Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Newcomer
- Author: Robyn Carr
- Narrator: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 10:47:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 25/06/2013
- Publisher: Recorded Books
- Genre: Romance, General
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s a particular magic to small-town romances that reminds me of sipping café de olla in a Mexican plaza at dusk – the way community, tradition, and personal stories simmer together into something comforting yet unexpectedly complex. Robyn Carr’s “Newcomer”, brought to life by Thérèse Plummer’s narration, captures this alchemy perfectly, wrapping listeners in a warm embrace of familiar romance tropes while delivering enough emotional depth to leave lasting fingerprints on your heart.
As someone who’s spent years collecting stories from roadside diners and mountain villages, I appreciate how Carr builds Thunder Point’s world with the meticulous care of a local historian. Listening to this audiobook transported me back to that summer I spent in a coastal Oregon town much like Thunder Point, where the salt-kissed air carried as many secrets as the fishermen’s morning gossip. The way Deputy Sheriff Mac McCain’s boots crunch on gravel as he walks toward Gina James’ diner (rendered with such tactile authenticity by Plummer) made me smell the bacon grease and hear the screen door slam of that little seaside café where I once interviewed a waitress with a past as complicated as Gina’s.
Thérèse Plummer’s narration is a masterclass in vocal storytelling that would make my Oaxacan grandmother nod in approval. She doesn’t just perform the characters – she inhabits them. When Mac’s ex-wife Cee Jay arrives like a tropical storm warning, Plummer’s voice takes on this perfectly calibrated blend of Southern honey and vinegar that had me laughing in recognition. (We all know that woman – I met her version at a Belizean resort bar in 2017, mojito in hand, doling out backhanded compliments like hurricane updates.) The romantic scenes between Mac and Gina benefit immensely from Plummer’s ability to convey simmering tension through breath control alone – there’s one midnight kitchen encounter that made me pause the audio just to fan myself, much like I did when first reading “Like Water for Chocolate” under a Nicaraguan ceiba tree.
Carr’s strength has always been balancing small-town coziness with real-world issues, and “Newcomer” continues this tradition. Gina’s struggle to rebuild her life after financial ruin resonated deeply with me – I’ve met versions of her in every country, that particular breed of resilience forged in the fires of starting over. The audiobook format intensifies these emotional beats; hearing Gina whisper “I can’t afford to hope right now” while washing diner glasses hit harder than when I read the print version. Plummer understands the weight of quiet moments – her pregnant pauses carry as much meaning as Carr’s actual dialogue.
That said, seasoned romance readers might predict some plot turns before they arrive. The ex-wife drama follows a somewhat familiar trajectory, though Carr (and Plummer’s stellar vocal acting) elevate it through nuanced character work. I found myself wishing for more of the side characters – the glimpses we get of the town’s quirky residents made me crave a full ensemble cast like in Carr’s Virgin River series. There’s a particular elderly fisherman whose gruff wisdom reminded me of a Portuguese sardine boat captain who once schooled me in both maritime lore and life philosophy over tumblers of ginginha.
What makes this audiobook special is how it captures the rhythm of small-town life. The way Plummer modulates her pacing to match the lazy summer afternoons versus the high-stakes emotional confrontations creates an almost musical listening experience. It’s the audio equivalent of that perfect road trip playlist where every song feels inevitable. Carr’s dialogue – always a strength – shines brightest in audio format, particularly the witty banter between Mac and Gina that Plummer delivers with the easy rhythm of longtime friends who’ve recently discovered they’re something more.
For romance listeners who enjoy:
– Emotional depth with their happily-ever-afters
– Small-town settings that feel lived-in rather than quaint
– Narrators who act rather than simply read
– Love stories about grown adults with pasts and baggage
“Newcomer” delivers all this while asking thoughtful questions about second chances – both romantic and personal. It’s the literary equivalent of that perfect roadside diner pie: familiar in the best way, but with just enough unique spice to make it memorable. As someone who’s documented love stories from Tokyo to Marrakech, I can confirm Carr understands that the most universal romances are often the most locally specific – and Plummer’s narration wraps that truth in a voice as comforting as your favorite well-worn travel jacket.
With one ear always tuned to life’s stories and the other to the whisper of turning pages,
Marcus Rivera
