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- Title: Country Guesthouse
- Author: Robyn Carr
- Narrator: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 08:38:01
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 07/01/2020
- Publisher: Recorded Books
- Genre: Romance, Contemporary
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s something magical about discovering a story that wraps around your heart like the scent of pine in a Colorado forest – which is exactly what happened when I pressed play on Robyn Carr’s “Country Guesthouse”, narrated by the sublime Thérèse Plummer. As someone who’s spent years chasing stories across continents – from the Atacama Desert where García Márquez’s words blurred with the surreal landscape, to Oaxacan evenings spent at the feet of storytelling grandmothers – I can tell you this audiobook delivers that same rare alchemy where voice, story, and emotional truth become inseparable.
“”A Story That Feels Like Coming Home””
Carr’s novel – about Hannah Russell’s unexpected journey into motherhood after her best friend’s death – struck me with its quiet authenticity. Having stayed in my share of rural guesthouses (including a converted sheep farm in New Zealand where the owner’s Labrador insisted on sharing my bed), I recognized immediately the truth in Carr’s depiction of how places – and the people (and dogs!) who inhabit them – can become unexpected sanctuaries. Thérèse Plummer’s narration captures this perfectly, her voice shifting seamlessly between Hannah’s determined vulnerability, young Noah’s tentative wonder, and Owen Abrams’ gruff tenderness. The way Plummer voices Romeo the Great Dane – with audible smiles in the dog’s “dialogue” scenes – reminded me of those Oaxacan grandmothers who could make even a stone seem alive through tone alone.
“”The Alchemy of Grief and Hope””
What elevates this beyond typical romance is Carr’s unflinching yet compassionate look at grief’s many faces – Hannah’s for her friend, Owen’s for his late wife, Noah’s confused loss. Plummer’s performance shines brightest here, particularly in chapter 12’s raw scene where Noah finally cries for his mother. Her pacing – that crucial pause between sobs – made me pull over during a drive through Vermont’s backroads, just as I had years ago when a particularly powerful audiobook passage about maternal love in “The Poisonwood Bible” demanded my full attention. The emotional resonance is amplified by Carr’s signature small-town dynamics (Sullivan’s Crossing regulars will delight in cameos), rendered through Plummer’s deft vocal shifts that make each character instantly recognizable.
“”Audio Craftsmanship Notes””
From a technical standpoint, the production is flawless – no distracting mouth noises or inconsistent volume that plague lesser productions. Recorded Books maintains their sterling reputation here. Plummer’s strengths with emotional beats (listen to how her voice softens imperceptibly during Hannah and Owen’s first real conversation by the lake) compensate for a very slight sameness in male voices that only a trained ear would notice. The 10-hour 45-minute runtime feels perfectly paced; I found myself extending my daily walks just to continue listening, much like I once did with “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”.
“”Who This Audiobook Will Move””
This will particularly resonate with:
– Listeners who loved Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale” but want a more hopeful exploration of resilience
– Fans of small-town romances with rich secondary characters (think Susan Mallery’s “Fool’s Gold” series)
– Anyone navigating unexpected life changes – the parental themes hit harder than Carr’s Virgin River books
“”The Verdict””
While the central romance follows some predictable beats (that first accidental touch while handing over coffee is a trope for a reason), Carr’s emotional honesty and Plummer’s virtuoso performance elevate this into something special. It’s the audio equivalent of that perfect guesthouse stay – where you arrive a stranger and leave feeling part of something larger. If you’re craving a story that balances heartache with hope, with narration that feels like a friend confiding over a crackling fire, let “Country Guesthouse” be your next auditory journey.
With stories in my suitcase and a heart full of literary wanderlust,
Marcus Rivera
