Whether you're on your commute to and from work, waiting at a doctor's office, doing chores around the house or traveling on business or pleasure, audiobooks are a great companion! I'm extremely happy and excited to be part of the Audio Publishers Association's A Good Audiobook Speaks Volumes Event and Giveaway! Join me and several other bloggers for this month long event and giveaway!
The holiday season is upon us and November is the busiest travel month of the year! Perfect opportunity to put your earbuds on and listen to some fantastic stories preformed by phenomenal narrators. Below I've shared my top five audiobook recommendations that
Top 5 Audiobook Recommendations:
#5: The Southern Eclectic Series by Molly Harper
Narrated by Amanda Ronconi
Nestled on the shore of Lake Sackett, Georgia, is the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop. (What, you have a problem with one-stop shopping?) Two McCready brothers started two separate businesses in the same building back in 1928, and now it's become one big family affair. And, true to form in small Southern towns, family business becomes everybody's business. OMG, this series is filled with eclectic characters and lots of laughs! Narrated by talented Amanda Ronconi, you will love the family dynamic, the stories and how each of the characters bring their own uniqueness to... well basically everything!
Known for writing snarky romance with a bit, Molly brings her gift of snark (and sarcasm), humor, strong heroines and witty banter to this series. Add Amanda's talent with her performance and you have hours of entertainment!
#5: The Cake Series by J. Bengtsson
Narrated by Andi Arndt, Joe Arden & Zachary Webber
I discovered this series after seeing a few recommendations for it due to the narrators Andi Arndt & Joe Arden. I have loved several of Andi's and Joe's audiobooks so this was an easy "add" to my list. OMG, it did not disappoint! A combination of great story telling and performance makes this a great listen! Gut wrenching, emotional and a family that makes you want them to adopt you!
To listen to audio samples of each of the book in the series and an interview with the author, please click here!
#4: The Fantasyland Series by Kristen Ashley
Narrated by Tillie Hooper
A series of five novels that take place in our world and a parellel universe where fantasies are true... but perhaps not all you would expect.
This was a completely bingable series for me! Kristen is a master story teller and she selected the perfect narrator to bring her world to life! Far off places, magic, and love all fill this series and you will love it!
Visit Kristen's audiobook page on her website to listen to audiobook samples of each of the titles in this series!
#3: The Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones
Narrated by Lorelei King
Currently 12 books you can binge listen to with the 13th coming out on January 15, 2019. You have enough time to listen to the previous book before the final book in the series releases!
This series has it all! A kickass heroine who is also sarcastic, witty and happens to be the grim reaper! A hero that is the devil's son, death, a great cook and sexy as well, sin! Friends to share margaritas with and mystery cases that Charley has to solve! Add the awesomeness that is Lorelei as the narrator and you will love every minute of listening to the series!
Click here to listen to audio samples of each of the book and an interview with Darynda from the Audiobook Lovin 2018 series!
Grab your audiobooks here!
#2 All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness
Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda
In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.
I LOVE this series as its not only beautifully written but performed as well! There are so many European cities, names, foods, etc. that listening to the book is perfect! Jennifer, the narrator, brings the characters to life providing each of them with their own distinct accent, tone, and voices. Gosh, I want to listen to this series all over again!!
Part of the series "Time’s Convert" is now available!
This is Marcus's story which many reader/listeners wanted ever since he was introduced in the series. What I LOVED about this story is that not only do we get to know Marcus's story but also get to hang out with Diana & Matthew again! LOVE IT!!
Oh and the series is now a TV series! A Discovery of Witches, the highly anticipated series based on Deborah Harkness’ best-selling All Souls Trilogy, will premiere in the U.S. on Jan. 17, 2019. Its s currently airing in Britain on Sky One and the best news? Its been announced that there will be a season 2 & 3!! WOOHOOO!
and my #1 recommendation
(and my favorite series and author) is
The Mageri Series by Dannika Dark!!
Narrated by Nicole Poole
This series (and author) is one that I ALWAYS recommend, whether its for a PNR/Fantasy genre, or a 'new to me author and/or narrator', or "first time to listen to an audiobook" or basically any recommendation. I LOVE the characters and the world Dannika has created! I can't get enough of this world and I recently just finished re-listening to the series! This is a series that I KNOW will always be great and Dannika is an author I KNOW will never let me down with her books! I really can't say enough about the awesomeness that is this series.
I have always said that a narrator can make or break an audiobook. THIS series is a perfect example of how important casting the narrator is! The series is elevated to even a higher standard of love and adoration because of Nicole's performance! Whether is the recently made heroine, or the sexy British strategist, or the strong and quiet Guardian or the Irish Vampire Bodyguard, Nicole gives all the characters their own unique tones and voices filled with charisma! In fact, one reviewer said that there are multiple narrators that were not included in the book's information. There isn't, its ALL Nicole!! I totally crush on her and her talent! No worries, she knows it and LOVES IT!!!
To listen to some audio samples and learn more about each of the titles, please visit Dannika's Audiobook Page and to learn more about Dannika and all her titles, please visit her website.
Giveaway
fantastic selection of 8 audiobook downloads that have been generously donated by Beacon Press, High Bridge Audio, LA Theatre Works, Macmillan Audio, Penguin Random House Audio, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster Audio, and Tantor Audio.
List of titles included in the giveaway:
BRIDGE OF CLAY by Markus Zusak
(Penguin Random House Audio)
SPILL by Leigh Fondakowski
(LA Theatre Works)
HOW TO BE LESS STUPID ABOUT RACE by Crystal Fleming (Beacon Press)
AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones
(HighBridge Audio)
SALVATION by Peter F. Hamilton
(Tantor Audio)
THE HUNGER GAMES: Special Edition by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
HEARTLAND by Sarah Smarsh
(Simon Audio)
NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty
(Macmillan Audio)
