It’s that time of year again! We have joined a great group of bloggers to spread the word that audiobooks are a terrific treat, pure pleasure and a wonderful way to spend some leisure time (and commute time and road trip time!) This year, the Gals are talking about the “gateway series” for Romance audiobooks – the series that hooked them into being audiobook devotees. Plus – a Giveaway! See the easy entry form at the end of the article. Share the audiobook love with the hashtag #loveaudiobooks on social media!
BJ: My love of audiobooks began with a few key audiobook series that lured me in and hooked me both with their intriguing storylines and with what I considered at the time great narrations. I must admit that my tastes have somewhat evolved since then, but I still consider these series to have been the crucial linchpins to turning me on to the audiobook world. These series include:
- Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery series (see the AudioGals review)
- Fever series by Karen Marie Moning (narration by various)
- Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost (narration by Tavia Gilbert)
Today I’m more into contemporary or historical romance series (though I still have a few PNR/UF Series that go back to). I find that when I get into a listening slump finding a good audiobook series to reinvigorate my love for audiobooks works every time. 3 series that I’m either in the process of listening to or are on my soon to be listened to wishlist include:
- Rock Chick series by Kristen Ashley (narration by Susannah Jones)
- Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (narration by Davina Porter)
- The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels by Philippa Gregory (narration by Susan Lyons)
Kaetrin: My gateway series was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, narrated by Davina Porter but other excellent ones I always listen to include:
- In Death by JD Robb, narrated by Susan Erickson
- Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, narrated by Lorelei King
- Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs, narrated by Holter Graham
- Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, narrated by Renee Raudman
- Red Stone Security series by Katie Reus, narrated by Sophie Eastlake
- Elder Races series by Thea Harrison, narrated by Sophie Eastlake
BJ: Some great series recommendations, Kaetrin! Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega are highly addictive! The In Death series is high up on my list to finally tackle as I haven’t yet listened to it. I even bought the first audiobook. Just kind of scared of really liking that one as there must be over 30 books in that series! Kate Daniels is also high up there on my TBL after enjoying the Inn Keeper Chronicles. So many amazing books, now to find the time!
Caz: Over the last couple of years, there’s been a real dearth of GOOD historical romance about, in both print and audio (this year, the pickings have been ridiculously slim so far and things don’t seem to be getting any better.) So I’ve begun to listen to and review other genres – most often I am picking up romantic suspense and m/m titles, and I’ve found some really good stories performed by excellent narrators that I want to share with those of you who are also finding that your favourite genre(s) currently have little to offer.
If you’ve not read or listened to any m/m romances before, and you enjoy historicals, you have some real treats in store. K.J. Charles is one of the finest authors of historical romances writing today and I have never been disappointed by one of her books. I have no hesitation in recommending EVERYTHING of hers that’s currently available in audio – A Charm of Magpies (5 books), The Society of Gentlemen (3 books), Sins of the Cities (3 books). I know this post is about series, but you can’t go wrong with The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal or Think of England either!
I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed after listening to any of them. The narration is excellent, and the stories are wonderful; romantic and sexy but with an inherent “Britishness” about them that is unmistakable in the humour and outlook often espoused by her characters. If you’re looking for historical romances in which the author does more than pay lip-service to the word “historical”, then look no further.
Another series that’s essential for anyone interested in historical m/m romances is Joanna Chambers splendid Enlightenment trilogy. Like K.J. Charles, Ms. Chambers is an author who can be relied upon to make the most of her historical setting – in this case, Edinburgh in the 1820s – while simultaneously telling a beautifully written love story. This romance plays out across all three books, so you really do need to listen to all of them (in order), but it’s no hardship when the story, writing and narration are as good as this.
Finally, Cat Sebastian’s Turner series (3 books) is also well worth seeking out. Set in Regency England, two of the protagonists are brothers, one of them an investigator the other a bit of a jack-the-lad whose exploits see him having to hide out in Cornwall at the home of a very eccentric earl. Gary Furlong’s narration isn’t to everyone’s taste (I like him, Kaetrin didn’t!) but personally, I think he does a great job, and these audios have joined Charles and Chambers on my list of audio favourites.
Melinda: My Gateway Series was also Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, narrated by the inimitable Davina Porter – not technically Romance, but it did lead to my next fangirl Romance series, Chicago Stars by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, narrated by Anna Fields. I do a Chicago Stars marathon every year!
Tell us YOUR Gateway Series in the comments – and now for the Giveaway!
Here’s the list of Audiobooks for the winners:
- Seven by Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith, and Susan Yankowitz
- Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman, narrated by MacLeod Andrews
- Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris, narrated by Kevin Hely and Cathleen McCarron
- Wings of Fire Book One: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland, narrated by Shannon MacManus
- Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, narrated by Todd McLaren
- Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan, narrated by David Shih
- A Girl Stands at the Door by Rachel Devlin, narrated by Robin Miles
- Torn from Troy, Book 1 in the Odyssey of a Slave Trilogy by Patrick Bowman, narrated by Gerard Doyle
The Fine Print:
8 Audiobook Downloads from Audiobooks.com
No purchase is necessary. The giveaway is open from 12 am CDT Monday 11 June 2018 through 12:00 am CDT Monday 2 July 2018 (which is midnight Sunday 1 July).
Two winners will be chosen. The prize is 8 specific audiobook downloads (see list posted with entry), therefore, winners may need to have or create an Audiobooks.com account to download the audiobooks. The downloads will be provided by Audiobooks.com and are generously donated by Blackstone Publishing, High Bridge Audio, Hachette Audio, LA Theatre Works, Macmillan Audio, Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks, Scholastic and Tantor Audio. Anyone over 18 for whom these audiobook titles are not geo-restricted is eligible to enter, with the exception that the reviewers at AudioGals and their immediate family members are not eligible. :) Also, not eligible where prohibited by law.
One entry per person, please. Winners will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter software. Winners will be notified by email used for entry, by 11:59 pm Monday 2 July 2018, and will have 48 hours to respond. If no response is received, another winner will be chosen.
My first series was Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander, narrated by Phil Gigante. Next was Molly Harper’s & Amanda Ronconi’s Naked Werewolf. Then Outlander. I’m hooked.
Cannot remember now which came first, but I fell in love with audiobooks with the Psy/Changeling series (Nalini Singh) and the Chicago Stars (S. Phillips) starting with Match Me If You Can and then jumping all over that series.
I am not sure if I am a romance audiobook convert just yet. I love romance but have only listened to a few on audio. I just listened to Fury on Fire by Sophie Jordan on audio though and really liked it. I may be adding more romance audio to my list soon.
When I was working and had a very long commute, mystery and crime audiobooks made it bearable. I especially enjoyed J. A. Jance, Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky but anything with clues was good for that long drive. I only discovered listening to historical romance after retiring; it’s great for my daily walks. And what a great giveaway and many suggested titles from the post to add to my TBL (is to-be-listened to a thing?) Thanks.
TBL is totally a thing! I have 2 – the “wish list” at Audible, and the actually downloaded-but-not-yet-read on my computer.
The first audiobook I ever listened to was a standalone: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I loved it! The Twilight series was one of the first series that I listened to.