AN UNLIKELY DUCHESS

Little does Edward Crawdon, Duke of Hartridge, know, but he's been secretly promised in marriage for years. When he falls for the younger sister of his intended, a hoyden wholly inappropriate to be a duchess, the gauntlet is thrown down. Narrator Beverly Crick's tony British accent is more grating than enjoyable in this period piece. Little differentiation is made in the voices of the characters, and many sound nasal or whiny. Even those for whom some differentiation is provided are more irritating than enjoyable. Crick's intonation has a singsong tendency that detracts, and minor editing errors further tarnish the listening experience. A.C.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2014]