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Title: The Coal Tattoo

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Silas House

Narrator: Kate Forbes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-27-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 77 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Two sisters cant stand to live together, but cant bear to be apart. One worships the flashy world of Nashville, the other is a devout Pentecostal. One falls into the lap of any man, the other is afraid to even date. One gets pregnant in a flash, the other desperately wants to have a child. This is whats at the heart of Silas Houses third novel, which tells the story of Easter and Anneth, tragically left parentless as children, who must raise themselves and each other in their small coal-mining town. Easter is deeply religious, keeps a good home, believes in tradition, and is intent on rearing her wild younger sister properly. Anneth is untamable, full of passion, determined to live hard and fast. Its only a matter of time before their predilections split their paths and nearly undo their bond. How these two women learn to overcome their past, sacrifice deeply for each other, and live together again in the only place that matters is the story of The Coal Tattoo.

Members Reviews:

Really Good

I liked this one - the dynamic between the sisters was just right and their story kept me interested. The narration was great - not too heavy on the accents and enough variation to give the individual characters their own feel. I give The Coal Tattoo 3.5-4 stars, a credit-worthy experience for sure.

This Story Touched My Heart!

I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the characters in this story. Easter and Anneth especially were much more loveable in their imperfections than the story synopsis had led me to expect. Their love for each other and for their home was very touching.

The one aspect I would have liked to read more about was their "magic". Easter has the second sight and Anneth is always talking about believing in magic, but I would have liked these elements to have been more prominent in the story.

Kate Forbes did an excellent job as narrator - loved the accents!

Good narration!

What other book might you compare The Coal Tattoo to and why?

Fair and Tender Ladies

What about Kate Forbess performance did you like?

Sounded authentic!

Any additional comments?

It was authentic in the way it depicted how people think and react to situations.

Good Book - A bit heavy reading

What does Kate Forbes bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Great narration...no complaints at all.

Any additional comments?

Got this on sale and not something I would not normally have purchased. Good read - this is not a beach or light reading. Enjoyable but one must pay attention!

Simple Writing

Once again this book reads like a dime store novel. It's poorly written and not worth the time or trouble to listen. I purchased based on others' ratings and again I have to wonder about the people who wrote good reviews. It's slow, simple, poorly written and not even interesting.

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Title: A Far Cry from Kensington

Author: Muriel Spark

Narrator: Pamela Garelick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-09-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 60 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Set on the crazier fringes of 1950s literary London, A Far Cry from Kensington is a delight, hilariously portraying love, fraud, death, evil, and transformation.

Mrs. Hawkins, the majestic narrator of A Far Cry from Kensington, takes us well in hand and leads us back to her threadbare years in postwar London. There, as a fat and much admired young war widow, she spent her days working for a mad, near-bankrupt publisher (of very good books) and her nights dispensing advice at her small South Kensington rooming house.

At work and at home, Mrs. Hawkins soon uncovered evil: shady literary doings and a deadly enemy; anonymous letters, blackmail, and suicide. With aplomb, however, Mrs. Hawkins confidently set about putting things to order, little imagining the mayhem that would ensue.

Now decades older, thin, successful, and delighted with life in Italyquite a far cry from KensingtonMrs. Hawkins looks back to all those dark doings and recounts how her own life changed forever. She still, however, loves to give advice: Its easy to get thin. You eat and drink the same as always, only half. I offer this advice without fee; it is included in the price of this book.

A Far Cry from Kensington has been hailed as outstanding (Observer), wickedly and adroitly executed (New York Times), and a comedy that holds a tragedy as an eggcup holds an egg. (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Critic Reviews:

Wickedly and adroitly executed. (The New York Times)

Members Reviews:

Truth Teller In The Midst Of Posers & The Clueless

When I started reading this sharply written, engrossing tragicomedy I would often pause and wonder "what is this odd book really about". The story transports the listener back to post war 1950s London--the publishing world and life in a rooming house peopled by a collection of eccentric characters.

Spark's writing is spare--but with limited carefully chosen words she is able to paint multidimensional pictures and tell a richly textured story. Coupled with Pamela Garelick's fantastic narration, I felt as though I had watched a movie rather than listened to an audiobook. The scenes were vivid and the characters and their interaction entrancing.

The commentary on the world of publishing, the witless ease people have in misreading the skills and abilities of themselves and others, and the insights into personal behavior were dryly funny. Underlying all this comedy was the mystery, the tragedy and the charlatan. Oh and yes--the translation of the oft repeated french phrase that caused so much trouble is "writer who churns out rubbish".

In the end, it all becomes clear and the story is definitely worth the time spent listening. I wonder how I missed this gem until now. The writing and narration are both top-notch and perfect.

Pamela Garelick

I love the wickedly low-key humor of this book, but most of all I love the reading of Pamela Garelick. She is now my absolute favorite reader. Her voice is perfect for the book, and she gets all the intonations and moods exactly right. When she does different voices, she's just perfect. I would be thrilled if she got a lot more narration jobs.

Clever and Witty

If she was alive today, I'd be writing to thank Muriel Spark for adding a useful phrase to my repertoire: pisseur de copie. It's a phrase that gets Mrs. Hawkins (later known as Nancy) into a good deal of trouble, but she never takes it back. Mrs.

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Title: A Week in Summer

Author: Maeve Binchy

Narrator: Maeve Binchy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-04-11

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 121 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

After many happy years of marriage and raising a family, Brian and Kathleen suddenly find themselves a bit lost in life. Midwesterners who've never traveled, Kathleen decides that what she and Brian need is a vacation, and with the help of an enthusiastic travel agent she plans a trip to Ireland in search of her roots.

In beautiful, quaint Lisdoonvarna, to the couple's surprise, they find themselves in the midst of a joyous yearly gathering dedicated to celebrating the life and work of a late Irish poet, and they rediscover something much more important than evidence of long-dead ancestors: their love for each other and for life itself.

Members Reviews:

In her own voice

Maeve Binchy narrates this interesting story at speed. I have listened to it twice and find it highly enjoyable, especially the audience reactions in the background. She reads quite fast to my taste, but I was able to understand her. Great story. I was rooting for the wife as she got her husband to take a vacation to Ireland for a week. Just see who they meet up with!

What a great gift for her friends!

What about Maeve Binchys performance did you like?

First of all, I love Maeve Binchy. I love the way she weaves characters in and out of each other's lives. How their relationships change and they just go with the flow. How she always brings out the most poignant aspect of the relationships without getting muddled up in all the baggage.

Next, you have to listen to the introduction! Once you understand that she has written this story and is performing it as a gift for her friends at the festival, it takes on so much more meaning! The audience laughs at the parts of the story that are poking fun at them! I love the comeraderie that is so evident in the context of the reading. It means so much more as her performance than it ever would as written text!

Laugh out loud hilarious!

If you love Maeve Binchy- you will love her more in about 30 minutes!

Read by the author!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Week in Summer to be better than the print version?

yes

What did you like best about this story?

the fact that it was read by the author, who is one of my favorites.

What does Maeve Binchy bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

her lovely accent and wonderful storytelling ability. Brought the story to life for me.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

living your life.

A delightful tale of marriage and friendship.

Where does A Week in Summer rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Right at the top. I also loved her personal reading.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The narrator.

What does Maeve Binchy bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Her personal inflections.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I loved it.

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Title: The Summer I Dared

Author: Barbara Delinsky

Narrator: Julia Gibson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-04-11

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 71 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

On Big Sawyer island, life is as steady as the routine of the lobstermen who leave with the tide each morning and return with their haul each night. But for 40-year-old New Yorker Julia Bechtel, life and whats important in it are about to be forever altered when she survives a terrible boat accident en route to the island. Now, in the company of her aunt and daughter, Julia finds herself feeling strangely connected to the tragedys other survivors - Noah, a divorced lobsterman, and Kim, a young woman rendered mute since her rescue - and newly outraged at the state of her marriage to a domineering man. Seeing the world with new eyes, Julia vows to embrace life with all of its joys and uncertainties. And the journey begins on Big Sawyer....

Critic Reviews:

"Delinsky may be as adept at chronicling contemporary life in New England as any writer this side of John Updike." (Times Union)

Members Reviews:

OK But Not One of Delinsky's Best

I enjoyed this book but I did not think it was one of her best -- not in the same category with Coast Road or Three Wishes. Having said that, the story was engaging and the narrator was solid (a little too sweet voiced for me). I just thought she didn't really get below the surface on the central idea -- surving an accident that kills many others. Also, although the main character persists in saying that she is not running to a new man after shedding her olds man -- that's exactly what happens.

Makes me want to visit Big Sawyer Island

What did you love best about The Summer I Dared?

Sweet love story. How people deal with adversity.

What other book might you compare The Summer I Dared to and why?

Can't think of one at the moment

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I have listened to other books narrated by Julia Gibson and her narration is top-notch, and she is one of my favorite narrators. So, I don't know if this narration is one of Ms. Gibson's earlier works and she has since greatly improved, but her narration of this novel was poor and greatly distracted from the dialogue of the characters. Ms. Gibson's swallowing was very audible and frequent throughout the book. I listened to most of the book on 1.25x speed as doing this shortened her swallowing time. I did finish listening to the book despite the poor narration because I am a big fan of Barbara Delinsky.

If you could rename The Summer I Dared, what would you call it?

The Summer I Stopped Being a Doormat. (I obviously find questions like this irrelevant for a review.)

Good driving book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Summer I Dared to be better than the print version?

Most likely

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Summer I Dared?

When No ah and his son are caught in the storm

What about Julia Gibsons performance did you like?

She gave the characters passion

If you could rename The Summer I Dared, what would you call it?

The Summer I Found My Power

Any additional comments?

The story did drag a little in places, but overall I enjoyed it

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Title: Dangerous Kiss

Subtitle: A Lucky Santangelo Novel

Author: Jackie Collins

Narrator: Barbara Rosenblat

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-29-11

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 46 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When a member of her family is brutally gunned down in a random car-jacking, Lucky Santangelo's fury knows no bounds. While she is tracking the killer, her relationship with her husband, charismatic writer and director Lennie Golden, is put to the test. Then, suddenly, into her life comes a man from her past - a man with a dangerous past.

Critic Reviews:

"Hot." (Houston Post)

"Lucky in love, Lucky in war - a winning sequel." (People)

Members Reviews:

That sound

Book was great! The tone of the narrator was perfect but her constant swallowing was gross! Must have a ton of spit in her mouth constantly as I have never actually heard that in a reading! Had to listen with one ear bud and a lower volume to avoid hearing it so much! Shame cause she's a good reader! She should maybe back off the mic when she's not speaking :(

Edge of my seat!

Loved this book! Great listen kept me wondering what's next! Great mystery along the way! Carlo was such a slime!

Narrator is TERRIBLE

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It would have been good if the narrator wasn't so annoying. Was she eating and chewing gum during the entire book?

What didnt you like about the narrators performance?

Very annoying. Sounded like she was eating and chewing gum through entire book

Not one of Jackie's better books

This book was okay. I do enjoy Ms Collins now and then so I do think that IF you like her then you will likely feel that the book is ok! Once again, I do not care for Ms Collins as a narrator of her own books. I like it when the narrator is able to have different voices for the characters and gives the characters more feeling.

It was okay...

If you like Jackie Collins, then you will enjoy this book. Much of this book was far-fetched but the characters and story line were fairly interesting.

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Title: The Priest's Graveyard

Author: Ted Dekker

Narrator: Rebecca Soler, Henry Leyva

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-19-11

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 250 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man. Soon, their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate.

Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother's life. Now he's a priest who lives by a law of love and compassion. It is powerful men and hypocrites who abide by legal law but eschew the law of love that most incense Danny. As an avenging angel, he believes it is his duty to show them the error of their ways, at any cost.

Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in that pursuit.

But when Danny and Renee's paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.

Judge not, or you too will be judged.

Members Reviews:

Excellent idea. Poor execution.

In an attempt to explore some wonderful themes (justice, vengeance, love and grace in regard to religious belief and societal laws), the Priest's Graveyard started off wonderfully, but went south pretty fast. Unique characters quickly morph into the cardboard cutout variety when their actions start to bend to the ridiculous plot.

A vigilante priest who takes justice into his own hands is terribly intriguing. Then, as we watch him interrogate his first offender and are made privy to his inner turmoil via a painfully indecisive interior monologue, we see that it???s not really a moral struggle, but more the fact that this character doesn???t know what he???s doing or what he???s really about, even though he thinks he does.

The same can be said of the recovering heroin addict and the ridiculous sequence of events that bring her to where she is. She???s another ditsy character that is at one moment full of conviction and self righteousness, and then the next second she's second guessing herself, and then she's full of conviction, and then second guessing herself, and then??? It???s tiring. We???re treated to monologue after monologue of the same thing from both main characters, especially in the last third of the book.

Cardboard characters and ridiculous plot aside, the theme at the core of the book is one worth exploring. It???s just a shame that by the time the main characters begin to really reflect on it, I no longer cared about them, not even a little bit.

Disappointed

Though initially interesting, I found the plot a bit corny and the voice of the female narrator, flat and annoying. The ending is hokey and unrealistic. Also, I've noticed in this book as well as others by this author, that he seems to be obsessed with his protagonist having blond hair and/or blue eyes... not to mention perpetuating the myth that beautiful women must be thin, petite waifs. Give me a break!

Unexpected treat

I really enjoyed this story and it wasn't at all what I expected. The dilemma of the characters and the choices that they ended up making were choices that I would have struggled with, but which in the end I think were all that they could do.

The world is rough and this story helped me to see some of the edges that I have ignored.

Seriously Let Down!!!

I attempted repeatedly to want this story to make sense, to reach even a modicum of credibility.

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Title: Bittersweet

Author: Danielle Steel

Narrator: Rob Webb

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-11-11

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 84 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

India Taylor lived in a world of manicured lawns and neatly maintained calendars: a merry-go-round of Little League, piano lessons, and Cape Cod summer vacations. With four wonderful children, India believed in Doug, the man she married 17 years before. For India, this was the promise she made, the life she had chosen - not the award-winning career as a photojournalist she once had. It was a choice she had never truly regretted. Until she begins to regret it with all her heart.

India couldn't pinpoint the exact moment. Perhaps it was the last time her agent called, begging her to take an assignment Doug insisted she turn down. Or perhaps it was when Doug told her he thought of her as a companion and someone to take care of their kids, and not much more. At that moment, the price of the sacrifices she'd made began to seem high. And then, she met Paul Ward. A Wall Street tycoon married to a best-selling author, Paul lived life on his own terms, traveling the world on his own yacht. India hadn't planned to become Paul's friend. Anything more was unthinkable. Yet talking to Paul was so easy. India could share her dreams with him, and offer comfort when Paul suffers a heartbreak of his own. And while Paul urges India to reclaim her career, Doug is adamantly against it, determined to keep her tied to the home. But with Paul's encouragement, India slowly, painfully, begins to break free, and find herself again.

Rediscovering her creativity and her courage, India uses Paul like a beacon on the horizon, sharing intimate phone conversations with a man half a world away, a man who never stops reminding her of all that is possible for her. India is changing, and nothing in her life will ever be the same again. Not her marriage. Not her friendship with Paul. And when India is presented with an irresistable opportunity, she makes a heart-wrenching decision, leaving a safe, familiar place to move into the terror of the unknown.

Members Reviews:

Gripping and feel good at the same time.

You can't help but cheer the main character on and watch as she struggles to keep her family afloat in this excellent book by Danielle Steel.

enjoyed the love story..

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

if someone loves a story with heart aches and triumphs and love, this is the one

What did you like best about this story?

The ending

What about Rob Webbs performance did you like?

he did a great job, with all the inflections in his voice and you could tell the difference between the characters of the story.

Bittersweet

A great love story between two people of different generations who start out friends and end up lovers.

Awesome

I loved that they were able to be together in the end. I just wished ur would have been about 5 more Chapters longer.

loved bittersweet my 3rd fav book. DS is excellent

loved loved loved...D.S. is one of my all time fav authors. Cant wait for the new book in mau

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Title: Hannibal

Author: Thomas Harris

Narrator: Daniel Gerroll

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-11-11

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 25 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

'It is an axiom of behavioural science that vampires are territorial, while cannibals range widely. 'Hannibal killed nine people before he was caught. And five on his escape. Two of his victims survived - one of them is in an asylum; but the other craves revenge. Mason Verger, a paraplegic confined to a respirator since his encounter with Dr Lecter, can move only the fingers of his crippled right hand across the soft blanket that covers his lifeless body. But Verger is very rich and very influential, and his reach extends into the echelons of power around the world. His need to find Lecter is insatiable. In Clarice Starling he has the perfect bait. As gripping and terrifying as any reader or listener of Silence of the Lambs would expect. Simply unforgettable.

Members Reviews:

Ridiculously intrusive narration

I have read and enjoyed this book. I was so looking forward to enjoying the Audible version on my runs but I am not sure if I can finish it. The narrators accent is so jarring, it distracts me from the story. This has never bothered me about an audio book before and I really didn't think it would make that much difference but it makes listening so much hard work! Please let me know if there is another version.

How can you go wrong with Hannibal Lector?

Would you listen to Hannibal again? Why?

Yes I would. It is not only well written, but it translates well into an audio book

What did you like best about this story?

that it was unabridged

Which scene was your favorite?

Can't really say the whole book was good

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

see above

Any additional comments?

At least he pronounced a lot of the words correctly as some audible books have mispronounciations

EXCEPTIONALY WELL READ- A PLEASURE TO LISTEN TO.

Would you listen to Hannibal again? Why?

ONE OF THE BEST STORIES I CAN REMEMBER, ONE ACTUALLY SIDES WITH A CANNIBAL, MURDERER- IN CONTRAST TO A DECENT UPBRINGING.

What other book might you compare Hannibal to and why?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO- BECAUSE OF THE VENGENCE THE PERSON WRONGED GETS.

Have you listened to any of Daniel Gerrolls other performances before? How does this one compare?

NO NONE, HOWVER THE PERON WHO READS THE TRILOGY

THE HUNGER GAMES, ETC., IS ENOUGH TO PUT ONE OFF BUYING AN AUDIBLE BOOK FOREVER-ABSOLUTELY USELESS- MAYBE THAT MADE DANIEL CARROL EVEN BETTER.

Who was the most memorable character of Hannibal and why?

CLARISA - SHE GETS CURED ( PEACE OF MIND )FROM DR. HANNIBAL AND VICE VERSA

Any additional comments?

THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE,

The best book of the series

Would you listen to Hannibal again? Why?

I would definitely listen to this book again. I have read it once in printed form and will likely listen to the audiobook again in the medium term. I believe it to be if not the best, the most interesting book from the Thomas Harris series.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters - with the exception of Clarice Starling almost every character in the book is despicable. They are a very colourful bunch of people to say the least.

What does Daniel Gerroll bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

He is a wonderful narrator, his narration of the faceless, lipless and severly crippled Mason Verger was exactly what I would have imagined from the printed version.

If you could rename Hannibal, what would you call it?

A Cheerful Homecoming

Any additional comments?

Love the ending..

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Title: Angel's Rest

Subtitle: An Eternity Springs Novel

Author: Emily March

Narrator: Kathe Mazur

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-15-11

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 165 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Beloved author Emily March returns with a warm and uplifting new novel about a small town with a big heart. Welcome to Eternity Springs, a little piece of heaven in the Colorado Rockies.

Gabriel Callahan has lost everything that mattered. All he wants is solitude on an isolated mountain estate. Instead, he gets a neighbor. Vibrant, no-nonsense Nic Sullivan is Eternity Springs veterinarian, and she has an uncanny plan to lure this talented architect back to the world of the living. First with a dog, next with a renovation project, and, finally, with a night of passion that ends with a surprise.

Now a man still raw from tragedy must face the biggest struggle of his heart. Can he forgive himself and believe in the power of second chances? Dare he trust in the promise of a future and a brand-new family here in Eternity Springs?

Critic Reviews:

A heartfelt story of family, community, second chances, and the power of love . . . Dont miss it! (Susan Wiggs)

Emily Marchs stories are heart-wrenching and soul-satisfying. For a wonderful read, dont miss a visit to Eternity Springs. (Lisa Kleypas)

Members Reviews:

Brilliant

I loved this book by Emily March, I haven't read any of her previous novels, but will now find as many of them as I can and do so, I listened to this audiobook in a day, lucky it was the weekend, the narrator Kathe Mazur did a wonderful job which always make for easy listening. Welldone !!!!!!

Unbelievebly Good!

Emily March does a fantastic job of portraying the broad spectrum love can take you -- from elated delight to heartbreaking sorrow. This book withdrew from me such intense emotion that I literally could not stop listening! This is my first experience with EM as an author, and if it is any indication of what the rest of her work is like, I am now a devoted fan. The narration by Kathe Mazur was also excellent! I hope Audible continues to add more books by Emily March.

Wonderful!!!!

I love this series. When I first started listening, I thought the story started a little slow, and the reader was a little too drab. Well, I was so wrong. The story is the best, and the reader is perfect. I would highly recomment this series to all.

Make sure you start with the first book, and continue through the series.

I am sorry the next book won't be out until September 2012.

In other words, I LOVE THIS SERIES.

Dramatic read !

This was my first Emily March book & I listened to it straight through last night. It was recommended by a friend as being along the same line as the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr which I love. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised & am currently downloading the next book in the series ...

That being said this is not a light read it is very dramatic & emotional ... these are two damaged people caught by surprise trying to do the best that they can.

I was not crazy about the narrator, to me she seemed a bit flat.

Unexpectedly Heart-Wrenching

I am not generally lured into these feel good romances, as the plots are generally way too slow paced for my tastes, but due to some interesting reviews, I gave this one a shot.This book kept my interest peeked just about the whole way through.

The book has a shattered and troubled male lead (which is my fav time) who seemingly just keeps making awful decisions through out the story, as it relates to a budding relationship with the female lead.

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Title: A Cup of Friendship

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Deborah Rodriguez

Narrator: Mozhan Marno

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-25-11

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 58 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From the author of the bighearted . . . inspiring (Vogue) memoir Kabul Beauty School comes a fiction debut as compelling as real life: the story of a remarkable coffee shop in the heart of Afghanistan, and the men and women who meet there - thrown together by circumstance, bonded by secrets, and united in an extraordinary friendship.

After hard luck and some bad choices, Sunny has finally found a place to call home - it just happens to be in the middle of a war zone. The thirty-eight-year-old Americans pride and joy is the Kabul Coffee House, where she brings hospitality to the expatriates, misfits, missionaries, and mercenaries who stroll through its doors. Shes especially grateful that the busy days allow her to forget Tommy, the love of her life, who left her in pursuit of money and adventure.

Working alongside Sunny is the maternal Halajan, who vividly recalls the days before the Taliban and now must hide a modern romance from her ultratraditional son - who, unbeknownst to her, is facing his own religious doubts. Into the café come Isabel, a British journalist on the trail of a risky story; Jack, who left his family back home in Michigan to earn danger pay as a consultant; and Candace, a wealthy and well-connected American whose desire to help threatens to cloud her judgment.

When Yazmina, a young Afghan from a remote village, is kidnapped and left on a city street pregnant and alone, Sunny welcomes her into the café and gives her a home - but Yazmina hides a secret that could put all their lives in jeopardy. As this group of men and women discover that theres more to one another than meets the eye, theyll form an unlikely friendship that will change not only their own lives but the lives of an entire country.

Brimming with Deborah Rodriguezs remarkable gift for depicting the nuances of life in Kabul, and filled with vibrant characters that readers will truly care about, A Cup of Friendship is the best kind of fiction - full of heart yet smart and thought-provoking.

Critic Reviews:

Advance praise for A Cup of Friendship: "Rodriguez paints a vivid picture of Afghan cultureas if Maeve Binchy had written The Kite Runner. (Kirkus Reviews)

With a messageto protect and empower the women of Kabul, Rodriguez weaves her tale of life, death, and marriageReaders will appreciate the in-depth, sensory descriptions of this oft-mentioned and faraway place that most have never seen. (Booklist)

A superb debut novelRodriguez captures place and people wholeheartedly, unveiling the faces of Afghanistan's women through a wealth of memorable characters who light up the page. (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

A cup of friendship

This is a lovely little book and easy to listen to. I also learned a lot about Afganastan and the Taliban. The story is fairly predictable, but told in a way that was interesting and held my attention ... yes, even while driving on the Interstate. Perfect summer book.

Love it!!!!

What made the experience of listening to A Cup of Friendship the most enjoyable?

With so many words not familiar to an English speaker it was entertaining to hear how to pronounce them correctly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Cup of Friendship?

I can not pick just one.