A vocal blanket that wraps listeners in comfort while quietly reminding them that new chapters can begin at any age.
This audiobook invites listeners into a story of renewal, guided by narrator Suzie Althens’s warm, attentive performance. Recently widowed Riva Owen opens her now too-large home to other older, single women, forming an unexpected found family that draws her out of grief and back into community. A slow-burn romance emerges, adding tenderness without overwhelming the reflective tone. Althens narrates with a calm, reassuring voice that suits the cozy Oregon setting while allowing emotional undercurrents to surface naturally. Her vocal characterizations are clear and grounded, helping listeners track tenants and secondary figures with ease. Subtle shifts in cadence convey vulnerability and growing openness, making the audio experience intimate and comforting for audiences who enjoy gentle romance and community.
A vocal blanket that wraps listeners in comfort while quietly reminding them that new chapters can begin at any age.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798899738180
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Feb. 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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