Writing matriarch Anne Rice is a pleasure to read, but her newest novel is even better with Ron McLarty breathing life into it. Rice exchanges her cultured French Quarter vampires for a high-tech group of werewolf superheroes. McLarty’s gravelly voice is perfect for the fast-paced adventure as protagonist Rueben Golding carries out a timeless quest amid California’s majestic Redwood Forest. The visceral bite in McLarty’s tone gives listeners the experience of animalistic hunger and the taste of raw flesh each time he growls the words of the “man-wolf.” McLarty also highlights Rice’s signature gothic elements as he smoothly delivers various accents and deftly demonstrates that vocal talent can improve even an already riveting book.
Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2012
Duration: 15 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780307877239
Publisher: Random House Audio
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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