In the past month I have spent a lot of time with audio-books, in fact I listened to books each day. Walking around the neighborhood, digging out weeds in the yard, and listening during long drives, books have been keeping me company.  I have been listening to a mix of new-to-me books and revisiting some comfort reads. My favorite genres to listen to are Mystery, PNR and Historical and this past month has been filled with wonderful examples of all three.

58. Twisted by Laura K Curtis (RS, audio) A true crime writer returns to home to investigate her mother’s murder. She finds an unlikely partner in the new Sheriff an outsider like herself & in an old HS friend, his deputy. Together they stir up a hornets nest of killers. #bkbrk

— Ana Coqui (@anacoqui) July 14, 2018

I have been meaning to read Curtis's books for a long time, as we've followed each other on twitter for years and have met in person several times over the last few years.  I was very excited for her when I saw she had arranged to produce an audio book with Angele Masters whose narration on Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series I really enjoyed.   While it took me a couple of chapters to excise Veronica and Stoker from my head (as the MCs in this book are also arch and gruff), I really sunk into the story.   The mystery, a cold case that threatens power players in a small town and the romance, hesitant and wary, were both very nicely developed and I was very engaged in both storylines. I hope she continues to produce more audiobooks for the Harp Security Series, as I am eager to listen to more of their adventures.

CW: guns, gun violence, murder, references to past trauma (sexual assault, sexual abuse, rape).

I received a copy of this audiobook as a gift from the author.

60. Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews (PNR/UF/1 of 3 re-listen, Audio: Renee Raudaman) A PI is coerced by parent firm to take a dangerous case they can’t turn down. She makes an unexpected & powerful ally & together they chase down a homicidal pyrokinetic & uncover a conspiracy #bkbrk

— Ana Coqui (@anacoqui) July 18, 2018

61. White Hot by Ilona Andrews (PNR/2/3, re-listen, Audio:Renee Raudman) Nevada‘s hidden talents are exposed to a wider more dangerous circle bringing with it consequences she never expected and she comes to understand Rogan like never before as their relationship deepens.

— Ana Coqui (@anacoqui) July 20, 2018

63. Wildfire (relisten, PNR) There was so much in this book that I had completely forgotten about! speed reading!The Andrews really did something interesting with Rinda (who makes a play for Rogan), she is desperate, lost & conniving yet not unsympathetic. Nevada gets it #bkbrk

— Ana Coqui (@anacoqui) July 23, 2018

I re-listened to Gordon and Ilona Andrews fantastic PNR series, Hidden Legacy. Blazing through from Burn for Me, straight into White Hot and on to Wildfire.  While I adore the Kate Daniels series, I have to agree with Elisabeth Lane and many others that Hidden Legacy is probably their best series. The world, and the relationships, just gel together so much earlier.  It was fabulous to re-listen, and see what stuff I missed as I raced to read them the first time. I love noticing how early Rogan realizes she is a prime, and starts anticipating what she will need to do, all while she is just trying to stay alive and deny her growing feeling for him.  I can't wait for the follow up stories that are coming this fall. I love so many of the supporting characters and I wish I could have a dozen novellas.  

My only nitpick with Renee Raudman's narration of these books is how old she makes Nevada's mother, Penelope sound. She is 45 and sounds ancient.  As someone creeping toward my mid-forties, I would have liked a less creakiness to her voice. Although I am sure someone else feels the same way about Grandma Frida's voice.

CW: gun violence, torture, murder

65. Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins (audio, US-set Hist-Rom). Deputy US Marshall Ian Vance is trying to get back home but is plans are derailed by the mayhem that follows Maggie, who killed a man in self-defense & has a mob chasing her. Road-trip Rom, Fab! https://t.co/1ulSn34TY5

— Ana Coqui (@anacoqui) July 26, 2018

I continue to love listening to Beverly Jenkins's novels on Audio.  I have struggled to read historical romance recently but I know that no matter what Beverly Jenkins book I have queued up next I will get swept up in the story.  While Kevin R. Free's Scottish accent in the prologue was very rough, I urge to persevere as the rest of the book is wonderfully narrated.  I came into this book a little wary because I had mostly heard about the hero, and I am heroine-centric reader, however Maggie is wonderful in her own right, even if Ian's tends to steal the show. And why shouldn't he, he is a knight-in-shinning-armor, hiding behind a black hat, leather duster and a checkered past.  This is a road-trip romance, and  I loved how Jenkins has Maggie learn about Ian's many identities as they travel from town to town looking for judge or sheriff he can safely deliver her to while encountering folks who remember him fondly or have grudges to settle with him. I loved how their relationship morphed, and how they became essential to each other, when at first what they most wanted most was to get rid of each other.  I expect that I will want to listen to this again in the future.

CW: guns, gun violence, attempted rape, sexual harassment, abusive language/slurs & racism directed at MCs. 

I love audio-books and this has been a fantastic month.  I hope you find something wonderful to listen to for the next time you have to tackle you next drive or chore