After receiving Audible’s Superstars of Romance email and looking at their list of the top twelve romance audiobooks for the first quarter of 2013, I began to wonder about the standards used to determine their Superstars. I assume sales are a factor opposed to actual customer ratings as when I researched further, I found many books with higher ratings and more feedback from January 1st to March 31st than the titles found on Audible’s Superstar list.
Out of curiosity I decided to make a list of Romance Stars with the following criteria: The audiobook must rate 4 stars or above at Audible with a minimum of 100 people leaving feedback. What are the results you ask? As of April 11th, twenty audios meet our criteria – here’s the list by release date. Genuine Superstars as decided by romance lovers’ feedback.
Let Me Be the One by Bella Andre – narrator Eva Kaminsky
Rates 4.4 stars with feedback from 161
Rock Hard: The Sinners on Tour by Olivia Cunning – narrator Justine O. Keef
4.5 stars with feedback from 222
A Hunger So Wild by Sylvia Day – narrator Rachel Vivette
Rating 4.2 stars with feedback from 110
The Secret by Julie Garwood – narrator Susan Duerden
Rating 4.4 stars with feedback from 292 
Just Over the Mountain by Robin Carr – narrator Therese Plummer
Rating 4.5 stars with feedback from 105
The Lion’s Lady by Julie Garwood – narrator Susan Duerden
Rating 4.5 Stars with feedback from 107
Passion for the Game by Sylvia Day – narrator Justine Eyre
Rating 4.1 stars with feedback from 110
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young – narrator Paula Costello
Rating 4.6 stars with feedback from 307
Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole – narrator Robert Petkoff
Rating 4.7 stars with feedback from 310
Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs – narrator Holter Graham
Rating 4.7 stars with feedback from 186
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt – narrator Moira Quirk
Rating 4.4 Stars with feedback from 145
Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright – narrator Jill Redfield
Rating 4.3 stars with feedback from 269
Immortal Ever After by Lynsay Sands – narrator Paula Christensen
Rating 4.4 stars with feedback from 155
Edge of Dawn: Midnight Breed by Lara Adrian – narrator Hilary Huber
Rating 4.4 stars with feedback from 149
Reckless: The Thoughtless Trilogy by S.C Stephenson – narrator Rebekkah Ross
Rating 4.7 stars with feedback from 133
Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs – narrator Lorelie King
Rating 4.6 with feedback from 528
Come A Little Bit Closer by Bella Andre – narrator Eva Kaminsky
Rating 4.4 stars with feedback from 107
Lover at Last by J. R. Ward – narrator Jim Frangione
Rating 4.6 with feedback from 317
The Wanderer by Robyn Carr – narrator Therese Plummer
Rating 4.4 with feedback from 107
Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost – narrator Tavia Gilbert
Rating 4.6 with feedback from 383
A little analyses gives us the following yield from these twenty audiobooks according to our criteria. As to genres, we have three historical, five contemporary, five erotica, and seven paranormal titles. There are some cross-overs but these numbers cover the basics. There are two first audiobooks for authors and two firsts by narrator along with six authors who have two books on the list. Seven of the titles were included on the Gals’ Picks lists for January, February, and March.
If you’re looking for a new listen – one that is recommended by your romance listening peers over at Audible, take a closer look at this list of the best of the best from the first three months of 2013.
Brenda
I like your list. I am surprised that there is a new release of Julie Garwood’s The Secret. I guess I am going to have to get it so I can compare it to the one I have. I have listened to both Patricia Briggs several times, and so cannot wait till the next one. Thanks for your list.
I also have the original audio of Julie Garwood’s The Secret Katrina – I’d be interested in your opinion after listening to both.
Patricia Brigg’s is definitely a favorite author for me – adding in Holter Graham and Lorelie King narrations only adds to my enjoyment of her books.
Looking at your list and Audible’s, I, too, am interested in what their criteria are. It’s also interesting to see how much more… “advanced” the US site is, compared with the UK’s. There are more search features and other useful tools on the US site, which I wish they’d integrate into the UK one. Reviews on the UK site tend to be thin on the ground, too, but then we’re restricted to reviewing only titles which have been purchased at Audible, rather than those we might have bought elsewhere on CD or borrowed from the library – which I have to do a lot because there are so many titles I’d like to get from Audible that I can’t buy due to the annoying geographical restrictions imposed by publishers.
Caz – Audible’s list choices will remain a mystery to me. ;) but it does seem like they are paying more attention to romance these days. You make me thankful for my more Audible friendly experiences!
As far as leaving feedback at Audible – We in the US also have to purchase the audiobook from Audible before we can leave feedback. Personally I like that rule as it prevents mass author (or narrator) bashing like you can see elsewhere at times.
Though I have been frustrated when I can’t add my two cents about audiobooks I’ve gotten elsewhere – I take those opinions/reviews to Amazon or Goodreads even if those spots aren’t audio centric.
The availability – or, rather, NON availability – of a large number of what I’d regard as major romance titles at Audible UK is really starting to annoy me. If you search for Eloisa James, for example, NONE of her audio titles are available from Audible UK. Only the first in Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie novels is available; Sarah MacLean’s “A Rogue by Any Other Name” is available whereas “One Good Earl…” is not; there are about half a dozen Julia Quinn titles, none of Sherry Thomas’…. it’s a long list.
When are publishers going to realise this persistence in clinging to old, geographical rights is costing them sales? I know I where I could obtain a lot of these titles by *other means*, but I want to buy them and pay their creators!!
Sorry – it seems that whenever I reply to one of your posts these days, I spend most of the time moaning about geography!
I take those opinions/reviews to Amazon or Goodreads even if those spots aren’t audio centric.
*nods* I do that, too, and post them at my own blog as well.
I think I was most surprised by the inclusion of two Bella Andres’ books. I haven’t listened to one nor have I read any comments on her books from my fellow listeners. Does anyone know the draw?