Ancient Israel is an unusual setting for a work by Hoffman, who is best known for contemporary novels featuring incandescent heroines and earthy enchantment. Hoffman's venture into a historical venue offers a bold testament to the human spirit as its female characters face challenges of biblical proportions. The struggles of fleeing from Roman armies and subsisting in the Judean desert are described by the youthful Aziza, portrayed by Heather Lind, and Shirah, a wise woman who is artful in the practice of traditional magic and medicine, portrayed by Aya Cash. Both are convincing as the compelling women they portray. Jessica Hecht and Tovah Feldshuh also grace this dark spiritual tale with powerful narrations. Hoffman loyalists may shy away from this archaic story but are advised to give it a try as the author solidly delivers on her signature themes of women's solidarity and mysticism.
Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
Duration: 19 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781442344570
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dara Rosenberg returns to narrate Meltzer's latest heartwarming novel, a second-chance romance peppered with magical realism. To the shock of workaholic television producer Evelyn, her ex-husband, David, has been hired as on-set physician for her musical production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As the frantically paced shooting unfolds, Evelyn is in a minor accident but declines medical care. She's then visited by eight "heartbreaks," or spectres, who show her moments in her past with David. Rosenberg skillfully portrays David's steadfast personality and concern for his ex-wife, as well as Evelyn's gradual recognition of her need to reorganize her priorities. This slow-burn romance will warm the hearts of listeners, who will also delight in its holiday theme.
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488236075
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Rebecca Lowman imbues Kate Riley's parabolic prose with verve and urgency. This ambitious debut unearths universalities of feminine curiosity from within the walls of a strict insular community. Ruth--a relentlessly inquisitive, slightly brainwashed member of a Christian communist cult in rural Michigan--is irresistible. While not overtly rebellious, she is mischievous. Her thoughts and various events within the community construct an effectively plotless but intellectually seductive mosaic of language, which Lowman parses with methodical precision. Her sharp delivery meets the clever and quick-witted social commentary head-on, charging forward throughout the decades of Ruth's small, hilarious, human experiences as she follows her intuition with a hound's tenacity. This novel chronicles a divine, fullhearted struggle toward a happy, meaningful life.
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593951880
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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