Narrated by Brenda Sweeney
Linda Howard’s Diamond Bay (Book 2 in the Rescues series) is one of my favorite re-reads of that 1980s escapist vintage. Listeners who have been waiting for this in audio: take heart. Brenda Sweeney’s narration does justice to this comfort read.
Kell Sabin is a seminal alpha hero. His character is a precursor to Howard’s John Medina and other hot alphas who aren’t jerks. As a department chief in the shadow world of intelligence, Sabin is ferociously disciplined, controlling, and protective to a fault. Despite precautions, however, Sabin is attacked onboard his cruiser while on a rare vacation. His nearly lifeless body washes up on a Florida beach—and into Rachel Jones’ life.
Rachel is a strong, intelligent heroine who can, and does, stand up to Sabin. She left a career as an investigative journalist when her DEA agent husband died. Five years later, Rachel has made a peaceful life for herself in Diamond Bay. Her quiet days of writing and making souvenirs are disrupted when she finds the naked unconscious Sabin on her beach. As Rachel nurses Sabin to health, their insta-lust turns to love.
The plot is admittedly trite and dated; it is, after all, a category romance published in 1987. But, this is classic Linda Howard crafting her literary spell. You have Howard’s characters, scorching passion, and suspenseful action. The conflict is both internal and external. Kell is a lone wolf by nature as well as because of his job – he leads a solitary life given his dangerous world. His protective instincts for Rachel war with his growing romantic feelings for her. Meanwhile the villains are still after Kell and are closing in on him and Rachel.
Brenda Sweeney vividly narrates this romantic suspense. (And, no, I don’t mean vivid as in picture that hot naked man lapped up by waves.) Ms. Sweeney’s performance has emotional color, despite a narrative that spends a lot of time inside the character’s heads. I personally prefer the plot and character development in Midnight Rainbow, Book 1 in this series, but I have to say I prefer Ms. Sweeney’s audio performance of Diamond Bay to that one.
Ms. Sweeney brings out Kell’s enigmatic nature using a somewhat deadpan delivery when Kell is speaking. As narrator, however, Ms. Sweeney also lets us see the deliberation and roiling emotions inside Kell’s head.
Also, Ms. Sweeney brings out Rachel’s mature and direct nature. Her pacing of the narration is just right. Various characters are clearly distinguished. Rachel’s friend Honey is portrayed with a Southern accent that fairly drips, making her a great vocal foil to Rachel when they talk together.
AudioGals recently interviewed Ms. Sweeney and included sound clips of Diamond Bay. According to Ms. Sweeney, for Kell she tried to channel Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. Right on—I can totally see auditory-wise, that’s Kell Sabin.
Megan
Narration: B+
Book Content: B
Steam Factor: Glad I had by earbuds in
Violence: Minimal, some fighting
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Diamond Bay was provided to AudioGals for review by Dreamscape Media.
