Secrets from the Heart

Elyce Anthony’s narration is the secret weapon of this audiobook. She nails Kira’s defiance without making her unlikable, and Franklin’s smolder comes through in every sarcastic inflection. Her voice for the nosy town gossips is so vivid it’s like a bad reality show, and she even manages to make a minor character’s grudge feel like a Shakespearean aside. That said, the pacing stumbles in the middle act, where the plot slows to a crawl under the weight of too many subplots about zoning laws and family legacies. Anthony doesn’t drag it down, but the story itself feels a touch sluggish here. The production is crystal-clear, though, with just enough ambient sound (rustling skirts, clinking glasses) to immerse you without distraction. My biggest critique? The epilogue feels tacked on, as if the author couldn’t resist giving every character a neat bow. Still, the chemistry between Kira and Franklin is electric, and Anthony sells it with gusto. If you love small-town romances with bite, this is your summer listen.