Though her delivery of dialogue is somewhat uneven, narrator Louise Underwood keeps the narrative tension high throughout this snappy historical thriller. In the 1930s, the Burning Cove Hotel is a refuge for California's wealthiest stars--until reporter Irene Glasson discovers a popular actress murdered in the hotel pool. Working with the hotel's enigmatic owner, once-famous magician Oliver Ward, Irene sets out to uncover the killer even as she desperately tries to outrun her own past. Though Underwood switches accents with ease, she often substitutes volume for drama in the dialogue, so Irene and Oliver often sound like they're yelling at each other. Her villains tend to sound more stereotypically slimy than genuinely conniving. Thus, while the story itself is intriguing, the relationships that drive it don't feel genuine.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781490677231
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 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
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