Narrated by Sophie Eastlake

The Fletcher family of North Carolina’s outer banks is the focus of the Dare Island series, and Luke is the youngest of the Fletcher sons and a Marine. The family retired here, with their three adult sons, after a long military career had them moving all over the world when the boys were young. In Carolina Man, Luke comes home to Dare Island on leave to spend time with the ten-year-old daughter Taylor he only recently learned he had after the child’s mother died and named him in the will as father/guardian. It’s pretty clear to the reader that Taylor’s mother knew her own brother was sexually molesting the child, although it takes a while for this to be revealed in the book to the characters, which is part of the mild suspense.

Kate Dolan is the local lawyer who represents Taylor – like Luke, hers was a military family, but dysfunctional, her father abusive, with serious anger management problems. She has intimacy issues as a result – she is pretty uptight, even when she is trying to put Taylor’s needs first and foremost. Luke spends a lot of time breaking down Kate’s barriers. The whole Fletcher family steps in to help raise Luke’s daughter while he is deployed and even after he comes home. It’s a heartwarming story with them taking in not only Taylor but also Kate, making Kate feel accepted and like family, all banding together to protect Taylor from her abusive uncle.

Sophie Eastlake was exceptional as narrator. She has a believable, low pitch for Luke that is very appealing, with a soft Carolina drawl, and a higher pitched, no-nonsense tone for Kate. She also developed complete characters for all of the others as well, including the secondary family members and other various townsfolk. Her pacing and delivery was perfect for the suspense as well as in the intimate scenes. I read the first two of the series in print but I think I’ll go back and do a listen of them as well – her narration was that compelling.

Melinda

Narration: A

Book Content: A

Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in

Violence: Minimal – some offstage domestic violence is hinted

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Audible Studios