Commitments

By: Barbara Delinsky

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Writer Sabrina Stone had married wealthily and unwisely. Her husband's refusal to love their handicapped son added more strain to an already failing relationship. Yet Sabrina feels a commitment to her marriage - one that she has vowed to honor.

Then one day, she encounters an investigative reporter named Derek McGill who is writing a story on parents of special children. They speak for only a few minutes, but it is long enough for the two of them to feel a desire that stuns them...a desire they both assume must remain unfulfilled.

Eighteen months later, Sabrina's husband is divorcing her and Derek McGill is in prison for murder. Following an impulse, Sabrina travels to Derek's prison to tell him that she believes in his innocence. What started as an act of compassion will turn into a dangerous and passionate test of her courage as she tries to uncover who is responsible for Derek's conviction. And she will discover the meaning of one of the most important commitments of all - the one a woman makes to herself, the one that will determine the course of her life...and the fate of the dreams she has for her child.

©1995 Barbara Delinsky (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

A Wonderful Story

I love this story and the story telling was wonderful. Great imagination as always. PERFECT!!!!

Keep Me Wondering

A good thriller. but the ending was a little abrupt It would have been better if the story had hit the evening news.

One of my most memorable reads

When Sabrina Stone first met Derek McGill, she was a stay-at-home mom to a special needs child, and he was a TV investigative reporter. They’ve both had terrible challenges and choices in the last 18 months. But the connection was made. Now they will choose what steps they will take to define their future.
Years later, and this is still my favorite Delinsky book. Of the thousands of books I’ve read in my lifetime, this one spoke to me in a way that stuck.
Similar “sticks” were LaVyrle Spencer’s Family Blessings, The Fulfillment, or Bitter Sweet; also Linda Howard’s Sarah’s Child.
Bean is a solid narrator, and I respect her work.
Recommend

Soap Opera on Audio

Would you try another book from Barbara Delinsky and/or Joyce Bean?

I have listened to more recent works by Barbara Delinsky which I have enjoyed. I had not read or listened to any of Delinsky's earlier works when I used a credit to purchase this book. This book was copyrighted in 1988 when her writing career was still new, and the writing reflects it. This book is riddled with cliche phrases, which got annoying. Dialogue between characters was stiff and predictable. The romance scenes were okay. This book needed, but didn't get, heavy editing. Listening to this book makes me appreciate Delinsky's later works more fully.

Would you ever listen to anything by Barbara Delinsky again?

I doubt I will listen to any of her earlier works again. I will continue to listen to her recent works, provided they get good reviews.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration by Joyce Bean matched the pace of the story. Joyce Bean did the very best she could considering the poor writing in this book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger at hearing Sabrina drank a portion of an alcoholic beverage when knowingly pregnant. Even in 1988 word was out that pregnant woman should abstain from consuming any alcohol. Bewilderment is another reaction I had wondering if there really are any men out there who possess in one man all the positive qualities of Derek McGill, namely: Sexy, good and knowledgeable lover, totally beguiled by his woman, enjoys talking, is ambitious, smart, and talented, wants children, the list goes on... Oh, and disappointment because McGill is a product of the the author's imagination and such a man who has all of these qualities cannot possibly exist!

Any additional comments?

I'm glad to know Barbara Delinsky's writing has greatly improved since this novel.