Cool news alert!
Audible
You can sign up right here at Audible.com/romanceme.
Before we reveal some of the package’s features, let’s discuss the most important part: price.
Now let’s talk features:
- Authors already include Nora Roberts, Sylvia Day, Jennifer Crusie, Jayne Ann Krentz, & more!
- You can browse by subgenres (referred to as “micro-genres”) and popular character/plot tropes. As Audible puts it, “Audible Romance identifies 32 micro-genres and 122 story and character tropes that will allow listeners to explore deep into the catalog in fun ways and discover the romance titles that most appeal to their interests. Each micro-genre will have its own search page, and listeners can enjoy audio samples from each title included before diving into the full story.”
- That’s right – you can still listen to audio samples before taking the plunge! (Phew!)
- TAKE ME TO THE GOOD PART feature: “This is a feature often requested by romance readers and listeners since they often go back to or jump forward to their favorite moments in romance novels. Audible has identified 10 sections, or “good parts” of the book that are most common for Romance readers, such as “flirty banter,” “first meeting,” and of course the “hot, hot, hot” moments.” This feature will start out on 100 titles and will be expanding to more.
- THE STEAMINESS METER feature: Gauge the romance and content of the book by using Audible Romance’s five-level meter that ranges romances from Sweet, Simmering, Sizzling, Hot Damn, and O-O-OMG.
Amanda: I’m really excited about this. I’m slowly starting to get into audiobooks, but I could never justify paying $15 a month for one audiobook credit. But with the prospect of having unlimited access to a romance catalog is highly appealing.
I suppose my concerns rest with what books will be on offer. I’m unsure if the variety will skew more toward Audible Originals or bestselling romances.
That being said, the unlimited aspect is perfect for romance readers, who often read/listen to a metric butt-ton of books. For me, the cost of a subscription is an easier pill to swallow and I love the feature of being able to search by subgenre and trope.
Count me in!
Sarah: Ages ago, when we still lived in New Jersey, I went to a PTA event at our old school and ended up sitting next to a gentleman who worked at Audible (they are headquartered in Newark). I asked that poor dude a thousand and a half questions, like how the software could keep track of where I am in an audiobook and can keep my place in an ebook at the same time, and what the reaction to the syncing feature had been. I bet he wished he’d sat next to someone else. (Kidding – he had a bunch of questions for me, too, as to how I as a reader used ebooks and audiobooks. Best PTA evening ever.)
Now I want to sit down with the folks who came up with this program because oh, my stars, I think this is brilliant. It’s a digital fortress of romance audiobook catnip and I can think of at least five people I know who would adore a membership like this one. I hope the Audible Romance servers are ready.
And we have a three month membership to give away, thanks to Audible!
Standard disclaimers apply: we are not being compensated financially for this giveaway, though we are also receiving one membership for internal use. That noise you hear is Amanda’s excitement. Please don’t be alarmed. Open to US residents age 18 and over. Must be ready to listen to all the good parts, start to finish. Void where prohibited. We recommend earbuds and crafting for your audiobook listening. Comments will close Monday, 6 November, at 12pm ET and a winner will be announced shortly afterward.
To enter, just leave a comment below! What you think of this new Audible option? Are you curious, too?
Thanks again to Audible for the membership! Please give your servers some cookies and tea.
WINNER UPDATE: Congratulations to CK! Be sure to check your email shortly!
We hope you all enjoy checking out the new Audible romance program!
I’m already an Audible subscriber and I can’t wait for this!
This sounds fantastic, especially if it skews more towards best sellers and not so much original content. Some original vontent, yes, but as a smaller component of the package.
This sounds excellent!
I’m intrigued, especially as a supplement to my regular Audible subscription.
I’m not really an audiobook listener, but this option is interesting to me. Probably more so than any other subscription service currently available to me.
Seems that subscription is not an option for Amazon UK customers 🙁
Damn and whoah! As my eyesight gets worse (sucks being older than dirt!), I’m leaning more heavily on audio books. I often take advantage of reduced prices when I already own the Kindle version–paying rather than using my credit. I use the credits for books that cost more than my subscription cost (ie. I don’t own the Kindle for one reason or another.) Bonus that I already have an Audible subscription plus Amazon Prime which puts me in the KU program! Must go check this out because I never win contests. 😉
I think this is great. I also couldn’t justify the $15 a month for 1 book credit.
Interesting. I’m generally not a huge audiobook fan, but I’d be interested in trying this out and seeing if it could change my mind.
I’ve been getting into listening to audiobooks lately so this definitely sounds cool!
This is a game changer!
WOW, yes, I’m excited. I started knitting about four months ago (I blame you, SBTB!) and have much less reading time as a result. The logical thing has been to switch to audiobooks, but I’ve been stuck with what my library has on offer, because our Audible membership “belongs” to my hubby.
Can’t wait to try this out!
Omg I want this!! Such a cool idea!!
Wow, I already listen to books with TTS since I’m blind. However performed books are so much cooler. I also take advantage of audible companion to get audio version. Only paying $1.99 for audio when book is free or on sale is pro. I wish I could find ereaderiq for audible.
I think I will love this. I listen to at least 3 or 4 audiobooks each month so this could work for me if they have a good selection. Going to go check it out now!
I just started listening to audio books recently with Flowers from the Storm with the much lauded Nicholas Boulton. The end result being that I will now listen to him read his grocery list.
What a great idea! I love listening to audiobooks, but I’ll be honest, I’m a little uncomfortable listening to romance (I usually listen to sci-fi or fantasy).
Sounds very worth trying.
I’m a longtime Audible customer and I’m THRILLED by this.
I’ll have to check this out. I am an audible member (just renewed my yearly subscription). Interesting. I am wondering how this will compete with the selections of audio books I can get from the library.
They’ve got my attention. I keep trying audiobooks and never really getting into them. A catalog approach rather than a monthly credit would definitely work better for me.
I love this option!
I’m definitely intrigued by this one. (PS pick me pick me pick me!)
Can’t wait! The 1 credit for $15 is a bit painful with Audible. I listen when I go for a walk – it helps make me walk for a longer time.
I am newly into Audiobooks. Way too much if you ask my poor wallet. Like Amanda, I am curious about the books to be offered. I am an Audible subscriber and will check it out.
What? Is this real? OMG. I listen to like 100 audiobooks a year. I would def use this add on to my regular Audible account.
I’ve been using audible for years. This is an interesting addition.
I love audible, but wonder if this subscription will be like the “Channels” that allow streaming but not download. That could be a problem.
I am an Audible subscriber already which I use for books my library doesn’t have or must have new releases that I’d have to wait for. I listen to 100+ books a year and this would be great, but I’m not a member of KU and don’t feel I’d necessarily need that. If I could add it without the expense of adding KU also, I’d be in.
Definitely a promising move forward. I love audio books instead of music when I’m walking, and having favourite authors to listen to… excellent!
This sounds intriguing, I usually borrow from the library and buy certain authors. This might give me the opportunity to try new authors and narrators.
Super curious! Especially as I moved and my new library system regularly has wait lists for audiobook titles.
I’m interested. If they carry titles not available on Overdrive or Hoopla that would be excellent.
I’ve just spent an hour browsing the titles available in the various categories, and while I’m not 100% satisfied (many of my favorite authors are there, but not necessarily my favorite books by those authors), I am impressed. But if this is analogous to Kindle Unlimited, the catalog is certainly subject to change without notice. Was anyone around for the launch of KU? Did it feature a lot of bestselling authors/titles at launch?
Still, I like the subscription deal for KU subscribers. And, like many here, I listen to audiobooks while I hike, so a deep library of new titles will be fun to explore.
I love audiobooks and take advantage of the Audible discounts when you buy the Kindle version quite often. But a few months ago those prices doubled from the 2.99-3.99 price to 7.99 or more. I don’t use that feature as much now because I can usually find great audiobooks through my libraries Hoopla option. I usually don’t re-listen like I re-read, so it has to be an audiobook I really love for me to purchase.
I cancelled my Audible membership because the monthly price was more than I could justify. But I might give this new service a try. And if it has the same sales as the regular Audible membership offers, that would be great! I do miss having access to the 2 for 1 sales available to Audible members. Definitely will check out the free month trial for this though. I too am curious about the authors and books that will be available.
I have already signed up for this but if I did not have KU this would be a no go – I wonder if Audible will add to this with mysteries or sci-fi?
I think this sounds like a great idea if I can actually use it. I’m in the dark ages when it comes to tech devices. I listen to audio books on the computer or on my ipod, both of which require me to transfer the audiobook to my computer. Is that an option for the audible unlimited feature? I have a kindle reader but it is the very basic reader and I don’t have a cell phone, tablet, smart phone, or laptop(remember, dark ages).
As for unlimited – I might test the definitions as I read/listen to many, many books each month. I’m willing to volunteer to test that non limit!
This sounds amazing–I had Audible at one point but canceled it because the variety of audiobooks available at my library is pretty decent and much cheaper. HOWEVER, the romance audiobook selection is not great. Soooooooo this is very tempting. Thanks for the giveaway!!
I listen to a lot of audio books every month mostly through my library. this sounds great
I have an Audible subscription now but this add on would push it up quite a bit. I’d have to decide if I could listen to enough books in a month to make it worth it. One thing that it would help with is buying an audiobook to find you really don’t like the narrator. That’s happened a few times and I haven’t been able to return the audiobook because it was an add on to a kindle book for a lower price.