Listen Legally to Most Popular Full Audiobooks in Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

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Title: Victorian San Francisco Stories

Author: M. Louisa Locke

Narrator: Alexandra Haag

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-20-14

Publisher: M. Louisa Locke

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

This is a collection of four short stories from the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series. "Madam Sibyl's First Client" was written specifically for this collection and it finds Annie Fuller, the young widowed boarding house keeper, just starting her career as a pretend clairvoyant. In "Dandy Detects", the Boston terrier that lives in Annie Fuller's boarding house helps uncover a crime, and in "The Misses Moffet Mend a Marriage", two elderly boarders use their dressmaking skills to avert a domestic tragedy. Finally, in "Mr. Wong Rights a Wrong", a Chinese manservant from the first mystery in the series, "Maids of Misfortune", makes another appearance and helps Annie Fuller solve a serious problem. As a bonus, there is an essay, "Historical Tidbits", which provides insight into the historical research that went into these stories.

This collection can be listened to as an introduction or a companion to the first three books in the series, Maids of Misfortune, Uneasy Spirits, and Bloody Lessons, as it permits some of the most beloved minor characters to have some fun by taking center stage.

Members Reviews:

Great supplement to wonderful series

What made the experience of listening to Victorian San Francisco Stories the most enjoyable?

The narrator has a pleasing voice and the mysteries were enjoyable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, I liked Mr. Wong from a prior book and it was great to see him again. A fine person and interesting to learn more about the Chinese experience.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I certainly could have listened to it in one sitting and enjoyed it. That said, if you are looking for something to listen to over time (say before bed over several nights, as I like listening to audios), this would work well being short stories. Also, these are some of my favorite mysteries but are not particularly suspenseful to me (possibly part of why I like them so well). So they work well to listen to over time.

Any additional comments?

This is a minor note, but I thought the narrator pronounced Fuller strangely, at least in the beginning.

I would definitely recommend this to someone who likes Locke's other mysteries or who is wondering if they would -- it would be a fine introduction since these are free standing stories and wouldn't spoil the other ones.

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Title: The Art of Conversation

Author: A. A. Milne

Narrator: Glenn Hascall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-23-14

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Perhaps there is a knack to being able to talk coherently to a two year-old, but this skill is lost on the storyteller in this highly relatable and humorous short story from the creator of Winnie the Pooh. Narrated by Glenn Hascall.

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Title: Twisted and Warm

Subtitle: A Short Story Collection

Author: Jacqueline Druga

Narrator: Gene Blake

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-02-14

Publisher: Jacqueline Druga

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Where there is death, there is fear, love, missing, dementia and sometimes smiles. Twisted and Warm is a collection of short stories by author Jacqueline Druga. Ranging from twisted to warm, Jacqueline gives you 10 short stories all of which deal with the theme of death in one way or another.

Members Reviews:

Did not care for this book

I didnt like the narrator especially when he did women or childrens voices. The stories mostly mediocre.

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Title: Before Lucky

Subtitle: Forever Love, Book 3

Author: J. S. Cooper

Narrator: Lynn Barrington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 04-17-14

Publisher: Jaimie Mancham-Case

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Before Lucky is a novella prequel to New York Times Best-selling book The Last Boyfriend

Zane Beaumonts life changed the day he walked into Lous Burger Joint and saw Lucky Morgan for the first time. He wasnt sure if it was her smile, or her chocolate brown eyes that captured his heart, but he knew that he would do anything to make sure he got to know her better.

We all know the story of how Lucky fell in love with Zane, now its time to see how Zane fell for Lucky. Before Lucky tells the story of how one handsome, but broken man found love for the first time.

Members Reviews:

Before Lucky

Before Lucky is prequel to the 2 books in the Forever Love series.

This a novella from Zane Beaumont's point of view. This novella takes the reader back to the beginning. Zane Beaumont is on a mission. He is seeking revenge for his brother's death. His life has spiraled out of control. Guilt and the need for revenge consume him. His every thought is centered around this ...that is until he meets Lucky.

In this novella we see the instant attraction Zane has for Lucky. He is drawn to her and cannot stay away. His attraction becomes as much of an obsession as his need to have justice for his brother's death. But can have both.

The reader gets into Zane's head.

This short story is fantastic. The series is fantastic. These characters come alive and jump out of the pages.

I look forward to more of Zane and Lucky's story. Don't miss this series!

Reading Order

The Last Boyfriend

The Last Husband

Before Lucky (a reader may want to read this before The Last Boyfriend or right after The Last Boyfriend)

I Love Zane!

Before Lucky was a great insight on what Zane was feeling when he first saw Lucky, and his first interaction with Lucky. We also get to see the constant turmoil he goes though with himself, he wants Lucky but he also wants to revenge his brother's suicide.

I absolutely loved Zane's POV, if you loved TLB and TLH this is a must read to see Zane's POV on how it all started!

Please remember that this is a novella about how Zane felt when he first met Lucky and NOT a novel retelling The Last Boyfriend or The Last Husband from Zane's POV!

Watch Zane Fall in love :)

Before Lucky is the Prequel to The Last Boyfriend. This book is a great peek into Zane's head. If you loved TLB and TLH like I did, you will love this book as well. J.S. Cooper has the amazing ability to make her characters real. You see right into Zane's soul; his anger over his brother's death, his want for revenge, his inner battle over his feelings for Lucky. You watch him be pulled to Lou's every Friday, and feel him fall for Lucky. It is a beautiful story! I started and finished this book yesterday, could not put it down. I'd recommend this to everyone, phenomenal writing :)

I cannot wait to read more from J.S. Coooper, she has done it again! Stay tuned for Lucky and Zane's first Christmas, you won't want to miss it!

Before Lucky

Loved this book. Before Lucky helped me understand what was going on in Zane's head when he met Lucky at the diner. It's nice to read a book that goes back and tells you what was going on in the other persons head. Zane's POV was amazing. Loved the fact that the book maybe him seem like a real guy not just a character in a book. in Before Lucky we got to see his feeling and how he was dealing with them.

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Title: The Deception

Subtitle: A Short Story (Circle Dance Character Prequel)

Author: Lynne Constantine

Narrator: Debra Stefan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-24-14

Publisher: Lynne Constantine

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Theodora Parsenis believes that Stewart Elliott is the man of her dreams: Charming, chivalrous, and charismatic. Despite her father's reservations about their ten-year age difference, she throws herself into the new relationship with abandon. Stewart is a master at letting others see only what he wants and soon has Theodora's father fooled into thinking he is the perfect choice for Theodora.

Members Reviews:

A Diva of Deviousness

If the ability to deliver tales of human deception and manipulation were a cash crop, Ms. Constantine would be among the Farmers' 500. Are her characters as scheming as real life players? Probably so, but any as cleverly diabolical as the weasels she portrays would probably go undetected by my radar. Not a problem, though, I know I'll find them abundantly planted in her writings.

Can't get enough. How about a full-length prequel?!

Lynne Constantine and her sister Valerie created some incredibly engaging characters in "Circle Dance," and we're left clamoring for more. Lynne is back with her own prequel to "Circle Dance," called "The Deception," describing Stewart's introduction to the Parsenis Family.

Together, the Constantine sisters have developed this family who we've become so connected with, we can't get enough of them. Separately, they have crafted beautifully written stories giving us a glimpse into Stewart's past and how he ingratiated himself into this wonderful family. It's so well written, we want more. Apart, they write really good stories, but together, these sisters create magic. I'll say it again--I hope they'll come together to compose a full-length prequel. Or even a sequel to "Circle Dance." We just can't get enough.

~ Maria A. Karamitsos, Associate Editor - The Greek Star newspaper

Definitely Will Read Circle Dance!

As the parent of a daughter, I was on the edge of my seat for most of this story. The author has managed to build a character who is beautiful, smart and successful, every woman's dream, and show his rotten side, as well. I had to catch my breath as his deceit is uncovered. What a jerk! Great read, well written by one of my favorite new authors.

Deception

If a man appears too good to be true...take another look.

Warning bells should have gone off in Theodora's head when she felt herself falling for Stewart. He was charming, and handsome, and a perfect gentleman, in other words... flawless.

Stewart would smile whenever he captured a targeted woman's heart. Not that he ever thought he would fail to do so, it was just that he found winning such a delight. The type or woman he would pick, would be someone who would not be able to see past his pretty outer package to his blackened deceiving heart. Someone like Theodora.

Lynne Constantine's writing in this short story is crisp and captivating and held my interest until the end. The ending however was a cliff hanger, which made the story feel incomplete, even as a prequel. But all in all I enjoyed the short story and would recommend checking it out.

Rating- 3.5 stars out of 5

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Title: The Wagner Matinee

Author: Willa Cather

Narrator: Glenn Hascall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-15-14

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

The reasons to honor those older than ourselves are many, but as Clark discovers a visit from his aunt whom he has not seen in years allows him to unintentionally unlock a door that revives her in ways he never could have expected - and it all started with a day on the town. Narrated by Glenn Hascall.

Members Reviews:

eh

this books was a little boring and kinda pointless. I only read it because I had to for school. I was reallllly bored

Heartbreaking

This is one of those stories that haunts weeks after you've read it. Simply devastating!

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Title: Leaving the Sea

Author: Ben Marcus

Narrator: Brian Hutchison, George Guidall, Andy Paris, Andrew Garman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-07-14

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

From one of the most innovative and vital writers of his generation, an extraordinary collection of stories that showcases his gifts - and his range - as never before.

In the hilarious, lacerating "I Can Say Many Nice Things," a washed-up writer toying with infidelity leads a creative writing workshop on board a cruise ship.

In the dystopian "Rollingwood," a divorced father struggles to take care of his ill infant, as his ex-wife and colleagues try to render him irrelevant.

In "Watching Mysteries with My Mother," a son meditates on his mother's mortality, hoping to stave off her death for as long as he sits by her side.

And in the title story, told in a single breathtaking sentence, we watch as the narrator's marriage and his sanity unravel, drawing him to the brink of suicide.

As the collection progresses, we move from more traditional narratives into the experimental work that has made Ben Marcus a groundbreaking master of the short form. In these otherworldly landscapes, characters resort to extreme survival strategies to navigate the terrors of adulthood, one opting to live in a lightless cave and another methodically setting out to recover total childhood innocence; an automaton discovers love and has to reinvent language to accommodate it; filial loyalty is seen as a dangerous weakness that must be drilled away; and the distance from a cubicle to the office coffee cart is refigured as an existential wasteland, requiring heroic effort. In these piercing, brilliantly observed investigations into human vulnerability and failure, it is often the most absurd and alien predicaments that capture the deepest truths. Surreal and tender, terrifying and life-affirming, Leaving the Sea is the work of an utterly unique writer at the height of his powers.

Members Reviews:

Disrupting the Universe

Leaving the Sea is a schizophrenic affair, a blend of clashing styles, one moment bordering on pedestrian, the next searing experimentalism, one moment channeling the spirit of David Foster Wallaceâs short stories, the next expanding upon Marcusâ love of throwing his readers into surreal and dystopian worlds. It is as though having bluntly assailed the hegemony of mainstream American fiction in his Harperâs essay he is now setting out to prove that he can take on that mainstream style with ease. The tactic didnât work. Marcusâ more mainstream prose is dull. Indeed, it somewhat ironically suffers precisely from the symptoms Marcus was attacking in Harperâs: the lack of challenge presented by writers such as Franzen and Wolfe.

But when Marcus unleashes his Imp of the Perverse and lets loose with Joycean word-play and dark, apocalyptic imaginings he transports the reader back into his now-established world of twisted psychology, malformed physicality and âthe hardshipâ (My Views on the Darkness, p. 119). In The Father Costume, (first published by Artspace Books, 2002) a father and his two suns flee out to sea to avoid an unnamed threat, leaving their motherâs âkill holeâ behind. The father speaks a language called âForecastâ via swathes of cloth. A variety of âlanguagesâ are inferred with various potencies. âIf I learn a new language, my father might come true,â muses the protagonist. âIf I reach deep into my mouth and scoop out a larger cave.â (p.183).

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Title: My Life in Heavy Metal

Author: Steve Almond

Narrator: Steve Almond

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-10-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

A first collection of 12 powerful stories that takes a clear-eyed view of relationships between young men and women who have come of age in an era without innocence, My Life in Heavy Metal received tremendous acclaim in hardcover. In the past year, Almond has won a Pushcart Prize and been a finalist for the National Magazine Award.

Members Reviews:

Did not live up to its promise...

I am not really sure what my expectations were but for some reason this collection of stories did not live up to its promise. They're okay stories, not particular innovative or inspiring, good for a quick read in the airport, waiting for your flight, or perhaps in a long queue at the check-out. The collection promises stories of love and longing, and most of the stories do have that theme, yet I couldn't help think of the many, many collections of stories which have done a much better job at this theme. What I do agree with though - in fact another reviewer (who gave the collection three stars also pointed this out) is that the author has a wonderful way with dialogue and words. He is definitely a smart writer. Is that enough? No, not really.

One of my favorite writers

Steve Almond is one of my favorite writers, and his short stories are mini-masterpieces. Steve captures the agonies and ecstasies of the human condition with precise language and wit. I look forward to more of his stories.

Raw, funny, moving stories of love & lust

This is a collection of exceptionally honest stories that never shy away from the truths of lust and love and the fine lines that separate them.

Almond's prose is sharp, elegant, and often incredibly funny, but never glib. "Geek Player Love Slayer" is a great example of this: the narrator's voice is witty, wired, and sexy, but it's still a story about love, no matter how you slice it, with an ending that will totally whack you upside the heart.

If you're squeamish about sex, you might have trouble with some of the stories in this collection -- Almond doesn't beat around the bush...when it comes to his descriptions of the sensual. But it's not gratuitous; these are stories that truly drill down into what drives desire, what we're all searching for, and the sometimes misguided ways we go about getting it.

I highly recommend this book, especially to people who are tired of "careful' short stories that sacrifice passion to subtlety for its own sake.

:)

The fact that I got it for only four dollars was unbelievable! I've been looking for the cheapest prices on different sites, but Amazon never lets me down when it comes to deals such as this. The shipping was very reliable as well as the condition of its package. This book however is very explicit; would not recommend this to a minor due to its adult rated detailed content.

Five Stars

One of my favorite books of all time.

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Title: The Invisible Man

Author: G. K. Chesterton

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-05-13

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

This is a story from the The Innocence of Father Brown collection.

Father Brown is an eccentric priest with his own particular ways of dealing with crime. David Timson, having completed the whole of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes canon, a remarkable achievement, turns his hand to the genial but certainly not innocent priest! This collection contains a group of stories from the Innocence of Father Brown, told unabridged.

Editorial Reviews:

In this installment of G. K. Chesterton's series of short stories about detective/priest Father Brown, John Turnbull Angus proposes to Laura Hope, who turns him down. Intending to scare him away, she tells him of two horribly ugly suitors from her past who competed for her love. One, Isidore Smythe, has been receiving death threats if he marries Laura, and Father Brown is called into action to find the source of these warnings. As the action builds, so does David Timson's increasingly spirited performance, creating suspense as the clever Father Brown solves yet another mystery.

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Title: The Musgrave Ritual

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-25-13

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

This is a story from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collection.

In this collection are four more individual cases for Mr. Sherlock Holmes, narrated by his faithful friend and admirer Dr. Watson. They dive into the opium dens of London in "The Man with the Twisted Lip," recall the curious history of "The Musgrave Ritual," come face to face with the grisly evidence contained in "The Cardboard Box," and go on a wild-goose chase in "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle." The powers of Sherlock Holmes prevail.

Editorial Reviews:

While Dr. Watson introduces the case - complaining a bit about Sherlock Holmes' housekeeping habits - this is one of the few stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle where his great fictional detective takes the lead in narrating the mystery. Holmes describes a visit by a university acquaintance who informs him of stolen family documents, which eventually leads to two servants disappeared, one to turn up dead, and a secret family ritual with a surprising connection to some jewels of the crown. Actor and award-winning audiobook director David Timson creates elegant portraits of the characters with his performance of this selection from the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collection.