LOVE & LIES

Kudos to narrator Tracey Leigh, whose strong performance hooks the listener on this soap opera-like novel. She makes one care about the serious, although sometimes incredible, sufferings of preacher's wife Charlotte Black, whose husband is cheating on her (and on whom she has cheated) and her best friend, Professor Janine Turner, who can't find a man who treats her right. The women's problems include abuse, mental illness, and marital problems. Leigh beautifully characterizes children and adults and expertly portrays Janine's abusive boyfriend. She brings to life the full range of emotions experienced by the large cast of characters and gives the listener a reason to overlook the novel's shortcomings. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]