This post is sponsored by Audible Escape, formerly known as the Audible Romance Package.
The Audible Escape subscription allows you to binge listen to thousands of romance audiobooks. You can borrow up to 10 audiobooks from the subscription at a time, return them whenever you like, then borrow more.
If you’re new to Audible Escape, you can try it free for one month. Then, a subscription is $6.95 a month for Audible members and Kindle Unlimited members, and $12.95 per month for non members.
We have a giveaway for a chance to win one of ten 1-year Audible Escape subscriptions in this entry so read on for details!
It’s time for traveling and waiting in line, and noshing and possibly spending time in places or surrounded by folks you’d rather not be with – which is okay if the food is good. I hope the food where you are is excellent. But if it’s not, or if you’re full and couldn’t eat another bite (mmm, pie) we’ve got a collection of audiobooks here that you can binge-listen to, including (of course) some with holiday themes! You can even pretend you’re on a conference call and mutter responses while you listen. I won’t tell.
Let’s get the most necessary one out of the way:
Need to fly away from the drama, maybe transform into a dragon, and burn some thatch-roofed cottages on your way out?
Sure you do.
Dragon Actually, by G.A. Aiken – Narrated by Hollie Jackson
Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken, also known as Shelly Laurenston, is the first book in the Dragon Kin series. With nine books, plus three novellas, all including battles, scorching scenes of various types (ha ha) and, of course, a staggering assembly of ferocious women, there’s over 120 hours of audio goodness.
One hundred and twenty hours. Wow – how far around the universe could you travel in that time? And you don’t even have to leave whatever chair you’ve claimed. What more do you need?
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Need books to listen to while crafting, cooking, or otherwise concocting marvelousness?
Virgin River and, of course, Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr – Narrated by Therese Plummer
With the new television adaptation on Netflix, you might want to go back and listen to the entire series, including book four, A Virgin River Christmas. This series is something of a classic and marked the start of the small town romance series bonanza.
The whole whopping catalog of Virgin River is available for your binging pleasure, too – all 162+ hours.
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The Eatons Series by Rochelle Alers, including Sweet Silver Bells – Narrated by Erica Love, Simi Howe, and Corey Allen
I don’t usually pay close attention to audiobook cover art, but look at that photo – it’s gorgeous! What a perfect image. And the description. Hello, second chance love story:
Being chosen to design luxury hotels in Charleston is a career coup for privileged Crystal Eaton. Meeting charismatic corporate attorney Joseph Cole-Wilson is an unexpected bonus. Until one passion-filled night in Joseph’s penthouse changes her life forever.
Now….
Haunted by sensual memories, Joseph can’t accept their short-lived liaison as a onetime fling. And when a chance encounter reunites him with the Florida beauty, the Cole heir vows she won’t get away a second time. Even after discovering Crystal’s secret, Joseph knows nothing can dim his desire. He’ll prove it with sweet words of love that could make this a Christmas to remember. If she’ll just say yes.
This is the eighth book in the Eatons series by Rochelle Alers, and with each book about six hours, whatever travel you have coming up, you can bring them all along!
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Need puppies? Of course you need puppies.
Rescued Heart by Georgia Beers – Narrated by Abby Craden
One year Elyse was at a rather tense family dinner and in the middle of all the glowering she said, “Puppies! Who likes puppies?”
So if you need to talk about puppies or you want to recuse yourself from table discussion into a world of puppies, this may not be a holiday romance, but it’s a sweet romance that takes place at an animal shelter.
Puppies and romance: guaranteed win.
And speaking of puppies:
Animal Magnetism and the Animal Magnetism series by Jill Shalvis – Narrated by Karen White
The Animal Magnetism series by Jill Shalvis is full of adorableness, and with seven books and over 80 hours of listening, that’s plenty of cuteness overload for you! Plus, they’re all performed by Karen White, who is a terrific narrator.
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Looking for historical romance with marvelous banter and fabulous heroines?
The Brothers Sinister series by Courtney Milan, including A Kiss for Midwinter – Narrated by Roslyn Landor
The Brothers Sinister series is absolutely marvelous, and entirely included in an Audible Escape membership, with five books and two novellas, one of them being the holiday treat A Kiss for Midwinter.
Roslyn Landor as the narrator is exquisite, too – her work is phenomenal. I love listening to her performances. This is a perfect choice for a truly immersive audiobook binge.
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The Highland Pleasures series by Jennifer Ashley, including A Mackenzie Family Christmas – Narrated by Angela Dawe
This novella is part of the Mackenzie/Highland Pleasures series by Jennifer Ashley, which began with fan absolute mega-favorite The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.
The first eight books are part of Audible Escape, which means you have 100+ hours of brogue-ish heroes and excellent historical romance to keep you company through any delays.
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Running errands? Take some novellas with you!
The Naughty & Nice Anthology, featuring stories by Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Megan Hart, and Shannon Stacey – Narrated by Madison Vaughn and Savannah Richards
This anthology is a mix of sweet and spicy romances, and includes Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey (one of my all-time favorite holiday stories) All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton, Unwrapped by Megan Hart, and Believe by Lauren Dane. You can finish one with a shopping trip, and move on to the next when you have to go back to the store because you forgot something.
Unless that’s just me. It might be just me who always forgets the one thing and has to go back.
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Men Under the Mistletoe Anthology, featuring stories by Ava March, Harper Fox, Josh Lanyon, K.A. Mitchell – Narrated by Max Tatch, James de Grassi, Jack LeFleur, L. B. Townsend
This anthology includes My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March, Winter Knights by Harper Fox, Lone Star by Josh Lanyon and The Christmas Proposition by K.A. Mitchell – and features sweet, sexy, and spicy, stories, including some menage and second chance romances.
This collection would be great fun to bring with you when you know you’ll be waiting in line. You get spicy hot stories, and suddenly that long queue isn’t so awful!
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Ripped by Sarah Morgan, Narrated by Priscilla Carson
Ripped is a delightful and very funny holiday confection of a novella, and is the first in a series of stories about the Miller Sisters. I reviewed this when it came out and gave it an A, saying,
Ripped is an adorable holiday-set novella, a mix of sweet, hot, funny and poignant. There is so much emotion and empathy packed into a shorter length, and I didn’t feel cheated by the fact that it’s a novella, though I easily could have hung out with these characters for another few hundred pages. I suspect the heroine’s sister may get her own story which is an EXCELLENT IDEA.
In fact, this is next in my listening queue because it’s so holiday-delightful.
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And hot holiday lights, we have a giveaway!
Audible is giving away ten (10!) one-year Audible Escape subscriptions! WOW. Thank you!
To enter: Leave a comment with hashtag #Sweepstakes and tell us what audiobook is your favorite to listen to when you need a break or a holiday recharge!
No Purchase Necessary. Sweepstakes begins 12:00:01 a.m. (PT) on 21 December, 2019 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. (PT) on 27 December, 2019. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by Smart Bitches Trashy Books, LLC. Winners will be notified via email within 3 days following the drawing. Prizes must be redeemed by potential winners within 72 hours of notification. See Official Rules at Audible Escape Sweepstakes – Official Rules.
Winners: Below are the 10 winners of our Audible Escape giveaway! Be sure to check your inbox and spam folders:
- Jennifer F.
- Trix
- Rissatoo
- Algae429
- Rebtastical
- Dorothy
- Jessi G
- Louise
- Barbara A.
- Escapeologist
I tend to lean toward the more weird and not likely to ever happen stories – like the weres and other paranormal stories. #Sweepstakes
I’ve been thinking about audio books because of my hour+ commute – I’m so tired of the news & am bored with the music stations. Courtney Milan’s Brothers Sinister sounds like a good start – I love her books! #Sweepstakes
I listen to audiobooks while commuting and luckily my extended library system has wonderful choices. My go-to audiobook is any one of the 49 (yes, 49) books in J D Robb’s In Death Series. Sometimes I start at the first one and go through the first 3 in order, sometimes I pick one at random. Susan Erickson is wonderful and Eve/Rourke are never boring. #Sweepstakes
I love any reread when I need a recharge- any of Jayne Ann Krentz’s aliases work for me. Most recent was Absolutely,
Positively #Sweepstakes
My recharge go to is Shelly Laurenston! Humor, a little violence, and a HEA makes me feel better. Bears Behaving Badly is my #1. #Sweepstakes
I own Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens and have listened to it several times. The narrator is perfect — voice exactly as I imagined Devil. This audiobook is my go to listen.
I have also repeated Marrying Winterbourne narrated by Mary Jane Wells. She does accents well and has a believable Welsh voice for Winterbourne.
Rosalyn Landor is also a favorite narrator. I have listened to several audio books she has narrated more than once : Slightly Dangerous, Devil in Winter, Dreaming of You. She has great voices for both male and female characters.
#Sweepstakes
Just discovered the audio version of Penny Reid’s “Beard Science” and found it a delightful break that I will undoubtedly revisit. #Sweepstakes
I second the audio version of “Beard Science”, it is spectacular and I have listened to it on many a road trip. I also will often listen to “Pride and Prejudice” narrated by Rosamunde Pike when I need a little pick-me-up. #Sweepstakes
I’ve been listening to A Princess In Theory by Alyssa Cole. The narrator is brilliant! Every character has a distinct voice – the sexy deep voiced prince, his snarky assistant, the scientist heroine, her bff, his snooty parents… there’s humor and warmth, it’s so good I don’t want it to end. #Sweepstakes
I love to relisten to old favorites especially some early Amanda Quick titles. #Sweepstakes
I will always go back to Lois McMaster Bujold or Julia Quinn when I need something cozy. #Sweepstakes
Amanda Quick is my recharge #sweepstakes
There is no better holiday escape listen than Mimi Matthews’ A Gaslight Christmas, narrated by dreamy baritone Alex Wyndham. I love this audio book!
Any of Laura Kinsale’s audiobooks are comfort listens! #sweepstakes
Not at all holiday related, but I recently listened to the Jane Doe audiobook and it was fantastic. I’m planning on listen to the rest of her during my upcoming holiday drives. #sweepstakes
I love listening to full cast audiobooks. My favorite is Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, but I’ve also enjoyed Little Women recently. (I’m currently listening to Zoo 2 on audio which is entertaining if nothing else.) #Sweepstakes
I’m already an Escape subscriber so I’m not sure if I’m eligible, but I’d love a free year! My most recent audio book that I loved was ‘Reindeer Falls’ from Jana Aston. I love the combo of funny and smart! #Sweepstakes
Lately I’ve been trending to Sci-Fi and Fantasy, genre’s I’ve not revisited much since my teens. It’s been nice to get reacquainted! #Sweepstakes
I am addicted by audio books narrated by Richard Armitage. Several of the Georgette Heyer books, the whopping 36 hour and 30 minute version of David Copperfield and more. I am currently listening to The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, narrated by…Richard Armitage! #Sweepstakes
I like some snark and/or humor when I need a break. Loved Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series. And I just finished “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill” by Abbi Waxman which was hilarious – the cat even has a voice, and the trivia never ends. A nerdy delight. #Sweepstakes
#sweepstakes I’ll listen to anything that takes me to another world. I had a great time recently listening to the Crazy Rich Asians series. Penny Reid’s audiobooks are also fun.
I’m all about the narrators… I’ve listened to some pretty diverse audiobooks because of the narrator. Some of my favorites include Mary Jane Wells, Kate Reading, Rosalyn Landor, Andi Arndt, Will M. Watt, Sean Crisden, Greg Tremblay, Teddy Hamilton, Kaleo Griffith, and Iggy Toma. A recent fav was A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase. I was smiling through 90% of the listen. I listen when I work out (the perfect way to make exercise palpatable), and I think my fellow gym goers thought I was possessed with all the random cackling. My commutes have gotten super long so I would love an Escape membership!
#Sweepstakes
I’m really enjoying listening to some of the classics like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice. #Sweepstakes
I like to listen to old favorites. Right now, I’m working my way through Patricia Briggs. #sweepstakes
I do Nora Roberts for comfort listens. Especially some of the older trilogies, its like revisiting friends instead of being bummed out in traffic. #Sweepstakes
I love Donna Andrews or J D Robb and Nalini Singh – Psy Changeling for comfort listening. #Sweepstakes
I am new into liking romance audiobooks. So far, the MM ones I have enjoyed the most. Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy is great. I enjoyed reading it in print and am enjoying listening to it just as much. #Sweepstakes
Lisa Kleypas always does the trick for me! #Sweepstakes
Blame it on the Mistletoe by Eli Easton and narrated by Jason Frazier is a super sweet book with wonderful narration. A few other favorite comfort listens are For Real by Alexis Hall, Top Secret by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen, and the Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon. I’m currently listening to Riven by Roan Parris and really enjoying it. Thanks for the chance to win. #Sweepstakes
2019 was the year I discovered Kathleen Gilles Seidel on Audible. When angst is handled deftly by an author I trust to pull it off it becomes comforting. In times of high stress I find myself returning to Jane Austen audiobooks; I know all of the beats by heart but I still get new things out of each listen. Also, there are some narrators I find so comforting I will follow them to ANY book (Ashford Mcnab!). #Sweepstakes
#sweepstakes Ilona Andrews or Penny Reid, depending on my mood.
I love listening to Molly Harper’s books!
#Sweepstakes My favourite escape is always Pride and Prejudice and listening to the audiobook version by someone with an ‘Upper Crust’ Britsh accent helps take me to escape to that time and place.
Or per Smart Bitches review recommendation, if I need to recharge, I listen to Lauren Blakely’s Wanderlust because, well, Paris and sexy voiced Richard Armitage doing the narration! Steamy vibes for those cold winter nights!
I’ve just started listening to audiobooks this year, but I really, really like listening to Sebastian York. He could read me the phone book. #Sweepstakes
I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks, but I keep trying them here and there, and I’ve found a few I really like. One I’ve shared and gone back to multiple times isn’t a romance, but I do recommend Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye and narrated by Simon Vance. So good!
#Sweepstakes
I also just started listening to audiobooks this year. So far my favorites are TJ Klune’s How to be a Normal Person and Roan Parrish’s In the Middle of Somewhere. #Sweepstakes
Alan Cumming’s YOU GOTTA GET BIGGER DREAMS is worth it for his Scottish burr alone, but more so when he starts dishing about Hollywood and/or sexy stuff!
I listen to The Martian by Andy Weir whenever I feel the need to reassure myself that science, facts, and critical thinking still matter. #Sweepstakes
During holiday frenzy I usually listen to „The Grand Sophy”, because it’s comforting to hear how Sophy manages all the family drama with aplomb and good humor (and Sarah Woodward’s narration of it is just splendid – it captures not only Sophy’s irony and no nonsense approach to life, but also the overall empowering feel of the entire book). When my relatives proove to be to much I switch to ”Magic Bleeds” audiobook (the fourth in Kate Daniels series) because there is nothing better to ease holiday tension than a story about found families and main character murdering her psychotic aunt. Finally, if I’m actually in the mood for some sweet, Christmas cheer, my go to audiobooks are „A Holiday by Gaslight” by Mimi Matthews, „Meet me in Mayfair” novella by Tessa Dare (from „How the Dukes Stole Christmas” anthology), „Remaking of Corbin Wale” by Roan Parrish, and „Miracle at 5th Avenue” by Sarah Morgan.
#Sweepstakes
What a great giveaway! For me it’s all about the narrators. A horrible narrator can ruin the best of stories. So in general I will read anything narrated by Teddy Hamilton, Zachary Webber, or Christian Fox! #sweepstakes