Favorites of 2017 ~ Books & Audiobooks

I enjoyed doing a "look back at the year" in 2016 so I figured it'd once again be fun to bring 2017 to a close by listing some of favorites. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my favorites and I'd be happy to hear about any of yours!

*~*Books & Audiobooks*~*

• How the Duke Was Won - I chose this book solely because it was narrated by Beverley A. Crick but I found a new favorite author in Lenora Bell
• The Nightingale - a powerful read about how war affected women during WWII from Kristin Hannah
• Red Rising - so realistic in nature and well written, so many parallels to our world today
• Rock F*ck Club - a female anthem, if you will, for equality - especially in our sexuality
• Outlander - omigosh! I adore Jamie and Claire!
• And I Darken - I'm only waiting til 2018 to read the next installment - and honestly, I'm so anxious over it - because the final installment releases in June of 2018. Sometimes I hate the wait.
• Texas Rodeo series - an incredible series revolving around small town West Texas and the rodeo circuit - great writing and narration (Kari Lynn Dell & Johanna Parker)
• New Camelot Trilogy - I listened to the first two - excellent narration - and read the final installment because I was too anxious to wait for the audio! I adored this trilogy!
• The Angel - such a unique story and so very well conveyed
• Steal the Light - it's making the list because IT. HAS. IT. ALL!

Honestly, this list was hard to compile. I mean, I read 160 books this year so it's hard to narrow it down to ~10. In the end, I realized it was just a good reading year. *grins*

Favorites of 2017 ~ Narrators

I enjoyed doing a "look back at the year" in 2016 so I figured it'd once again be fun to bring 2017 to a close by listing some of favorites. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my favorites and I'd be happy to hear about any of yours!

*~*Narrators*~*

• Beverley A. Crick - she's become a favorite of mine for historical romance because she creates an aural dramatic presentation with her delivery and accents!
• Andi Arndt - I became a huge fan when I first listened to Kylie Scott's Stage Dive series - which Andi narrates. This year she made an impression in Playboy Pilot
• Johanna Parker - even though she struggled a bit in the third book in a series I've been enjoying, she's still done a tremendous job giving life to a range of characters as well as life in West Texas and the rodeo
• Shaun Grindell - I first listened to him last year and wasn't sold on his narration. But after listening to him again this year in books such as Smut and The Summer Games: Settling the Score, I'm a fan
• Heather Wilds - I've only listened to her twice but I quite enjoy her delivery and she brought the characters in Until Harry to life
• Dave Gillies - I was certain I'd enjoy an historical narrated by a man but he made me a believer in Highland Spy.
• Sebastian York - I'm pretty sure if I listen to him, he's gonna make this list! *wink*
• Roger Wayne - he impressed me in both a contemporary and a paranormal

Audio Review ~ How the Duke Was Won ~ Lenora Bell #AudioChallenge #COYER #ShelfLove

How the Duke was Won by Lenora Bell
The Disgraceful Dukes #1
Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick
Release Date: December 20, 2016
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #BloggerShame, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
The pleasure of your company is requested at Warbury Park. Four lovely ladies will arrive... but only one can become a duchess.

James, the scandalously uncivilized Duke of Harland, requires a bride with a spotless reputation for a strictly business arrangement. Lust is prohibited and love is out of the question.

Four ladies. Three days. What could go wrong?

She is not like the others...

Charlene Beckett, the unacknowledged daughter of an earl and a courtesan, has just been offered a life-altering fortune to pose as her half-sister, Lady Dorothea, and win the duke's proposal. All she must do is:

* Be the perfect English rose [Ha!]
* Breathe, smile, and curtsy in impossibly tight gowns [blast Lady    Dorothea's sylph-like figure]
* Charm and seduce a wild duke [without appearing to try]
* Keep said duke far, far from her heart [no matter how tempting]

When secrets are revealed and passion overwhelms, James must decide if the last lady he should want is really everything he needs. And Charlene must decide if the promise of a new life is worth risking everything...including her heart.

First thing, I have to confess I picked How the Duke Was Won solely because it was narrated by Beverley A. Crick. I listened to Crick once before and am a total fangirl (thanks, Berls!). Her narration is more a dramatic interpretation - a total aural delight! Her delivery is How the Duke Was Won solidified my opinion so I know I'll be seeking her out more. Her accents and range for every character plus her ability to be consistent with them is impressive. And she makes me feel as though I'm watching a play rather than listening to an audiobook. She's incredible!

As for the actual story...Lenora Bell is a new-to-me author and with How the Duke Was Won, she earned a fan in me. The story is well-constructed, flowed well, was engaging, kept me guessing, and the characters were well-drawn and compelling.

Charlene, the feisty and outspoken young woman who is so compassionate she'd do just about anything to secure the freedom of her mother and so many other young women desire but have not other option than to sell themselves. Charlene also was determined to protect her younger sister from the world they'd been born into. Charlene wasn't meek or docile. No, she gave her opinion freely, especially to the Duke and most especially when she felt he was doing wrong.

James, the newly-minted Duke of Harland, never wanted the title or the responsibility. His plan is to secure a respectable wife - to garner respect for himself - as well as a connected family who will solve his tax issues. However, being that James is anything but a well-mannered Englishman, he can't help but be drawn to Charlene's vivacity and impropriety. Unfortunately, she isn't who she's claiming to be and therefore doesn't suit his designs.

Oh but I had fun watching these two fall. They both tried with all their might not to, for vastly different reasons, but they couldn't help themselves. Then there was the suspense over whether James would figure out things and what his reaction would be on top of worrying over an issue Charlene and her mother were dealing with. I appreciated the history lessons on child labor laws, chocolate, and taxes on imports and exports. In all, How the Duke Was Won is a bundle of goodness delivered and brought to brilliant life by a talented author and narrator.

Audio Review ~ The Danger of Desire ~ Sabrina Jeffries

The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries
Sinful Suitors #3
Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick
Release Date: November 22, 2016 (audio)
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: Audio Challenge, #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
To root out the card cheat responsible for her brother's death, Miss Delia Trevor spends her evenings dancing her way through high society balls, and her late nights disguised as a young man gambling her way through London's gaming hells. Then one night, handsome Warren Corry, the Marquess of Knightford, a notorious member of St. George's Club, recognizes her. When he threatens to reveal her secret, she's determined to keep him from ruining her plans, even if it means playing a cat-and-mouse game with the enigmatic rakehell.

Warren knows the danger of her game, and he refuses to watch her lose everything while gaining justice for her late brother. But when she starts to delve beneath his carefully crafted facade, can he keep her at arm's length while still protecting her? Or will their hot desires explode into a love that transcends the secrets of their pasts?

The Danger of Desire served as my introduction to this series. I can only assume some of these characters have appeared in the previous books but I can say I was never lost. In fact, I came to adore all these characters but especially Warren and Delia.

Delia and Warren meet because Warren's cousin, Clarissa, who is know for her matchmaking, asks Warren to keep an eye on Delia. There is some concern over some of Delia's behavior but despite his reluctance, Warren agrees. He is shocked when he witnesses Delia's antics and sets about discerning the why behind her actions as well as trying to put a stop to them.

Of course this means Delia and Warren spend time together and develop a mutual attraction. They are both witty and forthright but Warren really admires that in Delia. They're also both loyal and would go to great lengths to protect those they love. One thing I greatly enjoyed was Delia's realization that she was guilty of the same offenses she lodged at Warren.

The mystery element of the story is well done and brought Warren and Delia together - Warren wanting to help Delia find her answers while protecting her. Both were keeping secrets and seeing the trust built between them, where they finally felt they could share, was heartwarming.

I quite enjoyed The Danger of Desire and am eager to read/listen to the other books in this series. I'm curious about Clarissa's story and now want Brilliana's and Lord Margrave's as well. Sabrina Jeffries delivers an engaging and entertaining story with a fun cast of characters.

Beverley A. Crick made it to my favorite narrator list with this one listen. She's incredible! Her range was perfect for this cast, both male and female. And with her chuckles and sobs, when called for, this more a dramatization than a narration. Crick made the story that much more engaging and I will certainly look for more books with her narration.