Kate’s 2¢: “The Heights” by Louise Candlish

“The Heights” by Louise Candlish

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to Milo Twomey, Louise Candlish, and Genevieve Gaunt narrate this interesting book. The author chose a triple point of view to move the story’s narrative arc. It came to a wonderful, surprise ending.  

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.louisecandlish.com

Louise Candlish is a British author. In 2019, her crime novel Our House won the Crime & Thriller Book of the Year award at the British Book Awards.[1] In 2021, the novel was adapted into an ITV drama starring Tuppence Middleton and Martin Compston.[2][3]

In 2024, her book The Only Suspect won the Capital Crime Fingerprint award for thriller of the year.[4]

Early lifeedit

Candlish was born in Hexham, Northumberland,[5] and grew up in Northampton. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English from University College London (UCL) in 1989.[6]

From NLS/BARD/LOC”

The Heights DB114514

Author: Candlish, Louise

Reading Time: 10 hours, 52 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Milo Twomey, Louise Candlish, Genevieve Gaunt

Subjects: Psychological Fiction, Suspense Fiction

“The Heights is a tall, slender apartment building among warehouses in London. Its roof terrace is so discreet, you wouldn’t know it existed if you weren’t standing at the window of the flat directly opposite. But you are. And that’s when you see a man up there—a man you’d recognize anywhere. He may be older now, but it’s definitely him. But that can’t be because he’s been dead for over two years. You know this for a fact. Because you’re the one who killed him.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

[New York] : Simon & Schuster Audio, [2022]

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Kate’s 2¢: “Acceptable losses: a novel” by Irwin Shaw

“Acceptable losses: a novel” by Irwin Shaw

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to Roy Avers  narrate this story. The author crafted several possible suspects, only to find…well, I won’t be a spoiler. Sufice to say the who ever hired the killer is still unknown.

A few take aways:

–The luck of the draw. Acceptable losses.  A the military so delicately put it.

–Haunted by a feeling that nothing has been concluded.

–A sense that everything that has happened is an overture.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

irwinshaw.org

Irwin Shaw (February 27, 1913 – May 16, 1984) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and short-story author whose written works have sold more than 14 million copies. He is best known for two of his novels: The Young Lions (1948), about the fate of three soldiers during World War II, which was made into a film of the same name starring Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, and Rich Man, Poor Man (1970), about the fate of two brothers and a sister in the post-World War II decades,[1] which in 1976 was made into a popular miniseries starring Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte, and Susan Blakely.

Personal lifeedit

Shaw was born Irwin Gilbert Shamforoff in the South Bronx, New York City, to Jewish immigrants from Nizhyn, Ukraine.[2] His parents were Rose and Will. His younger brother, David Shaw, became a noted Hollywood producer and writer.[3] Shortly after Irwin’s birth, the Shamforoffs moved to Brooklyn. Irwin changed his surname upon entering college. He spent most of his youth in Brooklyn, where he graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934.

He began screenwriting in 1935 at age 21. In 1939 he married actress and producer Marian Edwards, daughter of silent film actor Snitz Edwards.[4] The couple divorced in 1967, remarrying two years before Irwin’s death in 1984.

During World War II, he was approached by William Wyler to join his film unit. Unable to be commissioned as an officer due to his age and 1-A draft status,[5] Shaw decided to enter the Regular Army. Later, the Army, noting his background, reassigned him to the Signal Corps with George Stevens’ film unit.[6] He was one of four writers attached to Stevens’ command, in which he became a warrant officer. After the war, he returned to his career as a writer.

Shaw died in Davos, Switzerland on May 16, 1984, at age 71, after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.[7]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Acceptable losses: a novel DB18821

Author: Shaw, Irwin

Reading Time: 9 hours, 31 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Roy Avers

Subject: Suspense Fiction

Frightening experiences begin for Roger Damon, a literary agent in his middle sixties, when he receives an ominous phone call from a stranger threatening him. Damon then embarks on a retrospective spiritual quest in which memories of past lovers, enemies, and his ex-wife take on the color of hallucination and nightmare. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex.

New York : Arbor House, c1982.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Tiny tales: stories of romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness” by Alexander McCall Smith

“Tiny tales: stories of romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness” by Alexander McCall Smith

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   This was one of the seven books NLS sent to me on one cartridge.

   Brian Nishii, Robert Ian Mackenzie, and Jamie Jackson did a good job of narrating short pieces on a variety of topics. Some of them resonated with me, others did not.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

alexandermccallsmith.co.uk

Sir Alexander “Sandy” McCall Smith CBE FRSE FRSL (born 24 August 1948) is a Scottish legal scholar and author of fiction. He was born and brought up in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and was formerly Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. He became an expert on medical law and bioethics and served on related British and international committees. He has since become known as a fiction writer, with sales in English exceeding 40 million by 2010 and translations into 46 languages.[1] He is known as the creator of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.[1][2] The “McCall” derives from his great-great-grandmother Bethea McCall, who married James Smith at Glencairn, Dumfries-shire, in 1833.[3]

Early lifeedit

Rodney Alexander Alasdair McCall Smith was born in 1948 in Bulawayo in the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe), to British parents.[4] He was the only son, having three elder sisters.[5] His father worked as a public prosecutor in Bulawayo.[6] McCall Smith was educated at the Christian Brothers College in Bulawayo before moving to Scotland at age 17 to study law at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned his LLB[7] and PhD degrees.[4][8] He soon taught at Queen’s University Belfast, and while teaching there he entered a literary competition: one a children’s book and the other a novel for adults. He won in the children’s category.[6]

McCall Smith’s paternal grandfather, George Marshall McCall Smith, born in Nairn, abandoned his wife and four children in Scotland and ran off with one of his patients to New Zealand in 1914. They settled in Rawene where he became the medical doctor and a community leader.[9][10][11]

… McCall Smith is a prolific author of fiction, with several series to his credit. He writes at a prodigious rate: “Even when travelling, he never loses a day, turning out between 2,000 and 3,000 words [a day] – but more like 5,000 words when at home in Edinburgh. His usual rate is 1,000 words an hour”.[2] He has gained the most fame for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe and set in Gaborone, Botswana. The first novel was published in 1998. By 2009, the series had sold more than 20 million copies in English editions.[2]

According to his publisher in Edinburgh, “He was, until 2005, a professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh, but gave up the position to concentrate on his writing and now writes full time.”[27]

He published 30 books in the 1980s and 1990s before he began the series that has brought him the world’s notice.[1] In 2008 he wrote a serialised online novel Corduroy Mansions, with the audio edition read by Andrew Sachs made available at the same pace as the daily publication. He wrote more than ten chapters ahead of publication, finding the experience of serialised publication to be “a frightening thing to create a novel while his readers watched. ‘I am like a man on a tightrope.'”[2]

In 2009 he donated the short story “Still Life” to Oxfam’s “Ox-Tales” project, comprising four collections of stories written by 38 British authors. McCall Smith’s story was published in the “Air” collection.[28]

In 2020 he published a collection of poetry entitled In a Time of Distance: And Other Poems.[29]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Tiny tales: stories of romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness DB131950

Author: McCall Smith, Alexander

Reading Time: 3 hours, 59 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Brian Nishii, Robert Ian Mackenzie, Jamie Jackson

Subjects: Short Stories, Romance

“It is often said that the best things in life come in small packages; anyone in search of proof need look no further than the stories in this collection: brief, utterly engaging tales that offer lasting surprise and delight. In Tiny Tales, Alexander McCall Smith explores romance, ambition, kindness, and happiness in thirty short stories. Here we meet the first Australian pope, who hopes to finally find some peace and quiet back home in Perth; a psychotherapist turned motorcycle racetrack manager; and an aspiring opera singer who gets her unlikely break onstage. And, of course, we spend time in McCall Smith’s beloved Scotland, where we are introduced to progressive Vikings, a group of housemates with complex romantic entanglements, and a couple of globe-trotting dentists. These tales depict the full scope of human experience and reveal the rich tapestry of life — painted in miniature.” — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Prince Frederick : Recorded Books, Inc., 2021.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Havoc Nordic”, translation series by Tom Kristensen

“Havoc Nordic”, translation series by Tom Kristensen

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Andrew Judson did a good job of narrating this lengthy story. Translated by Carl Malmberg

A few take aways:

–Meaninglessness expressed artistically.

A courageous book that describes havoc, the process of spiritual ritual disintegration…of Copenhagen of the 1920’s.

–Finds himself living without meaning, bored and restless.

–You cannot budge from your pointless point of view.

–Sometimes, a person is over-come by discust at being an active participant in this world’s perverted affairs.

–No moral system can be constructed from scientific premise.

–I have longed for ship wreck and disaster, for havoc, and sudden death.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tom Kristensen (born 29 May 1955) is a Norwegian writer, best known for his books in the thriller genre.

He was born on 29 May 1955. Kristensen has a career that includes banking, industrial management and international financial consultancy.[1]

His first book, En kule (A Killing), was published in 2001.[2]

He received the Riverton Prize in 2006.[3]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Havoc DBC24684

Series: Nordic translation series

Author: Kristensen, Tom

Reading Time: 20 hours, 14 minutes

Production: Minnesota State Services for the Blind, Communication Center

Read by: Andrew Judson

Subject: Psychological Fiction

A novel about a thirty-something literary critic who loses himself in a maelstrom of drink, jazz, and sex, is one of the most disturbing and absorbing accounts of self-destruction in modern European literature. Adult. Descriptions of sex. Strong language. Violence.

Madison, W.I. : University of Wisconsin Press, 1968, ©1930.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Three shattered souls”, Broken blades(3 by Mai Corland

“Three shattered souls”, Broken blades(3 by Mai Corland

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   This was one of seven books on one cartridge NLS sent to me.

   Zion Jang, Jaine Ye, Roger Yeh, Greg Chun, and Sophie Oda did a great job of narrating the various characters in this Fantasy Fiction Romance.

   It opens with a lot of gratuitous blood and guts, but there is a plot that comes to a climax on the island.

AI Overview

Like so many of us, Mai Corland can’t resist a new journal

Mai Corland is a Korean American attorney and New York Times bestselling author of fantasy, best known for her hit series Five Broken Blades. Born in Seoul and adopted into New York, she currently lives in the cold with her family and writes award-winning children’s and young adult books under the pseudonym Meredith Ireland.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Three shattered souls DB132213

Series: Broken blades

Order in Series: 03

Author:

Reading Time: 14 hours, 19 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Zion Jang, Jaine Ye, Roger Yeh, Greg Chun, Sophie Oda

Subjects: Bestsellers, Fantasy Fiction, Romance

“Some betrayals cut deeper than blades. The Blades were never supposed to survive this long. But after the battle in Quu Harbor, escaping is no longer enough. The most dangerous liars in the four realms have one last mission — return to Yusan and finish what they started. But now a usurper sits on the serpent throne. And he may be more dangerous than the god-king. With three relics of the Dragon Lord in their possession, the Blades will face the might of the four realms. Enemies will become allies. Allies will become traitors. And the ones they love most? They’ll be the ones to break them. Grief will carve the Blades into something ruthless and unrecognizable. But only by losing everything can they win this game of kings and crowns.” — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

Prince Frederick : Recorded Books, Inc., 2025.

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Kate’s 2¢: “He Said/She Said: A Novel” by Erin Kelly

“He Said/She Said: A Novel” by Erin Kelly

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Helen Johns and Jonathan Broadbent  did a great job of narrating this Suspense Fiction story about a rape.

   It is a good reminder that honesty is the best policy  and that two or more wrongs, never make it alright.

From the AI results:

• Erin Kelly (Bestselling Author): An English journalist and Sunday Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers (e.g., He Said/She Said, The Skeleton Key). She is not a Rochester native, but frequently engages with New York reading communities.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Erin Kelly (born 1976) is an English writer from Romford. She has worked as a journalist since 1998, writing for newspapers, magazines including Red, Psychologies, Marie Claire and Elle, as well as writing psychological thrillers.

Novelsedit

Kelly’s debut,The Poison Tree, was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick, and was turned into a major TV drama.[1] Her sixth novel, He Said/She Said, spent six weeks in the Sunday Times top 10 bestseller list,[1] and was also a Richard & Judy Book Club pick.[2]

In 2014, Kelly’s novelisation of the Bafta-winning TV programme Broadchurch became an international bestseller.[1]

Her seventh novel, Stone Mothers, was later published under the title We Know You Know[3], and was selected as a Richard & Judy Book Club pick in 2020.[4]

Kelly’s eighth novel, Watch Her Fall, was published in 2021. Her ninth novel, The Skeleton Key, was published in 2022 and it included references to a song that was created by Ben Walker, Kirsty Merryn and violinist Basia Bartz to accompany the book.[5] Kelly’s latest novel, House of Mirrors, is a standalone sequel to her first, The Poison Tree.

Kelly also works as a creative writing tutor.[6]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

He said/she said: a novel DB89969   

Author: Kelly, Erin

Reading Time: 13 hours, 38 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Helen Johns, Jonathan Broadbent

Subjects: Psychological Fiction, Suspense Fiction

While Kit and Laura watch a total eclipse, Laura sees something terrible occur between a man and a woman. Months later, the woman turns up on Laura’s doorstep and things take a twisted turn. Fifteen years later, Kit and Laura are living under new names and completely off the grid. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

[New York] : Macmillan Audi

Kate’s 2¢: “Having Everything: A Novel by John L’Heureux

“Having Everything: A Novel by John L’Heureux

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to Bruce Huntey narrate this Psychological Fictional story.

   It reminds us about “physician heal thyself” and Honesty is the best policy.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Clarke L’Heureux (October 26, 1934 – April 22, 2019) was an American author.[1] L’Heureux was the author of such works of fiction as The Miracle, Having Everything, The Shrine at Altamira, Comedians, An Honorable Profession, and A Woman Run Mad. A former Jesuit priest (he left the order in 1971) and contributing editor to The Atlantic Monthly, he taught at Georgetown, Tufts, Harvard, and was a professor of English at Stanford University since 1973.

Early yearsedit

John Clarke L’Heureux was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts, on 26 October 1934; his parents were Wilfred and Mildred L’Heureux. After two years at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, he entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) at the age of nineteen and began his path to ordination as a priest in 1956. During these years, he published several books of poetry and a journal, Picnic in Babylon: A Jesuit Priest’s Journal, 1963-1967 (1967), which chronicled his final years of seminary study. The latter part of L’Heureux’s life as a Jesuit coincided with the upheaval the Roman Catholic Church experienced in the wake of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which was convened to “open the church’s windows” more widely to the complicated aspirations of the modern world. The turbulence that accompanied engagement with the world proved to be both exhilarating and disruptive for an entire generation of priests and nuns. L’Heureux’s career as a priest, which included time as a graduate student in English at Harvard and a stint as a staff editor at The Atlantic Monthly, was fairly conventional for an unconventional time. He earned degrees from Weston College (BA), Boston College (MA), Woodstock College (STL), and Harvard University (MA).[2]

Writing careeredit

L’Heureux left the priesthood and was laicized in 1971; that year he also married Joan Polston, the dedicatee of most of his subsequent books. He wrote in Picnic in Babylon, “I became a Jesuit, paradoxically, on the grounds of coldest reason: I felt God wanted me to, I could, and therefore I should. So I did.”[citation needed] He explained some of the reasons behind his leaving the priesthood to The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) in an article published on 11 May 1990 to coincide with the release of his short-story collection Comedians.

L’Heureux published three collections of poetry before he began to write fiction. His poem “from St. Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Jesuits: His Autobiography [with directions for reading]” (in No Place for Hiding, 1971) bridged verse and narrative prose. L’Heureux said later in an unpublished interview that he “never looked back. It became more satisfying to explore consciousnesses different from one’s own.” His short fiction began appearing in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, Esquire, and several literary journals, and has been included in Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards and The Best American Short Stories.

Death and final worksedit

L’Heureux died April 22, 2019, in Palo Alto, California, by suicide because he lived with Parkinson’s disease. https://stanfordmag.org/contents/novelist-and-writing-mentor He was 84.[3] His final essay, “John L’Heureux on Death and Dignity,” was published in The New Yorker the following April 29, with the announcement that a new collection of his stories, The Heart is a Full-Wild Beast, and his last novel, The Beggar’s Pawn, would be published in 2020.[4]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Having everything: a novel DB50684                       

Author: L’Heureux, John

Reading Time: 6 hours, 15 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Bruce Huntey

Subject: Psychological Fiction

In the eyes of the world psychiatrist Philip Tate stands at the pinnacle of success, both personally and professionally. But when he succumbs to a compulsive weakness for housebreaking, events get out of control and lead to his destruction. Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1999.

New York : Atlantic Monthly Press, c1999.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Best Day Ever” by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda

“Best Day Ever” by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Doug Tisdale Jr., one of my favorite presenters, did an excellent job narrating this domestic thriller. The listener knows from the first paragraphs that Paul is a narcistic prick, but we listen on to find out exactly what he’s up to.

   There is a list of book discussion topics.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

kairarouda.com

Kaira Sturdivant Rouda (born May 17, 1963) is an American author and businesswoman. She is best known for her psychological suspense novels, including Best Day Ever and All the Difference. Her novel, The Favorite Daughter, was released in May 2019.[1][2]

Early life and education[edit]

Kaira Sturdivant was born on May 17, 1963, in Evanston, Illinois, to Patricia Ann Robinson Sturdivant, a community volunteer from Santa Cruz, California, and Frederick David Sturdivant, a retired professor and management consultant from San Jose, California.

Rouda earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University in 1985.[3]

Career[edit]

In the early-1990s, Rouda began her career as a reporter for Business First newspaper, a member of the American City Business Journals chain. She later worked as an account executive for Fahlgren & Swink, a regional advertising agency, before assuming the role of vice president of marketing at Stanley Steemer in 1995.

In 2002, she created the Columbus, Ohio-based franchise company, Real Living Real Estate.[4] Built as the first female-focused residential real estate brand,[5][6] Rouda grew the brand to more than 22 states before its sale to Brookfield Residential Property Services, a Toronto-based firm. The Real Living real estate franchise was eventually sold to Berkshire Hathaway.[7]

Early writing career[edit]

As a freelance writer, Rouda has contributed articles to Columbus Monthly and Midwest Living. For ten years, she was the “Connections” columnist for This Week, a publication of The Columbus Dispatch.

Her first book was titled Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs[8]

Fiction writing[edit]

In 2011, Rouda turned her focus to writing fiction,[9] with an emphasis on women’s fiction and domestic suspense. Her novel Best Day Ever (2017) received positive reviews from Kirkus Reviews,[10] Book Reporter,[11] HuffPost[12] and The News & Observer.[13]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Best day ever

Author: Rouda Kaira Sturdivant

Reading Time: 7 hours, 24 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Doug Tisdale Jr.

Subjects: Psychological Fiction, Suspense Fiction

Columbus advertising executive Paul Strom and his wife, Mia, leave their sons with a babysitter and head to their Lake Erie vacation house for a weekend getaway. But the dangerous secrets they each harbor will make this anything but “the best day ever.”Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2017.

Don Mills, Ontario : Graydon House, [2017]

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Kate’s 2¢: “The night is defying” by Chloe C. Peñaranda

“The night is defying” by Chloe C. Peñaranda

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   This was one of seven books on a cartridge the NLS sent to me.

   Multiple narrators presented this story.

AI Overview

The Dark Is Descending – Tor Publishing Group

Chloe C. Peñaranda (also known as C.C. Peñaranda) is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling Scottish author known for her sweeping epic fantasy and romantasy novels.

Background

• Origin: Born and based in a quiet, scenic pocket of Scotland, she lives with her three dogs.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The night is defying DB127374

Series: Nytefall trilogy

Order in Series: 02

Author: Peñaranda, Chloe C.

Reading Time: 19 hours, 42 minutes

Read by: King, Corvin, Prior, Jacci

Subjects: Fantasy Fiction, Romance, Occult and Horror Fiction, Bestsellers

“Shaken from the aftermath of the Libertatem, the newly found star-maiden Astraea is determined to keep her freedom, even at the cost of betraying her heart. But time is running out to recover her memories with the hole it will unveil her killer. Embarking on a journey to discover her past, Astraea’s awakening power spins the hourglass on a history threatening to repeat itself. While Nyte tries to regain control of the vampires hungry for bloodshed, a sinister plan by his brother to overthrow him sparks a dangerous feud. But are they willing to wear the blood of their kin to see it through? For nothing in the past ever stays buried. Friends have turned into foes, brothers have turned into enemies, and what was written in the stars long ago ignites again in two hearts that were never meant to be. Letting Astraea go would save the world from darkness, but Nyte is no hero. It seems no monster is heartless, and no angel is without sin.” — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

New York : Macmillan, 2025.

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Kate’s 2¢: “For Your Own Good” by Samantha Downing

“For Your Own Good” by Samantha Downing

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to David Pittu narrate this book about a teacher who does the wrong thing possibly for the right reason. I liked the poetic justice of Zack’s decision to be come a teacher “for their own good”.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Samantha Downing is an American author of thriller novels.

Careeredit

Downing was born in California and has spent time in New Orleans. She is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Downing was a hobbyist writer until a friend sent a copy of Downing’s manuscript of My Lovely Wife, a psychological thriller, to a literary editor. Following the book’s release and success, Amazon Studios acquired its film rights, in partnership with Nicole Kidman’s production company, Blossom Films.[1]

Downing’s second book, He Started It, was released in 2020 and quickly became an international bestseller. Her third book, For Your Own Good, published in the U.S. on July 20, 2021, became an instant hit on the USA Today bestseller list.

On July 18, 2023, A Twisted Love Story, was released in the United States. According to The Nerd Daily, it is “a daring and delightful thriller about a young couple that gives a whole new meaning to the dangers of modern dating”.[2]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

For your own good DB104300

Author: Downing, Samantha

Reading Time: 10 hours, 39 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: David Pittu

Subjects: Psychological Fiction, Suspense Fiction

The prestigious Belmont Academy recently awarded Teddy Crutcher Teacher of the Year. Teddy says his wife couldn’t be more proud. But no one has seen her for quite a while. And he can’t be bothered by mysterious deaths on campus. He’s focused on pushing the students to their best. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

[New York] : Penguin Audio, 2021.

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