Romance Audiobooks discussion

Someone had to start to Lisa Kleypas topic, must as well be me :)

I simply adore Lisa Kleypas audiobooks. Her historical romance novels are of the best stuff. I started listening to her audibooks about a year ago. I had not read any of novels before venturing in the audiobook versions.

My first LK audiobook was Secrets of a Summer Night(Wallflowers #1) Secrets of a Summer Night. I've listened to the entire Wallflower series, Capitol Theatre and my favorite series of all The Hathaways.

Anyone else a fan of Lisa Kleypas?

Yep, I really like her books. I have the Wallflowers series and Hathaways on audio, plus Dreaming of You, which is a favorite.

Just released on audible and it's only $5.87

Lupdilup wrote: "Just released on audible and it's only $5.87"

Thanks for the heads up. I really liked this one in print.

I just bought Then Came You during the audible 3 for 2 sale. I hope it's good. I tried Stranger in my Arms and really didn't like it. Rosalyn Landor did a good job with Simply Love by Mary Balogh, but not outstanding. We'll see.

If I remember correctly, I wasn't too crazy about the heroine in Stranger in my Arms, this was the first time I really didn't enjoy one of Kleypa's heroines, but I'm parcial to Rosalyn Landor's narrations, so I still managed to enjoy the book.

Carrie I'm so late in writing, and you've likely listened to Then Came You already. Just in case you haven't listened, it is one of my very favorite romance books, not just a favorite LK audiobook. I believe it was one of my first books by her.
Stranger in Her Arms isn't indicative of Kleypas' true magic. I wasn't into it that much either.

I did listen to Then Came You and enjoyed it. I didn't like Landor's narration of that book, but since then I've listened to two Landor-narrated books I have enjoyed, so she's still on my list of good narrators. I also listened to Secrets of a Summer Night and thought it was great. I'm definitely open for more Kleypas historicals. ;-)

It wasn't the writing in Stangers, it was the horrid heroine! Yuck!

I don't remember having issues with Landors' narration for the book. I listened to it too long ago. But Rosalyn Landors was the queen of historical romance for a while. Most of my first romance books were narrated by her, so I don't think I would have even known the difference.

I recommend Lady Sophia's Lover and Worth Any Price. (in that order they are a mini series) I adored those- the Bow Street runners series. Susan Deurdan narrates, I think she's wonderful.

Did you read the book after Then Came You? Derrick Craven's book, Dreaming of You? I liked those two so much.

I also liked Secrets of a Summer Night. Annabelle and Simon are wonderful characters. Simon is one of my book boyfriends :)
I admit that I hated the American accents of Lilli and her sister.

I hope you come to appreciate Kleypas. She's great!!

Have you listened to The Bride? Rosalyn Landors is classic in that performance.

I have several of those on my to-read list, Brittany. Thank you for the suggestions!

By The Bride, do you mean the Garwood book?

Yes. It's the book I most associate with Rosalyn Landors.

I read first and loved it so much that I purchased the unabridged audiobook from Audible.

If you've read the book, do you remember Leo's friend Christopher Frost who chased after Amelia? Well, he was nearly completely removed from the audio version. I didn't think any changes were made to an unabridged version. I'm really confused, anyone know what could have happened here?

Kelley wrote: "I read first and loved it so much that I purchased the unabridged audiobook from Audible.

If you've read the book, do you remember Leo's friend Christopher F..."

Didn't read the book but listened to the audio I love the Hathaway family series. Love Rosalyn Landors

I'm listening to Rainshadow Road right now. I'm a big Kleypas fan - she writes like few others and I have enjoyed both her historical and contemporary titles. Tanya Eby is doing a great job with this one but I think the story is boring. Did anyone really love this one?

I am listening to Dream Lake with Jeff Cummings as the narrator. Most of the characters are women - why would you have a man do them? He over-dramatizes and it all comes out overdone. It all sounds forced, not at all natural, so much so that it really distracts from the story. Even some of his men's voices are squeaky. Sam with a high voice? No way! Sorry, doesn't cut it.
Tanya Eby does a lot better job with Rainshadow Road.

Carrie wrote: "I did listen to Then Came You and enjoyed it. I didn't like Landor's narration of that book, but since then I've listened to two Landor-narrated books I have enjoyed, so she's still on my list of g..."

I had a hard time with her Derek Craven accent, but I got used to it. It was an enjoyable story regardless.

I think I will tackle Where Dream Begin next

Ruth wrote: "I am listening to Dream Lake with Jeff Cummings as the narrator. Most of the characters are women - why would you have a man do them? He over-dramatizes and it all comes out overdone. It all sounds..."

I've listened to several romance audio books with men narrators. They do not appeal to me at all. I agree, since most characters are women (and probably a high percentage of listeners too) then why would you have a male narrator?

Hi Lea, I've been gone for sometime, but I stopped by to see what was happening in my favorite group :)

As usual, you and I seem to have similar dislikes. Im a huge LK fan. But I was not happy with Rainshadow Road. It had promise, but the magical realism didn't work for me. I also felt like the romance was stilted. (Something I've never thought in a Kleypas book before!!)

I can't stand the recording of Jeff Cummings for Dream Lake for even 30 mins, and I have little intention of going further with the series.
I believe you were correct (I think you told me this) when you said that LK was trying to market herself as a broader "fiction" writer vs just romance. Well that that would be fine, if the books were good.

I have sadly watched a few of my favorite authors lose their spark: Linda Howard for one, and now Lisa Kleypas another. I remain hopeful, of course, but this Friday Harbor series by LK has at least 2 more books to come, I believe...

My favorite Lisa Kleypas book is A STRANGER IN HER ARMS.

Mara wrote: "My favorite Lisa Kleypas book is A STRANGER IN HER ARMS." I haven't read this one. So thanks, I will give it a try!

My first LK audiobook (and easily one of my all-time favourite LK books) was Married By Morning. I enjoyed Leo and Marks sniping at each other and very relucantly but passionately falling for each other even more in audio than I did in book form :D

Marita wrote: "My first LK audiobook (and easily one of my all-time favourite LK books) was Married By Morning. I enjoyed Leo and Marks sniping at each other and very relucantly but passionately fa..."
I loved this one,too.

I have Sugar Daddy and just noticed that all three of the books in this series are narrated by different women. Book #1 is Jeanne Stith, #2 is Renee Raudman (who I love) and #3 is Emily Durante. Has anyone listened to these and did the change in narrator bother you?

Lauren wrote: "I have Sugar Daddy and just noticed that all three of the books in this series are narrated by different women. Book #1 is Jeanne Stith, #2 is Renee Raudman (who I love) and #3 is Emi..."

Didn't the narrators in her Wallflowers series change too? I could swear Scandal in Spring (if not Wallflower Christmas as well) had a different narrator to the first three and there was even a message at the start to explain the narrator change. With the Wallflowers it did bother me because I'd been listening to the series back to back so it was very disconcerting to get used to the first narrator's voices for all the characters and then suddenly have to get used to new ones.

So no I haven't listened to Sugar Daddy etc but I imagine it'd be just as disconcerting, especially if there are recurring characters who you keep picturing/hearing differently when the narrator keeps changing.

Lauren wrote: "I have Sugar Daddy and just noticed that all three of the books in this series are narrated by different women. Book #1 is Jeanne Stith, #2 is Renee Raudman (who I love) and #3 is Emi..."

This was done purposefully according to Renee Raudman. The books are from three separate POVs (all different heroines told in first person) and therefore, they wanted three different narrators.

I thought the narrator of Sugar Daddy was good - not great but adequate. Renee Raudman's narration of Blue-Eyed Devil, took the entire book to a new level of enjoyment - I love her narrations. But the third book, Smooth Talking Stranger, I could not abide narrator Emily Durante. She didn't portray Jack as I envisioned - actually didn't even come close. I have read the book twice and totally enjoyed it in print.

I have almost all of LK's historicals on audio. Almost all are narrated by Roslyn Landor who is one of my favorites. I also like Susan Duerden. The producers are great at keeping the same narrator for all of a series.

Lea's Audiobooks wrote: "This was done purposefully according to Renee Raudman. The books are from three separate POVs (all different heroines told in first person) and therefore, they wanted three different narrators. "

Thanks for the input, Lea. It makes sense that they would do it that way. Listening to Renee Raudman is always a pleasure so its a pity they didn't stick with her throughout.

Any news on who will narrate the 4th Travis book or when it will be out?

Lea's Audiobooks wrote: "I thought the narrator of Sugar Daddy was good - not great but adequate. Renee Raudman's narration of Blue-Eyed Devil, took the entire book to a new level of enjoyment - I love her narrations. But the third book, Smooth Talking Stranger, I could not abide narrator Emily Durante. She didn't portray Jack as I envisioned - actually didn't even come close. I have read the book twice and totally enjoyed it in print. "

Thanks for saving me from a potential mistake. I recently finished Blue-Eyed Devil and it was outstanding. I was thinking about trying one of the other two books from the series next, but given your feedback I may not. I understand why they would have changed narrators, but Renee Raudman did such a fantastic job it's a tough act to follow.

Marita wrote: "Didn't the narrators in her Wallflowers series change too? I could swear Scandal in Spring (if not Wallflower Christmas as well) had a different narrator..."

No, I'm pretty sure Rosalyn Landor narrated all of the Wallflower books, and the Hathaways, too. The Lisa Kleypas/Rosalyn Landor combination is fantastic. (I know, I keep using that word to describe my favorites!)

JaneA wrote: "Thanks for saving me from a potential mistake."

Smooth Talking Stranger was actually my first ever Kleypas audiobook and I liked Emily Durante's narration. As with all things, of course, it's in the ear(?) of the beholder.

Ali-ef wrote: "As with all things, of course, it's in the ear(?) of the beholder. "

That is so true.

Ali-ef wrote: "Smooth Talking Stranger was actually my first ever Kleypas audiobook and I liked Emily Durante's narration. As with all things, of course, it's in the ear(?) of the beholder. "

Hmm, well I can get it at whispersync prices so I may try it. I really wish we could hear more narration on the samples we have available. Your last statement is so true!

Ali-ef wrote: "Any news on who will narrate the 4th Travis book or when it will be out?"

Don't know about the narrator but the book is scheduled for February 2015. Here's the link.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

@JaneA Yeah I looked it up and Roslyn Landor has narrated all the Wallflowers. I must be getting mixed up with some other series. I definitely love the Rosalyn Landor/Lisa Kleypas combination!