Audio Review: Lost Along the Way by Marie Sexton - Narrated by Jeff Gelder

Title: Lost Along the Way (Tales of a Curious Cookbook)

Author: Marie Sexton

Narrator: Jeff Gelder

Run Time: 4 hours and 41 minutes

At a Glance: Marie Sexton is an absolute master of the short story.

Reviewed By: Amy

Blurb: Three months after losing his parents in a car crash, Denver weatherman Daniel Whitaker returns to Laramie, Wyoming. It’s bad enough dealing with the death of his parents and his failing relationship of fifteen years, but when he finds his childhood home full of clutter, Daniel is at a loss. He enlists Landon, his parents’ sexy neighbor, to help him sort through the mess. Landon Kushner is a study in contradictions. He builds wind sculptures out of scrap metal and loves the outdoors, but he also rides a mint-green Vespa and has an affinity for knitting and fortune-telling. He’s been friends with Daniel’s parents for years, and he’s more than willing to lend a hand.

Their plan is simple: clean the house so Daniel can sell it and get back to his life in Denver. But when a strange cookbook comes into Landon’s possession, Daniel begins to realize that the universe–and Granny B–may have other plans.

Review: I have never met a Marie Sexton book I didn’t adore, and this trend continues with Lost Along the Way. She is an absolute master of the short story.

This touching story of Daniel dealing with the death of parents is breathtaking. Daniel always thought his parents didn’t approve of him being gay and was just starting, after fifteen years, to talk to them again. But a tragic accident takes that away from him. Going back to clean out their house, he learns through the eyes of the eclectic Landon how to see his parents differently and to know in his heart that they loved him.

Watching Daniel’s relationship fall apart was tough. I think it was pretty obvious from the beginning that his partner was cheating on him. And Landon was in love with Daniel before he even knew him. It was almost like his parents knew, and cultivated a relationship with Landon knowing he and Daniel would be together. It was just the right touch of sweet and sad for me. Bravo Marie Sexton.

Narration: I have listened to Jeff Gelder many times as a narrator, and have a bit of a tough time with him. He is a competent performer, but his voice and emotions are a bit stiff for me. I am going to give this whole review a 5, though, because honestly, the author and the story deserve it.