In October, 2013, we featured our first AudioGals Guide to Romance Audio infographic highlighting the best in romance audio in nine romance sub-genres. Calling it The Classics, it’s a core curriculum for romance listening. By listening to each of the audios in that graphic, one can fully grasp the diversity romance offers and understand the high level of entertainment high quality audiobooks can provide.
At that time, together with Tantor Audio, we planned it as only the first in a series of romance audio guides. And now, in celebration of June Is Audiobook Month (JIAM) 2014, we present to you the second in the series, AudioGals Guide to Romance Audio: Paranormal Romance. Whereas The Classics graphic contained only nine paranormal romance titles and five fantasies series, our Paranormal Romance graphic contains twenty-seven series and nine stand alone titles considered to be “the best of the best”. For purposes of this graphic (and by RWA’s definition), paranormal romance encompasses vampires, shifters, otherworldly creatures, fantasy, urban fantasy, futuristic, psychic, and time travel.
Within the paranormal romance sub-genre, you’ll find basically two types of books regardless of its subject matter.
First, there is what we refer to as Romance Driven. It’s the more traditional romance with each book featuring a couple who find their “happily ever after” before the ending. Many of these titles can be listened to as stand alones but are almost always part of a series. The listener benefits from starting with Book 1 to immerse themselves in the worldbuilding. Examples of Romance Driven titles include: Ilona Andrews’ The Edge series, Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, and J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Second is the series that is a continuing story with the same hero and heroine throughout. The romance takes place over the arc of the series rather than within a single book. The to-be-continued nature of these romances seems to make listeners cry out even louder for “More, more, more!” Examples of this type of series are Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series, and Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series.
We are confident that all audiobooks chosen for the Paranormal Romance graphic are quality productions that are well written and expertly performed. As with our The Classics graphic, we searched out listeners’ paranormal favorites through past comments, discussions, ratings, and polls at AudioGals, the Speaking of Audiobooks column, and our Romance Audiobooks Goodreads group. We also took into consideration the numerous listeners’ emails and messages we have received over the past five years.
We want to thank Tantor Audio for supporting this event and for their unfailing commitment to quality romance audio. Tantor pays attention to listeners’ requests and releases a large selection of romance audiobooks each month. Weekly, I check their upcoming romance titles and find myself continuously delighted with what I find there. And, during the month of June in celebration of JIAM, Tantor’s titles are 50% off.
We have detailed each of the audio titles on the Paranormal Romance graphic below. You will find that each image links to the hard copies (CDs and MP3 CDs), if available. Listed separately are links to Audible and Tantor’s JIAM sale.
We encourage those who work with groups of listeners to download either our jpeg or pdf files. Our pdf file will print out as a good size poster if desired.
Romance Driven – Otherworldly
The Edge Series – Ilona Andrews
Narrated by Renee Raudman
Tantor Audio: Books 1-3 Recorded Books: Book 4
AudioGals review of On the Edge
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009
Guild Hunter Series – Nalini Singh
Narrated by Justine Eyre
Tantor Audio
Speaking of Audiobooks review of Angels’ Blood
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010
Immortals After Dark Series – Kresley Cole
Narrated by Robert Petkoff
Simon & Schuster
Speaking of Audiobooks review of A Hunger Like No Other
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011
Romance Driven – Vampire
Black Dagger Brotherhood Series – J.R. Ward
Narrated by Jim Frangione
Recorded Books: Books 1-6 Penguin: Books 7 – 12
Speaking of Audiobooks review of Book 3, Lover Awakened
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009
Night Huntress World Series – Jeaniene Frost
Narrated by Tavia Gilbert
Blackstone Audio
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010
Nightwalkers Series – Jacquelyn Frank
Narrated by Xe Sands
Tantor Audio
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Book 4: Damien
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011
Romance Driven – Shifters
Alpha and Omega Series – Patricia Briggs
Narrated by Holter Graham
Penguin Audio
AudioGals Review of Book 2, Hunting Ground
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009
Psy/Changeling Series – Nalini Singh
Narrated by Angela Dawe
Tantor Audio
AudioGals Review of Slave to Sensation
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011
Elder Races Series – Thea Harrison
Narrated by Sophie Eastlake
Tantor Audio
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Dragon Bound
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011
Urban Fantasy – Otherworldly
Fever Series – Karen Marie Moning
Narrated by Joyce Bean: Books 1 – 3 Natalie Ross & Phil Gigante: Books 4 & 5
Brilliance Audio
AudioGals Review of the Fever Series
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2008
Fallen Angels Series – J.R. Ward
Narrated by Eric G. Dove
Brilliance: Books 1-3 Penguin: Books 4 & 5
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009
Urban Fantasy – Vampire
Night Huntress Series – Jeaniene Frost
Narrated by Tavia Gilbert
Blackstone Audio
AudioGals Review of Halfway to the Grave
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010
Sookie Stackhouse Series – Charlaine Harris
Narrated by Johanna Parker
Recorded Books
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Dead Until Dark
First in Series Original Publication Date: Johanna Parker narration: 2007 Original version narrated by Christine Marshall & William Dufris 2004
Urban Fantasy – Shifters
Kate Daniels Series – Ilona Andrews
Narrated by Renee Raudman
Tantor Audio: Books 1-5 Recorded Books: Book 6
AudioGals Review of the Kate Daniels Series
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009
Mercy Thompson Series – Patricia Briggs
Narrated by Lorelei King
Penguin: Books 1-7 Brilliance: Book 8
AudioGals Review of Moon Called
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2009
Light/Humorous – Otherworldly
The Others Series – Christine Warren
Narrated by Kate Reading
Tantor Audio
AudioGals Review of Wolf at the Door
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011
Parasol Protectorate Series – Gail Carriger
Narrated by Emily Gray
Recorded Books: Books 1-3 Hachette Audio: Books 4 & 5
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Soulless
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010
Light/Humorous – Vampire
Jane Jameson Series – Molly Harper
Narrated by Amanda Ronconi
Audible, Inc.
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010
Undead – Queen Betsy Series – MaryJanice Davidson
Narrated by Nancy Wu
Recorded Books
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2006
Light/Humorous – Shifters
Pride Series – Shelly Laurenston
Narrated by Charlotte Kane
Tantor Audio
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2013
Naked Werewolf Series – Molly Harper
Narrated by Amanda Ronconi
Audible, Inc.
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2011
Paranormal Elements – Time Travel
Outlander Series – Diana Gabaldon
Narrated by Davina Porter
Recorded Books
AudioGals Review of Outlander
First in Series Original Publication Date: 1997
Highlander Series: Books 4 thru 7 – Karen Marie Moning
Narrated by Phil Gigante
Brilliance Audio
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Book 4: Kiss of the Highlander
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2007
Paranormal Elements – Futuristic/Psychic
In Death Series – J.D. Robb
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Brilliance Audio
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of Book 1: Naked in Death
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2004
Ghostwalkers Series – Christine Feehan
Narrated by Tom Stechschulte
Recorded Books: Books 1- 4 BBC Audio: Books 5 – 8 Penguin: Books 9 & 10
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2010
Paranormal Elements – Fantasy
The Sharing Knife Series -Lois McMaster Bujold
Narrated by Bernadette Dunne
Blackstone Audio
Speaking of Audiobooks Review of The Sharing Knife, Vol. 1: Beguilement
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2007
Significance Series – Shelly Crane
Narrated by Cris Dukehart
Tantor Audio
AudioGals Review of Significance
First in Series Original Publication Date: 2013
Stand Alone
Dragon Bound – first in the Elder Races Series- Thea Harrison
Narrated by Sophie Eastlake
Tantor Audio
Original Publication Date: 2011
Slave to Sensation – first in the Psy/Changeling Series – Nalini Singh
Narrated by Angela Dawe
Tantor Audio
Original Publication Date: 2011
Soulless – first in the Parasol Protectorate Series – Gail Carriger
Narrated by Emily Gray
Recorded Books
Original Publication Date: 2010
Son of the Morning – Linda Howard
Narrated by Natalie Ross
Brilliance Audio
Original Publication Date: 2009
Kiss of the Highlander – fourth in the Highlander Series – Karen Marie Moning
Narrated by Phil Gigante
Brilliance Audio
Original Publication Date: 2008
Dark Lover – first in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series – J.R. Ward
Narrated by Jim Frangione
Recorded Books
Original Publication Date: 2009
Angels’ Blood
Narrated by Justine Eyre
Tantor Audio
Original Publication Date: 2010
On the Edge – first in The Edge Series – Ilona Andrews
Narrated by Renee Raudman
Tantor Audio
Original Publication Date: 2010
How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf – first in the Naked Werewolf – Molly Harper
Narrated by Amanda Ronconi
Audible, Inc.
Original Publication Date: 2011
Knowing these are all listeners’ favorites, it’s a good time to try the paranormal romance audio genre!
With the exception of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and time travel titles such as those in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series, I shied away from the paranormal romance genre until 2010 when, upon the urging of listeners, I placed two urban fantasy books (both first in a series) on my annual Listening Challenge over at Speaking of Audiobooks – Charlaine Harris’ Dead Until Dark, from the Sookie Stackhouse series and Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever, from the Fever series. I found each to be an exhilarating experience that had me racing through each series. Since, I have found great pleasure listening to Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress and Night Prince series, Ilona Andrews’ The Edge and Kate Daniels series, Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Sharing Knife series. Am I what I would consider a paranormal romance fan? Probably not, as it’s not my first choice for listening (that’s contemporary, romantic suspense, and tales from the Old West) but I now occasionally sink into a paranormal/urban fantasy series and absolutely love my time there.
Now, we’d love to hear your favorite paranormal romance/urban fantasy listens.
Happy Paranormal Listening!
Lea Hensley
Great post!
Some good and great ones listed, but my absolute favs include
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Janet Chapman
Sandra Hill
Jayne Anne Krentz/Quick/Castle
Melissa Mayhue
There are so many good paranormal reads – Coreene Callahan, Lara Adrian, Nina Bangs, Christina Dodd, Christina Skye, Sue-Ellen Welfonder/Allie Mackay, Cindy Miles, G.A. Aiken/shelly Laurenston, Marjorie Liu…
So many books, so little time.