Contemporary Women Audiobooks | Fiction

"Imprisoned by the apartheid regime in South Africa, Verity Saunders endures the daily degradation of her incarceration whilst coming to terms with the disappearance of her activist lover, Tariq Randeree. Thirty years later, Verity sets out to uncover the truth about her past and to confront those who brutalized and betrayed her. As secrets are exposed she learns that in order to truly heal she must embrace the path of forgiveness. Meadowlands Dawn is inspired by the author's own experience as a political prisoner in apartheid South Africa during the 1980s. It explores the desires and indignities of the human heart and deals with the impact of radicalization and its aftermath."

Jo Beall (Author), Suanne Braun (Narrator)

Audiobook

Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker: A Grumpy Single Dad Christmas Romance: Heart’s Cove Hotties Book 11

"Everyone in Heart's Cove knows Lizzie Butler as the reliable single mom who keeps their tight-knit community running. What they don't know is that she's been secretly pining for her brother's best friend since high school—the same man they've just volunteered her to matchmake for. Sean Hardy returned to his hometown looking for community, not complications. But his best friend's curvy little sister has grown into a woman he can't ignore, especially when she keeps setting him up with every eligible bachelorette except herself. Between family obligations, small-town gossip, and their own complicated history, Sean and Lizzie know they should stay in their lanes. But in a town this small, some lanes are bound to cross...especially under the mistletoe."

Lilian Monroe (Author), Ava Blair, Brian Maxwell (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Child Upstairs

"She doesn’t realise that she ruined my life. Or that I’m about to ruin hers. Steffi seems to have everything. She lives in a gorgeous house with her fiancé, Tom, his young daughter and their sweet little baby. But she hasn’t told anyone about the unfortunate accidents that keep happening. That she’s terrified to go upstairs in her own house. Or that her old imaginary friend has come back, whispering instructions on how to look after the baby. And she can’t tell Tom that she’s struggling. Not after what happened to his first wife. She’s starting to realise that people have been keeping secrets from her. That there’s something about her childhood that doesn’t add up. Something dark, lurking just beyond the reaches of her memory. Poor Steffi doesn’t know who to trust any more. She certainly shouldn’t trust me. Escape into this gripping and emotional psychological thriller, with heart-stopping twists and an ending you won’t see coming."

Lucy Lawrie (Author), Harrie Dobby (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mrs Plansky Goes Rogue

"The irresistible and unforgettable Mrs. Plansky goes rogue in this whirlwind adventure that will lead her up and down coastal Florida and beyond! Mrs. Plansky is fresh off of winning a thrilling senior tennis championship with her doubles partner, Kev Dinardo, and is gearing up to celebrate with him on his yacht. That is, until the yacht is destroyed in a fire. Kev claims the fire was caused by a lightning strike, pure bad luck, but there's one small problem?Mrs. Plansky didn't see any lightning. Already certain there's more going on than she's being told, Mrs. Plansky's curiosity turns to concern when Kev goes missing. Her suspicion gets the better of her and leads her to break into his house, only to find it ransacked. But Kev isn't the only person Mrs. Plansky has to worry about. A conversation with her dad reveals that not long ago, he'd introduced Kev to Jack, Mrs. Plansky's wayward tennis pro son. And now, her dad?distracted by arrangements for his upcoming wedding?either can't remember or has no interest in divulging any details. Worse? Now Jack has gone missing, too."

Spencer Quinn (Author), Petrea Burchard (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tender

"Twenty-five year old Nell has curated a perfect museum of the self: early accolades in her career as an archaeobotanist, a pastel instagram filled with flowers, and a consistent manicure routine to give a veneer of control. But there has always been a part of her that doesn’t fit the mask of perfection she wears. When two “bog bodies” are discovered in elaborate floral graves in a Somerset fen, Nell gets the opportunity of a lifetime to excavate and uncover their secrets. But the deeper she digs into the fertile, waterlogged mud, the more she uncovers repressed memories of her unsettled childhood and strained relationship with her sister. And the more her body manifests her own wildness in ways she can’t ignore. Under the pressure of a blazing summer, Nell whirlwinds into a heated but toxic romance, intense friendships, and the brutal process of reconciling her past and her future…before the weight of it all buries her too."

Lauren du Plessis (Author), Danie Couchman (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Feminine Art of Revenge

"He broke her heart on purpose and for that he must be punished. Forced to abandon her lifelong dream of becoming a ballet dancer, Sylvie finds herself unqualified and unfulfilled in an admin job she hates. She doesn't know what she's doing with her life - until she meets her new boss Jay. Handsome, rich and mysterious, Jay captures Sylvie's imagination. They embark on a passionate affair that consumes her every waking moment. Until Sylvie discovers he's already married. But heartbreak quickly turns to fury, and she finally knows her true purpose: revenge."

Celine Saintclare (Author), Georgia Landers (Narrator)

Audiobook

Fireweather

"A continuation of the acclaimed novel Thunderhead, Fireweather follows Winona Dalloway as she struggles to come to terms with the unrecognizable world around her. It all began when they started running away . . . Life for Winona Dalloway is not as it should be. Her husband is no longer her husband, her children are not at home with her, and the city in which she lives is besieged by fires. Black ash falls like snow, songbirds screech like dinosaurs, and the doctors are calling her mad ... In this looking-glass world, Winona is forced to prove she is a sane, rational human being. As the pronouncements of the professionals grow more insistent, so too do the voices crowding inside Winona's head. She seeks solace in the company of plants and animals, and begins to imagine an entirely other way of being - one that might make whole her broken heart."

Miranda Darling (Author), Abbe Holmes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Julia: A Novel Inspired by the Extraordinary Life of Julia Child

"Before she stepped into the spotlight as a master of French cooking, Julia Child navigated the shadows as a WWII intelligence officer. On the sunny shores of California, Julia McWilliams is poised to embrace a life of comfort and financial security, with a marriage proposal from a wealthy man to consider. But as World War II erupts in the US, her patriotic fervor compels her to abandon her secure future. Trading country clubs for covert codes, Julia joins the Office of Strategic Services, where her sharp mind aids the Allied cause in the shadowy realm of espionage. Amid strategic missions in Ceylon and China, Julia crosses paths with Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer whose delight in art, culture, and cuisine awakens a new hunger within her. Their chance meetings ignite a spark that blossoms into romance, leading to a proposal that Julia eagerly accepts. Together they embark on a new chapter in postwar Paris. In the City of Light, Julia grapples with a different kind of challenge: she refuses to be confined by the societal expectations of a married woman. Drawn to the tantalizing world of French gastronomy—a pursuit her peers deem superfluous—she enrolls at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, and with Paul’s unwavering support, Julia immerses herself in her new passion. Facing skepticism and prejudice in the male-dominated kitchens of Paris, Julia’s resolve never falters. Her relentless pursuit of culinary mastery not only transforms her own life but also introduces a revolutionary change in kitchens throughout America. From intelligence officer to beloved chef, Julia takes readers on an extraordinary journey."

Heather B. Moore (Author), Evelyn McCauley (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens

"Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, experiences her own Christmas Eve transformation as she magically travels through her cherished memories to rediscover her lost love of Christmas. By 1851, all of London has fallen in love with A Christmas Carol, heralding Charles Dickens as “the man who invented Christmas.” But for his wife, Catherine, Christmas is less of a reason for celebration and more of a burden. Between hosting lavish parties, decorating her home, and caring for her eight children—with one more on the way—she feels more like Scrooge than herself this year. But everything changes after a chance encounter with a kitchen cook, who reminds her that Christmas can be a time of miracles and magic, if she is willing to open her heart. Armed with a magical sprig of holly, Kate embarks on three transformative journeys into her past, hoping to reconnect with the love she once felt for the holiday—and with herself. But can these memories be enough to reignite her Christmas spirit? Or are such miraculous transformations only meant for the characters in her husband’s beloved tales? Inspired by real individuals, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday lies in love, faith, and the joy of giving."

Rebecca Connolly (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Secrets

"A gripping family saga about three generations fractured by secrets, and the three strong women who must bring them into the light. Ruth, the widowed matriarch of a grown family, has only months to live, and a secret she's kept for sixty years. Now she must put things right before she dies. But as she has learned, the longer something is kept hidden, the harder it is to bring out of the shadows. With her grandson in gaol and her family fractured, Ruth must address the past, present and future. She must reveal her secret, reconcile her family, and find a way to keep her beloved homestead, Cora, in the family – and her family in Cora. A sweeping saga spanning more than half a century, Secrets has a cast of indelible characters whose lives have been devastated by racism, trauma, addiction, incarceration, loss and shame. Yet for all that their secrets break your heart, Ruth and her family ultimately leave it stronger. This spirited, compassionate novel is a testament to the power of truth-telling and the possibility of healing. 'An instant Australian classic.' Hayley Scrivenor 'A powerful debut of love and loss.' Petronella McGovern 'Epic, compelling and moving.' Inga Simpson "

Judi Morison (Author), TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Midnight Bakery: A totally gorgeous and unforgettable page-turner about friendship, hope and lov

"Nestled at the end of a tiny, cobbled backstreet, is a charming, careworn bakery, its doorstep scrubbed clean and pale green linen blinds neatly drawn. Every night, long after customers have gone and the last crumbs wiped from the shelves, a key turns in the lock. This is a haven, a place where a candle burns through the night for anyone feeling lost or lonely. Frankie, kneading dough through the night and shaping croissants to bake for morning, hopes the bakery will keep her safe from the heartbreak of her past. But what she hasn’t expected is to meet others who need to heal as much as she does. William appears one moonlit night. Forging his own new path following years of heartache, he begins to check in on Frankie nightly, his gentle smile letting her know he’s keeping an eye. Tam, lost and alone, stumbles upon the bakery and it becomes the one place where he can be himself. Beth, who nurses patients by night and her husband by day, is drawn in by the scent of freshly baked bread and warm sugar, with Frankie’s custard tarts the one bright spark in her long, lonely nights. Each of them finds comfort, companionship, and hope, as they begin to reveal secrets they’ve kept hidden for so long. But one night, Frankie finds a letter neatly folded on the countertop. As she unfolds the perfect creases, her heart plummets when she sees the scrawled writing: will everything she’s been working towards be undone in an instant? Can the four new friends fight for the place they love? Or will they lose the midnight bakery just when they need it most? Fans of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, Sally Page and Amanda Prowse will adore this totally uplifting and page-turning novel of finding friendship and belonging in the most unexpected of places."

Emma Davies (Author), Caroline Fantozzi (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Playboy and the Widow

"He played the field while she played it safe A confirmed bachelor, Cliff Howard drives an expensive car and dates stylish glamour girls. But one look into Diana Collins's soulful brown eyes has him thinking about car pools instead of the fast lane. Try as he might to resist, Cliff is soon forced to admit that this lovely widow and her rambunctious young daughters could grow on a man. But can they convince Cliff to give up his playboy ways for domestic bliss?"

Debbie Macomber (Author), Susan Bennett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Contemporary Women Audiobooks in Fiction