In a low, confidential voice, narrator Rebecca Lowman introduces us to Georgie McCool, a sitcom writer whose marriage is in trouble. Separated from her family at Christmas and camping out at her mother’s house, Georgie discovers that the old rotary phone in her childhood bedroom can somehow, magically, connect her to the 15-years-ago version of her husband, Neal. Some early sections of the book might call for a slightly zippier delivery, as when Georgie’s trading quips with her writing partner and best friend, Seth. But Lowman’s tone is perfect for the intimate, late-night phone conversations between Georgie and Neal. Rowell’s writing deftly avoids cliché, and the book’s action builds cleverly. Listeners might find themselves a bit breathless for the final two hours as Lowman skillfully sweeps us along to the satisfying, romantic, hopeful conclusion.
Pub Date: 2014
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427239334
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Multiple award winner Card is one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction; here he delivers a history fantasy of the Wabash Valley circa 1800, a world of hexes and folk magic. This is the first book about Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son, who has remarkable psychic powers. Card is a very good narrator, expressive and well paced. One can hear the excitement of an author as he brings his own well described characters to life. There is one momentary technical glitch, the only slip up in an exemplary presentation. Highly recommended for fiction collections everywhere.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: The Literate Ear
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. In the third book of the original trilogy, Dan Lazar handles the material adequately. He uses his limited range of voices nicely, if sometimes amusingly--he sometimes sounds like a foreigner attempting to mimic American accents. Varying pitch and pacing make for a lively narration, and his reading of a precocious young woman, who is ultimately an important figure, is delightful. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Hearing Lazar repeatedly mispronounce a word that the text itself explains how to pronounce is very frustrating. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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