New Reviews: Romantic Fiction

Angela Dawe's performance is stunning in its range. Dawe chronicles the primal bond between wolf alpha Selenka and Ethan, a psychic soldier coping with childhood trauma. Their newfound connection pulses with barely restrained intensity in the characters' dialogue and thoughts. At the same time, with enviable precision Dawe explores Ethan and Selenka's individual... Read More

The story starts off with Erin Bellini being dumped by her fiancé by email just days before their wedding. Narrator Holly Chandler's voice reflects all the emotion of that trauma. Erin works at her family's vineyard, where her wedding was to take place. Both of her parents are from Ireland, and Chandler gives them pleasant lilts. Jason Callum, a veterinarian, has always been... Read More

Narrator Je Nie Fleming adds sass and personality to this contemporary workplace rom-com featuring a Black woman who works in the technology sector. After Samiah Brooks discovers her boyfriend is triple-timing her, she befriends the other two wronged women, and together they vow to focus on their careers instead of their love lives. Fleming delivers the full gamut of Samiah's... Read More

The second installment of Waite's Regency and Victorian-era series, called Feminine Pursuits, features Morag Sims's narration talents. Agatha Griffin, the resilient widowed owner of a London print shop, and Penelope Ford, an affable amateur beekeeper, meet after a hive takes up residence in Griffin's warehouse. Sims's textured characterizations enliven the women's chemistry as... Read More

Narrator Morgan Hallett brings the listener back to the Hollywood glamour of the 1930s. Photographer Vivian Brazier gets caught up in murder and ends up on a hit man's list. Enter Nick Sundridge, who protects her and tries to draw the killer out. While Hallett has a pleasant speaking voice, she doesn't give Nick or the other male characters deep enough tones. Little variation... Read More

This audiobook begins in a small town high in the Tennessee mountains. Midwife Tess Hartsong is running away from the pain of losing her husband. Narrator Nicole Poole brings her suffering to life. Also escaping from their former lives are street artist Ian North and his pregnant companion, Bianca. Poole provides a Southern twang to the locals, helping listeners get lost in the... Read More

Max Bellmore narrates a deep dive into one of the Lords of the Underworld's most talked about characters: William the Dark. William's potential future as king of the underworld hinges on breaking a curse by resisting a beautiful woman. Enter Sunday Lane, a unicorn-shifter working as a code breaker who is William's current attempt at escaping the curse. Bellmore's flat narration... Read More

Narrator James Anderson Foster's deep, riveting voice sizzles in this intricately plotted romantic suspense, the second in the Maximum Security series. Beautiful and smart Kate Gallagher vows to find the men who trafficked and then killed her younger sister, and sexy bounty hunter Jason Maddox is determined to help her. Foster's performance is delicious. He clearly and... Read More

Narrator Susannah Jones brings joyful wonder to Evie, who sees her dysfunctional family through rose-colored glasses. Evie's first date with Danny Magnusson is interrupted when her imprisoned brother asks a favor that involves Denver's criminal underworld. There's trouble on the horizon, but Danny, a former commando who falls for Evie's sweetness and loyalty, can help. Jones... Read More

Narrator Karen White introduces this intriguing paranormal romance series in which the seven deadly sins are personified by genetically modified siblings. Each is responsible for finding a mate and sensing deadly sins to fight crime. White narrates chapters from the points of view of a man named Evan, who is the personification of envy, and Dr. Grace Go, who meets Evan in the... Read More

Narrator Andrea Emmes infuses her characters with emotion and vitality. She delivers a first-rate performance in a recognizable and distinct staccato style. When lovely and determined Isadora Delafield finds herself betrothed to a repulsive duke, she leaves her privileged life to hide out in the household of an eccentric couple as their housekeeper, a job for which she is... Read More

Listeners looking for a quick but enjoyable romantic listening experience need look no further than Mallery's return to Fool's Gold, California. Narrator Tanya Eby brings a light touch to the developing romance between Abby Hendrix and Joaquin Kincaid. Abby's sister is getting married and asks Abby to look after her fiancé's brother, Joaquin, when he arrives in town three weeks... Read More

In this heartwarming, funny listen, narrators Zachary Webber and Erin Mallon shine as Jason and Sloan. The chemistry and timing between them is a gift to this poignant story. Two years ago, Sloane's fiancé died in a motorcycle accident. As she moves through her grief to get her life back on track, Tucker, a lovable trouble-making dog, literally jumps into her car and changes... Read More

Narrator January LaVoy brings a richly layered performance to a story about a Hollywood kidnapping. At age 10, Caitlyn Sullivan is taken from her family home. She escapes and seeks refuge at a local farm, where she is found by Dillon Cooper. As the story takes Caitlyn and Dillon from childhood to their teen years and to adulthood, LaVoy successfully transitions her voice,... Read More

Look no further for your next listening escape! Narrators Patti Murin and Jon Root portray Carey Duncan and James McCann. The pair work for Melissa and Rusty Tripp, America's favorite couple and HGTV design gurus. When Carey and James go on tour with the couple, they're tasked with hiding the fact that the Tripps actually hate each other and their marriage is falling apart.... Read More

Narrators Virginia Rose and Carly Robins play out their roles as tattoo artist Jamie and youth case worker Sierra in seamless alternation. Rose is spot-on as Jamie, using her naturally lower register to represent Jamie's serious, cautious nature. She connects listeners to Jamie's vulnerable side with a tremor that appears in moments of high emotion. Robins's voice is entirely... Read More

Narrator Carmen Vine's Spanish accent immerses listeners in the characters, culture, and setting of this romance novel. Sara wants her family to take her--and her business--seriously. When her fiancé backs out of spending time with Sara's family in Key West, dashing local firefighter Luis steps in to fill the role. As long as they don't get lost in their lies or their... Read More

Listeners will cherish having familiar narrator Kirsten Potter kick off Duvall's Immortal Guardians spin-off series. Not only does Potter voice the cheerful, giant warriors who protect Earth from vampires, she also introduces listeners to a new pairing, Lisa and Taelon. The couple meet as prisoners in a government laboratory. They use their telepathic gifts to escape and seek... Read More

Narrator Soneela Nankani enhances this witty story with her fantastic accents. Due to a misunderstanding, Layla and Sam find themselves sharing an office above her family's restaurant. This is not an easy feat for two people with vastly different styles. Newly single and busy with her new business, Layla is unaware that the 10 suitors who show up for blind dates with her have... Read More

Karen Chilton narrates a postapocalyptic friends-to-lovers romance. Now that the world is starting to return to normal several years after the Flare, Maggie Seong has the opportunity to leave home and attend college, but she is not sure if she wants to. Chilton captures Maggie's vibrant and snarky personality, while allowing her insecurities about leaving home and struggles... Read More

Strong and distinctive accents are no obstacle to narrator Cornell Collins, who fully commits to the variety of voices in this romance set in Northeast England. Most notable is the voice of Alfie Bell, a wealthy gay Londoner with traditional Northern roots. On a visit to his seaside hometown of South Shields, Alfie becomes smitten after an exhilarating one-night stand, only to... Read More

Narrator Vanessa Edwin's velvety soft murmurings evoke the romantic atmosphere of Paris. Edwin shares the narration with Shane East. The pair voice Elise and Christian, who meet in Denmark and reconnect in France. Edwin assumes an arch, flirtatious personality for Elise, complete with sensual French phrases. As Elise and Christian agree to a temporary marriage to save... Read More

Sienna Frances narrates the first of a new audiobook series set in late-eighteenth-century Britain. As both a fallen woman and a women's rights advocate, Seraphina Arden is viewed as an outcast by proper society. When Scottish architect Adam Anderson crosses paths with the passionate Seraphina, he must choose between his growing love for her and his rising career. Narrator... Read More

Keylor Leigh narrates a story about the power of knitting and relationships. After their foster mother dies unexpectedly, Jesse Strong and his brothers must decide what to do with her store, Strong Knits, which is a neighborhood fixture. At the same time, employee Kerry Fuller must decide whether to act on her long-standing crush on Jesse or move on with her life. Leigh shines... Read More

Soneela Nankani returns to narrate the second installment in the Raje family series, loosely based on Jane Austen's popular novels. This retelling of PERSUASION focuses on Ashna Raje, who is struggling to keep her late father's Indian restaurant afloat. When her cousin offers her a spot on a new cooking show, Ashna agrees, hoping the prize money will save her. What she doesn't... Read More

Jorjeana Marie and Xe Sands's dual narration beautifully highlights the two points of view in this slow-burn romance. Emma is the world's best assistant to her boss, Jo, a Chinese-American woman who went from child star to writer and producer. When Emma and Jo are photographed laughing together on the red carpet, rumors about an affair spread like wildfire. Marie's youthful... Read More

Narrator Therese Plummer tells the story of two sisters, Adele and Justine, and how they grow and come to understand each other as adults. Adele has spent the last eight years taking care of their invalid mother, while Justine practices law and is the married mother of two daughters. With 20 years between the sisters, Justine has a more mature voice. As Adele comes into her own... Read More

Ione Butler narrates the story of a charming romance between a driven doctoral student and a grumpy but secretly romantic security guard. Butler perfectly delivers both the snark and the swoons, making for a truly delightful experience. Dani Brown is deeply unhappy when she unwittingly ends up part of a viral hashtag. But Zafir Ansari--the other half of the hashtag--thinks he... Read More

Dual narrators perform this debut contemporary romance. After her restaurant venture fails, chef Lumi Santana finds work in a traditional French eatery owned by the arrogant Julien Dax. They're attracted to each other right away but keep their relationship strictly professional until Lumi tastes one of Julien's culinary creations. Ines del Castillo and Jonathan Todd Ross... Read More

Narrators William Leroy and Reese Covington take turns narrating this first-person presentation of Book 3 in the Getting Lucky series, an F-bomb-filled offering chock-full of graphic sex and a frat boy atmosphere. Reid Knightly, failed hotshot restaurateur, has returned to his small, tight-knit hometown to lick his wounds. There he tries to break the curse of "broken love" cast... Read More

Narrator Soneela Nankani provides a decadent listening experience as she captures a community with a vibrant culture and brings it to life with her richness of tone. After Liya Thakkar receives a hard-won promotion, she discovers that the company she works for is on the brink of bankruptcy. At the same time, her parents are eager to secure an arranged marriage, but she roundly... Read More

Narrator Nancy Peterson brings listeners to the idyllic Canadian prairie with this audiobook companion to the Hallmark show "When Hope Calls." Adoptee Lillian Walsh rejoices to discover that her birth sister, Grace, is alive. Peterson smoothly reunites Lillian and Grace and gives them a shared mission, helping to place other orphan children in good homes. The plight of the... Read More

Aaron Landon and Katie Koster masterfully narrate a paranormal fantasy in which death isn't permanent. Allie is a young resurrectionist capable of reviving the recently dead with a unique genetic mutation in her blood. When someone begins hunting resurrectionists and preventing their revivals, Allie must rely on an unlikely partner--a homeless boy named Ploy. Koster imbues... Read More

Narrator C.J. Bloom's voice drips with the exasperation that Chelsea Cooper feels for Drew Russo at the beginning of this audiobook. Chelsea and Drew are thrown together when their best friends, Bianca and Jimmy, fall in love and elope. Drew is given the job of keeping Chelsea from crashing the wedding. This results in a road trip. Bianca is quite obnoxious, and Bloom portrays... Read More

Seraphine Valentine narrates a charming romance that takes place on the set of a TV rom-com. Jasmine Lin and Ashton Suárez have joined the cast of "Carmen in Charge" for different reasons: Jasmine because it has the potential to make her career and Ashton because he sees it as a stepping-stone out of telenovelas and into Hollywood. When off-set drama threatens to overshadow the... Read More

Narrators Jason Clarke and CJ Bloom have fun with this sophisticated, funny story of a straightlaced hunk who happens to be the mayor of New York City. He meets and reluctantly falls for the reformed wild child and gorgeous daughter-in-hiding of his political rival, the governor. Sparks fly, and love is in the air, but secrets and politics make falling in love deliciously... Read More