by Joan Johnston ; read by Julia Gibson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2017
Narrator Julia Gibson portrays the characters in this romance with appropriate accents and inflections. An American named Josie is working as a maid for the Duke of Blackthorne when an investigator arrives to tell her she is an heiress. To achieve payback for the Duke's broken promises to her and his young nephews, she goes to London in response to his ad for a rich bride. Once they're married, however, Josie becomes unsure of her hostile feelings. Gibson depicts Blackthorne as charismatic and fearless while Josie sounds like a fighter who is not impressed with his lineage. The young nephews are engaging, but other male interpretations are not as easily discernable. Joan Johnston brings fans to the United Kingdom and the American West of the nineteenth century with this story of bravery and love.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501911934
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by K.M. Jackson ; read by Diana Luke ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
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
by LaVyrle Spencer ; read by David Dukes ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
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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