A Place to Call Home

By: Deborah Smith

Narrated by: Kymberly Dakin

Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Twenty years ago, Claire Maloney was the willful, pampered, tomboyish daughter of the town's most respected family, but that didn't stop her from befriending Roan Sullivan, a fierce, motherless boy who lived in a rusted-out trailer amid junked cars. No one in Dunderry, Georgia - least of all Claire's family - could understand the bond between these two mavericks. But Roan and Claire belonged together...until the dark afternoon when violence and terror overtook them, and Roan disappeared from Claire's life.

Now, two decades later, Claire is adrift, and the Maloneys are still hoping the past can be buried under the rich Southern soil. But Roan Sullivan is about to walk back into their lives....

By turns tender and sexy and heartbreaking and exuberant, A Place to Call Home is an enthralling journey between two hearts - and a deliciously original novel from one of the most imaginative and appealing new voices in Southern fiction.

©1997 Deborah Smith as Leigh Bridger (P)2012 BelleBooks, Inc.

Overall this was a nice book

My only critique was in the author's long drawn out explanation of the many relatives. The who's who history of the families, cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews.
Who owned what and where. There were so many of them, it was hard to keep them all straight. But less would have been better..The author wrote with humor and the narrator did an excellent job. Anyone from a small town could relate to the subject of this book and how cruel small town living once was by a certain few.The division of classes, the cruelty of children who were better off than others. In all, I liked the message of this book.

Southern Charmer

This was a very well written book FULL of details that became part of a very big, and touching story. Liked it!

Great summer read. Beautiful written.

I loved this book. It was intelligently written without being overly written. A good book.

Beautifully written story

I read this book years ago and fell in love with the storytelling capabilities of D. Smith. So much so that I read all her other books as well! She's truly a talented writer that pulls you into the story and you feel as though you are a part of the narrative.
I would recommend this, and any other books by D.Smith.

Gotta love family ;)

Enjoyed the story telling and weaving with all the minute details, which brought this story to life and made each character known, just as if you were a part of the family yourself.

Best book

This is one of the best books I've listened too in a long time. I loved it!!

Wonderful

Loved the book. It was like listening to someone telling you a story.
Fantastic book.

Kept me listening

What did you love best about A Place to Call Home?

The unfolding of a family history.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the families faults and strengths are all reavealed

Which scene was your favorite?

When Roan had his first birthday celebration

Any additional comments?

I got so involved in this family. I wanted to be a part of this family, faults and all.

Awesome book, terrible narrator

Totally inappropriate choice to narrate this great book. Her sing- song syrupy voice had the same cadence and tone for each character. Roan and Claire are too young to have an older woman narrate. And her accent? Heavens!! What were you thinking? I gave up and bought the book to read it instead. Couldn't stand it anymore.

This Is A Great Book

You know you have a great story AND a great narrator (after all this is an audiobook), when you are hooked by the first paragraph. This is a book that satisfies on both accounts. Like I daresay Davina Porter (that Goddess of narrators) and Diana Gabaldon (All Hail). For a person who grew up in Southern Louisiana in the country parishes and NOLA knowing backstories or histories about persons or families is a plus. It what we as Southerners do. LOVED IT. I am very picky about my narrators, especially if they are supposed to be a from the South or Louisiana. Also if that narrator actually keeps me interested in the story. This narrator 's accent and performance is wonderful. I buy a lot of audiobooks and return a lot of of books because I don't like either the story or delivery. This is a keeper. I am going to look at her backlist and buy another. I have not not even a finished listening to this book and I am writing this.
I honestly don't remember where I saw the recommendation from, but I am SO glad I bought this. I have been.looking for Good audiobooks set in the pics South, whether a myster, fiction, urban planning fantasy, or romance and have eitjert read or write listened to more popular ones. You know a book is not funny when you are getting funny looks while running errands because you are launghing. Dirk Devlin LOL!!! I will update when finished.