New western romance on Audible

My latest recording on Audible is a sweet mail-order bride western romance. It's called Learning to Trust Again by Susannah Calloway.

"Fearful and frightened, Lacey Harper must learn to save herself. When her father plans to marry her off to enrich himself, she answers an advert for a Mail Order Bride. She boards a train to Colorado Territory to marry a man named Neil Thompson.

But Neil doesn’t want or need a wife. He’d buried his beloved Maggie four years earlier and cannot move on from her death. His daughter, Darcy, now six, needs the mother Neil refuses to provide.

Lacey arrives in Miner’s Gulch, Colorado, and learns that Neil’s family had asked for a Mail Order Bride for him; Neil has no knowledge of the arrangement. Lacey agrees to stay on only until she finds a new husband. Except Lacey is attracted to Neil, and Neil to Lacey.

But Neil declares he’ll never marry again. Lacey writes the Mail Order Bride Agency to find a man who truly wants her, but Darcy’s sudden illness prevents Lacey from leaving.

Neil realizes he’s fallen for Lacey, but has he lost her? When Lacey’s father arrives to take her home to marry another, Neil fights for her. Then a mysterious event binds Lacey and Neil together for all time."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.
 

A Western Romance and a Children's Classic

Two new releases on Audible since I last posted!  First up is a sweet historical western romance by Davalynn Spencer called Snow Angel: A Romantic Christmas Novella.

"As a child, she lost something precious at Christmas. Twenty years later, she's about to lose her heart.

Lena Carver works as her physician brother’s medical assistant, housekeeper, and cook despite her disfigurement from a childhood accident. Each year, the Christmas holidays come with contradictions - cherished memories of a mysterious encounter and painful recollections of a great loss. Lena lives with the belief that she is beyond love’s reach, until a dark-eyed cowboy arrives broken, bruised, and bent on changing her mind.

Wil Bergman wakes in a stranger’s home with a busted leg, a bullet-creased scalp, and no horse. Trail-weary, robbed, and penniless, his dreams and plans for a future are suddenly unattainable. Forced to recuperate in the home of a country doctor, he finds himself at the mercy of a surgeon whose sister’s healing touch has power to stitch up his lonely heart and open his eyes to the impossible."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase this book, head to Audible here.

Next up is another full-cast production from The Online Stage.  This one is the children's classic Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.  I played two small roles in this one.  As always, these are a lot of fun.


"Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Translated from the Italian by Carol Della Chiesa
Presented by The Online Stage
Carlo Collodi's whimsical recasting of the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea was first published in 1883 and has since become an established classic of children's literature. Geppetto, a poor wood carver, receives a piece of wood from which he carves a marionette. Much to his surprise, the puppet springs to life and embarks on a wild series of adventures.
Cast
Narrator - Michelle Marie
Pinocchio - Becca Maggie
Geppetto - Denis Daly
The Fairy - Amanda Friday
Also featuring the voices of Andrew Coleman, Andy Harrington, Ben Lindsey-Clark, Ben Stevens, Chyanne Donnell, Craig Franklin, Elizabeth Chambers, Erin Grassie, Grace Garrett, Griffin Johnson, Isabelle Friday, Jeff Moon, John Burlinson, Joseph Tabler, Larry Wilson, Leanne Yau, Lee Ann Howlett, Marty Krz, Peter Tucker, Phil Benson, Rob Goll, Russell Gold, Sara Sheckells and Susan Iannucci."

To listen to the sample and/or purchase this book, head to the Audible link here.

Two nice reviews and a new free recording on Internet Archive!

I've been busy, busy, busy with back-to-back narration jobs but I just noticed two very nice reviews for previously published books.



One is for Black Cloud: The Deadly Hurricane of 1928 by Eliot Kleinberg.  Audiofile Magazine has a blog and an article by Francisca Goldsmith, "Whither the Weather, We're Listening: Extreme Weather Audiobooks," has a nice mention of Black Cloud.  The article can be seen here. You can listen to a sample and/or purchase the book here.

The second book reviewed is a romance called The Bedwarmer's Son by Caryl McAdoo.  The audio version received a lovely review in InD'Tale Magazine.  That review may be found here.  You can listen to sample and/or purchase the book here.


Finally, a Voices of Today production of Robert Frost's poems was just released to their page on the Internet Archive.  I was very happy to be a participant in this project.  As always, books on the Internet Archive are free for downloading and listening.  The A Boy's Will may be accessed here.

My latest recording -- a historical romance!

My latest recording just went live on Audible yesterday.  The Bedwarmer's Son by Caryl McAdoo actually falls into several categories.  It's a historical romance, a murder trial, and Christian fiction.  I loved giving voices to the different characters in this one.


"What if Abel had killed Cain, but there was no jury of his peers?

In 1928 Georgia, a black man who kills a white man is automatically guilty, but the bedwarmer's son, an ex-slave, is no normal black man. And the dead white man is his half-brother. Once his lily-white lawyer lady learns the truth, everything changes. Can she save him from swinging?

Will the bedwarmer murder the one she's been bought to serve?

From the antebellum South, come travel the dusty trails of Jim Crowe Dalton, Georgia, with slave and master, saint and sinner. See if God is really big enough, if he truly cares about his children. McAdoo has done it again, this time in a brand new way. A delightful morsel for the palates of Christian listeners world round."

To listen to a sample and/or purchase the book, head to Audible here.

"Romancing Olive" now available from Audible!

My latest recording was just published on Audible.  This one is a historical romance called Romancing Olive: Prairie Romance by Holly Bush.  I loved the characters and the setting in this book.  It's laced with humor but deals with a serious situation along with a developing romance.  Here's the blurb from Audible:

"1891... Spinster librarian Olive Wilkins is shocked to learn of her brother's violent death at a saloon gaming table and her sister-in-law's subsequent murder, traveling far from her staid life to rescue her niece and nephew, now orphans. She arrives to find the circumstances of her brother's life deplorable and her long held beliefs of family and tradition, shaken.

Accustomed to the sophistication of Philadelphia, Olive arrives in Spencer, Ohio, a rough and tumble world she is not familiar with, facing two traumatized children. Her niece and nephew, Mary and John, have been living with a neighboring farmer, widower Jacob Butler, the father of three young children of his own and a man still in pain from the recent loss of his wife.

Real danger threatens Olive and Mary and John, while Jacob and his own brood battle the day-to-day struggles for survival. Will Olive and Jacob find the strength to fight their battles alone or together? Will love conquer the bitterness of loss and broken dreams?"

Hope you'll give this one a try.  To listen to a sample and/or purchase the book, head here. 

"Franklin Loves Lucy" on sale today at Audible!

The historical romance I recorded, Franklin Loves Lucy by Mary Matthews, just went on sale today at Audible.  This novella tells of the romance between Lucy Mercer and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  It's written from Lucy's perspective.  Lucy Mercer fell on hard times when her family lost their money.  She took a job as Eleanor Roosevelt’s social secretary.  Franklin Loves Lucy is the story of a relationship that began when Franklin Roosevelt was Assistant Secretary of the Navy and ended when he was President and took his last breath with Lucy by his side.

This recording may be purchased here.

I won a big give-away from the writers at BelleBooks!

The authors at BelleBooks (and Bell Bridge Books) had a big '20 pound' Christmas give-away and I was the lucky winner!  I have a special place in my heart for this publisher because I've narrated two of their books --  Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes by Deborah Smith, Sandra Chastain, Virginia Ellis, Debra Dixon, Donna Ball and Nancy Knight and, more recently, A Dixie Christmas by Sandra Hill.  The notice of the giveaway was posted on the writer's blog Riding With The Top Down.  I left a comment just as many other hopeful entrants did and I was the lucky one when a name was drawn.  I thought I'd share pictures of what I received in my '20 pound package.'

Seriously, this was a great haul!  Where do I start?  I love receiving all of the books by the various writers at Belle Books, of course, but they also added a t-shirt signed by the writers featured on their blog, another t-shirt with a cool saying, "Drink Responsibly.  Read Recklessly," several book bags -- the red one has a C.S. Lewis quote, "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again...", bookmarks, two rulers, a Christmas ornament (cute pair of mittens) and a very pretty pendant featuring the word (what else?) "Love."  I should also add that several of the books were autographed.  Very nice touch, ladies.

I know that giveaways are not unusual on writer and publisher's sites but this was way beyond anything I've ever won or seen offered before.  I have enough here to open up my own little romance lending library.  And, I suspect that's what I'll be doing to share my good fortune with family and friends.

A shout out to Lois Greiman for sending me not one but two emails to let me know that I'd won.  I really try to be careful when checking my email and do so constantly each day but I had missed her first notice.  So glad she gave me another chance!  Thank you, Lois, and all the writers at BelleBooks!

Now it's back to editing before I head back into my studio for the book I'm currently recording.  This prize was a great pick-me-up when I received it late yesterday!

A Dixie Christmas now available on Audible

One of my latest recordings, A Dixie Christmas by Sandra Hill, was released for sale on Audible today. This book is actually two novellas -- Blue Christmas and Jinx Christmas.  Both stories are set in the south so if you like southern romance, Sandra Hill knows how to write it.  Blue Christmas is set entirely in Memphis as Clayton Jessup III finds himself in one of those 'fish out of water' situations.  He's a wealthy Wall Street businessman who finds that he's inherited an old hotel (The Blue Suede Suites) among the riches his father left him when he died.  With plans to stop in Memphis just long enough to put the hotel up for sale to be razed and replaced by a strip mall, Clay doesn't count on meeting beautiful Annie Fallon.  Annie and her brothers are in dire straits trying to earn enough money for a new roof for the barn on the family farm.  Sparks fly when Clay hurtles in and threatens the Fallon family's plan to raise money.  Clay gets a little more than he bargained for when he meets this southern lady.

Jinx Christmas begins with NASCAR driver Lance Caslow deciding to try one last time to win back his ex-wife Brenda.  Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Lance seeks the assistance of Tante Lulu, a Cajun matchmaker.  Before this one is over, Lance finds himself appearing in a raucous Cajun Christmas show with Tante and her family "whose menfolk dance for charity events in little more than a smile...."

You can purchase A Dixie Christmas here on Audible.  It will also be available soon on Amazon and iTunes.  

My latest recording is for sale!

My latest recording was posted for sale today on Audible.  If you like romance, sex and shifters, you'll love this book.  Shifting Positions by Jennifer Dellerman is one hot, hot, hot book. 

Beautiful Tess Gentry returns to her small hometown in Colorado after years as a highly-paid model to look after her ailing mother.  As the daughter of a shifter, Tess had fled the town when she left for college and vowed to separate herself from the shifter society.  Little did she count on meeting a sexy-shifter-sheriff (say that fast, 3 times) named Caleb Bennett who recently moved to Woodcliff.  My, my, what's a girl to do? 

Available here.

Two new releases for romance lovers

Iambik Audiobooks released two new additions to their romance collection today.  The first is called Storm's Heart by Rachel Lyndhurst.  Narrated by author E.J. Newman.  When Greek lawyer Andreas Lazarides and bistro-manager Kizzy Dean clash over the executing of his mother’s final wishes, he takes matters into his own hands and Kizzy back with him to Ancient Greece. Tension runs high on the sun-baked Greek Island of Rhodes amidst the ancient myths and alleyways of Lindos village.

This one is a super-sexy, sophisticated romance with a dark, brooding centre.

The second romance is Trencarrow Secret by Anita Davison.  Narrated by the wonderful Ruth Golding, this one is a magnificent Victorian love story filled with dark family secrets and intrigues.  A more genteel romance in which, the heroine, Isabel, discovers that her parents' marriage is one of convenience.  Is she willing to settle for that, too?  Or does she have the courage to pursue true love?  There's only one way to find out...



Both books are available on the Iambik website for $6.99 each.  Or you might have a chance to win one or both of them by entering into Iambik's one year birthday giveaway bash. Check out the rules and how to enter (easy-peasy) here.

If audiobooks featuring romance (with sex) are your thing...

Iambik Audiobooks released their latest romance collection today with some teasing excerpts on their Tumblr and Twitter feeds.  This collection is comprised of five titles that may be purchased separately for $6.99 each or you can save money by purchasing the group as a set for $24.99.

The five titles are:  Around the World in Stilettos by Natalie-Jane Revell, Daughter of Darkness by Janet Woods, The Lady Soldier by Michelle Styles and Kate Allan, Nanny Behaving Badly by Judy Jarvie and Reversing over Liberace by Jane Lovering.

 
As the narrator of one of the books, Nanny Behaving Badly by Judy Jarvie, I'm just glad that my excerpt was in the written form.  The lovely Miette who, among other things, maintains the Iambik blog, had asked for sexy/steamy excerpts from the various narrators in order to titillate potential listeners.  Phew!  I'm really glad I sent her text excerpts.  Miette posted the following excerpt on Iambik's tumblr/twitter feed here.  From Nanny Behaving Badly:

“Their mouths met with more promise than she’d bargained for. Desire’s voltage wired her spine as her world rocked and spun as he kissed her, taking her over the edge with him.

Everything inside her melted. She reached up to hold his neck, tug him close as he deepened the kiss and their tongues told of desire unmasked. Mouths flirted and tangoed and told that each of them understood. He clasped her closer, then his hands smoothed down her spine.

Groaning with spiralling need, he trailed kisses on her neck, behind her ear.
She needed Lyle so badly it bared the weak and vulnerable spot deep inside.
‘I want you!’ he whispered.
‘Me too.’

Trust me, folks, that was one of the milder sections that I read.  No porn here, just good clean sex.  However, our own Irishman, Tadhg Hynes, sent Miette an audio excerpt from the book he narrated, Daughter of Darkness.  Miette dutifully posted Tadhg's reading here.  You'll just have to listen for yourself to find out what happens.  Miette did post a warning for anyone who might be listening at work. (wink)

"NSFSWC: Not suitable for the speakers on your work computers.  Unless you work for the type of place where “the hot flood of his passion” is on your meeting agenda.  It’s not our place to judge.  Enjoy the romance!"

Just fair warning for anyone who happens to be accustomed to blaring whatever comes out of their speakers.  Neither Miette nor Iambik can be held accountable.  So, for all of you romance fans who like your stories a little steamy/spicy, too, check out Tadhg's reading (feel free to smoke afterwards) and then head to our website.  

In the mean time, here's a little something to set the mood...

Three new releases from Iambik

Iambik Audiobooks released three new books today in a variety of genres.  A collection of short stories by Arjun Basu called Squishy: Short Stories is narrated by Bruce Pirie.   Entertaining, funny and literary -- Basu is a wonderful writer.

The second release is a science fiction book called TimeSplash by Graham Storrs.  Narrated by Emma Newman.  The title refers to jumping back in time.  Set in 2050 London, 'time-splashing' is considered fun until people start dying...

The last of the three releases is a romance by Judy Jarvie called Nanny Behaving Badly.  This one was narrated by yours truly and was a lot of run to read.   When pretty and sassy American Maddie meets Scottish hunk Lyle, the barbs and sparks begin to fly.  If you like romance, you'll love this one, especially the 'naughty bits'!

As always, these books are available now on the Iambik website for $6.99 each.  You can purchase them in mp3 or m4B formats.  They will be available on Audible and Amazon in roughly 4-6 weeks and the first chapters of all three books are on Iambik now for easy listening.