New Reviews: Romantic Fiction

Narrators Andi Arndt and Sebastian York mesmerize listeners in this small-town suspenseful romance. Ridley Sawyer is a true-crime podcaster who is traveling across the country solving cold cases. She's also hoping to solve the mystery of what happened to her sister, who disappeared years earlier. Sheriff Colter Brooks doesn't like people snooping around his town, stirring up... Read More

Tanya Eby narrates this story of friendship, romance, and betrayal. Beth owns a sandwich shop in Malibu and also volunteers at a food bank, where she develops a friendship with single mother Jana. Beth's brother, Rick, starts to date Jana, and, later, Beth begins a relationship with Jana's widowed brother, Teddy. Subsequently, Beth learns that Rick is cheating on Jana. Eby... Read More

Brittany Pressley and Nelson Hobbs entertain listeners with this amusing rivals-to-lovers contemporary romance. Emily Walker begins fuming when her archnemesis, Jack Bennett, moves back to town and becomes her new neighbor. Despite the petty scheming to ruin each other, they soon realize they have secrets that could bring them closer together. Pressley's upbeat, expressive... Read More

Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo narrate this angsty small-town romance. Alina met Chase when she was 11 years old and fell in love with him before she even knew what love was. Chase was a bit reckless and never relied on anyone's love. However, Alina was the one girl he could always open up to. While DiCosimo's narrative voice is enjoyable, his performance of the... Read More

Andi Arndt narrates this romance featuring two friends who are thrust back together after years apart. Olive and Noah were close--until Olive ran over Noah, ending his potential baseball career. The accident ultimately caused Olive to leave Lake Tahoe. Noah also left town. Later, both return to help Noah's sister and Olive's best friend, Katie, deal with her husband's accident.... Read More

Resentment drips off of narrator Helen Laser's tongue in this enemies- to-lovers slow-burn romance set at an Elytheum Courts fan-fiction conference. Jennifer Worth uses the conference to escape a bad breakup only to discover that her co-worker/archnemesis Scott Daniels is an attendee. Laser plays up Jennifer's hurt feelings over Scott's denigration of her favorite genres and... Read More

Narrator Dani Cochrane dives right into the story of Cassie O'Malley, who is running away from a terrible situation when she encounters Ted Wellman. In order to avoid the police, Cassie asks Ted for help, and the two end up married. Cochrane exudes all of Cassie's desperation as she pleads with Ted. He takes Cassie home to his family, and they all rally around the couple as... Read More

Narrators Stephanie Willing and Andrew Eiden charm listeners in this swoony celebrity romance. Emmy's wildest dreams are about to come true when her debut novel lands a movie deal starring her real-life celebrity crush, who just happens to be the inspiration for her book. When Jason accepts the film role, he and Emmy work together to clean up his image and put her on the... Read More

A duet narration by Mary Jane Wells and Patrick Zeller as tennis doubles partners Scottie Sinclair and Nico Kotas is double the fun for listeners. Wells digs into Scottie's fall from grace after a Wimbledon win and her personal struggles over her worldwide notoriety. Wells manages to craft Scottie's persona as spunky yet traumatized; she reveals a deep sense of fairness... Read More

Sasha Higgins's sparkling narration transports listeners to Regency-era England in this enchanting historical romance. After the death of her parents, 18-year-old Lady Madalene Ramsbury's uncle promises her to an unscrupulous lord. Maddy, who wants to marry for love, flees her engagement party, hopping into the passing carriage of Everett, the Marquess of Northampton. As the... Read More

Eva Kaminsky narrates the first in the Mating and Monsters comedic romance series. It's been a year since the infamous Duchess of Death (aka Darla Drake) has hunted in Camp Clear Creek, thanks to a severe bout of malaise. So Jarko has come to claim Darla's territory as his own, resparking her will to hunt--AND a little heat between the two monsters. With many audiobooks to her... Read More

Thérèse Plummer and Ben Holtzmuller deliver a captivating duet narration of this thoughtful romance. Stanford diver Scarlett, voiced by Plummer, has her future meticulously planned--if she can overcome her recent diving block, pass German, and ace the MCAT. With so much on her plate, relationships have never been a priority. Pen is a fellow diver on Scarlett's team. Lukas,... Read More

Narrators Julia Whelan and Connor Crais deliver unique performances in this short yet moving audiobook. Seth and Charlotte are neighbors who meet over the disappearance of their stairs from a construction mix-up. Deciding to remain on their floor over the weekend, the two connect and talk about their isolated lives. The narrators' performances offer a full experience. Each... Read More

Brittany Pressley and Aaron Shedlock charm listeners in this contemporary paranormal romance. Alex Lawson was once the outsider of her small town. Now she's Internet famous as the expert on the online fan forum she built for a long-running werewolf detective show. But she still can't stand the show's star, Devin Ashwood, whose career plummeted when the show ended. Waking up... Read More

Narrators Hathaway Lee and E.J. Bingham delight listeners in this heartfelt contemporary romance. Lucie Stone is a single mom, a mechanic, and a hopeless romantic. Aiden Valentine has fallen out of love with love. Ironically, he hosts Baltimore's late-night romance-radio hotline. When Lucie's daughter calls the hotline seeking advice for her mom, Lucie's conversation with Aiden... Read More

Katie Koster will charm a wide audience with this fun romantic performance. Wordle enthusiast Emily daydreams at her dead-end job as a receptionist at a car shop. When her car's alternator dies, her co-worker, John, comes to her rescue, and the bland mechanic suddenly becomes interesting when he shares his own enjoyment of Wordle. Koster offers an authentic narration of this... Read More

Narrators Victoria Connolly and Jason Clarke enchant listeners in this heartfelt contemporary romance. Millie loves her job as an entomology curator at a museum; now she has the opportunity to interview for the position of department director. Finn is learning how to handle his job at the museum while raising his nieces after the death of his sister. These two may need each... Read More

Brittany Pressley narrates a fun time-travel romance set in Chicago. Recently divorced museum conservator Emily Porter is startled to hear a voice in her head, and even more startled when a statue of Sir Griffin de Beauford comes to life. Pressley captures the humor inherent in the fish-out-of-water elements of Griffin's experiences as a knight from 1428 who has been... Read More

Beverley A. Crick returns to narrate another Bateman Regency romance, the second in the Her Majesty's Rebels series. Eleanor Law, one-third of the King & Co. private investigation firm, finds herself working closely with dashing thief Harry after he brazenly steps into the role of the business's fictitious owner. The duo's attraction is undeniable, but can it survive... Read More

Tempest Mensah narrates this fantasy-romance and supposed comedy featuring mostly Black and demon characters. The last single person in her friend group, Rayna, a 36-year-old career woman, summons a demon lover using a spell she read in a novel. When it actually works, she proceeds to act like a spoiled brat while he protects her from his world. Mensah's outstanding acting is... Read More

Jacqui Bardelang's narration plays up the various elements in this rom-com, which turns into a murder cover-up. Journalist Khin Haymar is sent to secure an exclusive interview with Tyler Tun, a reclusive movie star who is filming in Myanmar. Bardelang's delivery captures Khin's determination and increasing inner conflict as she balances her journalistic ambition and her growing... Read More

Narrator André Santana riffs on popular tropes--one bed, fake dating, and second chances--in this queer rom-com. No one in Denzel Carter's family takes him seriously. So when he throws his hat in the ring to be CEO of his family's event-planning empire, he knows he needs a serious relationship to prove his maturity. Who better to fake that with than his first-love-turned-ex,... Read More

Narrator Kerry Gilbert embodies spunky journalist Anna Appleby, a newly divorced mother of two who has sworn off love and dating in this charming British rom-com. As Anna valiantly juggles work commitments and her children's needs, her new co-worker, Will, makes a move to take over her weekly column. To keep her job, Anna pitches a new column idea that has her children choosing... Read More

Narrators Isabelle Turner and Lee Samuels combine their talents to depict the romance between Lauren Connelly and Chase Gossard. Lauren needs a date to bring to her sister's wedding. Chase has been roped into being in a bachelor auction, and Lauren bids on him for the weekend wedding. Both Turner and Samuels deliver smooth narrations with each handling male and female voices... Read More

Kelli Tager and Will Watt deliver dialogue that reflects how people actually talk. After New Yorker Sylvie Devereaux is cut off financially by her parents, temporarily marrying a wealthy Scottish brute for a huge payout seems like her only option. So what if the contract his sister drafts stipulates that at the end of 12 months she must sign over Killian Barclay's family manor... Read More

Todd McLaren depicts the rocky romance between Tony Garza and Odalie Everett. Odalie and Tony have been at odds since they met. Tony has always been attracted to her but doesn't want to come between her and her singing career, especially now that she's been offered an opportunity to sing at the Metropolitan Opera. Tony's family is from New Jersey, and McLaren provides the... Read More

Narrators David Lee Huynh and Andrew Grace create a romantic melody in this story from Chinese folklore. Prince Xian must locate a spirit pearl to cure his mother's illness, caused by being bitten by a white snake. On the way, he meets Zhen, a stable boy who can transform between being a white snake and a human. As the young men journey together and become closer, Zhen is torn... Read More

Escape with narrator Andi Arndt to a luxurious ski resort in Vermont in this contemporary romance with a slight touch of mystery. Alix Morgan is elated when she's offered the opportunity to ghostwrite a memoir for an infamous former boy band member. Given the penthouse in a fancy resort in order to work away from her cramped apartment, she doesn't expect to fall for handsome... Read More

Narrators Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor portray Teddy and Gus, Teddy's best friend's older brother. They can't stand each other; however, when Gus needs a caregiver for his daughter, Teddy steps into the role. Forced proximity provides a look into each other's real self, making them re-evaluate the sometimes thin line between love and hate. With their extensive audiobook... Read More

Fans of "Bridgerton" will devour this audio-only contemporary romance narrated by screen actors Nicola Coughlan and Gwilym Lee. Hattie Murton, reluctant star of the fictional TV show "Leicester Square," lives her worst nightmare when the screenwriters create a love arc for her with her unpleasant costar, Anthony Rafe. Coughlan channels Hattie's underdog quality, and her... Read More

This captivating audiobook is an enemies-to-lovers story about Rosie, a spirited romance writer, and Aiden, a reserved literary fiction author. When their NYU writing workshop instructor forces them to collaborate on a novel, their partnership becomes an exploration of their differences, mutual attraction, and the blurred lines between fiction and reality. Frankie Corzo's... Read More

Charlotte North returns to narrate the third--and final--audiobook in the Wilmot Sisters series, this time accompanied by Tim Paige. While visiting Scotland, Juliet briefly dances with a handsome stranger named Will she meets at a pub. Serendipity has the two meeting again several months later in Juliet's family's greenhouse. Will's best friend from college just happens to be... Read More

The narrations of Victoria Villarreal and Anthony Rey Perez will melt the heart of any listener. Claire is shocked with the news that her boyfriend is in a coma right before he planned to propose. When he wakes up, Matias has amnesia, and Claire must do what she can to have him fall in love with her again. Villarreal's gentle yet determined delivery pairs well with Perez's... Read More

Narrators Teddy Hamilton, Gilli Messer, and Eunice Wong perform this witty enemies-to-lovers romance. Sasha Rubenstein's ex-husband prefers the Hollywood glam life, so he left Sasha and their two children in New York. After Sasha accidentally bumps into single dad Ethan Jones, he becomes her nemesis. However, a new job opportunity on a tropical island brings them together.... Read More

Nirvi Shah's narration introduces romance to a gamers' group. Rose juggles her best friend's wedding, her board game prototype, and her obnoxious boss, even as she faithfully attends her weekly game night. Shah's voice sounds appealing and the right age for a young professional. Shah delivers Rose's eye-rolling humor with vocal expression as Rose matches wits with William... Read More

Narrated by Alex Finke, this rom-com follows Lenny, a young woman who has just lost her best friend to cancer and can't figure out how to live without her. At her new nanny job, Lenny meets Miles, the grumpy uncle of her babysitting charge who checks in on his niece daily. Miles is no stranger to grief, and he agrees to help Lenny complete a "Live Again" list that her best... Read More

Karissa Vacker delivers a quirky yet heartwarming performance of this reluctant romance. As her late brother's last will and testament is read, Maddie learns that his dying wish was that she scatter his ashes in a variety of places he never got to visit. Her companion, he stipulates, must be his best friend, Dom--who once broke Maddie's heart. She's furious at her brother, dead... Read More

Narrator Will Damron brings humor and wit to a time-traveling story featuring a hockey player who lands in 1812 England and the Regency- era miss who finds him. When Lizzy Wooddash gets over her shock at finding a huge man floundering in an icy pond who claims he's from the future, she finds herself with the perfect opportunity: Marry the hulking Tucker Taylor to protect her... Read More

Soneela Nankani will keep listeners glued to their earbuds with her narration of this intriguing mystery. When first-year journalism student Aleeza Kassam moves out of her former best friend's dorm, the only room available on campus is where Jay Hoque used to live before he went missing five months earlier. Odder still, Aleeza and Jay are able to message each other. As Aleeza... Read More

Narrator Rosalyn Landor takes listeners to England in the early 1800s as the Dowager Countess Clarissa Ware rediscovers a childhood friendship with Matthew Taylor. Clarissa returns to her family estate to reevaluate her life as she approaches her 50th birthday. Working as a carpenter in the village is Matthew, whom she grew up with. Landor brings maturity to her narration of... Read More

Narrator Emily Mount mesmerizes listeners in this captivating fantasy-romance. England is ruled by an immortal fae queen who graciously grants each citizen one bargain. This year, the high-society girls are encouraged to bargain for qualities that will land them suitors. When Ivy Benton's debut season arrives, she plans to win the heart of the fae queen's son. Mount's ethereal... Read More

Billie Donovan and Marcus Calloway share a past, and narrator Carly Robins exudes all the drama that entails. Ten years ago, Billie left Marcus and returned home to her small town to become a baker. Marcus never wanted to go home, but eventually he had to in order to help his father. Robins accentuates Marcus's anger about being back home. But he's also determined to confront... Read More

Narrators Lila Winters and Thomas Oakley are a winning combo in this performance. Skye is down on her luck when her dream of having a career in basketball implodes and her life becomes more complicated after meeting local radio host Dante. As two reluctant romantics relearn how to go after the things they want in their lives, the passionate narrators create raw performances.... Read More

James Joseph narrates a queer romantasy about a young witch who is searching for his path in life. After he completes his magical apprenticeship, a prophecy sends witch Briar Wyngrave to the tiny island of Coill Darragh to start his magical career and to find his destined love. Joseph captures Briar's flighty and somewhat twee personality but also digs deeper into the emotional... Read More

J. Ann Thomas narrates this spooky story. For more than a century, 15 ghosts have remained bound to the grand Berkshires estate of Thorne Hall, which has been controlled by generations of Thorne men. Elegy Thorne thinks she, too, has to inherit the "spirit collection" when her father dies, but her contractor's son suggests another option. Thomas speaks her own eloquent words... Read More

This captivating audiobook with dual narrators blends romance, magic, and danger in a richly imagined world. Suraya Saab, a talented bladesmith, is invited to participate in a royal contest to win the crown prince's hand. Anais Inara Chase delivers a stunning performance, portraying Suraya's fiery determination and vulnerability with depth and nuance. Teaming up with Roshan,... Read More

Narrator Kyla Garcia takes listeners on a journey to find the Lost City of the Moon in the Amazon Rainforest. Dr. Miriam Jacobs is determined to succeed at her archaeological expedition when she is unexpectedly handed the lead from her absent mentor. However, journalist Rafael Monfils plans to sabotage the expedition. In that way, he can protect his mother's legacy. The... Read More

Shane East returns to narrate the third title in The Highlands series, this time accompanied by Zara Hampton-Brown. Sarah, the shy housekeeper of the Scottish club Ardnoch Estate, has a secret: She's the author of a bestselling crime series. When she has the opportunity, she asks screenwriter and club guest Theo to adapt her stories for television. After initially declining,... Read More

Narrator Dominique Salvacion takes the listener to Sicily in this story of loss and found family. Aurora York is a focused motivational coach whose world is rocked at the unexpected death of her mother. She thought she had no other family, but a DNA test reveals grandparents and more in Sicily. Salvacion gives Aurora a determined tone at the beginning of the novel then... Read More

Listeners are in for a treat with this sexy Black romance loaded with substance and charm, wonderfully narrated in alternating chapters by Jamal West and Keisa Parrish. Sparks fly when Holland and Noble meet in contemporary Brooklyn. After a health scare, Holland, whose natural warmth and sincerity are invitingly conveyed by Parrish, longs to leave small-town South Carolina for... Read More

Narrators Caitlin Elizabeth and Bradley Ford delight listeners in this heartfelt college hockey romance. Ro Shariff hasn't always had the best of luck in love and is currently struggling with her on-and-off-again boyfriend. When she's assigned to tutor Matt "Freddy" Fredderic, the star playboy hockey player, Ro forms a newfound friendship that could easily blossom into more.... Read More

Come aboard an unexpected journey through the Scottish countryside with narrator Angela Dawe as she delivers a lively, comedic performance. Alice is finally taking her long awaited trip to Scotland in an effort to repair her broken heart. She embarks on a bus tour with a cast of kooky fellow tourists--quirky older women in search of adventure who are led by a charming, devilish... Read More

Elizabeth Knowelden narrates a light and frothy Regency romance. After a year of mourning, Young cousins Issie and Bella travel to London, where they are mistaken for each other. Rather than correct the error, they let it continue. Knowelden creates distinctive personalities for the two girls: She depicts Bella as charming and vivacious, while Issie is portrayed as more subdued... Read More