Contemporary Women Audiobooks | Fiction

"Anny Applebaum is sixty-five and writes The Viagra Diaries, a San Francisco weekly column researching sixty-plus boomers looking for love. She places ads on Internet singles sites and interviews men over sixty. Is love possible in the Viagra generation? Divorced for thirty years, Anny has given up on love and concentrates on her career. She is looking for controversy and hopes that her column will bring her fame and fortune. On a date, Anny meets and interviews Marv Rothstein, a handsome, seventy-year-old, emotionally unavailable diamond dealer. Anny is attracted to Marv, and they become involved in a torrid affair. But soon Anny discovers that the elusive Marv is a serial dater prowling the singles sites for younger women—and that he still sees his much younger ex-wife. Anny decides to write a series of columns, modeled after Marv, about a man who can't face age, calling him Mr. X. As Anny's Mr. X columns gain recognition, she struggles with her conflict about Marv, her career hopes, relationships, and her coming of age."

Barbara Rose Brooker (Author), Barbara Rosenblat (Narrator)

Audiobook

Accelerated

"Every afternoon Sean Benning picks up his son, Toby, on the marble steps that lead into the prestigious Bradley School. Everything at Bradley is accelerated—third graders read at the sixth grade level, they have labs and facilities to rival most universities, and the chess champions are the bullies. A single dad and struggling artist, Sean sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the power-soccer-mom cliques and ladies-who-lunch that congregate on the steps every afternoon. But at least Toby is thriving and getting the best education money can buy. Or is he? When Sean starts getting pressure from the school to put Toby on medication for ADD, something smells fishy, and it isn't the caviar that was served at last week's PTA meeting. Toby's 'issues' in school seem, to Sean, to be nothing more than normal behavior for an eight-year-old boy. But maybe Sean just isn't seeing things clearly, which has been harder and harder to do since Toby's new teacher, Jess, started at Bradley. And the school has Toby's best interests at heart, right? But what happens when the pressure to not just keep up, but to exceed, takes hold? When things take a tragic turn, Sean realizes that the price of this accelerated life is higher than he could have ever imagined."

Bronwen Hruska (Author), Mauro Hantman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Oh Dear Silvia: The gloriously heartwarming novel from the No. 1 bestselling author of Because of Yo

"Dawn French, number one bestelling author of A Tiny Bit Marvellous and one of Britain's best loved comic writers, returns with Oh Dear Silvia, a darkly comic pageturner that will have you hanging on her every word. Who is in Coma Suite Number 5? A matchless lover? A supreme egotist? A selfless martyr? A bad mother? A cherished sister? A selfish wife? All of these. For this is Silvia Shute who has always done exactly what she wants. Until now, when her life suddenly, shockingly stops. Her past holds a dark and terrible secret, and now that she is unconscious in a hospital bed, her constant stream of visitors are set to uncover the mystery of her broken life. And she must lie there, victim of the beloveds, the borings, the babblings and the plain bonkers. Like it or not, the truth is about to pay Silvia a visit. Again, and again and again... Oh Dear Silvia is the brand new novel from one of Britain's most loved comic writers and the number one bestselling author of A Tiny Bit Marvellous. Praise for Dawn French: 'Extremely funny' Sunday Times 'A fantastic slam-dunk pageturner' Mail on Sunday Dawn French has been making people laugh for thirty years. On purpose. As a writer, comedian and actor, she has appeared in some of this country's most long running, cherished and celebrated shows, including French and Saunders, The Comic Strip Presents. . ., Murder Most Horrid, The Vicar of Dibley, Jam and Jerusalem, Lark Rise to Candleford, and more recently, Roger and Val Have Just Got In. Her bestselling memoir, Dear Fatty, was published to critical acclaim in 2008. Her first novel, A Tiny Bit Marvellous, was also a great success, going straight to No.1."

Dawn French (Author), Beattie Edmondson, Celine Rosa Tan, Dawn French, Gareth Armstrong, Jack Lowden, James Fleet, James Mcardle, Jane Collingwood, Llewella Gideon, Maggie Steed, Patrice Naiambana, Pauline Mclynn, Ruby Turner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Easily Amused

"Karen McQuestion deftly blends romance and comedy in this delightful romp where love is discovered in the most unexpected of places. When twenty-nine-year-old Lola Watson unexpectedly inherits a rambling house in the suburbs, she thinks her life just couldn’t be more perfect—until her new neighbors make her their “project,” a heartbroken high school friend crashes indefinitely at her house, and her younger sister announces she’s getting married, on Lola’s thirtieth birthday. Suddenly Lola’s not so keen on her newfound domestic bliss. But when she meets handsome, mysterious Ryan Moriarty, Lola dares to hope she’s found the perfect guy to one-up her sister and add a little spice back into her life. This lighthearted romantic comedy from Karen McQuestion is headlined by a charming cast of characters, led by the self-deprecatingly funny Lola. Breezy and fun, Easily Amused serves as a gentle, often amusing reminder that love can often be found in the place we least expect—under our very noses."

Karen McQuestion (Author), Kate Rudd (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Doula

"In the powerful tradition of Chris Bohjalian’s Midwives and Jodi Picoult’s Handle With Care comes a riveting debut novel about a doula, trained to support women and their families during childbirth, on trial for her best friend’s death. When you come from a family of funeral directors, the telephone rings ominously in the middle of the night. For a doula, it resonates with eager anticipation. Either way, it always means lives are about to change. . . . It might seem like birth and death lie at opposite ends of a spectrum, but to Carolyn Connors, they are mirror images. Caro is no stranger to death, having grown up in a funeral home, but after witnessing her mother’s miscarriage and her brother’s tragic drowning as a child—neither of which she is allowed to discuss—she chooses to become a doula, celebrating the arrival of life rather than its departure. When her glamorous lifelong best friend, Mary Grace, calls with the exciting news that she is pregnant, Caro packs up her life and leaves home to be MG’s birthing coach. But tension escalates between Caro and MG’s domineering husband, Brad, and the sensitive doula’s advice falls on deaf ears. MG cuts off all contact until complications with her pregnancy leave her with no one else to call. Hurrying to the unborn child’s rescue and watching the life drain from her best friend’s body, Caro thinks the nightmare can’t get any worse. . . . Until Brad accuses her of medical malpractice. For the first time in her life, Caro must confront the painful guilt, loss, and shame that have trailed her from the past, leading her to the most profound rebirth of all."

Bridget Boland (Author), Madeleine Maby (Narrator)

Audiobook

Pharmacology

"1993. San Francisco. The digital and pharmaceutical industries are booming. They’re looking for the young, the hip, and those on the counterculture fringe to be both the face and consumer of their new world order. Recruited by an advertising agency focused on targeting a new drug to her own age demographic, Sarah Striker is grateful for the steady income, but she begins to question the side effects of the products she’s pushing. A kinetic, hyper-stylized jolt of pure energy, Herz delivers a strong follow-up to his debut novel, The Last Block in Harlem. Full of vibrant characters and razor-sharp dialogue, Pharmacology captures the voice of the Internet generation with style, heart, and soul."

Christopher Herz (Author), Kate Rudd (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Dark Garden: A Novel

"A deliciously potent tale of one woman's quest for self-discovery. Rowan Cassidy likes to be in charge-especially in her personal life. As a mistress at Club Privé, the most exclusive bondage/S & M club on the West Coast, Rowan can live out her dominant fantasies safely, and with complete control-until the night Christian Thorne walks in. Self-confident and sophisticated, he's a natural dominant if Rowan's ever seen one. Yet she can't stop thinking about him and imagining his touch. Christian has returned home, hoping to break free from his dissatisfaction and malaise-and discovers the cure in Rowan. He's dying to get his skilled hands on her and watch her surrender, to unlock the mystery of her that captivates him. Determined to be her master, he makes Rowan a daring proposition: give herself over to him for thirty days. Rowan finds Christian's offer terrifying-and impossible to resist. But abandoning herself to Christian's power might be more than she can handle. . . . Or it might be the realization of her true nature and the dark garden within her. There will be only one way to find out. And once the game has begun, there's no turning back."

Eden Bradley (Author), Madison Cole (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lord of Temptation

"“Lorraine Heath’s books are always magic.” —Cathy Maxwell “[Heath’s] deftly skilled story-telling entrances and enthralls from the first page to last.” —Karen Hawkins Historical romance readers just can’t get enough of the Lost Lords of Pembrook. In her previous book, She Tempts the Duke, New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath introduced three brooding and intensely passionate brothers determined to reclaim their stolen birthright, as their righteous quest inadvertently leads each one down a separate path to true love. The story continues with Heath’s Lord of Temptation, as a dark and dangerous lord hardened by a life at sea sets his sights on one virtuous woman who, unlike so many of his conquests, would deny him what he hungers for most. When it comes to creating breathtaking love stories, irresistible rogue heroes, and heart-stopping sensuality, Lorraine Heath always delivers—and this Lord is one temptation no romance lover should resist…especially fans of Lisa Kleypas and Liz Carlyle!"

Lorraine Heath (Author), Faye Adele (Narrator)

Audiobook

Love Anthony

"From neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice, a 'beautifully written and poignant' (USA TODAY) novel about autism, friendship, and unconditional love. In an insightful, deeply human story reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Daniel Isn't Talking, and The Reason I Jump, Lisa Genova offers a unique perspective in fiction—the extraordinary voice of Anthony, a nonverbal boy with autism. Anthony reveals a neurologically plausible peek inside the mind of autism, why he hates pronouns, why he loves swinging and the number three, how he experiences routine, joy, and love. In this powerfully unforgettable story, Anthony teaches two women about the power of friendship and helps them to discover the universal truths that connect us all."

Lisa Genova (Author), Debra Messing (Narrator)

Audiobook

Breaking News

"#1 New York Times-Bestselling Author: The best of friends, Toots, Ida, Mavis, and Sophie have been there for each other through thick and thin... Teresa 'Toots' Amelia Loudenberry has her quirks, but no one would ever question her loyalty. So it's no surprise when Toots decides to extend her stay in Charleston to help care for her ailing housekeeper. Though the Charleston air is drenched with azalea and honeysuckle, and there's always a pitcher of sweet tea close to hand, the ladies have little time for relaxing. Ida's new line of cosmetics is about to launch, and Toots, Mavis, and Sophie are relishing new careers as models. And Abby, Toots's daughter, is getting hitched. In the middle of so much change, Toots is almost too busy to notice her own unexpected romance. After eight husbands, she's sworn never to get involved again. But fate—and her friends—may have other plans. And every godmother, fairy or otherwise, loves a story that ends with happily-ever-after . . . 'Whoever thought the 'golden years' were boring never met the Godmothers.'—RT Reviews 'Michaels' engaging version of the Golden Girls.'—Booklist"

Fern Michaels (Author), Natalie Ross (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nauti Temptress

"The Mackay cousins-Natches, Rowdy, and Dawg-would do anything for family, so when former DHS agent Timothy Cranston drops off four sisters that Dawg never knew he had, there is no question: The cousins will protect and care for the girls, and their mother, because they're family. Five years later, Eve Mackay, the eldest sister, has graduated from college and settled in to life as a Mackay in Pulaski County, Kentucky. She works hard as a cocktail waitress and helps out at the bed-and-breakfast that Dawg bought for her mother. If she keeps herself busy enough, maybe she'll be able to stay away from the man she promised Dawg she wouldn't date, the man who has awakened her most ravenous fantasies… He's Brogan Campbell, a biker rumored to be a traitor and a thief. But he's just playing a part; he came to Kentucky for a DHS mission that no one, except Cranston, is supposed to know about. Eve is the key to the whole operation, and his orders are to get her participation. But his need for Eve has nothing to do with stolen secrets and the safety of the country… When Dawg took in Eve and her sisters, he warned them that if they ever lied, cheated, or betrayed the family, they risked losing everything. But desire and danger are locked in an inescapable embrace, and Eve has to make her choice between family or Brogan, for better or worse…"

Lora Leigh (Author), Manxie Hardy (Narrator)

Audiobook

Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures

"The enchanting story of a midwestern girl who escapes a family tragedy and is remade as a movie star during Hollywood's golden age. In 1920, Elsa Emerson, the youngest and blondest of three sisters, is born in idyllic Door County, Wisconsin. Her family owns the Cherry County Playhouse, and more than anything, Elsa relishes appearing onstage, where she soaks up the approval of her father and the embrace of the audience. But when tragedy strikes her family, her acting becomes more than a child¹s game of pretend. While still in her teens, Elsa marries and flees to Los Angeles. There she is discovered by Irving Green, one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood, who refashions her as a serious, exotic brunette and renames her Laura Lamont. Irving becomes Laura's great love; she becomes an Academy Award-winning actress-and a genuine movie star. Laura experiences all the glamour and extravagance of the heady pinnacle of stardom in the studio-system era, but ultimately her story is a timeless one of a woman trying to balance career, family, and personal happiness, all while remaining true to herself. Ambitious and richly imagined, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures is as intimate-and as bigger-than-life-as the great films of the golden age of Hollywood. Written with warmth and verve, it confirms Emma Straub's reputation as one of the most exciting new talents in fiction."

Emma Straub (Author), Molly Ringwald (Narrator)

Audiobook

Contemporary Women Audiobooks in Fiction