Book description
A Winter Dream - A Warm, Humorous Journey Through Family, Love and Redemption (Audiobook Review)
Richard Paul Evans has a way of turning the ordinary into something that feels like a holiday miracle, and his new title A Winter Dream is no exception. The narrator's voice-steady, warm, and peppered with just enough humor-guides listeners through Joseph Jacobson's tumultuous life with a comforting familiarity that makes the story feel both epic and intimately personal.
From the very first line we learn that Joseph is the twelfth of thirteen children in a bustling Colorado advertising dynasty. The family's success masks a bitter undercurrent of jealousy, and when the father's favoritism threatens to crown one son as heir, the rest of the siblings strike back. The narrator captures the tension with a subtle shift in tone-whispering conspiracies between brothers, then booming accusations that echo through the halls of their company.
What makes this audiobook shine is how it balances drama and levity. When Joseph is forced out of his Denver home and severed from his fiancΓ©e, the narration slows, allowing us to feel his heartbreak. Yet Evans's script never lets despair linger too long; instead, it offers a glimmer of hope when Joseph lands a job in Chicago and meets April-a kind-hearted woman with her own secrets. The narrator's light chuckle whenever April drops a hint keeps the mood buoyant, even as the plot takes its inevitable twists.
The climax-April's secret revelation-hits with both emotional weight and comic timing. The narrator's pacing builds suspense, then delivers the twist with an almost theatrical flourish that makes you feel like you're in a small theater room, watching the story unfold in real time. It's a testament to Evans's skill that he can weave biblical allusions (the coat of many colors) into a modern tale of forgiveness and redemption without making it feel contrived.
By the end, Joseph confronts his past and learns that true inheritance isn't about titles or wealth-it's about love, loyalty, and the courage to let go. The narrator wraps up with a gentle, almost reflective tone that invites listeners to sit back and reflect on their own families and relationships.
For fans of heartwarming holiday novels and anyone who enjoys an audiobook that blends humor, drama, and spiritual insight, A Winter Dream is a must-listen. Evans delivers a story that will have you laughing one moment and wiping away a tear the next-an experience as comforting as a cup of hot cocoa by the fire.
Drop Stone
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I'm amazed at how immersive the experience is β it's like being inside the story. An acceptable audiobook that met basic expectations. No complaints about quality but nothing remarkable either. Would listen to this narrator again but wouldn't seek them out.
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience