True story: In sixteenth-century Italy, 18-year-old painter Artemisia Gentileschi is raped by her painting teacher. When the papal court in which she brings charges simply humiliates her, she leaves Rome for Florence and ultimately becomes the first woman elected to the Accademia dell' Arte. Gigi Ber-mingham narrates Vreeland's novel about Artemisia with verve and passion. She has a pleasant voice that, in this first-person story, becomes the voice of Artemisia--somehow, she manages to sound young without squeaking and old without wheezing. The only quibble is Bermingham's habit of pronouncing the Italian words with an exaggerated Italian accent, a jarring contrast to the mid-American voice in which she reads the book. Otherwise, a fine listen.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2002
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: HighBridge 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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