Picks of the Week-December 27

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We don’t know about you, but it’s cold out here and all we can think of is curling up next to a cozy fire with a great audiobook.

We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to the Civil War

A Question of Freedom tells the story of the longest and most complex legal challenge to slavery in American history.

Note: In this critically acclaimed winner of the Mark Lynton Prize in History and the SHEAR Best Book prize, listeners learn the history of the “freedom suit,” where enslaved individuals could file lawsuits against slaveholders to claim their freedom. This thoroughly researched account vividly brings to life the efforts of five generations of enslaved families in Prince George’s County, Maryland, whose fight brought them up against a powerful assembly of slaveholders, as well as the Supreme Court. – Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 12/14/2021

Written by: William G. Thomas III

Read by: David Sadzin

Under A Falling Star

A must-listen romance. Contains mature themes.

Note: Perfect for those who love both romance and Christmas, you don’t want to miss this office romance by Jae. Austen is an employee at an international games company and her first job is to decorate the Christmas tree in the lobby. While doing this, Austen’s boss gets hit in the head by the tree topper and she takes her to the ER. Dee has an instant attraction towards Austen but she does not know that Austen is technically her employee. -Jordan Spellman

Publishing Date: 12/21/21       

Written by: Jae

Read by: Abby Craden

Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story

The first full-length biography of Eddie Van Halen—a searching, affectionate, and in-depth look at the remarkable life of a genuine musical virtuoso who changed the course of rock ‘n’ roll.

Note: The first full-length biography of Eddie Van Halen—a searching, affectionate, and in-depth look at the remarkable life of a genuine musical virtuoso who changed the course of rock ’n’ roll.  Brannigan goes in-depth to explore the highs and lows of the Eddie Van Halen story.  A must-listen for any music fan! – Scott Smith

Publishing Date: 12/28/2021

Written by: Paul Brannigan

Read by: Mike Lenz

Black Cowboys of the Old West

A long overdue testament to the courage and skill of black cowboys, Black Cowboys of the Old West finally gives these courageous men their rightful place in history.

Note: There’s a lot of American history that, while not hidden, is not widely known. That so many cowboys of the Old West were actually Black could be a surprise to many; Hollywood (and history books) has always shown us a white majority presentation of cowboys, yet one-fourth of their number were Black. Jesse Stahl, Nat Love, and Charley Willis are just a few of the cowboys that we should know more about, and Tricia Martineau Wagner handily provides a strong introduction here. – Lindsey Wood

Publishing Date: 12/28/2021

Written by: Tricia Martineau Wagner

Read by: Allyson Johnson

Tomb of the Queen

Joss Walker presents Book 1 in the Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian series. Contains mature themes.

Note: Writing under the pen name, Joss Walker, New York Times bestselling thriller author J.T. Ellison delivers a powerful debut paranormal fantasy. Cowritten with USA Today bestselling fantasy author Alisha Klapheke, the Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian series is perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches. – Kim Budnick

Publishing Date: 12/31/2021

Written by: Joss Walker

Read by: Erin Moon

Picks of the Week-December 6

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We don’t know about you, but it’s cold out here and all we can think of is curling up next to a cozy fire with a great audiobook.

We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

PTL

Drawing on trial transcripts, videotapes, newspaper articles, and interviews with key insiders, dissidents, and lawyers, John Wigger reveals the power of religion to redirect American culture. This is the story of a grand vision gone wrong, of the power of big religion in American life and its limits.

Note: In PTL, author John Wigger gives insight to the rise and scandalous fall of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker’s empire. – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 12/7/2021

Written by: John Wigger

Read by: L.J Ganser

Botanical Curses and Poisons

In Botanical Curses and Poisons, Fez Inkwright returns to folkloric and historical archives to reveal the fascinating, untold stories behind a variety of lethal plants, witching herbs, and funghi.

Note: Explore the mysteries of the world’s most dangerous plants as reflected in history, magic, religion, and folklore. Perfect for fans of Amy Stewart, Michael Pollan, and Merlin Sheldrake. – Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 12/7/21

Written by: Fez Inkwright

Read by: Leslie Howard

Silent Parade

Keigo Higashino presents Book 4 in the Detective Galileo series.

Note: Earphones-Award-winning narrator David Shih brings Edgar Award Finalist Keigo Higashino’s beloved Detective Galileo to life in the latest installment of the series.  Fans of Peter Grainger and Stieg Larsson will want to check this one out. – Dan Totten

Publishing Date: 12/14/2021

Written by: Keigo Higashino

Read by: David Shih

New Fiction Listens for November

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Read by: Délé Ogundiran

Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author

From Africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.

Read by: The author

“Unapologetically bold and insightful.” —Publishers Weekly

Slug and Other Stories is a revised and expanded edition of a contemporary cult classic. Now in audio, this collection is a testament to the messy anti-logic of queer feelings by a revelatory new voice.

Read by: Stephanie Rose and Nelson Hobbs

New York Times bestselling author

Catch up with all of your favorite characters from Heidi McLaughlin’s bestselling Beaumont series as they gather together in Vermont to partake in the festivities of the holiday season.

Read by: Neil Hellegers

Experience the start of a Portal Fantasy Saga from the international bestseller Kevin J. Anderson, author of the Dune Prequels, Duke of Caladan, numerous Star Wars novels, and over 160 other books.

Read by: L. Malaika Cooper

“A satisfying cozy mystery with likable characters and clues galore.” —Novels Alive

In this must-listen new mystery series, fraternal twins Keaton and Koby will pull double duty when they take down a killer while preparing to open their new bookstore and soul-food café, Books & Biscuits.

Read by: Felicity Munroe and Sean Crisden

New York Times bestselling author

A’tam is the worst. Sure, he’s the prettiest man on the beach, but he’s a terrible listener. I’ve told him a dozen times that we’re not compatible—in SO many ways—and he refuses to take no for an answer. He had his chance with me, and he blew it. But A’tam thinks we should be mates.

Read by: Simon Vance

A stand-alone Jefferson Tayte novella from the author of the million-copy bestselling Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mysteries.

Read by: Cindy Kay

New York Times bestselling author

The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution. After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath.

Picks of the Week-November

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We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Devil’s Creek

About fifteen miles west of Stauford, Kentucky, lies Devil’s Creek. According to local legend, there used to be a church out there, home to the Lord’s Church of Holy Voices—a death cult where Jacob Masters preached the gospel of a nameless god. And like most legends, there’s truth buried among the roots and bones. Contains mature themes.

Note: Spooky season isn’t over yet! Horrifying childhood memories continue to haunt Jack as he flourishes in his art career, but everything comes to the surface when he goes back to Devil’s Creek, Kentucky, to settle his late grandmother’s estate. Home to the burned down Lord’s Church of Holy Voices, Jack is confronted by secrets that won’t stay hidden any longer. – Lindsey Wood

Publishing Date: 11/23/21

Written by: Todd Kiesling

Read by:  Danny Campbell

In the Shadow of Deimos

Mars is the new frontier for humanity in this epic saga of inspiring planetary exploration from Jane Killick, author of the Freelancer series.

Note: Check out an exciting sci-fi adventure courtesy of Jane Killick set in the world of the hit tabletop game, Terraforming Mars. -Greg Souza

Publishing Date: 11/30/2021

Written by: Jane Killick

Read by: Brian Holden

The Real Valkyrie

In the tradition of Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra, Nancy Marie Brown lays to rest the hoary myth that Viking society was ruled by men and celebrates the dramatic lives of female Viking warriors.

Note: Nancy Marie Brown’s study proves that contrary to popular belief, women held a much greater role in Viking warrior culture than previously imagined. As she expertly reveals the fantasies we hold about history, gender, and culture, she brings the past into the sharp focus of the present – touching on some of the most pressing issues of our time. -Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 11/30/21

Author: Nancy Marie Brown

Narrator: Lu Banks

The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict

The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America’s defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.

Note: “One of the leading defense strategists presents the most thorough and thought-provoking looks at what the U.S. needs to do to prepare for an unlikely but possible conflict with China.  Colby explains in detail how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.  A remarkable look into what a conflict such as this would entail and how we go about in preventing future escalations.” – Scott Smith

Written by: Elbridge A. Colby

Read by: Mike Lenz

Publishing Date: 11/30/2021

New Nonfiction Listens for November

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Read by: Chris Abernathy

“A spell-binding scientific detective story.” —Andrea Mitchell

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Walter Pincus exposes the darkest secret in American nuclear history—sixty-seven nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands that decimated a people and their land.

Read by: Cassandra Campbell

An expert analysis of Abraham Lincoln’s three most powerful speeches reveals his rhetorical genius and his thoughts on our national character.

Read by: George Newbern

“Even readers who have never visited the Crescent City will be moved by this incisive account.” —Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Laying bare the relationship between structural inequality and physical infrastructure—a relationship that has shaped all American cities—Katrina offers a chilling glimpse of the future disasters we are already creating.

Read by: Tom Perkins

David McKean’s Watching Darkness Fall will recount the rise of the Third Reich in Germany and the road to war from the perspective of four American diplomats in Europe who witnessed it firsthand: Joseph Kennedy, William Dodd, Breckinridge Long, and William Bullitt.

Read by: Ron Butler

“Thank you Duane for keeping Prince and all of our hard work and legacies alive.” —Bobby Z, drummer for The Revolution

From Prince’s superstardom to studio seclusion, this second book in the award-winning Prince Studio Sessions series spotlights how Prince, the biggest rock star on the planet at the time, risked everything to create some of the most introspective music of his four-decade career.

Read by: Jim Seybert

“[Making Your Own Luck] is a great read, which I highly recommend.” —Jim Delany, former commissioner of the Big Ten Conference

In Making Your Own Luck, former Indiana University athletic director Fred Glass recounts how even a self-described “knucklehead” learned to be prepared to recognize and seize opportunities and thus make his own luck through life.

Read by: Gareth Richards

“This is investigative journalism as good as it gets.” —Roy MacGregor, OC, author of Canadians: Portrait of a Country and Its People

In the 1840s, the Donnelly family immigrates from Ireland to the British province of Canada. Almost immediately problems develop as the patriarch of the family is sent to the Kingston Penitentiary for manslaughter, leaving his wife to raise their eight children on her own.

Read by: Simon Vance

“The Story of the Country House is a witty, well-researched and absorbing retelling of the story of the British country house.” —Julian Fellowes

The fascinating story of the evolution of the country house in Britain, from its Roman precursors to the present.

Picks of the Week-Nov 15

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Tis’ the season for beautiful fall leaves, sweaters, and of course, cuddling up with a great audiobook…

We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Our Violent Ends

Chloe Gong presents Book 2 in These Violent Delights series.

Note: Returning to the evocative world introduced in These Violent Delights, fans are sure to delight in every treacherous, romantic, and sinister turn.  – Kara Stebbins

Publishing Date: 11/16/2021

Written by: Chloe Gong

Read by: Cindy Kay

Swamplands: Tundra Beavers, Quaking Bogs, and the Improbable World of Peat

Swamplands highlights the unappreciated struggle being waged to save peatlands by scientists, conservationists, and landowners around the world.

Note: Edward Struzik’s Swamplands is a feat of popular science drawing attention to the environmental importance of this oft disregarded ecosystem. Follow along as Struzik paddles through the bogs, moors, fens, and marshes of the planet and discover the rich biodiversity of animals, insects, birds, and plant life that call the swamp home. Adventure too far off and folklorically regarded environments to learn how the preservation of these peatlands can help prevent forest fires, curb global warming and drought conditions. For those who revere nature and desire a better understanding of swamplands, this is the audiobook for you.  – Nicholas Pouliot

Publishing Date: 11/23/2021

Written by: Edward Struzik

Read by: Christopher Grove

The Murder of Professor Schlick: The Rise and Fall of the Vienna Circle

The Murder of Professor Schlick paints an unforgettable portrait of the Vienna Circle and its members while weaving an enthralling narrative set against the backdrop of economic catastrophe and rising extremism in Hitler’s Europe.

Note: What can the murder of the leader of one of history’s most influential philosophical movements tell us about the cultural and political shifts that would redefine the 20th century? The Murder of Professor Schlick is a fast-paced account of the Vienna Circle, the philosophers and scientists modernizing Enlightenment thought in the 1930s who put themselves in direct opposition to the rise of fascism. As their influence grew and their ideologies disseminated (at great risk to their personal safety), many were forced to emigrate while others paid the ultimate price. David Edmonds’ narrative reads like a thriller and will captivate everyone from the ardent historophile to the casual listener. – Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 11/23/2021

Written by: David Edmonds

Read by: Rick Adamson

Picks of the Week-Nov 1

Tantorian Favorites, , ,

Tis’ the season for pumpkins, beautiful fall leaves, sweaters, and of course, cuddling up with a great audiobook…

We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

Death at Whitewater Church

Andrea Carter presents Book 1 in the Inishowen Mystery series.

Note: What could be a better setting for a mystery than the crypt of a deconsecrated church in Donegal, Ireland? Death at Whitewater Church is book 1 in Andrea Carter’s Inishowen Mysteries series – great for fans of Donna Leon and Joy Ellis.  -Jenn Eschrich

Publishing Date: 11/2/21

Written by: Andrea Carter

Read by: Heather O’Neill

A Bridge Between Us

K. K. Allen delivers her most breathtakingly poignant work in this thrilling romantic suspense about two star-crossed lovers and an ominous force that works against them. Contains mature themes.

Note: Both Camila and Ridge’s families have been in a feud for generations, they hope that maybe they can stop the feud and have everyone work together which is best for all. Things don’t go as they planned and Ridge ends up leaving Camila crushed so she decides to leave town. Years later Camila returns to the same town, that she once rushed to leave and finds out everything has changed including Ridge. For fans of Kandi Steiner and Melanie Harlow, you don’t want to miss this new to audio, romantic suspense by KK Allen. – Jordan Spellman

Publishing Date: 11/9/21                         

Written by: KK Allen

Read by: Sofia Willingham, Troy Duran

Ember

The final installment in the Elvish Trilogy is a tale of sacrifice, forgiveness, and the lengths we’ll go for those we love.

Note: In the epic conclusion of the Elvish Trilogy, we follow Ellina and Venick on a journey filled with larger than life battles and black magic! – Kristen Hummel

Written by: S.G Prince

Read by: Daniel Thomas May

Publishing Date: 11/9/2021

New Fiction Listens for October

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Read by: Sara Powell

A Reese’s Book Club Pick

Girl, Woman, Other meets An American Marriage in this gripping story of a mixed-race woman who goes in search of the African father she never knew.

Read by: Nicole Poole

USA Today bestselling author

Hope is a young woman on the brink of a successful career as a jeweler. The last thing she needs right now is trouble, but trouble finds her when she’s caught trespassing on private property.

Read by: Gemma Dawson

New York Times bestselling author

Three years ago, Rosalind Courtenay stumbled from the nineteenth century to the twenty-first, where she has been trapped ever since, leaving her husband and infant son behind. Now she’s found her way back.

Read by: Luke Daniels

Internationally bestselling series

Maybe Maulkin has taken a month off to hang out with his new elven girlfriend and learn how to swing his giant sword around, but hasn’t he earned a holiday?

Read by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Author of the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series

James Dashner leads us on a dark journey of generational horror as we visit The House of Tongues.

Read by: P.J. Ochlan

Internationally bestselling author

It’s one stranded ex-lawman against a world full of homicidal psychopaths. Psychopaths who might, or might not, be human.

Read by: Justine Eyre

New York Times bestselling series

Nalini Singh returns to the world of the Guild Hunters for the most highly anticipated novel of the beloved series—a love story so epic it’s been half a millennia in the making.

Read by: Gildart Jackson

Charlie Hills, former desk sergeant at Kings Lake Central, is in trouble. He hasn’t told Smith, his old friend and sparring partner, but someone has, and now the two former policemen are about to embark on a difficult and potentially dangerous search for the truth. For one of them, it could be life-changing.

New Nonfiction Listens for October

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Read by: Elizabeth Wiley

“Beatrice and Uranio are true leaders and pioneers in the field of Enneagram studies.” –Russ Hudson, author of The Enneagram: Nine Gateways to Presence

A fresh approach to the Enneagram that encourages listeners to embark on their own hero’s journey for transformation.

Read by: Shaun Grindell

“When it comes to understanding the hidden workings of Serengeti, Anthony Sinclair is a scientist like no other.” –Sean B. Carroll, author of The Serengeti Rules

A Place Like No Other is Anthony Sinclair’s firsthand account of how he and other scientists discovered the biological principles that regulate life in Serengeti and how they rule all of the natural world.

Read by: The Author

“Debra Newell’s journey, her tale of survival, and her openness in sharing her story, is awe inspiring.” –Eric Bana

Now that articles, podcasts, newsmagazines, and miniseries have had their sensationalistic say, Debra Newell, the one woman who truly knows what it was like to survive “Dirty John” Meehan shares the full story—the reality—with the world for the first time.

Read by: Matthew Josdal

“Meticulously researched and endlessly fascinating.” –James Mirtle, editor-in-chief, The Athletic Canada

Join a ragtag group of misfits from Dawson City as they scrap to become the 1905 Stanley Cup champions and cement hockey as Canada’s national pastime.

Read by: Jim Seybert

“An indispensable guide to understanding the importance of place in one’s well-being and determining the right place at a given time in life’s journey.” –Chip Conley, author of Wisdom at Work

Wondering where to live in your later years? This strategic and thoughtful guide is aimed at anyone looking to determine the best place to call home during the second half of life.

Read by: Roger Wayne

It is a crime even the FBI must have considered fantastic and absurd.

The true story of the kidnapping of the heir to one of the wealthiest families in America.

Read by: Jonathan Yen

“The Shattering is panoramic, astute, and compellingly readable.” -Nicholas Lemann, author of Transaction Man

Covering the late 1950s through the early 1970s, The Shattering focuses on the period’s fierce conflicts over race, sex, and war.

Read by: Dan Calley

Punk protagonist, legendary drinker, Irish musical icon. The complete and extraordinary journey of the Pogues’s notorious frontman from outcast to national treasure has never been told—until now.

Picks of the Week-October 18

Tantorian Favorites, , , ,

Tis’ the season for pumpkins, beautiful fall leaves, sweaters, and of course, cuddling up with a great audiobook…

We understand that at times it could be a challenge narrowing down your next listen, so we had our acquirers narrow down a few of their top picks for you.

The Temple and the Lodge

From the authors of the international bestseller Holy Blood, Holy Grail, a history of the Freemasons from the Knights Templar to America’s founding fathers.

Note: From the authors of the  best-selling Holy Blood, Holy Grail comes a new edition of this exploration of the Templar/Freemason connection, with a new foreword by occult historian Mitch Horowitz. – Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 10/26/21

Written by: Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh

Read by: Rick Adamson

A Dog’s World: Imagining the Lives of Dogs in a World without Humans

From two of the world’s leading authorities on dogs, an imaginative journey into a future of dogs without people.

Note:  A thought-provoking look into what the world would be like for dogs if humans ceased to exist.  Challenging the notion that dogs would be helpless without their human counterparts, A Dog’s World enables us to understand these independent and remarkably intelligent animals on their own terms.- Scott Smith

Publishing Date:  10/26/2021

Written by:  Jessica Pierce and Marc Bekoff

Read by:  Karen White

The Lost Language

The quest to save the words of a dying language—and to find the words to save what may be a dying friendship—lies at the heart of this exquisite verse novel.

Note: A beautiful story in verse the whole family can enjoy and discuss together. Claudia Mills weaves deeper topics into this story about trying to save an endangered language. – Jannah McCowan

Publishing Date: Oct 26, 2021

Written by: Claudia Mills

Read by: Erin deWard

In a Book Club Far Away

From the author of Once Upon a Sunset and The Key to Happily Ever After comes a heartwarming and moving novel following three Army wives—estranged friends—who must overcome their differences when one of them is desperate for help.

Note: Fans of Jodi Picoult and Marci Bolden will love Tif Marcelo’s In a Book Club Far Away! Readers will be rooting for Regina, Adelaide, and Sophie as they confront past wrongs and rekindle their friendship.- Madeleine Collins

Publishing Date: 10/26/21

Written by: Tif Marcelo

Read by: Cassandra Campbell