Endings and Beginnings by Nora Roberts

Narrated by Renee Raudman

Originally published in 1984, Endings and Beginnings is a one of the group of classic Nora Roberts titles being reissued in audio for the first time (see the AudioGals feature, New Nora Roberts in 2015, for more information on upcoming titles).

Liv Carmichael is a broadcast journalist who wants to make her mark in DC news. She’s been struggling for years to finally get to that point and is now co-anchor on the nightly local news. Liv knows that with one good story, she can break through and become one of the “in” members of the Washington political scene. Then a plum assignment drops in her lap and Liv has the chance she’s been waiting for.

After weeks of research and interviews, Liv is ready to release her story, only to have the news released by another reporter – by her competitor, TC Thorpe, also known as the bane of her existence. For every stride forward she makes, Thorpe has already been and gone. Liv has had enough and confronts him once and for all. However, in going up against Thorpe, Liv discovers that he has more than feelings of contest towards her.

I have to admit this was not one of my favorite Roberts’ titles. I kept starting it then putting it down; in the time it took me to finish this one audiobook, I listened to three others. It wasn’t that it was a poorly written book, it just didn’t hold my interest enough. I’ve never been a fan of political fiction or journalism mixed in with my romance. I can admit I didn’t read the blurb before agreeing to review this title – I only saw Nora Roberts’ last name. For all my disinterest, the characters came across as real with genuine fears and concerns motivating them and the plot seemed well developed and executed. T.C. was definitely a hero of the 80s; at times I found him a bit much with his brash personality and tendency to override Liv’s feelings and opinions.

Renee Raudman is hit or miss as a narrator for me. I can’t fault her professionalism but her voice has always bothered me. There’s a rasp in it that makes me think she has cotton in her cheeks or something stuck in the back of her throat. In some cases it works for the story but not here. That rasp made it hard for me to believe her performance of Liv. Liv was supposed to be from an upper class New England family but I never heard a sampling of it, not even when her broadcasting talent slipped and she “forgot” herself. For T.C., I would have liked a deeper raspy quality; he always seemed to have a cigarette in his mouth and I would imagine such a habit would leave a mark. I did appreciate Raudman’s use of each character’s voice when it was their inner thoughts instead of only being in “character” during the speaking portions. This made it very easy to determine who was front and center and when.

Reading this book was like watching the movie Up Close & Personal, which was frankly amazing considering the movie didn’t come out until twelve years after Endings and Beginnings had been published. However, that’s one of Nora Roberts’ talents, being able to write stories ahead of her time. Again, while this wasn’t my favorite, it was a nice treat to listen to a Roberts’ book I hadn’t read before. I will say that Endings & Beginnings made me truly appreciate Roberts’ later books!

One surprise: those readers familiar with Roberts’ MacGregors series will note a familiar name. I won’t spoil the surprise but watch for the scene in the women’s bathroom where Liv is repairing her lipstick.

Diana

Narration:  B-

Book Content:  C+

Steam Factor:  Glad I had my earbuds in

Violence:  Minimal

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Publisher:  Brilliance Audio

Endings and Beginnings was provided to AudioGals by Brilliance Audio for review.