HOME TO BIG STONE GAP

As the author narrates the third in her trilogy of Ave Maria MacChesney, her tenderness for her characters comes across in both her reading and writing. Devoted fans have heard Ave face possible spinsterhood, a marriage at a later age, the death of her son, and the marriage of her only daughter. Now she feathers her empty nest as her beloved Jack suffers a brush with death and the couple launches a new life. The author's narration is uneven. Her flat vocal tones emphasize the story's sentimentality, but her command of accents leads to an excellent portrayal of quirky Blue Ridge Mountain folks. Though the plot is without noticeable leaps or skips, this abridged audio may leave listeners wanting the full story. S.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]