SWEET CAROLINA

Carolina Cantrell has traveled to the Montana Territories to settle her late brother's estate, consisting mostly of a dry goods store. When she gets there, she falls in love with a handsome cowboy, rediscovers an old flame, vanquishes a pile of bandits, and decides to stick around. Linda Stephens's spirited reading of this Christian romance brings life and sparkle to the story and its characters. Carolina Cantrell grows from a spoiled snob into a strong, self-assured woman, while Carolina's young friend, July Johnson, comes across convincingly as an awkward and street-smart teenager. Stephens refrains from turning the characters into caricatures, which would be tempting given the setting. In treating the book with respect, she delivers a solid performance. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]