Audiobooks narrated by Deborah Balm

Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History

"A provocative exploration of the life of Anne Boleyn through a feminist lens, examining her influence on the reformation and relevance for a new generation. In a story that has intrigued people for generations, this Queen of England has been portrayed as a power-hungry manipulator and as a patsy in the schemes of fathers and kings. A closer examination of her ascent to power and her reign reveals instead a woman who was desired by the King and found a way to insist on an outcome other than becoming his mistress. She claimed power in a profoundly disempowering situation and was able to exert enormous influence and vision on the English Reformation, and therefore on the political and religious landscape of Europe, as a result. In this exploration of her life through the lens of a female priest in the Anglican Communion, listeners will see a woman whose choices and personality continues to contribute to the conversation around women in history and how she remains the subject of fascination."

Martha Tatarnic (Author), Deborah Balm (Narrator)

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Act, Rest, Reset, Repeat: Create change without burning out

"Award-winning youth activist Katie Hodgetts founded The Resilience Project after a period of burnout from climate activism. In this book she empowers young adults to navigate a changing world by building up resilience through rest, community, connection, and celebration. Drawing on her own experiences, as well as research conducted alongside Imperial College London and Stanford University, California, Katie proposes a new type of activism for an anxious generation: one that breaks the cycle of fighting fire with fire, and is sustainable for our mental health and sense of identity as well as the planet. Follow the eight steps in this book: Guidepost 1: Humans first, changemakers second; Guidepost 2: The power of peer-support; Guidepost 3: Let your feelings eat; Guidepost 4: Narratives: resist, reclaim and reimagine; Guidepost 5: The wisdom of burnout; Guidepost 6: Your resilience rucksack; Guidepost 7: The eight types of rest; Guidepost 8: Gratitude without numbing This is a rallying cry for a different way to do changemaking–one that centers self-change over self-care–for young people who want to be responsible world citizens without sacrificing themselves in the process."

Katie Hodgetts (Author), Deborah Balm (Narrator)

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Beastly Britain: An Animal History

"The remarkable history of Britain and its animals, told through ten iconic species Have you ever wondered why we count sheep to get to sleep? Or where the phrase 'red herring' comes from? Across British history, animals have been written about in poetry, painted in oils, and even recorded in law. Loved or feared, familiar or endangered, animals are everywhere to be seen. In this enchanting study, Karen R. Jones takes a journey through the history of ten animals to show the extraordinary story of 'beastly' Britain. Jones looks at animals including foxes and hedgehogs, newts and beetles, ghostly hounds, and even the Loch Ness Monster. She reveals the place of animals in British cultural identity and sheds new light on the most iconic moments of British history, from the Black Death to World War II. The story of these isles may be told by human voices, but it is fully brought to life by listening to the squawks, bellows, and howls that make Britain what it is."

Karen R. Jones (Author), Deborah Balm (Narrator)

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Water Town

"A floating palace, an unruly appliance, and a killer on the loose . . . When one of Irma's friends asks for help vetting a potential suitor, she's sure that a little digging into his past will do the trick. But after she discovers that a robotic appliance might be on a rampage in the almost-beau's swanky houseboat community, she sets out to entice Violet into unravelling another technological snafu. It takes some doing to properly motivate Violet, and even worse, a strange young man has been skulking around Irma's house, alarming Mr. P, her furry sidekick. On top of that, there's a new sheriff in town who's been raising Irma's hackles—along with her curiosity about what's happened to Chief Pickle. After a loved one is injured and a friend's son is arrested for murder, Irma has to confront her idea of family—and what she's willing to do to protect hers. Will she and her crime-fighting companions join forces to find a killer . . . or die trying?"

Maia Ross (Author), Deborah Balm, Petrea Burchard (Narrator)

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High and Dry

"A Gothic country manor, a doomed wedding, and a cowlicked criminal . . . After a local couple's path to the altar is sabotaged, retired spy Irma Abercrombie and sun-deprived nerd Violet Blackheart get roped into lending a hand sorting out the duo's wedding woes—and all the bodies. Meanwhile, Violet preps for her business partner's island arrival—blender drinks at the ready—as Irma secretly tries to track down Violet's former CFO . . . and their company's former money. Along the way, Irma decides to mix business with pleasure, but struggles to sort out the rules for septuagenarian singletons who can dispatch bad guys with a handful of Tinker Toys, and are looking for a bit of romance in their downtime. With her trusty telescoping mirror and adorable (if untrainable) canine companion Mr. P, and nerdy sidekick Violet Blackheart, Irma sets out to save a wedding, retrieve Violet's fortune, and find a killer."

Maia Ross (Author), Deborah Balm, Petrea Burchard (Narrator)

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The Yankee and the British War Bride: The Memoirs of Ernest Joseph Donka and Mary Irene Cooper-Dodd-Donka

"In The Yankee and the British War Bride, two voices from opposite sides of the Atlantic come together to tell a deeply personal story of resilience, love, and the enduring spirit of the Greatest Generation. Through handwritten memoirs, Mary Irene Cooper-Dodd of Tipton, England, and Ernest Joseph Donka of Aurora, Illinois, recount their early lives shaped by poverty, war, and unexpected turns of fate. Mary's journey-from orphanage walls to wartime service in the British Signal Corps-unfolds with quiet strength and poignant reflection. Ernest's path, forged in the poor neighborhoods of Depression-era Illinois and the battlefields of WWII, reveals a cheeky warmth and unwavering devotion to family. Though their upbringings could not have been more different, their stories converge in postwar America, where love blossoms in the unlikeliest of ways. This memoir is more than a family keepsake-it's a tribute to two ordinary lives lived extraordinarily. Themes of memory, identity, and the quiet heroism of everyday people echo throughout, offering readers a glimpse into a generation that endured, adapted, and loved deeply. Compiled by their daughter, Candace Carson, this book preserves not just history, but heart. For anyone drawn to wartime memoirs, immigrant stories, or the quiet magic of handwritten truths, The Yankee and the British War Bride is a tender, timeless read."

Candace Carson (Author), Deborah Balm, Tom Campbell (Narrator)

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Dead Calm

"A retired spy, a nerdy city-slicker, a slothful pug, and a tractor full of secrets . . . It's summertime on Lake Ontario's Beaver Island, and there's trouble on the horizon. When a remote-controlled tractor goes berserk at the ground-breaking for a new condo development—toppling some magnificent cupcakes in the process—retired spy Irma Abercrombie's finely-honed paranoia goes into overdrive. And after a beloved local is murdered, she and nerdy houseguest Violet Blackheart are drawn into another island intrigue. As Violet's vacation steams ahead, she works on reverse-engineering a tractor hack and toys with learning how to conquer her fear of boating, while Irma flirts with the idea of getting closer to a dangerous ex-nemesis. Hoping to help her struggling company's bottom line, Violet enters a charity poker tournament on a superyacht—but she might have signed up for more than she bargained on. And will Irma have to become a stowaway if she can't get her hands on an invite of her own? With the help of her trusty canine sidekick, Mr. Pugglesworth, and intrepid (but nauseous) nerd, Violet Blackheart, retired intelligence agent Irma Abercrombie sets out to find a killer. Irma's trying to conquer the world. Violet's just trying to conquer her vertigo."

Maia Ross (Author), Deborah Balm, Petrea Burchard (Narrator)

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Murder, Masks, and Motives: Dark Designs and Dangerous Crimes from the American Past

"Behind respectable faces and polite manners, darker intentions wait. This gripping anthology gathers classic American short fiction where deception is an art, truth is perilous, and crime often wears a human smile. From a real-life axe murder on a lonely New England island to calculated impostures, whispered rumors, political terror, and crimes born of obsession, these stories explore the dangerous motives that surface when masks begin to slip. Edgar Allan Poe dissects illusion with cold logic, Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals the havoc of rumor, Anna Katharine Green exposes crimes hidden within love and marriage, and O. Henry complicates deception with conscience and compassion. Atmospheric tales of storm-lashed lighthouses, midnight betrayals, false identities, and uncanny revelations build toward moments of shocking clarity—and irreversible consequence. By turns suspenseful, unsettling, and psychologically sharp, Murder, Masks, and Motives invites listeners into a past where justice is uncertain, appearances deceive, and every crime leaves a human cost. Once begun, these stories refuse to let go. Featuring the work of renowned authors and hidden gems of classic American fiction, including: Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe, by Nathaniel Hawthorne Maelzel’s Chess-Player, by Edgar Allan Poe Shall He Wed Her? by Anna Katharine Green A Double-dyed Deceiver, by O. Henry The Only Girl at Overlook, by Franklin Fyles Midnight in Beauchamp Row, by Anna Katharine Green A Memorable Night, by Anna Katharine Green The Picture Puzzle, by Edward Lucas White The Woman at Seven Brothers, by Wilbur Daniel Steele A Memorable Murder, by Celia Thaxter"

Anna Katharine Green, Celia Thaxter, Edgar Allan Poe, Edward Lucas White, Franklin Fyles, Nathaniel Hawthorne, O. Henry, RF Media LLC, Wilbur Daniel Steele (Author), Deborah Balm, Jerry Harris, John Hopkinson, Josh Innerst, Laura English, Leah Daniels, Nancy Peterson (Narrator)

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Vitamin Sea

"A retired intelligence agent still wants to save the world. Her nerdy houseguest just wants to survive her vacation. Former spy Irma Abercrombie wasn't looking for drama when she invited Violet Blackheart—a brainy, sun-deprived acquaintance—for a visit at her island home. But after an armed robbery in town goes terribly wrong, Irma gets pulled into an island intrigue: Was it a simple snatch and grab, or are there darker forces at work? Irma's hands might be deadly weapons, but she's all thumbs when it comes to computer problems. How will she convince Violet to investigate a technology puzzle masterminded by someone with a taste for murder? And if Irma's so retired, what's up with the dead guy in her driveway? Violet embraces a budding cupcake addiction while Irma grapples with a bomb threat and wonders how she ended up with a pug as a sidekick . . . and whether Violet might be hiding a few secrets of her own. They're headed for a showdown at a luxurious island estate—but they can only flush out a killer if they work together. Perfect for fans of Jesse Q Sutanto's Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age."

Maia Ross (Author), Deborah Balm, Petrea Burchard (Narrator)

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The Rising: The Hundred - Book 6

"Can Yvonne stand against the darkness and win? Yvonne is looking forward to spending time with her adoptive children, and catching her breath after recent adventures. But nothing goes to plan. Her journey home is interrupted by an unexpected attack, and when she does get back to the house, her son is missing. Can Yvonne, and the allies she has gathered, stand against a new enemy who seems to have risen out of the dark? The Rising concludes Yvonne’s story which started in The Gathering. If you like your fantasy with plenty of mystery and magic, and a strong heroine, you’ll want to complete this fantasy series by Vanessa Nelson."

Vanessa Nelson (Author), Deborah Balm (Narrator)

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Magic Reborn: a Dark Fantasy Romance

"The gripping conclusion to the saga that started with a desperate woman in a tower and the Dark Wizard who freed her… The time has come… With the hidden archives unlocked and their explosive secrets waiting to be deciphered, the Convocation teeters on the edge of chaos. Alise Elal, rescued from her evil father’s clutches by an unlikely hero, faces the ultimate test of her hard-won powers—if she and Cillian Harahel can fight their way to Convocation Center. There they will be joined by old friends and new in the final attempt to solve the riddle of the fall of House Phel."

Jeffe Kennedy (Author), Deborah Balm (Narrator)

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The Secret Lover

"Julia London captivated readers and critics alike with her acclaimed Rogues of Regent Street trilogy. Now the nationally bestselling author Romantic Times calls 'a rising star' returns with the passionate story of a man and a woman pursued by secrets, shadowed by scandal, and surprised by love . . . Eight years after fleeing England in the wake of a terrible scandal, Sophie Dane is no longer the trusting debutante betrayed by love. Now as companion to a worldly French widow, she returns to London where her arrival instantly sets tongues wagging . . . and attracts the roving eye of aristocratic Trevor Hamilton. But it is his mysterious brother, Caleb, in whom Sophie senses a kindred soul—and who captivates her as no other man has before. Reared on the continent, Caleb has come home to his ailing father—only to be shunned by society as a fortune-hunting imposter. Sophie, alone, seems to believe in him. But an unexpected series of events sets them both in flight once more. As scandal pursues them to a remote ancestral estate, a man and a woman haunted by the past will defy every convention on earth for a future in each other's arms . . ."

Julia London (Author), Deborah Balm (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Deborah Balm

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