As a recap of the year, the Gals talked about a few of their favorite things in the past year…
Shannon
Most anticipated release of 2016: The Angels’ Share by J.R. Ward (Bourbon Kings series) – coming Summer 2016!
Caz
My favorite hero or heroine or couple: Lucinda Brant’s Alec Halsey (Deadly Engagement, Deadly Affair) – as performed by Alex Wyndham – is a dreamboat. A gentleman sleuth, he’s gorgeous, honourable and fiercely intelligent as well as being dead sexy! The heroine of Simone St. James’ latest book, The Other Side of Midnight (Mary Jane Wells) was appealing and relatable; clever and resourceful but not above feeling out of her depth. I adored Lydia and Ainswood in Loretta Chase’s The Last Hellion (Kate Reading), Julian and Lily in Tessa Dare’s Three Nights with a Scoundrel (Rosalyn Landor) which are both older books that only made it into audio this year; when it comes to 2015 releases, I am very fond of James and Phoebe from Elizabeth Hoyt’s Dearest Rogue, and of Thea and Leo in Tracy Anne Warren’s The Bedding Proposal (Barrie Kreinik), a terrific story featuring a divorced heroine, something not often found in historical romances.
BJ
My favorite place to get audiobooks: Recently I’ve discovered the beautifully intricate and fascinating UF world of Patricia Briggs. Fortunately, my library has the entire collection of the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series on audio, so my library card has been getting a lot of usage of late.
Kaetrin
Favourite new narrator: Alex Wyndham is by far my favourite new narrator. He does exceptional character voices including authentic female tones – it’s such a rare trait in male narrators. Most of the time I compromise and buy into the fantasy so long as the performance is not falsetto and awful but there is no need to with Wyndham. Not only does he give great character, he also nails accents, intimacy, emotion, pacing and tension. He’s the whole package. Just brilliant.
Melinda
New favorite series: The Elder Races by Thea Harrison, narrated by rock-star voice artist Sophie Eastlake! I was introduced to the series while judging for the 2015 Audies. I’m not the biggest fan of paranormal romance – the world-building often confuses me. But the combo of Harrison’s storytelling and Eastlake’s voice is a big winner for me! I started over with book 1, Dragon Bound, in December last year and have listened my way through the entire series.
I just discovered The Elder series by Thea Harrison and I love it. I don’t know how I have missed it before!