Tag Archives: Monthly Picks

Picks of the Week-August 22

We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to listen to all of the new audiobooks releasing this month!

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. Roadtrips, poolside, or beachside? We’ve got you covered!

Wraithforged

S. M. Boyce presents Book 2 in the Wraithblade series. Outlaw. Assassin. Aspiring warlord. Connor Magnuson’s been called many names, but which of them are true?

Note: The Wraithblade saga continues!  Return to the story of Connor as he struggles with god-like powers, even as new adversaries loom. – Greg

Publishing Date: 8/23/2022

Written by: S.M. Boyce

Read by: Wayne Mitchell

Lie To Me

A must-listen contemporary romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Natasha Preston.

Note: Natasha Preston is known as the queen of YA thrillers, however, her contemporary romances are just as good as her thrillers! And you don’t want to miss this new to audio new adult romance. In this story, Savannah and Kent meet for the first time and can’t stand each other. One hates liars and the other is holding nothing but secrets…- Jordan

Publishing Date: 8/23/22          

Written by: Natasha Preston

Read by: Stevie Zimmerman and Dan Calley

The Timepiece and the Girl Who Went Astray

A must-listen historical time-travel story from O. R. Simmonds.

Note: For fans of Jerry Merritt, a brand new whirlwind historical time-travel mystery that will captivate you from beginning to end. – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 8/30/2022

Written by: O.R Simmonds

Read by: Joel Froomkin

Picks of the Week-August 8

We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to listen to all of the new audiobooks releasing this month!

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. Roadtrips, poolside, or beachside? We’ve got you covered!

How to Stay Smart in a Smart World

How to stay in charge in a world populated by algorithms that beat us in chess, find us romantic partners, and tell us to “turn right in 500 yards.”

Note: Is AI really coming after your job? After your way of life? In How to Stay Smart in a Smart World, Gerg Gigerenzer explores the areas that AI succeeds in and where it still falls short and will likely continue to. The author removes the panic and technology jargon from the conversation, leaving a level-headed book that all of us can look to for an idea of what the future holds for Human-AI interactions. – Jenn Eschrich

Publishing Date: 8/2/2023

Written by: Gerd Gigerenzer

Read by: Joel Richards

Violets      

By Man Asian Literary Prize winner Kyung-Sook Shin, “a moving delve into a lonely psyche” that follows a neglected young woman’s search for human connection in contemporary Seoul (YZ Chin).

Note: An isolated young woman confronts her own loneliness and personal desires as she navigates a bustling city, a new job in a flower shop, and unwanted social pressures. Atmospheric in its prose, Kyung-Sook Shin’s Violets examines the perspective of a marginalized woman and the society that ignores her, in 1990s Seoul. – Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 8/2/22

Written by: Kyung-Sook Shin

Read by: Cindy Kay

Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee revolutionized martial arts by combining influences drawn from around the world. Uncommonly determined, physically gifted, and artistically brilliant, Lee rose to fame as part of a wave of transpacific globalization that bridged the nearly seven thousand miles between Hong Kong and California. Like Water unpacks Lee’s global impact, linking his legendary status as a martial artist, actor, and director to his continual traversals across the newly interconnected Asia and America.

Note: A detailed look at the cultural impact of Bruce Lee, both in Asia and throughout the rest of the world.  A unique blend of cultural history and biography, Like Water, unearths the cultural strands that Lee intertwined in his rise to a new kind of global stardom.  A wonderful retelling of the legacy of the first Asian-American superstar.- Scott Smith

Publishing Date:8/9/2022

Written by: Daryl J. Maeda

Read by: David Lee Huynh

Zelensky

A must-listen biography on Volodymyr Zelensky.

Note: The first English-language biography of Volodymyr Zelensky.– Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 8/9/22

Written by: Serhii Rudenko

Read by: Mike Lenz

Picks of the Week-June 20

Summer is officially here! We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to listen to all of the new audiobooks releasing this month!

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. Roadtrips, poolside, or beachside? We’ve got you covered!

Cursed

K. K. Allen presents Book 1 in the Enchanted Gods series. Contains mature themes.

Note: Cursed is perfect for people who love a mix of romance, adventure, and fantasy in their books. Katrina is different and after tragedy hits, she is sent to live with her only family left, she learns a lot more than she bargained for. Powerful forces, mythological enchantments, and evil prophecies you do not want to miss this one!-Jordan

Publishing Date: 6/7/22            

Written by: K.K. Allen

Read by: Rose Dioro

Mystic Madness

Kim Richardson presents Book 8 in the Witches of Hollow Cove series.

Note: Author Kim Richardson introduces the 8th installment of the hilarious and charming The Witches of Hollow Cove series: Mystic Madness. This binge-worthy fantasy series has everything: romance, adventure, and is delightfully lighthearted with its comedic heroine Tessa. Mystic Madness is the perfect book to pick up for avid fans of magical, witchy hijinks!- Desiree Lynch

Publishing Date: 6/14/2022

Written by: Kim Richardson

Read by: Devon Sorvari

An Heir Comes to Rise

C. C. Peñaranda presents Book 1 in the Heir Comes to Rise series.

Note: Book 1 in this action-packed debut fantasy series is filled with sorcery, sword fights, and adventure.  – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 6/21/2022 

Written by: Chloe C. Peñaranda

Read by: Elizabeth Evans

Picks of the Week-May 30

Spring has sprung! We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to listen to all of the new audiobooks releasing this month!

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.

Blood and Fire:  The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik

The captivating story of how The Sheik captured the imagination of a generation, conquered the wrestling business, and lost it all in a blaze of flame and glory.

Note:  Step into the ring with one of the most infamous and influential wrestlers of all time in this biography of The Sheik.  Modern extreme and hardcore wrestling owes almost everything to the Sheik, who initiated the bloody and wild brawling style in the ’50s and trained two of its most iconic and enduring participants, Sabu (his real-life nephew) and Rob Van Dam, but there is much more to the man behind the gimmick.  This book explores his life in ways never done before.  Even the most knowledgeable fan is in for a treat and a bucketful of new knowledge with this one!- Dan Totten

Written by:  Brian R. Solomon

Read by:  Brian R. Solomon

Publishing Date:  5/31/2022

National Park Mysteries & Disappearances: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, with 12.1 million recreational visits in 2020. Aside from crowds of hikers, campers, and general tourists, there’s a dark side to the Smokies, the town of Gatlinburg and the surrounding foothills. From strange disappearances, grisly murders and bone-chilling paranormal hauntings and ghost sightings; this pristine paradise has a lot more to offer than just serene hiking trails or camping.

Note: Steve Stockton investigates the mysterious dark side to one of the country’s most visited parks. – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 5/31/2022

Written by: Steve Stockton

Read by: Chris Abernathy

Picks of the Week-May 9

Spring has sprung! We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to listen to all of the new audiobooks releasing this month!

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 Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton

What if we truly belong to each other? What if we are all walking around shining like the sun? Mystic, monk, and activist Thomas Merton asked those questions in the twentieth century. Writer Sophfronia Scott is asking them today. In The Seeker and the Monk, Scott mines the extensive private journals of one of the most influential contemplative thinkers of the past for guidance on how to live in these fraught times.

Note: Winner of the 2021 Thomas Merton Award, The Seeker and the Monk, by Sophfronia Scott is a spiritual conversation between the unlikeliest pair. Scott, a non-Catholic Black woman, delves into the writings of the revered Trappist monk Thomas Merton and juxtaposes his contemplations against the culture milieu of the 21st century. Through Merton’s lens, Scott reflects on faith, ambition, nature, race, and prayer and invites the listener into a process of personal growth, exploration and understanding. For those who believe, like Merton said “we truly belong together” and seek a way to explain it, this is the audiobook for you.  – Nicholas Pouliot

Publishing Date: 5/10/2022

Written by: Sophfronia Scott

Read by: Kellye A. Saunders

Missing Pieces

Peter Grainger presents Book 4 in the Kings Lake Investigation series.

Note: Peter Grainger’s newest police procedural brings together all his well-loved attributes: dimensional characters, descriptive landscapes, and a thoroughly plotted mystery. This time in the form of a cold case whose answer may finally be solved with modern forensics. – Kara Stebbins

Publishing Date: 5/10/2022

Written by: Peter Grainger

Read by: Gildart Jackson

Losing It

Shelli Stevens presents Book 1 in the Bro Code series. Contains mature themes.

Note: The first book in the Bro Code series by Shelli Stevens has come to audio and you do not want to miss it! In this brother’s best friend, Kristen is trying to have a little fun before joining the real world. Enters Blake, who knows that Kristen is off-limits in anything more than a friendship so he decides to be her wingman in having a little fun. It’s the perfect match for fun with no feelings or maybe not… -Jordan

Publishing Date: 5/10/22          

Written by: Shelli Stevens

Read by: Amy Melissa Bentley

Living Untethered

The book you need right now is finally here! From beloved spiritual teacher Michael A. Singer—author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Untethered Soul—this transformative and highly anticipated guide will be your compass on an exciting new journey toward self-realization and unconditional happiness.

Note: In Living Untethered, New York Times #1 Bestselling author Michael Singer, digs deeper into the concept of the “self” previously explored in The Untethered Soul.  This audiobook, narrated by the author, will compel you to question “who are YOU?” and how can you be the best you? – Jenn Eschrich

Publishing Date: 5/10/22

Written by: Michael A. Singer

Read by: Michael A. Singer

Picks of the Week-April 26

Spring has sprung! We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to listen to all of the new audiobooks releasing this month!

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.

Game Wizards: The Epic Battle for Dungeons & Dragons

In Game Wizards, Jon Peterson chronicles the rise of Dungeons & Dragons from hobbyist pastime to mass-market sensation, from the initial collaboration to the later feud of its creators, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Note: Author Jon Peterson’s Game Wizards: The Epic Battle for Dungeons & Dragons delivers an essential history for anyone who has ever tossed a D20.  – Greg

Publishing Date: 4/26/2022

Written by: Jon Peterson

Read by: Chris Andrew Ciulla

Legacy in the Blood

Catherine Maiorisi presents Book 4 in the Chiara Corelli Mystery series.

Note: For fans of Gerri Hill, author Catherine Maiorisi presents book 4 in the thrilling Chiara Corelli Mystery series where detectives Chiara Corelli and P.J. Parker work together to solve a mysterious murder. – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 4/26/2022

Written by: Catherine Maiorisi

Read by: Abby Craden

From Rebel To Ruler

On the centennial of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, the definitive history of how Mao and his successors overcame incredible odds to gain and keep power.

Note: Tony Saich provides an authoritative account of the Chinese Communist Party – how it came to power, the major players involved, and where it stands one hundred years after its founding. – Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 4/26/22

Written by: Tony Saich

Read by: Nigel Patterson

The Transcendentalists and Their World

The Transcendentalists and Their World offers a fresh view of the thinkers whose outsize impact on philosophy and literature would spread from tiny Concord to all corners of the earth.

Note: The Transcendentalists and Their World is the latest installment of Robert Gross’ history of the town of Concord, Massachusetts, and is a worthy follow-up to the Bancroft Prize-winning The Minutemen and Their World. This audiobook is both historiography of this New England town and a biography of the Transcendentalist writers of the mid-1800s. Full of exacting insight The Transcendentalists and Their World seeks to explain why Concord was the epicenter of this unique form of American Individualism. Deeply researched, this audio edition is a must-have for those seeking an on the street view of an early American Renaissance. – Nick Pouliot

Publishing Date: 4/26/2022

Written by: Robert A. Gross

Read by: Paul Brion

Picks of the Week-March 14

Spring has sprung! We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to listen to all of the new audiobooks releasing this month!

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.

In My Dreams I Hold  Knife 

Told in racing dual timelines, with a dark campus setting and a darker look at friendship, love, obsession, and ambition, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is an addictive, propulsive story.

Note: For fans of The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, author Ashley Winstead presents a psychological thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat! – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 3/8/2022

Written by: Ashley Winstead

Read by: Vanessa Johansson

Sex Ed for Grown-Ups

Sex Ed for Grown-Ups is an open and honest guide that empowers adults to talk to young people about all things sex and relationships.

Note: Talking to children and teens about sex is notoriously tough. Author Jonny Hunt turns an awkward conversation into an accessible and ongoing dialogue for kids of all ages. Sex Ed for Grown-Ups will help adults talk to the young people in their lives openly and honestly about sex and sexuality. – Kim Budnick

Publishing Date: 03/15/2022

Written by: Jonny Hunt

Read by: Chris Sorensen

The Trees: A Novel

An uncanny literary thriller addressing the painful legacy of lynching in the US, by the author of Telephone.

Note: Recently longlisted for a PEN/Faulkner award Percival Everett’s new novel The Trees is a masterful blend of literary trope and moral commentary. A murder mystery that begins in a small town in Mississippi eventually leads to a national reckoning that examines the history of lynching in America. Fast-paced and witty Everett’s success is presenting humor alongside horror and addressing the legacy of violence and racism in the Old South. The Trees is an audiobook that is instantly listenable and will have a long-lasting impact. – Nick Pouliot

Publishing Date: 03/15/2022

Written by: Percival Everett

Read by: Bill Andrew Quinn

Picks of the Week-February 21

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.

Soul Love

Aja presents Book 3 in the Soulmates series. Contains mature themes.

Note: Author Aja gives spotlight to clairvoyant and enigmatic heroine Zoe in Soul Love, book 3 of the series Soulmates. Perceptive of her connection to the world and people, Zoe is confident that she could pick her soulmate from a crowd – despite having never met him. This is perfect for listeners that have been following the Soulmates series and enjoy gifted heroines discovering their fated love. – Desiree Lynch

Publishing Date: 2/15/2022

Written by: Aja

Read by: Leon Nixon, Shari Peele

Tide of Tricks

Ariana Nash presents Book 2 in the Shadows of London series. Contains mature themes.

Note: Book 2 in the new thrilling Shadows of London series by Ariana Nash will take you on a fantastical, mysterious adventure. – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 2/22/2022

Written by: Ariana Nash

Read by: Cornell Collins

The Bachelor Bargain

Maddison Michaels presents Book 1 in the Secrets, Scandals, and Spies series. Contains mature themes.

Note: While waiting for the newest season of Bridgerton to release on Netflix, why not sink your teeth into Maddison Michaels’ newest historical romance series to quench your thirst? When Lady Olivia has had enough of scandals ruining lives, she and her friends decide to start an anonymous publication dishing the secrets of society’s most eligible bachelors. Using Sebastian as a partner, Olivia soon finds out they may be in over their heads… – Kelly Srubas

Publishing Date: 2/22/22

Written by: Maddison Michaels

Read by: Ashford MacNab

They Called Us River Rats: The Last Batture Settlement of New Orleans

They Called Us River Rats: The Last Batture Settlement of New Orleans is the previously untold story of perhaps the oldest outsider settlement in America, an invisible community on the annually flooded shores of the Mississippi River.

Note: They Called Us River Rats is the history of one of the oldest and most secret communities in America: The New Orleans Batture, the levy dwellers who reside along the river’s edge. Author Macon Fry , a self-proclaimed river rat, takes the listener to banks of the Mississippi with a flowing narrative full of characters and experience. This audiobook is the culmination of 20 years of research as Fry catalogs the history and myth of batture living and it’s significance to the region and culture of the Mississippi River. This audiobook is for all those who seek a contrarian lifestyle or insight into this unique and hardy community. – Nicholas Pouliot

Publishing Date: 02/22/2022

Written by: Macon Fry

Read by: Adam Barr

Everything, All the Time, Everywhere

Post-modernism stood for everything modernism rejected: fun, exuberance, irresponsibility. In his brilliant history of a dangerous idea, Stuart Jeffries tells a narrative that starts in the early 1970s and continues to today.

Note: Stuart Jeffries takes us on a journey through the history of Postmodernism. A crucial text for anyone who wants to better understand our fragmented culture, why we can’t seem to agree on objective reality, and how we got here. – Aaron Piccirillo

Publishing Date: 2/22/22

Written by: Stuart Jeffries

Read by: Jonathan Cowley

My Autobiography

My Autobiography offers dedicated Chaplin fans and casual admirers alike an astonishing glimpse into the heart and the mind of Hollywood’s original genius maverick.

Note: For the first time in audio comes the autobiography of film icon, Charlie Chaplin. Arguably the most recognizable comedic actor in cinema’s history, Chaplin tells in his own words of his upbringing in South London, his ascent to stardom as “The Tramp,” and his successes as a director, writer, producer, composer, and star of classics like “Modern Times,” “City Lights,” and “The Great Dictator” (to name a few). On display is Chaplin’s unrelenting wit, his idiosyncrasies, and his humanity in what the Chicago Tribune called “the best autobiography ever written by an actor.” – Sonia Brand-Fisher

Publishing Date: 2/28/2022

Written by: Charles Chaplin

Read by: Steve John Shepherd

Picks of the Week-January 17

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.

Showing Up: How Men Can Become Effective Allies in the Workplace

Showing Up is a revolutionary step-by-step guide—by and for men—to ending toxic masculinity and leveraging men to enact heart-based leadership, increase diversity, bolster the bottom line, and create a culture so everyone in the workplace wins.

Note: “A revolutionary step-by-step guide – by and for men – to ending toxic masculinity” especially, in the workplace. For men to embrace healthy masculinity in leadership roles in a company, while also identifying unhealthy masculine behaviors. How to build up and be inclusive for underrepresented groups in the workplace. This book is one that every man should give a listen to, you just might learn something.- Jordan Spellman

Publishing Date: 1/4/22            

Written by: Ray Arata

Read by: Steven Bowlby

Season of the Witch

This epic cultural and historical odyssey unearths the full influence of occult traditions on rock and roll—from the Beatles to Black Sabbath—and shows how the marriage between mysticism and music changed our world.

Note:  The fascinating connection between Occultism and Mysticism and the roots of rock ‘n’ roll is explored in this analysis of rock through the years.  Gildart Jackson expertly narrates our journey from those early days up to today.  This one is sure to grab you if you have any interest in music or the supernatural. – Dan Totten

Publishing Date:  1/18/2022

Written by:  Peter Berbegal

Read by:  Gildart Jackson

Cheese Sex Death

Filled with audacious prose, Cheese Sex Death is a delightfully approachable guide to artisan cheese that will make just about anyone worship at the altar of Cheesus.

Note: Erika Kubick brings her passion for cheese to this delectable artisan guide. A must-listen for the cheese obsessed! – Kara Stebbins

Publishing Date: 1/18/2022

Written by: Erika Kubick

Read by: Erika Kubick

The 10,000 Year Explosion

A provocative and fascinating new look at human evolution that turns conventional wisdom on its head, The 10,000 Year Explosion reveals the ongoing interplay between culture and biology in the making of the human race.

Note: Gregory Cochran and Henry Harpending offer a unique, modern perspective on human evolution’s relationship to civilized life. – Greg

Publishing Date: 1/18/2022

Written by: Gregory Cochran, Henry Harpending

Read by: Jonathan Yen

Ball of Fire

In Ball of Fire: The Tumultuous Life and Comic Art of Lucille Ball, Stefan Kanfer goes beyond the icon to examine the difficult life and enduring work of the most influential woman in modern American comedy.

Note: Author Stefan Kanfer examines the life and legacy of one of the most beloved comics and television stars of all time-Lucille Ball. – Kristen Hummel

Publishing Date: 1/18/2022

Written by: Stefan Kanfer

Read by: Nan McNamara

Picks of the Week-December 27

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