Still Summer Mitchard, Jacquelyn and Ericksen, Susan

Product Description Back in high school, Tracy, Olivia, and Holly were known as The Godmothers, the girls everyone wanted to be and know. Unlike many friendships, their bond survived the years. But 20 years later, their glamorous leader, Olivia, whose wealthy Italian husband has died, suggests they reunite on her return to the United States with a luxury sailboat crossing in the Caribbean . With Tracy 's college-aged daughter and an attentive two-man crew, they sail into paradise. But then, the smallest mistake triggers a series of devastating events. Suddenly in a desperate fight for survival, they battle the elements, dwindling food and water, the threat of modern-day piracy, and their own frailties. STILL SUMMER is at once a breathtaking adventure and a story about the bonds that hold friend to friend and mothers to daughters, and how facing our own mortality tests the truth of everything we think we know. From Publishers Weekly Ericksen gives an appropriately taut, tense reading of this gripping novel about four women on a sailing vacation who end up fighting for their lives when their ship is disabled, food is running low, and they're beset by modern-day pirates. Ericksen doesn't create actual character voices, but she does a great job voicing snobbish Olivia and sarcastic, emotional teenager Cami. (The voices of the two down-to-earth characters, Tracy and Holly, tend to blur.) Michel, a young Frenchman, sounds just as sexy as he should, while criminal Ernesto is appropriately menacing (although Ericksen's attempt at a Spanish accent leaves something to be desired). Ericksen is best at voicing the climactic emotional confrontation between Olivia and the rest of the group that will leave listeners on the edge of their seats. Random-seeming musical background is unwisely used; it probably indicates either places where text was abridged or beginnings of chapters, but either way, it's distracting and unnecessary. Minor quibbles aside, this is a brisk, fast-paced and suspenseful audiobook. Simultaneous release with the Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 9). Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review Susan Ericksen masterfully portrays childhood friends Tracy, Holly, and Olivia and their enduring friendship. The story of their joyous 20-year reunion on a tropical cruise is delivered in an engaging style. Ericksen's voice becomes somber at the description of Olivia's husband's recent death and her subsequent mourning. But the women's personal lives take a backseat as their luxury sailboat is threatened by pirates and debilitating ocean storms that challenge each woman's strengths, weaknesses, and allegiances. Ericksen's vocal personality captures the spirit of danger and excitement on the high seas and makes the story believable. An excellent portrayal of devoted friendships will win Mitchard fans. G.D.W. AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08] From AudioFile Susan Ericksen masterfully portrays childhood friends Tracy, Holly, and Olivia and their enduring friendship. The story of their joyous 20-year reunion on a tropical cruise is delivered in an engaging style. Ericksens voice becomes somber at the description of Olivias husbands recent death and her subsequent mourning. But the womens personal lives take a backseat as their luxury sailboat is threatened by pirates and debilitating ocean storms that challenge each womans strengths, weaknesses, and allegiances. Ericksens vocal personality captures the spirit of danger and excitement on the high seas and makes the story believable. An excellent portrayal of devoted friendships will win Mitchard fans. G.D.W. AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright AudioFile, Portland, Maine