Welcome to my weekly feature that focuses on audiobooks. It’s time to…
Once again this year, I signed up for the annual Audiobook Challenge hosted by The Book Nympho and Hot Listens. My personal goal is to listen to 50 audiobooks, meeting the My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) level (30-50 audiobooks) during 2016. For more information about the 2016 Audiobook Challenge, click the image below.
2016 Audiobook Challenge Update: January – June
While I’ve had some ups and downs in my listening habits so far this year, I’m right on track to meet my goal of 50 books. Here is a list of the books I’ve listened to so far this year.
Book 01: Love So Hot by Marquita Valentine, Narrated by Piper Goodie (1/1)
Book 02: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy, Narrated by Lorelei Avalon (1/4)
Book 03: The Dirt on the Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones, Narrated by Lorelei King (1/9)
Book 04: Claimed by Elle Kennedy, Narrated by C S E Cooney (1/13)
Book 05: On the Edge by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Reedman (1/19)
Book 06: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Reedman (1/27)
Book 07: Fate’s Edge by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Reedman (2/10)
Book 08: The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin, Narrated by Johanna Parker (2/28)
Book 09: Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren, Narrated by Deacon Lee & Olivia Song (3/3)
Book 10: The Professor’s Student by Bronwyn Green, Narrated by Tatiana Sokolov (3/8)
Book 11: Sweet Filthy Morning After by Christina Lauren, Narrated by Jason Carpenter (3/8)
Book 12: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs, Narrated by Lorelei King (3/15)
Book 13: Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop, Narrated by Alexandra Harris (3/24)
Book 14: Steel’s Edge by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Raudman (4/1)
Book 15: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Raudman (4/6)
Book 16: Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Raudman (4/15)
Book 17: Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis, Narrated by Karen White (4/21)
Book 18: Rescue My Heart by Jill Shalvis, Narrated by Karen White (4/28)
Book 19: Bright Blaze of Magic by Jennifer Estep, Narrated by Brittany Presley (5/5)
Book 20: Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis, Narrated by Karen White (5/12)
Book 21: Wickedly Dangerous by Deborah Blake, Narrated by Romy Nordlinger (5/18)
Book 22: Love So True by Marquita Valentine, Narrated by Piper Goodeve (5/21)
Book 23: Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Raudman (5/28)
Book 24: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Renée Raudman (6/6)
Book 25: Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst, Narrated by Madeleine Maby and Sebastian York (6/12)
Book 26: Big Vamp on Campus by Molly Harper, Narrated by Amanda Ronconi (6/13)
My favorite story that I listened to during so far in 2016 is Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews. Although this was a “re-read” for me, having originally read the ebook a year ago, the story was equally as wonderful the second time around, and all the more powerful when performed by Renée Raudman. The emotion is put into every moment has me tearing up just thinking about it. Kate Daniels is my favorite series, and listening to it rekindled my love for the amazing series.
As you can see from my list, I actually listened to several Ilona Andrews titles in 2016. Some were new to me, and some were re-reads. Renée Raudman has become one of my favorite narrators.
Two other books worth mentioning are Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren, Narrated by Deacon Lee & Olivia Song and Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs, Narrated by Lorelei King. Both books received high marks from me, the former bringing to me a new author/series that I devoured, and the latter proved to me once again how much I love the Mercy Thompson series as read by Lorelei King.
My favorite narrative performance this quarter is goes to Renée Raudman, most specifically for Magic Breaks, but in general for all of her work on all the books I consumed so far this year. Ms. Raudman took me to new emotional highs and lows as she performed one of the most gripping, touching scenes in any book, as Kate deals with some massive bad juju in Magic Breaks.
You can find most of my audiobook reviews either by checking out my Listen Up! Posts or on Booklikes and GoodReads.
What about you – how are you doing in the Audiobook Challenge? Do you like to listen? What are your favorites of 2016?
Lorelei King and Renée Raudman are two of my favorite narrators. I just love them both. I also really enjoy Karen White, who you listened to a lot this first half. I still need to try Christina Lauren audiobooks.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
Yep. Those two are my favorite female narrators, with James Marsters my favorite male narrator. They really get to the heart and soul of the story.
I love this line up! I really need to look at all I’ve listened to so far for this challenge.
It’s so much fun seeing what everyone listens to!
Good job! I can’t listen to MT because I have King stuck in my head as Charley Davidson. LOL I’ve listen to Renee narrator a romance that wasn’t by Andrews but I can’t remember what the title is right now. But I pretty listen to her work on the Andrews’ books. I LOVE Christian Lauren and I’ve listened to all their books on audio but for Sexy Wicked Liar because I wasn’t a huge fan of the male narrator when I listened to him narrator an author’s book.
I still have trouble sinking into LK as Charley for the same (opposite) reason. She is MT for me. I love how Renee sounds different for each IA series. LIAR is the only book I listened to – I read the rest of the series. I enjoyed the male narrator.
I’m recent to audio books and was inspired by yours and Book Nympho’s websites to increase my listening. So, I checked out Iron Crossed by Patricia Briggs in audio from the library. Some how, I got to the 1/3 mark in ebook and just left if for months. I consumed that audio book and the next three in the series from the library. Lorelei King is fantastic. I’ll have to wait for my library to get the audio books for the latest two books in the series, otherwise, I would have binged on those too.
What do you recommend about the cost of audio books and getting the most for our money & budget? I try to check out audio reviews about narrators & the stories, look through my public library’s offerings, check out whispersyn books etc. I do have some credits left, but my Audible account is on hold since I haven’t decided how I want to proceed.
Yea!! Thanks so much. I’m glad you are enjoying the audios.
Cost is a difficult thing to manage. @jenniferthebooknympho:disqus and @mlsimmons:disqus plus Felicia from Geeky Book Blogger could probably give better advice. Since I get so many review ebooks, I don’t spend as much on “print” books, and don’t mind buying the audible books. But I do get a lot from my library (I have access to my mom’s library too!)
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