Speaking of Audiobooks: An Audio Take on the Top 100
It’s time for another audio take on the Top 100 List. We did so back in 2010 and, at the time, the list contained 58 unabridged audio titles. This year, there are 70 (one abridged, 69 unabridged). Just as with AAR’s Top 100 list of print titles, a good number are titles from the previous poll – 45 to be exact. Where did those 25 new titles come from? In the world of audiobooks, it’s just as likely that older titles are contributing to that number as new titles. Over the past three years, we have seen new audio releases of old favorites including such as Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Laura Kinsale’s Flowers From The Storm and The Shadow and The Star, Elizabeth Hoyt’s The Raven Prince, Jude Deveraux’s A Knight in Shining Armor, Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy, and soon – Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels.
At a later Speaking of Audiobooks, we’ll feature those audiobooks contained within The Best of the Rest, those books that ranked from 101 to 200 in the 2013 Top 100 Poll. There are another 65 audio jewels hidden in that list.
Continuing our inclusion of sound samples (other than those found at Audible), you’ll find samples within the list below of five audiobooks romance listeners hold in high regard – Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ It Had To Be You, Elizabeth Hoyt’s The Raven Prince, Lisa Kleypas’ Blue-Eyed Devil, and Linda Howard’s After The Night. Each includes that all-important interaction between the hero and heroine, something you seldom find in an Audible sample. Of course, there are dozens more we wish we could include.
Each title is numbered by its ranking on the Top 100 print list. Since we’re leaving the print titles off this list, the numbering will appear inconsistent. As an example, the first six books on the Top 100 list are available in audio format. The seventh, ninth, and tenth are not. Therefore, the list skips from sixth to eighth to eleventh.
Although our list of Top 100 audiobooks would likely differ greatly from this list since the narrator’s performance heavily impacts the success of an audio title, I feel safe in saying there are fans of each of these audio titles. I encourage you to ask in our comments area if you are unfamiliar with a narrator of a title you think will be of interest.
1. Lord of Scoundrels – Loretta Chase
Narrator unknown – to be released 2/15/14
Blackstone Audio
2. Devil In Winter – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
3. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Narrated by Josephine Bailey
Tantor Audio
4. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie – Jennifer Ashley
Narrated by Angela Dawe
Tantor Audio
5. Outlander – Diana Gabaldon
Narrated by Davina Porter
Recorded Books
6. Flowers From The Storm – Laura Kinsale
Narrated by Nicholas Boulton
Hedgehog, Inc.
8. Dreaming of You – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
11. The Spymaster’s Lady – Joanna Bourne
Narrated by Kirsten Potter
Penguin Audio
15. Bet Me – Jennifer Crusie
Narrated by Deanna Hurst
Brilliance Audio
18. Nobody’s Baby But Mine – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Books on Tape
19. It Had To Be You – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Books on Tape
20. Welcome to Temptation – Jennifer Crusie
Narrated by Aasne Vigesaa
Brilliance Audio
21. Match Me If You Can – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Harper Audio
22. The Raven Prince – Elizabeth Hoyt
Narrated by Moira Quirk
Hachette Audio
23. A Week To Be Wicked – Tessa Dare
Narrated by Carolyn Morris
Harper Audio
24. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Brilliance Audio
25. Morning Glory – Lavryle Spencer
Narrated by Kate Forbes
Recorded Books
27. Naked In Death – J.D. Robb
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Brilliance Audio
29. The Bride – Julie Garwood
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
30. It Happened One Autumn – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
31. Blue-Eyed Devil – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Renee Raudman
Brilliance Audio
32. Devil’s Bride – Stephanie Laurens
Narrated by Simon Prebble
Recorded Books
33. Private Arrangements – Sherry Thomas
Narrated by Virginia Leishman
Recorded Books
34. Lover Awakened – J.R. Ward
Narrated by Jim Frangione
Recorded Books
35. Persuasion – Jane Austen
Narrated by Juliet Stevenson
Naxos Audiobooks
37. A Knight in Shining Armor – Jude Deveraux
Narrated by Steve West
Simon and Schuster
38. Devil’s Cub – Georgette Heyer
Narrated by Michale Drew
BBC Audiobooks
39. Ravishing the Heiress – Sherry Thomas
Narrated by Jenny Sterlin
Recorded Books
40. Kiss An Angel – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Books on Tape
41. Mr. Perfect – Linda Howard
Narrated by Laura Hicks
Simon and Schuster
42. When He Was Wicked – Julia Quinn
Narrated by Simon Prebble
Recorded Books
44. What Happens in London – Julia Quinn
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Harper Audio
45. Venetia – Georgette Heyer – Abridged
Narrated by Richard Armitage
Naxos Audiobooks
46. Smooth Talking Stranger Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Emily Durante
Brilliance Audio
47. The Secret – Julie Garwood
Narrated by Susan Duerden
Brilliance Audio
48. Dream Man – Linda Howard
Narrated by Phil Gigante
Brilliance Audio
49. Heaven, Texas – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Books on Tape
50. MacKenzie’s Mountain – Linda Howard
Narrated by Christina Traister
Brilliance Audio
52. This Heart of Mine – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Harper Audio
53. More Than A Mistress Mary Balogh
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
55. Slave To Sensation – Nalini Singh
Narrated by Angela Dawe
Tantor Audio
56. Love in the Afternoon – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
58. Ravished – Amanda Quick
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
Brilliance Audio
60. When Beauty Tamed the Beast – Eloisa James
Narrated by Susan Duerden
Harper Audio
62. Then Came You – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
64. A Lady Awakened – Cecilia Grant
Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Tantor Audio
67. Cry No More – Linda Howard
Narrated by Joyce Bean
Brilliance Audio
69. After The Night – Linda Howard
Narrated by Natalie Ross
Brilliance Audio
70. Frederica – Georgette Heyer
Narrated by Clifford Norgate
BBC Audiobooks
72. Open Season – Linda Howard
Narrated by Deborah Hazlett
Simon and Schuster
73. Honor’s Splendour – Julie Garwood
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
Brilliance Audio
75. Ransom – Julie Garwood
Narrated by Susan Duerden
Brilliance Audio
76. Unveiled – Courtney Milan
Narrated by Rebecca De Leeuw
Courtney Milan
77. The Iron Duke – Meljean Brook
Narrated by Faye Adele
Penguin Audio
78. To Beguile A Beast – Elizabeth Hoyt
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
Blackstone Audio
79. Dream A Little Dream – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Books on Tape
80. Suddenly You – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Jill Tanner
Recorded Books
84. Sugar Daddy – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Jeannie Stith
Brilliance Audio
85. Secrets of a Summer Night – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
86. The Shadow and The Star – Laura Kinsale
Narrated by Nicholas Boulton
Hedgehog, Inc.
87. The Governess Affair – Courtney Milan
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Courtney Milan
89. For My Lady’s Heart – Laura Kinsale
Narrated by Nicholas Boulton
Hedgehog, Inc.
91. Mine Till Midnight – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Brilliance Audio
93. Rising Tides – Nora Roberts
Narrated by David Stuart
Brilliance Audio
95. A Hunger Like No Other – Kresley Cole
Narrated by Robert Petkoff
Simon and Schuster
96. Lady Sophia’s Lover – Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Susan Duerden
Brilliance Audio
97. Natural Born Charmer – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by Anna Fields
Harper Audio
98. The Grand Sophy – Georgette Heyer
Narrated by Sarah Woodward
Naxos Audiobooks
100. Sylvester – Georgette Heyer
Narrated by Nicholas Rowe
Naxos Audiobooks
Audio Reviews at AAR
As I announced earlier, our audiobook reviews are now published with AAR’s print reviews rather than contained within this column. Over the past month, we’ve reviewed the following audiobooks:
About Last Night – Ruthie Knox Narrated by Coleen Marlo
The Duchess War – Courtney Milan Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
My Sweet Folly – Laura Kinsale Narrated by Nicholas Boulton
The Passion of the Purple Plumeria – Lauren Willig Narrated by Kate Reading
Sylvester – Georgette Heyer Narrated by Nicholas Rowe
Romance Audio News
Loretta Chase
Did you notice number one on today’s list? Yes, it’s finally coming to audio! In both the 2011 and 2012 Favorite Romance Audiobooks Poll here at Speaking of Audiobooks, Loretta Chase was the overwhelming first choice of our listeners in the Author’s Romance Backlist You Most Want to See in Audio category. And Lord of Scoundrels has always been at the top of my Loretta Chase list and I imagine others as well with its number one place in the last five Top 100 Polls – 2013, 2010, 2007, 2004, and 2000. Talk about standing the test of time. Blackstone Audio has slated its release for February 15th and now we can only hope fervently for a strong narrator.
More Kristen Ashley in Audio
Law Man is coming this month and Motorcycle Man in January. We’ve known about those upcoming releases for months now but the excitement is strong, especially for Motorcycle Man. Hachette Audio has now committed to five additional Ashley titles in 2014. On March 24th, we’ll see the release of Fire Inside, the second entry in the Chaos series. Following that, the Colorado Mountain series is scheduled for late spring through the summer – The Gamble on May 7th, Sweet Dreams June 24th, Lady Luck on July 29th, and Breathe on August 26th. I, for one, am hoping for a stronger narrator than that chosen for the three titles released to date.
Christine Feehan’s Dark Series
Harper Audio is rerecording eight entries in Christine Feehan’s Dark series. It’s all male narrators this time around with performances by Patrick Lawlor, Kaleo Griffith, Marc Bachmann, and Sean Crisden. All eight are slated for release on 12/31/13. Let’s hope this will reinvigorate the Dark series in audio as well as introduce to today’s younger listeners. I know I’m on board.
Ending Notes
Check out our Speaking of Audiobooks Facebook page to see romance audio updates, industry news, and links to articles of interest.
For those new to our Speaking of Audiobooks column, be sure to check out our audio archives for further recommendations and discussions.
Our affiliated Goodreads group – Romance Audiobooks keeps growing and now has 648 members. Come join us for discussions in between columns.
Enjoy your listening!
– Lea Hensley
Anna Fields was absolutely amazing. She nailed SEP’s books. I still throw out dialogue to a couple of my friends using “”her voice””. She is sorely missed.
Although I have listened to Anna Fields narration of SEP’s Chicago Stars series numerous times, I loaded a few back on my iPod yet again after spending time choosing the sound clip for this column. She simply is the best when it comes to contemporary romance humor. Missed indeed.
One of my favorite voices/narrators is Xe Sands in Jacquelyn Frank´s the Nightwalker series and Jim Frangione in JR Ward´s Black Dagger Brotherhood. I can heartily recommend both writers, and the experience when you hear the books is magic.
I agree Jessica! Can’t imagine anyone else performing Ward’s BDB. And Xe’s narration of Anne Stuart’s On Thin Ice and Fire and Ice are top notch too.
Listening to some samples – the lady who narrates the SEP audio books sounds perfect for those books. Really charmed by her. I also really like the voice of the woman who narrates Crusie’s WELCOME TO TEMPTATION.
Richard Armitage is great doing the Heyer.
But a few of the other historical romances sound very stilted and un-natural on audio.
Unfortunately, just because an audio is part of the Top 100 print romance list doesn’t mean the narrations are top of the line (as I’m sure you discovered). There are a few of my favorite print books on this list that just don’t work for me in audio – and those are mostly historicals. The SEP narrator, Anna Fields, is one of the most popular romance narrators of all time, if not THE most popular. Unfortunately, she died unexpectedly a few years back and the romance audio community has mourned her loss.
Of course I need a spell checker and a grammar genie to follow me around…LOL I meant, I remember when most of these!!! See, not a typo..just a Loupe ;)
Realy, thank you guys!
Ha Lupdilup! I didn’t even notice.
Hasn’t it been fun watching these favorites gradually appear? Now I guess we should turn all this around and let the audio publishers know those lacking on the audio list that are in the Top 100 are sure to be hits if they can attain the rights. Or, possibly the author will be encouraged to release their titles through Audible’s ACX program.
This list has been my Bible… And I remember when most of this were not on audio, thank God it’s getting better :)
Thank you! front the bottom of my ears (and heart) for bringing some of my most adored series to my radar.
I love this list as well. I am particularly happy to see that many of Georgette Heyer’s books, such as the Grand Sophy are now making it to Audio. I would love to see more of Mary Jo Putney and Joanna Bourne make it to audio. The Spymaster’s Lady with Kirsten Potter is a true gem.
I am thrilled too to see Naxos Audiobooks releasing more unabridged Heyers and all with excellent narrators.
And only, if only we could see more Bourne titles! Penguin picked up one – just one several years ago. I hope that means the rights to more could be picked up as well? We’ll keep hoping.
I love audiobooks. There are several books I have not read yet simply because I would rather listen to the audio (Loretta Chase!). There are also a few that I re-read when they were finally released in audio format (Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie Family series is one!). I am also happy the hear the they are rerecording some of Christine Feehan’s Dark series. I have all of the originals and some of them were horrible!
I have heard that the narrator of the Dark series’ entries we are seeing rerecorded was absolutely awful. So, you are not along in your thoughts.
What titles are being rerecorded?
Dark Legend
Dark Challenge
Dark Gold
Dark Magic
Dark Melody
Dark Guardian
Dark Fire
Missing one! Or at least I think I am… Will continue checking.
I’m NOT missing one – there were, in fact, only seven titles. Sorry!
Really, Lea- could you make it any harder for me to ever reach the bottom of my TBL pile? ;-) OK- bring on the The Best of the Rest- my charge account at Audible is ready.
Ha! I have accomplished that which I set out to do. Tempt you with wonderful listens! :)
I’m really excited about the prospect of Loretta Chase in audio, too – I just hope they get a top-notch narrator.
Where can I get the version of Morning Glory that you refer to? I’ve only ever found the abridged version narrated by Deborah Raffin. I would love an unabridged audio of this book.
Unfortunately, the unabridged version of Morning Glory is one of those hard-to-find audios. It is an absolute jewel though and so worth the looking. You can find it used at online retailers or possibly your library. But I think it is only available in audio cassette format. And I didn’t think the abridged version was worth the money or the effort. Again, unfortunately.
So excited to hear about Lord of Scoundrels and fervently hoping that they get the great narrator this book deserves.