February 2024 MBR The Audiobook Shelf

The Audiobook Shelf

My Darling Bride
Ilsa Madden Mills, author
Sebastian York, narrator
Savannah Peachwood, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781501241635, $19.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours 48 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/My-Darling-Bride-Ilsa-Madden-Mills/dp/150124163X

Synopsis: On a normal day, Emmaline Darling isn't a car thief. She's just a=
 simple girl who runs a bookstore and adores cats. But when she's stranded =
in the desert and needs to get away from her dangerous ex-boyfriend, she pi=
cks her only option: swiping the keys to a famous football player's Lamborg=
hini and speeding away.

Football star Graham Harlan is in chaos. First he took a hit on the field t=
hat left him with a near-death experience, and now he's promised his brothe=
r he'll get married to secure the family inheritance. Trouble is he isn't e=
ven seeing anyone.

Then a mystery woman steals his car. With his usual stubbornness, he tracks=
 her all the way to Manhattan and gives her an ultimatum: marry me or I'll =
press charges.

Her choice is obvious, only neither of them expect the sparks that ignite b=
etween them.

As the end of their arrangement looms, will Graham take a chance on love or=
 let his darling walk away forever?

Critique: Truly the stuff of which Hallmark Move Channel rom-coms are made,=
 this complete and unabridged audio book edition of Ilsa Madden Mills' "My =
Darling Bride is a fun listening experience from start to finish. Superbly =
narrated by the professional team of Sebastian York and Savannah Peachwood,=
 "My Darling Bride from Brilliance Audio is especially and unreservedly rec=
ommended as a prize addition to personal and community library Rom-Com & Co=
ntemporary Romance audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Ilsa Madden-Mills (www.ilsamaddenmills.com) is an establ=
ished author of angsty new adult and contemporary romances.

Editorial Note #2 Sebastian York spent much of his youth as a military brat=
 throughout Europe, Asia, and the U.S., which spurred a very adventurous se=
nse for travel and faraway places. He has a pilot's license and operates sm=
all flying tours over New York City in between his narration work. (https:/=
/www.facebook.com/SebastianYorkNarrator)

Editorial Note #3: Savannah Peachwood (http://www.savannahpeachwood.com) is=
 an award-winning audiobook narrator. She has narrated hundreds of audioboo=
ks for many New York Times & USA Today Bestselling authors.

Spiced Right
Gigi Templeton, author
Amanda Stribling, narrator
Aiden Snow, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781501225581, $19.99, MP3-CD (8 Hours 54 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Spiced-Right-Gigi-Templeton/dp/1501225588

Synopsis: Don't ever think I didn't want more time with you, darlin'.

Those were her college boyfriend's last words to her after a phone call sum=
moned him home to Texas. In the ten years since, Jack Reed has taken over h=
is family's ranch, and Jillian Parks has experienced devastating losses wit=
h traumatic repercussions.

Now a reclusive insomniac, she podcasts about the specialty hybrid chili pe=
ppers she grows in her Seattle greenhouse, keeping a closed door between he=
r and the past. But when Jillian's producer coaxes her to make a surprise c=
all in to Jack's YouTube BBQ channel, their chemistry still sizzles!

An invite to the ranch for a follow-up collab is a scary proposal for Jilli=
an. But forward movement is key to her recovery, and it's time to take the =
bull by the horns. With Jack's commanding yet soothing presence, maybe this=
 charismatic cowboy is just the right ingredient to help her heal -- while =
adding a different kind of spice to her life.

Critique: An impressively original and emotionally riveting story of lost l=
ove regained, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of Spiced Rig=
ht" by novelist Gigi Templeton is brought to life by the superbly performed=
 narrative talents of Amanda Stribling and Aiden Snow. Offering just shy of=
 9 hours of drama and romance storytelling excellent, "Spiced Right" will p=
rove an enduringly welcome addition to personal and community library dedic=
ated romance audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Gigi Templeton (www.facebook.com/ggtbooks) has written n=
umerous full-length novels for traditional publishers, digital publishers a=
nd forward-thinking reader apps, such as Radish Fiction and YONDER. Her deb=
ut book, HARD KNOX, has over five million organic views on Radish and becam=
e an international bestselling series. She has also won awards and notable =
nominations under other pseudonyms, including as a finalist for Romantic Ti=
mes magazine's Best Book of the Year and their Seal of Excellence.

Editorial Note #2: Amanda Stribling (https://www.amandastribling.com) is a =
SOVAS and One Voice nominated audiobook narrator who has narrated around 18=
0 books from my home studio. Her favorite genres are Romance, Romantic Come=
dy, Literature, Young-Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and Thriller. Being a self-pro=
claimed audio addict, she has listened to thousands of audiobooks, and know=
s what it takes to engage the listener and help them to connect with the st=
ory. She also works under the pseudonym of Allie Piper.

Editorial Note #3: Aiden Snow is a romance and erotica narrator who has bee=
n called "the crown prince of audio romance." His rich baritone has garnere=
d a solid fan base and has allowed him to range from paranormal romance to =
military romance, from "motorcycle bad boy" to "boardroom dom." To him, eve=
ry romance is true love, and every erotic romance is true desire. (www.audi=
ble.com/search?searchNarrator=3DAiden+Snow)

A Sure Duke
Christi Caldwell, author
Timothy Campbell, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781501208690, $19.99, MP3-CD (8 Hours 4 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Sure-Duke-McQuoids-Mayfair/dp/1501208691

Synopsis: Alexandra Bradbury and Dallin McQuoid are neighbors who couldn't =
be more different. She's prim, mindful, and skittish of social improprietie=
s. Dallin is slightly scandalous, boisterously charming, and unbothered by =
gossip. On an unexpected night of magic forged under the stars, they discov=
er what they do have in common. Could theirs be a rare love match that migh=
t last forever?

But everything changes in a heartbeat: a death in the Bradbury family, fina=
ncial ruin, and Alexandra's betrothal to a wickedly wealthy marquess. Alexa=
ndra is expected to do what's best for her family, regardless of her heart.

Until another crisis arises, and the dutiful daughter must embark on a jour=
ney with the waggish lord across the street to prevent a catastrophe for bo=
th of their families.

Along the road, will their stars finally align?

Critique: Simply stated, as an author Christi Caldwell is a master of the h=
istorical romance genre in general, and the Regency Romance subgenre in par=
ticular. In this complete and unabridged audio book edition from Brilliance=
 Audio "A Sure Duke" is one of Christi's newest and best brought vividly to=
 life in an extended theatre of the mind presentation deftly narrated by Ti=
mothy Campbell -- making this fully entertaining story a highly prized pick=
 for personal and community library Historical Romance audio book collectio=
ns.

Editorial Note #1: When Christi Caldwell (www.christicaldwell.com) was at t=
he University of Connecticut, she began writing tales of love -- ones where=
 even the most perfect heroes and heroines had imperfections. She learned t=
o enjoy torturing her couples before they earned their well-deserved happil=
y ever after.

Editorial Note #2: Timothy Campbell (http://www.timcampbell.me) is an award=
 winning actor and singer who works primarily in audiobook narration & voic=
e overs, and has narrated over 800 titles spanning almost every genre. He h=
as won or been nominated for almost every major award in the audiobook indu=
stry including a 2018 Audie, multiple Audie nominations, a 2019 Voice Arts =
Award and several Audiofile Earphones Awards and Independent Audiobook Awar=
ds. He specializes in accents, dialects, and character work and holds three=
 degrees in theater and music as well as graduating from the esteemed two y=
ear Great Books Colloquium of Pepperdine University.

Before the Dawn
D. S. Butler, author
Henrietta Meire, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781491596470, $19.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours 35 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Before-Dawn-Detective-Karen-Hart/dp/1491596473

Synopsis: DC Sophie Jones was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Vicious=
ly bludgeoned one night in a dark alley, she is left fighting for her life =
in hospital, leaving no clues as to why she was there or what might have mo=
tivated the attack.

For Detective Karen Hart, fiercely protective of her young protegee, this i=
s already deeply personal: an attack on Sophie is an attack on the whole te=
am. When a car workshop near the crime scene is linked to local mobster Que=
ntin Chapman, the man Hart has spent years trying to bring down, it's hard =
not to jump to the most obvious conclusion.

But Chapman not only denies any knowledge of the incident - he asks for Kar=
en's help. Someone is killing his associates, and he fears he might be next=
. With little else to go on, Hart has no choice but to rely on her sworn en=
emy and his underworld connections for valuable information. Can she trust =
Chapman to tell her the truth -- or will this shady collaboration be the la=
st case of her career? Only one person can help crack this case -- but he's=
 also the prime suspect!

Critique: The eighth novel in author D. S. Butler's 'Detective Karen Hart' =
series, this complete and unabridged MP3-CD edition of "Before The Dawn" fr=
om Brilliance Audio is masterfully narrated by Henrietta Meire and will hav=
e a particular attraction to dedicated mystery buffs. Offering a compelling=
 'theatre of mind' experience, "Before The Dawn" is an a highly recommended=
 pick for both personal and community library audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Born in Kent, D. S. Butler (https://dsbutlerbooks.com) g=
rew up as an avid reader with a love for crime fiction and mysteries. She h=
as worked as a scientific officer in a hospital pathology laboratory and as=
 a research scientist. After obtaining a PhD in biochemistry, she worked at=
 the University of Oxford for four years before moving to the Middle East. =
While living in Bahrain, she wrote her first novel and hasn't stopped writi=
ng since. She now lives in the United Kingdom with her husband.

Editorial Note #2: Henrietta Meire is a full-time voice-over artist and act=
ress. Her studio is her second home where she loves to engross herself in b=
ooks of all genres and make characters come to life -- from the girl next d=
oor to the troll-witch next door to a talking battery that lives with the g=
irl next door! In addition to narrating a plethora of audiobooks, Henrietta=
 has voiced numerous commercial and charity campaigns, as well as video gam=
e and animation characters. As an actress, Henrietta has performed in plays=
 across the West End and Los Angeles and can be seen in a number of popular=
 current movies as well as HBO and CBS shows.

Meadow Falls
Carolyn Brown, author
Brittany Pressley, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781491556504, $19.99, MP3-CD (8 Hours 3 Minutes)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meadow-falls-carolyn-brown/1143179805?ean=
=3D9781491556504

Synopsis: Angela Marie has spent all of her thirty-five years on Meadow Fal=
ls, the farm that's been in her Texas family for generations. It wasn't her=
 plan. It was an obligation. Now that her parents (less loving kin than str=
angers) have passed, the whole shebang belongs to Angela. And a legacy that=
 she never wanted is now hers to uphold.

She can't forsake it now. Her beloved nanny, Mandy, who was always more of =
a mother, needs a caregiver herself. And Mandy's great-granddaughter, as cl=
ose to Angela as a sister, has returned to roost. When a handsome veteran a=
rrives seeking work as a farmhand, Angela thinks the future might not be ha=
lf-bad after all.

But it's the past that proves enlightening. Mandy is revealing secrets Ange=
la never knew about her parents. As the clouds on her family history begin =
to part, the inheritance feels more like a precious gift, and Meadow Falls =
more like the home Angela's been looking for her whole life.

Critique: An extraordinary and highly recommended pick for personal and com=
munity library audio book collections, this Brilliance Audio MP3-CD audio b=
ook edition of Meadow Falls" by Carolyn Brown is deftly and expertly narrat=
ed by the vocal storytelling talents of of Brittany Pressley and will prove=
 to have a particular attraction for fans of Contemporary Romance.

Editorial Note #1: Carolyn Brown (www.carolynbrownbooks.com) is the author =
of more than 100 novels and several novellas. She's a recipient of the Book=
seller's Best Award, Montlake Romance's prestigious Montlake Diamond Award,=
 and also a three-time recipient of the National Reader's Choice Award. Bro=
wn has been published for more than 20 years, and her books have been trans=
lated 21 foreign languages.

Editorial Note #2: Brittany Pressley has won several Earphones Awards as we=
ll as the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2018. She has recor=
ded over one hundred titles and has received several nominations for Americ=
an Library Association's annual list of Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults=
. She is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and voice actress. Her voic=
e can be heard on national and international TV and radio commercials as we=
ll as several animated series and video games.

The Last Caretaker
Jessica Strawser, author
Reba Buhr, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9798400145247, $19.99, MP3-CD (10 Hours 50 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Caretaker-Novel-Jessica-Strawser/dp/B0BT4W6XSZ

Synopsis: Katie's divorce was, in a word, humiliating. So when her friend B=
ess offers a fresh start in the form of a resident caretaking job at a natu=
re preserve -- Katie accepts. No matter that she's not exactly a "nature pe=
rson", just how hard can it be?

But from day one, something feels off. Katie's new farmhouse looks as if th=
e last caretaker barely moved out at all. When a frantic, terrified woman a=
rrives late at night, expecting a safe place to hide, it's clear caretaking=
 involves way more than Katie bargained for.

Suddenly, Katie is no longer sure who she can trust: the brooding groundske=
eper, the daily regulars (hikers, dog walkers, bird-watchers, photographers=
) even Bess. As Katie digs deeper for clues in what the last caretaker left=
 behind, she must discover courage she never knew she had -- and decide how=
 much she'll risk to do the right thing.

Critique: Of immense appeal and interest to fans of deftly crafted novels w=
ith the themes of family life intermixed with elements of suspense and appr=
ehension, and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library a=
udio book collections, "The Last Care Taker" by novelist Jessica Strawser i=
s ably and effectively narrated by Reba Buhr in this complete and unabridge=
d Brilliance Audio MP3-CD edition.

Editorial Note #1: Jessica Strawser (www.jessicastrawser.com) is the author=
 of five previous book club favorites: Almost Missed You, Not That I Could =
Tell (a Book of the Month selection), Forget You Know Me, A Million Reasons=
 Why, and The Next Thing You Know, a People magazine Pick. She is editor-at=
-large at Writer's Digest, where she curates the Learn by Example column; a=
 popular speaker at writing conferences; and a freelance editor and writer =
whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and other=
s. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Ohio University's prestigious E.W. S=
cripps School of Journalism, she has also served as the 2019 writer-in-resi=
dence for the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library.

Editorial Note #2: Reba Buhr (https://www.rebabuhr.com/audiobooks) is the a=
uthor of Get Thee to a Therapist, and an actress, host, and voiceover artis=
t based in Los Angeles, CA. Reba is also an outspoken mental health advocat=
e. She uses her instagram @get.thee.to.a.therapist to educate people about =
accessing mental health services and how to overcome the stigma, fear, and =
other barriers to care that keep people from finding the healing they deser=
ve.

Dream Town: Eve Ronin
Lee Goldberg
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781491595565, $29.99, MP3-CD (8 Hours 47 Minutes)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dream-town-lee-goldberg/1143348897

Synopsis: Hidden Hills is a private celebrity enclave of white picket fence=
s and horse trails that seems to exist in a dreamworld. But when reality su=
perstar Kitty Winslow is killed within their gates and corpses are found in=
 the vast state park outside them, LASD detective Eve Ronin realizes there =
is a deadly, razor-thin line between what's real and what's imagined.

Eve discovers that Kitty's surreal on- and off-camera life, a blur of fact =
and fantasy, shockingly mirrors her own as she struggles to investigate the=
 killings, wade into a music industry war, and battle a vicious Chilean gan=
g - all while her life is being turned into a fictional cop show directed b=
y her estranged father.

Eve's grip on reality and the case is strained to the breaking point as the=
 slayings continue, the media frenzy reaches a fever pitch, and the only in=
escapable truth she can see is death... and it's coming for her.

Critique: A deftly crafted suspense thriller that will have a very special =
appeal to readers with an interest in police procedural murder mysteries, "=
Dream Town" by Lee Goldberg is now available as a complete and unabridged M=
P3-CD audio book from Brilliance Audio. Brilliantly narrated by the impress=
ively talented skills of Nicol Zanzareela, "Dream Town" is an especially an=
d unreservedly recommended pick for both personal and community library aud=
io book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Lee Goldberg (www.leegoldberg.com) is a two-time Edgar A=
ward and two-time Shamus Award nominee and the author of more than forty no=
vels, including the Eve Ronin series and the Ian Ludlow series. He has also=
 written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQues=
t, and Monk, and is co-creator of the Mystery 101 series of Hallmark movies=
. As an international television consultant, he has advised networks and st=
udios in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, China, Sweden, and the Netherlands=
 on the creation, writing, and production of episodic television series.

Two Masquerades and a Major
Eloisa James, author
Felicity Foster, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9798400137785, $14.99, MP3-CD (8 Hours 48 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Masquerades-Major-Seduction-3/dp/B0CLYY5QWN

Synopsis: Livie never worried much about the world's opinion of her -- unti=
l the world came to despised her. One minute she is happily dancing through=
 her first Season, and the next her family is plunged into scandal and exil=
ed from society.

Stealing into a masquerade ball, she meets the handsome, honorable Major Fi=
tzRoy, son of an earl. Yet if she removes her mask and tells Joshua her nam=
e, the scandal might engulf him as well. Could he possibly love her enough =
to give up his career -- and his honor?

Critique: Very strongly recommended for personal and community library audi=
o book collections, "Two Masquerades and a Major" is a carefully crafted hi=
storical romance novel by Eloisa James that is brought vividly to life in a=
 true 'theatre of the mind' listening experience produced by the eloquent s=
torytelling talents of Felicity Foster. This complete and unabridged MP3-CD=
 edition from Brilliance Audio.

Editorial Note: Eloisa James (www.eloisajames.com) is a professor of Englis=
h literature. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious iro=
ny for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight. She is als=
o on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/eloisajames)

Melody
Helen Hardt, author
Amanda Stribling, narrator
Lee Samuels, narrator
Brilliance Audio
https://audiobookstore.com/publishers/brilliance-audio
9781501224881, $19.99, MP3-CD (7 Hours 27 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Melody-Steel-Brothers-Saga-28/dp/1501224883

Synopsis: Beautiful Brianna Steel has her life planned out. Graduate colleg=
e early. Check. Work with her father in the Steel family orchard. Check. Ma=
rry Jesse Pike -- but no check there because Jesse has never given her a lo=
ok.

Finagling her way onto a rock and roll tour with Jesse and his band, Dragon=
lock, should help move her final goal along. At least Brianna hopes it will=
. She's been in love with Jesse since she was fourteen years old, and thoug=
h she's had several relationships, no one compares to the darkly handsome r=
ocker.

Jesse Pike and his band just got their big break. Opening for Emerald Phoen=
ix on their Europe tour could lead to fame and fortune, and his family desp=
erately needs the money after a fire destroyed their livelihood. He can't l=
et them down, and he's determined not to let anything distract him - certai=
nly not vivacious cowgirl Brianna Steel, even if she is the most gorgeous w=
oman he's ever laid eyes on.

In the end, though, it's not just his attraction to Brianna that puts the t=
our in jeopardy!

Critique: Of particular interest to fans of contemporary romantic erotica a=
nd suspense, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of Helen Hardt=
's "Melodie" from Brilliance Audio is exceptionally performed by the narrat=
ive teamwork of Amanda Stribling and lee Samuels. This MP3-CD edition is co=
nfidently recommended for personal and community library collections.

Editorial Note #1: As an author, Helen Hardt (https://www.helenhardt.com) h=
as a passion for the written word that began with the books her mother read=
 to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn't stopped=
 since. In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic fiction, s=
he's a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of=
 fine red wine, and a lover of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. She writes from her=
 home. Helen loves to hear from readers.

Editorial Note #2: Amanda Stribling (https://www.amandastribling.com) is a =
SOVAS and One Voice nominated audiobook narrator who has narrated around 18=
0 books from my home studio. Her favorite genres are Romance, Romantic Come=
dy, Literature, Young-Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and Thriller. Being a self-pro=
claimed audio addict, she has listened to thousands of audiobooks, and know=
s what it takes to engage the listener and help them to connect with the st=
ory. She also works under the pseudonym of Allie Piper.

Editorial Note #3: Lee Samuels (https://leesamuelsnarration.com) is a Roman=
ce narrator (SAG-AFTRA) for nearly 200 audiobooks -- everything from small-=
town to suspense, rom-coms and erotica. With a background in theatre, his a=
udiobook career began in New York City when his roommate, working as an aud=
iobook engineer, offered to help him record a few auditions. Those audition=
s led to bookings and romance projects in all of its shades. His production=
 credits include Audible, Recorded Books, Lyric, Podium, One Night Stand, B=
rick Shop, Blue Nose, Dreamscape, Macmillan, and others.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo=
ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
 reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte=
rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi=
duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo=
rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat=
ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
 for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
 (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal=
muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish=
er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review