New Reviews: Romantic Fiction

Narrator Mary Jane Wells's mesmerizing performance is nothing short of amazing in this modern-day audiobook inspired by Jane Austen's PERSUASION. Susan Napier's family has fallen on hard times, and she is determined to save their flagship restaurant and their legacy. But when an old flame, chef Chris Baker, reemerges from her past, there's more than just attraction and tension... Read More

Narrator Sandra Michelle brings the listener back to the world of psychics and long-ago government experiments. When North Chastain's father is attacked by a psychic weapon and falls into a coma, North seeks Sierra Raines's expertise in psychic artifacts to help find the people responsible. Michelle has a youthful voice, but she still makes Sierra sound capable, adding notes of... Read More

Narrator Justine Eyre returns listeners to a world of archangels who are battling plague-ridden vampires. The angelic artist Sharine, also known as the Hummingbird, is tasked with helping archangel Titus clean up the infestation of his territory. Eyre gives Titus a booming voice that expresses his power. While Sharine has been damaged by her past, she transitions from a... Read More

Narrators Teddy Hamilton and Laurie West enliven this first book in a vampire motorcycle series. Bane, a vampire, is in the midst of war against necromancers who are threatening his territory when he encounters Dr. Ryan St. Cloud. Ryan is immune to Bane's hypnotic power, and Hamilton aptly expresses his frustration and puzzlement over his inability to affect her. Both Hamilton... Read More

Narrator Jessica Almasy wraps listeners in a warm blanket as they listen to this romance between detective Roxanne King and Zep Guidry, set in the Cajun parish of Papillion. Roxanne has relocated from New York City after a bitter divorce, and Almasy gives her a hint of a Brooklyn accent that complements Zep's Southern drawl. When Roxanne's family arrives for an unexpected... Read More

An affirming contemporary romance is illuminated by James Cavenaugh's balanced portrayals of two strangers who gain unsought comfort and strength from each other. Embittered children's book illustrator Jack Matheson and independent businessman Simon Burke meet through a pet-sharing smartphone app after an injury sidelines the artist. Jack's hard, clipped speech initially... Read More

The Amish community of Middlebury, Indiana, rolls out in cozy fashion through the voice of narrator Rebecca Gallagher. Courting couple Sadie Kuhns and Wyman Kauffman face challenges as Wyman seeks satisfying employment and Sadie receives a financial windfall. Gallagher uses a style respectful to the Amish culture and vocabulary. Her voice brims with empathy and wonder as she... Read More

Narrators Erin Mallon and Joe Arden join forces to depict the romance between Willow James and Dr. Braden Prescott. Willow, an athletic trainer, and Braden had a past relationship, but he broke it off to work for Doctors Without Borders. Now that he's returned and works for the same football team that Willow does, both narrators voice her hesitation to become involved with him... Read More

Narrator Renee Raudman delivers this audiobook's 30-minute prologue, and Emily Rankin picks up the story thereafter. Prime magic users Nevada and Connor are planning their wedding; Nevada's sister, Catalina, will manage security for the event. Raudman's signature scratchy timbre and her unforgettable tone for Connor are audio nirvana. In contrast, Rankin provides a quieter,... Read More

Jacob Morgan and Andi Arndt share the narration of this highly charged romance. Griffin and Luca were teenage pen pals. Now they are all grown up and dealing with their neuroses. Morgan's suave British tones become more and more unsettling as Griffin becomes obsessed with Luca. The voices Morgan gives to female characters sound rather masculine. Arndt shifts her aural persona... Read More

Bahni Turpin voices widowed heiress Patience Jordan in Riley's multicultural Regency romance. Patience fights to be reunited with her infant son despite the Duke of Repington's arrival as his guardian. Turpin rolls out a realistic Demerara (present-day Guyana) accent for Patience with broad vowels and a distinctive intonation. Patience's desperation is well represented by... Read More

With a generous measure of sweetness and a dollop of spice, Emily Ellet narrates this heartwarming romance. In a warm tone, Ellet portrays Shay Goldstein, a public radio producer who has worked her way up from intern. Now she is clashing with the station's latest hire--the wunderkind Dominic Yun, a brash journalism school graduate. With the threat of station layoffs, Shay and... Read More

Therese Plummer's narration will have listeners running the gamut from laughter to tears as they fall in love with Dakota Jones. Dakota is visiting his family in Sullivan's Crossing after leaving the army. While he is adjusting to civilian life, he falls for Sidney, a bartender. Plummer takes the listener on an emotional roller-coaster ride as the story also recounts what is... Read More

Saira Ayers and Neil Shah narrate a budding romance. Bollywood star Dev Dixit and Pakistani-American beauty influencer Jia Ahmed, who don't know each other, nonetheless agree to pretend to date. He's on a lark, and she is trying to fend off her family's traditional Muslim intentions for her. Shah's voice is a treat for the listener's ears. Full of emotion, his rich, smooth... Read More

Narrator Justine Eyre deftly moves between Irish, English, and Scottish accents in this penny dreadful-inspired novel of love and thievery. Ana Newport's secret life as the "Phantom Fox" allows her to reclaim items unjustly taken from her family. Hollis Darby, a member of a secret organization and writer of pseudonymous penny dreadfuls, has fallen for Ana, and both are working... Read More

Listeners will enjoy the beginning of this new series. Priest Rahandras is the leader of his people, who have the ability to perform magic and shape-shift into their spirit animal. After Kateri Falsen's parents are murdered, her grandmother brings her and her brother to Priest for protection. Narrator Nicole Poole does a good job with the masculine tones of Priest's voice,... Read More

Karen Chilton narrates a royal love story. Sanyu, crown prince of Njaza, must wed, but he vows he will not fall in love with Shanti, the bride chosen for him. Shanti approaches marriage with equal pragmatism, as her goal since childhood has been to become a queen. Chilton is compassionate in her portrayal of Sanyu, who has suffered years of emotional abuse but is still... Read More

Brenda Scott Wlazio's enthusiastic narration makes up for this audiobook's lackluster dialogue, and her quick pace keeps the sluggish plot moving. Her energetic tone enhances comedic moments. After being jilted on her wedding day, Adrian is determined to move on by diving into work. But when her magazine editor pairs her up with Jackson, a sexy, smug novelist, the collaboration... Read More

Narrator Aimee Lilly enhances the drama of this audiobook and adds distinction to its characters. On the brink of the American Revolution, pampered Lady Elisabeth Lawson is set to marry until she finds herself abandoned by her Royalist father, her spineless fiancé, and her friends--except for Noble Rynallt, an intriguing and honorable Patriot. Lilly does a credible Southern... Read More

Make no mistake--despite its setting being war-torn Afghanistan, this frenetic audiobook is first and foremost a love story. It features a scarred ex-Marine and the audacious "Cat Burglar of Kabul." Winters's latest volume in this enduring series centers on Lee Hart, whose last mission for a team of mercenaries finds him protecting, and falling for, sexy, bighearted thief Tess... Read More

Immersive performances by Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam add dimension to the characters in this light story about a work rivalry that turns romantic. Adam and Nankani work well together as they tell the story from two perspectives. They bring humor and warmth to their roles as Emma, a project developer, and Rishi, an app developer, who, despite their differences, must work... Read More

Narrator John Lane's voice pairs perfectly with the romance between Bonnie Drummond and Roman Kozlov, which takes place in New Orleans. When Bonnie's father and brother disappear, she turns to her friend, Cassie, for help. Cassie sends Roman, a Russian enforcer for a mob family, to aid Bonnie. Lane's Russian accent rolls off his tongue, as do the Russian endearments he uses... Read More

Narrator Michael Crouch gives voice to a pair of lost souls in this dark but hopeful story of enduring love and sacrifice. Eighteen-year-old Anton is reeling from several devastating losses when a chance encounter with Edith, a neighbor who is also suffering, alters the course of both their lives. As the story progresses from 1965 to 2020, Crouch's endearing performance allows... Read More

The tension starts immediately and doesn't let up as narrator John Lane portrays trucker Sterling Parson, who is working with bar owner Cade McKenzie to stop a human trafficker. Sterling has a dark past that makes it difficult for her to trust others. Nonetheless, listeners will appreciate Lane's portrayal of her as strong and determined in the face of danger. Lane's deep voice... Read More

As this stunning romance proves that true love is timeless, narrators Jakobi Diem's and Eboni Flowers's seductive tones will have listeners cheering. Flowers's performance of these characters is powerful and evocative. She portrays political consultant Kimba, who has never forgotten her childhood best friend and first kiss, Ezra. Decades later they are reunited, but scandal and... Read More

Narrator Liz Pearce grabs listeners from the get-go with this intriguing romance. Just before WWI, Willa Forsythe, master thief and violin prodigy, is caught up in intrigue and danger, along with her "family" of London con artists. Willa is hired to steal a code before the Germans do. In doing so, she must deal with handsome and successful Lukas De Wilde, son of a famous... Read More

The listener is wrapped in the warm blanket of John Lane's narration. XSecurity expert Beckett Tate has met his match in his colleague, Gia Sinclair. When someone tries to tarnish her professional reputation, Beckett decides to help--and claim her as his. Lane's deep voice perfectly suits the sexy tale. As the passion erupts between Beckett and Gia, Lane has the listener... Read More

Narrator Lillian Rachel does an excellent job bringing to life this twist on Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. In this offering, strong-willed and independent Elizabeth Bennet is forced to wed handsome and stoic Fitzwilliam Darcy when Mrs. Bennet claims Darcy has compromised Elizabeth. Can two near-strangers find love after such difficult beginnings? Rachel captures each... Read More

KJ Charles returns with another delightful Will Darling adventure, featuring Cornell Collins's engaging narration. After a visit to a nightclub with his best friend, Maisie, Will finds himself once again embroiled in intrigue. Collins's characterizations of Will and his aristocratic lover, Kim Secretan, draw out their personalities and complicated relationship as they... Read More

In this contemporary romance narrated by Rebecca Gibel, radio show producer Everly accidentally broadcasts to her co-workers--and their station's listeners--that her birthday began with catching her cheating boyfriend. She agrees to a dating game pitched by the station's manager, Chris, although it means fighting both her severe anxiety and their growing attraction. Gibel has a... Read More

Narrator Kate Reading's velvet voice and English accent set the stage for this delightful interpretation of Shakespeare's TAMING OF THE SHREW as a Regency romance. The reputation of outspoken Cassandra Pomfret is already in danger of ruin when the handsome but reckless Duke of Ashmont causes an accident that leaves her without a chaperone. Reading boasts a range of lively... Read More

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Gary Tiedemann offer an entertaining narration of this love story between a Nigerian-Canadian woman named Azere and a Spanish-Canadian man named Rafael. The two narrators are playful and dramatic at times, reflecting the cultural differences the protagonists face in their blossoming relationship. Although Obi-Melekwe speaks far more than Tiedemann, his... Read More

Narrator Andrea Emmes assumes a proper tone as a foil to Jen Turano's comedy of manners. Using a brisk on-point style, Emmes introduces street-urchin-turned-detective Gabriella Goodhue as she attempts to right the wrongs society inflicts on young women. Gabriella's sleuthing is interrupted by Nicholas Quinn, a childhood friend who has become a member of New York's high society.... Read More

Narrator Charlotte North introduces the listener to the third book in this steamy, sexy series, which takes place on Long Island, New York. This latest installment features Bethany Castle, a highly independent young woman who is trying to find her place in her family's renovation business while also figuring out what she wants from life. North deftly captures the angst and... Read More

Narrator Tanya Eby takes the listener on Mackenzie Dienes's emotional journey as her life changes when she and her husband decide to divorce. Mackenzie is a winemaker at her husband's family winery and has to strike out on her own when her marriage ends. Eby's expressive voice conveys Mackenzie's stress at the changes in her life. Her mother-in-law is quite obnoxious, and her... Read More

Narrator Jim Frangione portrays vampires Blay and Qhuinn as they prepare for their mating ceremony. Qhuinn goes on an emotional journey, starting with his dark past and proceeding to his joy with Blay, followed by a tragic loss. Frangione's voice has listeners experiencing the roller-coaster ride. As a snowstorm rages, Frangione adds to the tension as trees crash down and the... Read More

Talmadge Ragan narrates an unexpectedly touching ménage novella. Lisa Cartwright is trying to get over her ex, Joey Novak, but Joey refuses to accept they are no longer together. Meanwhile, Finch Alice has her eye on Lisa. Ragan perfectly captures Lisa's exasperated irritation with Joey. Equal parts love and frustration, her feelings are more powerful precisely for that. Joey... Read More

Lauren Sweet's narration enhances the comedic, charming, and sensual elements of this audiobook to make it a star of a rom-com. Actuary Darcy is as regimented as her statistical analyses. Astrologist Elle is her opposite--spacey and colorful. Both are pressured by family to find love, inspiring the two to fake a relationship during the holidays despite their disastrous first... Read More