Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Broken
- Author: Kelly Elliott
- Narrator: Nelson Hobbs, Shirl Rae
- Length: 10:23:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 12/03/2014
- Publisher: Tantor Media
- Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
The first time I pressed play on “Broken”, I was driving through the winding roads of Big Sur, the Pacific Ocean crashing against cliffs to my left. There’s something about Nelson Hobbs’ gravelly Texas drawl that made Layton Morris’ story feel as expansive as those coastal vistas – a voice weathered by life yet still holding warmth, much like the adobe walls of the ranches I’ve stayed in throughout Mexico. Kelly Elliott’s dual narrative of wounded souls finding each other resonated deeply with my own experiences collecting stories of resilience in unexpected places.
“”A Symphony of Brokenness and Hope””
Elliott crafts her characters with the care of an Oaxacan grandmother preparing mole – layer upon complex layer of flavor and history. Layton’s trauma from childhood poverty and loss mirrors what I’ve witnessed in rural communities where survival becomes the family trade. Whitley’s journey from abusive relationship to self-redemption reminded me of women I’ve met in shelters from Guatemala to Thailand, their eyes holding both fear and fierce determination. The alternating narration by Hobbs and Shirl Rae creates an intimate call-and-response rhythm – his voice all rough edges and restrained emotion, hers trembling with vulnerability before finding its strength.
“”The Alchemy of Audio””
What makes this audiobook exceptional is how the narrators transform printed words into lived experience. When Hobbs describes Layton working the ranch at dawn, you hear the creak of saddle leather and smell the dew on chaparral. Rae’s portrayal of Whitley’s panic attacks had me pulling over near Big Sur’s Bixby Bridge, viscerally recalling a Nicaraguan woman who’d described similar moments clutching her rebozo like a lifeline. The production quality wraps you in ambient sounds – distant cattle, Texas cicadas, the ominous silence before Roger’s violence – creating a soundscape as rich as any travel memoir.
“”Echoes of Universal Stories””
While categorized as contemporary romance, “Broken” shares DNA with the survival narratives I collect globally. Layton’s ranch-building reminded me of Chilean huasos rebuilding after earthquakes; Whitley’s escape mirrored stories from a women’s cooperative in Marrakech. Elliott’s genius lies in making these archetypes feel freshly personal – when Layton finally breaks down at Mike’s grave, Hobbs’ voice cracks in ways that transported me to a Navajo sweat lodge ceremony where men first voiced their grief.
“”Nuanced Critique””
The story occasionally leans into predictable tropes – the saintly best friend Courtney, Roger’s mustache-twirling villainy – but the narrators elevate these moments with subtlety. Rae especially shines in Whitley’s quieter transformations, her voice gaining texture like well-worn leather. Some may find the Texas ranch setting overly romanticized, but having spent harvest seasons in Sonoma vineyards and Andean quinoa fields, I recognized the authentic love for land that Hobbs conveys in every description of Layton’s work.
“”For Whom This Resonates””
This audiobook will grip listeners who appreciate:
– Character-driven stories with psychological depth
– Slow-burn emotional healing
– Atmospheric rural settings
– Dual narration that enhances perspective
It’s less suited for those seeking steamy romance or fast-paced plots – the beauty here lives in the lingering shots, like the golden-hour photography of my friend Javier’s documentary work in Oaxaca.
“”Final Verdict””
“Broken” joins that rare category of audiobooks that transcend their genre – much like how Isabel Allende’s magical realism or Pico Iyer’s travel essays defy easy classification. When the final chapter faded as I reached Big Sur’s Nepenthe restaurant, I sat watching the fog roll in, thinking of all the broken places where light enters, as Rumi said. Elliott, Hobbs, and Rae have created not just a story, but a healing ceremony in audio form.
With stories yet to be lived and shared,
Marcus Rivera
