January was a bumper month here at AudioGals! In addition to running twenty-six new reviews, we started 2015 with a bang by interviewing one of historical romance’s perennially favorite authors, Loretta Chase. She talked to us about how excited she is that her books are finally making it into audio format. Ten lucky readers won copies of her latest two audios – The Lion’s Daughter and Captives of the Night, both of which received rave reviews. We took a look back at December, featured Tiera – the winner of our Holiday Giveaway, and continued our new regular feature looking at what the AG team is listening to. At the end of the month, the entire AudioGals team shared their favourite audios of 2014. It’s an eclectic list of twenty-three romance audiobooks, but there was one out-and-out favorite – Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels as performed by the fabulously talented Kate Reading. Second favourite was Karen White’s terrific performance in Julie James’ It Happened One Wedding, and third place was a tie between Karina Halle’s Sins and Needles and Jeaniene Frost’s Up from the Grave.
Reviews
ARMENTROUT, Jennifer – Wicked (Tantor Audio)
Narrated by Amy Landon
C+ for narration C+ for content Reviewed by Diana
ASHLEY, Jennifer – Rules for a Proper Governess (Tantor Audio)
Narrated by Angela Dawe
A for narration B for content Reviewed by Melinda
BALOGH, Mary – Only Enchanting (Recorded Books)
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
A for narration B for content Reviewed by Shannon
BEATON, M.C – His Lordship’s Pleasure (Blackstone Audio)
Narrated by Lindy Nettleton
B- for narration C- for content Reviewed by Caz
BETTS, Charlotte – The Spice Merchant’s Wife (Hachette Audio)
Narrated by Penelope Freeman
B+ for narration B+ for content Reviewed by Caz
BOURNE, Joanna – Rogue Spy (Tantor Audio)
Narrated by Kirsten Potter
B+ for narration A for content Reviewed by Caz
BROCKWAY, Connie – The Songbird’s Seduction (Brilliance Audio)
Narrated by Heather Wilds
B- for narration B for content Reviewed by Caz
CHASE, Loretta – Captives of the Night (NYLA)
Narrated by Kate Reading
A+ for narration A- for content Reviewed by Caz
CHASE, Loretta – The Lion’s Daughter (NYLA)
Narrated by Kate Reading
A for narration A- for content Reviewed by Melinda
CONNOR, Claudia – Worth the Fall (Tantor Audio)
Narrated by Johanna Parker
B for narration B for content Reviewed by Kaetrin
DELECKI, Jacki – A Code of Love (Doe Bay Publishing)
Narrated by Pearl Hewitt
B- for narration C for content Reviewed by Caz
DEMPSEY, Eoin – Finding Rebecca (Brilliance Audio)
Narrated by Napoleon Ryan
C+ for narration B+ for content Reviewed by Shannon
DEV, Sonali – A Bollywood Affair (Blackstone Audio)
Narrated by Priya Ayyar
C+ for narration A+ for content Reviewed by BJ
FIORE, A.L – Beautifully Forgotten (Brilliance Audio)
Narrated by Amy Rubinate
C+ for narration B- for content Reviewed by BJ
FRANK, Ella – Veiled Innocence (Audible Inc.)
Narrated by Chelsea Hatfield and J.F. Harding
B- for narration B+ for content Reviewed by BJ
GIBSON, Rachel – What I Love About You (Harper Audio)
Narrated by Emma Bates
B– for narration A for content Reviewed by Melinda
KEARSLEY, Susanna – The Splendour Falls (Audible Studios)
Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
B for narration B for content Reviewed by Kaetrin
KETNER, Abi and KALICICKI, Missy – Branded (Tantor Audio)
Narrated by Jorgiana Marie
B- for narration A for content Reviewed by Shannon
LARKIN, Allie – Stay (Brilliance Audio)
Narrated by Julia Whelan
A for narration A for content Reviewed by Melinda
MALLORY, Margaret – Captured by a Laird (Audible Studios)
Narrated by Derek Perkins
B- for narration C for content Reviewed by Caz
MARINARO, Paula – Raine Falling (Brilliance Audio)
Narrated by Jill Redfield and Will Damran
A-/B for narration B+ for content Reviewed by Shannon
MASON, Patricia – In Deep Shitake (Audible Studios)
Narrated by Michael Karl Orenstein
B for narration B- for content Reviewed by Kaetrin
REUS, Katie – Targeted (Tantor Audio)
Narrated by Sophie Eastlake
B for narration B for content Reviewed by Kaetrin
SHALVIS, Jill – Instant Attraction (Audible Studios)
Narrated by Liisa Ivary
B- for narration B for content Reviewed by Kaetrin
SIMSION, Graeme – The Rosie Effect (Simon & Schuster)
Narrated by Dan O’Grady
A for narration B for content Reviewed by Melinda
SINGH, Nalini – Archangel’s Shadows (Tantor Audio)
Narrated by Justine Eyre
B- for narration B for content Reviewed by Diana
Features
Talking with Loretta Chase and a Giveaway! Sadly, the giveaway is now closed, but you can still read our interview
Looking Back at December – Our Reviews, News & Features
Our Holiday Giveaway Winner – talking to Tiera about her choice of prize and her listening choices
Currently Playing for the Gals – January 9th 2015
Nora Roberts – Brenda’s look at the current and upcoming audiobooks by Nora Roberts
Currently Playing for the Gals – January 15th 2015
Currently Playing for the Gals – January 23, 2015
The Gals Best 2014 Romance Listens
February might be a shorter month, but they say that good things come in small packages (!) and that’s certainly going to be the case here. We’ll be starting our biggest ever review-copy giveaway and you can also look forward to a week-long pre-Valentine event, and more new reviews.
Have a good week!
Caz