Narrator Saskia Maarleveld deftly sets the atmospheric stage for Allen's Steampunk Proper Romance, moving effortlessly between genres and characters. When Lucy Pickett comes to Blackwell Manor to look after her ailing cousin, she doesn't expect to find ghosts roaming the hall--not to mention Lord Blackwell himself, scowling and inhospitable. While this is a chaste read, Maarleveld nonetheless captures the crackling sexual tension between Lucy and Lord Blackwell, making it entirely believable. This hybrid of steampunk, romance, and mystery has some of the "Beauty and the Beast" elements promised by the title, but it's more of a reimagining than a retelling. It's a strong story that skillfully combines many disparate elements, making one hope that more books will take place in this intriguing world.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781504730181
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
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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