Audio Review of The Doula by Bridget Boland

Title: The Doula
Author: Bridget Boland
Narrator: Madeleine Maby
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: 10hrs 35min
Source: Publisher
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Raised in a funeral home, Caroline Connors saw her mother miscarry when she was just a young girl and realized that she had a calling. Unlike her family, who guide souls on their way out, Caro chose to bring them in. As a doula, Caro spent years providing comfort and emotional support to women in labor, but when her best friend, Mary Grace, experiences complications, she makes a quick decision, taking the baby’s life into her hands as her lifelong friend passes away. Now, charged with medical malpractice by Mary Grace’s husband, Caro must endure a trial that threatens her professional future, questions her identity as a doula and friend, and forces her to confront a dark past that she’s been hiding from for years.

Raw, soul-seeking and poignant; The Doula will stay with you long after you've set it down.

Caroline's life was finally getting back on track after years of bumps and obstacles when Mary Grace asks her to move to Milwaukee to help with the birth of her child. Caro packs everything and starts her new life over.  While I has some trouble with certain decisions Caro made, I still think she was a very realistic character.  She doesn't live a charmed life and, in fact, had a pretty dramatic and scaring childhood that has affected many of her life choices.  This definitely shaped her life and maybe the flaws make her more beautiful and real. 

I love that the setting takes place in my city.  It made me feel more connected to the story and helped me visualize everything in more detail.  The story itself was filled with hope and pain.  Child birth is a very personal experience and many people have passionate feelings about how they want their children brought into this world.  I loved that Bridget Boland explored them all, from the formal hospital, to a birthing center, to a spiritual/commune-type location.  It was so interesting learning how each doctor/midwife had their own style and feel to them.  It opened my eyes to all the different options pregnant women have depending on their styles and comforts. 

As for the lawsuit against Caro, it brings up emotions and past circumstances that many people don't want to face.  Mary Grace's husband was completely ridiculous.  I didn't like him from the first time he was introduced in the story all the way through the end.  I thought he was a jerk and that Mary Grace deserved someone better than him.  The one thing that bothered me with the trial is that all the blame was all pushed on Mary Grace.  Especially after events that happen later in the story I think the hospital should have been investigated in greater detail in accordance to Mary Grace's death and her daughter's birthing complications.  I thought something was definately suspect with the hospital and yet it seemed nothing fell on the doctors or nurses. 

While listening to the audio I immediately recognized the narrator's voice.  I had just finished another book that she narrates where she is a teenager, so it took me a couple of chapters to fit her voice into this new role.  But after that was figured out, the narration was wonderful.  I felt she really captured who Caro was and her struggling emotions through the entire ordeal. 

The Doula is a novel that unexpectedly touched me and I think it will be one that I re-read often in future years. 

Audio Review of Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Title: Burn for Burn
Authors: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Narrators: Joy Osmanski, Madeleine Maby, and Rebekkah Ros
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: 7 discs
Source: Publisher
Format: Audio
Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.

KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.

LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.

MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.

None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.

With an unlikely alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

We've all done it.  As much as it's hard to admit, we all have a dark side that seeks revenge every once in a while.  Sure for the normal person it is just a passing thought, or maybe even a silent hope that karma will come through, but not for Kat, Lillia, and Mary.  They've been burned and they want revenge.

These three lovely ladies couldn't be more different or more unlikely to band together and plot revenge against those who have wronged them.  I absolutely loved these girls.  They were so unique and complete opposites that they seemed to only enhance each other's characters.  Kat is a bit rough around the edges and sometimes dangerous, but is tormented by her ex-bestie who happens to be Lillia's  current bestie.  Lillia is the sweet princess, but when Alex starts messing around with her little sister she's willing to get down and dirty.  Mary is the shadow no one sees, but is still scarred from past events with the glory boy of the high school. 

The story had alternating point of views between Kat, Lillia and Mary and there was a different narrator for each girl.  Joy Osmanski, Madeleine Maby, and Rebekkah Ros were wonderful and fit each character's personality spot on.  This made it easy to keep track of whose point of view we were hearing because of the different voices.  I was also amazed at how well the two authors "voices" blended together.  It was seamless.     

The plot was a thick and complicated tangled web of revenge.  At first you are right there with these girls wanting blood from their enemies, but as the story progresses doubt starts to creep in.  Do these bullies really deserve what's coming to them?  One event after another will sway your opinion and leave you unsure of what's warranted and what's not.

I absolutely adored this audio version of Burn for Burn.  Between the great characters, and the catchy storyline it was hard not to.  There is a subtle paranormal aspect, but so subtle you don't even notice it until the end.  Speaking of the end it was killer and left me highly anticipating the next book.  

Burn for Burn is one very dramalicious read! Between the girl's scheming and the typical high school antics, it's a fun read that you will devour and leave you craving for more.