Narrator Susan Duerden is on familiar ground here, having already read several audiobooks in James's Desperate Duchesses series. Lady Eugenia Snowe, a young widow with no desire to remarry, puts all her energy into her successful governess agency. Ward Reeve, illegitimate son of an earl, has recently begun raising his young half-siblings and has already gone through several governesses. Desperate, Ward decides to go straight to the top, kidnapping Eugenia to help him sort out the children before a custody trial. Fans of the series will recognize both main characters as children from earlier books, so it's fun to see them together here. Duerden's light, almost singsong delivery works well for the humorous story elements but can detract from the more serious moments. On the whole, though, this is a most enjoyable listening experience.
Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2017
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062663917
Publisher: Harper 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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