Romance Audiobooks discussion

Now and then I get in the mood to listen to some steamy romance in audio and now I'm in such a mood (I blame you Robert Petkoff!) I recently listened to which was perrrfect but the couple of audios I listened afterwards have a sexy description but not follow through in the actual stories (just a couple of love scenes towards the end, etc.)

Any recommendations? Any genre except BDSM. I'm not looking for actual erotica unless it has a plot. :)

Hiya D.G.,

So Erotic but not Erotica, right? I think that Elizabeth Hoyt writes some really great love scenes and you could check out either the Maiden Lane or Princes series. Both have good narrators.

I always fall back on Nalini Singh's Psy-changeling series as a good recc. for people because it's hot but the sex isn't the main focus of the story.

I liked Yours to Keep (a contemporary) and The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie are both pretty hot without being just about sex.

I'm sure you'll get lots of recommendations but those would be mine. (It's too bad that the narrations are the older Elizabeth Lowell's aren't well thought of because I find those really erotic. I also always really thought Johanna Lindsay's Tender Rebel and a Heart so Wilde were hot).

Yup, that's a good way to put it, Ancientpeas.

I've read all of those except for Yours to Keep. I'll check it out!

Oh and On Dublin Street was pretty good. I don't think of it as Erotica but there is quite a bit of sex.

It's hard to know how much sex is too much sex for some people. I have no problem with a lot of sex and a very short fuse for stupidity so as long as it's not stupid sex I'm fine with it.

the too much sex thing might be like the quote about pornography: (to paraphrase) I can't tell you (how much is too much) but I can tell you when I see it.

You might want to check out Lauren Dane. The Delicious series in audio is decent but I'm afraid I'd have to rec. you reading Brown Sibling series instead of listening. I found that narrator (Lucy RIvers) OTT (over the top - per Mavis in In Death series). Her Chase Brothers series in audio is OK as well but more regular romance and not quite as steamy.

Thanks, ladies. I'll check those out. :)

Maya banks' has two Highlander series which are a perfect blend of historical with erotica mixed in. I believe they are on sale for $3.99 if you buy the Kindle book. The McCabe trilogy and Armstrongs and Montgomery trilogy. I have all of them and often relisten. My favorite is the first, In Bed with a Highlander.

I have In Bed with a Highlander, started it but haven't been in the mood to continue...I'll try to get back to it once I'm done with the book I'm listening now!

So, I was just wandering around audible and in the case of Maya's series they are on sale independent of the Kindle deals.

So, how did the hunt for Steamy books go, D.G.? Did you find any new ones you liked?

I agree with those mentioned here (particularly Hoyt, Singh & the Banks's highlander series). I haven't tried Dane's Delicious series, but will check this out.

Some others falling in to this category that I would recommend are:

I-Team & MacKinnon's Rangers by Pamela Clare
Stage Drive Series by Kylie Scotts
Driven Series by K. Bromberg
Demonica Series by Larissa Ione
KGI Series by Maya Banks

I recommend Laura Florand's Chocolate series as well.
I found Erin McCarthy's Fast track series and Jaci Burton's Play by Play series pretty good too.

I also really like the Beautiful Bastard Series by Christina Lauren. Grace Grant, Sebastian York and Jonathon Cole do an excellent job!!

Did you ever listen to the "Fifty Shades" books on audio? The audible ones are really good. I enjoyed them a lot.
The Crossfire series on Audible was also hot. I agree that Beautiful Bastard is very well done on Audible.

I've been listening to Cherise Sinclair's books on Audible and really enjoying them. She writes bdsm romances and is an amazing writer. Her Masters of the Shadowlands series (Club Shadowlands, Dark Citadel, Breaking Free) makes you kind of wish the club and the characters in the books she describes really existed just so you could meet/see them.

Here is my recommendation! Danelle Harmon- Captain of My heart was lovely! The narrators voice is so soothing and worthy! I would totally read her series!

Her whole Sea Heroes series is fantastic. Not sure how many she has gotten on audio so far though. Her De Monforte series is also very goid and I think they were on sale recently

Dawn wrote: "Her whole Sea Heroes series is fantastic. Not sure how many she has gotten on audio so far though. Her De Monforte series is also very goid and I think they were on sale recently"

Love that series.

Dawn wrote: "Maya banks' has two Highlander series which are a perfect blend of historical with erotica mixed in. I believe they are on sale for $3.99 if you buy the Kindle book. The McCabe trilogy and Armstro..."

Those two books are just fabulous. The 3rd one was supposed to be out in 2015 but she's writing so many other books it's been pushed back to 2016. As good as the books were I'm done with Ms. Banks. I'm not reading anymore series' unless they're all available.
Heather Killough-Walden writes some great books too. I've read 5 of her King series and the 6th one is out. AND there's supposed to be a total of 13 in the series. Again, someone who's writing book after book that has nothing to do with the King series. So, how long is it going to be before the other 7 are out? Ten years? More? Um, no thanks.

Trisha, originally it was suppose to be out in 2013, then she started pushing it back. Each year it goes onto the next year's schedule. But that is the Armstrong's and Montgomery's trilogy. I agree, she has infuriated me over this issue and I will not read another of her books until she releases this last book. But the other trilogy is complete and my favorite of the two.

Dawn wrote: "Trisha, originally it was suppose to be out in 2013, then she started pushing it back. Each year it goes onto the next year's schedule. But that is the Armstrong's and Montgomery's trilogy. I agree..."

Ditto what Dawn said, except I'll be continuing the KGI series. That McCabe Trilogy is wonderful.

The Montgomerys & Armstrongs series was supposed to have about five or six books. Now, it doesn't appear likely that series will ever be continued. Her website doesn't even mention the third book any more.

In Maya's defense, in case you were unaware, she has been ill this past year and this has affected her writing schedule. She put a blog post on her facebook page about how sorry she feels about letting her readers down.

I'm aware of that and our issue rises from the introduction of three, yes, three new series related to bondage and BDSM. These were started after the other series, which has been tabled.

I was and am still sympathetic to what happened to Maya last year. It had to be tough and have to keep writing. My issue is with the decision to offer more of this standard that has generated a lukewarm reception. Her loyal fans are just disappointed with her choices, which I think is a fair criticism.

I made a shelf called the edge of never - for books that keep getting pushed with no updates

Aptly titled.

Dee wrote: "I made a shelf called the edge of never - for books that keep getting pushed with no updates"

Good one, Dee. BTW, how many books has Ms. Banks written since the second Armstrongs and Mongomerys was released? Does anyone know?

Dawn wrote: "Trisha, originally it was suppose to be out in 2013, then she started pushing it back. Each year it goes onto the next year's schedule. But that is the Armstrong's and Montgomery's trilogy. I agree..."

Good grief! That makes me even angrier. I can't see myself ever reading her again. Even if the third book comes out I think I'll pass.

Jonetta wrote: "I was and am still sympathetic to what happened to Maya last year. It had to be tough and have to keep writing. My issue is with the decision to offer more of this standard that has generated a lukewarm reception. Her loyal fans are just disappointed with her choices, which I think is a fair criticism. "

Ditto!

I can understand the need to take time off to recuperate and then get back in the saddle, but Banks has not taken a hiatus due to poor health. She is still churning out new series that are frankly, of very poor quality.

The decision to push back again and again a book that loyal readers have been waiting for, for several years, in favor of these weak stories, is just unacceptable.

Lauren wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "I was and am still sympathetic to what happened to Maya last year. It had to be tough and have to keep writing. My issue is with the decision to offer more of this standard that has..."

I whole-heartedly agree, Lauren.

It's kind of like sherrilyn Kenyon/kinley mcgregor - I've been waiting on the next lords of Avalon book for 5yrs now - it kept getting pushed and yet she still has dark hunter books/chronicles of nick and other books coming out - just say you aren't going to continue the series already

Hmmm...I have the books but haven't started them. What would you recommend?

Which ones? Lords of Avalon or dark hunters?

Kinley McGregor.

Ehhh - I think I've just out grown her (and Kenyon as a reader); she isn't bad but others I enjoy more - I just won't buy read any more of her stuff because of series she has left hanging - she had the Avalon series; there was like a brotherhood of knights one and then under her Kenyon name - the BAD agency books

Thanks for the feedback!

Back to DG's original question - I've enjoyed some of the books from entangled that have been release in audio and they have some steamy moments - listened to all three books in Katee Robert series a couple of months ago

D.G. wrote: "Now and then I get in the mood to listen to some steamy romance in audio and now I'm in such a mood (I blame you Robert Petkoff!) I recently listened to which w..."

A couple great series if you like steamy are
The Mayhem in Mayfair Series by Grace Callaway





Or there is the School of Gallantry Series by Delilah Marville:






Or there is the Mistress Matchmaker series by Jess Michaels




So, for hot and steamy good stories these are some good ones.

Omg. Now I have to figure out if I want to continue with Dark Hunter? I agree with whomever said they should just state they are not going to continue a series.

I'm not giving up Dark Hunter:)

I gave up on Dark Hubter at Retribution (?) - sundown's book - I'd been waiting for his story since meeting him in zarek's book and it was just horrible - a new pantheon (Native American); just felt like she dialed it in

I like learning about different Pantheons so I'm not giving up on Dark Hunters either. I just have to make it through Acheron's book. Hopefully this year.

OMG, I haven't checked this thread for a while. Thanks for the recent recs! I'll go through the most recent ones and see if there's something I can get on sale on Audible or recommend my library.

Thanks for the recs, ladies!

Will def. check out: MacKinnon's Rangers, (this has been on my radar for a long time), Driven Series, Stage Drive, The Mayhem in Mayfair Series, School of Gallantry Series, Mistress Matchmaker, Captain of My heart

On the fence: KGI Series, Katee Robert series, Chocolate series (I started a couple of this series and wasn't wowed by them...but I'm more tolerant in audio, LOL!)

Read/Already reading: I-Team, Demonica Series, Fast track

Read first book already and won't continue the series: Play by Play

Not my cuppa (not into the billionaire trope): Beautiful Bastard, Fifty Shades, Crossfire

DG - let me know if you decide to listen to Stage Dive - I keep getting it recommended and may just pick it up in audio

Dee wrote: "DG - let me know if you decide to listen to Stage Dive - I keep getting it recommended and may just pick it up in audio"

Sure, Dee. I just recommended it to my library so it shouldn't be long until I get it. I'll let you know.

I will freely admit I don't know much about the situation and can only speak generally. It is possible that she's not in control of her publishing schedule, if she works with a publisher. It's not uncommon for a publisher to tell an author, "If you'll do this, then we'll do that..." And then they never do "that." And if they speak out about it, they get dumped. I don't know if this is the case, just speculating based on things I've heard from other authors. And if she has non-compete clauses in her contracts, then she can't release those books on her own.

Jonetta wrote: "I'm aware of that and our issue rises from the introduction of three, yes, three new series related to bondage and BDSM. These were started after the other series, which has been tabled.

I was an..."

then she could say - due to x, y, z this is the current status of the books...rather than the crickets that we are hearing

I agree Dee...if only she let us know what is going on. At this point, I have completely stopped even looking for it.

Okay, I won't give up on Dark Hunters. I bought the bundle super cheap last summer, I just can't get myself to pull it out and read past book 3. Too bad I am so OCD, because this is a series I could see myself skipping around.

DG, if you want a short listen, Somebody's Lover, by Jasmine Haynes is a decent listen and steamy. It is about 4 hours.

Dee wrote: "then she could say - due to x, y, z this is the current status of the books...rather than the crickets that we are hearing"

Agreed. Banks could be more forthcoming about it if that were the situation.

When Lara Adrian was having issues with her publisher and decided to postpone the next book in the Midnight Breed series so that she could self-publish it, she was open and honest with her fans, and we appreciated it and were willing to wait.

The impression I get is that Banks is cashing in on the 50 Shades hoopla and making oodles on the shorter more simplistic BDSM plots - maximum return for minimum effort.

Perhaps this is a harsh critique but without further input from the author, it is the only explanation I can come up with for pushing back a book year after year.

Dawn wrote: "Okay, I won't give up on Dark Hunters. I bought the bundle super cheap last summer, I just can't get myself to pull it out and read past book 3. Too bad I am so OCD, because this is a series I could see myself skipping around. "

Like many series, the books are hit and miss. Books #3-#5 were great while later ones were only meh. I like Kenyon's writing style and world building so I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.