets, vividly drawn characters, insightful, whiskey-soaked conversations, and tender moments of laughter, The Way It Happened earns a place in fans of women’s literature bookshelves. Pope delivers an engrossing read that successfully engages readers in an emotionally rich and intellectually stimulating exploration of life’s complexities.

Pages: 251

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/08/15/the-way-it-happened/

Set against a backdrop not dissimilar to our own reality, Yesterday’s Tomorrow unfolds in a world that echoes many before it—a conventional setting graced with humble beginnings yet uniquely spun. In this science fiction novel, readers will encounter a protagonist propelled into action, a daring individual who challenges the status quo and urges us to contemplate a new reality.

Should you muster the courage to plunge into this seemingly too-familiar fictional realm, you will find Yesterday’s Tomorrow to be a compelling read. The book invites readers on a journey as narrated in the first person. We come to embody the central character, Elton Nett, viewing this curious and strange world through his discerning eyes.

Yesterday’s Tomorrow provides a slightly futuristic, alternative perspective of Earth. It’s a world where The System—a process created to benefit us—begins to inflict harm. Though this may sound like a familiar narrative, Keys’s rendition stands apart. His storytelling echoes inspirations from works he’s read, paying homage where appropriate, yet this remains unequivocally his tale. This is Earth, but not as we know it; it’s the world as Keys wants us to perceive it.

Having existed for at least a generation, The System was not welcomed with optimism or naiveté, and yet humans are infamously pliable. We often cling to innovations, lured by promises of ease and convenience. But what defines humanity, and how does it separate us from mere animals? Yesterday’s Tomorrow poses unsettling questions, probing what we become without those defining characteristics.

This undercurrent of thematic exploration accompanies the adventure we undertake with Elton. True craftsmanship in writing is assessed not merely by what is conveyed but how. Some authors might force their narrative upon the readers; others, like Keys, subtly draw them into the story. With almost effortless grace, he weaves a narrative that captures the mind, allowing readers to lose themselves in the plot.

Blending elements of science fiction, post-apocalyptic scenarios, and alternate reality, Yesterday’s Tomorrow stands as a multifaceted work. If you seek a novel that transcends genres to deliver a gripping story, then Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Dorian Keys will prove a satisfying read.

Pages: 217 | ASIN: B0BND2BPJ1

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/08/15/yesterdays-tomorrow/

The Fall Before Love follows a nurse and pediatrician working in a hospital together who enter an erotic relationship that gets complicated when they develop feelings. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Although reading has always been my number one passion, writing this book has been an ambition of mine for many years now, and actually only took me 3 months to write. I am an avid romance novel reader, but somehow these two characters made their way into my head, and it was as though I had to get the story written down for others to enjoy. I knew instantly who I wanted Alexa to be and the person I wanted her to fall in love with. The inspiration solely comes down to all of the amazing romance books I have read over the past two decades.

What were some of the trials you felt were important to highlight the characters’ development.

In The Fall Before Love both main characters have baggage and a heavy past, and in order for them to come together, they must deal with said pasts, shed skins, and confess to each other. As well as being a romantic love story, it also delves into the taboo subject of both depression and emotional abuse towards men, and I hope that this is an area that ignites interest from my readers. There is a huge lack of awareness of male emotional abuse, and this subject is rarely spoken or written about.

Whilst abuse of women can be widely spoken about, abuse of men is not widely recognized, and often males can be unaware that they are a victim of emotional abuse caused by a woman. In the UK, about 40% of domestic abuse cases involve violence of women against men, and I wanted this to be highlighted in my novel.

For Alexa, it was simple; I just wanted her to get her happy ever after. Of course, I didn’t want to make it too easy for her. Alexa and Joe both go on a journey of self-discovery of love, both together and apart.

What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?

Not one experience on its own has impacted on my writing, more an accumulation of events. Reading has always been my happy place; when life gets tough, you’re working too hard, you’re trying to be the be the best work colleague, wife, Mother, friend – sometimes you just need to escape. Reading then blended into writing as a way for me to escape and provide someone else with a happy every after love story.

What is your next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?

After writing The Fall Before Love, I delved into writing my next novel but hit a block right before the end. The plan is to revisit my second novel and give it the finale it deserves later this year.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/08/15/reading-is-my-passion/

Rock Band Roadie follows a sixteen-year-old girl growing up in the projects who dreams of becoming a singer in a band, only to have her dream become a nightmare. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I played the keyboard in the gospel rock band called Cross Road Band. The first couple of chapters were taken from real-life events, which set up the story.

​Some events in the book were chillingly similar to real-life events. Did you take any inspiration from real life when developing this book?

Yes, the prison riot was a true event. I was one of the keyboardists who hid behind the curtain until it was over (but no one was kidnapped or escaped in the real event). The events in Patterson were also true. The projects and the park where we played as well as the occurrences written about it were true. We often had other teenagers come along (‘roadies’ if you will) to help pass out literature or help set up. The band traveled to maximum security prisons and juvenile detention centers to sing and play and then stayed in communication with a number of the inmates.

What was one of the hardest parts of Rock Band Roadie for you to write?

Probably the hardest part was staging the prison escape and making it believable. I consulted with a policeman and a military judge for details and accuracy. This started out as a short story and evolved into a book through the advice of these men. And the title is always one of the hardest tasks for me.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

There are a couple I’m mulling around in my head at this point. One will be a coming-of-age story about a pre-teen boy who migrates to the USA in search of his father.

The other will be about a child who yearns for a magic dress that will keep her from disappearing like her friend did. A story of terrible secrets of child trafficking.

When will they be available? Hopefully by fall of 2024

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/08/15/a-bit-of-truth-mixed-into-fiction/