Saving Hope

by Liese Sherwood-Fabre

In one of Siberia's formerly closed cities, Alexandra Pavlova, an unemployed microbiologist, struggles to save her daughter’s life. When she turns to Vladimir, her oldest friend, for help, she's drawn into Russia’s underworld. His business dealings with the Iranians come to the attention of Sergei Borisov, an FSB (formerly the KGB) agent. Alexandra finds herself joining forces with Sergei to stop the export of a deadly virus in a race to save both her daughter and the world.

“An alpha female heroine and a tantalizing premise that toys with the most basic of emotions—a parent’s drive to save their child. Nothing frilly or fancy, just good old-fashioned, gimmick-free storytelling. And what could be better than that.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times’ bestselling author of the Cotton Malone series and The Romanov Prophecy.

“Liese Sherwood-Fabre has concocted an extremely well-written story that grabs you from the beginning and holds you relentlessly through all the twists and turns until the unexpected end.”
—Paula G. Paul, winner of the Willa award.

currently out of print

206 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2012

About the author

Liese Sherwood-Fabre grew up in Dallas, Texas and knew she was destined to write when she got an A+ in the second grade for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally’s ruined picnic. After obtaining her PhD from Indiana University, she joined the federal government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally for more than fifteen years—in Africa, Latin America, and Russia. Returning to the states, she seriously pursued her writing career and has published several pieces. Her debut novel Saving Hope, a thriller set in Russia, is now available from Musa Publishing. You can follow her upcoming releases and other events by joining her newsletter at www.liesesherwoodfabre.com, or visiting her Facebook, Twitter, or Bebo accounts. You can also contact her at liese@liesesherwoodfabre.com.

Reviews

[Fanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Hope is a good thriller set with a plot that does intrigue but characters who interest more.

The story revolves around emotions, actions and realistic conflicts. Alexandra, a female microbiologist-scientist, is determined to help her daughter who requires medical attention for a heart defect she suffers from. However, things don't play in her, or her daughter's, favor and problems arise from realistic but sad circumstances and situations. There are underdeveloped medical facilities and people who clearly don't support the feminist-ic viewpoint of our protagonist.

The poignant scenes and frustration depicted by the lead is too heart-wrenching and is super affecting to a reader. She's a mother and is out to save her child—if this doesn't shout empathy, I don't know what would. The appreciable aspect is how she evolves; her calmness gets peeled layer by layer as the story progresses and makes her come alive for me. I also liked it for the deeper perspective it gave into the Russian systems and used the setting to its fullest. However, it didn't excite me as a thriller. The story isn't plotted as well as it could've been, especially since the focus frequently shifts from the deadly virus that's supposed to be stopped from exporting to her relationships with other characters.

I would recommend this to all those who like a female protagonist you can sympathize with while she's struggling amidst conflicts too realistically sad.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book via Netgalley but that in no way influences my rating and/or opinions about it. Thank you Little Elm Press and Liese Sherwood-Fabre!

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[Elissa Mahler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed with a free copy of this book, and have chosen of my own volition to share my review with you!

Fantastic read! Complexly developed characters. The story has many twists and turns. Story line is coherent and easy to follow.

What would a mother do to save her daughter's life? If you were the mother in this story, how far would you go? A sick child tends to take over the total focus of the concerned parent. This child is in Russia, and the struggle her mother goes through to ensure her care is drastic.

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of the story is what would a person do to save a loved one. This is a gripping and intriguing story with the author telling a compelling story. Her portrayal of life in the Soviet Union is visual, gritty and realistic. This book opened my eyes to the hardships and fears the Russians go through everyday to survive and their struggles to achieve their hopes and dreams. The mother's determination to overcome the obstacles that are thrown at her is admirable. This story has mystery, love, and heartache that keeps the reader totally engaged and hoping for a positive outcome. The characters are fully developed and the story has very vivid scenes.

[Amy Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

is the debut novel by International Thriller Writers member Liese Sherwood-Fabre. Set in turbulent Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Saving Hope draws on Liese's experience living in Russia.

Inspiration to write this story came to Liese from the cold, frightening facts about the dismantling of the Soviets' illegal biological weapons programs. Many people worry about the security of the Soviets' old nuclear arsenal. Fewer are aware of the danger posed by the underemployed, sometimes desperate scientists who did the work of generating deadly weaponized germs and vaccines against them. (For more on the migration of Soviet bioweapons technology to other countries, read Ken Alibek's inside account in Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World--Told from Inside by the Man Who Ran It.

In Saving Hope, a morally-upright woman scientist tries to protect her daughter who needs specialized medical care for a heart defect. But despite her best intentions, the culture and circumstances of Siberia conspire against her. Paternalistic and violent men, materialist women, an underfunded medical system, unemployment, and corrupt bureaucracy strip her to the most basic motivation: to save her child at any cost. As a microbiologist, she holds a trump card that may be too terrible to play.

Saving Hope is loosely structured as a thriller but it's more literary than most thrillers. Primarily this is a novel of romantic suspense. Action is low-intensity and the plot's focus is on character and relationships: Alexandra, her husband, their friend, the FSB agent, etc. Women in particular will sympathize with Alexandra's plight and all the challenges and humiliations she confronts that are unique to her gender.

Actual science in this novel is not prominent. The protagonist is a scientist and the export of a weaponized virus is key to the plot, but there aren't any hard-core laboratory or tech scenes. There are, however, some vivid portrayals of the Russian medical system and the cruel realities of a bankrupt Siberian hospital.

In Saving Hope, Liese Sherwood-Fabre creates a sympathetic female protagonist who fights for what truly matters, balancing patience and compassion with a tough-as-nails strength to do what she must.

How far would you go to protect your child?

FCC disclaimer: A free promotional paper copy of this book was given to me by the author for review. As always, I made no guarantee that I would read the book or post a positive review.

[Julie Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE - SAVING HOPE
AUTHOR - LIESE SHERWOOD FABRE
STARS - 5
REVIEWER - WENDE SHEETS

Alexandra and her husband, Yuri were scientist for the Biomedical Research Center. Four years ago Alexandra left her job to care for her daughter, Nadezhda, which means HOPE. Nadezhda was born with a heart condition, rather than put her in a sanatorium they felt the best care for her was home. The day this sweet little girl was born Alexandra found she had a new job, and her number one goal is to do what is best for her. . . NO MATTER WHAT THE COST. Yuri lost his job at the center and now they are trying to pay bills, eat and make sure Nadezhda has her medicine.

When Nadezhda falls ill with pneumonia, they learn it has done some more damage to her heart. The medical care in Russia is hurting. Some of the many rules, you drop off the patient at the door and due to sanitation regulations there is no visitors. Its ran like a prison more than a hospital. You pay and bring in medicine that is required, which leaves several people to go without. Alexandra calls her oldest and dearest friend, Vladimir to help her get a specialist in to see Nadezhda, which only confirms that she needs to be transferred to a Cardo specialist in Moscow.
While Alexandra is scrambling to gather money to get to Moscow to petition the Ministry of Health, Yuri is still in doubt. How will they pay for this ??

Vladimir is under investigation with one FSB agent, Sergie Borisov. Vladimir is caught up in some underground business with the Iranians. When Alexandra gets caught up into this, she is torn on what side to run to. Who can she trust ??

I feel in love with this story ! This is a book of courage and shows what us mother's will do and what we will sacrifice for our children! Alexandra never gave up "hope", she was a fighter from the start to the finish! She knew her pipe dreams and her goals.

The author keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat from the first page to the very last sentence. I shed some tears in this one and really enjoyed learning some of the Russian history and customs. Its a wonderful read !

complimentary book for a free review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com

[Shayla Drumm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although health care in the United States is far from perfect, I'd rather work through our issues than deal with the struggles that face the Russians. Saving Hope is set in Siberia where Alexandra must attempt to find the best care for her daughter who has a heart condition. There is no guarantee that doctors in Russia will even treat her daughter so she also plans to seek help outside the country. All of this takes money that they don't have. Alexandra and her husband, Yuri, are unemployed microbiologists who are struggling to make ends meet. In their desperation they make mistakes that will ultimately lead them to the wrong kind of employers who deal in deadly viruses. This story is filled with suspense, action, and will tear at your heartstrings. I won this book as a giveaway on Goodreads.

[Tatiana Lammers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The events described in ‘Saving Hope’ are set in a formerly closed city in Siberia. In times after the fall of the Soviet Union, when all the country’s economy collapsed, countless people lost their jobs and were struggling to survive. Those were times when some people made decisions to make their money by some dishonest and often dangerous ways. The book describes those times so realistically from simple traditions of graduating from high school to various domestic problems of everyday life in Russia, and from people losing their incomes and jobs, the poor healthcare system, to the criminal underworld – it made me re-live some of the things I experienced myself while living in post-Soviet Russia. The story-line starts slowly and becomes very fast-paced towards the end, and it would not leave the reader unmoved by the sequence of events and the conclusion.

[Conny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and I am so glad I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. I might have passed it by if I had not won it and I would have missed a very interesting suspense novel that takes us to Russia. I enjoyed the characters and the plot line, it had action, suspense and even some romance and it held me spellbound until the last page. It gave me a glimpse at what life was like living in Russia which I found very interesting. I was sorry the book was finished because I wanted more. Perhaps we can all petition Liese Sherwood-Fabre to write a sequel to the book so we can find out how our leading fared? I for one am all for it.

[Kathleen Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written intriguing suspense novel. Oh my goodness, I felt as if I had lived in Russia after reading it. This is a story of a Russian scientist struggling to save her sick child. An interesting thriller on top of a realistic glimpse into life in a country that is crumbling apart and the desperation to which it's citizens are driven.

At first i thought Saving Hope was a cornball title. But I see now that it is really was all about saving hope. A talented writer and a worthy tale.

[Angeladyrcz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange of an honest review. It took me a bit to get into the story and it was a little confusing given the different culture but I did enjoy it. It was a tad bit predictable but I was rooting for the main character the whole time. I enjoy suspense and the ending was just very close to what I wanted to happen.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this one!

[Sally Sugarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the book opens, a desperate mother is urging her husband to take their sick child to the hospital even though she knows he is worried about what it will cost. This is Siberia in post-Soviet Russia where medical facilities are limited and expensive. Alexandra, however, is determined that her child will survive and get the medical attention she needs for her congenital heart problems. A former microbiologist, Alexandra and her scientist husband are out of work as their laboratory was closed. Fortunately, the couple have a successful friend, Vladimir, who can help them. Complications ensue when Sergei Borisov, an FSB (formerly the KGB) agent becomes interested in Vladimir. What is the nature of his business and his contacts with a range of shady characters? When she goes to work for Vladimir, Alexandra knows nothing about this. However, when her husband Yuri is betrayed to the police, leading to his suicide, Alexandra learns more about Vladimir and switches jobs to that of a hostess in a dubious establishment to which her husband owed money. The story moves from the domestic to the international, from one child’s need for care to health threats for the many. The story moves briskly, keeping the reader’s interest as it shifts. A sense of contemporary Russia emerges as the different characters struggle to better their lives, only gradually sensing the larger picture. This is an absorbing book, not only as a mystery, but as a picture of contemporary society in Russia.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

With all the Russian names it took me a bit longer to get into the story and sort out who was who. Poor Alexandra for getting stuck in the middle between her husband Yuri and their friend Vladimir. I figured out what was going to happen and was hoping for a few more twists or turns to throw me off but it didn't happen. The ending was good but a little sad, poor Sergei.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author sent me this book to review for my honest opinion. This books has a lot of twists and turns and you never know what will happen next. Alexandra tries to save her daughter and the rest of the world from a deadly virus. It was fascinating to go on her adventure with her. Thanks Liese Sherwood-Fabre for my copy of your book.