THE EARL NEXT DOOR First Comes Love, Book 1

Jessica Bolte narrates an uneven romance between neighbors. Adeline, Dowager Countess of Wake, has no intention of remarrying after her husband's death; Lyon Marksworth, Earl of Lyonwood, is determined to marry for love and has improbably set his sights on the Countess. Adeline's first marriage was difficult, and Bolte's performance is a lovely tribute to Adeline's coming into her own now that she is free from the agonies of an abusive husband. Lyon is more of a cypher, and Bolte's portrayal of him does not provide much illumination. However, Adeline's two close friends and Lyon's aunt and father are delightful additions to a story that tends heavily to the internal dialogue of the main characters, and Bolte performs their roles with obvious relish. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2019]