ROUGH BEAUTY Forty Seasons of Mountain Living

Narrator Jayme Mattler's husky tone gives voice to a woman's struggle with both natural and spiritual elements in the stark Colorado Rockies. After rising--literally--from the ashes of a fire that has destroyed her home and every piece of writing she has ever done, Auvinen realizes she can no longer survive as a lone wolf and must ask for help. Mattler takes us through the trauma of Auvinen's upbringing with an abusive military father and stringent family expectations. With reserved grace, Mattler's delivery reflects the bold honesty of Auvinen's bracing story. She effectively portrays an uncompromising woman's drive to follow her own sense of self. E.E. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2018]