MAGNOLIA CITY

Hetty, the rebellious daughter of a Houston millionaire, decides to elope with a man she barely knows. In 1920s Houston, this is a shameful offence, and she's immediately cut off from her family's fortune. Narrator Dan John Miller has a smooth, pleasant vocal quality that is wonderful for this book's anecdotes about Texas during this time period. His male voices are interesting and fitting. However, this story is told from a woman's point of view--with many female characters conversing--and Miller's female voices, all done with a high pitch detract from the story. The abundance of Spanish words, as Hetty struggles with poverty for the first time, a husband she barely knows, and her mysterious family history, may also challenge some listeners. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2014]