The Violets of March

With her marriage in ruins and a chronic case of writer's block, 30-something Emily Wilson returns to the haven of her youth, Bainbridge Island, Washington, for a month-long visit with her elderly Aunt Bee. Narrating with excitement and flair, Lyssa Browne brings life to the vivacious Emily as she rediscovers life and love with the help of her aunt and two men--one a high school flame and the other a mysterious neighbor. In contrast to Emily, Aunt Bee is given a slow-paced, grandmotherly voice. A mystery presents itself when Emily finds a diary from 1943. Browne delivers the story-within-a-story in a more subdued, even tone that sets it off from Emily's own. E.N. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

March 28, 2011
Jio debuts with a pleasant if familiar story of a woman rebuilding after romantic and professional setbacks. A few years ago, Emily Wilson was a bestselling writer married to a loving and handsome man. Now her husband has ditched her and she's unable to string four words together. Looking for rejuvenation and inspiration, Emily leaves New York City for a month at her great-aunt Bee's Bainbridge Island home, but soon after she arrives, she discovers a mysterious diary from 1943 and becomes fascinated by the love story captured by the unknown diarist. Emily's attempts to ferret out the story behind the diary bring her into contact with the island's mildly colorful locals; as Emily enjoys a simmering romance with an artist, answers prove hard to come by, and even Bee is reluctant to share the truth. Though simple miscommunication and misunderstandings play lamentably important roles later on and the supporting cast is fairly vanilla, readers looking for an easy-to-digest story of starting over will enjoy the ever-determined Emily and the lovely setting.