New Reviews: Romantic Fiction

EJ Lavery brings to life or, rather, death this danse macabre of a tale. Chapters are framed by the 10 stages of grief and follow former wild-child rock star Mal Caldera as she processes her afterlife and what got her there. Even though it's safer for everyone if she stays among the thriving ghost community, she can't help trying to reach out to her sister, Cris, or getting a... Read More

Amanda Ronconi's spirited narration contrasts with Sebastian York's stoic delivery of this new audio romance. After her relationship with a famous musician ends acrimoniously, Aurora rents a small apartment in her former hometown. Upon arrival, she discovers that the actual landlord, Tobias Rhodes, wasn't informed of the arrangement made by his young son. As she regains her... Read More

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

Kristen Sieh bats it out of the park with this lively performance. It begins with Daphne heckling baseball player Chris at a game, making him cry, and then sending an apology through social media. They have a few conversations through an app, but Chris still doesn't know who she is or what she looks like. When Daphne begins a job working for his very team, she's torn between... Read More

Joy Nash gives a sparkling performance of this enemies-to-lovers story, the first in a new romance series set in small-town Maryland. Athena finds herself stranded in Harlot's Bay when her fiancé, Johnny, breaks their engagement. She has left her teaching position and has impulsively purchased the ten-foot-wide Spite House as a wedding gift for Johnny. Next door lives Johnny's... 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 Stella Bloom faithfully re-creates the joy, peril, and humor in Kristen Ashley's series opener. Rachel "Raye" Armstrong meets Julien "Cap" Jackson during a daring rescue, and it's instant attraction--with Raye sounding sweet and spunky, while Cap has a gravelly voice. Bloom does a stellar job introducing Raye's found family and her beloved Oasis apartment complex.... Read More

Holly Chandler depicts the romance between wedding coordinator Mae Wallace and actor Kane August. Mae meets Kane when a film company uses the vineyard where she works as a movie set. Mae finds herself thrust together with Kane when she's needed to act as a stand-in for a missing actress. Kane is from Texas, and Chandler gives him a pleasant slight drawl. Mae was betrayed in the... Read More

Narrators Carly Robins and Aaron Shedlock portray two con artists who are looking to escape their life of crime and start fresh in a new town. Phoebe Graves was raised in a family that lived on lies and corruption. Hoping to start over in Connecticut, Phoebe and her best friend, Hailey, take off. But Hailey's brother, the handsome Rocky, follows them. Robins and Shedlock... Read More

Narrators Zara Hampton-Brown and Shane East delight listeners with this contemporary romance about a single dad. Dax Cove is surprised to find out he's a father as a result of one of his recent one-night stands. Willing to do the right thing, he takes care of his baby girl, but he is in desperate need of a suitable nanny. Both Hampton-Brown and East fully embody their... 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

Listeners will be swept away by Nikki Massoud's charming performance of this romance novel. After running out of money chasing her chef dreams, Effie comes back to her childhood home on Alder Isle for the summer. She gets a job at a prestigious local restaurant, but when she almost hooks up with her boss and discovers she works with her childhood friend Ernie, whom she rejected... Read More

Narrators Natalie Naudus and Will Peters will delight listeners with this charming romantic comedy. After her manuscript is rejected by several agents, Daphne McFadden is ready to try something extreme, so she submits it again under a man's name. To her utter disbelief, it sells and does well, so she hires Chris Stanton to be her alter ego, Zane Remington. Naudus and Peters... Read More

Narrator Bianca Drew introduces listeners to Georgina Wilcox and her three sisters. They are of African descent and born into the family of a successful businessman, their grandfather. Their trials and tribulations begin with the death of sister Catherine's husband, who, it turns out, has drained the company's coffers of money. Drew captures all the anxiety of these events.... 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

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

Narrator Mara Wilson returns for Sarah Adler's latest rom-com, bringing to life former con-woman-turned-fake-medium Gretchen Acorn. When Gretchen accepts a lucrative ghost-busting gig from her best client, she is shocked to discover that a real ghost is causing the chaos on Charlie Waybill's struggling goat farm. Ghost Everett is certain that Charlie, his ancestor, will meet... Read More

Narrators Scarlett Everdeen and Nick Mondelli charm listeners with this heartfelt romance. Nick Sorensen was the fastest guy in hockey until a heartbreaking plane crash took the lives of his best friends, leaving him the only survivor. While he's finally physically ready to hit the ice again, his coach is concerned about his mental health and his empty apartment. When Nick... Read More

Mara Wilson and Lindsey Dorcus narrate a romance set on a reality-TV dating show. Krystin is appearing on "Hopelessly Devoted" to find a husband; Lauren is on the show to build her social media presence. Neither woman expects to fall for anyone, not even Josh, the show's hopeless romantic. Wilson brings sweet sincerity to her portrayal of Krystin, emphasizing her overall... Read More

Natalie Naudus, as Logan, and Jeremy Carlisle Parker, as Rosemary, serve up complementary energy with alternating performances of two former best friends who unite to fulfill their beloved former English teacher Joe's dying wish. Parker's performance from Rosemary's perspective vibrates with her tightly wound anxiety as Joe's request for a summer road trip from Washington to... Read More

Narrator Jorjeana Marie is fantastic in this rom-com. Sloan promised to be completely committed to her dream job of video game designer if she lands the position. Her neighbor, Charlie, had his heart broken right before the romantic vacation he had planned. Charlie invites Sloan to fake date over the course of the vacation to make his ex jealous. Sloan wouldn't mind making her... Read More

Narrators Samantha Cook and Connor Crais combine their talents to enliven the romance between bar owner Remington Sterling and his bar manager, Raven Walsh. Raven had been terrorized by her adopted brother in the past, and when he's released from prison, she is once again in danger. Remington has always been attracted to Raven and uses this situation as an opportunity to... 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

Angel Pean's nuanced narration is superb in this playful romance. Amerie is jobless, single, and worried about her mom's health. She hits a new low when she pretends to be dating a sexy stranger to save face when she runs into her ex. The stranger, Vincent, realizes he and Amerie could both benefit from fake dating each other. Vincent, a workaholic astronaut, is desperate to... 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

Travel to the Summer Olympic Games with Shaniqua Okwok, who narrates this contemporary sports romance. Hardworking Olivia Nkomo is determined to get her dream job at the Summer Games, where she hopes to meet some of her favorite athletes. Zeke Moyo, the star of Team Great Britain, is seeking the title of "fastest man alive." When Olivia and Zeke bump into each other on the... Read More

What a treat it is to listen to Kimberly Wetherell's sparkling narration of this fun and heartwarming rom-com. At age 29, Gray leaves Tulsa for a position in public relations at a prestigious private school in New Orleans, where her best friend, Cherry, lives. Having ended a ten-year relationship, Gray is encouraged by Cherry to embark on a six-week astrology dating project... Read More

Brittany Pressley's narration is exceptional in this heartwarming Irish story. Emily gets her dream job as an assistant to her favorite author, Siobhan, and travels to Ireland to work in a bookstore and help Siobhan complete her teen fantasy adventure, which has been on hold for more than 10 years. However, the manager of the bookstore is Kieran Murphy, Siobhan's son, who has... 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

The narration of this audio romance by Mayuri Bhandari brings the story to life. Maya Mirza, who believes she's unlucky in love, travels to Pakistan for an arranged marriage with a seemingly perfect doctor. During her journey she experiences mishaps, including being stranded in Switzerland with a cynical lawyer named Sarfaraz. As they navigate challenges together, Maya starts... 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

Together, narrators Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton are a potent duo. Billie is the sole survivor of the Midwest Butcher, a vicious serial killer who murdered her family. At the studio where she is being interviewed, Billie has a chance encounter with Brett, a star football player. Their ensuing relationship provides a catalyst for their respective struggles with strife and... Read More

Narrator Kitty Bang draws the listener into the romance between television production assistant Anika Fox and Luca St. Marten, the king of a small European country. Hoping to bring tourists back to his country, Luca has agreed to be part of a reality dating show. Anika starts as a production assistant but ends up as a contestant. Luca and Anika met prior to the show, but she... 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

Dorothy Dillingham Blue evokes a sense of wonder with her nuanced narration of this unique story-within-a-story. Elsy is delighted when she stumbles into the fictional town of her beloved romance series on a road trip. Soon though, she begins to worry about how this could have happened--and why. Her favorite characters aren't behaving like they did in the books, and the only... 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

Nelson Hobbs and C.J. Bloom depict the romance between Viggo Bergman and Tallulah Clarke. The pair agree to be roommates in order to achieve their personal goals of opening a bookstore and finishing a thriller, respectively. Hobbs captures Viggo's thoughtful and romantic personality. Viggo's humorous dialogue as delivered by Hobbs contrasts with his internal doubts and fears.... 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

Listeners will be swept away by Marissa Hampton and Jesus E. Martinez's portrayal of the simmering tension between workaholic hotelier Genevieve Raymond and her Panamanian driver, Adrián Nicolas. Instead of returning to the U.S. after opening a new resort, Gen decides to extend her stay in Colón, and her sexy driver, no longer her colleague, extends the invitation of a... Read More

Emma Galvin and Max Meyers voice the perspectives of sommelier-in-training Theo Flowerday and French pastry chef Kit Fairfield. The two bisexual exes have met up by chance on a three-week food tour of France, Spain, and Italy. This tour de force of accents and vocal work is a testament to Galvin and Meyers's skills. Any scene can require a half dozen international accents... 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

Narrator Barbara Rosenblat returns to Harmony, a planet populated with people from Earth who have developed different psychic abilities. Joshua Knight was a navigator on a lost expedition that Molly Griffin's sister was a part of. Molly tracks him down in an abandoned mansion filled with mirrors in order to secure his help finding her missing sister. Rosenblat projects the... 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

Hollywood romance meets time travel in this rom-com from the husband-and-wife team of Kate and Danny Tamberelli. Narrators Mara Wilson and Danny Tamberelli portray Beatrix and Rocco, who are working on a film together. Suddenly, they find themselves catapulted 17 years into the past. Wilson's pleasant, emotive voice fits Beatrix as she works through complex emotions of grief... 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

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

Ros Watt's narration highlights all the charm of this queer historical romance. Kit Griffith is a bicycle shop owner--and a dashing rake. He's left his old life behind, in which he belonged to a sisterhood of women artists, and is building a new one in Cornwall. There he's approached by the indefatigable Muriel Pendrake, a botanist who is keen to have him illustrate her... Read More

Amanda Leigh Cobb returns as narrator of a stand-alone audiobook that takes place in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series. There's always risk in making a bargain with a vampire, but Lilith decides she has no other options. She needs vials of vampire blood to find a cure for a fatal illness that will save her sister, who is failing fast. Cobb portrays Lilith as a young... Read More

Andi Arndt narrates this lively romance between Anna, a PI, and Owen, the owner of an adventure company at Lake Tahoe. They are thrust together when Anna finds a gold coin in her late father's belongings that was stolen from Owen's aunt. Anna takes on the job of proving her father's innocence by way of her sister Wendy, who is pregnant with triplets and bedridden. Arndt... 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 Brittany Pressley and Zachary Webber take listeners on a heartfelt ride in this contemporary romance. Hazel Elliot and Ash Campbell, who are from the same hometown, are summoned home for different reasons--Hazel for her dad's wedding and Ash for family obligations. After Ash's car breaks down, Hazel offers him a ride, and they soon realize they may need each other... 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

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

This audiobook, narrated by Zura Johnson and Zachary Johnson, is a captivating fantasy romance. A human servant named Lieke is forced into a fake engagement with Prince Connor after she accidentally kills a fae noble. Because the story is set in a war-torn world, they must navigate political tensions and personal desires in addition to their deceptive alliance. The slow-burn... 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

Narrator Carly Robins returns listeners to the small town of Sweetbriar Ridge and the romance between kindergarten teacher Chloe Donovan and former champion skier Tanner Westyn. Due to the growth of the town, Tanner is hired to be an additional kindergarten teacher. He is determined to be teacher of the year, an award that has been Chloe's for two years running. Robins... Read More

Carlotta Brentan narrates this story of three friends, Ava, Madison, and Chelsea, who met in college. But their friendship was torn apart. Now they're coming together again for a wedding in Lake Como, Italy. Starting in the present when the three are still estranged, the story shifts to the past to show how they met and what led to the breakup. As events unfold from Madison's... Read More

Narrator DeWanda Wise shares Kaliya Wilson's rise from frustrated desk worker to production assistant for director Danny Prescott's historical film on school desegregation. Wise's mellifluous narration style and Ariel's first-person point of view bring listeners into Kaliya's story, especially her past romance with Danny and her doubts about their current interactions. Her... Read More

Escape with narrators EmmaClaire Brightlyn and Martin Quinn to the quaint and picturesque Scottish Isle of Skye in this heartfelt romance. Returning to Scotland, April Sinclair has big plans for her family's whisky distillery now that her once flourishing acting career has fizzled. However, she doesn't expect to find handsome but grumpy Malcolm Macabe living in the home she's... 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