Mail-Order Brides: A Durango Romance

Mail-Order Brides: A Durango Romance

• Written by: Julie Pollitt

• Narrated by: Leonor A. Woodworth

• Length: 55 mins

•

• Unabridged Audiobook

• Release Date:04-06-16

• Publisher: Julie Pollitt 

What a sweet delightful audio that was great from the start. My heart really went out to Rachel. I just can’t even imagine living the life she did after her parents died. I thought my aunt was bad but nothing like her uncle taking her in and using her the way he did. I am betting her parents are rolling in their graves knowing all he took from her leaving her with nothing. She decides to take matters in her hands becoming a mail order bride. Tom needs a strong woman with a clean name to clean up his life and to start to become an upstanding citizen. When the two meet they decide to take it slow to make sure this is what they want. That is as slow as a short story will let them.

Ms. Woodworth’s narration was great there are no repeating of words. Nor is there any volume change or any background noises. If any breaks were taken I could not tell.  Her male and female voices are a delight coming across with lots of emotion that really brings the story to life. Her tones are very powerful never leaving you in doubt what emotion each characters is feeling at any given time. I thought the performance was very good. Ms. Woodworth has a very pleasant natural voice that is a pleasure listening to.  I really enjoyed listening to this audio the narrator made it a pleasure to listen to at one setting.

What I liked about this audio was that it was clean, sweet and the characters really talked. By the time the wedding takes place I felt they had really worked on their relationship, both were supportive of the other and at times defended the other. At first I didn’t care too much for Tom with his past but it didn’t take long for him to grow on me. I really wish there was something that could have been done about Rachael’s uncle. I thought the best character in this story was Rachael from her kind heart to her loving caring ways she really made this story for me. This was a short to the point story with no fillers or cliffhangers. If you are looking for a short listen I hope you will give this author a try.

Buy Links

Audio

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Mail-Order-Brides-A-Durango-Romance-Audiobook/B01DUTN56S

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Durango-Romance-Mail-Order-Brides-ebook/dp/B0727V112J/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498518648&sr=8-1&keywords=Mail-Order+Brides%3A+A+Durango+Romance

Summary

Rachel Carson spent much of her life being treated as a second class citizen. When her well-to-do uncle died and left her penniless, she had no choice but to find a mail-order husband. She could only hope and pray he would be a kind and gentle man that she could spend her life getting to know and love.
Tom Kinney had a bit of a bad rap around town, but that wasn't about to stop his entrepreneurial spirit. Tom decided he would work hard promoting his new hardware store and find a wife to help settle his reputation down.
When Rachel arrived in Durango, Tom could not help but wonder why she chose to be a mail-order bride. Was she running from something, or did she just need a home?
Will Tom and Rachel find love and friendship when they least expect it?

Melinda and the Wild West

Melinda and the Wild West: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho, Book 1

Written by: Linda Weaver Clarke

Narrated by: Joanna Riley

Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:07-15-16

Publisher: Red Mountain Shadows Publishing

Let’s start with the story it was really hard for me to get into this audio, I am so sorry but I have to say the narrator really takes away from the story. I will get into that a little later on. The author does give you an interesting story with a bank robber, an attack from a bear along with a very sweet young girl who will steal your heart. There is a love triangle that pulls you in with lots of misunderstandings. Gilbert is a very sweet man who doesn’t want love, marriage or anything to do with romance. His one marriage was enough to last a lifetime. His daughter doesn’t see it this way she has fallen in love with her new teacher and wants her father to fall right along with her.

With an audio there is not very often that I rate below a 3, there is usually something that really pulls me in. I am very sad to say this is not the case with this narrator. When reading the normal part of the story that is out of character she exaggerates a lot and her voice is just too happy and perky, you can hear the smile in her voice even when things are going bad. With that said she does give emotion to her character voice very nicely but it just blends in too much with the rest of the narration it really takes away from it. I am sure she doesn’t talk this way in normal life and has a very pleasant voice. I felt like I was listening to a much younger book maybe a child’s book. If you listen closely at times her normal voice comes through which is pleasant. My feelings are that she should use it when she is not in character. I have listen to other samples of her earlier work and they work for me, she doesn’t have the exaggeration as she does in this one. She gives a very emotional listen from every part of the story that it gets mixed up with the emotions of the characters. Yes it is a clean wholesome story but it is an adult story that should be read like an adult. I really hate to say this but I had a really hard time getting through this audio. Her male character voices are close to others, her female’s one are nice. There is no background noise at all nor are there any volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. It is a very clean and clear audio. Ms. Riley I am so sorry to have to give this review on your performance but it just didn’t work for me nor did it pull me in and want me to listen. I fell so bad and am so sorry.

The story it’s self is clean and wholesome with values that teach children how to act, what is important and the author does a well written part on bullying. Gilbert’s daughter’s story will break your heart. All she wants is to be treated like everyone else but an adult turned other children against her. Melinda Does her best to draw the little girl in and works on changing how others treat her. The romance between Gilbert and Melinda is wishy washy with lots of misunderstandings. Melinda is a very push woman. If my children had a teacher like her I think I would have to tell her where she could get off. She is a strong woman who stands up for what she believes in. The plot is very good but at times I thought Melinda was a little too much and should step back and be a teacher which she is very good at. She does some bullying of her own. Gilbert is a gentleman but does call her out a time or two when she oversteps herself. I do feel that too much detail was given and more time should have been spent on the romance between them. I thought some things were left out where there was too much of other things.

All in all this was a nice clean wholesome romance with meaning and values.

Buy Links

Audible

  https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Melinda-and-the-Wild-West-Audiobook/B01IFD3DMK

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Wild-West-Family-Idaho-ebook/dp/B00AKI8VDA/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

A Semi-finalist for “Reviewers Choice Award”
Melinda Gamble wants to make a difference in the world. Without hesitation, she accepts a job as a schoolteacher in the small town of Paris, Idaho. She has many challenges such as trying to help a rebellious student, coming face-to-face with a notorious bank robber, a vicious grizzly bear, and finding herself in a terrible blizzard that leaves her clinging to her life. But it’s a rugged rancher who challenges Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared—love.

A romance for young adult and adults.

Saved by My Blackguard

Saved by My Blackguard: Linked Across Time, Book 1

Written by: Dawn Brower

Narrated by: Ed Wolfe

Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins

Series: Linked Across Time, Book 1

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:06-17-16

Publisher: AuthorDawnBrower

What an interesting short story about time travel. Paul is a very over worked man, if he wants to see his next birthday he must take a week off. Deciding to do this he heads to a warm tropical island. When a storm blows in things start getting interesting. Lady Evelyn childhood hasn’t been the best, she can’t wait to move to London marry and have a family. As she sail off to meet her soon to be husband her ship is taken over, than a strong storm blows in leaving her in a mess of trouble. Paul travels back in time when he meets the lovely Lady Evelyn who is in trouble. He takes her by the hand and protects her with his life as they run in to more bad weather and the group of men Lady Evelyn is trying to outrun.

Mr. Wolfe does a wonderful job of narration with only one place he repeats some words near the beginning. He has a very strong powerful voice which really adds to the male characters. His has no problem carrying off his female characters voices from a sexy sweet lady to the servants. There are no background noises or any volume changes. If any breaks were taken you cannot tell. What you will find from this narrator is a very clean, clear audio with delightful tones and emotions. He pulls the reader in with his charming pirate to their mates as well as Paul who is sweet, charming and a true gentleman. His voice rings with vivid details keeping the listener invested and entertained hardly being able to wait what happens next. This may have one repeat of words but it in no way takes away from the performance of the audio which is outstanding. I thought his character voice was just as strong and sexy as his normal voice. You always know what emotion each character is feeling and who is talking. I really enjoyed how he brings this audio to life. I am looking forward to listening to more of his work.

The story was very interesting, I do wish it has been longer. I felt it was rushed a little with both falling in love in a few days. I thought for the time period the love scenes was a little rushed and a little too soon. You will find no fillers in this story every word is needed. The author does give you an entertaining read from a father who doesn’t know how to give love, to some very wicked pirates. As the story ends you can’t wait to see if Paul makes it back to his time and just what happens to Lady Evelyn. The ending is charming and sweet as the author takes you years ahead to see what life holds for these two delightful people.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Saved-by-My-Blackguard-Audiobook/B01H5K0R9G

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Saved-Blackguard-Linked-Across-Time-ebook/dp/B01C59MOKC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Summary

A vacation on a tropical island should be blissful paradise. It turns out to be something else altogether for Paul Dewitt. A storm erupts and throws his entire life into chaos. He wakes up to a beautiful stranger and a different time.
Lady Evelyn Beckett is sailing to England to marry her betrothed. When a storm hits, she is tossed overboard. By sheer will, and a little luck, she makes it to shore. She finds a handsome man wandering the beach, and he's both confusing and odd.
Together Paul and Evelyn rely on each other to survive the raging storm, villainous pirates, and a little bit of culture shock. Can they get past each other’s differences and learn to trust each other and find love?

Mail Order Ruse

Mail Order Ruse: Kansas Brides, Book 3

Written by: Barbara Goss

Narrated by: Reagan Boggs

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Series: Kansas Brides, Book 3

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:03-31-17

Publisher: Barbara A. Goss

This is the first book I have listened or read from this author. The author brings a lot to the table from an interesting read that has many twists and turns that you won’t see coming. It is a total different kind of read that will having you scratching your head at times wondering just what Graham has up his sleeve. He is playing a full hand holding his cards close to his chest. I am not sure I would have done as he did this could have went so bad so fast.

Ms. Boggs’s narration was good. There was one place where there was a little bit of a volume change so slight you can almost not hear it. The narrator brings a lot to the story with her many different character voices. You have no trouble knowing who is talking and what they are feeling. At times she does sound a little flat but for the most part she does a great job. Her tones for the most part are very good, she chuckles, laughs, is sad or happy when it is need. There are no background noises just a very clear, clean audio that the narrator delivers very well. She has a very pleasant voice that really pulls the reader in. I thought her performance was good, she is entertaining and keeps her listeners invested in the audio. Except for the one little volume change if any breaks were taken I could not tell. This is the first time I have listen to this narrator but it won’t be the last.

Grace is a woman all alone with no family. She just wants someone to love and love her. It does not take long for her to love this family and them her. What a kind, caring and so sweet women you fall in love with her almost from the first page. At times she is confused but always turns to God to help find her way. Graham comes across as wishy washy and at time may confuse the reader but read on you will find the meaning behind all that he does. He really is a sweet kind man that wants the best for his family. His granddaughter is just so charming, sweet and delightful it didn’t take long for her to steal my heart. His children are kind and warm up to Grace. He does have one son that lost his wife and has turned his back on God for taking away his one true love. As Grace tries to get to know the man she is to marry she does her best to help his children and granddaughter by bring them out and trying to being their faith back in God.

What a delightful clean listen that at times your jaw will drop, you will laugh and become very sad at all this family has gone through. It is Inspirational with a message you can relate to about forgiveness, lose, learning to live again as well as finding your way back to God after a lose. It is a touching listen that will pull on your heart. If you have ever lost someone one this book could help you deal with that lose. It is a book full of love, strength and so much more. If you are looking for a short delightful book that gives meaning and will keep you entertained I hope you will pick this story up. I look forward to listening to more stories from this author and narrator.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Mail-Order-Ruse-Audiobook/B06XXJMBJQ

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Ruse-Kansas-Brides-ebook/dp/B01MRJX4X7/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

Graham Easton sends for a mail order bride, but when she arrives, he changes the rules they'd agreed upon in their correspondence. Unknown to her is, he has an ulterior motive for bringing her to Hunter's Grove. He stalls the nuptials by saying they need to get to know each other first, and invites her to live with his family in the meantime.
Grace Webster arrives to meet the man she's to marry, and discovers he's much older than she'd thought. He has grown children and a four-year-old granddaughter. When her groom changes their plans, she becomes confused and angry. She wonders why he brought her there, and for what purpose.