AudioGals Guide to Romance Audio – Paranormal Romance

AudioGals-Infographic-Paranormal-Romance-page

In October, 2013, we featured our first AudioGals Guide to Romance Audio infographic highlighting the best in romance audio in nine romance sub-genres. Calling it The Classics, it’s a core curriculum for romance listening. By listening to each of the audios in that graphic, one can fully grasp the diversity romance offers and understand the high level of entertainment high quality audiobooks can provide.

At that time, together with Tantor Audio, we planned it as only the first in a series of romance audio guides. And now, in celebration of June Is Audiobook Month (JIAM) 2014, we present to you the second in the series, AudioGals Guide to Romance Audio: Paranormal Romance. Whereas The Classics graphic contained only nine paranormal romance titles and five fantasies series, our Paranormal Romance graphic contains twenty-seven series and nine stand alone titles considered to be “the best of the best”. For purposes of this graphic (and by RWA’s definition), paranormal romance encompasses vampires, shifters, otherworldly creatures, fantasy, urban fantasy, futuristic, psychic, and time travel.

Within the paranormal romance sub-genre, you’ll find basically two types of books regardless of its subject matter.

First, there is what we refer to as Romance Driven. It’s the more traditional romance with each book featuring a couple who find their “happily ever after” before the ending. Many of these titles can be listened to as stand alones but are almost always part of a series. The listener benefits from starting with Book 1 to immerse themselves in the worldbuilding. Examples of Romance Driven titles include: Ilona Andrews’ The Edge series, Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, and J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Second is the series that is a continuing story with the same hero and heroine throughout. The romance takes place over the arc of the series rather than within a single book. The to-be-continued nature of these romances seems to make listeners cry out even louder for “More, more, more!” Examples of this type of series are Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series, and Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series.

We are confident that all audiobooks chosen for the Paranormal Romance graphic are quality productions that are well written and expertly performed. As with our The Classics graphic, we searched out listeners’ paranormal favorites through past comments, discussions, ratings, and polls at AudioGals, the Speaking of Audiobooks column, and our Romance Audiobooks Goodreads group. We also took into consideration the numerous listeners’ emails and messages we have received over the past five years.

We want to thank Tantor Audio for supporting this event and for their unfailing commitment to quality romance audio. Tantor pays attention to listeners’ requests and releases a large selection of romance audiobooks each month. Weekly, I check their upcoming romance titles and find myself continuously delighted with what I find there. And, during the month of June in celebration of JIAM, Tantor’s titles are 50% off.

We have detailed each of the audio titles on the Paranormal Romance graphic below. You will find that each image links to the hard copies (CDs and MP3 CDs), if available. Listed separately are links to Audible and Tantor’s JIAM sale.

We encourage those who work with groups of listeners to download either our jpeg or pdf files. Our pdf file will print out as a good size poster if desired.

PDF 36″ x 34″

JPEG 13.3″ x 12.5″

JPEG 8.25″ x 8.79″

 

Romance Driven – Otherworldly

On the Edge sqThe Edge Series – Ilona Andrews

Narrated by Renee Raudman

Tantor Audio: Books 1-3  Recorded Books: Book 4

 

 

AudioGals review of On the Edge

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009

 

Angels' Blood sqGuild Hunter Series – Nalini Singh

Narrated by Justine Eyre

Tantor Audio

 

 

Speaking of Audiobooks review of Angels’ Blood

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010

 

A Hunger Like No Other sqImmortals After Dark Series – Kresley Cole

Narrated by Robert Petkoff

Simon & Schuster

 

Speaking of Audiobooks review of A Hunger Like No Other

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011

 

 

Romance Driven – Vampire

Dark LoverBlack Dagger Brotherhood Series – J.R. Ward

Narrated by Jim Frangione

Recorded Books: Books 1-6  Penguin: Books 7 – 12

 

Speaking of Audiobooks review of Book 3, Lover Awakened

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009

 

 

First Drop of Crimson sqNight Huntress World Series – Jeaniene Frost

Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

Blackstone Audio

 

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010

 

 

 

Jacob sqNightwalkers Series – Jacquelyn Frank

Narrated by Xe Sands

Tantor Audio

 

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Book 4: Damien

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011

 

 

Romance Driven – Shifters 

Cry Wolf sqAlpha and Omega Series – Patricia Briggs

Narrated by Holter Graham

Penguin Audio

 

AudioGals Review of Book 2, Hunting Ground

First in Series Original Publication Date:  2009

 

 

Slave to Sensation sqPsy/Changeling Series – Nalini Singh

Narrated by Angela Dawe

Tantor Audio

 

 

AudioGals Review of Slave to Sensation

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011

 

Dragon Bound sqElder Races Series – Thea Harrison

Narrated by Sophie Eastlake

Tantor Audio

 

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Dragon Bound

First in Series Original Publication Date:  2011

 

Urban Fantasy – Otherworldly 

Darkfever sqFever Series – Karen Marie Moning

Darkfever

Narrated by Joyce Bean: Books 1 – 3  Natalie Ross & Phil Gigante: Books 4 & 5

Brilliance Audio

 

AudioGals Review of the Fever Series

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2008

 

Covet sqFallen Angels Series – J.R. Ward

Narrated by Eric G. Dove

Brilliance: Books 1-3  Penguin: Books 4 & 5

 

First in Series Original Publication Date:  2009

 

 

 

Urban Fantasy – Vampire

Halfway to the Grave sqNight Huntress Series – Jeaniene Frost

Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

Blackstone Audio

 

AudioGals Review of Halfway to the Grave

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010

 

 

Dead Until Dark sqSookie Stackhouse Series – Charlaine Harris

Narrated by Johanna Parker

Recorded Books

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Dead Until Dark

First in Series Original Publication Date: Johanna Parker narration: 2007  Original version narrated by Christine Marshall & William Dufris 2004

 

Urban Fantasy – Shifters

Magic Bites sqKate Daniels Series – Ilona Andrews

Narrated by Renee Raudman

Tantor Audio: Books 1-5  Recorded Books: Book 6

 

 

AudioGals Review of the Kate Daniels Series

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009

 

Moon Called sq

Mercy Thompson Series – Patricia Briggs

Narrated by Lorelei King

Penguin: Books 1-7  Brilliance: Book 8

 

AudioGals Review of Moon Called

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009

 

 

Light/Humorous – Otherworldly

Wolf at the Door sqThe Others Series – Christine Warren

Narrated by Kate Reading

Tantor Audio

 

 

AudioGals Review of Wolf at the Door

First in Series Original Publication Date:  2011

 

Soulless sqParasol Protectorate Series – Gail Carriger

Narrated by Emily Gray

Recorded Books: Books 1-3  Hachette Audio: Books 4 & 5

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review   of Soulless

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010

 

 

Light/Humorous – Vampire 

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs sqJane Jameson Series – Molly Harper

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Audible, Inc.

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010

 

 

Undead and Unwed sqUndead – Queen Betsy Series – MaryJanice Davidson

Narrated by Nancy Wu

Recorded Books

 

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2006

 

 

 

Light/Humorous – Shifters

The Mane Event sqPride Series – Shelly Laurenston

Narrated by Charlotte Kane

Tantor Audio

 

 

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2013

 

 

How to Flirt sqNaked Werewolf Series – Molly Harper

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Audible, Inc.

 

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011

 

 

 

Paranormal Elements – Time Travel

OutlanderOutlander Series – Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by Davina Porter

Recorded Books

 

AudioGals Review of Outlander

First in Series Original Publication Date: 1997

 

 

 

Kiss of the Highlander sqHighlander Series: Books 4 thru 7  – Karen Marie Moning

Narrated by Phil Gigante

Brilliance Audio

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Book 4: Kiss of the Highlander

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2007

 

 

Paranormal Elements – Futuristic/Psychic

Naked in Death sqIn Death Series – J.D. Robb

Narrated by Susan Ericksen

Brilliance Audio

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Book 1: Naked in Death

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2004

 

 

Shadow Game sqGhostwalkers Series – Christine Feehan

Narrated by Tom Stechschulte

Recorded Books: Books 1- 4  BBC Audio: Books 5 – 8  Penguin: Books 9 & 10

 

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010

 

 

 

Paranormal Elements – Fantasy

The Sharing Kinfe sqThe Sharing Knife Series -Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by Bernadette Dunne

Blackstone Audio

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review of The Sharing Knife, Vol. 1: Beguilement

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2007

 

 

Significance sqSignificance Series – Shelly Crane

Narrated by Cris Dukehart

Tantor Audio

 

 

AudioGals Review of Significance

First in Series Original Publication Date: 2013

 

Stand Alone

Dragon Bound sqDragon Bound – first in the Elder Races Series- Thea Harrison

Narrated by Sophie Eastlake

Tantor Audio

 

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review

Original Publication Date: 2011

 

Slave to Sensation sqSlave to Sensation – first in the Psy/Changeling Series – Nalini Singh

Narrated by Angela Dawe

Tantor Audio

 

 

AudioGals Review

Original Publication Date: 2011

 

Soulless sqSoulless – first in the Parasol Protectorate Series – Gail Carriger

Narrated by Emily Gray

Recorded Books

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review

Original Publication Date: 2010

 

 

Son of the Morning sqSon of the Morning – Linda Howard

Narrated by Natalie Ross

Brilliance Audio

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review

Original Publication Date: 2009

 

 

Kiss of the Highlander sqKiss of the Highlander – fourth in the Highlander Series – Karen Marie Moning

Narrated by Phil Gigante

Brilliance Audio

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review

Original Publication Date: 2008

 

 

Dark LoverDark Lover – first in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series – J.R. Ward

Narrated by Jim Frangione

Recorded Books

 

Original Publication Date: 2009

 

 

 

Angels' Blood sqAngels’ Blood – first in the Guild Hunter Series – Nalini Singh

Narrated by Justine Eyre

Tantor Audio

 

 

Speaking of Audiobooks Review

Original Publication Date: 2010

 

On the Edge sq

On the Edge – first in The Edge Series – Ilona Andrews

Narrated by Renee Raudman

Tantor Audio

 

 

AudioGals Review

Original Publication Date: 2010

 

How to Flirt sqHow to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf – first in the Naked Werewolf  – Molly Harper

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Audible, Inc.

 

Original Publication Date:  2011

 

 

 

 

Knowing these are all listeners’ favorites, it’s a good time to try the paranormal romance audio genre!

With the exception of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and time travel titles such as those in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series, I shied away from the paranormal romance genre until 2010 when, upon the urging of listeners, I placed two urban fantasy books (both first in a series) on my annual Listening Challenge over at Speaking of Audiobooks – Charlaine Harris’ Dead Until Dark, from the Sookie Stackhouse series and Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever, from the Fever series. I found each to be an exhilarating experience that had me racing through each series. Since, I have found great pleasure listening to Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress and Night Prince series, Ilona Andrews’ The Edge and Kate Daniels series, Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Sharing Knife series. Am I what I would consider a paranormal romance fan? Probably not, as it’s not my first choice for listening (that’s contemporary, romantic suspense, and tales from the Old West) but I now occasionally sink into a paranormal/urban fantasy series and absolutely love my time there.

Now, we’d love to hear your favorite paranormal romance/urban fantasy listens.

Happy Paranormal Listening!

Lea Hensley

 

4 thoughts on “AudioGals Guide to Romance Audio – Paranormal Romance

  1. Some good and great ones listed, but my absolute favs include
    Vicki Lewis Thompson
    Janet Chapman
    Sandra Hill
    Jayne Anne Krentz/Quick/Castle
    Melissa Mayhue

    There are so many good paranormal reads – Coreene Callahan, Lara Adrian, Nina Bangs, Christina Dodd, Christina Skye, Sue-Ellen Welfonder/Allie Mackay, Cindy Miles, G.A. Aiken/shelly Laurenston, Marjorie Liu…
    So many books, so little time.

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