Shadow Woman

A Novel

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

From Linda Howard comes a thrilling and sensual new novel of romance, suspense, intrigue...and memories that can kill.

Lizette Henry wakes up one morning and makes a terrifying discovery: She doesn't recognize the face she sees in the mirror. She remembers what she looks like, but her reflection is someone else's. To add to the shock, two years seem to have disappeared from her life. Someone has gone to great and inexplicable lengths to keep those missing years hidden forever. But the past always finds a way to return.

Strange memories soon begin to surface, and, along with them, some unusual skills and talents that Lizette hasn't a clue about acquiring. Sensing that she's being monitored, Lizette suddenly knows how to search for bugs in her house and tracking devices in her car. What's more, she can elude surveillance - like a trained agent.

Enter a mysterious and seductive stranger named Xavier, who claims he wants to help - but who triggers disturbing images of an unspeakable crime of which Lizette may or may not be the perpetrator. With memories returning, she suddenly becomes a target of anonymous assassins. On the run with nowhere to hide, Lizette has no choice but to rely on Xavier, a strong and magnetic man she doesn't trust, with a powerful attraction she cannot resist. As murky waters become clear, Lizette confronts a conspiracy that is treacherous and far-reaching and a truth that, once revealed, may silence her and Xavier once and for all.

©2012 Linda Howard (P)2012 Random House Audio

Not for me

What would have made Shadow Woman better?

Felt like the story was the sex with a semi interesting story wrapped around it. Would have liked the story a lot more if the characters were better developed. The story was pretty predictable and the surprises were meh. The ending was laughable. This book does not make me want to read or listen to anything else by this author.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Carrington MacDuffie?

The narrator was pretty good so I would not hesitate to listen to another book with MacDuffle as the author.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was very disappointed in the book.

Just didn't work for me

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The narrator was not appropriate for this story.

Would you ever listen to anything by Linda Howard again?

Yes, love Linda Howard, but this story and narration is not the best.

What didn’t you like about Carrington MacDuffie’s performance?

Her voice was too deep for the part of the female lead. Her emotion was not believable.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom.

dreadfully disappointed

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Interesting characters, an interesting story, a twist... all would have been welcome.

What could Linda Howard have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Mystery. I've enjoyed all her other titles that I've read. Made this disappointment very surprising.

Would you be willing to try another one of Carrington MacDuffie’s performances?

Not on purpose. More than any other author I find the narrators of Linda's book are not my favorites. I almost stopped listening but thought that surely the story would get better and the mediocre narration wouldn't matter. Should have stopped listening.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Shadow Woman?

I would have sent the whole manuscript back to Linda, told her to pitch it and start again. She can do soooo much better.

Any additional comments?

I hope this title is the exception and her next book will be back to fabulous. Maybe this title is a reprint of an early, less experienced work? That could explain the echo where the story should be.

Boring!!! Not worth the credit

What would have made Shadow Woman better?

This book needs alot of work. The idea of the book is a good one. But Linda Howard took it nowhere. There no action , no romance no climax, and really no ending. There were a few ( sex dreams) and even those were bad. I have never written a bad review before but I couldn't bring myself to let this one go. I have read plenty of Linda Howard books in the past but this one and her book Blood born have ruined it for me. I will never purchase another book by Linda Howard again. Not worth my money or my time.

What could Linda Howard have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

LH could have finished the story and made it believable...

Did Carrington MacDuffie do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

she did a good job with the different voices but she sounded old... to raspy for me... Like she smokes a pack a day. she's just not for me.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

the idea of the book is a good one.... but thats all that was good about it

Great opening

The opening of the book. Well chapters 1-25 had me hooked. Yes I thought that it took way to long to find her but it was still a good story. The 1st several chapters I couldn’t stop listening. The end though. A bit of a disappointment. I was hoping she Izzy would get to kick some butt even if she didn’t get all her memory back. It seemed like it should have been like a mr and mrs smith situation instead of a game of thrones ending. Meaning maybe a little ruff. Sending Al to kill that lady was a let down.

What a Disappointment

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Not sure, it just did not come up to the high standard Linda Howard has had in the past. The story line not credible, drags, character building not her usual and she has always put humor in her mysteries and this has none.
Her usual fans will not be those who enjoy it more so not sure who it would appeal to.

Would you ever listen to anything by Linda Howard again?

Yes, this has to be one of her total disconnects.

What aspect of Carrington MacDuffie’s performance would you have changed?

Not sure it was her performance or just how much the story line dragged.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was finally over. If people like super secret spy agencies working outside of protocol this might appeal.

I got bored halfway through and haven't finished.

What would have made Shadow Woman better?

The original idea is good, but it got bogged down and redundant and I lost interest.

Has Shadow Woman turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

What three words best describe Carrington MacDuffie’s performance?

Performance was good.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The beginning was good and interesting, but it didn't develop.