The American Heiress. 11 CDs

Pampered 19th-century Newport, RI, heiress Cora Cash lives a life of luxury and excess. Her mother insists on taking her to England to find a titled husband. Cora accidentally finds a duke, marries him, and produces an heir. Her struggle with the duke's mysterious past and the former lover who pursues him is entwined with mastering the intricacies of social life in an unfamiliar culture. The historical details are accurate and add texture to the story. The characters are varied and lively and brought to life skillfully by narrator Katherine Kellgren. Those who read Daphne du Maurier and other authors in the genre will enjoy this title. Recommended. ["Top-notch writing brings to life the world of wealth on both sides of the Atlantic," read the starred review of the New York Times best-selling St. Martin's hc, LJ 4/1/11.—Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence