Welcome to Brian’s Book Blog’s Weekly Showcase of New and Notable Audiobooks for October 20th!
Each week, I handpick audiobooks from various genres that have caught my attention. Dive in and discover your next great listen!
Spot an audiobook I missed or one you’re particularly excited about? Share in the comments below!
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The View from the Top by Rachel Lacey
Narrated by Quinn Riley
Self Published
Kindle Edition Currently Available with Kindle Unlimited
Check out my reviews of other titles written by Rachel Lacey
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Quinn Riley
When a driven businesswoman from Boston collides with a free-spirited artist on a Vermont mountainside, they share a memorable—and steamy—night, but life soon pits them against each other over the fate of a family business.
Emily Janssen prefers to play it safe. At thirty-five, she’s still working at the inn her grandmothers own while dreaming of a day when she’s able to support herself fully with her art. And while her friends have all hiked to the summit of the mountain in their hometown of Crescent Falls, Vermont, something has always held Emily back.
Diana Devlin has already made it to the top. Well, almost. She’s this close to securing the promotion that will put her in line to take over as CEO of her family’s hotel chain when her father retires. Everything is going to plan until an unexpected run-in with an alluring artist on a mountainside throws Diana off course, resulting in one of the hottest nights either she or Emily have ever experienced.
Emily walks away from their rendezvous feeling inspired to channel some of Diana’s confidence and finally chase her dreams. For Diana, it’s a reminder that with the right woman, she is capable of wanting more than one night.
But their growing passion threatens to burn them both when they learn that the hotel Diana’s in town to buy is none other than Emily’s grandmothers’ beloved inn. It’s Emily’s home, and no big city outsider—not even Diana—is going to take it away from her.
Will the view from the top be worth the climb, or will they both have farther to fall?
Release the Stars by Harper Bliss
Narrated by Abby Craden
Ladylit Publishing
Check out my reviews of other titles written by Harper Bliss
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Abby Craden
Can love be measured in percentages?
After her girlfriend leaves her for a man, broken-hearted novelist Charlie Cross moves from New York to Los Angeles to work on a TV show based on her books.
Charlie vows to never date any woman who isn’t a hundred percent certain of being a lesbian.
But when she is seduced by gorgeous bisexual cooking show host Ava Castaneda, whom she’s had a celebrity crush on for ages, Charlie is forced to review her belief in percentages because true love could very well be on the line.
Release the Stars is a lighthearted, fast-paced contemporary lesbian fairytale set in the glitzy world of Hollywood.
Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers
Narrated by Abby Craden
Tantor Audio
Check out my reviews of other titles written by Rachael Sommers
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Abby Craden
A sweet toaster-oven lesbian romance that asks whether the one we’re meant to be with might be right under our nose.
Reserved tattoo artist Riley Foster has just moved apartments and can’t take her eyes off the single mom who lives next door. Riley is trying very hard not to succumb to the cliche of falling for the straight girl as she gets to know Kim Jackson, an outgoing baker with an adorable nine-year-old son.
A friendship forms and Riley even finds herself roped into playing Kim’s fake girlfriend to get her meddling family off her back.
What could go wrong . . . except for Kim suddenly questioning whether she’s not as straight as she thought! As the sexual tension slowly builds, it’s hard not to wonder whether they’d be good together for real. But is it worth risking a great friendship if Riley doesn’t feel the same way?
Contains mature themes.
Capture the Moment by KC Luck
Narrated by Lori Prince
Podium Audio
Whispersync Deal with Kindle Purchase
Kindle Edition Currently Available with Kindle Unlimited
Check out my reviews of other titles written by KC Luck
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Lori Prince
Sometimes all it takes to find love is a little courage.
After being fired from her job and faced with a dwindling bank account, Jennifer Harris finds herself at a crossroads, uncertain of her next move. When her best friend suggests that she stay at a cabin on the edge of her family’s property for a few weeks, Jennifer reluctantly agrees. While escaping the chaos is enticing, Jennifer grapples with her fear of change and the unknown. Before she can change her mind, she leaves her dreary apartment behind and drives toward the coast, bracing herself for the unfamiliar challenges ahead.
Riley Keaton is an award-winning photographer with an eye for capturing the beauty of nature around her. Living alone with Ansel, her faithful canine, in a house overlooking the ocean, she has everything she needs to be happy. Yet, despite her success, sometimes late at night, Riley finds herself lonely and wondering if she should do more than capture beautiful moments but should live them. Her challenge lies in finding a way to meet someone she connects with.
When a fierce storm strikes the coastline, leaving Jennifer isolated and discouraged in the cabin, Riley is called upon to come to her rescue. Their meeting, during the wind and torrential rain, alters the course of both their lives in ways they could never have imagined.
Taming of a Rebel by Eada Friesian
Narrated by Quinn Riley
Podium Audio
Whispersync Deal with Kindle Purchase
Kindle Edition Currently Available with Kindle Unlimited
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Quinn Riley
Do you believe in soulmates?
Tori Frazee is unapologetic when it comes to falling in love before she’s thirty. When her marriage ended amicably, she knew she had to get back into the game to find her soulmate and have the family she wanted. Running face-first into a cold but frazzled funeral director and a rebellious toddler at the grocery store isn’t how she expected to find love, and Miranda certainly isn’t her soulmate. Or is she?
Miranda Hart doesn’t believe in love. When she’s saddled with her flakey sister’s kid, she has a choice to make—step up to break the cycle and keep her niece from being another victim or continue to live through her work. When she meets the cute, down-to-earth Tori, she can’t help but wonder if maybe she does want more than her career.
When opposites attract, steam rises, especially with an ice queen in the mix. Will these two single parents break down their preconceived notions enough to find a family they can rely on?
If you love sensual, steamy age gap, ice queen, sapphic/lesbian romances, then this is the book for you.
If It’s Meant to Be by Lily Seabrooke
Narrated by Ellie Gossage
The Bayview Romances #1
Tantor Audio
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Kindle Edition Currently Available with Kindle Unlimited
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Ellie Gossage
Some love stories just aren’t meant to be. And some people don’t care.
While she’s lost in her biggest contract yet, freelance producer Emberlynn’s comfy small-town life gets turned upside-down by the arrival of her best friend Paisley’s older sister. Sleek, chic, impossibly cool, and way more attractive than her friend’s sister has any right being, Aria is distracting-and off-limits.
Burned out from her same-old career and wanting a fresh start after her relationship ended, Aria takes a break from New York, staying with her sister in the cozy small town of Bayview as she works to launch her first business. What should have been a quiet interlude takes a turn when her sister’s best friend, and next-door neighbor, is a little too interesting-and a little too interested in her.
When their neighboring-balcony coworking sessions blossom into something more, will their secret connection convince Aria to stay? Or is it a love story that isn’t meant to be?
Contains mature themes.
Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
Narrated by Zura Johnson, Michal Norman Johnson
Spotify Audiobooks
“A friends-to-lovers romance that’s magically both hot and wholesome. Cozy, sexy, and so very satisfying… this one’s a keeper.” —Jen Devon, author of Right Where We Left Us
In Erin Hahn’s cozy, swoony romance, Maren Laughlin has been fishing her whole life, but she’s finally ready to be caught.
At thirty-three, Maren Laughlin’s just turned down her boyfriend’s proposal, walked away from her decade-long position as a park ranger, and returned to her childhood playground in Northern Wisconsin to accept her inheritance: a decrepit waterfront bait shop. After a lifetime of letting things happen to her, she’s ready to start making her own moves, even if everyone else thinks she’s making the wrong ones. Well, not everyone—at least the local heartstopper and resort owner is on her side.
Josiah Cole has made some missteps in his life, but he’s proud of what he has: two awesome kids and the keys to the kind of getaway spot that has families coming back every summer–their up north home away from home. After his marriage dissolved, leaving him a single dad, he feels he’s the last person to judge Maren for her recent transformation (even if his best friend, her brother, wants him to feel otherwise). Besides, he genuinely likes having her around. She’s a breath of fresh air, his kids adore her (not to mention her dog, Rogers), and it doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful.
Things between Maren and Joe are easy. So easy, they’re fully immersed in the middle before they even decide to begin. It’s not a question of should they, but rather can they make it last? Are things too easy, or is this just how real love works? In Erin Hahn’s heartwarmingly sexy Catch and Keep, Maren and Joe have to be brave enough to find out.
Black Raven by Jack Hunt
Narrated by Wesley Scott
Jack Hunt #1
Self Published
Whispersync Deal with Kindle Purchase
Kindle Edition Currently Available with Kindle Unlimited
Who is Max Ryker? He knows his own identity, but he can’t convince anyone else. And with only 62 hours left, he fears he might soon forget himself.
A man, who believes he is a government operative for a covert black-ops division of the CIA, awakens in the aftermath of the bombing of a federal building in Chicago. Disoriented and struggling to reconcile his last memory—an operation in Croatia pursuing a target wanted for espionage—he soon finds himself accused of domestic terrorism and mass murder. Either his mind is unraveling, or he’s been expertly framed.
Adding to his confusion, he discovers a wedding band he doesn’t recognize adorns his finger, an ominous watch on his wrist counts down from 62 hours, and the cryptic words ‘Black Raven’ are scrawled across his hand. As his memories fade with each passing hour and his pleas of innocence fall on deaf ears, he is forced to flee in a desperate bid to clear his name.
Targeted by a nationwide manhunt involving multiple agencies, he begins to unravel the secrets of his shadowy past. With the unexpected help of a few resourceful allies, he embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the true motives of those who betrayed him and thwart a deadly conspiracy that extends to the highest echelons of power.
Recommended for fans of Vince Flynn, LT Ryan, Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, Clive Cussler, Mark Greaney, James Rollins, Jason Kasper, and Blake Banner.
Midnight Dance by Douglas Pratt
Narrated by Ray Montecalvo
The Corsair Novels #2
Manta Press
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Kindle Edition Currently Available with Kindle Unlimited
Check out my reviews of other titles written by Douglas Pratt
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Ray Montecalvo
Caleb Saunders, the elusive ex-government assassin known as Corsair, is navigating the shadows, juggling the responsibilities of protecting not only his daughter but also Khloe—a young woman he rescued from the clutches of the mafia and drug cartels. As he strives to secure new identities for Khloe, Corsair is drawn to Cartagena, Colombia, on an assignment for a skilled counterfeiter. However, in this vibrant city, he unexpectedly crosses paths with an old adversary, Minuit, a former DGSE agent with a personal vendetta against Corsair, further fueled by the bounty on Caleb’s head. The stakes are higher than ever as old grudges resurface in the sultry atmosphere of Cartagena’s streets.
The Bitter End by Alexa Donne
Narrated by Kristen Sieh, Phoebe Strole, Brittany Pressley, Rachel L. Jacobs, Barrett Leddy, Nick Martineau, Bailey Carr, Briggon Snow
Listening Library
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When a winter storm traps eight teens in a remote ski cabin, they find themselves stranded with a killer—who may be one of their own. From the acclaimed author of The Ivies and Pretty Dead Queens comes a YA thriller that will make your blood run cold.
The trip of a lifetime might be the death of them all.
The students of LA’s elite Warner Prep can’t wait for their Senior Excursion—five days of Instagrammable adventure in one of the world’s most exclusive locations. This is not your average field trip.
Which is why eight students can’t believe their bad luck when they end up on a digital detox in an isolated Colorado ski chalet. Their epic trip is panning out to be an epic bore . . . until their classmates start dropping in a series of disturbing deaths. The message is clear: this trip is no accident.
And when a blizzard strikes, secrets are revealed, betrayals are exposed, and survival is at stake in a race to the bitter end.
Good Boys 2: Unleashed by Jeremy Robinson
Narrated by Tom Taylorson
Good Boys #2
Podium Audio
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Kindle Edition Currently Available with Kindle Unlimited
Check out my reviews of other titles written by Jeremy Robinson
Check out my reviews of other titles narrated by Tom Taylorson
In the chilling aftermath of Good Boys: The Lost Tribe, Micah, Jess, and the ever-loyal Golden Retriever, Grover, seek refuge in the snowy seclusion of a New Hampshire farm, along with their new Kynolari friends.
As winter’s grip tightens, so does the Draun’s hold on Earth. The signal sent by the Visionary has awakened the Draun DNA inside two hundred and fifty million humans, the number increasing every day. Nowhere is safe, and humanity is on the brink of unimaginable chaos.
Forced to flee after a devastating attack on the farm, the heroes are scattered, pursuing desperate gambits across the globe. In the sands of Egypt, Praxion’s team seeks to uncover the secrets of Anubis, the Egyptian god of death and the leader of the Kynolari’s Lost Tribe. A second team, led by Chirk, ventures into the heart of Mexico, searching for a lost Incan temple of Xolotl, whose association with death and physical description match that of Anubis. Both teams race against time, guided by mysterious legends and plagued by dangers, both ancient and modern.
Separated from the others, Micah and Jess embark on a perilous journey south through a transformed America, now a mosaic of Draun-fueled terror, where danger lurks at every stop, and no one can be trusted.
As ancient truths unfold into dreadful revelations, the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are tested against the backdrop of humanity teetering on the edge of annihilation. The quest for hope, the fight for survival, and the battle for the soul of the species are woven into a tapestry of adventure, heartbreak, heroism, and humor.
Jeremy Robinson, #1 Audible and New York Times bestselling author, returns with a masterpiece of suspense, humor, and heart, where the greatest battles are fought within, and the hope of mankind may rest in the paws of a Golden Retriever named Grover.
I’ve loved reading since I was little when my dad would read me Dr. Suess books. Fast-forward a little and I noticed that he was always reading on his lunch breaks at work, and I wondered why.Then, I found a book that took me to another place and time, to another feeling,another sense of “being”.It was the first book that I ever fell in love with, and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.
