COMPLICATED

The gossips of McCook County, Nebraska, titter when newly divorced Sheriff Hixon Drake begins courting singer/stylist Greta Dare. Relationship baggage makes their fresh start complicated in this audiobook original. Narrator Lance Greenfield's resolute, sometimes impatient dialogue shows Hixon's bewilderment at his wife's betrayal, an emotional state that contrasts with his generally straightforward, honorable manner. Greenfield's clipped phrasing illuminates Hixon's nature--steadfast yet able to rally when life deals him a knockout punch. Erin Mallon's throaty voice for Greta serves up heartbreak and hope in equal measure. Mushy diction from both narrators distracts slightly. Greenfield and Mallon balance regret and resolution as Hixon and Greta earn their happily-ever-after with small-town flair. C.A. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2017]