They call them sleeper hits - books that may not get your attention right away, but then unexpectedly rise to success. Your reviews have uncovered more than a few of these gems, and we're pleased to share some of your recent favorites.
From steampunk romance to scientific investigation, seaside mystery to aviator memoir, these are the books that your raves have put on the charts.
Featured Review: "Excellent...a heartwarming coming-of-age tale. I laughed, I cried, I pondered! Am I the only one, or are there others who could listen to Jenna Lamia read an encyclopedia and be engrossed and charmed? Ms. Lamia makes this book, much like she did The Help. A thoroughly enjoyable listen." (Carolyn, ***** star review, "Fabulous Find!)
Featured Review: "I am a 67-year-old history buff. I have read many WWII histories, but none as complete as Storm of War. I especially enjoyed the in-depth coverage of "the Eastern Front". No one has ever covered it better. Plus, the reader does a fantastic job. Very well done, and five stars is my honest vote. War history buffs should not miss this one." (John, ***** star review, "Things I had never known!")
Featured Review: "This book was wonderful! What an emotional rags-to-riches story, for both man and dog. It was good from the first words. The dual perspective really worked, and I'm guessing Ms. Wilson is a dog lover as she wrote this just as the loving relationship between man/dog exists (at least in my mind)! Thanks for this great story." (Diane, ***** star review, "BRAVO")
Featured Review: "Mark Boyett narrates one of the more intriguing thrillers I have heard in awhile. Plot rips along, and interesting historical flashbacks add some color. Actually the resolve leaves one wanting a bit more. I recommend this one!" (Matthew, **** star review, "Surprising!)
Featured Review: "This book is excellent! I listen to 5 to 7 books on tape a month. This is one you do not want to miss. Often like a suspense novel, it puts the listener on the edge of their seats. Knowing that it is a true story makes it even more incredible. Thank goodness the man kept journals during WWII and Vietnam, so that we get the correct facts. I am near the end of the book and absolutely do NOT want it to end. Talk about a 'get 'er done' kind of guy. I'd heard that the men in his command would follow him anywhere. This book is a treasure, just like the man. I'll definitely listen to this book again! Often memoirs of great men disappoint, Memoirs of Ace Robin Olds exceeds one's expectations." (Diane, ***** star review, ..
Featured Review: "Now I have never heard of this author. But I'm glad I found her. Wow, what a book. It kept [things] alive, and I couldn't stop listening to it. I finished it in one day. I am now looking at the rest of her audios. If you want a little mystery and teases, you will love this audio...one of the best buys I have had on this site." (Melissa, ***** star review, "Lead me on...")
Featured Review: "I loved this audiobook. It has a wealth of history not just about money, but also of the world. Any book that elucidates your understanding of history is a great asset in my opinion. It was interesting to learn about the Roman empire, the Knights Templar, etc. all in relation to money. Narration was great also." (Chris, ***** star review, "Loved it")
Featured Review: "Gail Carriger's debut of the parasol protectorate is just plain brilliant. Set in an alternative Victorian England where werewolves, vampires, and ghosts are productive members of society, Soulless takes the listener on a witty and eccentric mystery ride. While we enjoy a satiric portrayal of social graces in the spirit of Jane Austen, we are entertained by fantastical science in the spirit of Jules Verne. Emily Gray is an excellent choice in narrators for this farce fusion. You will like this book. I can't wait for the other books in this series. (Leanna, ***** star review, "Brilliant!")
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Featured Review: "A prominent woman dies on Sea Haven's new wooden rollercoaster, but was there a crime? Danny and Ceepak are on the trail when an entirely new crisis shocks the town, threatening the investigators, their friends, and the rapidly-approaching tourist season. Rolling Thunder won't disappoint [Grabenstein's] loyal fans or new readers, and as always, Jeff Woodman's narration pulls the characters off the written page and into your headphones. There's plenty of mystery, suspense, and the usual humor, with an ending that will keep you turning pages until it concludes." (John, ***** star review, "Thunderous Applause for ROLLING THUNDER!")
Featured Review: "I've always appreciated Gordon S. Wood's writinghe manages to write in a popular, mainstream way without dumbing anything down. This is just very good narrative history, much like the other Oxford History of the US books. I think I had a pretty good understanding already of the basic Federalist/Republican differences, but Wood has retold the story in such a clear and interesting way that the whole thing felt fresh. Also, his style is just great - the words flow, the vignettes are well-chosen to illustrate his points, and the result is a beautifully told story of the early republic." (Joseph, ***** star review, "Excellent historical writing")
Featured Review: "An amazing story, artfully written and told with the distinctive rhythms of British English by a narrator wearing an ascot and nursing a brandy. John Lee's voice and delivery are engrossing, although his mastery of Spanish and German accents can only be rivaled by Sean Connery's. The deception - centered around a slowly decomposing corpse - which contributed to the spectacular German blunder (in allowing a relatively unimpeded invasion of Sicily in 1943) is laid out clearly with style and humor. This book is a great exploration of the world of espionage in 1943, of the personalities involved in this small chapter of the conflict, and of a few of the war's major players. A great book and a great narration." (Carlos, ***** ..
Featured Review: "I REALLY enjoyed this book, and kept thinking that Jane Jameson and Sookie Stackhouse (by Charlaine Harris) should get together for some drinks. What a hoot! I'm exciting to get to the next in the series." (Angela, ***** star review, "Right up there with Sookie Stackhouse!")
Featured Review: "I know why this was one of Linda Howard's favorites; it is one of mine too. The story sucks you in and doesn't let go until the end. I would listen in the car, while walkingany moment I could because I just couldn't put it down. The chemistry between the two main characters is very well-written. Great steamy romance with a interesting ending. Worth a credit!" (Linda, ***** star review, "Great book")
Featured Review: "This is an outstanding work of science journalism, and it is likely to surprise the vast majority of its readers. Plus, Ken Kliban is a great narrator. As both a scientist and a mental health clinician, I support the methods and the conclusions of this book strongly. Many, if not most, scientists at the top of NIMH and major universities wouldn't disagree with two of the most important ideas; first, that the "chemical imbalance" hypothesis is basically nonsense, and second, that the outcomes literature for psych drugs is poor. I'm going to recommend this book to everyone I possibly can." (Eric, ***** star review, "Good Science, Great Journalism")
Featured Review: "This beautifully written, heart-wrenching novel is so well narrated that I found myself drawn into every character. The narrator made this story come alive, and it is such an emotional powerhouse its effects have stayed with me for several days. I'll look for others narrated by Hope Davis." (Cathy, ***** star review, "Best Yet!!")
Featured Review: "This book was extremely well-written and well-narratedit is probably one of the best books I've listened to this year. Jeff Shesol did a great job of painting a picture of all of the key players in Roosevelt's attempt to pack the Supreme Court, from Roosevelt himself to Senators Bert Wheeler and Joe Robinson, to each of the US Supreme Court Justices that made up that court. The author did an incredible job of framing each of the key player's personal agendas and priorities as either a proponent or opponent of the court packing scheme, as well as providing a brief biography of each of them. Most interesting were the discussions of (who eventually became the key swing vote in the court). I strongly recommend the ..
Featured Review: "I couldn't let go of this audiobook after having listened to it in a single sessionit's nonfiction that reads like a suspense novel. But apart from its "entertainment" value, the author makes an extremely compelling case against the death penalty as it is implemented today. Without ever boring the reader, he explains how a dangerous combination of poorly prepared / payed attorneys combined with more and more arbitrary appeal rules restrictions end up with the execution of the guilty, but also the innocent, the mentally insane, etc. The real cases he reports bring the reader to tears of sadness and frustration. This should be a must-listen, especially for everyone who supports the death penalty without really knowing ..
Featured Review: "I read this book when it was first released in 1988. When my husband and I started collecting audiobook titles, we searched for books that we had once enjoyed reading. We had been looking for The Deed of Paksenarrion ever since we started listening to audiobooks about a decade ago. When it finally came out, I snapped it up from Audible.com and have not regretted it. For lovers of the fantasy genre you can't go wrong with any of the Paksenarrion books." (Karen, ***** star review, "Written book translates to excellent audio book")
Featured Review: "I chose to buy this book for the sole reason that Jeff Gurner reads it. I had never heard of the author nor the particular title. I finished Jeff Gurner's other reads, namely Daemon and Freedom, and was blown away by his performances. The writing was extremely well-paced, and I not once felt like it was moving more quickly than I thought comfortable, nor did it move too slowly. It's the kind of story I could see made into an action movie of some sort (though I don't think it's necessarily the right material for a boring Hollywood thriller). Up until the very end, the book has several tight turns that completely change the game, and I have to admit that I couldn't see any of them coming. Brilliant book.