LOVE TIES: AN UNBREAKABLE BOND

by Marilyn Freeman

Narrated by: Maria Johnson

Production by: Marilyn Freeman

Review by Rox Burkey

Heart-Wrenching Mystery!

Marilyn Freeman portrays a family at the apex of their relationship until the unexpected occurs. Jack Long, father, and husband, feels distanced from his wife after the years it took to have their child Toby. Grace hovers over her son, limiting Jack’s alone time. One day father and son get to spend a day at the beach.

The descriptions immerse the readers in place throughout the book. One initially feels the sand between their toes, hears the waves, enjoys the warm weather, and celebrates bonding. The love between these two, even though the intelligent Toby is young, emanates from the actions of playing and laughing at the beach together. Ms. Freeman does a marvelous job of painting all the scenes throughout the story that draws upon all the senses.

The characters’ distinctive personalities show in their actions and dialogue. When Toby disappears, the emotional upheaval runs the gambit from fear to guilt then blame. The tragedy of the follow-on events continues for ten years after the day on the beach. Jack becomes a shell of a man bent on survival with only a tiny spark of hope buried deep in his heart.

At first blush, you think you know the answers, but this mystery will surprise you repeatedly. The twists and turns of this mystery will have mystery fans trying to determine the proper actions of the characters. The unexpected elements sprinkled in just the right places will make you weep or shout for joy.

The narration of Maria Johnson holds the right pace for the story from start to finish. The voice acting is superb, with voices easily discernable as the story progresses. Listeners will hear the perfect intonation suited to the scene and characters. The accents were impeccable. I highly recommend this for mystery lovers, especially those fond of English settings and dialogue.

There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.