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 love the idea of Audible books, but haven’t wanted to pay the subscription for just a book or two a month. So this is really exciting! I might not sign up right away, but I’d snap up a free trial like nobody’s business. It’d be perfect for listening to on distance running, I think.
I’m definitely intrigued that this an option for when I have KU. I don’t keep KU all the time, but when I have it, I’d definitely be game for having this as an add-on
This sounds terrific, if a tad expensive for me. I am a big fan of audiobooks, and I work my public library’s digital audio loaning systems for all they are worth. I have access to both Overdrive and Hoopla, but there are months where I reach the allowed borrowing limits before the month is out. And sometimes the books/authors I am looking for aren’t available. I listen to books at work, and sometimes I find myself wrestling with CD’s or a Playaway (a little MP3 player that has just one book loaded onto it) to access the content I am interested in. We had an Audible membership for a while (so one of my kids could listen to something she needed for history class), but in the interest of household economy I used up my credits on books I’d enjoy listening to more than once and then canceled it. If I won the lottery I’d be signing up again, but for the time being I’m sticking to what I can access for free.
I am very intrigued. I like to listen to podcasts and audiobooks while walking.
I’m excited for this, I have KU but sometimes get disappointed with the romance selection there. I think this will be a great opportunity to have access to more books that I have been waiting to listen to.
I’m excited for this, I have KU but sometimes get disappointed with the romance selection there. I think this will be a great opportunity to have access to more books that I have been waiting to listen to.
I objected to the monthly fee at first, but now I cant find time to sit and read. That part hurts. Some books I want to read due to not liking the performer, but I do enjoy all my Audible Books. Will also enjoy this new romance feature.
I love this! It’s about time romance readers got more recognition. I previously subscribed to Audible but I couldn’t justify the cost, especially since I’m a librarian and regularly use our OverDrive collection. However, Audible offers much more diverse romance than OverDrive does, so this new perk is making me strongly consider subscribing again!
This sounds like a great idea, would love to try it out!!
As an Audible and Kindle Unlimited member, I think this new Audible package will be great. I like the extra little features that will give you a little more insight into the story before you make your purchase. I do hope there will be a wide variety of popular romance authors along with the Audible originals.
I’m lucky enough to be able to commute to work by walking and I listen to books on Audible all the time. I would LOVE a free three-month subscription. Pick me!
This sounds interesting!
I’ve been hesitant to jump onto the Audible bandwagon, but this might make me dip my toe in! 🙂
This sounds great! Having access to the whole catalog makes this very appealing to me.
I think this program is worth a shot. I get to listen to some new authors that I have been too scared to try since audiobooks are so expensive, plus I would like to listen to some novellas that I wouldn’t pay for before. For 6.95 I don’t think you can go wrong.
Oooh, yes – I am definitely interested. Will just need a few more hours in the day.
I love the idea! I wonder who decides what is Romance. 100 books to start seems quite small considering all of the sub genres.
I’m very intrigued!
This will be amazing!
I want this so much. Unlimited romance audio is so, so fantastic. I’m going to check it out right away.
I don’t know if this will be available on audible.com.au (I buy ebooks from amazon.com but audio from audible.com.au) but I’d be happy just with the search facilities described above. I rarely listen to romance due to secondhand embarrassment (Georgette Heyer is great because no heat level to speak of) but “Romance” isn’t even one of the genres you can search under at the moment, so I have to think up individual authors and search for them. My library’s audio selection is dismal so I’m stuck with coughing up for audible and I often struggle to find a monthly book I’m really excited to listen to whilst I’m walking, gardening, cleaning, driving, etc…..
Huh. I’m already an audible subscriber and I’m intrigued by this option.
I glanced through their selection in the LGBTQ sub-genre (what I predominantly read), and it’s mostly older titles and random collections of short story erotica (Holiday Sluts Vol.5? Really?). I saw only a few that I don’t have, but might listen to. If they promise to add more recent titles, and make them full length novels by popular authors, it would be more likely to be worth it for me.
This sounds very interesting. I’ve wanted to try audio books for a while now.
I think it’s a fabulous idea! I don’t listen to audiobooks often, preferring podcasts for my commute listening pleasure, but I’d be willing to get on board with this deal.
Best thing Audible could have done. After the price increase this summer I cancelled my membership and switched to KU. I can’t wait to dive back in!
I just wonder if they will continue to have books I want to listen to
I love audio books. Definitely interested.
This seems great!
I am definitely curious about the Audible Romance subscription, depending on what titles are available.
I’m curious to see what titles are included to determine if it makes sense for me to add to my existing subscription.
I’m excited! I love audible. I mostlylisten to nonfic but sometimes it’s romance time.
Ooh! This sounds fantastic!
I gobble up audiobooks. Will definitely have to check this out.
I love the new Audible option. I always listen to romance while I half ass run. It keeps me going.
I too can’t generally justify the cost of audible books but if they are unlimited that changes EVERYTHING! Count me in!
Thanks so much!
I’m intrigued by this idea. I can usually get the audiobooks I want through the various services that my public library buys (e.g., Overdrive, Hoopla) but occasionally there are ones that I just can’t get anywhere else. So it’s intriguing to think that I could binge listen to an author’s work without having to wait for the books to become available.
Definitely interested! Thanks for this opportunity.
This is great! I just wish it would’ve come sooner — I started a new job last week that cut my hour commute down to 10 minutes. This would’ve been really handy for the last few years when I kept running out of podcasts 🙂
I’m a current Audible subscriber and am curious about this package. I listen to a fair amount of books, probably about 5 per week, but rarely romances. I already own a crap ton of books (quelle surprise!), mostly due to sales and the Kindle add-on option–but, sadly, I’m not seeing as many great deals as I used to.