Dante's Gift: A Chicago Christmas,
Book 1
UNABRIDGED
by Aubrey Wynne
Narrated by Tom Jordan
What is there not to love about this audio…it is such a
wonderful delightful love story that really reaches in grabbing your heart and twisting
it. At first I didn’t care too much for Kathleen she almost
seemed a snob. Here is a little old lady
that just lost her sister, her only family is her grandson who is going to
bring her to live with him…how sweet is that. The woman he wants to marry doesn’t
cook and works long hours. This little old lady won’t live but a few more
years, she is going to cook and all for you. I understand it means less time for just them
but the house is not small I am sure they could make this work with a little
work. On Kathleen side the granny is old she doesn’t know how much help she
will have to give the old lady, can she get around, what is her temperament
like and lord all the hugging and
kissing etc . I understood where she was coming from but still I didn’t care
for her that is until…..
Kathleen’s family isn’t much of a loving
family oh they love her no doubt but have always been too busy to give a lot of
one on one attention. They aren’t the
huggy kisss type. She is the kind of person that lets her action speak for her…who
needs words. She really is torn between the quit of not wanting the old lady to
come and how she should feel. Once granny steps foot in the USA things take a
big turn.
Dominic is torn between the two people
he loves most in the world, hoping, praying these two women cannot only get
along but live under the same roof. His grandmother has always been there for
him, even helped raise him, she has been a rock, there is no way he can turn
his back on her, no way he will. What about Kathleen who he has asked to marry
him with the answer up in the air. She just can’t live without either of these
women but it seems they might not be able to live together or get along…
Mr. Jordan has fast become one of my favorite narrators he
brings so much to the story from his many different character voices. He really
puts thought into each character and their emotions bring them to life giving
them meaning, showing us how they feel with powerful voices that leave you in
no doubt how each one is feeling and what they are going through. You can hear the
hurt in each character as they learn to deal with each issue at hand. I really
enjoyed each of his character voices you always know who is talking he gives
each character power and depth and really brings them to life. There are no
background noises, no volume changes and no repeating of words, delivering a
delightful smooth clear audio that you get lost in. If any breaks were taken I
could not tell. Mr. Jordan’s natural voice is just a wonderful as his character
voices. It is a voice you have no trouble listening to as he brings excitement
and sorrow to each character that the author writes about. He has me in the
palm of his hands from the first minute until the last.
What happens next put a wonderful twist
on the story as one woman relives her younger years of the war and a soldier
who held her heart. Kathleen gets to see a side of love she never knew was
there. Granny is a wonderful story teller she not only had Kathleen but me as
well spellbound through each word. We
really wanted her to go on but she kept us on hold until the next time where she
took up where she left off. Her dog was something I just love him. He didn’t trust soldiers that
is all but one. War is never easy but when you fall in love with a soldier, he
goes off to fight you never know if he will come home again. The dog plays a
big part in this story bring together two people who love with all their
hearts.
Just wait until you get to the end, if
you haven’t fell in love with Dominic before you will fall head over heels at
the end. My heart just melted with both Kathleen and I having tears in our eyes…I
do believe Granny had some as well. The plot wonderful, very thought out, entertaining
and keeping you hooked. With an audio I only listen to it when I drive or work
around the house…I had trouble putting it down, I wanted to keep listening but
knew I had some books I had to read as well. There is no way you can read this
and not have it be one of your favorite books. I am looking forward to
listening to it again in the future. Come take a journey of love, one that will
touch your soul and how one little old lady and a dog over came not only the
war but doubts giving the best gift of all…a love to last a life time.
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Summary
Kathleen James has put her practical side away for once and looks forward to
the perfect romantic evening: an intimate dinner with the man of her dreams and
an engagement ring. She is not prepared to hear that he wants to bring his
grandmother back from Italy to live with him.
Dominic Lawrence has planned this marriage proposal for six months. Nothing
can go wrong-until his Nonna calls. Now he must interrupt the tenderest night
of Katie's life with the news that another woman will be under their
roof.
When Antonia's sister dies, she finds herself longing to be back in the
States. An Italian wartime bride from the 1940s, she knows how precious love
can be. Can her own story of an American soldier and a very special collie once
again bring two hearts together at Christmas?
