Once in a Lifetime

By: Cathy Kelly

Narrated by: Jacqueline Tong

Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

Kenny's Department Store, with its handsome Edwardian façade, is the jewel in Ardagh town's crown.

TV presenter Ingrid Fitzgerald has watched her husband David, Kenny's charismatic owner, pour his heart and soul into the family store, making it the epitome of boutique chic. She's juggled family life and her glittering career admirably. Now, as their children fly the nest, Ingrid discovers a secret that will shake her world to its very foundations.

Natalie Flynn shares a flat with Ingrid's daughter, Molly. As love blossoms in her life, motherless Natalie starts to ask questions she has never dared to before. But will they help her make sense of her life and who she really is?

Charlie Fallon is a passionate and motivated Kenny's employee who adores her husband and son, but her eccentric mother seems bent on wrecking her life. Now it's time to fight for her own happiness.

Free spirit, Star Bluestone, who handcrafts fabulous tapestries for Kenny's, is the woman with the knowledge to help them all. Star knows from experience that the important things in life must be nurtured and treasured. She harbours many secrets and understands that the chance for real joy comes only once in a lifetime...

Warm, captivating storytelling from the heart - treat yourself to some Cathy Kelly time.

©2008 HarperCollins Publishers (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Really Bad Irish Accents!

I was glad when this was over as Jacqueline Tong really got on my nerves.

Jacqueline has a very polite voice which was easy enough to listen to but mixed with her attempt at Irish accents it was dreadful. They were a mixture of Dublin, Belfast and Welsh. Sometimes all in the same sentence! At times I didn't know which character was talking and I found it very off putting. This would have been better narrated by an Irish person as it would have added more feeling to the book.

Overall it was a an enjoyable storyline but not one of my favourite Cathy Kelly books.

Great book - dreadful narrator

What a shame the narrator read this so poorly, with Irish accents from varying parts of both Ireland, Scotland and goodness knows where else. It actually really spoiled a very well written book and made it quite difficult to follow as the narrator didn't always keep the same voice or accent for her characters.

The accents are truly awful

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The character accents totally ruined this book for me... It's a typical fake midlands accent.. no one in Ireland speaks like this....

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I don't think I'll be able to suffer the book to the end.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Jacqueline Tong?

Aoife MacMahon, Caroline Lennon, Niamh Cusack...

Beautiful story spoiled by narrator!

Once again, a beautiful story from Cathy Kelly, but for me the narrator trying to use an Irish accent just didn't work. Because of this, I found it very irritating to listen to.