As usual, the Gals have been hard at work (!), combing the new release lists to find the new and upcoming releases we think are going to be the best of the crop of new romance audiobooks. With so many new releases every week, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of them, so we hope that our selections will help you to find some new favourite listens.
A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Narrated by Stina Nielsen
Jennifer L. Armentrout is releasing a new romantic fantasy series, and I’m looking forward to listening to this twenty-five-hour story! – BJ
A Twist of Fate by Kelley Armstrong
Narrated by Gemma Dawson
Another time travel book from Kelley Armstrong! I am excited! Last time I didn’t love the narration but this audio is read by Gemma Dawson and the samples I listened to seemed significantly better so my hopes are high. I do love a good time travel story. – Kaetrin
I’m a big fan of everything Kelley Armstrong writes, especially when she seamlessly blends the magical and the mundane. In A Twist of Fate, the second installment in her Stitch In Time series, she appears to do exactly this, and I’m super excited to see where the story goes. I haven’t listened to a ton of Gemma Dawson’s narrations, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve heard so far and am hoping for good things here. – Shannon
Stray Fears by Gregory Ashe
Narrated by Declan Winters
Stray Fears is a gripping, spine-tingling paranormal mystery with a horror vibe featuring a traumatised young man and a cop who team up to try to find out who – or what – is murdering the members of a local PTSD support group. I read and enjoyed it when it was published last year, and am excited to revisit the story in audio as it’s narrated by Declan Winters, whose work I’ve very much enjoyed in C.S. Poe’s Magic & Steam series. – Caz
The Same Place
by Gregory Ashe
Narrated by J.F. Harding
This second book in Gregory Ashe’s The Lamb and the Lion series finds wildlife vet Tean Leon and former (well, mostly) con-man Jem Berger trying to help Tean’s colleague Hannah when she tells them she thinks she’s being followed – and then trying to find her when she suddenly disappears. It’s another fantastic, perfectly balanced combination of mystery and romance featuring two flawed but oh, so loveable leads; I loved it when I read it late last year, and I can’t wait to experience the story again, especially with the wonderful J.F. Harding back in the narrator’s chair. – Caz
Riggs by Sawyer Bennett
Narrated by Connor Crais and Savannah Peachwood
I was a fan of Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey series. I haven’t had a chance yet to listen to her Arizona Vengeance series, but the release of this latest title in October may be the stimulus that finally gets me listening! – BJ
The Brightest Star In Paris by Diana Biller
Narrated by Carlotta Brentan
This historical novel centered around a ballet company in Paris looks right up my alley. I’ve heard good things about Diana Biller’s previous book, so I’ll definitely be buying this one as soon as it comes out. Sound samples of Carlotta Brentan’s previous work lead me to believe she’ll bring the story to life with a great deal of skill. – Shannon
Getting Real by Emma Chase
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber
I’ve been a fan of Emma Chase’s writing since the Tangled series and I can always count on Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber for a good narration. So this month I’m looking forward to Getting Real which will be available in the Audible Plus membership package – BJ
All the Feels by Olivia Dade
Narrated by Kelsey Navarro
I’ve been looking forward to this book since I finished Spoiler Alert at the end of 2020. The hero of All the Feels is someone we met in the previous book, and it’ll be fun to get to know him in his own story. I have enjoyed several of Ms. Navarro’s narrations in the past, so this is sure to be a phenomenal listening experience all the way around. – Shannon
The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor
Narrated by Ariyan Kassam
This is kind of a Wild Card pick, as I’m familiar with neither author nor narrator. But I liked the premise – a deeply closeted gay man in Mumbai reluctantly bows to pressure from his mother and agrees to an arranged marriage…but then he meets someone who turns his world upside down and he has to decide if he’s ready to fight for what he wants. Fingers crossed this one turns out well! – Caz
The Alpha by Dannika Dark
Narrated by Nicole Poole
I thoroughly enjoyed book one of the Black Arrowhead series and am greatly looking forward the second, releasing this October. – BJ
Broken Falcon by Rachel Grant
Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella and Greg Tremblay
Book eleven in Rachel Grant’s long-running Evidence series, Broken Falcon is linked to Incriminating Evidence (book four) in that the hero is Chase, the young man who turned out to have been subjected to torture and manipulation in that book to force him into acting against his nature and will for the Bad Guys. Now he’s getting his own story, and I can’t wait! It’s great to see Nicol Zanzarella and Grey Tremblay teaming up again on the narration. – Caz
Broken Falcon is on my list of October picks too for much the same reasons – Kaetrin
Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
Narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker
I’m always on the lookout for queer romances featuring two women, and Payback’s a Witch, the first book in Lana Harper’s Witches of Thistle Grove series, caught my eye when I first saw the blurb earlier this year. It’s a rom/com between two witches, both of whom are participating in a local spell-casting competition. I’m not at all familiar with Jeremy Carlisle Parker as a narrator, but this book definitely looks like something I’ll take a chance on. – Shannon
Duke Actually by Jenny Holiday
Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez
I’m all over anything by Jenny Holiday pretty much and I’ve had my eye on this one for months, waiting for release day. Stacy Gonzalez is a new-to-me narrator but the sample I listened to sounded promising. – Kaetrin
Best Man by Lily Morton
Narrated by Joel Leslie
I always enjoy Lily Morton’s distinctive brand of sexy and snark, and this opposites-attract romance sounds like a lot of fun. Joel Leslie is back at the microphone for this, the first book in the author’s Close Proximity series, so I’ll be settling in for a great listen. – Caz
This one caught my eye as well. I haven’t listened to as much Lily Morton as Caz but those I have listened to have all been really good so I expect this one will be too. – Kaetrin
Merry Measure by Lily Morton
Narrated by Joel Leslie
A bumper month for Morton/Leslie fans! Merry Measure is a Christmassy friends-to-lovers romance featuring an accident-prone schoolteacher, a fear of flying and a hotel booking mix-up. It’s classic Morton – funny, sexy and sweet, featuring two endearing leads and a close-knit supporting cast; I really enjoyed it when I read it last year, and I know Joel Leslie will be awesome (as ever!) in the audio version – Caz
A Veiled and Hallowed Eve by Hailey Turner
Narrated by Gary Furlong
At last, the seventh and final instalment in Hailey Turner’s inventive, action-packed urban fantasy Soulbound series. I’m eager to listen, but sorry to say goodbye to this group of characters and stories who’ve enthralled me for the last few years. Gary Furlong has done fantastic work in this series – he’s a one-man cast of thousands – and I’m sure he’s going to pull out all the stops for this last hurrah! – Caz
Other New and Upcoming Releases:
Joel Leslie continues to churn out audiobooks while keeping the quality high. I recently listened to Best Man and enjoyed it on audio even more than in print. I listened to the entire Red Dirt Heart series (N.R. Walker) Joel narrated and loved them! And I just finished The Chimera Affair by Keira Andrews, also narrated by Joel, which was really fun. And, of course, his duel narration with Greg Boudreaux on Sailor Proof was excellent. It seems Mr. Leslie is popping up everywhere I turn when picking audiobooks, and that makes me happy since I know his narration will be solid. I recently reread Merry Measure not knowing it was coming out on audio, but I think I’ll splurge anyway and listen to it on audio before Christmas. It’s a sweet, funny story.
I was hoping Josh Lanyon’s newest Secrets and Scrabble book would be coming out on audio when it was released in print, but I guess not. I’ll go ahead and read it in print. Under A Dark Moon (Brandon Brothers 2) by Stella Riley just released on audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham. While it isn’t my favorite Riley book, I still think I’ll put it on my “to be listened to” pile. Wyndham’s narrative style has changed some on the last couple of books (breathy dialogue), but I’m hoping he’ll revert to the A+ style I first encountered on Ms.Riley’s books.
I noticed the change in AW’s delivery a couple of years ago – I remarked on it here in a few reviews. I admit I haven’t listened to him since, mostly because I didn’t want to be disappointed again :( If you find any improvement, do let me know!
I was thinking about reviewing The Chimera Affair but at that time I had two other Andrews/Leslie audios on my list, and as you know, it can get difficult to review the same narrators again and again! Her newest releases – a Viking-ish duo – will be out in audio next year with Michael Ferraiuolo narrating, I believe.
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Josh Lanyon mention that the whole of the Secrets and Scrabble series would be out in audio, but as she self-publishes, they aren’t usually up for pre-order and it’s not possible to predict release dates. I know the next book (Body at Buccaneer’s Bay) – which was due out this month – has been pushed back to November (I think)