Julia Delfino's characterization is central to this vivid and compelling story. Annie, a legal aid lawyer, brings a New Yorker's cynicism and big-city mentality to her representation of 14-year-old Arley, born and bred in Texas, who has married the first man she ever kissed--a prison inmate. The two women tell stories that become increasingly interwoven as they become close friends. Delfino maintains her characters consistently and leads the listener through the complex emotions of these multidimensional characters. She draws out their strengths and vulnerabilities. In particular, she reads the letters and poems between Arley and her husband with sensitivity and helps the reader move beyond their disparate situations and age difference to see them as individuals.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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