A sensual exploration of power and surrender.
Lila Winters and E.M. Wylde deliver a smoldering dual narration that transforms a workplace romance into an intensely intimate experience. Winters' portrayal of Rae crackles with intelligent defiance—her vocal shifts between composure and desire create palpable emotional tension. Listeners hear Rae’s internal conflict trembling beneath her confident exterior. Wylde brings Grant's dominant presence to life through measured pacing and controlled intensity, though his emotional range occasionally plateaus during pivotal moments of vulnerability. The exploration of consent within BDSM relationships gains additional nuance through the narrators' careful handling of boundary negotiations, making abstract concepts feel immediate and real. While the romance arc accelerates quickly, both performers maintain authentic chemistry throughout.
A sensual exploration of power and surrender.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668651636
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
A model and a mogul get married in Vegas on a bet, and Diana Luke narrates their story with élan. While it would be easy to portray Leila Darling as a scheming caricature or Carter Bain as a ruthless businessman, Luke never crosses that line. Her portrayal of Leila is generous and encompasses the full range of her character--from the formidable professional at the top of her game to the vulnerable woman who is unsure if she can trust a man with her heart. Likewise, Luke's portrayal of Carter showcases both his business acumen and his emotional vulnerability as he opens himself up to Leila. While loosely connected to the previous Unconventional Brides volumes, this can easily stand alone.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501968471
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
After her divorce, Roberta Jewett, with her three daughters, returns to Camden, Maine, to start a new life. Such an independent move in 1916 brings difficulties with her mother, her in-laws and the townspeople. Dukes's performance, while skillful, sometimes suffer in scenes of emotional content. His pace slows, and his reading acquires the peculiar emphasis of someone trying to get instructions across to a non-English-speaking person. The effect is disturbingly laughable. When he resumes his normal pace, the story revives and personalities emerge again, but the awkwardness remains as an odd interruption to Spencer's drama of pain and love, dispelling Dukes's carefully constructed characterizations.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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