Download Best Full Audiobooks in Fiction, LGBTQ+

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/550490 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: Ithaca

Author: Claire North

Narrator: Catrin Walker-Booth

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 12 hours 34 minutes

Release date: September 6, 2022

Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 1

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

From the multi-award-winning author Claire North comes a daring reimagining that breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men. It’s time for the women of Ithaca to tell their tale . . . "North brings a powerful, fresh, and unflinching voice to ancient myth. Breathtaking." —Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne Seventeen years ago, King Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. None of them has returned, and the women of Ithaca have been left behind to run the kingdom.   Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. While he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that her husband is dead, and suitors are beginning to knock at her door.    No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus' empty throne—not yet. But  as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip, Penelope knows that any choice she makes could plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war.  This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca's shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women—and their goddesses—that will change the course of the world.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/546790 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: The Mapmaker's Daughter

Author: Clare Marchant

Narrator: Charlotte Strevens

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 10 hours 24 minutes

Release date: September 1, 2022

Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3.5 of Total 2

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

‘Oh my word… fantastic… [The] stories intertwine so beautifully, it’s truly amazing. Such a lot of research must have to have been done but so worth it. I can’t recommend this book enough.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Could a rediscovered map show her the way? Present day: When thirty-six-year-old Robyn Willoughby discovers an exquisite yet blood-stained Tudor map in her father’s antique map shop, desperate for a distraction from her problems, she decides to investigate. But as Robyn delves into the mystery, she finds herself caught up in a centuries-old secret – one that will change her life forever. 1569: Forced to flee Holland to escape persecution, twenty-year-old Freida Ortelius uses her mapmaking skills to start anew in London. Soon her rare talent catches the eye of Queen Elizabeth, who demands Freida’s help in fighting the Spanish threat. Freida must now embark on a deadly mission, the consequences of which will echo down the ages… A sweeping and heartbreaking read, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Kathryn Hughes. Readers adore The Mapmaker’s Daughter: ‘Loved this… the characters were brilliant and the storyline was amazing, wonderfully written and descriptive, could not put it down.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book has it all: history, intrigue, suspense, mystery, and a gripping narrative that kept me engaged from beginning to end.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved this book!… Great characters and story that intertwined. Highly recommended.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A joy to read… I loved the characters and the way the plot of both times weaved and intwined… Excellent.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fascinating! I would recommend this book to all lovers of historical fiction without hesitation.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/550364 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: The Steel Girls on the Home Front

Series: #3 of The Steel Girls

Author: Michelle Rawlins

Narrator: Laura Brydon

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 9 hours 18 minutes

Release date: August 18, 2022

Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 1

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

As the war rages on, can they be there for each other? Spring 1940 As the war rages on, Vickers steelworks is busier than ever which is proving tough for Nancy as she juggles working long hours and looking after two young children, all while waiting for her husband to return home safely. Betty is determined to roll up her sleeves and joins the Women’s Voluntary Service to keep busy and stop from fretting about her fiancé. But Patty is left worrying about someone closer to home. Sweetheart Archie has been keeping a secret from her, and one that puts him in great danger. Will it threaten to pull them apart for good? And with life at war tougher than ever, can the factory sisters rally together to find a way through? *** Readers love The Steel Girls series: ‘A gentle story with an undercurrent of pure grit’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Heart-warming and magical’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Very well researched and a superb addition to the saga genre’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Every single character becomes your friend’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The love leaps from the pages’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An inspiring, emotional, authentic, heart-warming and gorgeously written saga’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A story of friendship, camaraderie, and just getting on with it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/546787 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: Courage for the Cornish Girls

Series: #3 of The Cornish Girls Series

Author: Betty Walker

Narrator: Annette Holland

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 12 hours 1 minute

Release date: August 4, 2022

Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 1

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

Shortlisted for Best Romantic Saga at the Romantic Novel Awards 2023 April 1942. Enemy gunfire on Penzance beach brings the Cornish Girls rushing to the rescue… Yearning for adventure, Demelza dreams of one day joining the fire wardens. But before she can do so, gunfire during a trip to the beach provides her with an unexpected opportunity to get stuck in. On hand to help the wounded beachgoers, Lily draws admiration with her nursing skills and is offered an exciting new position in the hospital in Penzance. And swayed by her niece, Lily’s Aunt Violet agrees to take in three evacuees rescued on the beach, though they turn out to be more of a handful than she bargained for. But even as the war rages around them, the biggest challenge facing each woman turns out to be one of the heart. Can the Cornish Girls help one another to open themselves up to love…? Readers are dazzled by Courage for the Cornish Girls: ‘Romance…friendship…orphans…family…women helping in any way they can…Don’t miss this book’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A lovely historical war story. Can't wait to read what happens next in this saga…’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘How nice it was to catch up with [the Cornish Girls]. I so hope [they] continue with their antics…’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Plenty of twists and turns, well written, likeable characters and easy to follow. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series…’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great read – highly recommended’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A lovely five star read! I look forward to the next one!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Much loved characters that will stay with you, due to their courage, determination and patriotic spirit – five stars from me’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/548813 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: Mercury Pictures Presents: A Novel

Author: Anthony Marra

Narrator: Carlotta Brentan

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 14 hours 3 minutes

Release date: August 2, 2022

Ratings: Ratings of Book: 2.71 of Total 7

Ratings of Narrator: 1.5 of Total 2

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Winner of the David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction • The epic tale of a brilliant woman who must reinvent herself to survive, moving from Mussolini’s Italy to 1940s Los Angeles—a timeless story of love, deceit, and sacrifice from the award-winning author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena “A genuinely moving and life-affirming novel that’s a true joy to read.”—Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere “A gorgeous book . . . sublime.”—The New York Times (Editors’ Choice) ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR, The Guardian, Booklist Like many before her, Maria Lagana has come to Hollywood to outrun her past. Born in Rome, where every Sunday her father took her to the cinema instead of church, Maria immigrates with her mother to Los Angeles after a childhood transgression leads to her father’s arrest. Fifteen years later, on the eve of America’s entry into World War II, Maria is an associate producer at Mercury Pictures, trying to keep her personal and professional lives from falling apart. Her mother won’t speak to her. Her boss, a man of many toupees, has been summoned to Washington by congressional investigators. Her boyfriend, a virtuoso Chinese American actor, can’t escape the studio’s narrow typecasting. And the studio itself, Maria’s only home in exile, teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. Over the coming months, as the bright lights go dark across Los Angeles, Mercury Pictures becomes a nexus of European émigrés: modernist poets trying their luck as B-movie screenwriters, once-celebrated architects becoming scale-model miniaturists, and refugee actors finding work playing the very villains they fled. While the world descends into war, Maria rises through a maze of conflicting politics, divided loyalties, and jockeying ambitions. But when the arrival of a stranger from her father’s past threatens Maria’s carefully constructed facade, she must finally confront her father’s fate—and her own. Written with intelligence, wit, and an exhilarating sense of possibility, Mercury Pictures Presents spans many moods and tones, from the heartbreaking to the ecstatic. It is a love letter to life’s bit players, a panorama of an era that casts a long shadow over our own, and a tour de force by a novelist whose work The Washington Post calls “a flash in the heavens that makes you look up and believe in miracles.”

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/545338 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: Operation Moonlight: A compelling and emotionally moving historical fiction novel

Author: Louise Morrish

Narrator: Kristin Atherton

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 12 hours 57 minutes

Release date: July 21, 2022

Ratings: Ratings of Book: 4.5 of Total 2

Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 1

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

Brought to you by Penguin. 1944: newly recruited SOE agent Elisabeth Shepherd is faced with an impossible mission: to parachute behind enemy lines into Nazi-occupied France and monitor the new long-range missiles the Germans are working on. Her only advice? Trust absolutely no one. With danger lurking at every turn, one wrong move for Elisabeth could spell instant death. 2018: Betty is about to celebrate her 100th birthday. With her carer Tali at her side, she receives an invite from the Century Society to reminisce on the past. Remembering a life shrouded in secrecy and danger, Betty remains tight-lipped. But when Tali finds a box filled with maps, letters and a gun hidden in Betty's cellar, it becomes clear that Betty's secrets are about to be uncovered . . . Nostalgic, heart-pumping and truly page-turning, OPERATION MOONLIGHT is both a gripping read and a novel that makes you think about a generation of women and men who truly knew what it meant to survive. ©2022 Louise Morrish (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/551321 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: Switchboard Soldiers: A Novel

Author: Jennifer Chiaverini

Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 14 hours 44 minutes

Release date: July 19, 2022

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini, a bold, revelatory novel about one of the great untold stories of World War I—the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, who broke down gender barriers in the military and battled a pandemic as they helped lead the Allies to victory.  “An eye-opening and detailed novel about remarkable female soldiers. . . Chiaverini weaves the intersecting threads of these brave women’s lives together, highlighting their deep sense of pride and duty.”—Kirkus Reviews  In June 1917, General John Pershing arrived in France to establish American forces in Europe. He immediately found himself unable to communicate with troops in the field. Pershing needed telephone operators who could swiftly and accurately connect multiple calls, speak fluent French and English, remain steady under fire, and be utterly discreet, since the calls often conveyed classified information. At the time, nearly all well-trained American telephone operators were women—but women were not permitted to enlist, or even to vote in most states. Nevertheless, the U.S. Army Signal Corps promptly began recruiting them. More than 7,600 women responded, including Grace Banker of New Jersey, a switchboard instructor with AT&T and an alumna of Barnard College; Marie Miossec, a Frenchwoman and aspiring opera singer; and Valerie DeSmedt, a twenty-year-old Pacific Telephone operator from Los Angeles, determined to strike a blow for her native Belgium. They were among the first women sworn into the U.S. Army under the Articles of War. The male soldiers they had replaced had needed one minute to connect each call. The switchboard soldiers could do it in ten seconds. Deployed throughout France, including near the front lines, the operators endured hardships and risked death or injury from gunfire, bombardments, and the Spanish Flu. Not all of them would survive. The women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps served with honor and played an essential role in achieving the Allied victory. Their story has never been the focus of a novel…until now.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/551320 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: Sister Mother Warrior: A Novel

Author: Vanessa Riley

Narrator: Adjoa Andoh, Robin Miles

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 18 hours 50 minutes

Release date: July 12, 2022

Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 1

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

Acclaimed author of Island Queen Vanessa Riley brings readers a vivid, sweeping novel of the Haitian Revolution based on the true-life stories of two extraordinary women: the first Empress of Haiti, Marie-Claire Bonheur, and Gran Toya, a West African-born warrior who helped lead the rebellion that drove out the French and freed the enslaved people of Haiti.  Gran Toya: Born in West Africa, Abdaraya Toya was one of the legendary minos—women called “Dahomeyan Amazons” by the Europeans—who were specially chosen female warriors consecrated to the King of Dahomey. Betrayed by an enemy, kidnapped, and sold into slavery, Toya wound up in the French colony of Saint Domingue, where she became a force to be reckoned with on its sugar plantations: a healer and an authority figure among the enslaved. Among the motherless children she helped raise was a man who would become the revolutionary Jean-Jacques Dessalines. When the enslaved people rose up, Toya, ever the warrior, was at the forefront of the rebellion that changed the course of history. Marie-Claire: A free woman of color, Marie-Claire Bonheur was raised in an air of privilege and security because of her wealthy white grandfather. With a passion for charitable work, she grew up looking for ways to help those oppressed by a society steeped in racial and economic injustices. Falling in love with Jean-Jacques Dessalines, an enslaved man, was never the plan, yet their paths continued to cross and intertwine, and despite a marriage of convenience to a Frenchman, she and Dessalines had several children. When war breaks out on Saint Domingue, pitting the French, Spanish, and enslaved people against one another in turn, Marie-Claire and Toya finally meet, and despite their deep differences, they both play pivotal roles in the revolution that will eventually lead to full independence for Haiti and its people. Both an emotionally palpable love story and a detail-rich historical novel, Sister Mother Warrior tells the often-overlooked history of the most successful Black uprising in history. Riley celebrates the tremendous courage and resilience of the revolutionaries, and the formidable strength and intelligence of Toya, Marie-Claire, and the countless other women who fought for freedom.  Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/545708 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: The Ghost of Ivy Barn: The Witches of Woodville 3

Author: Mark Stay

Narrator: Candida Gubbins

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 10 hours 43 minutes

Release date: July 7, 2022

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

'Beautiful and engaging and clever' Manda Scott, bestselling author of A Treachery of Spies 'A young witch to rival Tiffany Aching. Magic!' FMA Dixon August 1940. In a quiet village in rural Kent, the enemy is at the gates . . . The Battle of Britain rages and Faye Bright encounters the ghost of a pilot who won't give up the fight. Before she can help him, Faye is whisked away to join a motley crew of witches to perform a top secret ritual on the White Cliffs of Dover that could repel the invaders. But there's a catch. The ritual must be executed in the nuddy. Mrs Teach threatens mutiny. Miss Charlotte is intrigued. And Faye wants to call the whole thing off when she suspects there's a spy in their midst. It's up to Faye Bright to uncover the traitor, all while dealing with the ghost haunting Ivy Barn who may hold the key to the truth. But first, Faye has to learn to fly . . . For fans of Lev Grossman and Terry Pratchett comes the third novel in this delightful series of war, mystery and a little bit of magic . . . Don't miss the other magical books in the WITCHES OF WOODVILLE series! #1 The Crow Folk #2 Babes in the Wood #3 The Ghost of Ivy Barn  #4 The Holly King  #5 The Corn Bride Praise for The Witches of Woodville series 'I so enjoyed The Crow Folk. Set in an endearingly odd village in deepest Kent, it's full of engaging characters and weird, witchy goings-on. Fast-paced, entertainingly creepy and at times laugh-out-loud funny, it's also genuinely moving' Michelle Paver, author of Wakenhyrst  'ACE. Smart and funny and written so warmly. It's an absolutely smashing read' Pernille Hughes, author of Probably the Best Kiss in the World  ​  'Swept me straight back to days of losing myself in Diana Wynne Jones novels, and getting lost in truly absorbing, sometimes scary, sometimes emotive adventure with its roots in folklore and history. A story that is full of magic and delight that will thrill readers of any age' Rowan Coleman, author of The Girl at the Window ‘A rural Ben Aaronovitch!’ C. K. McDonnell, author of The Stranger Times 'Warm, witty, witchy wartime fun. With Mark Stay as writer you're always guaranteed a magical read' Julie Wassmer, author of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries   'You'll love it: Doctor Who meets Worzel Gummidge' Lorna Cook, author of The Forgotten Village   'A jolly romp with witches, demons, and bellringing. Pratchett fans will enjoy this, and Faye is a feisty and fun hero. Dad's Army meets Witches of Eastwick' Ian W Sainsbury ‘Mark Stay’s brilliantly written Witches of Woodville books are somehow funny, cosy, clever and disturbingly dark all at the same time. Terry Pratchett fans will LOVE em’ Lucy Strange

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/551330 to listen full audiobooks.

Title: The Heart of Summer: A Novel

Series: #6 of Finfarran Peninsula

Author: Felicity Hayes-Mccoy

Narrator: Marcella Riordan

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 10 hours 28 minutes

Release date: July 5, 2022

Genres: LGBTQ+

Publisher's Summary:

“Maeve Binchy fans will adore it—she just gets better and better.”—Patricia Scanlan  On Ireland’s Finfarran Peninsula, summer means glorious weather and a life-changing choice for local librarian Hanna Casey in this delightful installment in the USA Today bestselling series, a captivating tale filled with all the beauty, charm, and warmth of Ireland that is perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Nina George, and Nancy Thayer. Summer has finally arrived on Ireland’s west coast. On the Finfarran Peninsula, Hanna Casey is looking forward to al fresco lunches with friends and balmy evenings with her boyfriend Brian in their stunning new home in beautiful Hag’s Glen. With a painful divorce behind her and family drama finally settled, Hanna begins to plan a romantic holiday getaway for the two of them. But life takes a turn when Brian's adult son suddenly moves in and Hanna unexpectedly runs into Amy, a former flatmate from Hanna’s twenties in London. Reminded of her youth—and all the dreams and hopes she once had—Hanna begins to wonder if everything she now has is enough. When Amy suggests a reunion in London with old friends, Hanna accepts.  While it’s only short hop to England, Hanna feels like she’s leaving Brian far behind. And when she’s offered a new opportunity—the chance to be more than a local librarian in the little rural community where she grew up—Hanna is faced with a difficult choice: to decide what her heart truly wants.