As we do every month, the Gals have been pouring through the lists of new and upcoming audiobooks to find the ones we think are going to be the best bets for great listens over the coming weeks. (Apologies in advance that this is very Caz-heavy list; there are a LOT of new m/m audiobooks out in September!) Hopefully, there’s something here for everyone – and don’t forget to drop by and tell us which new releases YOU’RE most looking forward to!
Counterpoint by J.E. Birk
Narrated by Tim Paige & Stephen Dexter
I enjoyed J.E Birk’s Booklover in the original Vino and Veritas series, so I’m looking forward to Counterpoint, which features two of the secondary characters from that book. Tim Paige is always reliable (although I’m bummed Cooper North isn’t back for this one!) and I enjoyed listening to Stephen Dexter in Sarina Bowen’s Roommate, so fingers crossed this will turn out to be a good one! – Caz
Lovelight Farms by B.K.Borison
Narrated by Pippa Jayne
I’ve heard good things about this book and now it’s out on audio. It’s like a sign or something. – Kaetrin
A Gathering Storm by Joanna Chambers
Narrated by Simon Goldhill
I read this one when it first came out back in 2017 (!). It’s an historical romance in the multi-authored Porthkennack series, an opposites attract love story featuring a disgraced scientist and an estate manager set in Cornwall. Simon Goldhill is a new-to-me narrator, but the sample sounds decent, so I’m in! – Caz
Joanna Chambers is a favourite author so I’ll be interested to hear from Caz how the narrator’s performance is on this one – Kaetrin
Always Practice Safe Hex by Juliette Cross
Narrated by Johanna Fairview & Aiden Snow
This one sounds fun – grumpy/sunshine (the grumpy is a grim reaper!) and heroine in trouble are all my jam. – Kaetrin
Wonderland by Rachel Ember
Narrated by Stephen Dexter & Rudy Sanda
Another of the six titles being released this month in the new In Vino Veritas series, Wonderland is by Rachel Ember, whose work I’ve been enjoying (her Wild Ones series, is terrific), and according to the blurb, is based around a treasure hunt at an old, disused amusement park! This time, Stephen Dexter teams up with Rudy Sanda (another new-to-me narrator); again, I have hopes. – Caz
The Spooky Life by S.E. Harmon
Narrated by Kirt Graves
Book four in S.E. Harmon’s Spectral Files sees Rain and Danny trying to plan a wedding while working a missing persons case – and promises a “dark turn”. Kirt Graves returns to the narrator’s chair, so this one is high on my TBL this month! – Caz
On Board and In Step by Jay Hogan
Narrated by Gary Furlong
Books Two and Three in Jay Hogan’s Painted Bay series are out this month and are must-listens. They’re powerfully emotional, funny, poignant and sexy, and Gary Furlong will no doubt deliver another couple of terrific performances. – Caz
Elusive Relations by Nicky James
Narrated by Nick J. Russo
I LOVED this book (possibly even more than Temporary Partner) when I read it a few months back and have been chomping at the bit for the audio! Valor and Doyle are back with another intriguing mystery that cuts very close to home for Valor – and are finding it increasingly difficult to keep their hands off each other! *wink* Nick J. Russo is a favourite narrator and I know he’ll do a great job. – Caz
Unmanageable by Leslie McAdam
Narrated by Jacob Morgan & Teddy Hamilton
The original Vino and Veritas series was a bit of a mixed bag, but I enjoyed enough of them to be interested in listening to the six books in this spin-off In Vino Veritas series. Unmanageable is a single dad/nanny romance – and although I’m not familiar with the author’s work, the narration is bound to be good. Fingers crossed #Jeddy have at last found some decent material to narrate! – Caz
Consider Me by Becka Mack
Narrated by Kasha Kensington & Alex Kydd
Id listening at its finest. Becca Mack’s style is different to Kristen Ashley but for me it had the same vibe – I wanted to gobble it all up in print. I’m sure it will be fun to revisit on audio. – Kaetrin
Prince of Flowers by Nazri Noor
Narrated by Greg Boudreaux
I’m really enjoying Nazri Noor’s fantasy Arcane Hearts series and am trying to find time to pick up more of his books, so the release of Prince of Flowers, the first in a new series, is most timely! According to the blurb, “a snarky summoner and a fickle fae prince” have to brave meddling goddesses and the fury of the elements to get a shot at true love. I do love me some bantery-sexual-tension and Noor does that really well. Add the wonderful Mr. B to the mix and you bet I’ll be pouncing on this one at the end of the month! – Caz
The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish
Narrated by Natalie Duke, Pete Cross and Hillary Huber
This is Roan Parrish’s queer take on the Christmas movie The Holiday (Kate Winslet/Cameron Diaz) plus I’ve enjoyed this narrator before. – Kaetrin
The Rivals of Casper Road by Roan Parrish
Narrated by Greg Boudreaux
This Halloween-themed story sounds cute, and Greg B. is narrating. Nuff sed. – Caz
What Caz said. – Kaetrin
Project Hero by Briar Prescott
Narrated by Joel Leslie and Kirt Graves
I read a few of Briar Prescott’s books earlier this year and really enjoyed them (her Better With You series is also coming to audio soon, with the same narrators). Project Hero has been on my TBR for ages, so I was delighted to see an audio version coming out with two such great narrators. – Caz
Caz recommended this author to me and I enjoy both narrators so of course I’m in. – Kaetrin
The Girl from Guernica by Karen Robards
Narrated by Nancy Peterson
Lovers of historical fiction, especially World War II themed titles, will want to take note of this one. The novel is set in Spain during the years before World War II and the title draws upon the inspiration from Picasso’s Guernica. – BJ
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne
Narrated by Moira Quirk
A departure from her previous contemporary romances, this one has me very intrigued. I’m in. – Kaetrin
Underdog by L.A. Witt
Narrated by Nick J. Russo
L.A. Witt’s entry in the Vino and Veritas series (Aftermath) was one of my favourites, so ‘ll be picking up her new one in the spin off series. Underdog pairs an ex-con and a horse trainer, and with narration by Nick J. Russo, I’m keen to give it a listen. – Caz
*Perks ears up* – Kaetrin
When He’s Ruthless by Suzanne Wright
Narrated by Samantha Cook
Though I have to admit that I have not yet started the Olympus Pride series, I’ve greatly enjoyed several of Ms. Wright’s paranormal romance series, including the Phoenix Pack and the Mercury Pack; and now with four Olympus books available, I think it’s time for me to start this one! – BJ
Other New and Upcoming Releases
Audible in the US is having a big sale on everything, and I kind of blew my budget. I bought the psycop series books 2 thru book 9 (most were under $4) and the rest of the Starfig Investigation series (I had book 1 of both series already). I also bought the first Arcane Hearts book and several others, all much cheaper than a credit or even whyispersync prices. I calculated I spent less than $ 4.50 per audiobook. I even bought the Diversion boxed set of first three books.
My library has all the Roan Parrish and Spectral Files books, and Project Hero.
I’m interested in the In Vino Veritas books (I just finished reading Wildfire by Garrett Leigh) but I think I’ll wait on those since the sale prices aren’t that much lower than whispersync prices. I’ll see how other’s like them first.
No sale at Audible UK – although fortunately, the regular price of £7.99 and whispersync price of £2.99-£3.99 is usually still cheaper than the Audible US sale price, so even when I used to have an Audible US account, it was still often cheaper to buy stuff I wanted using my UK credits.
You’ve got some good stuff there, though. I loved the Starfig books, and the Diversion series has become an all-time favourite. I won’t be able to get review copies of the In Vino Veritas books, and as I’ve had a sudden influx of review copies from other places, I’m not going to bust a gut to review them. If I want to review, I’ll have to buy them… and as the first lot were such a mixed bag, I’m waiting on other reviews, too!
I understand about the VV books. I have lots to listen to, so I’ll definitely wat. Also, they are available on Kindle Unlimited here, so I probably will just read them. If I hear really good things about Wonderland, I may get that one because of the narrators.
The first box set of the Diversion series was really cheap, but the rest are just about the same as a credit, so I’ll wait and make sure I like them. I decided to go with more of the PsyCop series because I bought Book 2 today in the sale and listened to it all day (it’s less than 5 hours long) while I did other work, ran errands, etc. it solidified that I’m enjoying the series, so for less than $4 each (mostly) I thought it was worth it.
I usually wouldn’t spend this much at one time, but they prices are really good and I know my husband won’t mind because he’s been spending a bit of money (not tons) on his HAM radio hobby lately. He won’t begrudge me!
I’m a big fan of the PsyCop books – number 13 has just come out in print and JCP said Gomez Pugh was about to start recording the audio version. The first four are novella length, but after that they’re all full length – so definitely credit-worthy if you can’t get them any other way.