Romance Audiobooks discussion
Archives
>
Listening to in April 2011
I just finished:
I've got the the sequel and
TBL to soon.maggie
I just finished The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf and am listening to Lead Me On before moving on to Spirit Dances. I'm pretty sure I'll have to get stranded on a desert island with my iPod and a solar charger before I clear out my TBL list, let alone my TBR!
I just finished the fourth Bones and Cat book by Jeaniene Frost. I really like them, and I like the narrator except for when she tries a French accent. Then she sounds like Steve Martin playing Inspector Clouseau.Took me a while to get used to Bones but he is so incredibly hot that I've grown fond of the narrator.
Tonight I think I'll go for the second fever book by Karen Marie Moning, or the fourth Patricia Briggs book, depending on my mood.
Or the Pink Carnation. So many choices.
I'm listening through the Charlaine Harris Shakespeare Lily Bard Complete pb Set 1-5 Shakespeare's Landlord, Shakespeare's Champion, Shakespeare's Christmas, Shakespeare's Trollop, Shakespeare's Counselor series. On book #2.
Truer words were never spoken Kelli ... I'm pretty sure I'll have to get stranded on a desert island with my iPod and a solar charger before I clear out my TBL list, let alone my TBR!
Using the solar charger for iPod & Kindle, I could do a good long Gilligan's Island stint, but I'd sure miss new releases. LOL
Have you listened to all of the CE Murphy books? What would your best comparison to another series be?
Ditto Krissie ... Took me a while to get used to Bones but he is so incredibly hot that I've grown fond of the narrator.
By the time I finished After the Grave I had come to realize what an excellent narrator Tavia Gilbert really is, despite her one faux pas with Bones' voice.
The narrator was excellent with the first Lily Bard book as was the story, then I wimped out, not wanting to hear more details about Lily's ordeal. I should read the rest so I can do my "skim" thing.
Vic I finally listened to Kitty and the Midnight Hour, I really liked it and thought Gavin was perfect with her narration, looking forward to the others.
Listened to Gibson's See Jane Run and Garwood's The Gift this past week. Rough quality cassette to MP3 but still enjoyed them very much.
Brenda wrote: "Have you listened to all of the CE Murphy books? What would your best comparison to another series be?"Brenda,
Yes, I have listened to all of C.E. Murphy's Urban Shaman series as well as her Negotiator trilogy. The latter is actually one of my favorite audiobook series and I think she is an under-appreciated author.
The closest comparison I can make (off the top of my head) for her Urban Shaman series is Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson books and that is a pretty loose comparison. No vampires or werewolves but a protagonist who is not always sure of herself but always acts consistent with an internal compass; is strong but far from a super-powered @$$-kicker; Native American aspects; a lot of low-key humor; and like the first few Mercy books, a love interest that remains complicated enough (although more in the background in the Urban Shaman series) that I despair of ever seeing a HEA for them. That's pretty typical Urban Fantasy though.
I found the Negotiator trilogy to be more unique than most of what I had read before with really good world-building and characterization but in looking at reviews I think the audiobooks are either love 'em or hate 'em and I am definitely the former. For me, Eve Bianco does the best portrayal of male voices of any female narrator I have listened to although I offer a devout prayer to the audiobook gods that she keeps away from trying English accents (based on a different book she narrated) ever again.
Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm listening through the [book:Charlaine Harris Shakespeare Lily Bard Complete pb Set 1-5 Shakespeare's Landlord, Shakespeare's Champion, Shakespeare's Christmas, Shakespeare's Trollop, Shakespear..."I really liked these books in print. This is my favorite series by Harris. She achieves a good blend of angst,humor, mystery and romance.
Exactly the kind of details I was after Kelli, I have the first book in both of the CE Murphy series (love Audible 4.95 sales!) and they definitely sound like something I'll like. I've listened to Eve Bianco once, in a dual narration with Jill Tanner - Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale and they were both flawless. It is one of the best narrations I've ever heard, especially for a book that was so outside my norm.
I'll especially look forward to hearing Bianco with Heart of Stone after your comment about her male voices.
Right now, I'm listening to Magic Bleeds. On my challenge list for April, I have Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss and Obsession, Deceit, and Really Dark Chocolate by Kyra Davis, Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh and The Search by Nora Roberts. I have 5 others on my challenge list that I will read (because they aren't available in audio- argh!). I try to listen to one book during the day and then read another at bedtime.
Just curious...Does anyone else do the "read one/listen to another" thing?
Just curious...Does anyone else do the "read one/listen to another" thing?I do! Sometimes I can go a day without being able to listen to my audiobook, but I usually have one "on tap" at all times. I also read a lot of print books. I read more than listen, but part of that is the way my time is structured. I read print books in the morning as I have coffee, whenever I sit down to eat (unless someone is eating with me), and in the evenings before bed. These are my "relax" times. I listen to audiobooks while I do chores or walk the dog. I can't usually listen in the car because I'm rarely alone, or if I am, it's only for short runs like to the grocery store or dog park.
In fact, I usually have at least two print books going at the same time as well as an audiobook. I find I'm in different moods at different times. I may not want to read the suspense book right before bed, for example, so I often have a light-hearted book hanging around for that. ;-)
Me too! I always have two print books going. I tend to appreciate books more when I take a break for a while. Those books have to be opposites - contemporary versus historical. Medieval versus American Western. And I do the same thing with audiobooks - I usually listen to two at the same time. That's four stories going on in my head. But back in the day when I watched a lot of TV, I easily remembered four ongoing storylines. Why not in reading/audio listening?
Mark me down as another who both listens and reads. I almost always have one audiobook and one print book underway. Sometimes I have two audiobooks in process if I am listening at work, since that is almost always a re-listen that allows me to get distracted and not lose my place in the story.I read more books than listen but that is just because I read rapidly. Another benefit to me of audiobooks is they slow me down. :D
Welcome Judy! We look forward to hearing from you!
I usually have two audios and at least two ebooks going at all times...unless I become totally absorbed in one and it takes over every spare moment. I mix up genres as well. I read on the Kindle at home after work and on the iPhone during the day while I commute and lunch. I can knock off 5 or 6 pages just on long escalator rides to the deep underground. No point in wasting time. :) Audiobooks are for days off and the last hour or two before sleep.
I've got my Kindle, hard copy and ipod, though I get the marjority of my input through my ipod. Once I finish this book I'm going on a Mary Stewart binge, and that's all hard copy.Right now, though, I'm devouring the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, and I'm (do not repeat this!!!) astonished by how good it is, when I found the Highlander series fairly ordinary. Interesting how someone can take such a huge leap ahead.
Also, I need some help. I need an a spoiler -- have to know if Mac ends up with Jericho. I don't want to know anything else, just that.
Can someone email me and let me know? It's krissieo@gmail.com.
Thanks. If she doesn't I may not keep listening. Or may put off later installments (I'm only on book 2).
Terra wrote: "Just curious...Does anyone else do the "read one/listen to another" thing? "Funny that you mention that, Terra...I was JUST commenting about this in another group!
I do it and I like it a lot. It allows me to fit more reading in my day (I read during my commute and lunch hour but I can listen while I'm walking in the streets, while I'm exercising at the gym, while I'm doing something boring at work or just before bed when I want to rest my eyes) and also I can switch back and forth if a book is annoying me. :)
Like some of you, I need some contrast in my reading. I cannot read too much of a genre without going nuts (that's why I must have at least a week and sometimes months in between books of the same series.)
Krissie wrote: "I've got my Kindle, hard copy and ipod, though I get the marjority of my input through my ipod. Once I finish this book I'm going on a Mary Stewart binge, and that's all hard copy.Right now, thou..."
Oh, Krissie.....girl you need to keep reading. It's a crazy ride but well worth it! If you like the series now, you'll love it more with each book (IMO). :)
Book four is my fave (mostly because that's when Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross team up for the audiobook). It ends in an unbelieveable cliff-hanger and all of the rest of us had to wait a whole stinkin' year and a half to find out what the heck happened!! You're so lucky you can jump right into Shadowfever to get the answers.
This series ranks up there in my top 5 faves of all time.
Kelli wrote: "Yes, I have listened to all of C.E. Murphy's Urban Shaman series as well as her Negotiator trilogy. The latter is actually one of my favorite audiobook series and I think she is an under-appreciated author."I've never read any by C.E. Murphy. I'll have to try out one of them!
Finished Lover Unleashed just now. Still digesting and processing.
D.G. that's why I must have at least a week and sometimes months in between books of the same seriesI have to say I find your need for restraint in order to really enjoy a series mind boggling! LOL I am the complete opposite, when I discover a series I love, even eating and sleeping are a chore until I'm done with it.
You would have been the perfect KMM Fever fan, I on the other hand nearly pulled my hair out waiting for Shadowfever. :)
On that note, Krissie, I ditto Terra's comment above in regards to Fever, what a ride that was!
It boggles my mind that anybody needs to wait between books of the same series. There's no way I could do that as evidenced by my recent trip through the Pink Carnation Series. As soon as I finished one I was on to the next. What's kind of odd is with the Fever series I had bought the first four books but only read 3 of them. When people started raving how good the audiobooks were I snapped up the first four (thanks to Audible sale) and gallopped through them. Luckily my timing was such that when I finished I only had about 1 week to wait for Shadowfever. And that was a good thing cos I probably would have ripped my hair out if I'd had to wait any longer than that. :)
I was listening to The Dark Highlander, and got a bit tired of the overwrought prose, so I switched to Loyalty in Death. Nothing wrong with the Highlander book, just wanted to listen to a different style.
I can't listen to or read more than two, or at most three, books in a row by the same author. After that I find I start picking apart the writing. Every writer has a style of their own, and I start to anticipate word choice, phrasing, or how they build tension, etc.. When that happens I know it's time for me to take a break.
Well, I'm with the "can't listen to all books in a series without taking a break." I mean - I can but choose not to. Things start sounding the same to me (especially with KMM's Highlander series) but I'm the same way with print books. However, I did listen (or relisten) to all of KMM's Fever series in a row without a hitch. Brenda and I agreed to listen at the same time and discussed it as we went along. That is a series I can do non-stop and I think it is because of its non-ending nature.
Carrie, I felt that way about the BDB books. After a few, I kinda felt like "been there, said that". I also am thoroughly done with Evanovich. But with most other series...I'm in for the long haul.
Terra wrote: "Carrie, I felt that way about the BDB books. After a few, I kinda felt like "been there, said that". I also am thoroughly done with Evanovich. But with most other series...I'm in for the long haul."Like you, there are some series I've stopped (Plum series being one, Charlaine Harris' Sookie books being another), but even the series I love I have to take breaks from, whether in print or in audio. In fact, I'm the same about stand-alone books by the same author.
I wanted to add that I'm a huge fan of KMM's Highlander series - books 4-7 but if I listen to one after the other, they start to sound the same despite the fact that Gigante makes each male character clearly distinct from the others. Love, love the series but one at a time.
I read a new series back to back, easily skipping repetitive stuff. Listening back to back is a different story and depends on the series. :)For me the back to back re-listen of the Fever series was riveting for a few reasons. It had been 14 months since I'd last read or listened to the books, I'd forgotten way more than I thought I had, keeping it interesting.
And as Lea mentioned, at that point it was still unending, we were trying to spot clues and spouting theories with each twist and turn, which was fun.
Having someone to e-mail at any time with a "hey, did you notice that" or "have you made it to here" and especially to relive the drool worthy Barron's moments was a blast.
Lastly knowing Shadowfever would be available at the end of the re-listen, there would be a wrap up to everything, Finally!! LOL
Brenda wrote: "I have to say I find your need for restraint in order to really enjoy a series mind boggling! LOL I am the complete opposite, when I discover a series I love, even eating and sleeping are a chore until I'm done with it."Most readers I know seem to be like that. In my case, it's not even a business of resting in between series but also between GENRES. If I'm to enjoy them, I need to mix them up and because I read so many different things, it make a while before I come back to a series book. Here are the genres of the last 10 books I read.
Humor
Paranormal
Mystery
Paranormal
Historical Romance
Romantic Suspense
Non Fiction
Erotica
YA
Erotica
I'm also reading some paranormal now but that will be my last one for a while. I'll be moving onto fiction, ya and historical romance next. :)
I'm a listener and reader too - when I can sit down I read and when I have to be doing things (housework (ugh), exercise (blech), cooking, driving, I listen.Brenda - who is Lily Bard? Would you recommend?
Krissie wrote: "I just finished the fourth Bones and Cat book by Jeaniene Frost. I really like them, and I like the narrator except for when she tries a French accent. Then she sounds like Steve Martin playing I..."How are you enjoying the Patricia Briggs books? Did you like Alpha & Omega (sadly not available on audio) and Cry Wolf?
Charlaine Harris of "Sookie" fame has also written other mystery series, Lily Bard is the heroine in one of the series, the first book is called Shakepere's Landlord. It was very good, both in story and in narration. I must have gotten the audios via the library as I'm not seeing them in my iTunes.
Edited to add that Julia Gibson is the narrator, although she took a lot of flack with the SEP book she did, she is excellent with this series.
Kaetrin~ The "Shakespeare" series featuring Lily Bard is by far my favorite series by Charlaine Harris. They're grittier than her Aurora Teagarden mysteries, which could be called "cozy." Lily has a traumatic past, and she's a great heroine. A real surivivor.
I finished Glory in Death and now I'm listening The Shack. So far, there's something about it that's putting me off but I think that's the book not the narrator.
Kaetrin wrote: "I'm a listener and reader too - when I can sit down I read and when I have to be doing things (housework (ugh), exercise (blech), cooking, driving, I listen.Brenda - who is Lily Bard? Would you r..."
Yes, loved Cry Wolf and the short story, and have already bought the second one.
They aren't dripping with sex the way I like 'em, but they're so good I don't mind (though I owuld have liked the sex). Same with the Fever series. I'm still hoping.
Hi Krissie - I hear ya! :)As for the Fever series - can I just say - Dreamfever Chapter 4? *fans self* Enough said.
I love this forum! You are people after my own heart. Having several stories going on at once (ipod, kindle and print) is my norm! I'm currently listening to Name of the Wind (fantasy) and Infinite Quest (non fiction). Reading My Irresitable Earl (Gaelen Foley) on the Kindle.I made the mistake of listening to The Art of Seducing A Naked Werewolf right after listening to How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf. They are written in first person but by different characters. The narrator is fun but it is exactly the same voice. I identify it with the first book (Mo) and can't move on to the second character. Darn.
The Name of the Wind is one of my favorites! I just loved that book. :)I forgot to post that I dnfed The Shack. Now I'm listening A Prisoner of Birth.
i think most of you know i m still a student in college. Well if i forget my headphones I start reading an ebook . I love (sadly i'll to admit this ) Diana Palmer's old desire line of books. I m also into reading books where the hero underestimates the Heroine ( or he assumes something that is not true about her).I like historicals but I dont know why i like stories about Cowboys. I like JAK's story the wizard because the heroine falls for a guy who isn't a cowboy.( irony)
I like LLM's the Mckentric series. I have not yet read a paranormal / vamp/breeders book .
For the month of April I read Judith McNaughts " Double standards" and Debbie macComber " the Matchmakers and i m currently reading a family affair"
But I dont know why I love ebooks or audiobooks about Cowboys.(or antiheros like Dodge from Tough Customer).
So I need to know i m weird or are there other people who love to listen to /read books about cowboys?
I seem to be working my way through old Janet Evanovich- I'm talking pre- Stephanie Plum when she was writing as Steffie Hall. They are silly and mindless and short. I started a new job and it's a 1/2 hour in my car in each direction. So I can leave it in my car and it only takes 4 or 5 trips to finish.Plus I'm still waiting for Treachery in Death to come in to my library, and want to make sure I can get to to it right away when it does.
Thanks to Brenda and Carrie mentioning the series in this thread, I picked up and just finished Shakespeare's Landlord and will be working my way through the series. For some reason I was thinking they were of the "cozy mystery" type, which isn't my usual style. Thanks for the recommendation you two! Pretty good story and good narration with one of my favorite types of heroines - the one who overcomes a troubled/tragic past.
Hey, cowboys, wizards, spies, whatever. I think we all have our favorites, plus we go through phases. Whatever works.I'm having a little trouble with DREAMFEVER -- long periods without Barrons. But I'm perserving, plus going back to relisten to HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE when I come to a point when I'm ready to sleep.
Barbie wrote: "i think most of you know i m still a student in college. Well if i forget my headphones I start reading an ebook . I love (sadly i'll to admit this ) Diana Palmer's old desire line of books. I m al..."Barbie - I love cowboys - both contemporary and historical. I so wish there were more historical westerns out there but I have a few I reread from time to time. So you are not alone!
I just finished
and have started
Just finished A Prisoner of Birth. It was FANTASTIC! Listening the audiobook made it so much better.Now I'm listening The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Susinok wrote: "More JD Robb for me.
"Are you listening to the series all at once or just these two for now? I've listened to the first two and think I might enjoy the series more if I listened to a few in a row. Your thoughts?
Romance Audiobooks
Books mentioned in this topic
Enclave (other topics)First Grave on the Right (other topics)
No Graves As Yet (other topics)
These Old Shades (other topics)
A Game of Thrones (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Christine Feehan (other topics)Suzanne Brockmann (other topics)
Linda Howard (other topics)
Patricia Briggs (other topics)
Patricia Briggs (other topics)
More...
I've been on a re-listening stint the last several days but plan on the latest Molly Harper for my next new listen.