From Scoundrels to Weather Girls…
Here’s what the Gals are listening to this week.
BJ
Narrated by Brittany Pressley & Ryan West
Caz
Narrated by Joel Froomkin
Kaetrin
Narrated by Lance Greenfield & Lauren Sweet
Melinda
Narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Last weekend I finished Honeymoon for One by Keira Andrews, narrated by Joel Leslie. It was well done and emotional. I gave it a B.
After reading Caz’s review of Lights, Camera, Murder by C.S. Poe, I found the anthology where it was originally published on audio at my library. Then I spent most of the week listening to almost 30 hours of Footsteps in the Dark, a MM romantic suspense anthology with 8 novellas by well-known and new-to-me authors. Each novella was between 3 and 3.5 hours and I enjoyed all of the ones I listened to. I skipped one only because it wasn’t my cup of tea (Blind’s Man Bluff). Joel Leslie and Kale Williams did all the narrations, so it was really enjoyable.
Standouts for me:
Light’s, Camera, Murder, narrated by Kale Williams. I gave this an A-. Wish it was a series.
I also loved Dal MacLean’s A Country for Old Men, narrated by Joel Leslie. It’s a great story and nice romance. There was a lot of Gaelic in it, and Joel Leslie did a great job, at least to my ears. (I’d be interested to know if the Gaelic translations included in the audio were in the original text. There is a glossary of terms at the end of the novella, which I’m thinking was there to help readers with the Gaelic in the novella,but since it was at the end, perhaps for the audio they went with on the fly translations. Either way, it worked well.) I gave this an A-only because it was just a tad slow. Could have been a good series.
Pepper the Crime Lab by Z.A. Maxfield, narrated by Joel Leslie was a B+.Fun, good mystery, and nice romance. I’d love to have this as a series.
Which brings me to my only disappointment: in the prologue it is mentioned that many of the novella would be “first in series,” but in reality only one novella has a follow up story (Twelve Seconds by Meg Perry). Most of these novellas could be excellent series fodder, but I guess it didn’t happen. Too bad.
Good news – the Poe will be a series, she’s planning on publishing book two sometime this year, I think.
That’s wonderful! I know it was intended to be, but it’s been a while so I thought she’d changed her mind.
As an aside, I can’t help thinking listening to the anthology on audio gave all the stories a little boost. Kale Williams and Joel Leslie were wonderful on every story. I read a lot of reviews, and a lot of people weren’t crazy about Josh Lanyon’s story, but I thought it was entertaining and gave it a B. I think Mr. Leslie’s narration brought it up a notch.
I think it might be her next book after The Doctor, which is coming out at the end of April (and I can’t wait!!)
I’ve had a bumper listening month!
I started the year by finishing listening to Keira Andrews’ ‘Gay Romance Holiday Collection’, narrated by Kirt Graves. The first of the 4 stories was the stand-out for me – ‘Eight Nights in December’. It’s a Hanukkah story and I loved it. The second and third stories were okay and I think I liked the final story, but can remember nothing about it! I was very impressed by Kirt Graves narration, who I don’t think I’ve listened to before, unless he uses more than one name.
Next I listened to ‘Against the Grain’, which is my favourite of the Aukland Meds series. Great narration by Gary Furlong. I love the Sandy and Cam scenes!
Then I listened to Cat Sebastian’s ‘Hither, Page’ ahead of its sequel being released. I’ve had this audiobook for ages but never got around to listening to it before. I really like this series and Joel Leslie makes a good job of the narration.
Joel Leslie also narrated my next book – Lily Morton’s ‘Charlie Sunshine’. I’d had a break from the audios of the previous two books in these series as I didn’t much care for them when I read them, plus I haven’t always liked how Joel Leslie has voiced some of the MCs. I had trepidations about how he would voice Charlie and Misha, as they are both middle-class, from North London and grew up together, but I was happy with the voices he chose for them. I was also pleased that Felix and Max, the MCs of ‘After Felix’ appear and their voices are fine too! ‘Charlie Sunshine’ is a lovely book and one of my favourites by Lily Morton. I think the way she writes Charlie’s epilepsy into story makes it special.
I finished listening to Alexis Hall’s ‘Something Fabulous’ yesterday and OMG Nicholas Boulton’s narration is superb. The dramatics, the feelings, the hilariousness, the sheer joyousness! Nicholas Boulton was obviously having a whale of a time. IMO it’s one of those perfect fit narrations and I think it will be one of my comfort relistens.
Not sure what I’m going to listen to next!
Wow, you HAVE been busy! You’re listening to things faster than I can review them!!
I have Something Fabulous and am really looking forward to it – it might be my next listen, although I’m on a short TBL break as I’m behind with writing reviews and need to catch up before I listen to anything else for review.
I enjoyed Hither, Page in audio (and reviewed it here), but I’m not sure I’m going to do The Missing Page in audio – I liked the book, but am not sure I absolutely need to experience it again so soon after reading it. I did see Joel has narrated Cat Sebastian’s 1960s set Cabot books; book two is out before book one for some reason, so I might pick those up as I haven’t read them in print.
I’m having a break from Liiy Morton for a bit. I read/listened to/reviewed several of her books last year and the last one was such a disappointment, I decided I needed to step back. I’ve heard really good things about Charlie Sunshine though, and know it’s reckoned to be one of her best books, so I do plan on listening to it, but maybe not just yet.
My review of Against the Grain should appear soon :) I really enjoyed it, too – it’s my favourite of that series.
For me, Lily Morton’s books are like macaroni and cheese. Sometimes it’s gourmet and fabulous, sometimes it comes out of a box and is pretty ordinary, but all kinds of mac and cheese are comfort foods for me so I happily gobble it up!.:-)
Yes, I completely get that. Mostly I feel the same. She has certain tropes and types that come up all the time and that’s fine – all genre fiction is formulaic. I think it was a case of overload at the time – I’m sure I’ll go back to her after a while!
I completely understand that. I’m waiting to listen to the audio of Charlie Sunshine for similar reasons. I’ve read lots of “sweet” books lately. Some day in the future I’m going to need just that kind of book and then it will be perfect.
Same. After so much fluff, I’m chomping at the bit for something angsty and meaty!
I think we have had a very similar playlist this month! I am about 2/3rds of the way through “Something Fabulous” and am loving Nicholas Boulton as per usual. I wish he narrated more romance. He’s just SO good.
I’m re-listening to “Against the Grain” as my comfort go-to. Really just a great story and great narrator. Love me some Sandy and Cam buddy scenes. :)
Per one of the recommendations here, I took a try at Glen Lloyd’s narration of NR Walker’s work and have really enjoyed those as well. Currently, I’ve only listened to two titles (Bossy and Tic-Tac-Mistletoe) but am going to add more of their collaborations to my list.
I just finished listening to the Hall – even though I read and reviewed it fairly recently, I just couldn’t resist experiencing it again. NB is absolutely brilliant.
I really liked the Cabot books when I read them and bought the audio of the second one yesterday. It’s a cross-USA road trip book with the relationship growing as they travel after finishing college. The first one is very different as it is a second chance at love for two older men. I’m not sure why they’ve been released in audio in reverse order. I think the third one is to be about the aunt who has appeared in both books.
I’ll probably pick them up at some point. CS is hit or miss for me lately, tbh – I don’t think she’s ever topped the Turner books.