New Reviews: Romantic Fiction

Holiday hijinks and misunderstandings are cheerily narrated by CJ Bloom and Lee Samuels in this enemies-to-lovers romance. After kissing Anthony Russo under the mistletoe to make her longtime crush jealous, romance author Delilah Gill realizes she might have made a mistake. Anthony kisses just like the heroes she's always written about, but he has no interest in being a part of... Read More

Sarah Naughton and Marwan Salama narrate a contemporary romance featuring two romance authors and several genre tropes: second chance, forced proximity, and one bed. Just days before Christmas, Jess and Nick find themselves stuck at the hotel venue for their publisher's annual holiday event. The snowy weather isn't enough to cool the feelings between them--especially when those... Read More

Narrator Melanie Mendez brings warmth to the holiday romance that develops between Daphne, a baker, and Tristan, an architect. Daphne sets up a temporary shop in the lobby of Tristan's office building. At first, with his preference for simple elegance, he resents the clutter of Daphne's kiosk--which looks like a gingerbread house. Mendez believably portrays Tristan's... Read More

Ferne Marks and Owen Hall make a perfect pair depicting the electric chemistry between a kitchen witch and the charming man who catches her eye. Ever since Scott Mason stumbled into Serendipity Cafe in London, he's had the barista on his mind. Dina Whitlock was just as taken by Scott and is startled to discover they're both attendants in their best friends' country wedding.... Read More

Set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this romance novel is narrated by Alexander Cendese and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. Aspen is struggling to write a book that will match the success of her first novel, and Brick Babel is trying to save his grandfather's tour business. Aspen hires Brick to date her and then break her heart to give her inspiration for her new novel.... Read More

Fran Burgoyne and Cameron Stone pair up to narrate this second-chance romance. Erin impulsively donates her late best friend's books to a community library. Desperately hoping to recover one that holds special meaning, she discovers it has been annotated by a stranger and returned with a suggestion for another title to read. Burgoyne balances Erin's raw grief and feelings of... Read More

Natalie Naudus narrates this delightful romantic comedy with confidence. After adventurous escapades June comes back to her beachside hometown to manage her late sister's struggling tea shop. At the same time, Levi, recently thrust into the spotlight due to a public breakup, returns to assist Dylan, June's younger brother, with his upcoming wedding. When a chance photo of June... Read More

Felicity Munroe and Hiro Diaz narrate this romantasy. Noble Aspeth Honori is determined to join the Royal Artifactual Guild to recover the magical treasures her father has squandered. A marriage of convenience to a minotaur gets Aspeth into the guild and the minotaur a rutting partner for an upcoming mating ritual. Munroe and Diaz cover the dual points of view of the chapters... Read More

Narrator Liz Pearce is exactly the storytelling tour guide listeners will want for a holiday manor house romance set in 1902 England. She sounds bright and whimsical as Lady Mariah Lyons, whose beloved Plumford Manor will eventually pass to her stepfather's heir, Cyril Lightbourne. Pearce's voice for Cyril is boyish and earnest. When Cyril joins Mariah's family for the holiday... Read More

Narrator Amy Hall delights listeners in this Christmas rom-com about a newly brokenhearted woman who is challenged by her sister to complete various Advent calendar activities to renew her Christmas spirit. Callie wants to hide from Christmas after being dumped by her childhood sweetheart--that is, until she meets a handsome, helpful baker who makes a deal to help her with the... Read More

Narrators Ebony Ford and Tony Roberts depict Noel Anderson and Kanton Joseph's meet-cute when their apartment share goes wrong. Ford's depiction of Atlanta-based Noel Anderson features a hint of a Southern accent, along with smooth, fluid phrasing. Ford accurately represents Noel's unwillingness to share space with Kanton, although listeners may find her deal with Kanton... Read More

Stephanie Németh-Parker narrates a Christmas-themed romance that can be best described as a Cape Cod charmer. Between marketing jobs, Riley Sanders heads home to help her injured mother run her inn. Németh-Parker's steady pace and warm voice capture the story's three gentle romantic threads, involving Riley, her mother, and an inn guest. Riley's childhood crush, Aiden, and... Read More

Narrator Nikki Massoud performs this heartfelt and hilarious holiday romance about a former child star turned artist who finds love in the most unexpected place. As a child, Charlotte never expected that her small role in a holiday classic would later turn her life upside down. Now, years later, she flees the country after turning down a reboot opportunity due to backlash from... Read More

Nneka Okoye narrates a delightfully queer and fiendishly magical Regency romance. After his sister, Mary, makes an ill-advised wish, John Cesar and the dashing Captain Orestes James do their best to save her from the result. Okoye dazzles in her role as Robin Goodfellow, the capricious fey narrator of the story. Her performance captures the arch tone and wry humor that are... Read More

This audiobook offers a charming, romantic performance by narrators Marissa Hampton and Christopher Hampton. When former celebrity chef Sirena's cooking powers go awry, she unintentionally casts a spell that causes the entire town of Freya Grove to repeat the month of October. To restore her powers, she seeks aid from a former reality TV star named Gus; together, they navigate... Read More

A proper miss and a rakish pariah come to life via narrator Beatrix Ayliff's lush and emotional voice. After many seasons, Miss Loretta Linfield is finally being courted by the very eligible Duke of Colchester, but it is his bold sister, Charlotte, whom she cannot stop thinking about. Charlotte has dallied with many eligible ladies but is shocked to find her brother's intended... Read More

With its full cast and unflinching depiction of intimate scenes, this audiobook is gripping from the beginning. To start, there's a content warning that should be taken seriously as the story takes listeners through action-packed sex and small-town politics. Abby Craden brings the main character to life as she moves in and out of intimacy with the titular five brothers,... Read More

Narrators Austenne Grey and Arielle DeLisle deliver a sweet and hilarious performance in this sapphic holiday rom-com. When lawyer Tara Sloane Chadwich is invited to her ex-girlfriend's destination wedding, she's willing to attend--but not without a plus-one. Holly Delaney, an adventurous waitress whom Tara has been secretly crushing on for months, is happy to oblige. Their... Read More

Narrator Eva Kaminsky provides great character differentiation in this second-chance romance, and her energetic delivery enhances the comedic aspect of the story. Post-divorce and looking for a place to stay, rental property agent Tilly plans to spend the holidays at what she thinks is a vacant Victorian mansion. She's dismayed when the new owner, George, shows up unexpectedly... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley delights listeners in this heartwarming holiday romance about two best friends who ultimately find love when they least expect it. Holly and Ivy are as close as they come. When Holly's fiancé bolts on the night before their wedding, leaving her with a nonrefundable honeymoon, she suggests that she and Ivy switch places. Ivy can enjoy Holly's Hawaiian... Read More

Angel Pean narrates the chapters of San Francisco-based tech writer Bee Tyler, and Karen Malina White portrays Ohio farmer Clover Mills. Together, the narrators present a Christmastime romance that revolves around a house swap. In a story reminiscent of the movie THE HOLIDAY, two Black women are burned out and need a break. Clover finds queer friends and romance with Bee's... Read More

Narrator Allison Grischow sinks into the misery of best-friend drama with gusto. Murphy and Kat plan to reunite on Thanksgiving Eve in their hometown of Geneva, Illinois. But when Kat shows up with her boyfriend in tow, Murphy's plans crumble. In a casual tone, Grischow makes Murphy realistic and endearing. Murphy's growing depression has her agreeing to be her high school... Read More

Narrators Sean Masters and Isabelle Turner combine forces to depict the romance between Brandy Bloom and Max Corbin. At an office Christmas party, Brandy kisses Max under the mistletoe, mistaking him for his twin brother. Sparks immediately fly between the two. Both Masters and Turner crank up the heat in their narrations. Masters gives Max a deep voice matching his passion for... Read More

Christine Lakin and Tim Paige deliver a fun, sexy, and relatable romance. Lakin voices Molly, a sassy and cynical rom-com screenwriter who reluctantly attends her fifteenth high school reunion. There, she unexpectedly reunites with her ex-boyfriend, Seth, voiced by Paige. Seth is in search of a fairy-tale romance. As they catch up, they make a playful bet on the outcomes of... Read More

Famous Filipino American drag queen Manila Luzon gives a heartfelt, charming narration of this delightful rom-com. Rex takes his drag queen persona, Regina, online in order to use his popularity to save a karaoke bar--all the while keeping his drag life a secret from his father. As he becomes successful, he also is faced with the need to reveal who he is to the world in order... Read More

Narrator Caroline Fantozzi's exultant performance will swell the Scroogiest listener's heart as she recounts the challenges surrounding an underdog CHRISTMAS CAROL production. Fantozzi illuminates the pure soul of school counselor Harriet Smith, who fights her Christmas mopes with diligent care of five at-risk teens. Harriet sounds both determined and desperate as she faces... Read More

Mary Mouser, Tyler Posey, and a full cast delight listeners in this immersive rom-com. Cleo has been obsessed with the decades-old game show "Know Your Newlywed," in which married couples compete. Currently pursuing her PhD in anthrozoology, she has put aside finding a relationship. But then she comes across Javi's dating app profile and discovers he loves "Know Your Newlywed,"... Read More

After a steamy one-night stand, athletic trainer Khadijah Upton and professional basketball player Shae Harris reunite unexpectedly as new colleagues on the Atlanta-based WNBA team, the Atlantic Cannons. Narrators Lauryn Nichols and Marcella Cox are a dynamic duo, alternating wonderful performances of spontaneous, open Shae and careful, regimented Khadijah. Their fun, flirty... Read More

Dara Rosenberg returns to narrate another Meltzer contemporary romance, this time featuring a Jewish shop owner in Woodstock, New York, and the man who might be a golem she accidentally summoned. After an anti-Semitic group papers the town with hateful flyers, Faye drowns her fears in wine and performs a ritual for protection. The unexpected appearance of a handsome man with... Read More

Childhood sweethearts get a second chance in this bittersweet holiday romance. Serious, closed-off violinist Charlotte is devoted to her successful classical quartet, and narrator Kristen DiMercurio gives her an unemotional, lower-register voice. Singer-songwriter Brighton is reeling from being kicked out of her own band. Five years earlier, Brighton left Charlotte at the... Read More

Anna Caputo brings both joy and melancholy into her narration of Jenny Green's failure at life as she has watched her friends succeed. At her college reunion, she is given a chance to make amends by a secret consortium of women who give out memos for success. Now Jenny travels back to key moments in her life, guided by her memo, which dictates what choices to make to succeed... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley jumps into action, ramping up the tension as this story opens where the previous audiobook left off. Sonya has inherited a mansion filled with ghosts and a curse placed by a witch centuries ago. The witch, Dobbs, has cursed seven Poole brides to die on their wedding days. Pressley embodies evil as she voices Dobbs, who still inhabits the mansion.... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber narrate this suspenseful romantic suspense. Maggie Chase writes cozy mysteries, and Ethan Wyatt writes popular thrillers. Maggie hates Ethan. Both have been invited to attend a Christmas party at an English estate. Upon arrival, Maggie and Ethan are stunned to find out that world-famous mystery writer Eleanor Ashley is hosting the party;... Read More

This audiobook is a charming rom-com with a paranormal twist, and the narrators, Daniel Henning and Helen Laser, bring the story to life with flair. Henning's portrayal of Reginald captures every bit of the vampire's quirky, old-fashioned charm. Laser gives Amelia's practical nature and wittiness a grounded quality that contrasts perfectly with Reggie's flamboyance. The... Read More

Narrator Gabriela Tola uses an expressive voice for Brazil native Sol Carvalho, a software designer at a video game firm in Copenhagen. She loves the city and wants to stay, but that depends on whether she gets a promotion that hinges on various team-building exercises. In the meantime, she rents a room from Viking look-alike Erik Storm. Throughout, Tola blends Danish accents... Read More

Narrator Ellis Evans's total commitment makes what could be a ridiculous premise a fun and compelling listen. College student Nicholas "Coal" Claus is the heir to Christmas. After his attempt at spreading joy goes wrong, Coal shares a drunken kiss with a man who then disappears. Fast-forward a couple of years, and Coal finds himself facing an unwanted arranged engagement to his... Read More

Black romance novelist Saira Wright seeks holiday inspiration and finds love in Santa Claus, Indiana. Portrayed by Charlie L. Wood, Saira, exudes self-confidence and competence as she enjoys Christmas traditions along with the owner of her vacation rental, widower Dorian Black. Tony Roberts's quiet and emotionally controlled narration demonstrates the tightly held grief that... Read More

Narrator Tanya Eby masterfully handles the large cast of characters in this Christmas story. Julie Parker has been planning a quiet Christmas with her younger boyfriend, Heath, but her two grown children, Nick and Dana, insist they celebrate together at the family cabin. Joining them are Nick's wife's estranged mother and her uncle, as well as Heath's two young children and... Read More

Ruby Corazon brings festive cheer to this sweet and spicy holiday novella. Evie Cruz is on a tight deadline illustrating superhero comics, so much so that she's barely unpacked into her new apartment. At the start, Corazon's voice reflects her stress, but she brightens up as Evie discovers anonymous Christmas ornament gifts left at her door--and gets delightedly flustered at... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley brings the perfect Southern touch to her narration of this romance novel. Lila Matthews moves back to Ditto, Texas, after inheriting her Aunt Gracie's home and strawberry fields. There she discovers that her family has secrets she needs to get to the bottom of. As the late Gracie whispers advice in Lila's ears, Pressley gives her voice just the right... Read More

Though this is a long audiobook, stellar narration by Giordan Diaz and Stacy Gonzalez keeps listeners engaged. The story is told from alternating perspectives. Margot Ortega, voiced by Gonzalez, has it all--a well-known family, money, a good career, and a perfect fiancé. When she suffers a panic attack on her wedding day and calls it off, she spends the night in a bar, dancing... Read More

Bailey Carr narrates this fifth installment of sexy, witchy stories about the residents of Thistle Grove. Necromantic devil eater Dasha Avramov has an addiction to traversing the veil between life and death. Doing so numbs her grief but prevents a healthy relationship with her on-and-off girlfriend, Ivy Thorn. The ominous presence of a harbinger of death, the mysterious... Read More

Narrators Avery Caris and J.F. Harding combine their talents to depict the romance between lawyers Molly Gifford and Daniel Hunter. Daniel once fell for Molly, but she left him to find her family. Then she returns to ask him for help defending her father from a murder charge. Caris and Harding seamlessly go back and forth, equally capable of voicing the male and female... Read More

Set sail with narrators Keylor Leigh and Amir Abdullah for a second-chance romance at sea. Family obligations meant a cordial end to marine biologist Hope Evans's last relationship, even though fellow shark scientist Adrian Hollis-Parker was the perfect catch. After three long years of helping her widowed sister's small business stay afloat, Hope accepts a summer job on a... Read More

Victoria Villarreal narrates an unconventional love story. Amanda Dean is about to get married, but as everything goes wrong on her wedding day, she reminisces about her past relationships and wonders if she has chosen the right person. As Amanda reflects on her life and loves, and her story bounces between her past and present, Villarreal subtly varies her narration to... Read More

Kate Handford and Hunter Johns narrate this opposite-attract contemporary romance. Ellie's life as a ghostwriter of celebrity cookbooks is currently just the way she wants it. She has no desire to take chances with romance after having become a widow three years earlier. Kieran, a chef and recent winner of a reality cooking competition, has been tasked with producing his debut... Read More

Narrator Tyler Darby's rough-hewn narration matches Sala's heartwarming story of soulmates who connect during the Christmas holiday. Darby is a solid match for Trey Austin, who has a car accident on a deserted road. Darby's voicing differs for Marley Corbett, the innkeeper who follows her angel's advice to find and save Trey. Marley's voice is both confident and kind. Trey gets... Read More

Vikas Adam and Sharmila Devar provide an intoxicating alternating narration of this first entry in a new romance series set in the worlds of biotechnology and finance. Devar's vibrant intonation and confident tone capture independent, thoughtful Sloan, an attorney who is bypassed as heir to her family's international business empire in favor of her older brother, Henry. With... Read More

Soneela Nankani and Imran Sheikh narrate this take on fake dating and modern love. Even though she lacks a Bengali background, Naomi is hired to rebrand Gia's bazaar, a run-down Indian marketplace. At the same time, Gia engages a matchmaker to find a wife for her reluctant son, Dev. Soon, Naomi and Dev team up--Naomi pretends to be Dev's girlfriend, and Dev teaches Naomi about... Read More

B.R. Myers's story, set in 1816 in Halifax and on an isolated island off its coast, is brought to life by Imogen Church. She has a unique ability to inject accents and personality into the diverse characters. The heroine, Emeline, narrates her own story. Her guardian, the imperious Mrs. Stackhouse, arranges Emeline's future with Captain Graves, whose first two wives died in... Read More

Siena East--a Choctaw writer, comedian, and actor--performs this romance novel from debut Chickasaw author Danica Nava. After sending out countless job applications with few responses, Ember Lee Cardinal decides to exaggerate her work experience on her next application. She lands the job and meets her new co-worker, Danuwoa Colson, the only other Native person at her new office... Read More

In this contemporary romance narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster, professional rivals from two video-game companies must find common ground during a team-building retreat. Viola has no idea why Jesse dislikes her so much, but his past treatment of her has made the feeling mutual. When they must spend several wintry days together at a mountain lodge, she soon realizes that she has... Read More

Narrator Amy McFadden draws the listener into the romance between physical therapist Lucy Dawson and quarterback Jax Wylder. Lucy blames Jax for the accident that ruined her brother's dream of playing professional football, and McFadden adds a touch of hostility to her performance. The pair are thrust together when Jax plans to open a camp for kids with disabilities. McFadden... Read More

Carly Robins and Teddy Hamilton mesmerize listeners with their performance of this emotional contemporary romance. When Allie Rousseau, an elite ballerina, suffers an injury, she returns to her summer home to heal and recover. Hudson Ellis, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, always had a deep connection with Allie--until the night he left for Basic. Years later, Hudson's niece... Read More

Mary Jane Wells delivers another excellent performance of a contemporary romance. The third of the Graves Glen series once again features reclusive Welsh witch Bowen Penhallow, who does business with an American magical artifact collector named Tamsyn. Neither she nor Bowen expect to see the other at a Yuletide wedding--or to be whisked into the past. Romance blossoms, and they... Read More

Helen Laser narrates this third book in the Glimmer Falls series, in which supernatural inhabitants live mundane lives in a suburban town. Introverted werewolf Ben Rosewood is in for a surprise when he drunkenly orders a crystal on eBay only to find it contains a trapped vampire succubus--and she's NOT happy. Laser's somewhat androgynous voice allows her to smoothly voice all... Read More

Meg Travers narrates a wintry holiday romance about how an unexpected inheritance leads to two total opposites finding love. When Lexie learns of her father's death, she's conflicted because they hadn't spoken in the last 10 years. She becomes even more confused when she finds out he left her half of his holiday travel company; the other half is going to a handsome, arrogant... Read More

Narrators Samantha Brentmoor and Patrick Zeller delight listeners in this sweet and steamy holiday romance. Lena returns home after losing her job to spend a peaceful Christmas with her family. However, she didn't plan for Gavin, her older brother's best friend, to be visiting, too. Gavin pushes Lena's buttons, yet she's drawn to his charm and good looks. Brentmoor's sensual... Read More