STAY

After Savannah (Van) Leone is maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, she soaks her misery in vodka-laced Kool-Aid to forget that her best friend married her secret love. During a drunken Internet shopping spree, Van orders a German shepherd and quickly learns that puppies work very well as distractions from one’s troubles, especially when they understand only Slovakian commands and view your neighbor’s poodle as a potential snack. Narrator Julia Whelan creates easily distinguishable voices for most of the characters and even manages to rescue some of the uninspired dialogue. She adds dimension to Van’s godmother, a socialite, but transforms Van’s veterinarian boyfriend into a character who sounds like a surfer dude. Whelan portrays Van’s growing pains with compassion, adding a touch of reality to her emotional journey. This is chick-lit for dog lovers. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2010]