In the small town of Malarkey, North Carolina, young single mom Penelope Dalton runs a chocolate shop with her mother. Narrator Brittany Pressley portrays Penelope's capable independence as she nurtures her daughter, who is terminally ill. Pressley also depicts the precocious Ella with an adolescent pitch that isn't too screechy. The chocolate shop boasts a supernatural apothecary table that delivers magical ingredients, but none that has cured Ella of her brain tumor. Ella's fondest wish is for her mother to open her heart to her old flame, Noah. Pressley reads Noah's dialogue with a hint of the charming ladies' man who got Penelope pregnant in the first place--and who doesn't know that Ella is his daughter.
Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2018
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427295736
Publisher: Macmillan 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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