Murin's performance as Sophie strikes the perfect balance between grief and the hopeful defiance of new love.
Narrator Patti Murin charms listeners throughout this whimsical tale of a secret garden stranded in time and the past mistakes that created it. When tasked with wrangling the legendary gardens of the Lilymoor Estate for an upcoming bicentennial party, horticulturist Sophie Drear discovers a man sleeping in a part of the gardens she has never seen before. Sophie soon learns that the man is magically trapped in the gardens, and it’s up to her to rescue him—while also keeping a promise to a dear friend who has died. Murin’s character work skillfully captures the enigmatic and eccentric characters who populate the Lilymoor Estate.
Murin's performance as Sophie strikes the perfect balance between grief and the hopeful defiance of new love.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217336418
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 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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