by Laura Esquivel ; read by Elizabeth Peña ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2001
This story leaps and dances with all the speed the title implies. The listener follows the life of Jubilo through tangled flashbacks and episodes taken out of context. However, as his name implies, Jubilo has a life that is gripping and jubilant no matter what order it comes to us. He is a born translator who, from his earliest moments, adjusts the words of others to be kind instead of confrontational. Elizabeth Peña is a master of emoting through inflection and accent, although sometimes her enthusiasm seems almost childlike in its intensity. In spite of this, her ease with beautiful Spanish phrases and glorious accents brings an entertaining story to life.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
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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