Jeremy Carlisle Parker's portrayals of New York City's contemporary queer society do not fulfill any stereotypical expectations. Mel is enjoying her 20s well enough as a bartender in the high-end, though heteronormative, Terror & Virtue bar, where she works with her best friend and roommate. When a power-femme lawyer named Bebe propositions Mel for casual dating, Mel quickly learns the rules of polyamory. She also learns to love again after her divorce and comes to understand what Bebe's nonbinary spouse, Kade, actually thinks of her. Parker ensures that the gay best friend doesn't sound too flamboyant. She gives Bebe a boisterous voice, portrays Mel in a way that reflects her nondescript personality, and depicts Kade as androgynous and reserved.
Pub Date: June 4, 2024
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797179032
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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