TEXAS BLUE Whispering Mountains, Book 5

This is an unfortunate case when a good story and a good narrator are entirely wrong for each other. Author Jodi Thomas continues the adventures of different members of the McMurray family on their Texas horse ranch. Narrator Linda Stephens’s sweet, grandmotherly voice is delightful when describing scenes of the Old West: riding the range, fighting battles, and living day to day. However, during the romantic scenes, that same sweet, grandmotherly voice may make listeners uncomfortable. It’s not a voice for passionate kisses. As Lewton, the gambler, wins the heart of Em McMurray, the cowgirl princess, there’s just enough of a suspenseful plot to shine through the mismatched narration. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2012]