The Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) is slated for May 29th followed by the Audie Awards ceremony May 30th. “June Is Audiobook Month” (JIAM) begins June 1st. Our schedule leading up to those events is packed full. Here’s what you can expect to see at AudioGals:
Audie Finalist – Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
Narrated by Kirsten Potter
Melinda’s Take
I was surprised to learn that a book by Maya Banks, an author known to me for erotic romance, was nominated for an Audie. What I learned is that it is a medieval romantic suspense (really, it read just like a romantic suspense but was set in 1215), not erotic romance, and in spite of the title, tackles a serious subject and handles it with emotion and sensitivity. Who knew? An author who writes in several different genres!
Heroine Eveline Armstrong suffered a fall that brought about hearing loss three years earlier. It also made her fiancé cry off, thinking she has suffered loss of her mental faculties. She’s so relieved he is gone, that she encourages everyone to continue to think she is “touched” rather than face the possibility that he will change his mind. When King
Our May 2013 Picks
The Gals’ monthly picks represent our best bets based on author, narrator, and possibly personal knowledge or print reviews of the story content. Or maybe it’s just a gut feeling…
Our monthly picks are late…again. There’s a lot to look forward to this month!
The Prince of Midnight by Laura Kinsale
Narrated by Nicholas Boulton
All three gals discussed The Prince of Midnight earlier this month. We all agree it’s an A+ for narration and A- for book content.
Three Gals Talking: Laura Kinsale’s The Prince of Midnight
Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James
Narrated by Karen White
All three Gals are looking forward to Julie James’ second print release and her last title to make it to audio format. Practice Makes Perfect is Lea’s favorite of James’ titles and it’s responsible for moving Ms. James to her favorite contemporary author list.
Let Me Stand Alone: The Journals of Rachel Corrie
Narrated by Ed Asner and Tavia Gilbert
Last year, in a discussion with narrator Tavia Gilbert, we learned that she was producing a special audiobook based on the journals and correspondence of a remarkable young woman. Rachel Corrie showed an unusual and precocious ability to communicate via the written word as well as a mature beyond her years sensibility, both from a very young age. Her middle school diary is filled with her poetry that speaks of the injustices in the world as well as lists of what she hates and what makes her angry. In among those lists, which are poems as well, she writes “people who shove on purpose in basketball” followed by “the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas case”. As a young adult, Rachel’s zeal
Audie Finalist – The Witness by Nora Roberts
Narrated by Julia Whelan
Melinda’s Take
Nora grabs you with the first paragraph:
Elizabeth Fitch’s short-lived teenage rebellion began with L’Oreal Pure Black, a pair of scissors and a fake ID. It ended in blood.
Liz’s life was changed forever on that day – I noted the publisher’s blurb doesn’t tell you what happened, so I’ll leave that spoiler out. It made for an incredibly heart-pumping ride, as the first part of the book describes her ordeal at age 16. Twelve years later she arrives in Bickford, Arkansas, as Abigail Lowery – a reclusive young woman, living alone on the outskirts of town, with an incredible security system and packing heat. All of this intrigues the new sheriff, Brooks Gleason, who makes it his job to get to know her better – a lot better. Together they take on the town bullies and Abigail’s extraordinary secrets.
Countdown to the Audie Awards Begins Today
The Audie Awards are scheduled for May 30th. In the next two weeks leading up to that ceremony, we’re featuring several Audie inspired events. All the Gals are reviewing each of the five Audie Romance Finalists – and trying our talents at predicting the Audie winner. We’ll be talking with Jennifer Conner of The Literate Housewife about her Armchair Audies. We’ll be finishing up our Best 2012 Romance Audiobook Poll – a people’s choice award of sorts. And we’ll hear about my plans to attend the Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC).
Today we’re starting with a Three Gal Review of Sharon Sala’s Don’t Cry for Me (below).
Lea Hensley
Audie Finalist – Don’t Cry for Me by Sharon Sala
We often talk about how listeners’ experiences can differ greatly – all with the same audiobook. Don’t Cry for Me is proof positive as all three Gals give their thoughts on this Audie Finalist.
Narrated by Kathe Mazur
Melinda’s Take
Wow… What an emotional, action-packed ride – an incredible story with a wonderful, empathetic narration that kept me hanging from the very first word. (Note to self: now listen to the first in the series!)
Sharon Sala is a totally new-to-me author, although she has written more than 50 books, with a first publish date of 1991. Don’t Cry for Me is the second in the Rebel Ridge series, based in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains. Longtime Rebel Ridge resident Quinn Walker is reunited with his commanding officer, Mariah Conrad, when she is released from the VA hospital, recuperating from both the mental and physical wounds she suffered in Afghanistan. Quinn
Talking with Coleen Marlo
It’s been a while since we welcomed a new Narrator Friend – something we intended to do on a fairly frequent basis. We’re renewing our effort to introduce those narrators we hold in high regard to our listeners. Welcome to Coleen – our 15th Narrator Friend.
I first learned of Coleen Marlo through author Jennifer Probst. Jennifer and I were participating in Tantor Audio’s All About Romance Webinar late last year and I heard high praise for Coleen’s narration of her book, The Marriage Bargain – an extremely popular title in print and audio. I discovered that Coleen has many romance titles sitting on her backlist. Under our Gal Friends tab, check out her AudioGals Narrator Friend Page to see her bio, romance titles, and links to her blog, Facebook page, and Twitter feed.
Lea: Welcome to AudioGals Coleen!
Coleen: Hello Lea! I am so excited to be here, paying homage to one of my favorite subjects…Romance!
Introducing Inspirational Guest Reviewer Katherine
Welcome to Katherine – our newest guest reviewer! She not only has listened to audiobooks for years but comes by it honestly as, you see, she’s my daughter. :) Katherine has listened to a variety of audiobooks over the years but has settled firmly into the Inspirational Romance and Inspirational Fiction genres as her “go to” place for audio enjoyment. You’ll find a page dedicated to her under Gal Friends – Our Guest Reviewers – complete with her bio and a list of her favorite audio authors. Her first review, Tamera Alexander’s To Whisper Her Name is below. Now to introduce Katherine to you…
The Gals at Goodreads
520 audiobook enthusiasts who love romance. Check our Group Shelves for a full listing of our reviews….
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