Lori Gardner has narrated 18 audiobooks on Listento.it by 19 authors, with an average listener rating of 3.8★ across 39 ratings. The most-rated is The Life She Was Given.
The Life She Was Given
Summary
From acclaimed author Ellen Marie Wiseman comes a vivid, daring novel about the devastating power of family secrets - beginning in the poignant, lurid world of a Depression-era traveling circus and coming full circle in the transformative 1950s. On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn't allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She's never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it's for Lilly's own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time - and sold to the circus sideshow. More than two decades later, 19-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents' estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden rooms, and she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl. At first The Barlow Brothers' Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this ragtag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Soon, thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circus' biggest attraction...until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about Lilly's fate and her family's shocking betrayal and find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last. Moving between Julia's and Lilly's stories, Ellen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinary, very different women in a novel that, while tender and heartbreaking, offers moments of joy and indomitable hope.
©2017 Ellen Marie Wiseman (P)2017 Recorded Books
Good Luck with That
Summary
New York Times best-selling author Kristan Higgins is beloved for her heartfelt novels filled with humor and wisdom. Now, in her newest novel, Good Luck with That, she tackles an issue every woman deals with: body image and self-acceptance. Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. When Emerson tragically passes away, she leaves one final wish for her best friends: to conquer the fears they still carry as adults. For each of them, that means something different. For Marley, it's coming to terms with the survivor's guilt she's carried around since her twin sister's death, which has left her blind to the real chance for romance in her life. For Georgia, it's about learning to stop trying to live up to her mother's and brother's ridiculous standards, and learning to accept the love her ex-husband has tried to give her. But as Marley and Georgia grow stronger, the real meaning of Emerson's dying wish becomes truly clear: more than anything, she wanted her friends to love themselves. A novel of compassion and insight, Good Luck with That tells the story of two women who learn to embrace themselves just the way they are.
©2018 Kristan Higgins (P)2018 Recorded Books
A Lot Like Christmas
Summary
Holiday stories and traditions enchantingly reimagined - with an insightfully satirical twist. Featuring five stories new to this collection, plus seven previously published stories, now all collected together for the first time. From the award-winning author of Crosstalk. No one could ask for a better present than a collection of Connie Willis Christmas tales. These are amazing stories, representing all the best of the Connie Willis experience: true Christmas gifts to her many fans. They are full of humor, absurdity, human foibles, tragedy, joy, and hope. They both send up and embrace many of the best Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas newsletter, Secret Santas, office parties, holiday pageants, and Christmas dinners (both elaborate and spare). There are ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come; debates over which is the best Christmas movie (Connie argues for the original Miracle on 34th Street, hands down); Rockettes; modern-day Magi; and the triumph of generosity over greed.
©2017 Connie Willis (P)2017 Recorded Books
The Guest List
Summary
Satisfied with her life and a new relationship, Abby Mitchell is most happy to be reunited with her sister, who was separated from her after their parents died. The siblings are planning a sumptuous party, unaware that an uninvited guest is coming, one who'll do anything to help keep the past hidden.
©2000 First Draft, Inc. (P)2017 Recorded Books
Little Do We Know
Summary
Next-door neighbors and ex-best friends Hannah and Emory haven't spoken in months. Not since the fight - the one where they said things they couldn't take back. Now, Emory is fine-tuning her UCLA performing arts application and trying to make the most of the months she has left with her boyfriend, Luke, before they head off to separate colleges. Meanwhile, Hannah's strong faith is shaken when her family's financial problems come to light, and she finds herself turning to unexpected places - and people - for answers to the difficult questions she's suddenly facing. No matter how much Hannah and Emory desperately want to bridge the 36 steps between their bedroom windows, they can't. Not anymore. Until their paths cross unexpectedly when, one night, Hannah finds Luke doubled over in his car outside her house. In the aftermath of the accident, all three struggle to understand what happened in their own ways. But when a devastating secret about Hannah and Emory's argument ultimately comes to light, they must all reexamine the things they hold true. In alternating chapters, a skeptic and a believer piece together the story of their complex relationship with help from the boy caught somewhere in the middle. New York Times best-selling author Tamara Ireland Stone deftly crafts a moving portrait of faith, love, and friendship.
©2018 Tamara Ireland Stone (P)2018 Recorded Books
A Season to Celebrate
Summary
Make it a merry Christmas with four stories of the special way the holidays warm our hearts. Christmas Homecoming by Fern Michaels Former Air Force Pararescueman Kevin Matthews is back home in Texas, working at his family's Christmas tree farm while deciding his next move. Or maybe he won't move at all, if sparks keep flying with the town's new surgeon, Kate Stafford. An Unexpected Gift by Kate Pearce Widower Billy Morgan wishes his grown children still needed him. Good thing his longtime friend, Bella, does. She's planning her son's Christmas wedding, and Billy is happy to help. Along the way, they just might discover their own occasion to celebrate. Christmas in Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman Attorney Moira Brogan expects her brother's Christmas wedding to be a peaceful affair. She doesn't expect to be cornered by an unwanted lothario, rescued by a gorgeous Aussie chef - or be swept off her feet by said chef. Nursing a broken heart, the last thing she wants is a new romance. But Hudson Walker has other ideas. Holiday Homerun by Priscilla Oliveras Event planner Julia Louisa Fernandez dreams of a life in Chicago. But her family in Puerto Rico expects her to take over the catering business. Former pro baseball player Ben Thomas knows what that's like - and when they meet, he might be the one to inspire a winning strategy, just in time for the holidays.
©2018 Kensington Publishing Corporation; 2018 Fern Michaels, A Christmas Homecoming; 2018 Kate Pearce, An Unexpected Gift; 2018 Donna Kauffman, Christmas in Blue Hollow Falls; 2018 Priscilla Oliveras, Holiday Home Run (P)2018 Recorded Books
Celebration
Summary
Number-one New York Times best-selling author Fern Michaels dazzles listeners with the unforgettable story of one woman's life - the betrayal that nearly destroys her, the love that helps her heal, and the struggle to find the truth about herself and the man she thought she knew. An only child who lost both parents during her first year at college, wealthy heiress Kristine Kelly had made her husband her whole world. But she didn't see what everyone else did: that handsome, charismatic Logan Kelly was a manipulator and a user. Then, one cold December, Kristine got a chilling wake-up call when Logan vanished, along with the eight-million-dollar trust fund she had naively given him the power to control. Just when Kristine's life was at its lowest point, banker Aaron Dunwoodie offered her passion, a strong shoulder to lean on, and a relationship to believe in. But a woman once fooled is twice wary, and very vulnerable. There were still too many questions Kristine needed to answer before she could commit her heart again: what really happened to Logan.... What did she truly want for herself.... And what would she do if Logan - a dangerous, seductive, and yet irresistible man - walked back into her life?
©1999, 2009 First Draft, Inc. (P)2017 Recorded Books
Barkus
Summary
Meet Barkus. Barkus is well-trained. Barkus is loyal. Barkus is generous. Barkus is family. The exuberant Barkus and his lucky young owner jump, whirl, and twirl across this delightful series from the award-winning Patricia MacLachlan.
©2017 Patricia Maclachlan (P)2017 By Recorded Books Inc
Barkus Dog Dreams
Summary
Barkus is back! With new tricks, new friends, and lots more fun. The lovable Barkus and his lucky young owner romp through this delightful series from Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan. The simple text told in short chapters is just right for children ready to take their first steps toward listening on their own.
©2018 Patricia MacLachlan (P)2018 Recorded Books
The Wilds
Summary
At an obscure South Carolina nursing home, a lost world reemerges as a disabled elderly woman undergoes newfangled brain-restoration procedures and begins to explore her environment with the assistance of strap-on robot legs. At a deluxe medical spa on a nameless Caribbean island, a middle-aged woman hopes to revitalize her fading youth with grotesque rejuvenating therapies that combine cutting-edge medical technologies with holistic approaches and the pseudoreligious dogma of Zen-infused self-help. And in a rinky-dink mill town, an adolescent girl is unexpectedly inspired by the ravings and miraculous levitation of her fundamentalist friend's weird grandmother. These are only a few of the scenarios listeners encounter in Julia Elliott's debut collection, The Wilds. In these genre-bending stories, teetering between the ridiculous and the sublime, Elliott's language-driven fiction uses outlandish tropes to capture poignant moments in her humble characters' lives. Without abandoning the tenets of classic storytelling, Elliott revels in lush lyricism, dark humor, and experimental play.
©2014 Julia Elliott (P)2015 Recorded Books
Willow
Summary
Dear Listener: Willow is a novel from early in my career, and it was originally shorter than many of my other historical romances. Now, I'm delighted to be able to share this brand-new edition with you. I've taken the opportunity to expand Willow to include the subplots, love scenes, and deeper characterization that are possible with a longer book. I hope you enjoy listening to this retelling as much as I have enjoyed visiting these characters and this story once again. In 1883, the railroad had only recently come to Montana Territory, and outlaws still lurked in the hills. Willow Gallagher, who spent her early childhood in an outlaw camp until her father finally found her, is torn by divided loyalties. Newly married to handsome railroad baron Gideon Marshall, she finds fiery passion in Gideon's embrace until she discovers he is on a mission...a mission to capture Willow's outlaw brother, Steven. Now Willow must choose - betray her brother, or risk the love she has found with Gideon, the love she has dreamed of all her life, to save Steven. It is a choice that could break her heart.... May you be blessed, Linda Lael Miller
©1984 Linda Lael Miller (P)2016 Recorded Books
Barkus
Summary
Meet Barkus. Barkus is loyal. Barkus is generous. Barkus is family. The exuberant Barkus and his lucky young owner whirl and twirl across the minutes of this delightful pre-chapter book series from award-winning author Patricia MacLachlan. Author bio: Patricia MacLachlan is an incredibly versatile author whose titles range from picture books to novels, including the Newbery Medal winner Sarah, Plain and Tall. Barkus was inspired by the imagined adventures of her neighbor's dog. She lives in Massachusetts.
©2017 Patricia MacLachlan (P)2017 Recorded Books
The Sweetest Thing
Summary
The Singleton family's fortunes seem unaffected by the Great Depression, and Perri - along with the other girls at Atlanta's elite Washington Seminary - lives a carefree life of tea dances with college boys, matinees at the cinema, and debut parties. But when tragedies strike, Perri is confronted with a world far different from the one she has always known. At the insistence of her parents, Mary "Dobbs" Dillard, the daughter of an itinerant preacher, is sent from inner-city Chicago to live with her aunt and attend Washington Seminary, bringing confrontation and radical ideas. Her arrival intersects at the point of Perri's ultimate crisis, and the tragedy forges an unlikely friendship. The Sweetest Thing tells the story of two remarkable young women - opposites in every way - fighting for the same goal: surviving tumultuous change.
©2011 Elizabeth Musser (P)2019 Recorded Books
All That We Carried
Summary
Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a backcountry hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. Over the years, they grew apart, each coping with the loss in her own way. Olivia plunged herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world - what you see is what you get, and that's all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life-coaching business around her cafeteria-style spirituality - a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy. Now, at Melanie's insistence (and against Olivia's better judgment), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they'll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered. Michigan Notable Book Award winner Erin Bartels draws from personal experience hiking backcountry trails with her sister to bring you a story about the complexities of grief, faith, and sisterhood.
©2021 Erin Bartels (P)2021 Recorded Books
Home Sweet Home
Summary
What makes a place feel like home? A mother's embrace, the warmth of new friendship, a sweet reunion-all can be found in these unforgettable stories.... Three's a Crowd - Fern Michaels This Mother's Day will be the first in three years that Samantha Stewart has spent with her parents. And she's bringing a very special gift - the baby granddaughter they've never met. Sam's work as an overseas reporter was exhilarating and dangerous. Now she's seeking stability for little Caroline - and answers for herself - and finding them in a homecoming full of surprises.... New Beginnings in Blue Hollow Falls - Donna Kauffman The moment she set foot in Blue Hollow Falls, Dubliner Katie MacMillan felt right at home. Back to help with her sister's pregnancy, she's contemplating her own future, especially when she confronts Declan MacGregor, her childhood tormentor and first crush. This Blue Ridge town was supposed to be a new beginning, but can it also be the setting for a second chance? Bring Me Home - Melissa Storm For Hazel Long, spending time with her bedridden father is bittersweet. There's comfort in the friendship offered by other hospital visitors - and the kindness of a handsome male nurse. And when Hazel's father begins to tell her the story of the mother she barely knew, it's an unexpected chance to bond, and a lesson in making the most of each new day.
©2020 Kensington Publishing Corporation; additional copyrights in text (P)2020 Recorded Books
The Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Years, 2nd Edition
Summary
A complete guide with practical information and support for parents of children from newborn to 3 years old, by childcare experts at the renowned Mayo Clinic. Written by doctors who are also parents. Updated and revised second edition. Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Years is a trusted and essential resource for new and experienced parents alike. In this fully reviewed and updated second edition, you'll find practical guidance on caring for the new little one in your family, from birth to age 3. Inside you'll find evidence-based advice on giving your baby the best nutrition and introducing your toddler to solids, tips for forming healthy sleep habits, strategies for dealing with fussiness and tantrums, advice on establishing a secure bond with your child, monthly updates on your child's growth and development, and much more.
©2020 Walter Cook (P)2020 Recorded Books, Inc.
The Rabbit Listened
Summary
A universal, deeply moving exploration of grief and empathy With its spare, poignant text, The Rabbit Listened is a tender meditation on loss. When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs. Whether listened to in the wake of tragedy or as a primer for comforting others, this is a deeply moving and unforgettable story sure to soothe heartache of all sizes.
©2018 Cori Doerrfeld (P)2018 Recorded Books
Judge's Girls
Summary
Three very different women. Only one thing in common. But when their family patriarch dies and they must share his estate, the truths they discover will test them - and everything they think they know about each other. Beloved Georgia Judge Joseph Donaldson was known for his unshakable fairness, his hard-won fortune - and a scandalous second marriage to his much-younger White secretary. Now he's left a will with a stunning provision. In order to collect their inheritance, his lawyer daughter, Maya, her stepmother, Jeanie, and Jeanie's teen daughter, Ryder, must live together at the family lake house. Maya and Jeanie don't exactly get along, but they reluctantly agree to try an uneasy peace for as long as it takes.... But fragile ex-beauty queen Jeanie doesn't know who she is beyond being a judge's wife - and drinking away her insecurities has her in a dangerous downward spiral. Fed up with her mother's humiliating behavior, Ryder tries to become popular at school in all the wrong ways. And when Maya attempts to help, she puts her successful career and her shaky love life at risk. Now with trouble they didn't see coming - and secrets they can no longer hide - these women must somehow find the courage to admit their mistakes, see each other for who they really are - and slowly, perhaps even joyfully, discover everything they could be.
©2020 Sharina Harris (P)2020 Recorded Books