Audiobook Review: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau

Series:	Beast Charmer #1
Pub. Date:	June 25, 2019
Publisher:	Sourcebooks Casa Recorded Books
Narrators:	Brian Pallino Jennifer O'Donnell
Length:	438 pgs 12 hrs 43 min
Source:	NetGalley / RBDigitial

Kingdom of Exiles is a creative debut from one Sourcebook's newest authors, Maxym M. Martineau. I got to meet Maxym at Book Lovers Con this year, and she was lovely. I am stoked she has decided to write in my favorite genre - fantasy romance - as it seems the books in this genre are fewer and far between these days. I can definitely say that this author has been added to my auto-buy list, and can't wait to see where she takes this series in the future.

Audiobook Review: In a Badger Way by Shelly Laurenston

Series:	Honey Badgers #2
Pub. Date:	March 26, 2019
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Charlotte Kane
Length:	13 hrs 43 min
Source:	Hoopla

Shelly Laurenston's honey badgers are a ridiculously good time - and whether you are reading or listening to them, they can't help but make you smile. It's hard to believe this is only the second book in the series, because these seem like beloved characters that have been around for a while.

Audiobook Review: Fireborn by Katie MacAlister

Series:	Born Prophecy #1
Pub. Date:	Nov 20, 2018 June 11, 2019
Publishers:	Tantor Audio Kensington
Narrator:	Zehra Jane Naqvi
Length:	10 hrs 1 min 298 pgs
Source:	Hoopla / NetGalley

I had this book in my TBR on Hoopla when I saw it come across my NetGalley feed, and realized that Kensington was doing a re-release this past June. That having renewed my interest, I decided it would be a good time to do an audio/print read along, so I snatched this one up. Unfortunately, life and work travel got in the way that prevented me from getting the book read (and reviewed) prior to that re-release date... which seems to be the story of my life this year. But I'm glad I finally got to enjoy the story and meet a new cast of characters from Katie MacAlister.

Audiobook Review: The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Series:	Gilded Wolves #1
Pub. Date:	Jan 15, 2019
Publisher:	MacMillan Audio
Narrator:	Laurie Winkel P.J. Ochlan
Length:	11 hrs 55 min
Source:	Publisher

I have been a fan of Roshani Chokshi since I first picked up The Star-Touched Queen. I was expecting The Gilded Wolves to be similar in nature, with loads of beautiful prose and maybe some Hindu and Indian Folklore. So I was quite surprised by this book, as it stepped away from the prose and focused more on dialogue, character relationships and a linear plot.

Audiobook Review: Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh

Series:	Guild Hunter #11
Pub. Date:	Oct. 30, 2018
Publisher:	Berkley / Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Justine Eyre
Length:	11 hrs 44 min
Source:	NetGalley / Hoopla

Elena and Raphael are back center-stage in this eleventh installment of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series. I always love coming back to spend some time with our power couple that started it all. Elena is still the beloved mortal-turned-angel of New York, and consort to Raphael, our increasingly power archangel of the territory.

Audiobook Review: Shadow & Ice by Gena Showalter

Series:	Gods of War #1
Pub. Date:	Oct. 23, 2018
Publisher:	Harlequin Audio
Narrators:	Melissa Moran Leo Barnabas
Length:	14 hrs 48 min
Source:	Hoopla

Shadow and Ice is a fun and action-packed new series from Gena Showalter, that has lots of room to grow as we move forward. The Terra (Earth) realm has been invaded by immortal warriors who have come to fight for dominance and the spoils of the All War. So this series is part paranormal, part science fiction, and part steamy romance!

Audiobook Review: Lady of Light and Shadows by C.L. Wilson

Series:	Tairen Soul #2
Pub. Date:	Nov. 1, 2011
Publisher:	Audio Realms
Narrator:	Amy Cardy
Length:	12 hrs 45 min
Source:	Audible Romance

Lady of Light and Shadows is the second book in one of my favorite series - Tairen Soul by C.L. Wilson. I have been wanting to re-read this series for quite a while, and I'm so glad I've been able to start fitting it in by audio. This was one of the series that got me started on fantasy romance, and I so wish there were more of these types of books being written right now. I just love the genre... but I'm very picky! Luckily, C.L. Wilson is a master at her craft and draws us in with both engaging characters and fabulous world building.

Audiobook Review: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent

Series:	Menagerie #2
Pub. Date:	May 30, 2017
Publisher:	Recorded Books
Narrator:	Gabra Zackman
Length:	9 hrs 25 min
Source:	RBDigital

Spectacle is the second installment of Rachel Vincent's dark fantasy series, Menagerie. This series has been a unique breath of fresh air, and totally different from what I was expecting at the outset of first book. This is a dark fantasy series, with some horror elements thrown in, so don't go into this series expecting a warm fuzzy read. It's gritty and shows the worst of human nature at times. But it's sure to draw you in and hold your interest whether you are reading in print, or listening by audio. These books will need to be read in order to follow the continuing story line, and this review may contain spoilers from the first book.

Audiobook Review: Queen Takes Queen by Joely Sue Burkhart

Series:	Their Vampire Queen #3
Pub. Date:	June 26, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Cassandra Myles
Length:	9 hrs 11 min
Source:	Publisher

Queen Takes Queen is the third book in the reverse harem series, Their Vampire Queen. The series is getting progressively better, with the addition of new characters in each installment as our vampire queen grows in power with her harem.

Audiobook Review: Divorced, Desperate and Dangerous by Christie Craig

Series:	Divorced and Desperate #3.5
Pub. Date:	May 1, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Wendy Tremont King
Length:	3 hrs 37 min
Source:	Publisher

Divorced, Desperate and Dangerous is a novella in the Divorced and Desperate series, which started off with a posse of women who were, as the title suggests, divorced and desperate. With failed marriages and man trouble in their lives, the women were on the hunt and somewhat sex obsessed, but commitment phobic. I have only read the first book, Divorced, Desperate and Delicious, but I don't think you necessarily need to read this series in order.

Audiobook Review: Faery Born by Donna Joy Usher

Series:	War Faery #1
Pub. Date:	June 12, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Rachael Beresford
Length:	7 hrs 39 min
Source:	Publisher

Faery Born was a somewhat surprising read. I didn't realize it was young adult when I started it, and while I do read some young adult, it's not something that I pick up often. This story did seem somewhat juvenile, but I think that was partially because the narrator sounded so young. So I wasn't sure that I was going to finish the story at first, but something about it kept my attention and kept me listening until the end. So I think the story was good, I just had to get over the age and maturity level of the characters.

Audiobook Review: Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

Series:	Menagerie #1
Pub. Date:	Sept. 29, 2015
Publisher:	Recorded Books
Narrator:	Gabra Zackman
Length:	10 hrs 57 min
Source:	RBDigital

Well, this book certainly was not what I was expecting! In truth, I avoided the blurb before reading it. I am a fan of Rachel Vincent so I knew it would be good without investigating what the story was about... and I was right. Though unexpected, I was captivated by the story from beginning to end. This dark fantasy was a blend of mythology and horror set in the backdrop of a cruel and unusual carnival like you've never seen before.

Audiobook Review: Getting Wilde by Jenn Stark

Series:	Immortal Vegas #1
Pub. Date:	June 19, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Stephanie Bentley
Length:	7 hrs 37 min
Source:	Publisher

I have been looking for a new urban fantasy series to read, and this one caught my interest right away. The genre has been dwindling over the last few years, and there just aren't as many of these stories being written.

Audiobook Review: Chosen by the Vampire Kings by Charlene Hartnady

Series:	The Chosen #1
Pub. Date:	May 22, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Tatiana Sokolov
Length:	12 hrs 19 min
Source:	Publisher

This is my first read by Charlene Hartnady, even though this book has been on my TBR for a bit. I'm not a fan of serials, so I was happy to see that it was released as one book in both print and audio. It's been a while since I've read a new vampire book, and I was pleasantly surprised by this one. 

Audiobook Review: The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum

Series:	Highland Isles #4
Pub. Date:	May 8, 2018
Publisher:	Entangled Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Tim Campbell
Length:	6 hrs 49 min
Source:	Publisher

This is my first read by Heather McCollum, and I'm sorry that I haven't already read the rest of the Highland Isles series. I quite liked this one! If you are just discovering this author like me, I don't think its absolutely necessary for you to read the earlier books. There are some references to events in earlier books, and maybe a slight spoiler, but nothing major. 

Our heroine is an English lass, Grace Ellington, who has been living on the Isle of Mull with her sister (heroine of a previous book). The only thing I missed by not reading the earlier books was Grace's backstory. I wanted to know how she got to Mull, what happened in her past (it was referenced a few times but not explained), and how she became a healer. While Grace had a couple of reluctant moments early on, she didn't grind on my "reluctant heroine" nerve, and I liked her quite a bit. She was assertive and not afraid to speak her mind, particularly when it came to our hero. She was intelligent and kind and brave. All great qualities.

Audiobook Review: Deerskin by Robin McKinley

Pub. Date:	May 15, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Xe Sands
Length:	11 hrs 54 min
Source:	Publisher

This is my first read from Robin McKinley, and the beautiful cover with the hound really drew my eye. Deerskin was first released in the early 1990s, but is just now being brought to audio by Tantor Audio. The narrator, Xe Sands, did a great job with the performance, pacing and characters.

This is the story about the coming-of-age of Princess Lissla Lissar, a quiet child largely ignored by her larger-than-life parents. The King and Queen were beloved by their people, seemingly more for their beauty and fairytale origins than for any good deeds or benevolence. When the Queen's beauty fades and passes away, Lissar is thrown more into the spotlight than she has been in the past. This draws some horribly unwanted and incestuous attention from the King, which leads to a series of tragic events. Trigger warnings weren't the thing back in the 90s, but this story probably warrants one with today's societal trends.

Audiobook Review: Queen takes Knights by Joely Sue Burkhart

Series: Their Vampire Queen #1 Pub. Date: May 8, 2018 Publisher: Tantor Audio Narrators: Tristan James Cassandra Myles Length: 5 hrs 31 min Source: Publisher

So my friend Deanna has been raving about a lot of reverse harem lately, a new trend/trope in the romance community, particularly with indie authors. It seems that most of these stories are written in the young adult and new adult age groups, but I wanted to give it a shot and see what all the hoopla is about. The Their Vampire Queen seemed liked a good and steamy place to start, with each book being a quick read of about novella length.

Shara Isador grew up not knowing what she was or anything about her heritage. All Shara knew was that she was in constant danger, and both of her parents died protecting her. But when two handsome strangers come to Shara's rescue one night in the middle of Arkansas, it begins an enlightening and awakening for Shara where she will learn her true nature, potential, and power.

Audiobook Review: Divorced Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig

Series:	Divorced & Desperate #1
Pub. Date:	July 11, 2017
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Narrator:	Jennifer Woodward
Length:	8 hrs 37 min
Source:	Hoopla

I have seen this series floating around for quite a while, and I thought it sounded like fun. I'm not divorced (or married for that matter). I guess the desperate and delicious is up for debate... but I feel like I'm doing a little better than our heroine here. This series focuses on a posse of divorced femmes, seemingly obsessed with sex, and their lack thereof. 

Audiobook Review: The Shadow King by Heather Killough-Walden

Series:	The Kings #7
Pub. Date:	April 10, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Antony Ferguson
Length:	6 hrs 25 min
Source:	Publisher

The Shadow King is the 7th book in the Kings series, which revolves around 13 paranormal kings of various supernatural species. These are quick reads that really work well as a binge series, and I find that I am having a hard time remembering some of the earlier books after waiting a few years between the first books and these last few. I do think this series is a candidate for the re-read pile though, so I will definitely look to binge them one day in the future.

Audiobook Review: Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins

Series:	Old West #1
Pub. Date:	January 26, 2016
Publisher:	HarperAudio
Narrator:	Kim Staunton
Length:	9 hrs 27 min
Source:	Hoopla

Forbidden is my first read from the highly-acclaimed Beverly Jenkins, and it certainly will not be my last. I am not typically a fan of western romances, but I was drawn into this story and found myself enjoying it quite a bit. Jenkins certainly has a lovely writing style, which was complemented by this narrator, Kim Staunton, who had a very soothing voice. The cadence and pacing Staunton employed was perfect for the old west feel of this story.