Title: Bridges
Author: Linda Griffin
Voice Actors: Eric Priessman
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction
Book Blurb:
In 1963, Neil Vincent, a middle-aged World War II veteran and "Christian atheist," is working at Westfield Court as a chauffeur. He spends most of his spare time reading. Mary Claire DeWinter is a young, blind, Catholic college student and reluctant heiress. To secure her inheritance, she has to marry within a year, and her aunt is pressuring her to marry a rich man who teased and bullied her when she was a child.
Neil and Mary Claire shouldn't even be friends, but the gulf between them is bridged by a shared love of books. Can they cross the bridge to more?
My Review:
Story Impressions – A young, blind heiress in need of a husband crosses the societal class ocean to befriend her aunt’s chauffeur, hopeful of something more. Can she convince him to cross over to her way of thinking or will she have to marry that mean-spirited man her aunt has chosen? Bridges is a heartwarming vintage romance taking place in the 1960s and will have you at the edge of your seat while listening. The narration is flawless and brings the listener into the heart and mind of each character. Take my advice and pick up this audiobook today.
Narrator’s overall voice – Eric Priessman is a talented narrator, one of the best I’ve heard. His voice creates the descriptions needed to follow the story.
Does the narrator fit the characters? There were many times I would close my eyes and could picture what was going on. Eric invokes emotion while reading.
Narrator’s reading style – Eric’s reading style is the perfect rhythm, allowing the listener to be fully invested in the story.
Narrator’s impact on reading experience – Everything from his pacing to the inflection in his voice to the recreation of the characters to the emotional impact on the listener all combine to create an excellent reading experience.
Narrator’s pacing – The narrator’s pacing is unhurried in parts, fast in others, which comes across as natural ebbs and flows of the story. It’s a fantastic performance.
Audiobook flow – The flow of the audiobook is in harmony with the flow of the story. I immersed myself in the story and thoroughly enjoyed it.
What makes this audiobook unique – What makes this unique is the storyline and the way Eric brought it to life. The emotional tension, the way the characters connect, come across so well in this audiobook.
Would I recommend this audiobook – YES! I would recommend this to any reader looking for a historical fiction or literary fiction to read. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5+ stars
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Author Biography:
Growing up in San Diego, California, I developed a passion for the printed word with my very first Dick and Jane reader. As soon as I figured out that somebody must create those words, I knew I wanted to be a “book maker” when I grew up. I didn’t wait, though; I wrote my first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” when I was six. My love of books also led me to an MLS degree from UCLA and a career as a reference and collection development librarian at the San Diego Public Library, including twenty-two years managing the Central Library’s fiction collection. Retirement allowed me to put writing front and center. I’ve had twenty-three stories published in literary journals and anthologies, and Beyond Stonebridge is my ninth book from the Wild Rose Press.
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Reviewed by: Nancy