Our May 2020 Picks

We’ve got a varied selection of new and forthcoming releases for your perusal this month, all chosen according to AudioGals’ specific quality-o-meter – which basically works like this:

“Yay, favourite author!/Yay, favourite narrator!/That looks good, so what the hell?

Very scientific :)  But whatever method you prefer to use in order to expand your wish list, here are the just-released and soon-to-be released audiobooks the Gals are looking forward to listening to over the coming weeks.

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Police Brutality by Gregory Ashe

Narrated by Tristan James

Mr. Ashe’s second series featuring detectives Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset is every bit as good – and possibly even better – than the first. In this second instalment in the Union of Swords series, the guys are still navigating their way to a new normal, and needless to say it’s not all plain sailing, while working two different cases… or so it seems, until they begin to converge. Tristan James is a reliably good narrator, and is at his best here in the banter and dialogue between Hazard and Somers. – Caz

Declination by Gregory Ashe

Narrated by Charlie David

Two new audiobooks from one of my all-time favourite authors in one month?  You bet I did a happy dance!  In this third (and final – so far!) book in the Borealis Investigations series, North and Shaw finally get to the bottom of the events eight years earlier that almost killed Shaw. Charlie David has done some terrific work in these books, and even though I read this one when it came out, I’m really looking forward to revisiting it in audio. – Caz

Dream Maker by Kristen Ashley

Narrated by Susannah Jones

I am beyond excited to listen to Kristen Ashley’s new series debut this May!  Kristen Ashley has been publishing some diverse books lately, but the premise of Dream Maker sounds much more like the classicAshley style (i.e, that she developed in the Rock Chick and Dream Man series), which are the books that made me fall in love with her work. – BJ

I’m excited about this one too and I love Susannah Jones’ narrations, particularly of books from Kristen Ashley. The Rock Chick books are even more hilarious on audio.  – Kaetrin

Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer

Narrated by John Solo

This series caught my eye a while ago, so I was pleased to see it coming to audio. I quite like political suspense/thrillers, but it’s been hard to want to get into one, especially one featuring a US president, given the reality (and I’m British – God knows how my transatlantic friends must feel!). But the audio release has put the series back on my radar, and John Solo is sure to do a good job. – Caz

The Executive Office Series has been on my radar for several years – but I’ve stayed away from it because I’m not super fond of stories about politicians or royals. Now that I’m training for a long running event, audiobooks are my favorite companions. I think I’m going to see if Bauer can hook me with this first book, Enemies of the State. – Em

Dirty Charmer by Emma Chase

Narrated by Andi Arndt and Rupert Channing

I’m a fan of both Emma Chase’s romances and Andi Arndt’s narrations, so Dirty Charmer is on my TBL. – BJ

 

 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins

Narrated by Santino Fontana

“May the odds be ever in your favor” for Hunger Games fans as this May they will have a new installment of this series to listen to and hopefully it will be another hit! – BJ

I loved the Hunger Games trilogy and have been eagerly awaiting this prequel. I’m thinking of listening to the series to refresh my memory of the loathsome President Snow; Fontana is a new to me narrator – and a change from the first three recorded books – I’m curious about his interpretation of this villainous (or maybe not so?) character! – Em

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

Narrated by Keylor Leigh

Contemporary romance isn’t usually a genre I’m particularly drawn to, but there’s something so charming about the synopsis for Real Men Knit. Four brothers are determined to save their late mother’s knitting shop even though none of them knows the least bit about knitting. Fortunately, Jesse, our hero, knows the perfect woman to assist in this endeavor, and I’m guessing sparks start flying. Keylor Leigh is a new-to-me narrator, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed on both the author and narrator fronts. – Shannon

Blue on Blue by Dal Maclean

Narrated by Gary Furlong

The first book in this London-set trilogy –Bitter Legacy – was of my favourite audiobooks of 2019; the follow-up, Object of Desire will be on my 2020 list, and I’m pretty sure that this final instalment, Blue on Blue will be there, too. The characters are flawed, frustrating and entirely real, the stories are compelling and Gary Furlong’s narration does the impossible, elevating these already amazing stories to new highs. I. Can’t. Wait. – Caz

The perfect narrator for a nearly perfect book. Maclean’s books are so good it doesn’t feel like Furlong can improve on them…and then he does!  Good stuff. – Em

The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler

Narrated by Elise Arsenault

This one looks fun. Fingers crossed it’s more successful for me than my last romcom!  – Kaetrin

 

 

Oz by Lily Morton

Narrated by Joel Leslie

Lily Morton’s particular brand of snark, wit and romance has so far worked really well for me, and Joel Leslie just ‘gets’ it – he’s the perfect narrator for her books. Oz is book one in the Finding Home series, and in it, our unemployed hero takes a job running a crumbling Cornish estate (that incidentally belongs to Silas, the brother of Henry from Risk Taker.) Two men from very different worlds … it can’t possibly work. (Of course it can!). Looking forward to this one immensely. – Caz

Caz has been urging me to try a Lily Morton book and I think it’s time to take the plunge. Plus, there’s a grumpy main character and who can resist a grumpy hero??  – Kaetrin

Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras

Narrated by Carmen Vine

I love a fake relationship story so I’m all over this one.  – Kaetrin

 

 

Hideaway by Nora Roberts

Narrated by January Lavoy

I have been enjoying Nora Roberts’ recent romantic suspense titles, so I plan to check out her latest, Hideaway, this May. – BJ

I’ve pre-ordered this one. Nora Roberts’ annual romantic suspense titles are almost always very successful for me and January LaVoy’s narrations are gold. – Kaetrin

I was lucky enough to read an early copy of Nora Roberts’  latest novel of romantic suspense, and as usual, I was completely sucked into the story from start to finish. January Lavoy narrates the audiobook, so listeners are in for a treat on all counts. – Shannon

I’d Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos

Narrated by Caitlin Kelly

Marisa de los Santos’ work doesn’t get nearly the amount of love and attention it deserves, so I’m always looking for reasons to bring her up in conversation. Her new book, I’d Give Anything, is the fourth in her Cornelia Brown series. I’ve listened to and loved the first three books, and I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on this one. Her writing is filled with so much heart, and her characters are the kind of people I’d like to hang out with in real life. Caitlin Kelly is a skilled voice actor, so I was beyond pleased to see her at the helm here. – Shannon

The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover

Narrated by James Cavenaugh

This second chance romance is one of the first titles to appear in Carina’s new Carina Adores line, dedicated to LGBTQ+ romances. I’m not familiar with the narrator, but the samples I’ve listened to sound decent, so I’m going to give this one a try. – Caz

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by Danielle Macdonald

I’m a big fan of Jennifer Weiner’s witty novels featuring strong women with even stronger convictions. Big Summer is her latest, and, at the time this article is posted, I’ve already read and loved it in print. It’s a little different from  her previous works, but her fans aren’t likely to be disappointed. I’ve never listened to Danielle Macdonald, but I’m hoping she’ll do this novel justice. – Shannon

Reverb by Anna Zabo

Narrated by Greg Boudreaux

I’ve loved both books in the Twisted Wishes series so far and have been really looking forward to bassist Misha’s story. She’s a six-foot plus rock goddess who takes no crap, and this bodyguard trope story with a difference sounds really good. Plus Greg Boudreaux. Nuff sed. –  Caz