Favorite Narrators of the Year

 Audio Books are how I get through life. I listen while doing chores and grocery shopping. I used to listen way more when I commuted but even working from home I still finds time to listen. Here are some of my favorite narrators I listened to this year.

1. Amanda Ranconi’s able to give different voices to each character. She can do so many accents and make you fall into so many books. She is always one I am willing to listen to. I did so many relistens to books she narrated this year for Molly Harper.

2. Alexandra Harris is someone who works with Anne Bishop for her stories. She always enjoy listening to her give voice to different characters.

3. Lorelei King is also another amazing narrator. She has given voice to so many books that I’ve listened to this year. The one that comes to mind is Patricia Briggs Mercy books.

4. Along those same books Holter Graham narrates Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega series. I am not usually a huge fan of men doing women’s voices but he does an excellent job getting the different characters.

5. Troy Duran and Kelsey Navarro narrated the Pack Darling books by Lola Rocks and I loved those books in audio. Troy and Kelsey work well together, bringing the characters to life and giving each of them their different personalities.

6. Jarman Day and Melissa Schwairy took on Lola and the Millionaires by Kathryn Moon. There are a lot of characters in this book, and I loved how Jarman and Melissa gave voice to each of them. I have no idea how these people handle narrating smexy time but woo boy spicy.

7. Khristine Hvam narrates the books for Michelle Sagara books. I love what this woman does with each character. 

8. Vivienne Leheny took on Overlord by Anna Hackett characters and did an amazing job.

9. Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke worked together to bring Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting. I’ve always loved Stella Bloom. She brings so much to the books when she gives voice to the characters. Jason Clarke was also amazing in this book.

10. Charlotte Kane is the final one for this list. She narrates for Shelly Laurenston and does an awesome job with each character. She just brings to life the characters and makes me fall into the story.

Surprises of the year

Some of these will overlap with other lists as it is books that took me by surprise in the best and worst ways possible. 

1. Petal Plucker by Iris Morland – Surprised me by how mad I got at the ending. It was a pretty dang good book up until the last couple of chapters and then bam shit. I’ve never been so mad at a book before

2. Tryst in the Dark by Grace McGinty – I had read other books by Grace and they had been ok but nothing that drew me in so quickly and kept me enthralled as this one. 

3. That Time I got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming – I borrowed from KU and blew through this book and then the second one. I figured it was going to be the standard Para Rom and it was not. It had so much humor and it kept me wanting more because of how good it was. 

4. Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik – I’ve liked other books by this author and they usually run 4 stars but this one just hit all the boxes for me. Space adventure, pirates, enemies to lovers. I also liked most of the secondary characters. 

5. Pack Darling Part One by Lola Rocks – This book and Part 2 really did surprise me. It had some pretty negative reviews but I tried a sample and couldn’t put it down. It gives all the good things about a bully romance with some really good redemption trope in book 2. Which is why both books are on the list. They give you all the feels and you are rooting for Lilah to get her happy ending. 

6. Pack Darling Part Two by Lola Rocks – Well written redemption and heroin saving herself 

7. Barbarian’s Captive by Maddie Taylor – I enjoyed other books by this author and didn’t have any issues with some of the BDSM themed items in the book but this one just rubbed me the wrong way. 

8. Faith and the Dead End Devils by Kathryn Moon – I’ve liked so many of Kathryn Moon’s books and this one just bored and frustrated me. 

9. Orc from the Office by Kate Prior – this was selected for a book group read and figured it would be ok but it was one of those that I fell in love with the spicy but sweet insta love book. 

10. Falling for Autumn by Jarica James and Chloe Gunter – This was a sweet romance that just took me by surprise. It was cute and not normally something I fall for but the characters were well written and so were the secondary characters. 

Best Books of the Year

List of My Top 10 Books of the Year and Why I liked them so much. Ironically when figuring this one out it was harder to justify why I liked them best vs the worst list where I could come up with a couple words to describe my hate of the book. Some of these were just the books hit just right that they kept me interested and wanting more. They are also books that I’ve reread already this year as I did enjoy them so much which is why I’ve selected them. Here’s the best of the books I’ve read this year. If you're interested in the review just click on the title and author and it will take you to the review. 

1. Tryst in the Dark by Grace McGinty – Well written omegaverse story 

2. That Time I got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming – Well written story that is weird and has a lot of humor 

3. Bewitched by Elise Faber- Love a good hockey book, Well written and great characters 

4. Pack Darling Part One by Lola Rocks – really well written bully, omega romance 

5. Pack Darling Part Two by Lola Rocks – Well written redemption and heroin saving herself 

6. Protector by Anna Hackett – well written end of a series with a heroin who saves herself 

7. Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews – Great character development and in short story 

8. Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik – Well written story with great characters both primary and secondary

9. Crow Bones by Anne Bishop – Great addition to a series with more world building and character development 

10. Bond of Destiny by Larissa Ione – Well written short story with great characters and made me want to go and reread the entire series