by Virginia Kantra ; read by Shannon McManus & Karissa Vacker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 3, 2019
Narrators Karissa Vacker and Shannon McManus voice Meg and Jo in Kantra's updated vision of LITTLE WOMEN. Setting the story in North Carolina in the period after the War in Iraq and an excessive use of coarse language change the flavor of the story. McManus's voice for Meg has a slight Southern accent but is flat and whiny, as she resents all her responsibilities while rejecting offers of help. McManus puts life into other characters, especially husband John, who tries to persuade Meg to share the load. Vacker gives Jo the measured voice of one who has left her Southern accent behind. But she delivers Jo's romantic clichés flatly. Secondary characters express the emotions Jo hides. The audiobook ends with questions to guide a book club discussion.
Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2019
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593167335
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by K.M. Jackson ; read by Diana Luke ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
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
by LaVyrle Spencer ; read by David Dukes ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
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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