New Reviews: Romantic Fiction

Justine Eyre once again returns listeners to a world in which angels and vampires exist alongside humans. Archangel Raphael and his consort, Elena, are meeting with the other ruling archangels when the Refuge, the site where young angels are cared for, is rocked by an earthquake. Eyre immediately ratchets up the tension as the pair scramble to save the young. Elena's father,... Read More

Lori Prince delivers this queer romance about a young woman living in Los Angeles. Max works hard, whether working as an assistant to a talent agent or scouring dating apps for a future girlfriend. But she never seems to achieve her goals. Then her roommate, a social media influencer, introduces her to a self-actualization app, and everything starts to fall into place. Prince's... Read More

Narrator Jim Frangione returns listeners to the vampire world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Living among the unaware humans of Caldwell, New York, the vampires fight against the Lessening Society, which wants to destroy them. Nalla, the grown daughter of the fighter Zsadist, falls in love with Nate, a fighter with a tragic past. As Frangione conveys the passion that sparks... Read More

Caitlin Elizabeth, Victoria Mei, Will Thorne, and Adenrele Ojo perform the first entry in a fantasy epic laden with erotic suspense. For thousands of years, a pact has existed between humanity and the gods: Every 100 years the current human king is bound to send a consort to the king of the gods, Ash, who has the ability to shift forms. Now the current human king is training... Read More

Narrator Brianna Bronte exudes the drama of the romance between Katy Chavos and Dane Vanderale, who is a Breed--a combination of human and animal DNA. Years ago, when Katy worked at a diner that Dane frequented, she fell in love with him, but he rejected her. Bronte captures Katy's anguish at that time. Later, Katy returns to her hometown after having gone to work for a... Read More

Workplace enemies fall in love in this stand-alone contemporary romance, the third in the Paper Cuts series, narrated by Fiona Aarington and Nick Mondelli, who also narrated the series' previous two audiobooks. Tenley and Brooks are competing to become their law firm's next partner. Forced to work together on a case, each realizes that the other is the stranger they've been... Read More

In this Regency-era story, narrator Harry Frost takes listeners on a journey with three best friends who are embarking on their annual trip, which holds a special place in their hearts. Archibald Fielding-Burton, the Earl of Harcourt, is eager to get away when he receives a request to help staunch a disastrous scandal involving an elopement gone wrong and his childhood friend,... Read More

Unlike washed-up golf pro Wells Whitaker's swing, narrator Callie Dalton shoots par on her performance of this audiobook. When Wells's career hits a low, he asks superfan Josephine Doyle to caddy for him. Dalton's delivery of Wells's and Josephine's steamy chemistry is electric, as is their snarky repartee. Listeners will sink deep into their swoony romance. Josephine's voice... Read More

Narrator Hillary Huber fully immerses listeners in this suspenseful second-chance romance. Hailey and Jesse grew up together as kids and fell in love when they were teenagers. When Jesse had the opportunity to go to college and start fresh, Hailey ended their relationship. Now all grown up, Hailey runs a new branch of a security company. She and Jesse reconnect when one of... Read More

Julia Whelan tells a funny story, much like a Shakespearean comedy is a funny story, of a woman who falls in love with her ex-fiancé's new girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. When Daphne's fiancé, Peter, realizes he is in love with his formerly platonic best friend, Petra, just days before their wedding, Daphne recognizes she has built her whole life around Peter. Furthermore, she... Read More

Georgina Sadler offers a sweet performance of this boisterous romance. Upon arriving in London for study abroad, Abbey is shocked to find that her housemates are all young men. Meeting the situation head-on, she keeps that fact from her father but soon finds she must keep other truths under wraps to survive. To make things more interesting, her housemates are all very... Read More

Mary Jane Wells's eloquent voice captivates the listener as she delivers this historical romantic suspense. Jane Halliwell once had dreams of owning her own home. However, due to her father's death, those dreams never materialized. Now working as a governess to make ends meet, she finds her life turned upside down when her employer is murdered. To solve the crime, Jane must... Read More

Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins lead listeners from one wedding to the next in this contemporary romance. Sophie Steinbeck finds out her fiancé has been unfaithful and decides to call off the wedding. However, she doesn't want to be the one to do it. Enter Max, a professional wedding objector, to save the day. Sophie and Max have an instant connection, so they decide to... Read More

Narrators Heather Long and Joe Jameson delight listeners with this heartwarming contemporary romance. Klara has Type 1 diabetes and has always felt a little bit disconnected from the world. When her dad falls ill, she travels from London to Sweden to help run his small construction company. Alex has felt lost since his brother died, and he desperately needs a job to make ends... Read More

In this delightful romantic comedy, Katelyn Levering and Nick Mondelli team up to narrate the story of Gillian and Noah. Gillian, the town pharmacist, finds solace in gardening, much to the chagrin of her nosy elderly neighbors, who believe she should focus on dating. Noah is a recent transplant who moves across the country after a tough breakup and buys the home next to... Read More

Katherine Chin and Andrew Eiden showcase the main characters in this romance novel. A tragic accident linked Helen and Grant in high school, and even though they've gone their separate ways, that pain is still fresh for both of them. Now, the two are thrust together again as they work on the TV adaptation of Helen's YA book series. Gradually, Helen shifts her long-held... Read More

Mhairi Morrison narrates a heartfelt historical romance dealing with consent and agency. Matilda Halifax is tired of being half of the notorious Halifax Hellions. She's well aware of how society judges her. When she accidentally embarrasses the Marquess of Ashford by selling the woman's erotic illustrations, Matilda is determined to make amends. Morrison's portrayal of Matilda... Read More

Mhairi Morrison narrates a charming and passionate historical romance. Ten years ago, Winnifred Wallace invented a husband named Spencer Halifax and forged a document in order to secure a safe future. Now it turns out her imaginary man is not only real, he is intent on legally disentangling himself from her. Morrison imbues Winnie with courage and determination, showing just... Read More

Narrators Alex Knox and Angelina Rocca combine their talents to give life to the romance between Skye Tremont and Tripp Daniels. The two were in a relationship years ago, but Tripp broke things off to concentrate on medical school. Skye ended up in an abusive marriage. Tripp and Skye meet again as Skye is longing for a baby. Knox evokes the tenderness Tripp feels for Skye.... Read More

Fans of the author will welcome back familiar narrators in this stand-alone rom-com. Every woman Justin dates finds her soulmate immediately after they break up. Emma, who is similarly cursed, messages Justin after reading a Reddit thread about his love troubles. The two decide to "fake date" in the hope that their curses will cancel each other out. Real feelings develop... Read More

Vanessa Johansson and Angus King provide a dual narration for a romance set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Consultant Addie Macrae designs a business plan for Heart of the Highlands tour company. Logan Sutherland, who owns the company with his father, is deeply resistant to her profit-centric approach. Johansson matches Addie's businesslike attitude and embarrassment over her... Read More

In mid-eighteenth century London, Lady Charlotte's upper-class lifestyle is captured in Katy Sobey's heartfelt and well-paced narration. Rejecting the idea of a betrothal to a duke with a nasty reputation--gossip suggests he murdered two wives--she takes her future into her own hands, pairing up with two female cousins who own a coffeehouse. With author Violet Marsh taking... Read More

Beverley A. Crick gives a spirited performance of this historical adventure. In mid-nineteenth-century Europe, Clara, who is wrongfully accused of being "insane," meets Theodore, her grandfather's new apprentice. Theodore then whisks Clara away on scavenger hunt around Europe to find a flying machine that is coveted by villainous enemies. Crick gives a cheeky flavor to her... Read More

Christine Mirzayan's dynamic narration is perfect for this rom-com about rival Armenian American families in the food industry who are competing for a Super Bowl commercial. Nazeli begrudgingly takes time off from her marketing job in tech to help her parents win the competition. While doing so, she meets confident and cute Vanya. One amazing date later, the women find out... Read More

Narrators Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam delight listeners with this heartfelt romance with a dash of mystery. Jessie Ahuja, a hardworking freshman engineering student, is intrigued with the history of Davidson Tower and its ruinous fire. Ravi Kumar is an upperclassman who comes from a wealthy tech family. When the two find themselves locked in the ghostly library, they stumble... Read More

C.J. Bloom takes listeners on a whirlwind 500-mile road trip with this lively romance. Charlotte Carter is loving life in her hometown, where she teaches music. She's survived a failed engagement and her mother's cancer scare. So when she finds out her music program has lost funding, she decides to enter a tandem bicycle race to raise money. Zach, her ex-fiance's brother, will... Read More

Listeners are transported to 1843 London through Elizabeth Jasicki's narration. Apothecary Lucinda Peterson hires agent Jonathan Thorne to investigate a theft after a former beau patents a formula she invented. The listener is also introduced to a slew of secondary characters, including Lucinda's siblings and customers, as well as Thorne's daughter and co-workers. Jasicki... Read More

Zoë Chao and Noah Reid bring a delightful goofiness to this time-travel romance. Five years ago, June stumbled into a wormhole and landed 85 years in the future. When her ancient phone turns on and lets her make a call, she finds Mikey, her bewildered colleague in the past, on the other end. Chao sounds thrilled--and desperate--as June urges Mikey to keep past June out of that... Read More

Listeners return to Coyote Canyon, Montana, as Amy McFadden tells the story of Jane Tanner and Kurt Elway. Jane is taking care of her elderly grandfather, who is suffering from dementia. She wants a baby and turns to Kurt for "assistance." McFadden brings out Jane's longing for a child, as well as her trepidation about making changes in her life. McFadden's performance aptly... Read More

Narrators Zara Hampton-Brown and Alex Moorcock return for the sixth audiobook in the Dark Olympus series. Hampton-Brown voices Eurydice in a high, youthful voice that reflects her reputation as the most naïve person in her family. Frustrated and more than ready to move on from her ex-boyfriend, Orpheus, she begins a steamy romance with Charon. Moorcock's deep, commanding voice... Read More

Narrators Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke mesmerize listeners with this enemies-to-lovers romance. Rue Siebert has a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, where she is working on a promising food science start-up. Along come the vexingly handsome Eli Killgore and his business partners, who threaten to take over the company. Dalton and Clarke transition seamlessly... Read More

Narrators Austenne Grey and Neill Thorne delight listeners with this heartfelt small-town romance. Down-on-her-luck Wren Daniels is holding a charity auction to raise money, so she can renovate a cabin she technically can't afford. The only thing that lifts her spirits is the new friend she's made on an anonymous dating app--until she finds out the friend is the grumpy single... Read More

Narrator Valerie Rose Lohman will have listeners snort laughing through Hogle's fake dating witchy rom-com. Witch Romina Tempest uses the language of flowers to design perfect bouquets at a boutique in Moonville, Ohio. During wedding festivities, Romina fake dates her irreverent co-worker, Trevor, while her old flame, Alex King, glowers in annoyance. Lohman's voice for the... Read More

Narrator Rachel Perry will convince listeners that no retelling of Jane Austen's PERSUASION can be complete without a resident attack goose. Anne Elliott, director of Niagara-on-the-Lake's theater company, thinks Ben Wentworth is just a memory--until he returns to help with his aunt and uncle's winery on former Elliott property. Perry portrays Anne as deeply interior, full of... Read More

Imagine being on a blind date at a basketball game--and the "kiss cam" comes around. Narrator Justis Bolding captures Nora's discomfort when she realizes she's being put on the spot. This is a story with more depth than the title would suggest. Nora and romantic lead Duke meet at the basketball game, then go their separate ways for a few years when Nora moves to a new state.... Read More

Wyeth Watts and Marnye Young narrate a complex and emotional romance about the nuances of finding out the truth. Jess Greene raised her younger sister, Tegan, after their mother ran off 10 years ago. When Adam Hawkins suddenly shows up with his boss, a true- crime podcaster, the sisters have the opportunity to learn what happened to their mother. Young captures all of Jess's... Read More

Diontae Black and Griswold Addams narrate the second Moonlighters novella, a queer romance. Kai was the last person Aiden expected to see at karaoke night as he's waiting for his best friend to arrive. Neither did he expect that bad weather would keep his friend from showing up. As Kai and Aiden spend the evening together, they discover their long-held impressions of each other... Read More

All Anna Green, portrayed by Patti Murin, knew about West when she married him in college to gain subsidized family housing at UCLA was that he kept the pantry immaculate. When Liam "West" Weston, portrayed by John Root, arrives on her doorstep five years later needing her help for one last marital ruse, she quickly learns a lot more about him. Mainly, he comes from an... Read More

Fiona Hardingham and Matt Haynes deliver a fantastic performance as two historical characters who come together despite their very different hardships. In 1666, the plague has left Cecilia a widow shortly after her marriage. David, a foreign Jewish doctor, is hoping to treat Cecilia's mental health. Initially, the protagonists have such different backgrounds that they might as... Read More

Shaan Dasani gives listeners a fun listen to this contemporary queer sports romance. Former college baseball teammates Gene Ionescu and Luis Estrada are unexpectedly reunited on the Beaverton Beavers, a Triple-A minor league ball club in Oregon. While their initial friction results in discordant game performances, Dasani charts their growing chemistry during extra practices and... Read More

Scarlett Everdeen and J.T. Londale bring to life the adventures of Meara Delcourt and Edge, who are both vampires. Meara, Edge, and their friends are in a battle with a group of evil wizards who want to destroy them. Meara is a 300-year-old aristocrat with a haughty tone matching her personality. Edge has a chip in his head; both Londale and Everdeen successfully convey his... Read More

Rooke Kingston and Keval Shah narrate this emotional roommates-to-lovers romance. Jasmine Allen has never believed in love. Nonetheless, her life was wonderful until an unfortunate plumbing accident in her flat left her homeless. There is only one person she can turn to, her best friend from college, Rahul Khan. Rahul has always had secret feelings for Jasmine but knows she is... Read More

Listeners who love the monarchy will snap up this royal romance narrated by Shiromi Arserio, with additional narration from Barrie Kreinik as the voice of the late Princess Penelope. Singer Jennie Jensen meets and falls for Prince Hugh, heir to the UK throne. As she prepares for marriage, she suspects that Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, was murdered and worries she might be... Read More

Hathaway Lee and Will Damron join forces to deliver this captivating romance. Nora, depicted by Lee, is on the brink of achieving her career aspirations as a sports agent. However, her journey takes an unexpected turn when her first client is her former college flame, Derek Pender, voiced by Damron. Their past breakup casts a shadow over their newfound professional... Read More

David Allen Vargo narrates an age-gap romance that blooms from deep sorrow. Jasper has been floating through life with his best friend, Lacy, by his side. When a tragedy brings Lacy's Uncle Rob to Chicago from California, Jasper finds a connection with the handsome older man, which deepens over the months they are apart. But old secrets threaten to destroy their relationship... Read More

Narrator Kristen DiMercurio delights listeners in this heartwarming single-mom romance about healing from the past and learning to love again. Though Ali Morris is a professional organizer, her own life is a mess. Her mother passed away two years ago, and then her husband left. Now, she decides to take off her wedding ring and start fresh. Nothing surprises her more than when... Read More

Kathleen McInerney superbly narrates this perfect summer listen. Set at the iconic St. Cecelia resort on a secluded Georgia island, the story follows Traci, the widow of the owner's grandson, a former local charged with reviving the hotel's former glory. To do so, Traci builds an on-site dormitory and fills it with a team of impeccable workers, including her niece. Tragedies... Read More

Narrators Helen Laser and Dan Bittner delight listeners with this celebrity second-chance romance. Rom-com actress Birdie Maxwell wants to clean up her damaged reputation by taking a chance on her own real-life love story. So she decides to follow up on a love letter from a mysterious former boyfriend. Elliot O'Brien, a star reporter, has a long history with Birdie and wants to... Read More

Listeners will hear a fun performance in this reluctant contemporary romance. Nami's tech start-up is about to be taken over by another tech giant, the company for which her high school rival, Jae, now works. While the takeover is definitely hostile, the relationship between Nami and Jae is much more complex. Will the rivals turn into lovers? Narrators Donald Chang and Chieko... Read More

Narrator Carly Robbins draws the listener into the romance that develops between hairstylist Ashlynn and firefighter Reid in the small town of Sweetbriar Ridge. They knew each other in school and reconnect when Reid returns to town. Ashlynn has been fired from her job. When her former salon burns to the ground, her relationship with Reid becomes complicated, and she is accused... Read More

Susan Duerden narrates a gentle Regency romance featuring characters who are tucked away in the remote English countryside. Spinster Persephone Honeyfield was resigned to a life of seclusion on her father's honey farm until she found herself in a compromising position with wealthy Aidon Barrington and was forced to marry him. He is known in the London gossip rags as Lord of the... Read More

Narrator Amy McFadden engages the listener from the beginning with Ismay Chalmers, who is alone in a cottage during a hurricane. Ismay is staying at her fiancé Remy's family home on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Bo, the caretaker, comes to help her weather the storm. While looking for matches, Ismay makes a disturbing discovery in Remy's bedroom. McFadden... Read More

Jeremy Carlisle Parker's portrayals of New York City's contemporary queer society do not fulfill any stereotypical expectations. Mel is enjoying her 20s well enough as a bartender in the high-end, though heteronormative, Terror & Virtue bar, where she works with her best friend and roommate. When a power-femme lawyer named Bebe propositions Mel for casual dating, Mel quickly... Read More

Narrator Lauren Sweet's dynamic range captures the sweet and spicy aspects of this queer rom-com. Romance novelist Truly and divorce attorney Colin represent opposite professional ideologies. After a combative podcast discussion, Truly swears the two are enemies--despite her lustful thoughts upon initially meeting Colin. Colin feels otherwise, and in his efforts to get Truly to... Read More

Narrator Justine Eyre returns to 1830s London in Book 2 of the Once Upon the East End series. She brings a seasoned flair for accents to the large cast of this novel, a gender-flipped retelling of "Snow White." When Jewish pawnshop owner Hannah Moses rescues Jewish financier Solomon Weiss, she's tempted to explore her attraction to him. But as the daughter of criminals, she... Read More

Narrators Renee Thorn and Ryan Stone take listeners into the secret society of the Oakmont Elite in this dark collegiate romance. Maybell Jacobs is a quiet and awkward wallflower until she has a chance encounter with the intimidating, rich Drew Marshall. For an opportunity to win some much-needed money, Maybell agrees to take part in a wicked tradition, The Hunt, in which she... Read More

Robert Petkoff's rich voice enlivens the adventures of witch Poppy Dyer and demon Rok Kours. Poppy is cursed to forever manifest the creatures of humans' nightmares. Locked in a magical castle on Halloween, she and Rok attempt to break that curse. Petkoff provides sound effects as various creatures such as skeletons, aliens, and evil dolls are brought into being by Poppy.... Read More

Narrator Joel Leslie brings his usual charm to Cat Sebastian's latest historical romance. Eddie O'Leary, the star shortstop for the New York Robins, is not having a star season--he's deep in a record-breaking slump. Mark Bailey, a reporter for the NEW YORK CHRONICLE who is mourning the death of his partner, certainly doesn't want to write weekly columns about Eddie. Leslie... Read More