The two genres combined here—paranormal and romance—each have highly engaged, passionate fanbases who make finding quality recommendations easy. Listeners are enraptured by these stories. We too love the double escape provided by both fantastical and romantic elements, and for the countless ways authors continually play on listeners’ expectations to keep their stories fresh. Whether you prefer werewolves, witches, or wyrs, there’s a listen for you on this list of the best paranormal romance audiobook.
Christine Feehan is the best selling author of more than 80 paranormal romance audiobook titles, and Shadow Rider is among her best. She seamlessly integrates the paranormal into this story of the sinister Ferraro crime family, their famous bad boy Stefano Ferraro, and struggling heroine Francesca Capello, who instantly attracts his attention. The Ferraros are shadow riders—people able to manipulate light and darkness to hide or reveal only what they want to be seen—which enables them to be nearly perfect criminals. The intense, low voice of Jim Frangione adds to the mysteriousness of this selection, making each interaction between Stefano and Francesca fraught with tension. As Francesca weighs her need for a stable life and her undeniable desire to submit to Stefano’s charms, Frangione draws out each moment with atmospheric anticipation.
Vampires are a dying race trying to save themselves in this first installment of J. R. Ward’s best selling The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Protagonist Beth is half vampire, half human, and her father Darius asks the help of the only purebred vampire left in existence, Wrath, to oversee her transformation. As Wrath spends more and more time with Beth, their chemistry begins to crackle, drawn out in smooth tones by Jim Frangione. When the half breed and vampire finally get together, the result is positively electric. This 13-hour listen is half dedicated to their slow burn of a relationship and half to unveiling the unique vampire-centric world created by Ward. There’s a winding, hauntingly immersive quality to this story, so fair warning: you might just get sucked in. (Pun intended.)
Slave to Sensation feels like a paranormal Romeo and Juliet—on one side, Lucas, of the emotive and affectionate Changeling species, and on the other, Sascha, of the controlled, cerebral Psy species. The Psy have, for one hundred years, been attempting to breed all emotions out of their populace, and despite her mother being an eminent figure on their ruling council, Sascha has secretly felt strong emotions for her entire life. Her secret becomes threatening when she meets Lucas, who proposes a joint Psy-Changeling venture between their races to catch a serial killer wreaking havoc in their community. As Lucas tempts and allows Sascha to feel more and more, narrator Angela Dawe slowly takes her performance of Sascha from monotonous and dull to a more emotional, varied cadence and tone. It perfectly complements the gradual warming of Sascha’s heart, and her journey toward accepting not only her love for Lucas, but her feelings in general.
Lorelei King’s sarcastic tone and slightly raspy voice are a great fit for Moon Called’s Mercy Thompson, a rough-around-the-edges woman running her own mechanic shop and living in a vintage trailer with her cat. As Mercy just tries to live her life alongside the sundry supernatural beings in her neighborhood—listeners will find fae, vampires, werewolves, and more in this selection—she finds herself taking in a new, vulnerable young werewolf against her better judgment. Mercy’s choice puts her at the center of tension between square
or non-magical humans and the paranormal, as well as tension between various paranormal species. What unfolds is an excellent urban fantasy story with a fully realized heroine that’s full of surprises to drive the plot along.
In the world of Kate Daniels, mercenary investigator, everything and everyone is dangerous and to be kept at arm’s length; her guardian, Greg, is the only person she can trust. When Greg is murdered, Kate has to decide between receding back into the shadows and letting it go, or risking her life and anonymity to get to the bottom of his death. Best selling author Ilona Andrews proves that her imagination is endless as she unveils a new, original, vast world in paranormal Atlanta. As listeners search for answers alongside Kate and her unlikely ally, the handsome Curran, Renée Raudman voices a huge cast of characters with distinction and ease. The narrator gives different species of supernatural beings (werewolves, necromancers, shapeshifters, and psychics all play huge roles) different vocal tics to make them easily identifiable—attention to detail that’s invaluable in such a rich universe.
Kresley Cole's best selling Immortals After Dark series began with this short, spicy selection. The four and a half hours pass in a heartbeat as listeners take in the intense relationship between Nikolai Wroth, vampire warlord, and Myst the Coveted, a Valkyrie and therefore Wroth’s sworn enemy. When Myst makes Wroth’s heart begin beating again (literally!), they realize she’s his fated bride, and a years-long game of cat and mouse begins as each tries to establish dominance over the other. Veteran narrator Robert Petkoff brings the full sexiness of these immortals to life by giving both Wroth and Myst smooth, inviting voices and lacing each of their interactions with irresistible tension.
In Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Night Pleasures, narrator Carrington MacDuffie switches effortlessly between the accents of New Orleans and Greece as she portrays both conservative Amanda Devereaux and the vampire hunter, Kyrian of Thrace. Amanda is a tight-laced southern belle who is reticent to begin a relationship with a man or compromise her independence. Kyrian is a straightforward, possibly soulless, red-hot immortal who Amanda thinks may have been solely created to undo her. MacDuffie’s narration highlights the differences between the two, making the experience of listening to them bicker, flirt, and finally fall for each other all the more entertaining.
It seems impossible for a story about a half-vampire woman teaming up with a vampire bounty hunter to feel realistic and grounded, but Halfway to the Grave does. Tavia Gilbert’s attitude-filled narration of this first person POV story is like listening to a particularly acerbic friend vent about her troubles—that is, if her troubles included an absentee vampire father and the trials and tribulations of vampire hunting. Catherine Crawfield is the story’s protagonist and her teammate is Bones, the bounty hunter who captures her after she goes too far in search of her father. As is the case with some of the most captivating romances, Cat and Bones are instantly at each other’s throats, but the development of their relationship is steamy, believable, and incredibly satisfying to listen to, building to a truly rewarding (and incredibly hot) love scene.
Narrator Sophie Eastlake convincingly voices both a dragon as old as the solar system and a young, shy, half-wyr woman in Dragon Bound, performing with gravitas and authority as Dragos Cuelebre and innocent tentativeness as Pia Giovanni. We love the way Eastlake brings the juxtaposed modernity and ancient influences in the world of the Elder Races series to life by varying the pacing and tone she uses for every character depending on their background. Through Eastlake’s expertise, this alluring story of the woman who’s forced to steal from a shape-shifting dragon’s horde, thus becoming the singular obsession of that ancient and powerful force, crackles its way through listeners’ speakers. Dragon Bound is a selection that feels outstandingly fresh as it explores ancient legends in an urban setting and through sensuous details.
Become a vampire or die. Those are Jane Jameson’s choices when she’s mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead after a night out. The man who turns her is the mysterious, attractive Gabriel, whom she met while trying to drown her newly unemployed sorrows at the bottom of a bottle. When Jane wakes up, she realizes she’s miraculously escaped death, but gained a new thirst for blood and a big secret that’s hard to hide in a small southern town. Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs is delightfully sharp and genuinely hilarious. Narrator Amanda Ronconi’s deadpan delivery of Jane’s sarcastic disbelief—trying to interpret Gabriel’s mixed signals is just as difficult with the undead as it was with living men!—might have you pulling over to the side of the road to get the giggles out.
In Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven, narrator Amanda Ronconi showcases her talents yet again by voicing a host of characters from a variety of different backgrounds. Every choice she makes supports the characterization provided by author Bella Forrest, who’s created a rich urban fantasy world for listeners to lose themselves in. Harley has always known she was different—she can see others’ emotions—but because she spent most of her childhood in the foster care system, she was never fully able to explore that fact. When she finds herself face-to-face with a monster and saved by Wade Crowley, warlock, and, according to Harley, massive jerk, a hidden world full of magic is revealed. Not everything in this world is as it seems, however, and listeners are treated to a wild ride of discovery and danger as Harley and Wade navigate both the hazardous landscape and their extremely inconvenient chemistry.
Nora Roberts is a number one New York Times best selling author for a reason: the love stories she creates are compelling, endearing, and transportative. In Dark Witch, she sets her story in Ireland, where the ancestral magic of Iona Sheehan’s family runs deep in the beautiful landscape. When Iona meets Boyle McGrath, the owner of the local stables who seems to have stepped right out of her fantasies, the only thing that might get between them is the awakening of an ancient evil. Hall of Fame Narrator Katherine Kellgren flips easily from American accents to Irish accents to capture both Iona and her Irish family, and delivers an excited, emotional performance that makes it impossible for your attention to drift. Through shifts in her volume and tone, she expertly captures the highs and lows of Iona’s search for identity, belonging, and love.
Narrator Kirsten Potter has a knack for ramping up the steaminess in a love scene; she slows down her pacing just enough to boost anticipation, a tactic which works extremely well in this sensual title from Dianne Duvall. After Sarah Bingham saves a wounded stranger, she’s caught in the crosshairs of not one but two vampiric factions, where she draws the attention of Roland Warbrook, who’s unlike anyone she’s ever met. The classic paranormal romance story of impossible love between a vampire and a human unfolds beautifully in Darkness Dawns. Not only both Sarah and Roland but also the side cast come alive as authentic, fascinating characters, and their warm, realistic relationships stand out against the chilling, undead world they all inhabit.
At turns seductive and thrilling, Seven Years tells the story of Lexi Knight and Austin Cole, their reconnection after the death of Lexi’s brother (Austin’s best friend), and the undeniable attraction that binds them. Nicole Poole narrates, and as her sultry voice shifts comfortably between Austin and Lexi, the result is affecting without moving into caricature. It’s easy to hear why this title is such a fan favorite—there’s something incredibly enchanting about the way that the depths of the magic in the story are unraveled at the same time as the central mystery. As listeners uncover answers about Lexi’s brother’s death and cheer for Lexi and Austin, author Dannika Dark reveals bit by bit the extensive and captivating world she’s constructed.
Whether or not listeners are fans of Stephenie Meyer’s The Twilight Saga, it’s worth mentioning that her 2008 novel, The Host, is an entirely different type of romance from the author known for her vampire fantasy. Melanie Stryder is one of the only remaining human hosts refusing to succumb to the invasive species taking over humans’ minds. Melanie’s particular invader, called Wanderer, is unprepared for the way Melanie fights: by focusing on Jared, the man she loves. Soon, Wanderer finds herself compelled by her body and in love with Jared too, and the bonded pair set off together to search for him. Narrated with impeccable tonal control and diction by the aptly named Kate Reading, this sweet, cerebral title opens the door to questions about what it means to love, and what it means to be human.
If wolves are what you’re seeking in your paranormal romance listens, Feral Sins should be at the top of your list. In this racy tale, Taryn Warner, a wolf shifter without the ability to shift but with great healing skills, is slated to mate with alpha Roscoe, whom she absolutely hates. When she’s kidnapped by Trey Coleman, an alpha from another pack, she sees an opportunity to get out of her mating with Roscoe and to have a man she’s incredibly attracted to. It can be easy to overdo it when adding animalistic tones and noises to a werewolf romance, but narrator Jill Redfield strikes the perfect balance when making alpha Trey’s voice a sexy growl. In short, this is a feisty, well-crafted selection that delivers on an engaging wolf pack rivalry plot as well as incredibly steamy love scenes.
Earlier on this list, we commented on Lorelei King’s slightly raspy vocal quality being a great fit for sassy, sarcastic, straight-shooting heroines, and that remains as true as ever in First Grave on the Right. The protagonist here is Charley Davidson, private investigator and reluctant grim reaper. Charley sees the dead and, when she can, convinces them to go toward the light. But when they have unfinished business, she takes them on as investigative clients. In this killer debut from Darynda Jones, Charley not only investigates the murder of three lawyers who appear to her, but also investigates a cryptic entity who’s been following her—Reyes Farrow. The sultry Reyes poses an entirely new kind of mystery for Charley, and the sharp repartee between the two makes a thoroughly bewitching listen.
In a last-ditch effort to save everyone she knows and loves, Sara Burn shoots Pestilence—physical Pestilence, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse—off his horse. Unfortunately, it only serves to make him angry, and does nothing to stop the apocalypse. Instead, Sara ends up a prisoner of the beautiful but horrible harbinger of disaster. Susannah Jones narrates as Sara and Pestilence slowly find themselves more and more interested in each other, and perfectly captures the balance of trepidation, fear, and curiosity Sara feels toward her captor. As Sara wrestles with her heart, the end of the world, and her responsibility to her fellow humans, Susannah guides listeners to the extremes of emotion with her versatile voice. Pestilence is only the beginning, too, with War recently released and the remaining two horsemen on their way from Laura Thalassa.
This title is technically a spin-off from K.F. Breene’s best selling Fire and Ice series, but listeners don’t need to be familiar with that (also excellent) series to enjoy Natural Witch. Performed by Nicole Poole, whose familiarity with Breene’s style from narrating her other paranormal audiobooks lends an ease to her delivery, this selection is the story of Penny, a naturalwitch who doesn’t realize her powers until they’ve put others in danger. After the accident that reveals her abilities harms innocent bystanders, Penny is being pursued by the Mages Guild, who will kill her if they catch her. It’s in this dire state that she meets The Rogue Natural, Emery, who’s busy looking for answers about his lost brother. As the two align their magic and goals, sparks fly (literally) as Nicole and Emery become a sort of paranormal Bonnie and Clyde.
Witch Rachel Morgan is, essentially, a bounty hunter who’s found herself with a bounty on her own head, courtesy of her former employment agency. In a dystopian world where paranormal beings came out of obscurity when a virus wiped out 50% of humanity, she had a lot to contend with even before she needed to go on the run, and she teams up with two unlikely friends, Jenks (a pixie) and Ivy (a vampire) for some help. The trio encounter a veritable motley crew of paranormal beings, including the distractingly handsome Trent and Quen. Dead Witch Walking is the opening foray of a paranormal romance series that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a gem further perfected through the pairing of Marguerite Gavin’s flawless comic delivery and author Kim Harrison’s lighthearted tone.
For a steamy, sexy trilogy of connected YA romance novels that feature high stakes and explosive romances, check out this RITA Award-winning series. Perfect Chemistry is about a straight-A student, Brittany, and Alex, a gang member from across town, who become lab partners in their senior year—and discover they have much more in common than they first thought. In Rules of Attraction, Alex’s little brother Carlos resents that his brother is forcing him to break away from the gang and live with his professor’s family...but then, the professor’s daughter, Kiara, captures his attention. Luis, the youngest brother, stars in Chain Reaction, where he tries to win the heart of Nikki Cruz, a girl burned by love, all while trying to resist the gang life his brothers left behind.
Inclusion in Audible’s “best audiobooks” series is based on a number of factors, including presence on Audible best seller lists, listener ratings and reviews, Goodreads ratings, and input from the Audible Editors. All audiobooks featured here have a minimum of 500 reviews averaging at least 4.5 stars, with some exceptions made for outstanding stories and performances.
