Diamond Bay

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Brenda Sweeney

Rachel Jones wasn't looking for trouble, much less a man, but in Kell Sabin she found both. On a hot summer's night Kell is washed up - barely alive - on a Florida beach and into Rachel's life. Their love blossoms as he recovers from his injuries. But by falling in love with Kell, Rachel has put her own life in danger from the forces that want him dead. Once fate has bought them together, can they learn to live apart?

©1987 Linda Howard (P)2014 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Great story ruined by dismal narration.

This is a great story by Linda Howard - a little dated, perhaps, and clearly an early work, but it’s held up pretty well after more than three decades.

But Brenda Sweeney narrates it like she’s reading to a class of preschoolers - with a sugary voice and great sweeps up and down the tonal scale. She manages to make Rachel Jones, a strong, calm, and profoundly capable character sound whiny, weak, and pestering. Kell Sabin just came across as a creeper.

I listened to the end because I wanted to hear the story again after all these years, but it was a close thing. For a good read, I strongly recommend you find the print version.

P.S. I hate to give snarly reviews because I know narrators have feelings too and words can be devastating. But this level of bad narration really needs to have a giant caution sign stamped on it.

Brenda Sweeney did a fine job narrating

I don’t know why so many complained about her, I nearly didn’t listen because of the negative reviews & this book is one of my long-time favorites. Thank Audible for the new Romance package! There was no risk to checking the story out anyway. It was as good as I remember it from long ago.

Really good book, if you ignore the narrator

I agree with a previous review. Narrator sounds like a librarian reading a bed time story to toddlers. But if one can tune out the tone and focus on the story, it really is a good book.

Good story, bad narration

Please find a different narrator! I had trouble concentrating on the story because I was constantly thinking, 'that's not how she would really say it!' The narration was breathy and made the heroine sound dumb! Honestly, I can't say she did a whole lot more for the hero, but at least it wasn't breathy and helpless.
Linda Howard is a great author and her stories always draw me in. This was the first I'd listened to and it was much different than the voice in my head. I loved the hero, but I'm not sure how I felt about the heroine, but that may be because of the narrator.

Not Her Best Work

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I have enjoyed so very many of Linda Howard's books but this one was just lacking substance.

Any additional comments?

Maybe I am just old school, but her earlier books seem to pull you in and wrap you up in the story. This one left wondering when it would be done. Sad for me to say as this is one of my favorite authors.