June is Audiobook Month: Romance

June is Audiobook Month! To celebrate, borrow a Romance audiobook from Carnegie-Stout Public Library's collection. Here are a few recent contemporary romances that you might enjoy:

Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray
Shelley Shepard Gray is known for her engaging Christian romance novels, which often feature Amish communities. Her Secret is the intriguing first book in her Amish of Hart County series. When Hannah is stalked by an aggressive man, her family leaves their Ohio community for a new home in Kentucky. Tavia Gilbert narrates the audiobook with distinctive character voices.


A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
Alyssa Cole writes intelligent, yet steamy romance novels. For contemporary romance, try her Reluctant Royals series, which starts with A Princess in Theory. When independent grad student Naledi gets an email claiming she’s the long lost fiancée of an African prince, she assumes it’s spam, but the truth is far more complicated. Narrator Karen Chilton captures the story’s emotions, though some readers were less impressed by her accents.

Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Helen Hoang’s debut novel is a captivating contemporary romance that is far too steamy for a family road trip. Stella is intelligent and accomplished, but her autism has made personal relationships a challenge. Michael is creative and caring, but circumstances have driven him to earn money as an escort. Carly Robins’s expressive narration captures the emotional journey of these characters.

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber
Debbie Macomber is known for her heartwarming contemporary romances. Josie spends a summer working in a small Alaskan town and finds happiness and a relationship with a local swordsmith. Her career takes her back to the restaurants of Seattle, but her dream job may not be all she wished. Laurel Rankin and Luke Daniels share the narration for the audiobook.

June is Audiobook Month: Notable Fiction

June is Audiobook Month! To celebrate, borrow a Fiction audiobook from Carnegie-Stout Public Library's collection. Here are a few titles from notable and prize-winning authors that you might enjoy:

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi is a 2018 National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” honoree. Their debut novel is a complex and character-driven story of a young woman struggling with multiple personality disorder. Emezi’s calm narration is a striking juxtaposition to the complex and disturbing story.



Florida by Lauren Groff
Lauren Groff’s haunting collection of short stories was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction. Her stories are character-driven, and her rich descriptions of the natural world make the setting stand out. Groff narrates the audiobook herself, to mixed reviews as some listeners enjoyed her pacing and others found her slight lisp distracting.



Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
Nafissa Thompson-Spires's debut novel is a complex and quirky collection of stories that explore the concept of black identity amid the complexities of contemporary life. Heads of the Colored People was awarded the 2019 PEN/Open Book Award. Audie award winning narrator Adenrele Ojo narrates the audiobook and her narration is well matched to the writing’s emotional tone.


Home by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s writing is lyrical and character-driven. Her many honors include a Pulitzer Prize, an American Book Award, and a Nobel Prize in Literature. Her 2012 novel, Home, is the story of a Korean War veteran’s quest to save his younger sister. Toni Morrison narrates the audiobook herself with skill and emotion.

June is Audiobook Month: Mysteries

June is Audiobook Month! To celebrate, borrow a Mystery audiobook from Carnegie-Stout Public Library's collection. Here are a few titles of mystery and suspense that you might enjoy:

Last Breath by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter is known for her fast-paced suspenseful mysteries and psychological thrillers. Try Last Breath, in which defense attorney Charlie Quinn’s newest client is a teen girl who reminds Charlie of her own difficult past. Narrator Kathleen Early maintains a quick pace while capturing the nuances of the characters.

Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon

Murder in G Major is the first book in Alexia Gordon’s cozy mystery series featuring Gethsemane Brown, a professional violinist turned music teacher and amateur sleuth. Gethsemane didn’t come to Ireland from America for her dream job, but the picturesque cliff-side cottage is a great perk – aside from the sarcastic ghost who needs her help! British narrator Jessica Carroll is particularly skilled with accent work.

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

Sandie Jones’s debut novel was a selection for Reese Witherspoon’s book club. The Other Woman is a compelling work of psychological fiction about a young woman who meets the man of her dreams, and his nightmare of a mother. Narrator Clare Corbett’s voice work captures the characters’ personalities.

What My Body Remembers by Agnete Friis

A standalone mystery from the Danish co-author of the Nina Borg series, What My Body Remembers is a complex, character-driven work of psychological fiction. Ella has suffered from panic attacks since the night her father murdered her mother, and now stands to lose custody of her son. Susan Boyce narrates the audiobook with distinct voices and care for Danish vocabulary.

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly

This is the first book in Kelly’s engaging Magical Cats Mystery series about a small-town Minnesota librarian who adopts two cats with special powers. The audiobook is narrated by Cassandra Campbell who brings life to the likeable characters. This is an amusing series sure to appeal to fans of cozy mysteries.