The Mourning Parade

A Novel

By: Dawn Reno Langley

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Single mom and veterinarian Natalie DeAngelo lost everything the day her two sons were killed in a school shooting. Following her psychiatrist's advice, she decides to sell her once-happy home to escape the immense pain and grief of living there alone.

Desperate to find relief from her unspeakable loss, Natalie impetuously commits to honoring her boys' memory and volunteers to assist philanthropist Andrew Gordon at his elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand. All she wants once she gets there is relief.

But she soon realizes she may be in over her head when she faces three major challenges: her debilitating PTSD is creating night terrors; Peter Hatcher, the sanctuary's irascible in-house vet, has a longtime grudge against her and wants desperately for her to fail; and Sophie, a female elephant with a raging leg infection and PTSD caused by human abuse, is demanding that Natalie use every trick in her veterinarian's black bag to heal her.

Dr. Hatcher wants to euthanize Sophie, as he claims she's a lost cause, and Natalie knows she must find a way to convince the others to let her keep trying. Can she and Sophie find a way to heal together and learn to love life again? Or will another tragedy shatter Natalie's progress?

©2017 Dawn Reno Langley (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Loved this elephant story

I enjoyed this book. This is not a mystery, but there is an element of a twist. I loved the elephant Sophie and the elephant sanctuary setting. This was good and definitely bittersweet.

Excellent Read

Although this is not my normal genre, I "read" The Mourning Parade and thoroughly enjoyed it. Dawn Reno Langley builds up believable characters without overdoing it by describing every nuance of their persona. Depressing at times, happy at times,

The Mourning Parade takes the reader on the main character’s journey through the pain of her loss, and how she is able to work through it by her veterinary work with animals. I was afraid that the story wouldn’t have enough excitement for me, but I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns Dawn creates along the voyage to finding oneself.

Pick it up, take a chance … you’ll be glad you did.

Inspiring, a need to read book

A This is an amazing story that will stir a full range of emotions ie: Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Frustration, and Excitement. The characters are believable. Dr Natalie De Angelo is a depressed grieving Mom wanting to just escape after the loss of her sons. She leaves the country away from friends and family support and goes to Thailand as a volunteer at an Elephant Sanctuary for a year. She is suffering from PTSD and realized elephants can too. She builds a relationship with Siphie an adult abused elephant with a severe leg nfection. She sees Sophie is suffering from PTSD as she is. This book deals with Grief, Joy, Hope and just plain Love. You will love the story of Sophie and her progress with loving care. The bond of Natalie and Sophie. I loved this book and could not seem to put it down. I highly recommend this book.