CUPCAKE

The irrepressible heroine of Cohn's Gingerbread and Shrimp series makes her final appearance in this last installment, once more narrated by Carine Montbertrand. Cyd Charisse—known as CC—is now 18 and has graduated from high school. CC leaves behind her beloved boyfriend, Shrimp, and moves to New York City. Montbertrand's husky voice perfectly complements CC's rambunctious personality. She treats with aplomb CC's ups and downs as she makes new friends, worries about a possible pregnancy, and reacquaints herself with her biological father and half-siblings, all while desperately missing Shrimp. While the transitions between CC's thoughts and what she’s actually saying are mildly confusing, Montbertrand fleshes out secondary characters with a change of tone or accent that imbues each with personality. Fans of the CC-and-Shrimp love story will enjoy this satisfying conclusion. L.A.C. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2009]