Narrating from three points of view, with flashbacks to earlier times, Julia Whelan delivers the story of three generations of Hollander women: matriarch Vivian, daughter Leah, and granddaughter Sadie. Facing the financial demise of their family's New York winery, the trio find common ground through reading romance novels written decades ago, taking lessons from the heroines and regaining control of their lives. Whelan provides a high-quality narration. As with many of her other performances, she exquisitely portrays the large cast of characters. Seamlessly moving between each, she expertly captures their emotions and personalities--regardless of age, gender, or place of origin. Whelan's talents will have listeners feeling as if they are sitting on the veranda at Hollander Estates, enjoying a glass of the vineyard's Merlot.
Pub Date: June 22, 2021
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593408698
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners will be rooting for Josie to overcome, clean up the corruption, and establish herself.
Josie returns to Vegas after the death of her father, who was a legend in the gambling industry. Miranda Raison’s performance is lively, showing us why Josie swore off the family business 30 years ago. Raison describes the competing web of interests Josie must navigate—from relatives to federal investigators to organized crime figures and rival casino operators. She does all this with brisk pacing and a self-assured tone that reflects Josie’s analytical mindset and determination. Raison guides listeners through the family disputes, business negotiations, and escalating threats. Her performance sharpens scenes of conflict and investigation, emphasizing the pressures surrounding the family casino and Josie's future.
Listeners will be rooting for Josie to overcome, clean up the corruption, and establish herself.Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 8 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063435643
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Murin's performance amplifies the novel’s blend of suspense, family dynamics, and dark humor.
Patti Murin brings listeners the hilarious caper that is Nadia Davis' double life. A devoted mother by day and a ruthless assassin by night, Nadia's next assignment is to kill her own husband, who, as it turns out, might be a supervillain. With lively timing and a strong sense of character, Murin captures Nadia’s sharp instincts and internal monologue with energetic pacing and precise inflection. She handles comedic moments with a light touch, maximizing the contrast between domestic frustrations and professional obligations. Murin's delivery conveys the mounting tension as revelations accumulate and loyalties become more and more complicated. Because of the pace she maintains, rapid-fire dialogue exchanges are easy to follow.
Murin's performance amplifies the novel’s blend of suspense, family dynamics, and dark humor.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217297993
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
